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Friday, March 8, 2013

NASA's TRMM satellite sees Tropical Cyclone 19P form

Public release date: 7-Mar-2013
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Contact: Rob Gutro
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite noticed areas of heavy rainfall in low pressure System 92P hours before it became the nineteenth tropical cyclone of the Southern Pacific Ocean.

NASA's TRMM satellite captured a look at the rainfall rates within low pressure System 92P on March 7 at 0023 UTC (March 6 at 7:23 p.m. EST), just hours before it became Tropical Cyclone 19P (TC 19P). TRMM data indicated that heavy rain was falling at a rate of 2 inches/50 mm per hour around the center of circulation, and that some of the thunderstorms were powerful as they topped heights of 9.3 miles (15 kilometers). Bands of thunderstorms around the storm expanded, strengthened and wrapped tighter around the storm's center today, March 7, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).

On March 7 at 1200 UTC (7 a.m. EST) the intensifying tropical storm had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph/64 kph). TC 19P was centered near 15.4 south latitude and 156.9 east longitude about 660 nautical miles (759.5 miles/1,222 km) northwest of Noumea, New Caledonia. TC19P was moving to the east-northeast at 11 knots (12.6 mph/20.3 kph).

JTWC forecasters expect TC 19P to strengthen and curve to the southeast, affecting New Caledonia by March 11.

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NASA's TRMM satellite sees Tropical Cyclone 19P form Public release date: 7-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Rob Gutro
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite noticed areas of heavy rainfall in low pressure System 92P hours before it became the nineteenth tropical cyclone of the Southern Pacific Ocean.

NASA's TRMM satellite captured a look at the rainfall rates within low pressure System 92P on March 7 at 0023 UTC (March 6 at 7:23 p.m. EST), just hours before it became Tropical Cyclone 19P (TC 19P). TRMM data indicated that heavy rain was falling at a rate of 2 inches/50 mm per hour around the center of circulation, and that some of the thunderstorms were powerful as they topped heights of 9.3 miles (15 kilometers). Bands of thunderstorms around the storm expanded, strengthened and wrapped tighter around the storm's center today, March 7, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).

On March 7 at 1200 UTC (7 a.m. EST) the intensifying tropical storm had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph/64 kph). TC 19P was centered near 15.4 south latitude and 156.9 east longitude about 660 nautical miles (759.5 miles/1,222 km) northwest of Noumea, New Caledonia. TC19P was moving to the east-northeast at 11 knots (12.6 mph/20.3 kph).

JTWC forecasters expect TC 19P to strengthen and curve to the southeast, affecting New Caledonia by March 11.

###
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/nsfc-nts030713.php
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PFT: Chargers to cut Takeo Spikes, source says

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman quickly has become one of the most polarizing figures in football.? Starting with his decision to get in the face of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after Seattle upset New England during the regular season and continuing through his recent Twitter battle with Jets (for now) cornerback Darrelle Revis, Sherman has landed on the national radar screen in a way that many regard as good, and that many regard as bad.

His fans say Sherman is confident.? Foes call him arrogant.On Thursday, he gave plenty of ammunition to the latter in his over-the-top effort to take down ESPN?s Skip Bayless.? Hardly a likeable figure in his own right, Bayless came off at times as the victim while absorbing a clumsy, charmless stream of insults from Sherman.Deadspin has the video.

?Skip, whenever you refer to me, whenever you speak to me, whenever you address me, address me as All-Pro Stanford graduate, because those are some accomplishments you will never ? you can aspire to, you will never accomplish,? Sherman said, right out of the gates.? ?You have never accomplished anything.?

Bayless wasn?t about to back down.? ?I think I?ve accomplished more in my field than you have in yours,? Bayless said.

?I?m at the top of my field,? Sherman declared.? ?I?m All-Pro.? I?m one of the best 22 players in the NFL.? You?re gonna brush it off.? But I don?t think you?re the best 22 anything.? In sports, in media, in anything.? I think you think more of yourself than you can actually prove.? In my 24 years of life, I?m better at life than you.?

?Do you think you?re better than Darrelle Revis right now?? Bayless asked.

?I?m better than you,? Sherman said.Later, Sherman said that Bayless is an ?ignorant, pompous, egotistical cretin, and I?m gonna crush you on here in front of everybody, because I?m tired of hearing about it.?

For as bad as the words, the delivery was worse.? Sherman displayed no charisma, which often is the difference between words being perceived as humorously brash and insufferably rude.

If that?s the attitude Sherman needs to have in order to be the best he can be on the field, that?s fine.? But it won?t win him many admirers beyond those who already are fans of the Seahawks.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/07/chargers-cutting-takeo-spikes-on-thursday/related/

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Saturday, March 2, 2013

Stop Letting Your Nicotine Addiction Rule Your Life - Self Help ...

Many people will mention how difficult it is to give up smoking, but many of them do not understand how to do it. Like any topic, the more knowledge you have, the more successful you will be. The following article offers much needed help for anyone trying to quit smoking.

When you are going to quit smoking, let your family and friends know. They will keep you on track and encourage you when you are feeling weak. Building a support team is an optimal way to succeed at quitting. This will make it a lot easier to succeed in your quitting smoking goals.

Write down the different ways that you want to try to quit smoking. Sitting down to create a list, personalized to your lifestyle, is a great way to get started. Each person is unique as to how they get things done. To get the best results, it is critical for you to identify your own strengths and weaknesses and the tactics that are most suited to them. Make a list for yourself.

If you want to stop smoking, you need to be okay with quitting more than once. Most former smokers will tell you that it was necessary to kick the habit more than once. When you quit, try to remain smoke-free for the longest period of time that you possibly can. If you start smoking again, decide on a new quit date. Just keep on quitting for a day at a time. Those days will soon turn into weeks, and then into months. One time it will stick, so just be patient.

Find new items to replace your habit of putting something in your mouth. For instance, you could put a toothpick in your hand or mouth. Gum, candies, nuts and seeds are also a great alternative. Avoid using food, because you could end up gaining weight that you don't want to gain.

Quitting smoking can be easier with a buddy. Finding someone who shares the same goals as you can increase your level of motivation. Not only does this let you make a support group of your own, you can also do activities together that will replace smoking. You will be able to share any new insights or techniques with each othe,r and make the quitting process much easier.

Develop a system of daily reminders about why you want to quit as well as motivational messages to help you. Some ways that you can do this include posting your reasons for quitting on the wall at work, or wearing a piece of jewelry that reminds you of why you want to quit. Regardless of your specific strategy, having a visual reminder can help you fight off the urge to smoke a cigarette.

Hopefully, this article has educated you in the best ways to approach the difficulties of trying to quit smoking. Once you are aware of what works and what doesn't, it will be easier to quit smoking. Follow the tips provided in this article, and it will be possible for you to quit smoking successfully.

Stop Smoking Hypnosis - quit smoking now with 10 Steps to Become a Non-Smoker.

Source: http://selfhelphypnosis.co.uk/stop-letting-your-nicotine-addiction-rule-your-life-quit-smoking-with-these-easy-tips-3

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PFT: Broncos use tag on Clady? |? Bears tag Melton

Bills WR Stevie Johnson already is recruiting players like 49ers S Dashon Goldson.? (It?s not tampering unless the team puts the player up to it.)

The Jets have signed three players with Arena League experience.? (Hey, you never know where you?re going to find your next personal punt protector.)

To tag or not to tag, that is the question for the Patriots, as debated by Mike Reiss and Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com.

The Dolphins continue to conduct junior training camps at local elementary schools.? (Sometimes, the fruit just hangs too low.)

The Ravens have a tough decision to make with FB Vonta Leach, who participated in only 42 percent of the snaps in 2012.

Hawaii CB Mike Edwards, a Cleveland native, wants to play for the Browns.

Players who get tagged by the Bengals typically stay only one more year.

Former Steelers RB Carey Davis is pursuing an acting career.

Titans LB Will Witherspoon hopes to play four more years, even though he lost his starting job in 2012.

Colts owner Jim Irsay says that, if the Colts have earned the third pick or lower in 2012, they would have kept QB Peyton Manning.

Jaguars president Mark Lamping talks about the effort to build enhanced video boards at EverBank Field; ?If we don?t keep up, we?re falling behind. We can?t afford to do that in a market this size, because if we do, then we put the franchise at risk,? Lamping said.

Texans LB Brooks Reed could move from the outside to the inside in 2013.? (And it?s time for a question from Gronk:? ?Don?t they already play in a dome??)

Factoring in the trade for QB Alex Smith, the Chiefs will have $7.5 million in cap space, which means they?d have to create more of it to tag WR Dwayne Bowe.

Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was scheduled to speak at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.? (His comments may or may not have touched upon properly managing water bills.)

Here?s a look at the Chargers who could be cutting their pay in order to help the team clear cap space.

Raiders LS Jon Condo will receive the team?s 2012 Commitment to Excellence Award on March 9.? (The fruit still hangs too low.)

Cowboys CB Brandon Carr says he restructured his contract because he?s a ?team player.?

Giants coach Tom Coughlin reunited with players from his first head-coaching gig, at Rochester Institute of Technology, way back in 1970.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and his ex-wife are still making movies together.

Suing the league over cap space could mean that the Redskins would never host a Super Bowl.

DE Chris Canty will visit the Packers next week, his agent confirmed.

LB Nick Roach hopes to return to the Bears, at the right price.

LB Justin Durant hopes to return to the Lions, at the right price.

Vikings P Chris Kluwe explains that, when inappropriate questions are posed at the Scouting Combine, the prospective rookie can?t say ?go eff yourself.?

The bounty scandal emerged for the Saints one year ago today.

Former Falcons DE John Abraham still wants to see the team do well, even after it cut him.

Friday?s moves leave the Panthers $3.5 million over the cap, a problem that will be solved as soon as they cut CB Chris Gamble.

With their division rivals dumping a pass rusher, the Buccaneers have even greater incentive to keep DE Michael Bennett off the open market.

ESPN?s Trent Dilfer thinks 49ers (for now) QB Alex Smith will be in even better position in Chiefs coach Andy Reid?s offense.

It?s been 11 years since the Seahawks introduced the uniforms they abandoned a year ago.

Rams COO Kevin Demoff on analytics in football:? ?There is so much in play with respect to the team?s system . . . there is so much covariance in a football game because there are so many other factors.?

Hearing-impaired advocates have sued the Cardinals for failing to provide appropriate accommodations.? (Apparently, the Cardinals aren?t keen on putting ?the crowd is booing . . . again? on the video boards.)

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/01/ryan-clady-receives-franchise-tag/related/

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Video shows paid sex act by Maine Zumba teacher

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2013 file photo, Mark Strong Sr., leaves the Cumberland County Court House in Portland, Maine. The jury in Strong?s trial watched a video Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, showing a sexual encounter between Zumba fitness instructor Alexis Wright and a man who left cash on her massage table. Strong is charged with 13 counts that relate to promoting prostitution. He contends he had an affair with Wright and helped her launch her Pura Vida dance studio in Kennebunk, Maine, but his lawyer has said he was unaware of any paid sex. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2012 file photo, Zumba fitness instructor Alexis Wright turns towards her attorney Sarah Churchill, left, during her arraignment in Portland, Maine on 109 counts including prostitution, violation of privacy and tax evasion for allegedly providing sex for money at her Kennebunk fitness studio and office. In the trial of her business partner, Mark Strong Sr., the jury watched a video Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, showing a sexual encounter between Wright and a man who left cash on her massage table. Strong is charged with 13 counts that relate to promoting prostitution. He contends he had an affair with Wright and helped her launch her Pura Vida dance studio in Kennebunk, Maine, but his lawyer has said he was unaware of any paid sex. (AP Photo/Joel Page, File)

ALFRED, Maine (AP) ? Jurors in the case of a Maine Zumba studio that prosecutors say was really a den of prostitution saw videos demonstrating that an insurance agent was familiar with paid sex acts involving his mistress, but a defense lawyer said it doesn't prove that the man promoted prostitution.

The jury in the trial of Mark Strong Sr. watched a 45-minute video Thursday showing a sexual encounter between fitness instructor Alexis Wright and a man who left $250 cash on her massage table. Testimony indicated Strong watched the sexual encounters in Kennebunk through a live video call to his office 100 miles away in Thomaston.

Defense lawyer Daniel Lilley contends Strong committed no crime because he neither recruited clients nor profited from the operation.

"Observing a person in a criminal act is not a criminal act itself," Lilley told reporters Thursday outside the courthouse.

After a week of testimony, the lead investigator, Kennebunk police officer Audra Presby, resumed testifying Friday about evidence seized from Wright's home and office.

Strong, 57, of Thomaston, faces 13 counts that relate to promoting prostitution. A judge previously dismissed 46 counts of invasion of privacy over prostitution clients who were said to have been videotaped without their knowledge.

Prosecutors have more than 150 videos but showed jurors only a single 45-minute recording Thursday that depicted Wright chatting with an older man who arrived and immediately began undressing. After their sexual encounter, she used disposable wipes to clean up, escorted the man to the door and then spoke to another man, believed to be Strong, at the other end of a Skype chat.

Jurors showed little reaction as they watched the sexually explicit video on a large screen. One looked away during parts of it, one fiddled with an eyeglass case, another twiddled his thumbs and several stole glances at a clock.

Also Thursday, computer expert Frederick Williams told jurors how he recovered a ledger from Wright's computer that described entries for sexual encounters from Oct. 5, 2010 through Feb. 13, 2012, the day before police raided her office and studio in Kennebunk and her home in Wells.

One ledger entry showed a payment of $500 for a sexual encounter, Williams said.

Williams, a Saco police detective, was able to match videotaped sexual encounters recovered from Wright's computers and hard drives with Skype video snapshots of the same encounters on Strong's computer in his Thomaston office.

Other videos shown to jurors indicated Wright and Strong chatted via Skype before and after her sexual encounters, discussing scheduling and birth control, among other topics. Wright provided clients' license plate numbers to Strong, who also was a private investigator.

Before each of the encounters, Wright took a moment to ensure the video camera was hidden. "OK, here we go. I'm locking my screen," she told Strong on one video call.

The prostitution scandal attracted attention last fall after it was reported that Wright's ledgers indicated she made $150,000 over 18 months.

Strong contends he had an affair with 30-year-old Wright and helped finance her Pura Vida dance studio in Kennebunk but didn't promote prostitution. Prosecutors contended the videos proved he was familiar with the details of Wright's business. She will be tried separately later.

___

Follow David Sharp at http://twitter.com/David_Sharp_AP

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-03-01-US-Zumba-Prostitution/id-b06a8c4075dc4fcfbb4aee83bf22efb2

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Feeding limbs and nervous system of one of Earth's earliest animals discovered

Thursday, February 28, 2013

An extraordinary find allowing scientists to see through the head of the 'fuxianhuiid' arthropod has revealed one of the earliest evolutionary examples of limbs used for feeding, along with the oldest nervous system to stretch beyond the head in fossil record.

Until now, all fossils found of this extremely early soft-bodied animal featured heads covered by a wide shell or 'carapace', obscuring underlying contents from detailed study.

But a new fossil-rich site in South China has been found to contain arthropod examples where the carapace has literally been 'flipped' over before fossilisation ? allowing scientists to examine the fuxianhuiid head to an unprecedented extent.

The study, published today in Nature, highlights the discovery of previously controversial limbs under the head, used to shovel sediment into the mouth as the fuxianhuiid crawled across the seabed, millions of years before creatures emerged from the oceans.

Scientists say that this could be the earliest and simplest example of manipulative limbs used for feeding purposes, hinting at the adaptive ability that made arthropods so successful and abundant ? evolving into the insects, spiders and crustaceans we know today.

Using a feeding technique scientist's call 'detritus sweep-feeding', fuxianhuiids developed the limbs to push seafloor sediment into the mouth in order to filter it for organic matter ? such as traces of decomposed seaweed ? which constituted the creatures' food.

Fossils also revealed the oldest nervous system on record that is 'post-cephalic' ? or beyond the head ? consisting of only a single stark string in what was a very basic form of early life compared to today.

"Since biologists rely heavily on organisation of head appendages to classify arthropod groups, such as insects and spiders, our study provides a crucial reference point for reconstructing the evolutionary history and relationships of the most diverse and abundant animals on Earth," said Javier Ortega-Hern?ndez, from Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences, who produced the research with Dr Nicholas Butterfield and colleagues from Yunnan University in Kunming, South China. "This is as early as we can currently see into arthropod limb development."

Fuxianhuiids existed around 520 million years ago, roughly 50 million years before primordial land animals crawled from the sea, and would have been one of the first examples of complex animal life ? likely to have evolved from creatures resembling worms with legs. Arthropods were the first jointed animals, enabling them to crawl.

Fuxianhuiid arthropods would have spent most of their time grazing on the sea floor, using these newly discovered limbs to plow sediment into their mouths. They could probably also use their bodies to swim for short distances, like tadpole shrimps.

The fossils date from the early part of the event known as the 'Cambrian explosion', when life on Earth went from multi-cellular organisms we know very little about to a relatively sudden and wide spread explosion of diverse marine animals - the first recognisable evolutionary step for the animal kingdom we know today.

"These fossils are our best window to see the most primitive state of animals as we know them ? including us," said Ortega-Hern?ndez. "Before that there is no clear indication in the fossil record of whether something was an animal or a plant ? but we are still filling in the details, of which this is an important one."

While still a mystery, theories about the cause of the 'Cambrian Explosion' include possible correlations with oxygen rises, spikes in oceanic nutrient concentration, and genetic complexity reaching critical mass.

But the new site in South China where these fossils were found could prove to be key in uncovering ever more information about this pivotal period in the history of life on Earth. The Xiaoshiba 'biota' - that is the collection of all organisms preserved in the new locality - in China's Yunnan Province is similar to the world-famous Chengjiang biota, which provided many of the best arthropod fossil records to date.

"The Xiaoshiba biota is amazingly rich in such extraordinary fossils of early organisms," said Ortega-Hern?ndez. "Over 50 specimens of fuxianhuiids have been found in just over a year, whereas previous areas considered fossil rich such as Chengjiang it took years - even decades - to build up such a collection."

"So much material is so well preserved. There's massive potential for Xiaoshiba to become a huge deal for new discoveries in early animal evolution".

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University of Cambridge: http://www.cam.ac.uk

Thanks to University of Cambridge for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127053/Feeding_limbs_and_nervous_system_of_one_of_Earth_s_earliest_animals_discovered

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Friday, March 1, 2013

'I will simply be a pilgrim'

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict left the Vatican on Thursday after pledging unconditional obedience to whoever succeeds him to guide the Roman Catholic Church at one of the most crisis-ridden periods in its 2,000-year history.

The first pope in six centuries to step down, Benedict flew off in a white Italian air force helicopter for the papal summer villa south of the capital where he took up temporary residence.

Bells rang out from St Peter's Basilica and churches all over Rome as the helicopter circled Vatican City and flew over the Colosseum and other landmarks to give the pontiff one last view of the city where he is also bishop.

"As you know, today is different to previous ones," he told an emotional, cheering crowd in the small town of Castel Gandolfo in his last public remarks as pope.

"I will only be the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church until 8 p.m and then no longer. I will simply be a pilgrim who is starting the last phase of his pilgrimage on this earth."

He turned and went inside the villa, never to be seen again as pope.

In an emotional farewell to cardinals on Thursday morning in the Vatican's frescoed Sala Clementina, Benedict appeared to send a strong message to the top echelons of the Church as well as the faithful to remain united behind his successor, whoever he is.

"I will continue to be close to you in prayer, especially in the next few days, so that you are fully accepting of the action of the Holy Spirit in the election of the new pope," he said. "May the Lord show you what he wants. Among you there is the future pope, to whom I today declare my unconditional reverence and obedience."

The pledge, made ahead of the closed-doors conclave where cardinals will elect his successor, was significant because for the first time in history, there will be a reigning pope and a former pope living side by side in the Vatican.

Some Church scholars worry that if the next pope undoes some of Benedict's policies while his predecessor is still alive, Benedict could act as a lightning rod for conservatives and polarize the 1.2 billion-member Church.

Before boarding the helicopter, Pope Benedict said goodbye to monsignors, nuns, Vatican staff and Swiss guards in the San Damaso courtyard of the Holy See's apostolic palace. Many of his staff had tears in their eyes as the helicopter left.

As the helicopter took off, he sent his last message on Twitter: "Thank you for your love and support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the centre of your lives".

Benedict will spend the first few months of his retirement in the papal summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, a complex of villas boasting lush gardens, a farm and stunning views over Lake Albano in the volcanic crater below the town.

At 8 p.m. (1900 GMT/2 p.m. ET) the papacy will be officially vacant and two Swiss Guards that ceremonially watch over the summer villa will march away and not return until the new pope takes possession of the hilltop residence.

Benedict will stay until April when renovations are completed on a convent in the Vatican that will be his new home.

PAPAL PROBLEMS

With the election of the next pope taking place in the wake of sexual abuse scandals, leaks of his private papers by his butler, falling membership and demands for a greater role for women, many in the Church believe it would benefit from a fresh face from a non-European country.

A number of cardinals from the developing world, including Ghanaian Peter Turkson and Antonio Tagle of the Philippines are two names often mentioned as leading candidates from the developing world who listen more.

"At the past two conclaves, the cardinals elected the smartest man in the room. Now, it may be time to choose a man who will listen to all the other smart people in the Church," said Father Tom Resse, a historian and senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University.

Benedict, wearing the white papal cassock and red cape he will shed after his resignation becomes official, urged the Church to strive to be "deeply united".

A lover of classical music, he compared the Church hierarchy to an orchestra with many instruments which should always seek to be harmonious.

"Let us remain united, dear brothers," said Benedict, who alluded to the scandals and reports of infighting among his closest aides.

"In these past eight years we have lived with faith beautiful moments of radiant light in the path of the Church as well as moments when some clouds darkened the sky," he said.

The pope said he had "tried to serve Christ and his Church with deep and total love".

NEW POPE FOR EASTER

Once the chair of St Peter is vacant, cardinals who have assembled from around the world will begin planning the conclave that will elect his successor.

One of the first questions facing these "princes of the Church" is when the 115 cardinal electors should enter the Sistine Chapel for the voting. They will hold a first meeting on Friday but a decision may not come until next week.

The Vatican seems to be aiming for an election by mid-March so the new pope can be installed in office before Palm Sunday on March 24 and lead the Holy Week services that culminate in Easter on the following Sunday.

In the meantime, the cardinals will hold daily consultations at the Vatican at which they discuss issues facing the Church, get to know each other better and size up potential candidates for the 2,000-year-old post of pope.

There are no official candidates, no open campaigning and no clear front runner for the job. Cardinals tipped as favorites by Vatican-watchers include Turkson, Tagle, Brazil's Odilo Scherer, Canadian Marc Ouellet, Italy's Angelo Scola and Timothy Dolan of the United States.

Benedict, a bookish man who did not seek the papacy and did not enjoy being in the global spotlight, proved an energetic teacher of Catholic doctrine but a poor manager of the Curia, the Vatican bureaucracy that became mired in scandal.

He leaves his successor a top secret report on rivalries and scandals within the Curia, prompted by leaks of internal files last year that documented the problems hidden behind the Vatican's thick walls and the Church's traditional secrecy.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-benedict-pledges-obedience-successor-110019683.html

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