NBA-Celtics guard Rondo suspended game for bumping referee

Jan 7 (Reuters) - Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo has been suspended one game without pay for making contact with a referee and failing to cooperate with a league investigation, the National Basketball Association (NBA) said on Monday.
The incident occurred with 3:19 left in the third quarter of Boston's 89-81 win against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday after Rondo was called for an offensive foul on a drive to the basket.
Immediately following the call, the Celtic guard bumped into referee Rodney Mott as the pair walked back up the court.
Rondo will serve his suspension later on Monday when the Celtics visit the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The NBA on Monday also fined Hawks general manager Danny Ferry $15,000 for inappropriate interaction with the game officials after his team's loss to Boston on Sunday.

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An iPhone priced below $200 would devastate RIM and Nokia – and Apple’s margins

Both Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal now believe Apple (AAPL) is seriously considering launching a cheap iPhone. Speculation about this has been going on for years. But the probable price range mentioned by Bloomberg is a huge shock: The rumored retail price range of $100 to $150 is far below what had earlier been assumed. The iPhone 5 tends to sell for more than $700 in emerging markets. The 2-year old iPhone still costs more than $500. That is the reason why iPhone market share is fading below 5% in major markets like Brazil. But industry experts had widely assumed that the retail price of a low-end iPhone would be somewhere around $250 to $300. Even this would trigger radical changes in the handset markets around the globe.
[More from BGR: iPhone 5 now available with unlimited service, no contract on Walmart’s $45 Straight Talk plan]
Anything under $200 would be an earthquake. Smartphones with capacitive touch screens and 1 GHz processors selling under $150 at retail cannot have operating margins above 15%. Nokia (NOK) has 70 million unit quarterly feature phone volumes and a lot of experience in tight cost control. Yet even Nokia cannot get the operating margins of its latest and most desirable Asha models costing less than $150 much above 10%. You can only lower touch screen quality or processing power of a low-end iPhone so far. Moving to a resistive touch screen or a 600 MHz processor would splinter the iOS app market.
[More from BGR: CES has sadly become a complete waste of time]
If Apple truly is willing to dive into the sub-$200 gutter, the impact on vendors from RIM (RIMM) and Nokia to HTC (2498) and LG (066570) would be devastating. The best-selling prepaid smartphone in the United Kingdom right now may be the Huawei Ascend G300, a device with 4-inch display, 5 megapixel camera and 2.5 GB of internal memory that sells for about $160. This is the sweet spot of the budget smartphone market from Europe to Asia. It is quite possible to do a cheap iPhone with these specs, priced at $150 in the fourth quarter of 2013 and shoot for maybe a 10% operating margin.
That device would sell a hundred million units in a year with no marketing, if the production can be ramped up fast enough. It would reverse the market share losses Apple has recently suffered from Brazil to Germany literally in a quarter or two. But would Apple really be willing to tolerate the massive margin hit such a product would trigger? Being the champion of the mobile software market is worth a lot. But a sub-$150 iPhone would carry the obvious risk of cannibalizing the $650 iPhone sales deeply and permanently. The performance requirements created by the iOS app market prevent Apple from constraining the budget iPhone with truly low-end components.
Of course, the strategic impact of a bargain basement iPhone would be momentous. Apple would get to play Attila the Hun and literally wipe out smaller rivals who couldn’t possibly undercut a $150 iPhone on price. It is worth noting that one of the best-selling Nokia feature phones, the Asha 311, costs about $140 in retail. If Bloomberg is right, Apple is preparing to attack with a smartphone priced to the level of a feature phone that was created specifically for Africa and India.
It is clear that Apple is being forced into a corner. Google (GOOG) Play app revenue growth is now far faster than iOS app revenue growth. Instat claims that the page views of Android smartphones have started soaring above page views of iPhones across various markets. Apple cannot allow Google to gain hegemony in mobile content consumption in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Something has to be done. But the plunge into deep budget territory that Bloomberg is describing is very difficult to believe.

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Mayor seguridad por violación en escuela de Ohio

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio, EE.UU. (AP) — Un distrito escolar en el este de Ohio agregó guardias de seguridad desarmados a sus edificios en momentos en que ha aumentado la atención sobre dos jugadores de fútbol americano de una escuela secundaria y que enfrentan cargos por violación.
Mike McVey, superintendente de las escuelas de la ciudad de Steubenville, dijo el martes que un guardia permanecerá afuera de cada uno de los cuatro edificios del distrito hasta nuevo aviso. McVey dijo a The Associated Press en una entrevista que la medida fue tomada "para mejorar la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes".
Dos jóvenes estudiantes de 16 años enfrentan juicio el próximo mes en una corte juvenil en Steubenville, una ciudad de aproximadamente 18.000 residentes, acusados de haber violado en agosto a una niña de 16 años. Abogados de los acusados Ma'Lik Richmond y Trent Mays han negado los cargos en la corte.
McVey señaló la decisión de incorporar guardias a los edificios escolares fue tomada el lunes, antes de que el distrito fuera puesto en alerta la mañana del martes debido a una posible amenaza.
Los maestros dejaron de impartir clases y cerraron las puertas de sus salones durante cerca de una hora y media mientras la policía determinaba si la amenaza era viable.
Según un reporte policiaco, un estudiante describió haber visto un mensaje por Facebook indicando una amenaza potencial, pero el mensaje no pudo ser recuperado. El mensaje se refería a personas no acusadas en el caso de violación y les ordenaba que acudieran a cierto lugar, o "voy a comenzar a matar gente", indicó el reporte.
Las redes sociales e internet han tenido un papel crucial en el caso. Piratas informáticos presentaron la semana pasada un video de más de 12 minutos de duración que supuestamente muestra a un hombre joven bromeando sobre la acusadora después de la presunta violación.
Los hackers que presentaron el video argumentan que estuvo involucrada más gente y deberían ser castigados por ello. El lunes, un fiscal dijo que el joven lamentó los comentarios, los cuales realizó estando ebrio.
Un abogado de la familia de la niña ha dicho que el comentario en internet sobre el caso ha dificultado más la situación.
McVey se negó a comentar sobre la elevada atención que ha recibió su distrito escolar. Agregó que no estaba preparado para comentar sobre la decisión de tener en la escuela guardias de seguridad sin armas en lugar de armados.
Los acusados Richmond y Mays están en arresto domiciliario y asisten a una escuela alternativa durante el día dentro del Centro de Justicia del condado que se encuentra al otro lado de una autopista muy transitada con respecto a la escuela secundaria en el centro de la ciudad.

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The FBI Is Now Investigating the Steubenville Backlash

It's probably fair to say that things have gotten a little out of hand in Steubenville, Ohio, where two high school football players are accused of raping a 16-year-old while she was drunk. If you've read anything about the investigation and court case that's now unfolding you'll know that what started out as a suspicious sexual assault has turned into a national outrage, and local authorities are dealing with some pretty serious backlash that includes death threats being made against their families. On Wednesday night, CBS News reported that the FBI had opened an investigation into such threats on local sheriff Fred Abdalla's family and a suspected computer virus that targeted the Steubenville police chief. It's unclear who the suspects might be, and the FBI isn't commenting on the probe.
RELATED: Why Nobody Trusts Steubenville
In a way, this new FBI investigation is a bit of a relief. The small football-crazed town of Steubenville has been obviously overwhelmed since scrutiny from Anonymous has been helping to elevate the rape investigation to viral status on the web. The firestorm of attention came to a head last weekend when 1,300 protesters descended on the town's city hall for an event dubbed Occupy Steubenville. Sheriff Abdalla even made an appearance, after having said on the radio that he was "coming after" Anonymous. (Since Anonymous doesn't take too well to threats, this might've had something to do with the death threats that he received over email and social media in the days after the rally.) Then, on Tuesday, police reported "some type of shooting threat" being made on social media prompting a lockdown on all local schools that lasted nearly two hours.
RELATED: Occupy Steubenville: Anonymous vs. the Sheriff
So you could say things have been tense. The more we learn about Steubenville and its long history of corrupt leadership, though, the more we can understand how this rape case pushed people over the edge. As recently as 1997, the Justice Department found the city's police department to have "have engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured and protected by the Constitution and the laws of the United States." And close ties between Abdalla and the Steubenville High football coach Reno Saccoccia -- think Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights, only more sinister -- have led many, especially those in Anonymous, to believe that the corruption never went away.
RELATED: Inside the Search for the Truth About Steubenville — 1,000 Tips at a Time
Who knows what the Feds will find when they take a closer look at the threats being hurled at Steubenville law enforcement. They might even find out something about the things the local cops are doing to attract such hatred. Then again, they might just be in the mood to arrest some more Anonymous members.

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Railway & Underground Railway Construction in the UK Industry Market Research Report Now Updated by IBISWorld

The impetus from the landmark rail projects like Crossrail and Thameslink, other publicly funded capacity enhancement initiatives and stable maintenance spending have more than doubled the annual level of railway construction since the mid-2000s with the value of construction expected to climb by an annualised 21.4% over the five years through 2012-13. Over the next five years, the industry is expected to endure a moderate slowdown, reflecting the stage completion on landmark rail projects (notably Crossrail) and consequently, industry revenue is projected to contract over the five years through 2017-18.

London, United Kingdom (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
A century ago money was being poured into railway construction to reduce commuting time and open up new trade links. Today, public authorities and private companies are investing in landmark generational projects to increase passenger and freight capacity and boost the economy. London's rail transport system is undergoing the largest transformation in generations, involving the construction of Crossrail (£15.9 billion) and Thameslink (£5.5 billion). According to IBISWorld industry analyst Anthony Kelly, “the impetus from the landmark rail projects, other publicly funded capacity enhancement initiatives and stable maintenance spending have more than doubled the annual level of railway construction since the mid-2000s”. The value of construction is expected to climb by an annualised 21.4% over the five years through 2012-13.
The Railway & Underground Railway Construction industry captures a significant share of the total work in this market, and the balance is performed by professional consultants, trade subcontractors and bridge and tunnelling companies. Industry revenue is expected to climb by an annualised 8.0% over the five years through 2012-13 to total £3.3 billion, up 10% on the previous year. Kelly adds, “over the next five years, the industry is expected to endure a moderate slowdown, reflecting the stage completion on landmark rail projects (notably Crossrail)”. Subsequently, industry revenue is projected to contract over the five years through 2017-18.
The level of market share concentration in the Railway & Underground Railway Construction industry is medium, despite the large number of very small-scale contracting firms. The industry is characterised by its many small-scale, geographically dispersed contractors, principally working on maintenance and repair activities for existing rail infrastructure. Relatively few large-scale, multi-disciplined firms compete for the lead contractor role on major railway construction projects, and the four largest contractors contribute about 27% of annual industry revenue. These are multi-disciplined global construction firms Balfour Beatty, Colas, Morgan Sindall and Babcock International Group.
For more information on the Railway & Underground Railway Construction industry, including latest industry trends, statistics, analysis and market share information, purchase the full report from IBISWorld, the nation’s largest publisher of industry research.
IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics
This industry includes contractors undertaking work in the construction of railway and underground railway infrastructure, including site preparation, rail track placement, and the construction of associated structures (bridges, tunnels and platforms). Construction activity includes new work, repair, additions and maintenance on existing infrastructure. Portions of the work can be subcontracted out and the firms can operate as construction manager on railway projects.
Industry Performance

Executive Summary

Key External Drivers

Current Performance

Industry Outlook

Industry Life Cycle

Products & Markets

Supply Chain

Products & Services

Major Markets

Globalisation & Trade

Business Locations

Competitive Landscape

Market Share Concentration

Key Success Factors

Cost Structure Benchmarks

Barriers to Entry

Major Companies

Operating Conditions

Capital Intensity

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Annual Change

Key Ratios
About IBISWorld

Recognised as the nation’s most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on many UK industries. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in London, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organisations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.co.uk or call (020) 3008 6568.

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Russ Hoover Presents A New Understanding of the Human Mind Unknown to Experts

While author-psychologist L. Russel Hoover refers to his new book “Demand Healing” as “first and foremost a crucial new look at treatment in mental health,” the read is packed with a wealth of first edition insights other practitioners will soon want to say they had discovered. Stunningly written and well worth the price of admission, this book puts readers one up on experts.

Kirksville, MO (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
Author-Psychologist Russ Hoover draws on extensive clinical experience and scientific acumen bringing a master’s touch to a new form of treatment. In section one for instance, he defines obsessions as “intrusive morbid fixations that certified head jockey’s endlessly attempt to cure deadened to the fact obsession does not cause itself… Hence their mantra ‘Stop thinking about it so much’ is akin to jumping off a plane and exhorting the person not to fall under conditions where falling is imminent,’ adding, ‘all the while expecting those words should have some effect on preempting the person’s downward movement. Cute…’” Bridging the gap between science and humor, the narrative essays an understanding of the complex world of human feelings by operationally defining easy to comprehend associated precepts. Demand Healing: The Advanced Study of Mood and Ego Remission is intriguing for the persuasive style in which it is written providing a tour de force critique of one of the most trusted institutions. Readers should not miss it.
Quick review of the book’s contents finds the work expertly sketched in three stages each spiced up with numerous clinical illustrations guaranteed to fire up readers’ interest. In stage one, the author, a specialized master therapist, produces an exposé of inefficiencies that abound in current treatment methods; what he refers to “absurdities” and “abominations,” as a means of showing why core changes are needed. Stage two yields an accurate in-depth inspection of what occurs in the troubled mind and various heretofore unknown laws that govern that kind of reaction. Finally, stage three de-encrypts what might be called the barest requisites of mental therapy while expounding upon its systematic application. The book is comprehensive and offers high-end discussion on an important subject.
Eye opening and practical, Demand Healing is formidable and a richly layered addition to the bookshelves of those searching for a good reading whether they are in or outside the genre.
For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.
About the Author

Author, teacher, lecture, and therapist, L. Russel Hoover began his distinguished career as a faculty member at Andrew Tailor Still Medical College. In that position he was to teach medical externs, interns, and psychiatric residents the ins and outs of various schools of psychotherapy, especially as it relates to medical treatment. However, he spent the majority of his reign there in the hospital’s clinics performing diagnostics and treatment. It was there, “down in the trenches” Hooves began developing what he called the NonCognitive approach to therapy ultimately publishing his first book under the name, NonCognitive Psychotherapy.

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Heroes Juggle School Life and World-Saving in Book IV of Epic Series

Author David R. Mastbergen releases “The Marvels of the Healer: The Senior Year”

Rushmore, MN (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
David R. Mastbergen, prolific author of The Marvels of the Healer series, accomplishes a rare and amazing feat by releasing his fourth book in just four months. Mastbergen’s newly published book, The Marvels of the Healer: The Senior Year, comes after the successive and successful releases of the opening trilogy: Book I: The Marvels of the Healer; Book II: The Marvels of the Healer and the Sisters of Radiance; and Book III: The Marvels of the Healer & the Calm of the Healer.
“Today’s religious sectors and the world itself are lost and a new healer is needed to bring reality to a new belief. A hero continues his quest to find and fulfill his destiny against many odds,” shares Mastbergen when asked about the relevance and appeal of his books. “It is fast paced and is written to be like a TV series where each chapter builds upon the next…If they like the series then they will want to continue with the saga.”
This fourth installment to the adrenaline-pumping epic saga, about a family with extraordinary abilities to fight the evils of the world, follows The Healer, David Knight, as a senior in high school while he continues his marvels. The other stars in the series continue with David as they prove to be a powerful force and David’s most important protectors against his archenemies.
Readers are reintroduced to other familiar characters: Jasmine Parker, The Calm; Nikki Knight, the Healer’s twin sister; Adela and Amada (twins), Jasmine’s little sisters; Julian Welsh, David’s mother; Vicky Miller, David’s aunt; and Kate Knight, David’s aunt. They will also meet new friends in the characters of Sissy Holmberg and Barb Knight, and new foes in Dr. Whitwell, the appalling adversary.
With its exciting new plot, new intriguing characters, and new surprises, no doubt that The Marvels of the Healer: The Senior Year will once again captivate fiction fantasy fans from the opening scene till the end. Mastbergen has clearly outdone himself this time. However, showing no signs of resting on his laurels, he is already working on his fifth installment to the series—Book V: The Marvels of the Healer: The Darkness.
For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.
About the Author

David R. Mastbergen was born in Worthington, Minnesota. He was raised in Worthington until he enlisted into the United States Navy and spent the next twenty plus years servicing his country. Upon retiring from the navy as a chief warrant officer, he spent nine plus years working for the state of Minnesota. He has a Master of Arts degree in management from the College of St. Scholastica and a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Coleman College.

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FACTBOX-Soccer-African Nations Cup finalists Cape Verde Islands

Jan 9 (Reuters) - Factbox on African Nations Cup finalists Cape Verde Islands ahead of this year's tournament in South Africa from Jan. 19 to Feb. 10:
Previous appearances in African Nations Cup finals: none
FIFA world ranking Dec. 2012: 69th
Coach: Lucio Antunes has won himself near-mythical status in his homeland for guiding the Cape Verdians to the Nations Cup. The 46-year-old worked his way up through the federation ranks as a coach of the national youth teams before being appointed in 2010 to take over the senior side. He previously won the national championship with Academica Sal.
Key players:
Heldon (Maritimo). Age: 24 Pos: Forward
Scorer of vital goals in the qualifying competition which ensured the island archipelago's progress to the Nations Cup finals. He moved to Portugal in 2007 and worked his way up through the amateur ranks to sign for Maritimo in 2010. He played and scored for the Madeira-based club in the Europa League this season.
Ryan Mendes (Lille). Age: 23 Pos: Forward
Pacey player who likes to run at defenders and has made a successful transition to Ligue 1 with former champions Lille from Le Havre this season. He was regarded as one of the best players in Ligue 2 over the last three seasons after Le Havre spotted him as an 18-year-old participating in a youth tournament.
Fernando Varela (FC Vaslui). Age: 25 Pos: Defender
Lisbon-born defender, who has been relegated twice from the top flight of Portuguese football with Trofense and Feirense. Moved to Romania at the start of the season to join an enclave of African players at FC Vaslui, who were third in the standings going into the winter break.
Prospects:
The Cape Verdians have made a fairytale run to the finals, becoming the smallest country (population just over 500,000) to compete at the Nations Cup and taking the scalp of the mighty Cameroon in the process. They will be a unknown quantity but face the daunting prospect of playing against hosts South Africa in the opening game on Jan. 19 in front of a partisan crowd of some 90,000.

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South African morale dented by loss ahead of Nations Cup

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - African Nations Cup hosts South Africa suffered a morale-deflating 1-0 defeat at home to a young Norway side on Tuesday in their penultimate warm-up international.
Norway, with a team of inexperienced home-based players, scored the only goal from captain Tarik Elyounoussi four minutes before half-time.
Elyounoussi took advantage of some slopping defending to net from close range in the only real attack of the first half for the visitors, who are using their off-season to expose younger players to international football.
The result will not help the crisis of confidence affecting Bafana Bafana, who were hoping for a change in fortunes but failed to deliver on pre-match promises of attacking play and flair from their coach Gordon Igesund.
Instead they were stymied by a well-organised Norway side and after a show of poor finishing they will have more to contemplate some 10 days before the Nations Cup kick off.
It will also leave the home public sceptical about the team's chances at the 16-team tournament, which South Africa kick off against Cape Verde Islands at Soccer City in Johannesburg on January 19 (1600 GMT).
"I'm disappointed we lost the game, but we created a lot of good chances. We have to work now on using the possession better and not overelaborating so much on the ball," said Igesund.
South Africa conclude their preparations against fellow finalists Algeria in Soweto on Saturday. Norway play Nations Cup holders Zambia in Ndola, also on Saturday, in the last game of their brief African trip.

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Togo president persuades Adebayor to play in Cup

LOME (Reuters) - Emmanuel Adebayor will play in the African Nations Cup after being persuaded to go back on his decision to boycott the tournament by Togo's president Faure Gnassingbe in meetings over the last two days, a government spokesman said on Tuesday.
"Adebayor was received yesterday in Accra by the head of state," Cleo Petchezi, director of communications for the presidency, told Reuters.
"Discussions continued this morning in Lome. Following them Adebayor has said he will return to his club and join the national team in a week."
The Tottenham Hotspur striker had previously said he was boycotting the tournament in South Africa, which starts on January 19, because of a row over bonuses for the players.
The developments open the likelihood that Adebayor will play for his club in the Premier League away against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday before joining his teammates one week ahead of the tournament kick off.
Adebayor, who has now made three returns after self-imposed 'retirements' from the national side, has missed Togo's pre-tournament preparations, including international warm-up games in Oman and Niger over the last 10 days.
The 28-year-old is at the centre of yet another row over bonus payments to the squad following their qualification to the finals.
The Togolese side has been in constant turmoil over money with Adebayor using his status in the small west African country to force the issue.
On Tuesday, Togo press reports said coach Didier Six was also seeking to be paid outstanding wages and had not joined up with the team, who are preparing for the tournament in neighbouring Ghana.
The absence of the French-born coach from the team training camp in Accra was confirmed by Herve Agbodan, communications officer of the Togolese Football Federation (TFF), but he said Six would return to work on Wednesday.
Agbodan told Reuters on Tuesday the dispute over money was not being handled by the TFF but instead by the government.
The state has stepped in before to pay money over to the team, notably ahead of the 2006 World Cup in Germany when Adebayor and team mates refused to train for several days before receiving promised qualification bonuses.
Togo's opening game at the Nations Cup is in Rustenburg against the tournament favourites Ivory Coast on January 22.

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