Powerful storm flips cars, decimates homes; 2 dead

A vehicle lies on a road after a tornado moved through Adairsville, Ga. on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. A fierce storm system that roared across northwest Georgia has left at least one person dead and a trail of damage that included demolished buildings in downtown Adairsville and vehicles overturned on Interstate 75 northwest of Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

A vehicle lies on a road after a tornado moved through Adairsville, Ga. on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. A fierce storm system that roared across northwest Georgia has left at least one person dead and a trail of damage that included demolished buildings in downtown Adairsville and vehicles overturned on Interstate 75 northwest of Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this image made from video and released by WSB TV in Atlanta, a tornado moves through the town of Adairsville, Ga. on Wednesday, Jan 30, 2013. A fire chief says a storm that roared across northwest Georgia has left overturned vehicles on Interstate 75 northwest of Atlanta, and crews are responding to reports of people trapped in storm-damaged residential and commercial buildings. (AP Photo/WSB TV) MANDATORY CREDIT

In this image made from video and released by WSB TV in Atlanta, a tornado moves through the town of Adairsville, Ga. on Wednesday, Jan 30, 2013. A fire chief says a storm that roared across northwest Georgia has left overturned vehicles on Interstate 75 northwest of Atlanta, and crews are responding to reports of people trapped in storm-damaged residential and commercial buildings. (AP Photo/WSB TV) MANDATORY CREDIT

Jean Fogus, left, and her daughter Pamela Luna stand on there porch after tornado touched down damaging the siding, uprooted a tree and knocked out power to there home along Batson Drive Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in Ashland City, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

Thomas Ivey carries section of a tree he cut up after it was blown over by tornado that hit the corner of his friend's house Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in Ashland City, Tenn. Around 25 homes in Ashland City had minor damage. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. (AP) ? A massive storm system raked the Southeast on Wednesday, spawning tornadoes and dangerous winds that overturned cars on a major Georgia interstate and demolished homes and businesses, killing at least two people.

In northwest Georgia, the storm system tossed vehicles on Interstate 75 onto their roofs. The highway was closed for a time, and another main thoroughfare remained closed until crews could safely remove downed trees and power lines from the road.

WSB-TV in Atlanta aired footage showing an enormous funnel cloud bearing down on Adairsville, about 60 miles northwest of Atlanta, as the storm ripped through the city's downtown area. The system flattened homes and wiped out parts of a large manufacturing plant. Pieces of insulation hung from trees and power poles, while the local bank was missing a big chunk of its roof.

One person was killed and nine were hospitalized for minor injuries, state emergency management officials said. Residents said no traces remained of some roadside produce stands ? a common sight on rural Georgia's back roads.

One other death was reported in Tennessee after an uprooted tree fell onto a storage shed where a man had taken shelter.

In Adairsville, the debris in one yard showed just how dangerous the storm had been: a bathtub, table, rolls of toilet paper and lumber lay in the grass next to what appeared to be a roof. Sheets of metal dangled from a large tree like ornaments.

"The sky was swirling," said Theresa Chitwood, who owns the Adairsville Travel Plaza. She said she went outside to move her car because she thought it was going to hail. Instead, the passing storm decimated a building behind the travel plaza.

Powerful winds ripped through the entire region, with gusts powerful enough to topple tractor-trailers in several places.

In Adairsville, several were flipped on their side in the parking lot of the travel plaza. Danny Odum and Rocky Depauw, both truckers from Marion, Ill., had stopped for breakfast when the suspected tornado hit.

The pair had been driving their trucks through storm warnings all night long. When they got to the restaurant in Adairsville they went inside to eat. Depauw got a weather alert on his phone, and about two minutes later they saw debris flying through the parking lot and ran for an inner room.

"I've been stopping here for probably 40 years," Odum said. "I just stopped and had breakfast this morning, and this happened."

After it passed, Odum said he went outside to find his truck that was hauling diapers on its side with his dog Simon, a Boston terrier, still inside. Simon was scared but otherwise fine.

Depauw's truck was parked next to Odum's and was damaged but still upright. He speculated his heavy haul of cat litter may have helped his truck handle the hit better than his friend's.

Not far down the road, at Owen's Bar-B-Que, Chrystal Bagley and her coworkers heard warnings about severe weather on the radio, but they didn't hear Adairsville included in the list of warning areas. Around 11:45 a.m., the doors started rattling, and chairs and knick-knacks began blowing around the room as the door flapped open.

"We heard this big old whooshing noise like a train, and then we ran to the restroom, but we had to dodge objects," she said. "It was real scary."

By the time they reached the restroom, the 20 seconds of a roaring noise and shaking walls had stopped, and everyone was OK.

Bartow County fire chief Craig Millsap said there were reports that two storm warning sirens may have failed, but he said the failed sirens were not in the hardest-hit area.

Access to the area was being restricted, and there was a report of a gas leak in the area, officials said. A shelter was being established at a community recreation center ? temperatures were expected to plummet to the 30s and 40s overnight.

Authorities were still investigating several sites to determine if damage was caused by twisters. Since Tuesday, the system had caused damage across a swath from Missouri to Georgia.

In recent days, people in the South and Midwest had enjoyed unseasonably balmy temperatures in the 60s and 70s. A system pulling warm weather from the Gulf of Mexico was colliding with a cold front moving in from the west, creating volatility.

One person was reported injured by lightning in Arkansas during the storm's eastward trek. Two people suffered minor injuries when a mobile home was blown off its foundation in Kentucky. Only one minor injury was reported in Mississippi, where officials praised residents for heeding warnings and being prepared.

In Tennessee, officials confirmed that a tornado with peak wind speeds of 115 mph touched down in Mount Juliet. No serious injuries were reported there, though the path of damage was about 150 yards wide, including homes, a warehouse and an automotive business. At least six other tornadoes were reported statewide.

At a shopping center in Mount Juliet, large sheets of metal littered the parking lot, light poles were knocked down and bits of fiberglass insulation were stuck in the trees.

One wall of a Dollar General convenience store collapsed, and the roof was torn off. Mark Fulks Jr. runs Mark's Automotive with his father in a building attached to the Dollar General. The garage door was blown off his shop and sitting on one of the cars inside, and Fulks said several of the cars they were working on had their windshields blown out.

A nearby office building and a distribution center for The Tennessean newspaper also had severe damage. Rick Martin, who bags the newspapers and helps his wife deliver them, was shocked when he saw what was left of the distribution center.

The metal frame of the building still stood, but its cinderblock walls had crumbled, and papers and plastic bags littered the trees.

"We feel real lucky," he said Wednesday morning as looked at the damage. "I would have hated to be in here when this happened."

The deaths reported Wednesday ended the nation's longest break between tornado fatalities since detailed tornado records began being kept in 1950, according to the Storm Prediction Center and National Climatic Data Center. The last one was June 24, when a person was killed in a home in Highlands County, Fla. That was 220 days ago as of Tuesday.

The last day with multiple fatalities was June 4, when three people were killed in a mobile home in Scott County, Mo.

___

Associated Press writers Kristin M. Hall in Mount Juliet, Tenn., and Phillip Lucas in Atlanta contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-01-30-US-Winter-Weather/id-f1799971db1f4e92b47c983942d45404

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LG Spirit 4G arrives on MetroPCS, delivers 4.5-inch display and ICS to the budget-minded crowd

We are definitely no strangers to seeing MetroPCS bring well-priced, decently-specced Android handsets to market, and we have a feeling that's something potential and current subscribers certainly appreciate. Because, well, who doesn't like choice? With today's LG Spirit 4G launch, MetroPCS continues to expand its LTE-at-a-bargain ideals, announcing a smartphone that carries some pretty decent specs for being contract-free and costing a mere 269 bucks. Naturally, the 4.5-inch display is among the Spirit's main highlights, but there's also an unspecified 1.2GHz, dual-core CPU, a 5-megapixel rear shooter capable of 1080p video, and Ice Cream Sandwich, to boot. The carrier's quick to point out that its newly introduced slab is a follow-up to that LG Motion 4G we saw last year, and that it's compatible with those LTE plans which were unveiled earlier this month. It's worth noting that while the LG Spirit 4G's official MSRP is $269, MetroPCS will have it up for grabs, starting today, at the cheaper price of $199 -- that, of course, after a beloved mail-in rebate and for "a limited time" only. You'll find a couple more press shots after the break, and be sure to hit the source link if you're interested in grabbing one of these for yourself.

Gallery: LG Spirit 4G arrives on MetroPCS

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Ask the Experts: Can Aging Be Controlled?

Judith Campisi began her career studying cancer, but now investigates the molecular causes of aging Image: Berkeley Lab

Scientists have long thought that aging could be caused by molecular damage that accumulates in our bodies over the course of time. The damage is an unavoidable by-product of breathing oxygen and other metabolic processes that are necessary to life. Eventually, damaged cells stop working, or worse, adopt new functions that trigger cancerous growth or degrade important tissues in the brain, skin and other organs.

But as Melinda Wenner Moyer reports in the February issue of Scientific American, investigators have conducted several experiments over the past few years that challenge this so-called oxidative stress theory of aging. For example, a tiny mouselike creature known as the naked mole rat manages to live up to 30 years (about 10 times longer than a similarly sized mouse) despite accumulating a much greater level of oxidative damage in its tissues than other rodents.

These and other often surprising results have led to a boom in research on aging in the past few years, as investigators learn more about the inner workings of the cells at the molecular and genetic levels.

Scientific American spoke to Judith Campisi, a professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and senior scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, for a quick overview of the field. You can read more about Campisi?s research on cell senescence as one possible cause of aging in the August 2012 issue of Scientific American.

[An edited transcript of the interview follows.]

Why is it so hard to figure out what causes aging?
In many ways we already know what causes aging. We just don't know what causes aging in the kind of molecular detail that would allow us to intervene in large meaningful ways. It's not even clear that once we solve those mysteries we will be able to intervene in aging or dramatically extend longevity.

I started my career studying cancer. Look at all the things we have learned since the 1970s about how cancers form in the body. And yet, still the best cures we have for most cancers are sledgehammers. Biology is complex?and this is a reality that the public has to come to grips with and our legislators have to come to grips with.

I predict aging will follow the same trajectory as cancer research. Why is aging so difficult to figure out? It's because it's a really tough problem. I think it's tougher than cancer. The time has come to really wallow in the complexities.

How many different causes of aging do you think there will turn out to be?
I don't think there will be hundreds of causes of aging. But I don't think there will be just one, either, or we would have gotten a handle on it by now. It's sort of like asking me what the stock market would be tomorrow. I could give you an answer but you'd be crazy to believe me!

How about just a couple causes of aging?
Well, we know that there is molecular damage and what I will refer to as genetic damage?although that doesn't necessarily mean a mutation. By genetic damage, I am referring to both changes in the genes themselves as well as in the epigenetic switches that regulate how the genes are expressed.

Why does this damage occur? Basically, there are two main reasons: One, breathing oxygen is dangerous to your health. Your body makes certain harmful compounds just as a result of breathing oxygen. Two, the cells inside your body make mistakes when they divide. Most of the cells in your body are not dividing at any given time. Many have the ability to divide but? don't. But when a cell does divide, it has to copy three billion base pairs of DNA exactly right. Inevitably mistakes happen and cells become damaged.

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Cool, new views of Andromeda galaxy

Jan. 28, 2013 ? Two new eye-catching views from the Herschel space observatory are fit for a princess. They show the elegant spiral galaxy Andromeda, named after the mythical Greek princess known for her beauty.

The Andromeda galaxy, also known as Messier 31, lies 2 million light-years away, and is the closest large galaxy to our own Milky Way. It is estimated to have up to one trillion stars, whereas the Milky Way contains hundreds of billions. Recent evidence suggests Andromeda's overall mass may in fact be less than the mass of the Milky Way, when dark matter is included.

Herschel, a European Space Agency mission with important NASA contributions, sees the longer-wavelength infrared light from the galaxy, revealing its rings of cool dust. Some of this dust is the very coldest in the galaxy -- only a few tens of degrees above absolute zero.

In both views, warmer dust is highlighted in the central regions by different colors. New stars are being born in this central, crowded hub, and throughout the galaxy's rings in dusty knots. Spokes of dust can also be seen between the rings.

One view, seen at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA16682 , is a mosaic of data from Herschel's Photodetecting Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS) and spectral and photometric imaging receiver (SPIRE).

The second view, seen at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA16681 , shows data from only the SPIRE instrument, which captures the longest of wavelengths detectable by Herschel.

Herschel is a European Space Agency cornerstone mission, with science instruments provided by consortia of European institutes and with important participation by NASA. NASA's Herschel Project Office is based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. JPL contributed mission-enabling technology for two of Herschel's three science instruments. The NASA Herschel Science Center, part of the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, supports the United States astronomical community. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

More information is online at http://www.herschel.caltech.edu , http://www.nasa.gov/herschel and http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Herschel .

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Panic In Presidency Over Mounting Tension In Military?As Fear Of ...

There is panic in the Nigerian presidential villa, Abuja over a secret document prepared by a group of senior Army officers detailing the crisis rocking the Nigeria Army over recruitments and promotion exercises being carried out by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika among other issues. The officers operating under the name ?Group for the Salvation of the Nigerian Army and the Motherland (GROSNAMM)? however warned in the document that the crisis in the Army has already generated serious heat that can lead to mutiny in the military barracks and eventually result in a conflagration in the polity.?

According to them ?The President, the National Assembly, the Minister of Defence and the National Security adviser should know that the actions? and inactions of General Ihejirika portend great danger for the army and the country at large. A disgruntled officer corps is a recipe for disaster. It means the army will lack unity, cohesion and purpose. It will be? pre- occupied with fighting itself, as our terrible experiences of 1966 -67 showed. Already, information filtering out of the barracks indicate rising tension which is not unconnected with the injustices? discussed above. There are even reports of officers moving their immediate families out of the barracks, away from harms way. President Jonathan needs to act and act NOW. He must not allow himself to be a? pawn in a grand design to destroy his government by brewing the kind of discontent within the Nigerian Armed Forces which could become contagious and eventually engulf the entire society?? The document which content could however not be verified by iReports-ng.com as none of those contacted in government was ready to speak on it, is reproduced below unedited:

A DANGEROUS TREND IN THE NIGERIAN ARMY

There is a new dangerous trend in promotions and recruitment in the? Nigerian Army, which should be firmly and promptly checked before it destroys the military and the country. This trend is clearly visible in the manner in which the current Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike? Ihejirika is handling these two important aspects of running an effective army institution, which is very critical to the survival of any state. It appears that the Chief of Army Staff? is on a specific mission, most probably, sponsored by some sinister dark forces bent on destroying the army and setting the country on the path of serious conflagration. From all indication General Ihejirika is deliberately and recklessly pursuing a plan? to destroy the career of? senior non Igbo officers while at the same time embarking on a massive recruitment of soldiers of Igbo stock in order to eclipse all other ethnic groups in the Nigerian Army. This is raising serious concern within the army.

Let us, first, examine the promotion exercises carried out in all the formations since the elevation of Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika? to the office of Chief of Army Staff.? We begin with the Ordinance Corps.

THE ORDINANCE CORPS

In 2010, the Ordinance Corps presented the following brigadiers for consideration for promotion to the rank of Major General:

1. Brigadier Kachallah of NDA Course 22

2. Brigadier Oginni of NDA Course 23

3. Brigadier Martins of NDA Course 24

4. Brigadier Ugwu of NDA Course 25

It is instructive to note that of these four officers it was only Brigadier Ugwu, the most junior who was promoted. As is well known Brigadier Ugwu? was of NDA Course 25 but was eventually relegated to course 26. This promotion was cynically effected? in order to elevate Brigadier Ugwu above the others who by this act, automatically lost their seniority. Thus Brigadier Ugwu? is today,? Ordinance Corps Commander ahead of all his seniors.

THE ARMOURED CORPS

The situation was no different in the Armoured Corps. In 2010 the following officers were promoted.

1 Brigadier Oshonowo of NDA Course 24

2. Brigadier Nwaogbo of NDA Course 25

3. Brigadier Awala of NDA Course 25

In appointing the Corps Commander,? Lieutenant General Ihejirika sacrificed the vaunted military tradition of respect for seniority and competence.? He by-passed Brigadier Oshinowo, who was the most senior and the overall best in NDA Course 24. Instead, General Ihejirika appointed Brigadier Nwaogbo? Corps Commander. Obviously this happened because Nwaogbo is Igbo.? Let us examine the Supply and Transport Corps.

SUPPLY AND TRANSPORT CORPS

A similar situation presented itself in? the Supply and Transport Corps which recommended the following Brigadiers for promotion in 2011:

1. Brigadier Baidon of NDA Course 25

2. Brigadier Magaji of? NDA Course 26

3. Brigadier Nienger of NDA Course 26

4. Brigadier Agha Okoro of NDA Course 28

It is astonishing that of these officers, only their junior? Agha Okoro of NDA Course 28 was promoted. Clearly, this was done? in order to give Brigadier Okoro undue advantage to take over from Major General Gana as Corps Commander.

CORPS OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

This dangerous trend was also noticeable in? the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. In 2011 the following Brigadiers were presented for promotion.

1. Ariende ( of Edo State)

2. Labaran

3. Amao

4. Adekanye

5. Chioba.

Since Labaran was already in the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), where a Major General vacancy existed, he was lucky but Chioba was also promoted. Chioba?s promotion was to pave the way for him to emerge as Corps Commander of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE COURSE 18

Let us also consider the case of officers of? the National Defence College Course 18

Of all the officers of NDA Course 33 who attended the National Defence College Course 18, only one officer was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. His name is Duru. The Igbo boy. This officer?s grade on the course was a High C. Many other officers on the course came out with C+ grades but were not promoted last year.

Col Oyekan who was outstanding in the course and even had an award was not promoted. Similarly Col Shodunke who also got an award, was not promoted.? He? only got promoted this year having lost seniority by one year. The scheme was to deliberately slow down Col Shodunke to give Duru seniority. What is even more diabolical about this terrible scheme is that the award-winning? Col Oyekan is still languishing for a second year without promotion. The treatments meted out to these two officers become even more disturbing given the fact that both Shodunke and Oyekan were Directing Staff? (DR), at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, an appointment reserved for only the most outstanding officers. The question that arises from all this, is, what should an officer do in the Nigerian Army led by General Ihejitika to get recognition? Mediocrity?

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AS A CURSE

It appears that it is a curse for an officer to perform outstandingly and professionally in the Nigerian? Army headed General Ihejirika. This can be exemplified by the case of? Colonel Soleye, one of the finest officers of? his generation.

Two officers from the same state , Ogun, attended the National Defence College, Course 18. Both of them? hail from Abeokuta.? They were? Colonels Soleye and Fadunsi. The former came out of that course with C+ grade. He had a High C in his Senior? Division Staff Course and C+ in his Junior Division Staff Courses. The other officer, Fadunsi had a High C grade in the NDC Course and a C grade in both his Senior and Junior Staff Courses. Yet this officer was promoted ahead of Soloye who has a National Honour for Gallantry in Liberia as a platoon commander. Col Soloye also had various awards from the then Chief of Army Staff. But he is now languishing for a second year without promotion.? Reason? His outstanding personal and professional records. The plan here,? just as in the case of Oyekan, is to slow down this rising star who might get in the way of Igbo officers ?destined? by General Ihejirika to rise above him. By the way, Soleye?s type of gallantry in Liberia was not the cash and carry type. He almost lost both of his legs in trying to save his soldiers? lives. Investigation has also revealed that he has so far no disciplinary case against him.? Lieutenant General Ihejirika is still not done. He pursued his fiendish scheme with NDC Course 19.

NDC COURSES 19 and 20:EXCELLENCE AS DAMNATION

Let us again examine the case of NDC Course 19. Two officers excelled in that course: Col Unuigbe and Adefarati. Col Unuigbe not only came third, but also had an award for his performance. He was also given a commendation by the Chief of Army Staff and recommended to return as Directing Staff. He is still a Colonel!! Colonel Adefarati was also outstanding. Although he came 5th in that? course, he was also denied promotion.

This deliberate destruction of the careers of? diligent officers has continued with? NDC course 20.

Col Olu who came 1st? in the course, was for some strange reason not promoted. Of all the officers on the course who were due for promotion, only two were promoted. These are Colonels Egbudon and Okonkwo who coincidentally happen to be Igbo.

The most shocking was the case of Colonel John Enenche who is Idoma. Enenche had? two Chief of Army Staff commendations, one National Honour and very strong C+ in the course. Yet he was denied promotion in order to, just? like in the case of Col Soleye, to slow him down for General Ihejirika?s kinsmen to catch up,with them in the Corps of Engineers.

CRUDE MANOEUVRES

Let us go back to the Corps of Supply and Transport where two Brigadiers were retired, thus creating two vacancies for promotion. The two officers retired were Magaji and Baidom. The Corps had only one officer to present for promotion to Brigadier. This officer is Colonel Jidda who is a former Directing Staff at the Command and Staff College,? Jaji. Col Jidda also graduated from the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru with a B Grade. Colonel Jidda was not promoted in the last promotion exercise. The point here is that there were vacancies for two but only one was available. A good officer at that, but he was denied promotion. The only reason for this is that the other officer , Col Anene, an Igbo, who could have been presented alongside Jidda for promotion could not be presented because? he was in NIPPS, Kuru on a course. If Jidda had been promoted, he would have? automatically gained seniority over this Igbo officer.? The idea is for Jidda to wait for the Igbo boy to graduate from NIPPS so they can be presented next year with other officers from NDC course 21. Most likely, some Igbo officers would then edge out Jidda who will then suffer the faith of Col Oyekan and Col Soleye.

Similarly in the Finance Corps, a Brigadier General was retired thereby creating vacancy for promotion. So far only one officer has been presented for promotion for two consecutive years without success. This officer is Colonel Rufus Adejoro who graduated from NDC with a C+. It is obvious that? Col Adejoro who is on his last lap is being deliberately kept for age to catch up with him, so that when next he is presented along with a suitable? ?Kith and Kin? he will be edged out.

Furthermore, there is the case of Brig. Gen M. L. Raji of? the Artillery Corps. This officer was wrongfully accused of? releasing a Boko Haram terrorist from detention. Although Raji was court martialled? he was cleared of all charges and acquitted. As is well-known, this? officer?s record has always been outstanding. He was clearly heading to the top but had to be slowed down for others. Having been cleared of all charges, he was presented for promotion in 2011 but was denied . The idea was to stigmatize him. He was again denied? promotion in 2012. This means he is now in a precarious situation.

PROMOTING MEDIOCRITY AND NEPOTISM

In some instances it appears that? Gen Ihejiriaka is not only interested in advancing the interests of? his kith and kin but is also hell bent on promoting? mediocrity in the army. We can illustrate this by taking the case of? NDA Course 29. This course has many outstanding officers but pre-eminent amongst these is Brigadier General Oyebade.

Brigadier? Oyebade not only had? a B grade in his Senior Staff Course in Pakistan, he achieved? an A Grade in National Defence University in Pakistan. Brigadier Oyebade was a? Directing Staff (DS),? in both the Staff College, Jaji and Defence College, Abuja. However? the officer was denied promotion in the just concluded exercise.

Still on NDA course 29. Brig. Odunukwe of the Corps of Signals had to be promoted at all costs during the last promotion, otherwise age would have caught up with him on the rank. He just had to be promoted. This explains why he was promoted alongside two other signal officers. Out of the three promoted, two are Igbos, the other being Brig Orji.? Again for Orji, he was in a tight spot. This was his last chance, but because Ihejirika did not want his calculations to appear obvious, he inserted a Yoruba officer,? Ologundudu, to smoke up people?s vision.

It should be mentioned that many Igbo officers who have an age problem were not presented with letters of retirement unlike others who have since been eased out without a chance to progress. A case in mind is that of Brig Gen U.M Danko from Bauchi who was never presented for any promotion board since he was promoted in 2008. Nefariously, the officer was blocked from being presented three times so that age will catch up with him.

In course 30 of NDA, four (4) officers were presented but none was promoted. These officers include Brigadier P.A.T Akem, S. Abubakar, Ebenebe and Okoh. The reason is that if any were to be promoted, it would have to be an Igbo officer. It would difficult to drop Akem,? a Tiv officer or,? Abubakar an Igbirra officer, both with very good records. General Ihejirika therefore preferred to sacrifice Ebenebe and Okoh, who in any case did not have age on their side,? for officers from junior course (SS 26). The idea again being that for every promotion he must insert an Igbo. For example,? he picked Duru from course 33, leaving behind Akem whose records are outstanding or Abubakar who did very well in NDC.

SINISTER MOVES

Gen Ihejirika?s entrenchment of mediocrity and nepotism in the Nigerian army becomes clearer when we consider the promotion and postings of Brigadier Onoeveta. This officer was the ADC to the late President Umary Yar?adua, who was central to the scheme to deploy soldiers at the airport when the late Yar?adua was flown into the country from Saudi Arabia. He did so by disobeying the Chief of Defence Staff, National Security Adviser and the acting President. He prevented Acting President Goodluck from functioning until the death of President Yar?adua. Curiously after the death of President Yar ?adua, Brigadier Onoeveta?s colleagues were summarily retired or denied promotion. For example, Brigadier Mustapha, the Commander Guards Brigade is still a Brigadier years after the death of President Yar?adua.? However,? not only was Brigadier Onoeveta a crafty never ? do ? well Officer promoted, he has also been elevated above all his seniors who are known in the army to be far more solid and diligent officers than him. Mention should also be made here of Brigadier S.D Bala, Dadan Garba, D.E. L Yakubu, Oyekan, Akem and S. Abubakar, Soleye, Adefarati, Olatunde and Jidda, Marmoni, A.M Aliyu etc all officers who have made their mark in the army as we mentioned above. The question that arises is, what explains the retention and the preferential treatment being given to Brigadier Oneveta, who is notorious for? mediocrity. One? plausible explanation for this elevation of mediocrity is that it is a calculated attempt to achieve certain sinister or diabolical objective perhaps known only to General Ihejirika? and the dark forces behind his actions.

DISREGARD FOR ARMY COUNCIL DECISIONS

The pursuit of General Ihejirika?s evil agenda also manifest themselves clearly in his disregard for decisions of the Army Council. As the table below shows the Army Council approved the retirement of 11Major Generals but General Ihejirika retired? 12. Similarly, 26 Brigadiers were retired instead 25 approved by the Council while 13 Colonels were retired instead of the 12 approved.

Analysis of Retirement in the Nigerian Army

Rank	Retirements Approved by Army Council	Retirements Carried Out
Major General	11	12
Brigadier General	25	26
Colonel	12	13
Total	48	51

?

The unauthorised officers retired were:

Major General O. Akinyemi	N/6071	South West
Brigadier General U.M Danko	N/7178	North East
Col F.C. Adaka	N/8876	South South

?

IHEJIRIKA?S IGBO ARCHITECTURE

General Ihejirika?s Igbo architecture becomes very clear when we look at the disposition of Brigadiers holding strategic positions in the Nigerian Army today. Just consider this:

Brig OKORO is the sector commander in UNAMSIL( Liberia).

Brig DURU is the Director of Logistics in NDC, being prepared for a higher position.

Brig CHIOBA is the de facto oga in AHQ Policy and Plans.

Brig EGWUAGU is the Director at AHQ in charge of recruitment, positioning and promotion of all soldiers in the NIgerian Army!

Brig EBENEBE is the Director of operations in AHQ.

Brig OKOH is the Acting Chief of Logistics in AHQ. His three Directors are all Igbos.

Major General BUZUGBE is the Military Secretary in charge of postings, retirements etc.

RECRUITMENT OF SOLDIERS? INTO THE NIGERIAN ARMY DEPOT, ZARIA

This attempt to? Igbonise the Nigerian Army becomes clearer when we look at the pattern of recruitment of soldiers into the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria, under General Ihejirika. As the table below? shows,? there has been a massive recruitment of soldiers from his ethnic group to the disadvantage of others.

For example,? Abia state, the home state of General Ihejirika, with a population of only 2.8 million has so far had the largest share of recruits, 450, far above Kano with a population of 9.3 million and Lagos with a population of just over 9 million and Kaduna with a population? of just over 9 million. These states have so far? had 259, 255 and 382 recruits respectively. The case of Ebonyi is also symptomatic of this glaring lopsidedness in the recruitment figures. Thus although 377 were recruited from Ebonyi with a population of just 2.2 million, Oyo State with a population of 5.6 million had only 282; Katsina with a population of 5.8 million had only 248; Lagos State with a population of just over 9 million had only 255 and only 271 was recruited from Plateau state with a population of? of 3.2 million.

When the same? table is analysed on zonal basis, General Ihejirika?s bias in favour of his zone also becomes patently clear. The South east geopolitical zone with a population of? 16.3 million has so far had the highest recruits ? 1925. The North West, which is the largest geopolitical zone with a population of? 35.8 million, double that of South East, has only 1949 recruits.? Similarly, the South west geopolitical zone with a population of? 27.6 million, has only 1561 recruits. Thousands of qualified recruits from these states have had their applications turned down by a kangaroo selection group set up by General Ihejirika.

GEOPOLITICAL ZONES	STATES	POPULATION	66 RRI	67 RRI	68 RRI	TOTAL
? ? ? ?? SOUTH EAST	ABIA	2,833,999	155	143	152	450
	ANAMBRA	4,182,032	93	105	115	313
	EBONYI	2,173,501	126	141	110	377
	ENUGU	3,257,928	114	129	110	353
	IMO	3,934,899	153	129	152	432
	TOTAL	16,382,359	641	647	639	1925
? ? ? ? SOUTH SOUTH	AKWA IBOM	3,920, 208	90	101	116	307
	BAYELSA	1,703,358	67	144	105	316
	CROSS RIVER	2,888,966	128	115	152	395
	DELTA	4,098,391	85	122	121	328
	EDO	3,218,332	90	103	108	301
	RIVERS	5,185,400	72	102	95	269
	TOTAL	21,014,655	532	687	697	1916
? ? ? ? SOUTH WEST	EKITI	2,384,212	52	87	93	232
	LAGOS	9,013,534	65	102	88	255
	OGUN	3,728,098	66	98	96	260
	ONDO	3,441,024	68	100	99	267
	OSUN	3,423,535	71	98	96	265
	OYO	5,591,589	77	102	103	282
	TOTAL	27,581,992	399	587	575	1561
? ? ? NORTH WEST	JIGAWA	4,348,649	68	82	101	251
	KANO	9,383,682	76	72	111	259
	KATSINA	5,792,578	71	80	97	248
	KEBBI	3,238,628	91	77	99	267
	KADUNA	6,066,562	138	100	144	382
	SOKOTO	3,696,999	67	92	90	249
	ZAMFARA	3,259,846	72	117	94	283
	TOTAL	35,786,944	583	620	736	1939
? ? ? NORTH ??? CENTRAL ? ?	BENUE	4,219,244	112	105	145	362
	KOGI	3,278,487	103	81	128	312
	KWARA	2,371,089	69	112	99	280
	NASARAWA	1,863,275	75	107	114	296
	NIGER	3,950,249	78	79	110	267
	PLATEAU	3,178,712	76	78	117	271
	TOTAL	18,861,056	513	562	713	1788
? ? ? ? ? ?? NORTH EAST	ADAMAWA	3,168,101	95	72	113	280
	BAUCHI	4,676,465	79	76	100	255
	BORNO	4,151,193	87	88	101	276
	GOMBE	2,353,879	77	98	94	269
	TARABA	2,300,736	85	101	94	287
	YOBE	2,321,591	77	99	94	270
	TOTAL	18,971,965	500	534	596	1637
	????? F.C.T Abuja	1,405,201	78	54	51	183
	Nigeria	140,003,542

Is this not a scheme for the eventual total takeover of the Nigerian Army by one ethnic group? Does this not give a hint of some sinister moves by the Chief of Army Staff and some dark forces outside the the Nigerian Army?? Is this an attempt to repeat the 1966 agenda, according to which all non Igbo senior officers were eliminated and replaced, as shown below,? by Igbo officers appointed by General Ironsi, on 17th january, 1966?

Serial	Name	Command	Ethnic group
1	Lt Col George Kurubo	Chief of Staff Nigeria Airforce	Ibo, East
2	Lt Col Njoku	Commanding Officer 2nd Brigade	Ibo
3	Major H. Igboba	Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion	?Ibo, East
4	Major. G. Okonweze	Commanding Officer, Abeokuta Garrison	Ibo, Mid West
5	Major Nzefili	Commanding Officer 4 Battalion	Ibo, Mid West
6	Major Ochei	Commanding Officer Federal Guards	Ibo, Mid West
7	Major D. Ogunewe	Commanding Officer1Bn	Ibo, East
8	Lt Col Bassey	Commanding Officer 1 Brigade	East Non Ibo
	Major Okoro	Commanding Officer,3 Battalion	Igbo, East
10	Major F Akagha	Commanding Officer Depot.	Igbo, East

?

DANGEROUS TREND IN THE NIGERIAN ARMY

FUTHER DISTURBING POSTINGS.

The recent postings of the officers of the Nigerian Army, has confirmed our earlier observation of the dangerous trend in that important state institution. ?The ?on-going attempt to Igbonise ?the Nigerian Army has been given further impetus, as the table below brings out clearly. This dangerous trend has to be stopped to avert a looming disaster.

No	Name	Posting	Ethnic Group
1.	Major General Emeka	Commandant, Nigeria Defence Academy	Igbo
2.	Major General Umahi	GOC 81Division	Igbo
3.	Major General Nwuago	Commander, Armoured Corps	Igbo
4.	Major General Chioba	Commandant, DICON, Kaduna	Igbo
5.	Major General Odunukwe	Director of Operations, Army Headquarters	Igbo
6.	Major General Nwuagbo	Chief of Training Operations, Army Headquarters	Igbo
7.	Major General Orji	Commander, Corps of Signals	Igbo
8.	Brigadier General Azinta	Brigade Commander, Calabar	Igbo
9.	Brigadier General Egwuagu	Director Army Recruitment	Igbo
10.	Brigadier General Okorie Affra	Commandant, NYSC	Igbo
11.	Col Anene	Commander, AHQ S&T	Igbo

?

CONCLUSION

What is the ultimate Igbo agenda that General Ihejirika is pursuing? Is there a plan by these dark forces? to recklessly pursue some form of vengeance? for? perceived??? Igbo loses of the civil war? Is it therefore not a mere coincidence that Chinua Achebe?s unashamed fabrication of Nigerian history in the? book,?There Was a Country?, appeared at this point in time?? Has President Jonathan, on the advice of the late General Azazi, unwittingly created? a Frankenstein monster, by appointing Ihejirika? to the position of COAS and retaining him even after he was due to have retired?? The President, the National Assembly, the Minister of Defence and the National Security adviser should know that the actions? and inactions of General Ihejirika portend great danger for the army and the country at large. A disgruntled officer corps is a recipe for disaster. It means the army will lack unity, cohesion and purpose. It will be? pre- occupied with fighting itself, as our terrible experiences of 1966 -67 showed. Already, information filtering out of the barracks indicate rising tension which is unconnected with the injustices? discussed above. There are even reports of officers moving their immediate families out of the barracks, away from harms way. President Jonathan needs to act and act NOW. He must not allow himself to be a? pawn in a grand design to destroy his government by brewing the kind of discontent within the Nigerian Armed Forces which could become contagious and eventually engulf the entire society?

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Group for the Salvation of the Nigerian Army and the Motherland.

GROSNAMM?

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Source: http://ireports-ng.com/2013/01/30/panic-in-presidency-over-mounting-tension-in-military-as-fear-of-mutiny-grips-army-barracks/

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Hybrid Broadband Solution for Nordic

Ancylus AB & Net1 enter a strategic partnership to offer the Scandinavian & Nordic maritime market a hybrid broadband solution.

The new Hybrid broadband solution is tailor-made for the shipping industry operating in the Nordic waters. By offering the Net1?s wireless broadband the vessels can get connected with high speed internet while they are close to the Scandinavian shores (50 ? 60 nm) or in the ports, without any roaming issues.

Once the vessels leave the reach of the wireless network the communication switches over to broadband via satellite, provided by Ancylus. This service is optimal for Short Sea trade, Fishing industry, Offshore, Projects, Ferries, Yachts and other marine activities in the region.

"At a time when the shipping industry is suffering from an economic down-turn, we are happy to help their businesses by substantially lowering the communication costs," says Ulf Harderup CEO of Ancylus. "The shipping industry is increasingly getting dependent on high speed internet and voice, both for business-, and for leisure. By introducing the hybrid solution we are both increasing the data speeds and decreasing the costs."

Ancylus is a Sweden-based satellite broadband supplier meeting the demand for data, connectivity and bandwidth in the maritime and avionic environments. Net 1 offers mobile broadband, VoIP and M2M solutions to consumers and businesses.?

Source: http://www.marinelink.com/news/scandinavian-broadband351123.aspx

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Advertising: Ppc Advertising For Maximum Web Promotion | THMG ...

Tuesday, January 29th, 2013

Business nowadays is doing different kinds of austerity measures when it comes to advertising their products and services. This is because of high rates of placing ads on print and on television. But there is a fast growing approach that businessmen can utilize to bring their services closer to the people and that is through Internet Marketing.

One tool that is causing internet marketing popularity is PPC advertising. This is a technique used in search engine marketing that requires one to pay a fee every time someone clicks an ad on your website. Usually this placement is done through a bidding process. If you are a top bidder for your keywords/phrases, you are sure to be on the number one spot on all search engines. Just be sure of the effectiveness of your ad copy to get the most number of clicks you need for your business.

Here are the benefits of PPC advertising are:

1.You need not be a genius in computer and technology to be able to run this ad campaign.
2.Immediate results are seen after a few days.
3.No need to make a website conform to the SEO rules.
4.Nothing to lose even if you do not top the pages of different search engines. You can still always choose PPC advertising.
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Cons of PPC advertising includes:

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Click here to view rest of article from original site

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Source: http://www.thmg.com/ppc-tips/advertising-ppc-advertising-for-maximum-web-promotion/

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Court hears Italian "Devil's Advocate" was fake lawyer

LONDON (Reuters) - An Italian man known as the "Devil's Advocate" went on trial in London on Tuesday accused of posing as a lawyer to defraud 10 sets of victims of a total of almost one million pounds.

Giovanni Di Stefano, 57, denies 25 offences of deception, fraud, money laundering and forgery allegedly committed between 2004 and 2012.

Lawyer David Aaronberg, opening the case for the prosecution at Southwark Crown Court, said Di Stefano had no legal qualifications but had built a reputation as a lawyer willing to take on cases considered unwinnable or too difficult to defend.

"Somewhere along the way, over the years, he acquired the soubriquet, or nickname, of 'Devil's Advocate' and he became more and more well-known," Aaronberg said.

The prosecutor said Di Stefano's name had been linked to many newsworthy cases all over the world, and that he had worked in Iraq and in Serbia, but he gave no details.

Under British law, media reports about the trial cannot give any background details not given to the jury in open court.

The court heard that some of the offences alleged in the indictment arose because Paul Bush, a man convicted of murder and kidnapping, saw a 2004 BBC documentary "Notorious: Devil's Advocate" on Di Stefano in prison.

He asked his partner, Paula Gregory-Dade, to obtain Di Stefano's services to launch an appeal against his convictions.

Aaronberg described how Di Stefano persuaded Gregory-Dade and others connected to Bush to pay some 120,000 pounds in legal fees and for a supposed bail security for Bush.

The court also heard that in 2003, when asked by a British judge to provide proof of his qualifications, Di Stefano had said he could not as there had been an earthquake in Campobasso, his native province, which had destroyed all the public records.

Aaronberg said this was a lie and the records were intact.

He said Di Stefano's defence against the charges would be that he "honestly believed himself entitled to describe himself as a qualified lawyer".

The trial continues on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Louise Ireland)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/court-hears-italian-devils-advocate-fake-lawyer-175208957.html

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Understanding the human brain

Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Dr. Andreas Battenberg
battenberg@zv.tum.de
49-892-891-0510
Technische Universitaet Muenchen

Billion Euro project on brain research

This press release is available in German.

Extensive knowledge about the human brain and its functioning already exists but is highly fragmented. The goal of the Human Brain Project is to pull together this knowledge and to reconstruct the brain, piece by piece, in supercomputer-based models and simulations. The models offer the prospect of a new understanding of the human brain and its diseases and of completely new computing and robotic technologies.

Neurorobitics a first feasibility check

Scientists of the Technische Universitaet Muenchen will coordinate the part of the project focusing on Neurorobotics. It is here that with simulated and real systems the feasibility of the conceptual models will first be tested. The systems consist of sensors for data acquisition, data-processing elements, and actuators to carry out operations. "Our tests will show if the models' basic assumptions work," says Professor Alois Knoll, Chair for Real-time Systems and Robotics at TUM. "Then other groups in the project will use our test results to refine their models."

The Neurorobotics sub-project builds on the internationally recognized expertise in robotics research at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen. In the domain of neuroscience as well, TUM has already proven its research strength through successful participation in the Cluster of Excellence SyNergy (Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology). The new research groups will reside at the TUM-affiliated institute FORTISS. "That we, with our partners in the Human Brain Project, could prevail in such a hard international competition is a clear affirmation of our strategy of cross-linking and integrating scientific disciplines," says TUM President Wolfgang A. Herrmann.

Worldwide network for brain research

Federating more than 80 European and international research institutions and some important North American and Japanese partners, the Human Brain Project is planned to last ten years (2013-2023). The cost is estimated at 1.19 billion euros. It will be coordinated at the Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, by neuroscientist Henry Markram. In the coming months, the partners will negotiate a detailed agreement with the European Community for the initial first two and a half year ramp-up phase. The project will begin work in the closing months of 2013.

###

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[ | 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: 28-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Dr. Andreas Battenberg
battenberg@zv.tum.de
49-892-891-0510
Technische Universitaet Muenchen

Billion Euro project on brain research

This press release is available in German.

Extensive knowledge about the human brain and its functioning already exists but is highly fragmented. The goal of the Human Brain Project is to pull together this knowledge and to reconstruct the brain, piece by piece, in supercomputer-based models and simulations. The models offer the prospect of a new understanding of the human brain and its diseases and of completely new computing and robotic technologies.

Neurorobitics a first feasibility check

Scientists of the Technische Universitaet Muenchen will coordinate the part of the project focusing on Neurorobotics. It is here that with simulated and real systems the feasibility of the conceptual models will first be tested. The systems consist of sensors for data acquisition, data-processing elements, and actuators to carry out operations. "Our tests will show if the models' basic assumptions work," says Professor Alois Knoll, Chair for Real-time Systems and Robotics at TUM. "Then other groups in the project will use our test results to refine their models."

The Neurorobotics sub-project builds on the internationally recognized expertise in robotics research at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen. In the domain of neuroscience as well, TUM has already proven its research strength through successful participation in the Cluster of Excellence SyNergy (Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology). The new research groups will reside at the TUM-affiliated institute FORTISS. "That we, with our partners in the Human Brain Project, could prevail in such a hard international competition is a clear affirmation of our strategy of cross-linking and integrating scientific disciplines," says TUM President Wolfgang A. Herrmann.

Worldwide network for brain research

Federating more than 80 European and international research institutions and some important North American and Japanese partners, the Human Brain Project is planned to last ten years (2013-2023). The cost is estimated at 1.19 billion euros. It will be coordinated at the Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, by neuroscientist Henry Markram. In the coming months, the partners will negotiate a detailed agreement with the European Community for the initial first two and a half year ramp-up phase. The project will begin work in the closing months of 2013.

###

---

[ | 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/2013-01/tum-uth012813.php

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NFC blows out AFC 62-35 in Pro Bowl in Hawaii

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) of the AFC attempts to chase down Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) of the NFC in the third quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) of the AFC attempts to chase down Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) of the NFC in the third quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali (91) of the AFC and his teammate strong safety Eric Berry (29) tackle Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) of the NFC in the second quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) of the NFC makes a pass during the second quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) hands off the football to Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) of the AFC in the first quarter of the NFL football Pro Bowl game against the NFC in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) of the AFC manages to throw a pass just as Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) of the NFC grabs Schaub during the third quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

HONOLULU (AP) ? A handful of shenanigans and plenty of points ? yet still another ho-hum Pro Bowl.

Whether the NFL's all-star game will return next season is a something the league will ponder the next few months after the NFC's 62-35 blowout of the AFC on Sunday.

"It's been an unbelievable week," Seattle rookie quarterback Russell Wilson said, "And the thing was, if you watched us, everybody was competing today and it was really awesome."

Wilson at least got the crowd pumped up in the second half with some nifty scrambles and three passing touchdowns. There was also Houston's sack-happy defensive end J.J. Watt going out for a couple of passes as a wide receiver, and retiring Green Bay center Jeff Saturday snapping to two Mannings on opposite teams.

But while the NFC appeared unstoppable on offense, with nearly each player putting up fantasy-worthy lines in limited play, the AFC had five turnovers and scored most of its points well after the game was no longer competitive.

Minnesota tight end Kyle Rudolph was voted the game's MVP with five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown.

"Guys were competing, guys wanted to win and guys want to keep the game here," Rudolph insisted. "That was the point before the game. We want to keep this game rolling for future Pro Bowlers."

Watt, who had 20 1/2 sacks for Houston, lined up as a wide receiver on the AFC's third play from scrimmage, but missed a pass from Denver quarterback Peyton Manning. He was targeted one more time, but didn't make a catch.

He later showed a television camera a bloody left pinkie, joking with NBC broadcasters that it was proof that the players were trying.

"Hey, Commish, we're playing hard," Watt said as he showed his finger.

Roger Goodell has said the Pro Bowl won't be played again if play didn't improve this year. Last year, fans in Hawaii booed as lineman were clearly not trying. On one play in that game, Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen did a barrel roll to switch positions with a teammate.

If players were coasting this time around, it was less obvious. The AFC just played poorly. And fans didn't boo much ? the stands were relatively empty even though the game sold enough tickets to lift a local television blackout.

The game was trending on Twitter in the United States early on, but quickly gave way to the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the WWE Royal Rumble.

Saturday, retiring at the end of this season, played for both teams, though he came representing the NFC. He lined up on one play for the AFC to snap the ball one last time to Manning, his longtime former Colts teammate.

Saturday said it meant a lot to him that the Broncos quarterback, whom Saturday called a true friend, orchestrated the stunt.

"He's got a little more pull than I got," Saturday said. "He got it all set up and timed up for me, so it was really nice of him to do that."

Saturday played 13 seasons in Indianapolis, all with Manning ? except 2011, when Manning was out with a neck injury. Saturday then played later in the game for the NFC, snapping to Peyton's brother, Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

Saturday's last play on the field was a passing touchdown by Eli Manning.

Peyton Manning said it was nice for the NFL to allow the play to happen.

"It's something that I'll always remember," he said, "that he'll always remember to kind of get that one, final snap together after the thousands that we've taken together."

Even as the NFC piled up touchdowns, the game struggled for memorable moments after Saturday's momentary switch.

In the second quarter, referee Ed Hochuli drew cheers when announcing a pass interference penalty on Denver cornerback Champ Bailey in the second quarter ? the first flag of the game.

"Yes, there are penalties in the Pro Bowl," Hochuli said, drawing laughs and loud cheers.

Giants wideout Victor Cruz broke a Pro Bowl record with 10 catches. Tampa Bay receiver Vincent Jackson had 91 yards and two touchdowns. Eli Manning threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

Cincinnati's A.J. Green had three TD catches for the AFC.

NFL officials said earlier in the week that the league wants to decide the future of the Pro Bowl by the time next season's schedule is released in April.

"We understood exactly what (Goodell) wanted, guys were making plays all over the field," Cruz said. "There was a little bit more high intensity than in years past and we were excited to play."

___

Oskar Garcia can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/oskargarcia .

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-01-28-FBN-Pro-Bowl/id-99d234ad5f9f4b61972af5860ea8f865

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