At the wooded Camp David retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains, Obama and leaders from other major economic powers are seeking ways to soothe financial markets after worries about Spain’s banking problems and the risk of a Greek exit from the euro zone sent world stocks to their lowest levels this year.

A shirt-sleeved Obama opened the morning session on the global economy at a rustic lodge, promising to seek ways to restore healthy growth and jobs and address concerns in Europe.

“All of us are absolutely committed to making sure that both growth and stability, and fiscal consolidation, are part of an overall package in order to achieve the kind of prosperity for our citizens we all are looking for,” Obama said.

After an early morning meeting with Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron said he detected a “growing sense of urgency that action needs to be taken” on the euro zone crisis.

“Contingency plans need to be put in place and the strengthening of banks, governance, firewalls – all of those things need to take place very fast,” he told reporters.

European Union leaders seemed keen to stress on Friday that they would stand firm in protecting their banks, after news of escalating bad loans raised the specter that rescuing Spain’s banks would crash the euro zone’s fourth largest economy.

“We will do whatever is needed to guarantee the financial stability of the euro zone,” EU President Herman Van Rompuy said.

Earlier French President Francois Hollande suggested using European funds to inject capital into Spain’s banks, which would mark a significant acceleration of EU rescue efforts.

Balancing a growth agenda with efforts to lower government debt through fiscal belt tightening is a crucial part of the G8 discussions. Obama has aligned himself with Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Monti and the new French president in putting more emphasis on growth.

That places pressure on German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has pushed fiscal austerity as a the prime means of bringing down huge debt levels that are burdening European economies.

Voters in euro zone countries have shown frustration with that approach, ejecting the Greek government and in France the conservative Nicolas Sarkozy was defeated by Hollande, a socialist, in the May 6 elections.

A draft of the summit communiqu? shown to Reuters will stress an “imperative to create growth and jobs.”

There are signs of softening in Germany’s austerity stance.

Its largest industrial union IG Metall struck its biggest pay deal in 20 years early on Saturday. The 4.3-percent pay increase, more than double Germany’s inflation rate, will boost worker buying power in the euro zone’s richest nation and lift consumption – something the United States long has urged as a means to bolster overall growth throughout the world’s second largest economic region.

GLOBAL SECURITY

Also on the summit agenda are concerns about oil and food prices as well as Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and North Korea.

Speculation has grown that Obama will use an energy session at the G8 to seek support to tap emergency oil reserves before a European Union embargo of Iranian crude takes effect in July.

But with oil prices already sliding, a move by Obama to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve – alone or along with other countries – could expose him to criticism that the emergency supply should only be touched in a supply crisis.

The Camp David summit kicked off four days of intensive diplomacy that will test leaders’ ability to quell unease over the threat of another financial meltdown as well as plans to wind down the unpopular war in Afghanistan.

After the Camp David talks wrap up late on Saturday afternoon, Obama will fly to his home town of Chicago where he will host a two-day NATO meeting at which the Afghanistan war will be the central topic.

(Additional reporting by Alister Bull, Jeff Mason, Caren Bohan, Stella Dawson, Elizabeth Pineau, Gleb Bryanski, and John Irish; Writing by Matt Spetalnick and Stella Dawson; Editing by Mary Milliken and Vicki Allen)

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Odessa American | Orange County Register | Freedom
Freedom Communications announced the sale today of its Texas newspapers, including The Brownsville Herald, The Odessa American and The Harlingen Valley Morning Star. This follows news Thursday that it sold four Midwestern papers. AIM Media, headed by former Sun-Times Media CEO Jeremy L. Halbreich, will own the Texas properties; Versa Capital Management, which recently bought Wilkes-Barre, Pa.?s Times Leader, purchased the Midwestern properties.

Two years ago, Poynter?s Rick Edmonds wondered whether Freedom, which emerged from a bankruptcy heavily in debt, was looking to ?sell some of the properties, keep others and reposition the company by investing the proceeds in digital ventures.? Writing in Freedom?s flagship Orange County Register, May Ann Milbourn says, ?There has been no announcement about the status of the Register.? Freedom announced the sale of its broadcast division to Sinclair last November. That deal closed in April, and, Milbourn reported Thursday, ?left Freedom free of the $325 million in debt it had after emerging from bankruptcy.?

Previous: Halifax in talks to buy Freedom papers

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Unlike in past years, our individual rankings will be made available for your viewing and comparing pleasure this season. You’ll be able to compare and contrast Wesseling’s against mine, Clay’s against Wesseling’s, Clay’s against Daugherty’s, and so forth.

We know you’ve been pining for fantasy content, though, so here are my early top tens at each position of significance:

Quarterbacks

1. Cam Newton, Panthers — Newton’s 14 rushing TDs probably aren’t repeatable, but the Panthers will feel comfortable opening up their offense after his first full offseason in the system. OC Rob Chudzinski is a pass-first mind with strong vertical leanings. Legedu Naanee to Brandon LaFell is a major upgrade, and improvements can also be expected in Newton’s TD-to-INT ratio (21:17) and completion rate (60.0). This might be the most physically talented player in football.

2. Tom Brady, Patriots — Brady has been a top-three fantasy QB in three of his past four full seasons, including two No. 1 finishes. He ranked third in 2011. The Pats won’t stop winging it, and Brandon Lloyd will open things up underneath. Brady is a lock for another 35+ TD campaign.

3. Aaron Rodgers, Packers — Like Brady, Rodgers is entrenched as an elite fantasy QB with four straight top-three finishes, including two No. 1 rankings. It will be business as usual in Green Bay this season with internal improvement likely from Randall Cobb and Jermichael Finley.

4. Michael Vick, Eagles — Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford might be safer picks in the four hole behind Cam, Brady, and Rodgers, but Vick possesses the highest ceiling and is a lock to offer the most draft-day value. Despite Jeremy Maclin’s weakened state, DeSean Jackson’s eyes more focused on dollar signs than incoming footballs, and his own hard-luck injuries, a resilient Vick managed to rank sixth in per-game QB scoring and third in rushing at his position last season. Philly’s passing offense will be a goldmine for value picks this year, and Vick tops the list.

5. Matthew Stafford, Lions — Detroit runs the NFL’s pass-happiest offense and fields the league’s best receiver. Stafford isn’t too shabby himself. A Rotoworld darling entering 2011 drafts, Stafford paid dividends and then some by throwing 41 TD passes and ranking fourth among QBs in fantasy scoring. Unfortunately, Stafford’s not going to be available in the eighth round anymore.

6. Drew Brees, Saints — I think the top-six quarterbacks are all fairly interchangeable, so the No. 6 ranking is no slight of Brees. He is squarely in the top tier. The Saints may scale back passing a bit under interim coach Joe Vitt, but Brees will be playing with a chip on his shoulder.

7. Tony Romo, Cowboys — Romo has made it through three full seasons in his career, and he’s finished among the top-seven fantasy QBs every time. Dallas’ offense remains built for the passing game, and Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are back healthy to inflict serious damage.

8. Peyton Manning, Broncos — Manning will play with the most physical receivers of his career in Denver, but we just don’t know how much velocity he’ll recover after four neck surgeries.

9. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers — Despite popular belief to the contrary, new Steelers OC Todd Haley favors a pass-first, no huddle-heavy offense with lots of shotgun. With Antonio Brown emerging across from Mike Wallace, Big Ben could pan out as the top value pick QB behind Vick.

10. Matt Ryan, Falcons — His line remains a concern, but Ryan’s weaponry is a major strength and Atlanta may have to lean on the pass game with Michael Turner running on fumes.

Just Missed: Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Jay Cutler, Robert Griffin III.

Running Backs

1. Arian Foster, Texans — The Houston offense has undergone a dramatic shift over the course of Gary Kubiak’s seven-year tenure, morphing from one of the league’s most pass-heavy teams into its most run reliant. Foster is dynamite in the passing game, and he dominates as a ball carrier in the zone-blocking scheme. He’s the No. 1 fantasy back this year, and it’s not close.

2. LeSean McCoy, Eagles — Coach Andy Reid wants to scale back McCoy’s carries this season, but that’s easier said than done in the heat of battle. McCoy capitalizes on wide running lanes created by a dual-threat quarterback and improving, young offensive line. He probably won’t repeat 20 all-purpose TDs, but McCoy will pile up yardage and is likely to catch more passes.

3. Trent Richardson, Browns — There are factors working against Richardson. He plays in the run-tough AFC North and in an offense lacking a pass game. It is worth noting that one of Richardson’s Steelers matchups is reserved for fantasy-irrelevant Week 17, however, and few backs have as much potential to dominate their team’s workload. He isn?t a bad player, either.

4. Chris Johnson, Titans — I’m not sure we’ll ever see the same CJ2K who ran for 2,000-plus yards at a clip of 5.6 per, but I also don’t think he’ll be as out of shape and off his game as he was last year. Still the most crucial piece in Tennessee’s offense, a big bounce back is likely.

5. Ryan Mathews, Chargers — Mathews quietly finished 2011 as the No. 7 fantasy back in standard leagues, and tied for seventh among running backs in receptions. With Mike Tolbert gone to Carolina, Mathews could explode with a stranglehold on goal-line and passing-down work.

6. Ray Rice, Ravens — Rice’s contract situation isn’t a concern, but he’s unlikely to get the football 367 times again. Still a workhorse with rare all-purpose ability, he’s a shoo-in top-tier back.

7. Darren McFadden, Raiders — No, you can’t count on him for 16 starts. But you can count on McFadden to be a week-winning difference-maker when he’s in the lineup. Prior to the week of his 2011 Lisfranc injury, McFadden was on pace for well over 2,000 total yards and 14 TDs. New Oakland OC Greg Knapp is one of this generation’s most run-heavy offensive minds, and the Raiders will count even more heavily on McFadden with Michael Bush out of the picture.

8. Matt Forte — Our expectation is that Forte will report by camp whether or not his contract demands are met, but he’ll lose goal-line work to Michael Bush and perhaps even some passing-down looks. Bush is a terrific blocker and receiver. Expect more of a committee in 2012.

9. Marshawn Lynch — Lynch’s outlook is littered with red flags after four seasons of mediocrity suddenly morphed into a mammoth breakout down the stretch of a contract year. Lynch is an offensive centerpiece, however, and he benefits from OL coach Tom Cable’s tried-and-true zone scheme. He’s safely in the top ten because he’s going to get the ball so much.

10. Jamaal Charles — Charles’ ACL recovery is a concern, but he gets the edge over Adrian Peterson because he’s a better bet to play early, and the nod over MJD because Jones-Drew’s workloads are piling up at an alarming rate. The Chiefs’ offseason design points strongly toward one of the league’s most run-heavy offenses. Charles will be at the forefront of that.

Just Missed: Adrian Peterson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Doug Martin, DeMarco Murray, Beanie Wells.

The wheels are officially spinning on Rotoworld’s 2012 Fantasy Football Guide after Chris Wesseling, Mike Clay, Pat Daugherty, and myself each submitted player-position rankings to spreadsheet wizard Adam Levitan on Tuesday. Levitan will combine our preliminary rankings to formulate a final product. All summer, Wesseling and I will tweak them as we see fit.

Unlike in past years, our individual rankings will be made available for your viewing and comparing pleasure this season. You’ll be able to compare and contrast Wesseling’s against mine, Clay’s against Wesseling’s, Clay’s against Daugherty’s, and so forth.

We know you’ve been pining for fantasy content, though, so here are my early top tens at each position of significance:

Quarterbacks

1. Cam Newton, Panthers — Newton’s 14 rushing TDs probably aren’t repeatable, but the Panthers will feel comfortable opening up their offense after his first full offseason in the system. OC Rob Chudzinski is a pass-first mind with strong vertical leanings. Legedu Naanee to Brandon LaFell is a major upgrade, and improvements can also be expected in Newton’s TD-to-INT ratio (21:17) and completion rate (60.0). This might be the most physically talented player in football.

2. Tom Brady, Patriots — Brady has been a top-three fantasy QB in three of his past four full seasons, including two No. 1 finishes. He ranked third in 2011. The Pats won’t stop winging it, and Brandon Lloyd will open things up underneath. Brady is a lock for another 35+ TD campaign.

3. Aaron Rodgers, Packers — Like Brady, Rodgers is entrenched as an elite fantasy QB with four straight top-three finishes, including two No. 1 rankings. It will be business as usual in Green Bay this season with internal improvement likely from Randall Cobb and Jermichael Finley.

4. Michael Vick, Eagles — Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford might be safer picks in the four hole behind Cam, Brady, and Rodgers, but Vick possesses the highest ceiling and is a lock to offer the most draft-day value. Despite Jeremy Maclin’s weakened state, DeSean Jackson’s eyes more focused on dollar signs than incoming footballs, and his own hard-luck injuries, a resilient Vick managed to rank sixth in per-game QB scoring and third in rushing at his position last season. Philly’s passing offense will be a goldmine for value picks this year, and Vick tops the list.

5. Matthew Stafford, Lions — Detroit runs the NFL’s pass-happiest offense and fields the league’s best receiver. Stafford isn’t too shabby himself. A Rotoworld darling entering 2011 drafts, Stafford paid dividends and then some by throwing 41 TD passes and ranking fourth among QBs in fantasy scoring. Unfortunately, Stafford’s not going to be available in the eighth round anymore.

6. Drew Brees, Saints — I think the top-six quarterbacks are all fairly interchangeable, so the No. 6 ranking is no slight of Brees. He is squarely in the top tier. The Saints may scale back passing a bit under interim coach Joe Vitt, but Brees will be playing with a chip on his shoulder.

7. Tony Romo, Cowboys — Romo has made it through three full seasons in his career, and he’s finished among the top-seven fantasy QBs every time. Dallas’ offense remains built for the passing game, and Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are back healthy to inflict serious damage.

8. Peyton Manning, Broncos — Manning will play with the most physical receivers of his career in Denver, but we just don’t know how much velocity he’ll recover after four neck surgeries.

9. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers — Despite popular belief to the contrary, new Steelers OC Todd Haley favors a pass-first, no huddle-heavy offense with lots of shotgun. With Antonio Brown emerging across from Mike Wallace, Big Ben could pan out as the top value pick QB behind Vick.

10. Matt Ryan, Falcons — His line remains a concern, but Ryan’s weaponry is a major strength and Atlanta may have to lean on the pass game with Michael Turner running on fumes.

Just Missed: Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Jay Cutler, Robert Griffin III.

Running Backs

1. Arian Foster, Texans — The Houston offense has undergone a dramatic shift over the course of Gary Kubiak’s seven-year tenure, morphing from one of the league’s most pass-heavy teams into its most run reliant. Foster is dynamite in the passing game, and he dominates as a ball carrier in the zone-blocking scheme. He’s the No. 1 fantasy back this year, and it’s not close.

2. LeSean McCoy, Eagles — Coach Andy Reid wants to scale back McCoy’s carries this season, but that’s easier said than done in the heat of battle. McCoy capitalizes on wide running lanes created by a dual-threat quarterback and improving, young offensive line. He probably won’t repeat 20 all-purpose TDs, but McCoy will pile up yardage and is likely to catch more passes.

3. Trent Richardson, Browns — There are factors working against Richardson. He plays in the run-tough AFC North and in an offense lacking a pass game. It is worth noting that one of Richardson’s Steelers matchups is reserved for fantasy-irrelevant Week 17, however, and few backs have as much potential to dominate their team’s workload. He isn?t a bad player, either.

4. Chris Johnson, Titans — I’m not sure we’ll ever see the same CJ2K who ran for 2,000-plus yards at a clip of 5.6 per, but I also don’t think he’ll be as out of shape and off his game as he was last year. Still the most crucial piece in Tennessee’s offense, a big bounce back is likely.

5. Ryan Mathews, Chargers — Mathews quietly finished 2011 as the No. 7 fantasy back in standard leagues, and tied for seventh among running backs in receptions. With Mike Tolbert gone to Carolina, Mathews could explode with a stranglehold on goal-line and passing-down work.

6. Ray Rice, Ravens — Rice’s contract situation isn’t a concern, but he’s unlikely to get the football 367 times again. Still a workhorse with rare all-purpose ability, he’s a shoo-in top-tier back.

7. Darren McFadden, Raiders — No, you can’t count on him for 16 starts. But you can count on McFadden to be a week-winning difference-maker when he’s in the lineup. Prior to the week of his 2011 Lisfranc injury, McFadden was on pace for well over 2,000 total yards and 14 TDs. New Oakland OC Greg Knapp is one of this generation’s most run-heavy offensive minds, and the Raiders will count even more heavily on McFadden with Michael Bush out of the picture.

8. Matt Forte — Our expectation is that Forte will report by camp whether or not his contract demands are met, but he’ll lose goal-line work to Michael Bush and perhaps even some passing-down looks. Bush is a terrific blocker and receiver. Expect more of a committee in 2012.

9. Marshawn Lynch — Lynch’s outlook is littered with red flags after four seasons of mediocrity suddenly morphed into a mammoth breakout down the stretch of a contract year. Lynch is an offensive centerpiece, however, and he benefits from OL coach Tom Cable’s tried-and-true zone scheme. He’s safely in the top ten because he’s going to get the ball so much.

10. Jamaal Charles — Charles’ ACL recovery is a concern, but he gets the edge over Adrian Peterson because he’s a better bet to play early, and the nod over MJD because Jones-Drew’s workloads are piling up at an alarming rate. The Chiefs’ offseason design points strongly toward one of the league’s most run-heavy offenses. Charles will be at the forefront of that.

Just Missed: Adrian Peterson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Doug Martin, DeMarco Murray, Beanie Wells.

Wide Receivers

1. Calvin Johnson, Lions — If Newton isn’t the most dominant physical talent in football, Megatron is. More so than Foster, Johnson is head-and-shoulders above the rest at wide receiver.

2. Andre Johnson, Texans — Houston’s philosophical shift on offense safely keeps Andre below Calvin, but he’s a dynamic playmaker who dominates targets on his team. Andre bounced back from his 2011 hamstring injury for lines of 5/90/1 and 8/111 in Houston’s two playoff games.

3. Mike Wallace, Steelers — Pittsburgh could quietly be headed for an offensive explosion. Their O-Line has received a major influx of marquee talent, and defenses won’t be able to double down on Wallace any longer with Antonio Brown now on the radar screen. If Big Ben’s visions of Todd Haley’s offense are on point, Wallace will set a career high in targets this year.

4. A.J. Green, Bengals — Cincinnati’s running game no longer instills fear, nor will the No. 2 receiver battle of Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Jones, and Armon Binns. Defenses will key up to stop Green, but second-year OC Jay Gruden will scheme to get him the rock. We saw what Green could do as a rookie. He might be the second most talented wideout in the whole league.

5. Hakeem Nicks, Giants — Victor Cruz’s 2011 emergence threw a temporary wrench into Nicks’ WR1 reliability, but these things tend to come full circle. Nicks exploded for three 100-plus yard efforts in four playoff games, to go along with four TDs. It’s likely a sign of things to come.

6. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals — Fitzgerald would be the No. 2-ranked receiver if not for lingering QB concerns. He still finished as the No. 5 fantasy wideout in 2011, so he’s shown an ability to overcome. 2012 drafters should hope John Skelton starts more games than Kevin Kolb.

7. Brandon Marshall, Bears — Based on Jay Cutler’s two full seasons as a starter in Denver, Marshall can confidently expect to rank among the NFL’s target leaders. Marshall paced the league in both years, and old Denver assistant Jeremy Bates is installing the same system in Chicago.

8. Julio Jones, Falcons — Scratching the surface, Jones ranked 11th among wideouts in fantasy points per game as a 22-year-old rookie. You don’t want to be late for his breakout dance.

9. Steve Smith, Panthers — Smith isn’t going to lead the NFL in receptions, but he could contend for league highs in yards and yards per catch. Sophomore QB Cam Newton’s touchdown pass total is likely to rise in his second year, and his top receiver will be the primary beneficiary.

10. Greg Jennings, Packers — Jennings missed three games last season, but ranked in the top eight in fantasy points per week for the third time in four years. Many of Jordy Nelson’s stats are unsustainable, so don’t think there’s a changing of the top-receiver guard in Green Bay.

Just Missed: Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, Kenny Britt, Antonio Brown, Miles Austin, Vincent Jackson, Roddy White, Dwayne Bowe, Victor Cruz, Jeremy Maclin, Percy Harvin.

Tight Ends

1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots — A man amongst boys, Gronk will make a legitimate case for first-round fantasy consideration in 2012. He’s that much better than the rest of the tight ends.

2. Jimmy Graham, Saints — It’s really Gronk, Graham, then everybody else. An athletic freak, Graham led the high-flying Saints in catches, yards, TDs, and targets as a first-year starter. Unguardable at age 25, Graham now enters just his third consecutive year of organized football.

3. Aaron Hernandez, Patriots — If Gronk and Graham have tiers of their own, Hernandez heads up No. 3. Keep in mind Brandon Lloyd’s addition may mean slightly fewer downfield targets.

4. Jermichael Finley, Packers — Finley’s 2011 season was a big disappointment, as he led all tight ends in drops by a significant margin and finished fifth in fantasy scoring at the position when Finley’s natural tools say he should have easily been top three. It could add up to nice value.

5. Jason Witten, Cowboys — Witten earns points for reliability and consistency. He hasn’t missed a game in nearly a decade while ranking no worse than eighth in tight end fantasy scoring in seven of the past eight years. Still only 30 years old, Witten should have plenty left in the tank.

6. Vernon Davis, 49ers — Davis openly admits he didn’t grasp new coach Jim Harbaugh’s offense until late last season. Then magic happened, as Davis averaged 107 yards with five TDs in the final five games, including two unstoppable playoff efforts. He’ll be in a better spot this year.

7. Antonio Gates, Chargers — Gates was a plodding power forward last season, using his big body to wall off defenders and secure Philip Rivers? passes. There are signs of physical breakdown, and Gates doesn?t run anything like he used to. He?ll be drafted too early for my taste.

8. Jacob Tamme, Broncos — Tamme will man the slot in Denver’s new “Peyton offense,” creating mismatches with his deceptive speed (4.60) and knack for finding soft spots in zones.

9. Fred Davis, Redskins — Davis was the featured receiver in D.C. last year. While he may lose that role to some extent with Pierre Garcon and Leonard Hankerson out wide, Davis will also be tougher for defenses to key up to stop. He’ll be a formidable back-end TE1 this season.

10. Dustin Keller, Jets — Unless you believe in the rookie Coby Fleener, there’s a drop off at tight end beyond the top nine. Keller is a good athlete with lots to play for in a contract year, but the Jets are going to run a smash-mouth, run-heavy attack in which targets may be tough to come by.

Keep an eye on: 11. Coby Fleener, Colts — I’m excited to watch Fleener in preseason because he has a lot going for him. He can run for a big man, and is entering a Bruce Arians offense that could air it out more than expected. Reggie Wayne played like he was on the verge of retirement last year, and Indy lacks a quality No. 2. Andrew Luck may lock onto his college teammate for long stretches.

Just Missed: Greg Olsen, Tony Gonzalez, Jared Cook.

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You know how much we hated when that talentless treacherous tardclown known as Jay Leno betrayed Conan O’Brien and stole The Tonight Show from him, the same way he betrayed David Letterman. That’s why we are featuring this clip of Conan and David Letter making fun of Leno, in tonight’s Late Night show. Enjoy! More »

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Biologists Taegan McMahon and Jason Rohr, co-authors of the study published in the journal Ecology Letters, report that chlorothalonil killed amphibians, snails, zooplankton, algae, and aquatic plants below estimated environmental concentrations previously deemed safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The loss of these herbivores and plants freed the algae from predation and competition, which eventually resulted in algal blooms that were similar to the effects of eutrophication.

“Some species were able to recover from the chemical assault, but the ecosystem was fundamentally changed after its exposure to chlorothalonil,” Rohr said.

The four-week study was conducted in a series of 300-gallon tanks used to mimic pond conditions.It follows a 2011 laboratory study conducted by McMahon and Rohr that found that ecologically-relevant concentrations of chlorothalonil killed four species of amphibians.

“Although our new study is the only reported community- and ecosystem-level experiment on chlorothalonil, our results are consistent with several direct toxicity studies conducted in the laboratory and with observations in the field,” McMahon said.

Chlorothalonil kills molds and fungus by disrupting cellular respiration, an essential process for most multicellular organisms on the planet. Like the infamous DDT, chlorothalonil is a member of the organochlorine chemical family.

Fifty years after the book “Silent Spring” led to a ban on most forms of the pesticide DDT, chlorothalonil is one of a few organochlorine pesticides still registered for use in the U.S., Europe and Australia.

“In addition to reducing biodiversity and altering ecosystem functions, chlorothalonil reduced the decomposition of waste, an important service that freshwater ecosystems provide to humans,” McMahon added.

“Interest in the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functions stems at least partly from the concern that anthropogenically-driven declines in biodiversity will reduce or alter the benefits offered by ecosystems,” Rohr said.”Surprisingly, however, this is one of the first studies to actually manipulate an anthropogenic factor and link it to changes in ecosystem functions mediated by declines in biodiversity.”

“This is important because many species in ecosystems might contribute little to ecosystem functions or are functionally redundant with other species, and thus declines in biodiversity do not always affect the functions and services of ecosystems,” Rohr said.

McMahon and Rohr encourage further research on effects of anthropogenic factors on ecosystem functions in systems with complex food webs and the re-evaluation of the safety of chlorothalonil.

Funding for the project was provided by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of South Florida (USF Health). The original article was written by Vickie Chachere.

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

Journal Reference:

1. Taegan A. McMahon, Neal T. Halstead, Steven Johnson, Thomas R. Raffel, John M. Romansic, Patrick W. Crumrine, Jason R. Rohr. Fungicide-induced declines of freshwater biodiversity modify ecosystem functions and services. Ecology Letters, 2012; DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01790.x

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.

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If you are in the process of building a business, it can be very beneficial to think about how the use of internet marketing may help you. One reason this is extremely effective is because you?ve got the potential to connect online with thousands of people each day. You don?t have any possibility of reaching that many folks with regular forms of marketing. Your advertising can be viewed by individuals worldwide when you use the Internet. You can see why this form of advertising would be better than any other type of advertising. Another great system is Curso de Bolsa to complement this techniques.

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With conventional kinds of advertising, it takes some time to be ready, but online it can happen in a matter of seconds or minutes. It can take approximately one week to place an offline newspaper advertisement, yet you can do it quickly on the internet. Web marketing is definitely quick and low-cost, but its effectiveness is what really makes it worth it. A lot of the individuals on the internet consider online advertising to be trustworthy so you should have a good customer base with which to connect. Besides striving to contact the maximum number of folks possible, you also want the individuals to be in your target market. You?re utilizing the power of internet marketing to contact people who want the products and services you are marketing. And you must to read about White pages.com reverse lookup system for understanding this concept

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By admin | May 16, 2012

The us government encourages everybody saving for their retirement by giving tax reduction on pension benefits. A tax relief either decreases your goverment tax bill or increases your pension funds. There are many tax as well as financial automobiles produced in north america where you could make investments your pension. Several are tax deductible, such as the traditional IRA and a few not, just like the Roth IRA. The standard IRA is made from after-tax money and you will claim in your taxes, therefore reducing your changed revenues.titantaxrelief.com

The procedure to have tax relief on pension benefits depends on whether you?re paying right into a public service, occupational or private pension plan. Typically, your employer receives the pension contributions from the pay just before tax is deduced.

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May 16, 2012

Car Service Misconduct Justifies Termination

The New York Appellate Division for the First Judicial Department has affirmed the grant of summary judgment to a law firm sued for discrimination by a terminated attorney:

In this discrimination action, plaintiff alleges that the defendant law firm terminated her because of her age and gender. The motion court properly determined that plaintiff failed to meet her burden of showing that she was discharged under circumstances giving rise to an inference of discrimination. Even assuming arguendo that plaintiff had met that burden, defendant law firm offered legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for plaintiff’s termination since she had engaged in misconduct by, over a period of several years, using a car service hundreds of times in violation of defendant’s policy. Plaintiff would commute to and from her home, and to her personal appointments and the office, and then charge those trips to various clients. Plaintiff failed to show that defendants’ stated reasons for her termination were false or pretextual or that defendants were motivated by discrimination. (citations omitted)

The motion court did not abuse its discretion in denying plaintiff’s motion to amend the complaint to add a claim under New York Judiciary Law ? 487 and to add a partner at the law firm as a party. Plaintiff failed to allege facts demonstrating that the law firm or its partners intended to commit deception in a letter to the Departmental Disciplinary Committee reporting plaintiff’s misconduct.

(Mike Frisch)

May 16, 2012 in Law & Business, Law Firms | Permalink

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