UPDATE 1-NBA-Paul keeps Clippers on top in Los Angeles battle

(adds quotes, detail)
* Lakers fall to 10-12 under D'Antoni
* Clippers win without Crawford
LOS ANGELES, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Chris Paul and the Clippers maintained a grip on top billing in Los Angeles with a tense 107-102 victory over the Lakers on Friday to cement their status as the city's best team.
Paul withstood a fierce challenge from Kobe Bryant, recording 30 points and 13 assists to Bryant's 38 points, and the Clippers moved further ahead in both the standings and the crosstown rivalry.
"It's a big win because it's a division game," Paul told reporters, after he carried the scoring load in the absence of injured reserve Jamal Crawford (sore foot).
"That was ugly down the stretch and it was all my fault. We had some terrible possessions (late) and made it interesting for the fans."
The Lakers did their best to tear up the script late on by climbing out of a 19-point deficit in the fourth quarter and closing to 99-97 with two minutes remaining.
However, Paul shut the door on the Lakers, scoring the final eight points for his team, including a tough step-back jumper over the outstretched Bryant in the waning moments.
Blake Griffin added 24 points in the winning effort while Dwight Howard put up 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers (15-17), who have lost three of their last four.
FAST BREAK
Despite sharing the Staples Center, the teams have had little else in common this season as the Clippers (26-8) have raced toward the top of the West while the Lakers are struggling to find an identity under new coach Mike D'Antoni.
The team is just 10-12 since D'Antoni took over.
"It's going to take time and we don't have a lot of it," said Lakers point guard Steve Nash, who finished with 12 points and 10 assists. "You just stick with it."
The Clippers ran off a franchise-record 17 straight wins before losing their previous two games but they quickly regained their form and grabbed a 10-point halftime lead on the Lakers.
The athletic Clippers used their defense to ignite their fast break and push the game's energy with crowd-pleasing dunks.
After their lead swelled to 19 early in the fourth, the Lakers chipped away behind Bryant, who delivered 16 points in the final quarter, to raise the stakes in his duel with Paul.
The two All Stars traded shots all night, with Bryant throwing down a ferocious dunk over Paul in the first quarter, but the Clippers point guard got the final say with a critical jumper and six free throws over the last minute.
"Chris made some amazing shots. It was a great matchup of two of the best in the game," D'Antoni said. "We had a shot at the end and we just didn't do it.

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US Drug Watchdog Now Urges a Blood Test for All DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implant Recipients and They Suggest Law Firms to Help Victims of a Failure Get Compensated

The US Drug Watchdog says, "As part of our enhanced 2013 DePuy Pinnacle Metal on Metal Hip Implant Initiative we want all recipients to get a blood test for cobalt, or chromium levels in their blood stream, and we want them to call us at 866-714-6466, for the names of the best possible attorneys if the metal levels are elevated." http://USDrugWatchdog.com

(PRWEB) January 08, 2013
The US Drug Watchdog says, "We are going to dramatically increase our public awareness campaign for recipients of a DePuy Pinnacle metal on metal hip implant in 2013. We are now urging all DePuy Pinnacle metal on metal hip implant recipients to have a simple blood test to see if they have elevated levels of cobalt, or chromium in their blood. If the cobalt, or chromium levels are elevated please call us immediately, and we will do our best to get you to the best possible attorneys." According to court records about 140,000 US citizens are recipients of a DePuy Pinnacle all metal hip implant. For more information about the DePuy Pinnacle hip implant, and or issues related to metal on metal hip implants please call the US Drug Watchdog at 866-714-6466, or contact the group via their web site at http://USDrugWatchdog.com
According to the US Drug Watchdog, "Symptoms of a DePuy Pinnacle metal on metal hip implant failure include pain, problems walking, swelling of the hip, lack of flexibility. Again, we believe elevated levels of cobalt, or chromium in the recipients blood, are the best indicator for a failed metal on metal hip implant." http://USDRugWatchdog.Com
The US Drug Watchdog is the premier medical device, and pharmaceutical watchdog, and advocate in the United States. The group says, "We want to make certain all metal-on-metal DePuy Pinnacle hip implant victims get to the actual trial law firms, or attorneys, that have the best record in achieving superior results for their clients, in these types of medical device lawsuits. Because compensation is vital, we think having the best, or most capable national caliber personal injury law firm is always the best choice." For more information please contact the US Drug Watchdog anytime at 866-714-6466. http://USDrugWatchdog.com

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More young directors and fewer female directors in Mansfield reports Duport

Research by company formation agents Duport.co.uk shows that the percentage of young director appointments in Mansfield is rising, while female director appointments are falling.

UK (PRWEB UK) 8 January 2013
Mansfield: Between July and September, the percentage of director appointments under the age of 25 in Mansfield rose, according to the latest Duport Business Confidence Report.
During this period, 6% of directors were under 25, compared to just 2% during the third quarter of 2011.
However, the third quarter also saw a drop in the number of female director appointments, with 15% of director appointments being female, compared to 21% in Q3 2011.
The area is currently undergoing a regeneration project that aims to kick-start economic growth and attract investment, whilst improving the town centre for residents and visitors.
Managing Director of Duport.co.uk, Peter Valaitis commented:
“The rising number of young directors in Mansfield is a really positive sign for the local economy, and should help bring fresh ideas to the business community.”
“A falling number of female directors is less positive, but I would hope the regeneration of the town centre will attract new companies and provide more opportunities for businesswomen.”
The Duport Business Confidence Report detailed economic data on the local economy of Mansfield. More information can be found at http://www.duport.co.uk/mansfield.
Duport Business Confidence Reports are generated and released by Duport Associates Ltd. The data contained in these reports is assimilated and analysed by Duport using public record data from sources including Companies House, Office for National Statistics and Ordnance Survey. Duport Associates Ltd is a leading UK company formation agent, established in 1997 and registering around 10,000 new companies each year through its Companies House approved software.

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JK Development Corp. Announces Eagle Crest, Orange County’s Newest Neighborhood of Custom Homes

Builder with history in local area designs unique modern homes in Warwick Valley, NY.

Sugarloaf, NY (PRWEB) January 08, 2013
Jon Shafran of JK Development Corp. announced his latest real estate development, Eagle Crest, located just outside the Hamlet of Sugarloaf in Orange County, New York. Eagle Crest will consist of custom single family homes on 25 residential lots in a subdivision that spans over 100 acres of prime real estate in Warwick Valley, NY with 50 acres dedicated to open space for the home owners use and enjoyment. The development features various custom home styles ranging in size from 2300 to 3731 square feet and priced from $419,900 to $599,900. Eagle Crest is located in the Warwick Valley Central School District.
JK Development has a long history in the area, having built more than 100 single family homes throughout Orange County, NY. "We take pride in building special homes you won’t see anywhere else. Each home is unique in design and we work with our buyers to customize the homes to their needs," explains Shafran. "We build beautiful, modern homes that are unique and innovative, while still maintaining a sense of tradition and respecting the architectural history of the Warwick Valley."
As part of maintaining that history, Shafran repurposed items that were already present on the historic farmland of Eagle Crest. Entrance pillars were sculpted from an original stone foundation, an original wood barn was dismantled so the beams and siding could be reused, and concrete from a silo and milking barn were crushed into concrete for future driveways." Shafran describes going through great pains to save as many trees as possible, including one that had grown around an old 12-cylinder truck engine.
Shafran has selected licensed real estate agent, Donna Gennaro of Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty to list and sell the new homes of Eagle Crest. "It’s very exciting to be part of this project" said Gennaro. "The feedback from the local real estate experts has been extraordinary. We have already had interest from agents interested in buying here for themselves. That’s when you know you have a special property.”
Located 50 minutes north of Manhattan, the area surrounding Eagle Crest is home to equestrian centers, ski-ready mountains, farmer’s markets, acres of apple orchards, innovative new restaurants, antique stores, arts and crafts villages, and a new state-of-the-art hospital, the Orange Regional Medical Center.
JK Development Corp and Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty have set up virtual tours online at http://www.eaglecrestsubdivision.com. This website can also be used to schedule an appointment to tour the new properties. Additionally, Donna Gennaro may be contacted to answer questions regarding Eagle Crest at 845-494-6917.
ABOUT JK DEVELOPMENT CORP

Founded in 1990 by Jon and Karen Shafran, JK Development is one of Orange County, NY's premier home builders and land developers. Jon Shafran is a former President of the Builders Association of the Hudson Valley and is currently one of the members of its Board of Directors.

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Ivory Coast New Year's death toll rises to 64

 Ivory Coast's health minister says the death toll in the New Year's stampede has risen to 64.
Health Minister Raymonde Goudou, speaking to the press, said three more people died in addition to the 61 who were killed from being trampled when thousands left a New Year's fireworks display. She said 26 people who had been missing after the chaos of the stampede were located in various hospitals in Abidjan.
Goudou said Thursday afternoon that the government will close its investigation into the tragic stampede on Friday and will issue a report later.
The Front Populaire Ivorien, the opposition party of former President Laurent Gbagbo, issued a statement criticizing Interior Minister Hamed Eakayoko for not taking adequate security measures for the fireworks display in central Abidjan on New Year's Eve.

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Mali's Ansar Dine: Islamists to resume hostilities

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — An Islamist group in northern Mali says it's suspending its pledge to halt hostilities less than a month after it agreed to do so.
The group Ansar Dine said negotiations with the Malian government are ultimately aimed at a military intervention to oust the Islamists, and are not true peace talks. Still, the group said that it remains committed to a dialogue with the Malian government in Bamako even though it is withdrawing its pledge to halt hostilities.
The original offer had drawn skepticism from some observers, who noted the group's links to al-Qaida's North Africa branch.
Ansar Dine also has been behind public executions, amputations and whippings in northern Mali. The group on its website says it seeks autonomy for northern Mali.

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Nigeria police: Hyundai paid $187K to free workers

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. paid about $187,000 to free four abducted South Korean workers and their local colleague, a lucrative ransom showing the continuing allure of kidnapping in Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta, police said Friday.
South Korean officials declined to say whether they paid a ransom when announcing the hostages' release on Dec. 22, following the pattern of other foreign governments and companies operating in the Niger Delta when dealing with abductions. However, cash payments often represent the only safe way of getting back expatriate workers in the region since militants began attacks there in 2006.
Police learned of the kidnapping payment after arresting one of three suspected kidnappers, Bayelsa state police spokesman Fidelis Odunna told The Associated Press on Friday. The man claimed that several gangs involved in the kidnapping received 30 million naira ($187,500), Odunna said.
"The real reason for the kidnapping is for financial interest," the spokesman said. "The company didn't want to endanger the lives of the workers and paid secretly."
While the workers were safely released, Odunna said the cash payment likely would further embolden the criminal gangs and militant groups — some often one in the same — that operate in the delta, a region of mangroves and swamps about the size of Portugal.
On Dec. 17, gunmen ambushed workers for the Korea-based company at a construction site in the Brass region of Bayelsa state. Six people were initially taken, though kidnappers let one Nigerian go an hour after the attack, likely because he came from the area, authorities had said.
Foreign companies have pumped oil out of the Niger Delta for more than 50 years, making Nigeria one of the top crude suppliers to the U.S. Despite the billions of dollars flowing into Nigeria's government, many in the delta remain desperately poor, living amid polluted waters without access to proper medical care, education or jobs. The poor conditions sparked an uprising in 2006 by militants and opportunistic criminals who blew up oil pipelines and kidnapped foreign workers.
That violence ebbed in 2009 with a government-sponsored amnesty program that offered ex-fighters monthly payments and job training. However, few in the delta have seen the promised benefits and sporadic kidnappings and attacks continue. Pirates operating in the region also routinely kidnap foreign sailors off vessels in the Gulf of Guinea.
Middle- and upper-class Nigerians now routinely find themselves and their family members targeted by kidnap gangs. The end of the year in Nigeria usually sees an uptick in criminal activity as well, as criminal gangs target the wealthy returning to the country to celebrate the holidays.
Most workers taken hostages are released after a few weeks when their employers pay a ransom, typically around a $100,000 or higher, depending on negotiations, experts say.

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10 Vintage Photographs of Snowflakes

If for some reason you didn't believe no two snowflakes were alike, here's your proof.
In 1885, Wilson A. Bentley successfully photographed over 5,000 snowflakes by attaching a camera to a microscope (and in turn honing the field of Photomicrography). His photographs supported his and others' beliefs that all snowflakes were unique.
[More from Mashable: 20+ Online Resources for Planning a Winter Getaway]
Bentley become fascinated with snow as a child on a Vermont farm. He later spent time experimenting with ways to view individual snowflakes and their crystalline structure, which eventually came in handy when he had to be quick enough to capture a flake in a picture before it melted.
SEE ALSO: DIY a Hoth Winter Wonderland With Star Wars Snowflakes
These photographs quickly became popular with dozens of scientists who studied Bentley's work and published the images in several scientific magazines. In 1903, Bentley sent about 500 of his photographs to the Smithsonian, hoping they would be of interest to Secretary Samuel P. Langley.
The Smithsonian now has his vintage pics on display, undeniably proveing that snow is just so, so pretty.

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WSJ says Hostess in talks to sell bread brands

NEW YORK (AP) — The makers of Thomas' English muffins and Tastykake snacks are emerging as the two of the bidders for Wonder Bread and other Hostess bread brands as the company tries to sell off its assets under bankruptcy-court oversight, a newspaper reported Saturday.
The Wall Street Journal said Hostess Brands Inc. could reveal as early as next week that Flowers Foods Inc. and Grupo Bimbo SAB are in discussions to acquire the bread brands, which also include Nature's Pride. The report said the brands could command $350 million.
Grupo Bimbo's brands include Arnold breads, Thomas' English muffins and Entenmann's cakes. Flowers Foods Inc.'s brands include Nature's Own breads and Tastykake snacks.
Hostess sells Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Ho Hos, along with Dolly Madison cakes, which includes Coffee Cakes and Zingers. Hostess also sells Devil Dogs, Funny Bones, and Yodels under the Drake's brand.
Hostess, which is based in Irving, Texas, announced in November that it was shutting down its business and selling its bread, snacks and cakes brands along with its 33 bakeries and other operations.
The company's demise came after years of management turmoil and turnover. Workers said the company failed to invest in updating its snack cakes and breads. Hostess filed for its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy in less than a decade last year, citing steep costs associated with its unionized workforce.
The company was able to reach a new contract agreement with its largest union, the Teamsters, but the bakers union rejected the terms and went on strike Nov. 9. A week later, Hostess announced its plans to liquidate, saying the strike crippled its ability to maintain normal production. In 2011, the company's revenue was $2.5 billion.
Hostess declined to comment, as did Grupo Bimbo's U.S. division, Bimbo Bakeries USA. Bimbo's parent company is headquartered in Mexico. A message left with Flowers Foods, which is based in Thomasville, Ga., was not immediately returned.
Hostess said in bankruptcy court proceedings in December that it was narrowing down the bids it had received and that it expects to sell off its snack cakes and bread brands to different buyers.
Hostess said in December that it expects to file binding bids for many of its brands this month, followed by a four-week auction process to allow competing bids. Closings for many brands could come as soon as mid-March, according to Joshua Scherer of Perella Weinberg Partners, which is advising Hostess.
An attorney for Hostess said in court in December that 1,100 employees had been retained to shut down plants and perform other tasks as it winds down its operations. The liquidation of the company will ultimately mean the loss of 18,000 jobs, not including those shed in the years leading to the company's failure.

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NYC iPhone owner tricks thief using dating app

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City musician used a combination of technology, seduction, a hammer and a bribe to reclaim his missing iPhone from a confused crook.
Jazz trombonist Nadav Nirenberg (nah-DAHV' NEE'-run-berg) says he left the phone in a livery cab on New Year's Eve. The next morning, the 27-year-old learned via email that someone was sending messages to women using a dating app on the phone.
Nirenberg logged on to the service and offered the man a date — posing as a woman. He even posted a picture of a pretty girl.
When the culprit arrived at Nirenberg's Brooklyn apartment building with wine, the musician greeted him with a $20 bill while holding a hammer — just in case.
The thief handed him the iPhone and left without a word.

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