Sears stores are spared in Texas ? for now

The Christmas season's usually-bountiful retail sales did little to help struggling Sears and Kmart stores. After a?foreboding fourth quarter, Sears Holdings Corporation announced on Tuesday that it planned to close 100 to 120 of its stores.

On Thursday, the company released a list representing the first 80 Kmart, Sears Full-Line, Sears Hardlines?Only and?Grand/Essentials stores slated for closure.?

Though multiple outlets in Ohio, Fla., Ala., Tenn., Minn., Va. and more will be shutting operations at a later date (yet to be announced), luckily for us, no Texas stores made the preliminary list.?

Looks like ? dinginess and all ? Sears stores in Houston are safe for now.?Stay tuned for further updates.?

Source: http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/12-30-11-12-38-texas-sears-stores-are-safe-for-now/

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Video: GOP candidates trade shots

>>> the republicans are descending on their stake for pitching to voters in iowa . peter alexander is there. good morning.

>> reporter: good morning. mitt romney the former governor of massachusetts will begin his day with a breakfast meet and greet. consider this statistic. a recent poll shows nearly 40% of likely republican caucus goers in iowa are not firmly set on a candidate which is why what happens here next tuesday is largely unpredictable and why the presidential candidates are once again crisscrossing the state. arriving in iowa late tuesday before a standing room only crowd, mitt romney ignored his republican rivals. instead launching a fierce attack on president barack obama .

>> gone is the hope and change candidate of davenport. gone is the candidate who would heal the nation.

>> reporter: earlier tuesday in new hampshire, romney mocked newt gingrich for his failure to get on the ballot in gingrich 's home state of vrnl.

>> virginia.

>> i think he compared that to what, pearl harbor ? it's more like lucille ball at the chocolate factory . i mean, you got to get it organized. despite romney 's efforts to act like the presumptive nominee the race in iowa remains wide open .

>> what the people of iowa want is an inspiring candidate. they want somebody who can get them enthusiastic, who can get them engaged.

>> reporter: since this summer, seven different republicans have led in the polls here. one of the recent gop front-runners, gingrich , the former house speaker , now appears to be losing momentum, in part due to a bare-fisted blitz of negative ads targeting his congressional record . to combat that assault, gingrich 's supporters launched their own new ad tuesday.

>> when a principal conservative took the lead they attacked him with falsehoods.

>> reporter: still another sign of trouble, conflicting stories with the end of his first marriage. on his campaign website gingrich claims his first wife asked for the divorce but court documents suggest gingrich himself requested the split. romney was also on the defensive tuesday trying to shake his moderate record, as conservatives attacked him on the issue of abortion, launching a new text message campaign, citing his past pro-choice views. and with ron paul demonstrating steady support, the biggest battle here may be over which candidate comes the conservative choice.

>> of all of the candidates that are running i am the one with the unassailable proven track record of a clear 100% consistent conservative.

>> reporter: michele bachmann , rick santorum and rick perry , stumping tuesday with controversial sher imjoe arpaio are all vying to earn that title. the slugfest continued into the night with mitt romney being attacked by newt gingrich who called him a big government moderate. newt gingrich also attacked ron paul saying he couldn't vote for paul if he became the romney . "his views totally outside the main stream of every decent american."

>> exander in iowa , thank you very much.

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/45803586/

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E! president: Fans aspire to be like Kardashians

NEW YORK?? E! President Suzanne Kolb owes much of her network's success this year to an extremely divisive family.

Hours of Kardashian-centered programming -- especially Kim Kardashian's start of a notoriously short marriage -- fueled ratings for the network that Kolb took over the network in July after serving as president of marketing, news and online for both E! and Style.

Kolb talked to us about the Kardashians, why people watch their shows, E!'s plans to introduce a one-hour dramedy and the network's place in the NBC Universal corporate family since Comcast acquired the company in January.

You've probably seen as much research as anyone into why the Kardashians are so popular with so many viewers. Can you explain why people watch their shows?

At their core, the Kardashians are an incredibly bonded, loving, large family who live an incredibly large life. And if you actually look at the history of television, there's a pretty large number of families with that blend resonating with viewers. This just happens to be the first reality show that does it.

In many ways when you look at the year ... there's obviously been a lot of major events in the Kardashian family's lives. It's just an incredibly fascinating drama that's played out. But at its core, you know that they're going to end up around that dinner table together. ... I think there's something emotionally aspirational around that family dynamic and visually aspirational about the way that family lives.

You mentioned aspirational viewers. Some viewers watch shows because they want to be like the people on the screen, and some to laugh at them. Are the Kardashians' viewers in the first group?

From every piece of research I've seen, people aspire to be them or to befriend them.

So there's no section of the audience watching the way they watch "Real Housewives," saying, 'I can't believe how trashy this is'?

I'm sure there are some people out there. I always think it's funny when people say they don't like a show and then they can tell you the name of every character and every plot. ... There are other reality shows out there where you're watching the show primarily to see really bad behavior, and with the Kardashians you're not really watching for that.

I mean, they've definitely made their mistakes here or there. They've been very open about them in the last couple of months... But you don't watch for them to have bad behavior. You watch for sort of over-the-top situations and really a very soapy family dynamic. Nobody's flipping a table.

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Did you take seriously the petition to cancel the Kardashian shows?

We take every viewer comment seriously, but no. We did not consider not to be in business with the Kardashians.

What's your plan for getting into scripted programming?

We are not expecting the scripted shows to actually premiere until 2013. 2012 will be our year of developing and piloting to select at least one scripted show to go on the air in '13...We're trying to look at something that really fits into pop culture now and fits into that landscape. We're not necessarily looking for anything that's extremely on the nose of Hollywood celebrity. We're looking at a broader range than I think some people might think we're looking at...We're looking at starting a 60 minute [show] as our ideal scenario and we're looking at kind of a dramedy. I don't think we'd put anything on the air that's super, super dark..."

Do you think E! has become a proving ground for NBC, given the sitcom based on "Chelsea Lately" host Chelsea Handler and Joel McHale of "The Soup" starring on "Community"?

You can add Whitney Cummings to that list too, as one of the people who was on the "Chelsea" roundtable. I think that's actually a sign of E!'s ability to be at the forefront of what's going on in terms of pop culture and talent. Yes, we cover many of the people that have already become established. But we also take gambles on people earlier in their careers and see what happens from there.

What I think is the nicest part is these people are able to expand their careers without leaving their home base. Joel McHale has gone into "Community," which is great, and we're happy for him. But he still does "The Soup" and "The Soup" is thriving. Chelsea is expanding what she's doing and at the same time we've just ensured that she'll be doing "Chelsea Lately" for several years to come.

We've got a track record for finding talent and then we have a track record of keeping them as their careers are still growing.

What are your other goals for E!?

We're definitely looking ahead to expand and move it to an entirely new level and take advantage of this momentum that we have at the end of 2011. What you're going to see in 2012 is us taking steps toward that... Moving "The Soup" to Wednesdays after 7 years on Friday is a big step for us. I think you'll continue to see us nurture "Chelsea Lately" and "Fashion Police" and news, and at the same time I think you'll see us continue to look and I believe find the right companion to build upon the Kardashian momentum.

Sometimes when people talk about where a network can grow or evolve, there's this belief that somehow that comes from a point of weakness. And I think on E! right now, what I'm really proud of is we have so many things that are working. And then to have the opportunity corporately to feel like you've got a window of time where people will support more dramatic growth, then that's an exciting point to be at.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45814867/ns/today-entertainment/

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UK's Prince Philip to leave hospital (AP)

LONDON ? Britain's Prince Philip left the hospital Tuesday, after undergoing treatment for a blocked coronary artery.

Philip, Queen Elizabeth II's 90-year-old husband, spent four nights in the hospital recovering from a successful coronary stent procedure. He was taken to Papworth, a specialist heart hospital in Cambridge, on Friday after complaining of chest pains.

It was the most serious health scare suffered by Philip, who is known to be active and robust. He has continued to appear at many engagements, most recently taking a 10-day tour of Australia with the queen.

For the first time in years he was forced to miss the Royal Family's traditional Christmas festivities, which include attending a morning church service, viewing the queen's annual Christmas broadcast together, and a shooting party on Boxing Day.

Philip did not speak to reporters as he was driven away from the hospital in a Range Rover Tuesday morning, though he smiled and waved to those gathered to film his departure.

He will return to Sandringham, the queen's private estate in rural Norfolk, to join the queen and other royal family members, Buckingham Palace officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with policy.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111227/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_prince_philip

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Girls basketball: Sarah Pastuschyn returns to coach at Memphis

Sarah Pastuschyn is at home on the basketball court.

The new Memphis High School girls basketball coach was a star point guard in high school and college before coaching the Memphis junior varsity team from 2003-07.

Now in her second stint at Memphis, Pastuschyn hopes to help turn around the program.

"I'm different now," Pastuschyn said regarding her coaching style. "I learned from my experience with the JV team. It takes a while to get that coaching sense. It's a difficult transition going from playing to coaching."

After picking up the much needed experience, Pastuschyn knew exactly what type of team she wanted to have when she took the varsity job.

"I'd like to have the type of team that has a quick-hitting offensive philosophy," Pastuschyn said. "Where they score and we score twice. But we have to work with the basic skills we have.

"Between the JV and varsity, half of the squad is in their first year ever playing or their first year back. I don't know why they decided to come out, but I'm glad they did. We have some young girls to work with."

Pastuschyn is originally from Arnold, a city in the Upper Peninsula. After graduating from Gwinn High School, she went on to play for Division II Lakeland College in Wisconsin, before joining Memphis as its girls junior varsity basketball coach in 2003.

After four years at the helm, Pastuschyn stepped down to raise her family. But two children later, she was itching to get back onto the court.

She returns with the program far different than it was before. Instead of having several experienced players, Kristie Gaedcke is the lone senior in the program.

As one of the leaders of the team, Gaedcke said she has been happy with the development of the team under Pastuschyn.

"Things are going good," Gaedcke said. "She is keeping our conditioning up and pushing us a lot harder than previous coaches. It's a good change.

"She has us going on a good road. If she keeps pushing us, we will do a lot better toward the end of the season."

But first, the Yellowjackets will have to learn the basics.

"We have been teaching the basics such as triple-threat (position), ball screens and so forth," Pastuschyn said.

"We try to implement more in practice. Every drill we run through, we do it fast. We don't stand still in practice unless we are doing half-court offense or defense."

The Yellowjackets (2-5) are currently 2-3 in North Central Thumb League play and will return to action Jan. 3 at Dryden.

Source: http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20111228/SPORTS/112280313/1006/RSS02

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E&Y auditors investigating massive 'errors' at Olympus (Americablog)

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Stock futures mixed on return from holiday

FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2011 file photo, specialist John O'Hara, right, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Signs of a global economic slowdown and stresses in Europe's financial system kept investors cautious on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, causing losses in Asian markets, limiting gains in Europe and keeping the euro near 11-month lows.(AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2011 file photo, specialist John O'Hara, right, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Signs of a global economic slowdown and stresses in Europe's financial system kept investors cautious on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, causing losses in Asian markets, limiting gains in Europe and keeping the euro near 11-month lows.(AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Stock futures are mixed and nearly flat after four straight sessions of gains.

In the first day of trading following the holiday weekend, futures for the Dow Jones industrial average were down 16 points at 12,201. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 was down 2.6 points at 1,257.70. And the Nasdaq composite was down 1.25 at 2,277.25.

A run of strong data from the U.S. ahead of the long holiday weekend had buoyed investors around the world and particularly on Wall Street. The Dow Jones index closed Friday at a five-month high.

European shares eked out modest gains Tuesday despite an earlier retreat in Asia.

Due later Tuesday are reports on October home prices at 9 a.m. ET and consumer sentiment at 10 a.m. ET.

In Europe stock markets have recovered some ground recently, but most are still down on the year.

On Tuesday, France's CAC-40 rose 0.2 percent to 3,108 while Germany's DAX was up 0.2 percent at 5,888. The FTSE index of Britain's leading shares remained closed.

One market bucking the trend was Italy's FTSE MIB, trading 0.5 percent lower as the yield on the country's ten-year bonds struck 7 percent once again ? a level that is considered unsustainable in the long-run and eventually forced Greece, Ireland and Portugal to seek outside financial help.

Italy is the eurozone's third-largest economy and is considered to be too big to save under current bailout facilities. Mario Monti, the country's new premier, got parliamentary approval last week for a big austerity package that is intended to save the country from financial disaster.

Markets have grown increasingly fearful over the past few months that Italy will find it difficult to pay off its massive debts, which stand at around ?1.9 trillion ($2.5 trillion).

Despite ongoing worries over the spread of Europe's debt crisis to Italy, the euro remained relatively well-supported, trading 0.1 percent higher too at $1.3070.

The narrow ranges across stock markets reflect light holiday trading. Markets in Europe and the U.S. were closed Monday and trading is expected to be light most of this week, though there could be some year-end movement on Friday as investors look to lock in any gains they may have made.

Earlier, Asian shares fell after disappointing profits from Chinese companies and a warning that Japan faces "significant downside risks" due to Europe's debt problems. That warning came from a Finance Ministry representative at a November Bank of Japan meeting, the bank said Tuesday.

Japan's Nikkei index lost 0.5 percent to 8,440.56, while Seoul's Kospi shed 0.8 percent at 1,842.02. Taipei, Singapore and Jakarta also declined. Hong Kong and Sydney were closed.

China's benchmark Shanghai index dropped nearly 1.1 percent to 2,166.21 after the country's government reported that profit growth slowed at its major industrial companies. Total profit in the January-November period rose 24.4 percent over a year earlier, down 0.9 percent from the growth rate for the first 10 months of the year.

Oil markets were fairly subdued ? benchmark crude for February delivery rose 29 cents to $99.97 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

___

AP Business Writer Joe McDonald contributed to this report from Beijing.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2011-12-27-Wall%20Street/id-dece09ed2a114d9ab638e55ca9352272

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Turkey, Azerbaijan sign pipeline deal (AP)

ANKARA, Turkey ? Turkey and Azerbaijan on Monday signed an agreement to establish a consortium that would build a pipeline to transport 16 billion cubic meters (565 billion cubic feet) per year of Azeri gas to Turkey and Europe.

The two countries' energy ministers signed a memorandum of understanding for a consortium between Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR, Turkey's state-run pipeline company BOTAS, and the Turkish petroleum company TPAO. The deal allows other oil and gas companies to join the consortium.

The projected pipeline, the Trans Anadolu, would carry gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz II field, across Turkey.

The deal comes at a time when officials are dithering over plans for the construction of the European Union-backed Nabucco pipeline project aimed at reducing the bloc's deliveries from Russia. The project is slated to ship gas from the Caspian region through southern Europe to Austria, but its viability has been called into question amid doubts that enough suppliers can be found to fill the pipeline.

Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said the Trans Anadolu could eventually be connected to Nabucco.

Azerbaijan's Industry and Energy Minister Natiq Aliev said the Trans Anadolu pipeline would initially carry 16 billion cubic meters (565 billion cubic feet) per year of gas but the capacity could, in time, increase to 24 billion cubic meters (847 billion cubic feet) per year.

Six billion cubic meters (212 billion cubic feet) of the gas would be sold to Turkey while some 10 billion cubic meters (353 billion cubic feet) would go to European markets, Aliev said.

SOCAR has an 80 percent stake in the Trans Anadolu consortium, while the Turkish companies share 20 percent, Yildiz said.

Officials said construction is scheduled to begin in 2012 and end in 2017.

The pipeline's route and cost would be announced after a feasibility study by SOCAR, Yildiz told reporters.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/energy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111226/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_turkey_azerbaijan_gas

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Pitino: Plans to quit when contract ends in 2017 (AP)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. ? Rick Pitino said Tuesday that he won't coach past the 2016-2017 season when his current contract ends at Louisville.

"When you're 59, you're realistic that you don't have a whole lot of years left," Pitino said at a news conference before the No. 4 Cardinals play Georgetown on Wednesday. "My contract's going to run out in 2017. I'm not coaching any more after that."

The former Providence and Kentucky coach has guided the Cardinals to a 12-0 record so far this season.

Louisville's Athletic Association granted Pitino, the only men's coach to lead three different programs to the Final Four, a four-year contract extension in August. He'll make $3 million in base salary until the end of the 2013 season, followed by $3.9 million a year.

Pitino didn't use the word 'retire,' but has said in the past that Louisville would be his last coaching stop. He's 253-96 in his 11th season at Louisville, which reached the Final Four in 2005.

The Cardinals will host the Hoyas in their Big East Conference opener before traveling to face rival and No. 3 Kentucky on Saturday.

Pitino said Louisville hasn't started preparing for Kentucky.

"One thing I've learned to do with my age, I really don't look ahead," said Pitino, who went 219-50 in eight seasons at Kentucky and won the 1996 national championship. "For years, I've been preaching the precious present and having to always subscribe to it."

Senior guard Chris Smith echoed his coach.

"We haven't talked about Kentucky one time yet, and we're going to keep it like that until we come out with a W tomorrow," he said.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111227/ap_on_sp_co_ne/bkc_louisville_pitino

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Japan says it, India close to deciding dollar swap pact (Reuters)

TOKYO (Reuters) ? Japan and India are in the final stages of deciding on a dollar swap agreement and expect to reach agreement during Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's visit to India this week, Japan's finance minister said on Tuesday.

An earlier $3 billion arrangement came into force in 2008 but expired in June. The Nikkei business newspaper reported on Sunday that the new one would be set at $10 billion.

Further financial cooperation as well as Japanese support for infrastructure in India will be a key focus at talks between the leaders of the two countries, Finance Minister Jun Azumi told a news conference.

Azumi also said he expects Japan's exports will pick up early next year if the European economy stabilizes and currency levels reflect Japan's economic fundamentals.

(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/japan/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111227/bs_nm/us_japan_economy_azumi

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The Real Insurance Frauds ? JONATHAN TURLEY

Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger

It?s Christmastime again and since my childhood, long ago, the Frank Capra film ?It?s A Wonderful Life? has been shown time and again in this season, providing a message of redemption, hope and joy that we associate with this time of year. You all know the plot about selfless George Bailey (James Stewart) a man who has sacrificed his dreams for others and because of his selflessness winds up running the Bailey Building and Loan Association, of Bedford Falls, NY. Because of George this institution has provided home loans for the poor of this rural community and serves as its bank. With the Company on the verge of bankruptcy, through duplicity, George is on the verge of suicide distraught over the losses to those he loves and worried by needs of the average people of his town. You all know this plot and if you don?t its summary is here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life#Plot . I must warn you, perhaps it?s the time of year but I choked up reading the plot, yet again, as I do every time I see this beloved movie.

This introduction has not been made because I?m about to write about banks, or the depredations of the banking industry. Others here and our host have already written extensively on the predatory nature of the banking industry and the harm it has caused to our country. My point of this opening is that we have all grown up with certain mythologies about businesses that provide financial services to the public. This film has had a place in defining that American mythology, in this instance about a bank of sorts, whose leader believes in aiding the community first and profits second. Myths shape our thinking and from my youth I still remember the ad slogan ?You have a friend at Chase Manhattan?.

We?ve discovered that banks are anything but our friends. Their bottom line has surpassed service to the point that each customer is looked at as a ?cash cow?, to be plundered incessantly with usurious interest and fees for what should be free services. But what about ?You?re in Good Hands with Allstate?, ?Nationwide Is On Your Side?, or ?Like A Good Neighbor State Farm is There??? Surely the Insurance industry supplies the safety net we want for our homes and cars. Do they? Last week I was sent an article by the Independent Claims Adjuster handling my interminable case for mold damage to my home. He?s helping greatly so this isn?t about me, but the article he sent certainly puts into context all the delays in the process and how property insurance companies are maximizing their profits at the expense of their customers.

The article my claims adjuster sent was ?Insurance Claim Delays Deliver Massive Profits To Industry By Shorting Customers? written by Mollie Reilly and Max Rosenthal. It appeared in the December 13th Huffington Post Business section. It describes a change in claims payment system procedures sold to Allstate and other Insurance Companies by the large consulting firm McKinsey and Company, which boosted their profits at claimants expense.? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/13/insurance-claim-delays-industry-profits-allstate-mckinsey-company_n_1139102.html

?Unlike many other businesses, the insurance industry is bound by law to act in good faith with its customers. Because of their protective role in the lives of ordinary citizens, insurers have long operated as semi-public trusts. But since the mid-1990s, a new profit-hungry model, combined with weak regulation, has upended that ancient social contract. ?Claims have been converted into a money-making process,? said Russ Roberts, a New Mexico-based management consultant and former business professor at Northwestern University who has studied the insurance industry?s evolution from a service business to a profit-driven machine. The change started when consulting giant McKinsey & Company sold Allstate and other leading insurance companies on a new system to boost the bottom line: Rather than adjusting claims the traditional way, which gave claims managers wide latitude to serve customers, insurers embraced a computer-driven method that produced purposefully low offers to claimants.

We have all been led to believe that a property insurer has our interest at heart and wants to make us whole after disaster strikes. While some problems have arisen in disputes where there has been massive damage done by natural disaster, the myths and the ads tell us that these companies are more than our friends, they are our protectors. It seems, as with many myths, this is no longer the case, if it ever has been.

?McKinsey?s strategy put profits above all. One slide in the McKinsey presentation illustrated this philosophy by painting the insurance business as a zero-sum game: ?Improving Allstate?s casualty economics will have a negative economic impact on some medical providers, plaintiff attorneys, and claimants. ? Allstate gains ? others must lose. Allstate has certainly gained: It made $4.6 billion in profits in 2007, double its earnings in the 1990s. The stunning increase, said Russ Roberts, came through ?driving down loss values to an average of 30 percent below the actual market cost? ? that is, paying dramatically less on claims?.

We see that through delaying payment of claims, paying minimal claim amounts and forcing people already strapped by hardship to take it or sue, ?Good Hands? companies like Allstate are making record profits, while some people?s lives are collapsing around them, even though they prudently bought property insurance. While I am not surprised by this, I am outraged. Is every purchase of ours whether product, or service to be based on ?caveat emptor?? Is this what those who push so hard to have regulations on businesses stripped working for? Is the complete burden of having to painstakingly investigate every entity we deal with to be laid on our shoulders? Is this the type of society we all want?

?An insurance company can make a lot of money on the small claims,? said Jay Feinman, a professor at Rutgers University School of Law, ?because if you save a few dollars on a huge number of claims, it?s worth more than saving a lot of dollars on a very small number of claims.?

?Allstate is the best-known user of the McKinsey model, topping the list of the ?Ten Worst Insurance Companies in America? published by the American Association for Justice. But Allstate?s rise in profits has led most of the industry to adopt the same approach. McKinsey has worked with State Farm, another insurance giant, and other companies in redesigning their claims systems. Feinman cautioned in his book ?Delay, Deny, Defend? that the two major names ?are just the largest players in the industry ? [the ones] whose involvement with McKinsey & Company in the transformation of claims is the best documented.?

By using the tactic of ?Delay, Deny, Defend? these companies are purposely avoiding paying claims, or paying much less than they should, because they in the end have the upper hand. Imagine, as a case presented in this article describes, losing your home and belongings in a claimable disaster. Most Americans would be totally at a loss about what to do next. Most of us don?t have the wherewithal to sustain a financial disaster like that. That is what this strategy counts on. People are being toyed with at a time of crisis and through that the Insurance Company reaps profits far beyond what their business should entitle them to make.

?Roberts, the management consultant, said that companies like Allstate attempt to pass off claims delays as fluke occurrences. But, he said, they are actually routine and intentional products of the McKinsey system: ?The Allstate/McKinsey system for ?lowballing? claims payments ? is driven by the claims performance management and pay systems from the top to the bottom of the organization.?

Feinman, the Rutgers law professor, also suggested the deck is stacked against individuals who make claims. ?You have an accident or a fire in your house. You call up the insurance company. You describe the circumstances. Maybe they send an adjuster out, and they say it?s not covered, or it?s covered but here?s the dollar amount that we?re obligated to pay you,? he said. Most people, Feinman said, do not have the expertise ?to know whether or not that?s right.?

What happens to those people with scant resources, with great damages to their home ad belongings? How have the lives of those with these companies coverage been adversely changed by this policy of greed? I think greed is the correct terminology, though to me it also verges on fraud. As a business major in college I was taught that when you supplied a service to someone, the best business practice was to make good on the service you offered. Now of course I graduated in the mid 60?s and as I understand it since Reagan and the 80?s, Business Schools are teaching a revised curriculum that makes the bottom line the only consideration of a business executive.

We have all seen insurance industry sponsored commercials telling us that ?insurance fraud? is causing our rates to rise and asking us to pressure our legislators to draft even more severe legislation to combat this evil. Some I?ve seen have even suggested turning in our family and neighbors that we believe are committing insurance fraud ?because insurance fraud hurts everyone?. I would submit that the real threat of insurance fraud is coming from the insurance industry itself as it searches for ways not to deliver services they have contracted to provide. Sadly, although both the Federal and the various State governments have agencies to regulate this industry, the regulators seem to have been seduced by the regulated.

??experts like Feinman argue that insurance regulation has become little more than a fig leaf. State insurance departments are usually understaffed and overwhelmed. And even if they had the legal firepower to contend with giant insurance companies, Feinman said, ?the regulators are closer to the industry than they are consumers.? Eleven of the past 15 presidents of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) went on to work for the insurance industry after leaving office, while a?17-year study?from two Georgia State University professors found that around half of state-level insurance commissioners did so as well. When combined with penalties that Feinman described as ?laughably low? in many states, this close relationship means that regulation does not provide an effective check on insurance companies. And state governments themselves have incentive to place consumers on the backburner. Because insurance taxes are a major source of revenue for the states, said Roberts, insurance oversight commissions are usually more concerned with keeping companies solvent than resolving the problems of policyholders?.

So we see also that government regulation of the Insurance Industry has been ineffective. Some of the reasons give above are a ?revolving door? between regulator and industry. Also mentioned is that on State level insurance taxes provide the State with a good deal of revenue. I would also suggest though that the Insurance Industry is the source of a good deal of political campaign funds and their payback is lax oversight. This inevitably leads us to the great debate in America between the ?Too Much Government? side and those like me who see a dire need for effective government regulation. I know there are more than a few who read this blog who rail against how government regulation has hurt the ?free market?. I would ask them to use the link to the article I?ve posted and mull over if they think this method of doing business by the insurance industry is a fair one. If they agree with me that this is a bad, possibly fraudulent business practice, what then can we as a society do about it, or do they think that it is a matter in which government should not intervene?

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Source: http://jonathanturley.org/2011/12/24/the-real-insurance-frauds/

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Sudanese army kills leader of Darfur rebel group

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) ? Sudanese troops killed Khalil Ibrahim, the leader of the main Darfur rebel group, in fighting early Sunday west of the capital Khartoum, the military said.

Ibrahim led the Darfur-based Justice and Equality Movement, or JEM, which unlike other Darfur rebel groups did not join a peace deal with the government in Khartoum.

An army statement, carried by the official SUNA news agency, said Ibrahim was killed in the North Kordufan state, at Wad Banda, an area 440 miles (700 kilometers) west of Khartoum. Ibrahim's group, JEM, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Fighting in the area flared up in the past days. On Saturday, the Sudanese army said the rebels from Darfur attacked three locations in neighboring North Kordufan, killing an unspecified number of civilians in an area where government forces were not present. JEM did not claim responsibility for Saturday's attack, but in 2008, it was behind a large-scale attack on the capital.

The military responded on Sunday, killing Ibrahim with a group of associates as the rebels where retreating toward South Sudan, which in July seceded from Sudan and became the world's youngest country.

Ibrahim was believed to have been until recently in Libya, where he enjoyed support of Moammar Gadhafi until the death of the Libyan dictator at the hands of the country's revolutionaries.

"The army cut all paths for the group as it was retreating and trying to cross into South Sudan to reorganize it forces," said Sudanese army spokesman Col. Khalid al-Sawarmy Saad. "Our gallant armed forces were able to kill rebel Khalil Ibrahim along with some of his associates."

"The armed forces laid a long chase and were able to impose an effective and complete siege against the remnants of Khalil Ibrahim's forces," said the military spokesman.

He commended the residents of Wad Banda who he said "gave the ultimate example of patriotism" in the face of "bad treatment they received from the rebel forces. "

Ibrahim's death is likely to be a significant blow to JEM. Darfur has been in turmoil since 2003, when ethnic African rebels accusing the Arab-dominated Sudanese government of discrimination took up arms against it.

The Khartoum government is accused of retaliating by unleashing Arab militias on civilians ? a charge the government denies. The U.N. estimates 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have been displaced in the conflict.

Ismail el-Haj Musa, Sudanese deputy speaker of the council of states, told the pan-Arab Al Jazeera TV that Ibrahim re-entered Sudan sometime after Gadhafi's death and was en route south.

"He completely refused to come to the negotiating table, he never joined the peace talks," Musa said. "He committed acts against the state."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-12-25-ML-Sudan/id-24eaecd6976d484b821dea348a278e83

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Church prayers for missing Maine girl

December 25, 2011 03:05 EST

Today is Sunday, Dec. 25, the 359th day of 2011. There are six

days left in the year. This is Christmas Day.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Dec. 25, 1991, Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev went on

television to announce his resignation as the eighth and final

leader of a communist superpower that had already gone out of

existence.

On this date:

In A.D. 336, the first recorded celebration of Christmas on Dec.

25 took place in Rome.

In 1066, William the Conqueror was crowned king of England.

In 1776, Gen. George Washington and his troops crossed the

Delaware River for a surprise attack against Hessian forces at

Trenton, N.J.

In 1818, "Silent Night," written by Franz Gruber and Father

Joseph Mohr, was performed for the first time, at the Church of St.

Nikolaus in Oberndorf, Austria.

In 1931, New York's Metropolitan Opera broadcast an entire live

opera over radio for the first time: "Hansel and Gretel" by

Engelbert Humperdinck.

In 1936, American newspaperman Arthur Brisbane, 72, died in New

York.

In 1941, during World War II, Japan announced the surrender of

the British-Canadian garrison at Hong Kong.

In 1961, Pope John XXIII formally announced the upcoming

convocation of the Second Vatican Council, which opened in Oct.

1962.

In 1989, ousted Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu

(chow-SHES'-koo) and his wife, Elena, were executed following a

popular uprising.

In 2009, passengers aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 foiled

an attempt to blow up the plane as it was landing in Detroit by

seizing a man who tried to set off explosives in his underwear.

Ten years ago: From Mazar-e-Sharif to Kandahar in Afghanistan

and the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea, American forces

celebrated Christmas with carols, touch football and turkey

dinners. In his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" message, Pope John

Paul II turned his thoughts at Christmas to children -- Palestinian,

Israeli, American, Afghan and African -- declaring that humanity's

hope depended on helping them.

Five years ago: James Brown, the "Godfather of Soul," died in

Atlanta at age 73. Pope Benedict XVI used his Christmas Day address

to call for a peaceful resolution of conflicts worldwide and

appealed for greater caring of the poor, the exploited and all who

suffer.

One year ago: The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan,

Gen. David Petraeus, crisscrossed the country, making a Christmas

visit to coalition troops at some of the main battle fronts in a

show of appreciation and support in the tenth year of the war

against the Taliban. A female suicide bomber attacked an aid center

in Pakistan, killing at least 45 people. The West Bank town of

Bethlehem bustled with its biggest crowd of Christian pilgrims in

years. Former Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez died in

Miami. Olympics documentary filmmaker Bud Greenspan, 84, died in

New York.

Today's Birthdays: Singer Tony Martin is 98. Actor Dick Miller

is 83. Author Anne Roiphe is 76. Actress Hanna Schygulla

(SHEE'-goo-lah) is 68. Rhythm-and-blues singer John Edwards (The

Spinners) is 67. Actor Gary Sandy is 66. Singer Jimmy Buffett is

65. Pro and College Football Hall-of-Famer Larry Csonka is 65.

Country singer Barbara Mandrell is 63. Actress Sissy Spacek is 62.

Former White House adviser Karl Rove is 61. Actress CCH Pounder is

59. Singer Annie Lennox is 57. Reggae singer-musician Robin

Campbell (UB40) is 57. Country singer Steve Wariner is 57. Singer

Shane MacGowan (The Pogues, The Popes) is 54. Baseball Hall of

Famer Rickey Henderson is 53. The former Chair of the Council of

Economic Advisers, Christina Romer, is 53. Actress Klea Scott is

43. Rock musician Noel Hogan (The Cranberries) is 40. Singer Dido

is 40. Rock singer Mac Powell (Third Day) is 39. Rhythm-and-blues

singer Ryan Shaw is 31. Country singer Alecia Elliott is 29. Pop

singers Lisa and Jess Origliasso (The Veronicas) are 27.

Thought for Today: "One of the most glorious messes in the

world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day.

Don't clean it up too quickly." -- Andy Rooney, CBS News

commentator (1919-2011).

Copyright 2011, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.wgme.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.me/2fb87110-www.wgme.com.shtml

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Will Christmas Defeat Porn This Year? [Christmas]

Most people only care about Christmas for a few weeks out of every year, but porn is on our minds every day. But what's this? Each year "Christmas" briefly eclipses "porn" on Google? Will purity reign? Not this year, baby. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/O_rogQOfvu4/will-christmas-defeat-porn-this-year

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Huma Abedin, Wife of Anthony Weiner, Gives Birth

Anthony Weiner now has something to take his mind off the fact that he resigned in shame from Congress after half-naked photos he sent to various women online were released to the public:

A son!

Huma Abedin gave birth to the couple's first child yesterday, The New York Post confirms, as Jordan Zane Weiner weighed in at just over seven pounds and all indications are that mother and child are fully healthy.

Abedin, who works as an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, would have come a lot closer to leaving Weiner, according to insiders, if she had not found out she was pregnant just as the Tweeting scandal broke.

The couple got married in Long Island last year.

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/12/huma-abedin-wife-of-anthony-weiner-gives-birth/

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Simon vs. L.A.: 5 memorable 'X Factor' spats

With the "X Factor" finale around the corner, that means no more on-air squabbles to keep us entertained on Wednesday nights ? at least until Jan. 18 comes around. So before we say goodbye, let?s take a look back at one of the more heated battles of its inaugural season: Simon Cowell vs. L.A. Reid.

Both run record companies and have discovered and nurtured international stars, which makes them worthy adversaries, even if they do sit on the same side of the table. Cue: Survivor?s ?Eye of the Tiger? and read on for five of their more memorable spats:

1. Who can forget the war of words over Drew Ryniewicz? Have your pick: When she sang Coldplay?s ?Fix You,? Reid commented, "I don't know if that was a new song, or the same one from last week. He knocked the infamous ?chair? performance of ?Billie Jean? then accused her of singing old peoples? music when she performed 19-year-old Demi Lovato?s hit, ?Skyscraper.? Cowell lashed back, telling Reid: ?I'm sick to death of your pointless, stupid criticism."

VIDEO from THR: Simon reveals 'sexual tension' with Paula Abdul

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2.Cowell hasn?t been shy about sharing his opinion ofMarcus Canty, calling out his performance of ?A Song For You? as boring, stating plainly that he was ?not jumping out of my chair.? Reid told his contestant not to let Cowell get ?in your head.?

3.Although Reid finally gave Melanie Amaro props for her semifinals performance of ?Feeling Good? ("I know why you're the only female left ? because you're the greatest female to ever grace this stage," he told her), he?s called her performances ?predictable? on several occasions. To wit: After her rendition of Michael Jackson?s ?Man in the Mirror,? Reid opined, ?I didn?t find it that inventive.? ?He also called her performance of Whitney Houston?s? ?When You Believe? ?safe.? Cowell?s reaction? A mix of bemusement and indignation wrapped up in a scowl.

PHOTOS from THR: Get to know 'X Factor's' top 17 finalists

4. Reid was never a supporter of Simone Battle?s, but after she sang ?Just Be Good to Me? by the S.O.S. Band, he took the opportunity to go for Cowell?s throat. ?Everything was right except your choice in contestant,? he said. ?I still don?t get it. You must be really rich because clearly $5 million doesn?t mean much to you at all.?

Story: Simon: 'X Factor' judges don't always do job properly

5. When Michael Buble doppelganger Philip Lomax performed the ill-advised ?I?m a Believer,? Cowell was quick to call out Reid on his culpability: "It's like you're a race car driver, and L.A. put you through in a tractor,? Cowell mocked. ?L.A.: On this guy, you one hundred percent failed."

Which judge do you think delivered the sharper barbs? Share your thoughts on the Facebook page for our TV blog, The Clicker.

Copyright 2011 The Hollywood Reporter

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45754626/ns/today-entertainment/

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Noise-free spectroscopy: Reversing the problem clarifies molecular structure

ScienceDaily (Dec. 23, 2011) ? Optical techniques enable us to examine single molecules, but do we really understand what we are seeing? After all, the fuzziness caused by effects such as light interference makes these images very difficult to interpret. Researchers at the University of Twente's MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology adopted a "reverse" approach to spectroscopy which cleaned up images by eliminating background noise.

The researchers presented their findings in Physical Review Letters.

Rather than starting with the laser beam, the trick is to take the molecule you are studying as the starting point. This radical "reversal" led to a relatively simple modification of conventional CARS spectroscopy, which delivered better images. CARS was already a powerful technique which used lasers to visualize molecules for such purposes as food testing and medical imaging. One advantage is that no fluorescent labels are needed to make the molecules visible. However, background noise complicates the task of interpreting the resultant images. This new approach eliminates such noise completely, leaving only the "real" image. More information than ever before, such as accurate details of the substance's concentration, can be obtained using this technique. It is easier to detect the signature of the molecule in question.

Energy

The key to side-stepping the overwhelming complexity involved lay in Prof. Shaul Mukamel's exhortation to just "Look at the molecule!" (the professor, who holds a post at the University of California, collaborated on the present publication). So don't focus on the way that light interacts with the molecule, as this makes it very difficult -- even impossible -- to "separate the wheat from the chaff" and reveal the real image. Instead, start by examining the energy levels inside the molecule. Previous work, based on Prof. Mukamel's exhortation, has mainly led to the development of new theories. The University of Twente researchers have now translated this theory into the new technique of Vibrational Molecular Interferometry, which will vastly expand the uses of CARS and other techniques.

This study was conducted in Prof. Jennifer Herek's Optical Sciences group. The research group is part of the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology of the University of Twente. The study was funded in part by the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM), and partly from the VICI grant previously awarded to Jennifer Herek by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).

The publication, entitled "Background-free nonlinear microspectroscopy with vibrational molecular interferometry," by Erik Garbacik, Jeroen Korterik, Cees Otto, Shaul Mukamel, Jennifer Herek and Herman Offerhaus, was published on 16 December, in the online edition of Physical Review Letters.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Twente.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Erik Garbacik, Jeroen Korterik, Cees Otto, Shaul Mukamel, Jennifer Herek, Herman Offerhaus. Background-Free Nonlinear Microspectroscopy with Vibrational Molecular Interferometry. Physical Review Letters, 2011; 107 (25) DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.253902

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111223091329.htm

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Can The New Xperia LT28at Live Up To Its Leaked Specs? [Rumors]

Details have leaked about Sony Ericsson's new "super phone", and the specs sound impressive. But given the track record, can an Xperia ever actually be a phone that really matters? More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/d5aA2bgaj_4/can-the-new-xperia-lt28at-live-up-to-its-leaked-specs

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Jay Leno?s McLaren MP4-12C Spotted in California [Video]

The first thing you?ll notice in this supercar spotting video is that while Europe is being covered with snow, leaving most rockets parked in their garages, the weather in California is all sunny and nice.

Getting back to the subject at hand, Jay Leno is a big fan of the Supercar Sunday, held at Westfield Promenade Mall 6100 Topanga Canyon Boulevard Woodland Hills. In the past, he?s brought over his Bugatti Veyron and now he?s been spotted by speedandmotion.com behind the wheel of his most recent go-fast acquisition - the $230,000 McLaren MP4-12C.

A few months ago, Jay visited the McLaren Test Center in Britain, where the new supercar was developed in sterile conditions that would make even a virus laboratory jealous. He also got to test the prototype as it was being developed a while back.

Source: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/jay-lenos-mclaren-mp4-12c-spotted-in-california-video-41371.html

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Exclusive: North Korea's military to share power with Kim's heir (Reuters)

BEIJING (Reuters) ? North Korea will shift to collective rule from a strongman dictatorship after last week's death of Kim Jong-il, although his untested young son will be at the head of the ruling coterie, a source with close ties to Pyongyang and Beijing said.

The source added that the military, which is trying to develop a nuclear arsenal, has pledged allegiance to the untested Kim Jong-un, who takes over the family dynasty that has ruled North Korea since it was founded after World War Two.

The source declined to be identified but has correctly predicted events in the past, telling Reuters about the North's first nuclear test in 2006 before it took place.

The comments are the first signal that North Korea is following a course that many analysts have anticipated -- it will be governed by a group of people for the first time since it was founded in 1948.

Both Kim Jong-il and his father Kim Il-sung were all-powerful, authoritarian rulers of the isolated state.

The situation in North Korea appeared stable after the military gave its backing to Kim Jong-un, the source said.

"It's very unlikely," the source said when asked about the possibility of a military coup. "The military has pledged allegiance to Kim Jong-un."

North Korea's collective leadership will include Kim Jong-un, his uncle and the military, the source said.

Jang Song-thaek, 65, brother-in-law of Kim Jong-il and the younger Kim's uncle, is seen as the power behind the throne along with his wife Kim Kyong-hui, Kim Jong-il's sister. So too is Ri Yong-ho, the rising star of the North's military and currently its most senior general.

The younger Kim, who is in his late 20s, has his own supporters but is not strong enough to consolidate power, analysts said.

"I know that he's been able to build a group of supporters around himself who are of his generation," said Koh Yu-hwan, president of the Korean Association of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

"So it is not entirely elders in their 70s, plus some like Jang in their 60s, who are backing him. These young backers will be emerging fairly soon."

Koh said the coterie was put in place by Kim Jong-il before he died. "The relative calm seen these few days shows it's been effective. If things were not running smoothly, then we'd have seen a longer period of 'rule by mummy', with Kim Jong-il being faked as still being alive."

He said the younger Kim would accept the set-up, for now. "Considering the tradition of strongarm rule by his father and grandfather, things can't be easy for him," he said.

"REGIME SURVIVAL"

Ralph Cossa, an authority on North Korea and president of the U.S. think tank Pacific Forum CSIS, said it made sense that the ruling group would stick together.

"All have a vested interest in regime survival," he said. "Their own personal safety and survival is inextricably tied to regime survival and Kim Jong-un is the manifestation of this. I think the regime will remain stable, at least in the near-term."

He added in a commentary that the new group may be inclined to reform, but stressed this was far from confirmed.

"Over the long term, there appears to be some hope, primarily emanating from Beijing, that Kim Jong-un will take North Korea down the path of Chinese-style reform, apparently based on the belief that Jang is or will be a 'reformer'."

"Who knows, this may be true. While this could relieve the suffering of the North Korean people over time, it will do little to promote the cause of denuclearization, however."

The high-level source also said North Korea test-fired a missile on Monday to warn the United States not to make any moves against it. Pyongyang however had no immediate plans for further tests, barring an escalation of tensions.

"With the missile test, (North) Korea wanted to deliver the message that they have the ability to protect themselves," the source said.

"But (North) Korea is unlikely to conduct a nuclear test in the near future unless provoked" by the United States and South Korea, the source said.

The unpredictable North's nuclear program has been a nagging source of tension for the international community.

Pyongyang carried out nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, and has quit six-party talks with South Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia on abandoning its nuclear program and returning to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The high-level source also said Beijing was only notified of Kim's death earlier on Monday, the same day North Korean state television broadcast the news. Kim died on Saturday.

A leading South Korean newspaper reported on Wednesday China learned of Kim's death soon after it occurred.

China has given no official comment or even hints suggesting it was told of Kim's death before the public announcement.

Beijing, the North's closest ally and biggest provider of aid, has pulled out the stops to support the younger Kim.

The government has invited him to visit and, in an unusual gesture, President Hu Jintao and Vice-President Xi Jinping also visited the hermit state's embassy in Beijing to express their condolences. Roads leading to the embassy were blocked.

Mainly, the prospect of instability on its northeastern border worries China and it sees the younger Kim and his coterie as the best prospect for keeping North Korea on an even keel.

North Korea has been pressed by China to denuclearize and is willing to do so on condition that North and South Korea, the United States and China sign an armistice replacing a 1953 ceasefire agreement, the source said.

The two Koreas have been divided for decades and remain technically at war since their 1950-53 conflict ended with an armistice but no peace agreement. The United States backed the South, while China supported the North in that conflict.

Pyongyang is also convinced there are U.S. nuclear weapons in South Korea and demands Washington pull them out, the source said.

(Additional reporting by Jack Kim in Seoul; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Jonathan Thatcher)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111221/wl_nm/us_korea_north_exclusive

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