Addicts' cravings have different roots in men and women

Public release date: 30-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Bill Hathaway
william.hathaway@yale.edu
203-432-1322
Yale University

When it comes to addiction, sex matters.

A new brain imaging study by Yale School of Medicine researchers suggests stress robustly activates areas of the brain associated with craving in cocaine-dependent women, while drug cues activate similar brain regions in cocaine-dependent men. The study, expected to be published online Jan. 31 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, suggests men and women with cocaine dependence might benefit more from different treatment options.

"There are differences in treatment outcomes for people with addictions who experience stress-induced drug cravings and those whose cravings are induced by drug cues," said Marc Potenza, professor of psychiatry, child study, and neurobiology and first author of the study. "It is important to understand the biologic mechanisms that underlie these cravings."

The researchers conducted functional magnetic resonance imaging scans of 30 cocaine-dependent individuals and 36 control subjects who were recreational drinkers. While undergoing brain scans, researchers then presented subjects with personalized cues (situations or events) the participants had indicated were personally stressful and other cues involving cocaine or alcohol.

As expected, cocaine-dependent individuals showed greater activation in broad regions of the brain linked to addiction and motivation than the control subjects. Patterns of activation between the groups, however, differed markedly in men and women when presented with stress or drug cues.

Potenza said the findings suggest that women with cocaine dependence might benefit from stress-reduction therapies that specifically target these cravings. Men, on the other hand, might derive more benefit from elements of cognitive behavioral therapy or 12-step programs based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

###

The senior author of the paper is Rajita Sinha of Yale. Other Yale authors are Kwang-ik Adam Hong, Cheryl M. Lacadie, Robert K. Fulbright, and Keri L. Tuit.

The study was supported by the Yale Stress Center, Women's Health Research at Yale, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and grants from the National Institutes of Health and its Office of Research on Women's Health.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 30-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Bill Hathaway
william.hathaway@yale.edu
203-432-1322
Yale University

When it comes to addiction, sex matters.

A new brain imaging study by Yale School of Medicine researchers suggests stress robustly activates areas of the brain associated with craving in cocaine-dependent women, while drug cues activate similar brain regions in cocaine-dependent men. The study, expected to be published online Jan. 31 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, suggests men and women with cocaine dependence might benefit more from different treatment options.

"There are differences in treatment outcomes for people with addictions who experience stress-induced drug cravings and those whose cravings are induced by drug cues," said Marc Potenza, professor of psychiatry, child study, and neurobiology and first author of the study. "It is important to understand the biologic mechanisms that underlie these cravings."

The researchers conducted functional magnetic resonance imaging scans of 30 cocaine-dependent individuals and 36 control subjects who were recreational drinkers. While undergoing brain scans, researchers then presented subjects with personalized cues (situations or events) the participants had indicated were personally stressful and other cues involving cocaine or alcohol.

As expected, cocaine-dependent individuals showed greater activation in broad regions of the brain linked to addiction and motivation than the control subjects. Patterns of activation between the groups, however, differed markedly in men and women when presented with stress or drug cues.

Potenza said the findings suggest that women with cocaine dependence might benefit from stress-reduction therapies that specifically target these cravings. Men, on the other hand, might derive more benefit from elements of cognitive behavioral therapy or 12-step programs based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

###

The senior author of the paper is Rajita Sinha of Yale. Other Yale authors are Kwang-ik Adam Hong, Cheryl M. Lacadie, Robert K. Fulbright, and Keri L. Tuit.

The study was supported by the Yale Stress Center, Women's Health Research at Yale, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and grants from the National Institutes of Health and its Office of Research on Women's Health.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/yu-ach013012.php

julio jones steve bartman columbus day columbus day bank holidays bank holidays john galt

Wendy's CEO: Our wounds were 'self-inflicted'

This Jan. 29, 2012 photo, shows a Wendy's restaurant in Culver City, Calif. Wendy?s Co.?s adjusted net income fell to $4.3 million in the fourth quarter, a 29 percent drop from $6.1 million a year ago. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

This Jan. 29, 2012 photo, shows a Wendy's restaurant in Culver City, Calif. Wendy?s Co.?s adjusted net income fell to $4.3 million in the fourth quarter, a 29 percent drop from $6.1 million a year ago. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

In this Jan. 29, 2012 photo, a customer leaves a Wendy's restaurant in Los Angeles. Wendy?s Co.?s adjusted net income fell to $4.3 million in the fourth quarter, a 29 percent drop from $6.1 million a year ago. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Wendy's new CEO on Monday called the dour results of the past few years "self-inflicted wounds" and vowed to do better, laying out plans that included hiring top-tier workers and reclaiming market share from higher-end competitors like Five Guys and Smashburger.

Emil Brolick, the CEO since September, told investors on Monday that he was intent on winning back customers, jaded by a stale menu and inconsistent service, as well as investors, who have grown weary of "a little bit of overpromising and under-delivering."

And rather than blaming the struggling economy for the revenue declines and quarterly losses of the past few years, Brolick said that the company's problems were its own fault. Though Wendy's Co. had carved out a niche in the restaurant business as fast food for grownups, it had lost its way in recent years.

"These are not DNA issues," said Brolick, who also worked at Wendy's during more halcyon days of the late '80s and early '90s. "These are issues we caused, and any time you have self-inflicted wounds, you can correct self-inflicted wounds."

Brolick said he was intent on taking back lost market share from the likes of fast-casual competitors like Panera and Chipotle, by offering food that was just as good but at a lower price. The company has revamped its menu and is remodeling stores. It sold Arby's, which had been a drag on earnings, over the summer. And it's now intent on hiring "five star" employees in line with those at the fast-casual chains, Brolick said.

"Those folks at the bottom corner, there's a job waiting for them at our competitors," said Brolick, who has also hired a new general counsel at the Ohio headquarters and is adding a chief marketing officer and chief people officer.

Brolick, who was most recently a top executive at Yum Brands Inc., said he's bringing all Wendy's locations up to consistent standards for friendliness and cleanliness, rather than the current, unpredictable state of "one there is really, really good but this one over here isn't quite what it needs to be."

"We've made great progress in getting rid of those F restaurants and getting more A's and B's, but we're still in that territory," Brolick said.

Like many fast-food chains, Wendy's is taking some of its turnaround plans from McDonald's book. The much-larger burger chain has done well throughout the recession and its aftermath by trying to reinvent itself as a hip, healthy place. New offerings like fancy coffee drinks and smoothies, and remodeled restaurants with wireless access, have brought in customers who previously might have shunned it. At the same time, McDonald's has kept prices at fast-food levels so that its reliable base of cash-strapped customers doesn't flee for cheaper hamburgers at the gas stations.

McDonald's has run into some resistance from franchisees who sometimes have to foot the bill for the changes. Brolick said Wendy's franchisees were "very, very supportive "of the plans. He acknowledged that "we are going to spend a lot of their money," then added later: "The economics have to work. They do work."

Brolick's message to investors, who gathered at the Nasdaq building in New York, came a few hours after the company reported mixed results for the fourth quarter.

Wendy's income from continuing operations fell 30 percent to $4.3 million in the last three months of the year, down from $6.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. That year-ago number strips out the effect of Arby's, which Wendy's sold this summer to a private-equity firm.

Wendy's marriage with Arby's was short-lived. It began in the depths of the financial crisis in fall 2008, and ended when managers said they wanted to focus on the Wendy's brand alone. Wendy's said Monday it spent nearly $46 million over 2011 to break up with Arby's, including severance costs for some employees and retention bonuses for others.

Revenue rose 5.6 percent to $615 million, narrowly beating the $613 million predicted by analysts. The chain credited more customers visiting and spending more when they did, including on the revamped Dave's Hot 'N Juicy cheeseburger. Higher prices also helped.

Revenue at restaurants open at least a year climbed 4.4 percent in North America, the highest number in nearly 8 years, according to the company. That's a key measure of a company's health because it strips out the effect of newly opened or closed stores.

On a per-share basis, adjusted earnings were 4 cents, in line with the expectations of analysts polled by FactSet. That number excluded one-time charges like the costs for selling Arby's and writing down the value of some of its assets. With those charges, per-share earnings would have been 1 cent per share.

Last week, Barclays Capital analyst Jeffrey Bernstein spoke favorably of the changes at Wendy's, saying the company has greater potential for long-term earnings growth than competitors but is trading at a comparative discount. Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Sara Senatore said Monday that though revenue numbers beat her expectations, some of the earnings predictions that the company made for 2012 were below Wall Street's expectations.

Wendy's shares fell 20 cents, or 3.8 percent, to close at $5.01.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-01-30-Earns-Wendy's/id-3a66321e3f5b4244ba0ab0eeaa4884a6

wale weather denver weather denver ambition dorothy rodham rick hendrick plane crash no shave november

Iran official says oil will reach $150 per barrel

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran's official news agency reports that the head of the state oil company is claiming that the price of crude will go up to $150 per barrel.

Head of the National Iranian Oil Company Ahmad Qalehban did not give a time frame for the prediction, nor any other details in the Sunday report by IRNA.

The price of benchmark U.S. crude on Friday was around $99.56 per barrel.

Qalehban's statement comes as Iranian officials prepare to debate a ban on crude sales to European Union countries, in response to a planned EU embargo on Iran's oil by summer because of that country's nuclear program.

The United States and its allies argue that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons technology, while Tehran says the program is for purely peaceful purposes.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-01-29-ML-Iran-Oil/id-70d28ab461ac4f26a9837dc0f748ecf4

reno news syracuse shonn greene oklahoma state plane crash syracuse university best buy black friday 2011 ads broncos jets

Twelve South?s BookBook for iPhone 4/4S Review

So you just got yourself a brand new iPhone 4S, and now you?re looking for that one perfect case that will help protect it but also make it stylish at the same time.? I?ve tried many different cases for my iPhone 4S, and none has come close to my ideal case other than the BookBook [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/01/28/twelve-souths-bookbook-for-iphone-44s-review/

the prisoner the prisoner gene simmons my bloody valentine mario manningham mario manningham holes

Afghanistan's Karzai in UK for talks with Cameron (AP)

LONDON ? Afghan President Hamid Karzai is in Britain for talks with Prime Minister David Cameron, a day after France announced it would withdraw its troops a year earlier than the 2014 date agreed by NATO.

Cameron is due to meet Karzai at Chequers, the prime minister's country retreat outside London. Britain's Foreign Office said the meeting "is about long-term partnership and commitment beyond 2014 and the need for progress on the political track."

It is also sure to include the effects of the announcement by President Nicolas Sarkozy that French troops would speed up their withdrawal plans and leave the country by the end of next year, instead of by 2014.

Britain has about 9,500 troops in Afghanistan and says it plans to withdraw almost all of them by the end of 2014.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/britain/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120128/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_afghanistan

sugar cookie recipe sugar cookie recipe robert deniro how the grinch stole christmas macaroni and cheese festivus festivus

Ex-Boston Mayor White, led in turbulent '70s, dies

FILE- This Nov. 1, 2006 file photograph shows former Boston Mayor Kevin White outside Faneuil Hall in Boston Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006. Former Mayor Kevin H. White, who led the city for 16 years including racially turbulent times in the 1970s, died Friday, a family spokesman said. He was 82. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

FILE- This Nov. 1, 2006 file photograph shows former Boston Mayor Kevin White outside Faneuil Hall in Boston Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006. Former Mayor Kevin H. White, who led the city for 16 years including racially turbulent times in the 1970s, died Friday, a family spokesman said. He was 82. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

In this Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1970, Sen. Edward Kennedy, center, and his wife, Joan, left, greet Boston Mayor Kevin White and his wife, Kathryn White, at their Charles street polling place in Boston Mass. Former Boston Mayor Kevin White died Friday, Jan. 27, 2012. White was diagnosed with Alzheimer?s disease in 2003. A family spokesman says he died at home surrounded by family. He was 82. (AP Photo/Bill Chaplis)

In this, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006. file photo, former Boston Mayor Kevin White, center, laughs with current Mayor Thomas Menino, left, and former Mayor Raymond Flynn prior to the unveiling of a bronze statue bearing White's likeness outside Faneuil Hall near Quincy Market in Boston. White died Friday, Jan. 27, 2012. White was diagnosed with Alzheimer?s disease in 2003. A family spokesman says he died at home surrounded by family. He was 82. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

In this Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006 file photo, former Boston Mayor Kevin White laughs with supporter Marie Ostiguy after the unveiling of a bronze statue bearing White's likeness outside Faneuil Hall near Quincy Market in Boston. White, who died Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, was diagnosed with Alzheimer?s disease in 2003. A family spokesman says he died at home surrounded by family. He was 82.(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

BOSTON (AP) ? Kevin H. White, a four-term mayor who led Boston through years of racial violence and economic stagnation and was credited with putting the city on a path to prosperity, has died. He was 82.

White, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2003, died Friday night at his Beacon Hill home surrounded by his family, said George Regan, a family spokesman and friend.

"He was a man who built Boston into the world-class city it is today," said Regan, who called his loss "devastating."

White, a white Irish Catholic from a family of politicians, is credited with revitalizing Boston's downtown and seeing the city through court-ordered busing, but he ended his tenure in 1983 under a cloud of ethics suspicions.

The Democrat was elected Massachusetts secretary of state three times before running for mayor for the first time in 1967 against antibusing activist Louise Day Hicks. He defeated her with support from the black community and liberals.

After losing a 1970 bid for governor, White was re-elected mayor in 1971, again defeating Hicks. He won again narrowly in 1975 and 1979.

White was considered as a vice presidential running mate to U.S. Sen. George McGovern of South Dakota in 1972 but was passed over for U.S. Sen. Thomas Eagleton of Missouri, who was later cast aside for R. Sargent Shriver Jr.

After U.S. District Court Judge W. Arthur Garrity ordered busing to desegregate public schools in 1974, White protected schoolchildren from ensuing violence with federal and state assistance during the period of crisis and in 1976 led a march of 30,000 to protest racial violence.

White was never totally comfortable with busing, however, and called Garrity's plan "too severe."

"I wish I knew a way to have taught Garrity or convinced Garrity to be more generous ... or softer in his implementation of that order," White said after his time as mayor.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, a fellow Democrat, said White "knew how to wisely wield the power of the mayor's office for the public good."

"For 16 years," Kerry said in a statement, "the mayor shepherded the city through the turbulence of the late '60s and mid-'70s and in the process ushered in the remarkable city we know today."

Current Mayor Thomas Menino, also a Democrat, praised White for his contributions to the city.

"Mayor Kevin White was a great friend and a great leader who left a lasting mark of hope and inspiration on the City of Boston," he said in a statement. "He will be sorely missed."

White's first two terms were known for his Little City Halls in the city's far-flung neighborhoods that gave power to ethnic and racial minorities, but he consolidated his power in his final two terms.

White closed the Little City Halls and instead used a network of ward lieutenants who rewarded the mayor's supporters with city jobs and contracts.

Seven mayoral aides were eventually indicted on fraud and extortion charges. His one-time budget director and an official of the Boston Redevelopment Authority were convicted of fraudulently obtaining city pensions. A deputy commissioner was convicted of tax evasion for failing to report money that prosecutors said he gained from bribes.

White was never implicated. The State Ethics Commission, however, conducted a 10-month investigation that found "reasonable cause" that White had violated conflict-of-interest laws.

The city also wallowed in a financial crisis in the later years of his tenure that led to layoffs of police officers and firefighters and the shutdown of some stations.

The crises were exploited by his critics, who called him King Kevin, and he dropped out of the 1983 mayoral race, eventually won by Raymond Flynn.

"It's no secret that Kevin and I were rivals for many years," Flynn said in a statement. "But underneath that sometimes heated rivalry, rooted in different priorities, was a mutual respect. Kevin and I shared a deep love for this complex, fascinating city of Boston."

A liberal reformer, White appealed to a cross-section of society, including the young.

Once, when the Rolling Stones were arrested on the way to Boston, the mayor released them into his own custody.

"The Stones have been busted, but I have sprung them!" he told an audience at Boston Garden.

While the busing crisis stained Boston's image, White was also credited with revitalizing the city's downtown, especially the shops and restaurants of Quincy Market, which remains one of the city's top tourist attractions. He thought the downtown renaissance would make Boston a "world-class city."

A statue of White was unveiled near Quincy Market in 2006.

Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, said White's stewardship created "a path to prosperity for the city."

White's father and maternal grandfather had been Boston City Council presidents. In 1956, he married Kathryn Galvin, the daughter of another City Council president. He was educated at Tabor Academy, Williams College, Boston College Law School and the Harvard Graduate School of Public Administration.

After handing over the office to Flynn in 1984, White accepted a position at Boston University as a professor of communications and public management.

While mayor in 1970, White had major surgery to remove two-thirds of his stomach. He suffered a heart attack in 2001 while at a Florida restaurant and spent several days in a hospital when he had a pacemaker implanted.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kathyrn Galvin White, five children and several grandchildren.

___

Associated Press Writer Sylvia Wingfield contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-28-Obit-Kevin%20White/id-ffb9fe954f85461f95b8be69668b4814

election results gop debate live gop debate live nome alaska nome alaska alaska map bil keane

Buffett Rule's impact? W.H. won't say (Politico)

President Barack Obama has left unanswered a major question about his Buffett Rule tax on millionaires: Just how much money would it raise?

Administration officials are not releasing projected revenues from the much-hyped plan named after billionaire investor Warren Buffett. During the State of the Union address, Obama tied his proposal ? which would tax those earning $1 million at a minimum of 30 percent ? to cutting a deficit estimated to top $1.1 trillion for the fourth straight year.

Continue Reading

But for the moment, the White House wants to keep the attention focused on Obama?s argument that it?s unfair to tax Buffett?s secretary at a higher rate than her boss.

?I?m not going to give you a schedule of how broad individual tax reform would break down and what impact it would have,? White House press secretary Jay Carney said at the Wednesday briefing. ?The president simply believes that as a matter of principle that unfairness ought to be changed.?

Republican lawmakers ? noting the absence of real numbers ? attacked the plan as a political charade, an attempt to score points in the November election instead of a serious policy to reduce federal debt. One outside analysis by the non-partisan Tax Foundation indicates the rule would generate another $36.7 billion a year in revenue ? far from enough to make a serious dent in a national debt of $15 trillion.

?It?s a smokescreen,? Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) told POLITICO. ?Barack Obama just wants to pit one group against another so he can raise more money to spend on a bloated government.?

Along with Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), Scalise unveiled an alternative to the Buffett Rule in October, sponsoring a measure that would let the wealthiest Americans volunteer to pay more in taxes to specifically lower the deficit.

In the State of the Union, Obama pitted the Buffett Rule against being forced to carve up government funding for education, medical research and the military, saying it was choice between tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and ?investments in everything else.

?If we?re serious about paying down our debt, we can?t do both,? the president said.

Obama would also require closing tax code loopholes for millionaires, and in return has offered to take steps to restrain the bulging costs of Medicare and Medicaid.

The Buffett Rule?s minimum tax could eat into the incomes of as many as 200,000 taxpayers, according to an October study by the Congressional Research Service.

On average, someone hauling in $1 million a year might have fork over another $50,000 to Uncle Sam. That?s a sizable tab for individuals but not a lot for the government, said David Logan, an economist at the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C. think tank.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/politico_rss/rss_politico_mostpop/http___www_politico_com_news_stories0112_72056_html/44321604/SIG=11ml9f537/*http%3A//www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/72056.html

demi moore 911 call antioch chuck series finale nhl all star game 2012 the grey review victoria azarenka jim rome

[OOC] order of the hawk: the edge of time

Forum rules
This forum is for OOC discussion about existing roleplays.

Please post all "Players Wanted" threads in the Roleplayers Wanted forum!

Topic Tags:

Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.

---

---

Post a reply

RolePlayGateway is a site built by a couple roleplayers who wanted to give a little something back to the roleplay community. The site has no intention of earning any profit, and is paid for out of their own pockets.

If you appreciate what they do, feel free to donate your spare change to help feed them on the weekends. After selecting the amount you want to donate from the menu, you can continue by clicking on PayPal logo.

Who is online

Registered users: [Soma], Agent, ajemokid, Alexa [Bot], allimagination, amanita100, Anansi, Annaky, Annalysa Jones, aod0209, Archlkan*, ArcticFox, Armageddon, AzricanRepublic*, Azure Limit, Bashie L. Craft, BekaL101, Belphegor, BilgeWater, Black, blackwolf, Calvazara, Carlos_Joaquin, Chulance*, dig17*, DivineBitterness*, Draruto, Eiris*, EmbracingIllusions, Eteles, Fatal_Flaw_Enki*, FelixVerricht*, Forensic_Anthro, Gaunt88, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], Google Feedfetcher, GotDraggedIntoThis*, Hadespwr*, Hitomi-san, Iamdeadpool, Ikiros, Imagine That!, ItchySweater, kathrin*, lostamongtrees*, Lucentfir*, Mader, Magix, MarchHare*, Mr_Doomed, MSN [Bot], MSNbot Media, NasiaWords*, Nevan*, nltniko, Nocte*, Otowar*, pathfinder Z, peachyme123, Phoenix6000, PirateofPie*, PolarOpposites*, Porecomesis*, Princess Awinita*, Qetzo, QueenShibby, RadicalDreamer*, Rawr413*, Rem?us*, Ropeburn*, RPSavior, Ryand-Smith*, Ryeke74, Saikua, Scythe Massak?r*, shmband, SilverStar89, Smokescreen, Sora112112*, spudjohnson*, Starryskies*, Steppin' Razor*, Stilts*, SuperQ19, sweet_angle66, sweetgal, Sylwyn, Talisman, The Angry Penguin*, The Illusionist*, The Painkiller, the_judged, TheDarkWorgen*, Thepyromaker, Tiko*, Tyliana*, Tyro, unmog, Usui*, Vyral, Wake*, wednesdaysun, Wet Matches*, whimsicallyJT, Wing06Twilight, Wudgeous, XianEvermor*, xXChocobeanXx, Yahoo [Bot], zody*, ? ????????? ?, ? Reality ?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/HHgg-7msmd4/viewtopic.php

boise state anencephaly jordans prometheus movie indianapolis colts posterior michelle obama

NC gov's re-election decision could benefit Obama (AP)

RALEIGH, N.C. ? The key battleground state of North Carolina is still within President Barack Obama's grasp, despite Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue's surprise decision to drop her re-election campaign.

Obama has been running commercials in the state for months, and the Democrats have staked so much on repeating his 2008 success in North Carolina that their presidential nomination convention will be held in Charlotte.

"It's helpful news for Obama rather than problematic news," John Dinan, a political science professor at Wake Forest University, said of Perdue's announcement Thursday. "You'd expect the Obama campaign would rather run with a strong gubernatorial candidate on the ballot, and by all accounts, Perdue was not a strong candidate."

Perdue, the first woman elected governor in North Carolina history, said she worried a fight with Republicans over public education would become too political if she tried for a second term. But Perdue entered the election year with political baggage, including a campaign finance investigation, sagging poll numbers and a tough rematch campaign against an opponent she narrowly beat in 2008, when Obama's coattails helped Democrats across the state.

"North Carolina's a swing state, they can't afford to lose it for the presidential race," said Michael Munger, a political science professor at Duke University who ran for governor as a Libertarian in 2008. "I would guess some senior Democratic people strongly suggested she spend more time with her grandchildren."

Four years ago, Obama shocked many national pundits by becoming the first Democratic presidential nominee to carry the state since Jimmy Carter in 1976, defeating Republican Sen. John McCain by just 14,177 votes out of more than 4.3 million ballots cast.

Perdue, then the state's lieutenant governor, benefited from Obama's highly organized effort to boost voter turnout, an effort the president will look to repeat regardless of whether the Democratic gubernatorial nominee is an incumbent.

"I don't think the president's 2012 chances are affected by this in any way," said Andy Taylor, a political science professor at North Carolina State University. "The presidential race is the dog and the gubernatorial race is the tail, and the dog is going to be wagging the tail."

Obama's win here was the first in 32 years for a Democratic nominee for president. He praised Perdue for breaking down barriers during her political career.

"For over 25 years, she has fought for the people of the Tar Heel state ? working to transform the state's public schools, improve the health care system, protect and attract jobs for members of the military and their families, and create the jobs of the future," Obama said in a statement.

Perdue, a former school teacher, said her decision was about protecting public education from spending cuts by the GOP-led legislature.

"The thing I care about most right now is making sure that our schools and schoolchildren do not continue to be the victims of shortsighted legislative actions and severe budget cuts inflicted by a legislative majority with the wrong priorities," Perdue said in a statement.

The statement made no mention of what Perdue, 65, planned to do in the future. Perdue campaign spokesman Marc Farinella said the governor declined to speak to reporters Thursday because she was spending time with her family after making "this very difficult decision."

"For now she wants her statement to speak for itself," he said.

Perdue's decision means it will be the first time a sitting North Carolina governor has failed to get elected to a second term since voters gave chief executives authority to succeed themselves in the 1970s.

"All the Democrats' waters rose with Obama in 2008," said Brian Nick, a Republican strategist working for likely GOP gubernatorial nominee Pat McCrory. "It would be a fallacy to think the governor's race is going to affect the presidential campaign in North Carolina."

Perdue has faced high unemployment, consistently weak approval numbers, a string of political defeats and the indictment of two close aides and a family friend in a campaign finance scandal that is continuing to unfold. She has also made some well-publicized gaffes, like a joking suggestion last year that congressional elections should be suspended for two years to ease partisan gridlock.

North Carolina is crucial to Obama's re-election strategy, with a win there relieving the need to carry more-traditional battleground states such as Florida and Ohio.

Perdue is listed as the co-chair of steering and host committee membership for the 2012 convention. DNC officials were quick to say Thursday that Perdue's withdrawal from the governor's race will have no effect on the September event.

The governor has not been closely involved in the convention planning and was not present at a DNC media conference in Charlotte last week announcing that President Obama would give his acceptance speech to Bank of America Stadium.

"They made the decision to site the convention in Charlotte knowing that Beverly Perdue was facing an uphill fight," said Steven Greene, a political science professor at N.C. State. "That was already factored into their decision."

Perdue may try to maintain a low profile through the end of her term early next year. After issuing a statement declaring her intention not to run, Perdue holed up in the governor's mansion with her aides.

Mark Johnson, the governor's deputy communications director, said the governor has no public events scheduled for the next week.

"Anything beyond next week is tentative," Johnson said.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120127/ap_on_re_us/us_nc_governor

us open mens final go daddy tmobile johnny cash serbia spongebob squarepants rafael nadal

Baylie Brown American Idol Auditions: Then and Now

Baylie Brown enjoyed a triumphant return to American Idol last night.

Five years after her initial appearance on the show - during which she advanced to Hollywood, was paired with uncooperative teammates ere and then forgot the lyrics on stage - this 21-year old Texan showed off a new hair color and a great voice yesterday as one of the 54 Golden Ticket recipients (along with Kristine Osorio and Ramiro Garcia) to make it out of The Lone Star State.

Watch her first try out below, lament how much we miss Simon Cowell by watching him once again in action, and then compare it to her version of "Bed of Roses" from this week's audition.

Baylie Brown Season 6 Audition for American Idol

Baylie Brown Season 11 Audition for American Idol

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/01/baylie-brown-american-idol-auditions-then-and-now/

north dakota jobs referendum scarlett johansson glee project winner kris humphries remember the titans wale

Gingrich donor is casino mogul, Israeli hardliner

FILE - This June 7, 2011, file photo shows Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson waving to reporters as he arrived for Sands China's annual meeting in Hong Kong. He?s an ardent supporter of Israel and a megabillionaire casino mogul whose empire is under federal investigation. And he?s the self-proclaimed ?richest Jew in the world.? Adelson is also, far and away, the biggest patron of Newt Gingrich?s surging presidential bid. Adelson and his wife, Miriam, have pumped $10 million into a political action committee backing Gingrich. Campaign finance experts say the pair of $5 million contributions is among the largest known political donations in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)

FILE - This June 7, 2011, file photo shows Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson waving to reporters as he arrived for Sands China's annual meeting in Hong Kong. He?s an ardent supporter of Israel and a megabillionaire casino mogul whose empire is under federal investigation. And he?s the self-proclaimed ?richest Jew in the world.? Adelson is also, far and away, the biggest patron of Newt Gingrich?s surging presidential bid. Adelson and his wife, Miriam, have pumped $10 million into a political action committee backing Gingrich. Campaign finance experts say the pair of $5 million contributions is among the largest known political donations in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)

Republican presidential candidate former House Speaker Newt Gingrich accompanied by his wife Callista speaks during an event at a Holiday Inn, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, in Cocoa, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

ATLANTA (AP) ? He's an ardent supporter of Israel. A megabillionaire casino mogul whose Las Vegas Sands Corp. is under federal investigation. And the self-proclaimed "richest Jew in the world."

Sheldon Adelson is also, far and away, the biggest patron of Newt Gingrich's surging Republican presidential bid. Adelson and his wife, Miriam, have pumped $10 million into a political action committee backing Gingrich that is run by the former House speaker's onetime aides. Campaign finance experts say the two $5 million contributions are among the largest known political donations in U.S. history.

No other candidate in the race for president appears to be relying so heavily on the fortune of a single donor. It's been made possible by last year's Supreme Court rulings ? known as Citizens United ? that recast the political landscape by stripping away restrictions on contributions and how outside groups can spend their money.

Sheldon Adelson is Citizens United come to life.

"The bottom line is that it creates that potential for one person to have far more influence than any one person should have," said Fred Wertheimer, president of the campaign finance watchdog group Democracy 21.

When any candidate is beholden to a single donor for so much money, Wertheimer said, "it opens the door to corruption and influence peddling." Wertheimer said the infusion of cash would raise questions about any decision Gingrich would make that touches on gambling, for example. And similar questions could be raised about Gingrich's Mideast policies.

Indeed, without recent disclosures by news organizations, voters would not have even known about the large contributions until campaign filings due Feb. 20. That would be long after a number of key primaries.

The outsized contributions are stirring some unease among the evangelical voters whom Gingrich is counting on to help him defeat Mitt Romney. Richard Land, head of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, called the gambling cash fueling Gingrich's bid "discomforting."

Land said Gingrich should make clear what his views are on legalized gambling.

Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond said the candidate believes it is a states' rights issue and does not gamble.

Friends say Adelson and Gingrich met when Gingrich was House speaker and Adelson was lobbying to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Gingrich backed the legislation and the two bonded over a shared hardline stance on Israel.

In Cocoa, Fla., Gingrich on Wednesday called Adelson "very deeply concerned about the survival of Israel" and the threat of a nuclear Iran. Asked if he had promised Adelson anything, Gingrich replied that he pledged "that I would seek to defend the United States and United States allies."

Those who have followed Gingrich's career say he has long staked out a tough stance on Israel that predated his friendship with Adelson.

Gingrich "has been one of the few politicians who has had the courage to tell the truth about Israel," said Morton Klein, head of the Zionist Organization of America. "I think that is why they became such good friends."

In December, Gingrich proclaimed the Palestinians "an invented people." Israel's Haaretz daily reported later that month that Adelson approved of the remarks. And Gingrich has said that one of the first executive orders he would sign if elected president would move the American Embassy to Jerusalem.

Through a spokesman, Adelson declined an interview request from The Associated Press.

His rags-to-riches story as the son of poor Ukrainian immigrants in Dorchester, Mass., is well-known lore in the pro-Israeli circles he inhabits and where his philanthropy is legendary.

Adelson entered the business world as a 12-year-old selling newspapers. He began to make his fortune when he founded Comdex, a trade show that became a staple for the computer industry. He then moved into the casino industry. His gambling empire stretches from Las Vegas to Macau and Singapore and includes the Venetian and Palazzo casinos in Las Vegas.

The FBI and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating Adelson for possible violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, according to a filing with the SEC. The company denies any wrongdoing and says the investigation stems from the allegation of a disgruntled employee.

The son of a cab driver, Adelson now ranks as the eighth wealthiest person in America, according to Forbes Magazine, which places his net worth at $21.5 billion.

Last year, Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Israel, said it received its largest private donation ever ? a $25 million gift ? from Adelson. Since 2007, he has donated more than $100 million to Birthright Israel, a group that sends young adult Jews from the United States and other countries on 10-day trips to Israel.

Adelson is an outspoken supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and owns a widely read, right-wing Israeli newspaper, Israel Hayom, which is distributed at no cost throughout Israel and is supportive of Netanyahu.

The hefty donations to Gingrich's presidential bid aren't the first checks he's written to help the former Georgia congressman. He ponied up more than $7 million to help get Gingrich's conservative political group American Solutions for Winning the Future off the ground.

The first $5 million donation from Adelson came at a critical juncture for Gingrich as he entered South Carolina, stung by a humbling fifth-place finish in New Hampshire's Republican primary. The Adelson money to Winning Our Future, a pro-Gingrich PAC led by former Gingrich aide Rick Tyler, helped finance a 28-minute movie bashing Mitt Romney's tenure at the helm of the private equity firm Bain Capital.

Gingrich was able to leverage the support into a double-digit win in South Carolina over Romney.

Presumably pleased with his investment, Adelson doubled down in Florida, where the next Republican contest will take place Jan. 31. This week, Adelson's wife chipped in another $5 million. The money is quickly going right back out the door.

Tyler told the AP that Winning Our Future had made a $6 million ad buy in Florida. A spot is planned to take aim at Romney's health care plan as governor of Massachusetts and its connection to President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, Tyler said.

___

Associated Press writers Ian Deitch in Jerusalem, Brian Bakst in Cocoa, Fla., and Jack Gillum in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Follow Shannon McCaffrey: www.twitter.com/smccaffrey13

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-01-26-Gingrich-Casino%20Mogul/id-e9bc0316e853481794c24a9742893469

9 11 memorial chuck explosion plaxico burress kenya entourage season 8 entourage season 8

Oscar nod for West Memphis 3 film angers parents (AP)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. ? The parents of two of three Arkansas boys who were brutally murdered nearly two decades ago said they're disappointed that a documentary about the killings and the three men convicted, known as the West Memphis Three, was nominated Tuesday for an Academy Award.

Todd and Diana Moore had asked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to exclude "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" from consideration, saying it glorifies Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley. The three spent 18 years in prison, long claiming their innocence and attracting attention from celebrities, before reaching a deal with prosecutors to be set free last year.

The film, directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, is the third in a series of HBO documentaries about the case. The 8-year-old Cub Scouts ? Michael Moore, Stevie Branch and Christopher Byers ? were found dead in 1993 in West Memphis, a town along the Mississippi River. Two drowned in a drainage ditch, the other bled to death; all were found naked and tied up.

The Moores, along with Stevie Branch's father and stepfather, sent a letter to the Academy and reporters on Tuesday expressing their "sadness, disappointment, and outrage" about the Oscar nod.

"This film should be exposed as a fraud, not rewarded with an Academy Award nomination," they wrote.

Berlinger, who was at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, said in an email that he was sympathetic to the victims' families.

"We believe that the pursuit of the truth has been the best way to honor the memories of the victims of this unimaginable crime and our hearts go out to those who are criticizing us," he said.

The Academy didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The film was among five documentary features nominated for an Oscar.

The first film aired in 1996 and immediately raised doubts about the case. Over the years, celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder and the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines joined the effort to free Echols, who was sentenced to death, and Baldwin and Misskelley, who received life prison sentences.

The three men were freed in August after pleading guilty to lesser charges in exchange for sentences of the 18 years they'd already served. An unusual legal maneuver allowed the men to maintain their claims of innocence.

Since then, the men have been relearning to live outside prison walls and new films are chronicling the case. "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" premiered last year, and another film, "West of Memphis," premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this month.

The letter from the Moores comes shortly after Pam Hobbs, Stevie Branch's mother, asked the state to reopen the case after she saw new evidence in "West of Memphis." She believes Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley did not murder her son.

Prosecutor Scott Ellington, who handled the case in August, didn't respond to a phone message left Tuesday. He has said he believes the real killers were convicted but promised to look at new defense evidence.

Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were convicted after Misskelley unexpectedly confessed and implicated the other two, describing sodomy and other violence. Misskelley, then 17, later recanted, and defense lawyers said he got several parts of the story wrong. An autopsy found there was no definite evidence of sexual assault, and Misskelley said the older boys abducted the Cub Scouts in the morning, when they had actually been in school all day.

___

Follow Jeannie Nuss at http://twitter.com/jeannienuss

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120124/ap_on_en_mo/us_boys_slain_documentary

current time earthquake today earthquake today droid razr oklahoma news atomic clock earthquake map

[OOC] We'll Meet Again, Some Sunny Day

Forum rules
This forum is for OOC discussion about existing roleplays.

Please post all "Players Wanted" threads in the Roleplayers Wanted forum!

Topic Tags:

Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.

---

---

"Vera! Vera! What has become of you?" :)

I may be interested in this roleplay. Can you tell me a little bit more about the plot?

Ita, ibi stabamus, et... Oh, ignosce mihi, was I speaking Latinam iterum? So sorry, ego really must work in ille. Anyway, back to fabulam meam, So, we were standing ibi, et...

FalloutRomanae

Member for 1 years

---

---

---

Could I get a hold on female 3 please?

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It's just that yours is stupid.
?I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.?
?I guess I just prefer to see the dark side of things. The glass is always half empty. And cracked. And I just cut my lip on it. And chipped a tooth.?

Lux_Disraeli

Member for 1 years

---

Very surprised at the response for this! Okay so since there's one place left then If you could send in your characters then I'll choose which one I like best but I may yet expand the character spots but first need to get some guy spots filled.

Calvazara

Member for 1 years

---

I noticed you make historical role plays, which I absolutely love...maybe I will reserve one of the male characters

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. (H.P. Lovecraft "The Call of Cthulhu")

girlwt

Member for 3 years

---

History is my passion! And it would be great if you could!

Calvazara

Member for 1 years

---

My character is done I hope she's alright.

snipergirl24

Member for 1 years

---

---

Post a reply

RolePlayGateway is a site built by a couple roleplayers who wanted to give a little something back to the roleplay community. The site has no intention of earning any profit, and is paid for out of their own pockets.

If you appreciate what they do, feel free to donate your spare change to help feed them on the weekends. After selecting the amount you want to donate from the menu, you can continue by clicking on PayPal logo.

Who is online

Registered users: Abraxas*, Addrinvan, Agent, aipsylon, Airanea, ajemokid, allimagination*, Alpha Type Shurelia, Ambreose*, amyreinreaper, Andreis, Animality Opera, Armageddon, Ashes*, Ashtonwolf, AutomailJunkie, AzricanRepublic*, B14ck J0k3r, BAWADABOO, BBClock*, BellatrighxSlander*, Beta Type Jakuri, blackwolf*, Blademaster_v3*, BlueWind_22, Bonjour51, brigitteanncastro*, BSDJoker, Calvazara, cass-isnt-here*, Chaningm92, Choclate~Pyrus, Chulance*, clone8642, cmpuncle, CountessMomo, CrashQueen, Crystal Flamedance, Cynique, Dark Star*, DarkAngel13, dawnfire07, dealing with it, Deku~Nut, Demon of Bereavement, diessomniumx, draketemple, dudedude889, Dyew, emotionless, Evaline, Exabot [Bot], Eyeris*, Fatal_Flaw_Enki, feral gale, fheebi, FizzGig*, Forevveru, forgetmenot333, Forget~Me~Not*, GenericUserName*, Gigabot [Bot], girlwt*, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], GreenWhiskey, Guardian Angel, Hadespwr*, Hanagumori, happyface, hayleymaee, HeroOfAwesomeness*, Iamdeadpool, Iced Fire, IckyThePenguin*, Incognito, Irish Wolf, It's_Gen, jackrules158, Jadeling Hawkins, Jo_Tunn, kathrin*, KenXin, Kenzi, Kirai-chan, Loriana, Lost Socks*, Lucaris*, Magix, Majestic-12 [Bot], Marcus*, Marine3950, Mat_z6, minibear, MirrorMirror1498, Mr. Crow*, MSNbot Media, MusicLover*, Nabu, NarrowEye, Neon.lynxie, Nevan*, Nightmaric_Angel, niykin*, nltniko*, Nocte*, NotAFlyingToy, nour06, Nulix*, Oran Tarlin, OrchideeFalco, Otowar*, Ottoman, parallelzero*, Patcharoo*, Penny Pincher, Phoenix6000, PirateofPie*, Planter777*, Porecomesis*, Pretty*, Princess Awinita*, PrincessBoy*, PrincessX18, RebornAncient12, RedRaine, Regret, Rem?us*, Renmiri, Rougeshadow*, RPK, RubyBlue*, RydeDawg, Saikua, ScarletRivers, Selene Durlan, SeraphicStar*, Shiva*, SkullsandSlippers, Smileybird*, smrtazz13*, snipergirl24, SnowSpartan66, Sorella*, speckles32shido, Starryskies*, Stilts*, SuperQ19*, sweetgal, Sylwyn*, T?far?s, Tawanos*, Tearen Wover, The Angry Penguin*, The Illusionist*, The Painkiller, The Sickness, the_judged, TheDarkWorgen*, TheOneAndOnly*, Thirion1850*, Tiko*, Tonks*, Trickster*, Tsoibe, Tyliana*, Usui*, Velvet_Harmony, Vlashneer, Wake, Walking-travesty, wednesdaysun, WindOnFire*, Winds Of Fate, Wing06Twilight*, wolfoftheage, Wudgeous, XianEvermor*, XKanojoOokamiX, xoxMissClairexox, xXChocobeanXx, zath, Zenia*, Zodia195, zolzol*, ~Living-Dead Doll~, ? Reality ?*

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/cXlx8-veB8Y/viewtopic.php

scarlett johansson glee project winner kris humphries remember the titans wale wale weather denver

In Florida, Romney takes aim at resurgent Gingrich (Washington Post)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/190184696?client_source=feed&format=rss

bonobos recent earthquakes club paradise earthquakes today twilight breaking dawn trailer shaker jackie evancho

Video: First Read Minute

NBC?s Mark Murray talks about the Republican race for the White House, Gabby Gifford?s resignation from Congress, and the President?s upcoming State of Union address.

Related Links:

http://twitter.com/nbcnightlynews

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46101355/

dart progeria watch free movies online watch free movies online montreal canadiens montreal canadiens jason aldean

State of Union: Obama to take on economic anxiety (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Eager to command center stage in a year dominated by Republican infighting, President Barack Obama is polishing a State of the Union address that will go to the heart of Americans' economic anxiety and try to sway voters to give him four more years. He will speak Tuesday to a nation worried about daily struggles and unhappy with his handling of the economy.

Obama's 9 p.m. EST address before a politically divided Congress will be built around ideas meant to appeal to a squeezed middle class. He is expected to urge higher taxes on the wealthy, propose ways to make college more affordable, offer new steps to tackle a debilitating housing crisis and try to help U.S. manufacturers expand hiring.

Designed as a way for a president to update the nation and recommend ideas to Congress, the State of the Union address has become more than that, especially during that one window when the address falls during the re-election year of an incumbent. It is televised theater ? and Obama's biggest, best chance so far to offer a vision for a second term.

He will frame the campaign to come as a fight for fairness for those who are struggling to keep a job, a home or college savings and losing faith in how the county works.

The speech will be principally about the economy, featuring the themes of manufacturing, clean energy, education and American values.

No matter whom Obama faces in November, the election is likely to be driven by the economy, and determined by which candidate wins voters' trust on how to fix it. More people than not disapprove of Obama's handling of the economy.

The overarching political goal is to give voters a contrast between his vision of a government that tries to level the playing field and those office-seekers who, in his view, would leave people on their own. Without naming them, Obama has in his sights those after his job, including Republicans Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich.

The presidential campaign sets an unmistakable context for the speech, right down to the nation's income gap between haves and have-nots. Obama will speak on a few hours after Romney, a former governor and businessman whose wealth is the hundreds of millions of dollars, will release tax records for 2010 and 2011.

The lines of argument between Obama and his rivals are already stark, with America's economic insecurity and the role of government at the center.

The president has offered signals about his speech, telling campaign supporters he wants an economy "that works for everyone, not just a wealthy few." Gingrich, on the other hand, calls Obama "the most effective food stamp president in history." Romney says Obama "wants to turn America into a European-style entitlement society."

Obama's tone will be highly scrutinized given that his address falls smack in the middle of a fierce and frenzied Republican presidential nomination process. He will make bipartisan overtures to lawmakers but will leave little doubt he will act without opponents when it's necessary and possible, an approach his aides say has let him stay on offense.

The public is more concerned about domestic troubles over foreign policy than at other any time in the past 15 years, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center. Some 81 percent want Obama to focus his speech on domestic affairs, not foreign ones; just five years ago, the view was evenly split.

On the day before Obama's speech, his campaign released a short Web ad showing monthly job losses during the end of the Bush administration and the beginning of the Obama administration, with positive job growth for nearly two Obama years. Republicans assail him as failing to achieve a lot more.

House Speaker John Boehner, responding to reports of Obama's speech themes, said it was a rehash of unhelpful policies. "It's pathetic," he said.

Obama will offer economic proposals for this year, despite long odds against getting the help he would need from Republicans.

Presidential spokesman Jay Carney said Monday that Obama is not conceding the next 10 months to "campaigning alone" when people need economic help. On the goals of helping people get a fair shot, Carney said: "There's ample room within those boundaries for bipartisan cooperation and for getting this done."

For three days following his speech, Obama will promote his ideas in five states key to his re-election bid: Iowa, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Michigan. He speaks on Friday about college affordability at the University of Michigan.

Meanwhile, the Republican race is suddenly a race again, given Gingrich's resounding win in the South Carolina primary over the weekend. Romney, who appeared the strong front-runner coming into that primary, is now focusing on Gingrich more than Obama as the GOP contest unfolds in Florida.

Vice President Joe Biden, in an interview with radio host Ryan Seacrest, said Monday there is no ideological difference between any of the Republicans seeking to challenge Obama. He said the campaign will offer the clearest choice in which direction to take the country since the era of the Great Depression.

Polling shows Americans are divided about Obama's overall job approval but unsatisfied with his handling of the economy.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120123/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_state_of_the_union

reno wildfire osu osu reno news syracuse shonn greene oklahoma state plane crash