Artichoke are good in many ways | Food & Drink | Bradenton Herald

My first encounter with artichokes was in the early 1970s, and it is still a fond memory.

I was on my way to Vinar?s, Spain, for a two-week vacation with my lovely Italian-American wife and friends and we stopped near Narbonne, France, for a late lunch.

On the menu I found Artichokes Romano and could not resist the temptation to try something new. They were simply prepared, fried crunchy and served with a fresh tomato sauce. They had creamy, delicious centers. With a good glass of French chardonnay, it was a stunning lunch.

The artichokes we find seasonally available in the United States come exclusively from California, although they originated in Southern Europe and North Africa.

The seeds of artichokes have been found in archeological excavations in Egypt that date to the first century AD.

The Greeks cultivated them and called them kaktos and passed them on to the Romans. They were a part of Naples cuisine since the ninth century and spread all over Europe after than. French settlers brought them to Louisiana and Spanish immigrants brought them to California where today Castroville proclaims itself the artichoke center of the world.

Not all of the artichoke is edible, only the heart and the fleshy part at the base of the leaves are tender enough to consume. The rest, tough leaves and the choke, are discarded. There are two basic types of artichokes, the globe and an elongated variety of Italian origin. Within those two categories are quite a few types including: Green Globe, Imperial Star and Violetto.

Because of the seasonality of this wonderful vegetable we are presented with a supply dilemma. Most agree that canned artichokes leave much to be desired, although I have included one

recipe below using them in a po-boy, but all agree that fresh are the best. The only other choice is frozen, and it seems a good alternative.

Basic preparation of fresh artichokes

n Cut the top 2 inches off the top of the artichoke

n Use scissors to cut the sharp points off the leaves

n Cook in boiling water for 40 to 50 minutes

n Remove the choke thoroughly before using

n If not using right away place in water with a little lemon juice so they will not discolor

ARTICHOKE PO-BOY

1 baguette

1 can artichokes in oil

1/2 cup olive salad (like that used for muffalettas)

10 slices Prosciutto de Parma

1 ball fresh mozzarella or 8 slices best quality you can find

Extra virgin olive oil, first cold press

Slice the baguette in half, spread with a thick layer of olive salad. Drain the artichokes and space them evenly on the bread, add the Prosciutto de Parma and the mozzarella and run under the broiler until the cheese melts and starts to turn brown. Garnish with the olive oil and serve immediately. This po-boy is much improved if it is warmed in a grill over a wood fire.

This recipe would works well with Mortadella if you cannot get a good quality Prosciutto de Parma.

FRIED ARTICHOKES OR ARTICHOKES ROMANO

6 large artichokes, cooked and quartered or 1 bag frozen

1 egg

2-3 tablespoons milk

Panko bread crumbs

Black pepper

3-4 tablespoon grated Romano cheese

Oil for frying

Heat the oil to 320 degrees. Place the egg and milk in a bowl, season with pepper and mix well. Place the panko in another bowl along with half the Romano cheese. Dip the artichokes into the egg wash, cover completely, shake off the excess and then toss in the panko. Drop a few at a time into the oil, making sure not to overfill the pot with oil or over crowed the artichokes, fry until golden brown. Remove, drain and dust again with the Romano if you like. This makes a great appetizer.

ARTICHOKE AND WHITE BEAN SALAD

This is a simple salad that is easy to prepare and quite inexpensive

1 cup artichoke hearts quartered

2 cups cooked white beans

1/2 cup chopped red onions

2-3 tablespoons julienned basil

1/4 cup good quality olive oil

Small pinch red pepper flakes

Pinch black pepper

Parmigiano Reggiano as needed

Mix the white beans, red onion, basil and olive oil, season and taste, re-season as necessary. Toss with the artichokes and refrigerate for a few hours if possible. Garnish with the Parmigiano Reggiano.

ARTICHOKES AND PASTA

This is another simple recipe that is a snap to prepare.

1 pound penne pasta cooked according to package directions

1 cup cooked artichokes cut into bite sizes

2-3 slices smoked bacon

1 chopped onion

3-4 tablespoons chopped garlic

Black pepper

Dried oregano

Parmigiano Reggiano

Cook the pasta according to package directions, making sure not to overcook it, al dente is always best. The type of pasta is not critical so if you do not like penne feel free to use your favorite. Cook the bacon in a saut? pan until crispy, then remove and drain and chop. If you are being conscious of your health remove the bacon fat and replace with a little olive oil, otherwise leave a small amount of the fat in the pan. Cook the onions for about 5 minutes, then add the garlic and cook 2 minutes more. Add the artichokes, bacon and pasta, mix well and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes more. In a large serving bowl mix all of the ingredients and garnish with the Parmigiano Reggiano.

Source: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/03/4223579/artichoke-are-good-in-many-ways.html

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Are you an internet addict? Psychologists are working to find out how much online time is too much

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Seth MacFarlane, "Family Guy" honcho and newly designated Oscars host, held court at TheWrap's annual industry conference TheGrill on Tuesday, offering his thoughts on his upcoming go at presiding over the Academy Awards, the future of his flagship series "Family Guy" (and whether fans will finally get the long-discussed "Family Guy" movie), and, oh yeah, who's going to win the upcoming presidential election. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/internet-addict-psychologists-working-much-online-time-too-205450661.html

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Apple's iPhone 5 in Legal Tussle - Zacks.com

The patent war between Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Samsung seems to have no end. Reportedly, Samsung has now accused Apple that the latest iPhone 5 has infringed on eight patents that belong to the South Korean company. ?Among the eight patents in question, two were standard patents and six were features-related patents. The trial is scheduled to start from 2014.

However, the allegation is unlikely to affect the enthusiasm for the iPhone 5 and going by the fact that Samsung has not yet appealed for a pre-trial ban, sales will also remain on track. Moreover, even if Samsung does so, Apple has a higher chance of being on the favorable side. These eight patents are the same patents for which Samsung had filed a lawsuit against earlier versions of iPhones.

Separately, a U.S. court lifted the sales ban on Samsung?s Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the country. Earlier in June, Apple had won the preliminary injunction after alleging that Samsung had infringed iPad patents.

Last month, Apple won a preliminary ruling from the U.S. International Trade Commission (?ITC?) that temporarily cleared it of four patent infringement charges brought by Samsung Electronics related to certain wireless technology. Although the current ruling will be reviewed by a six-member ITC panel, the full commission doesn't usually contradict with the judge's determinations. The ITC is expected to issue the final verdict in January next year.

In August, Apple won a key trial against Samsung at the U.S. District Court in San Jose, California. The nine-member jury ruled that the South Korean company had infringed upon six of Apple?s patents and also rejected all counter claims by Samsung. Moreover, Samsung was ordered to pay $1.05 billion to Apple. ?

Apple has been highly vocal about defending its intellectual property from misuse and violations. Moreover, any advantage for Apple could act as a stumbling block for Samsung and curb the proliferation of Google Inc.?s (GOOG) Android operating systems in the near term.

Apple remains the biggest growth story based on its product pipeline, popular apps, iCloud, the new iPhone 5, the new iPad, Apple TV and a loyal customer base.? With a solid balance sheet and robust revenues, we expect Apple to outperform its peers in the long run.

However, the impending lawsuits and stiff competition from Samsung with its wide range of products in the smartphone and tablet markets will remain an overhang on the stock going forward.

We have a Neutral recommendation over the long term (6-12 months). Currently, Apple has a Zacks #3 Rank, which implies a ?Hold? rating in the near term.

Read the full analyst report on GOOG

Read the full analyst report on AAPL

Source: http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/84042/apples-iphone-5-in-legal-tussle

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Warner Bros. Announces 3D Conversion for The Wizard of Oz

Collider was in attendance this morning at a press event in Burbank where Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group celebrated their 90^th?anniversary* (*technically the company turns ninety on April 4^th, 2013) by unveiling their new 90-year logo and announcing a slate of new Blu-ray and DVD transfers. However the biggest surprise was an announcement that they?re currently working on a special restoration and conversion of the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz from 2D to 3D. The new 3D edition of The Wizard of Oz will hit shelves everywhere sometime next year in September or October.

Also announced this morning, two new documentaries on working at the Warner?s Lot, a 100 DVD Collection of the Best Films from Warner Brothers and a 50 Blu-ray Collection of the Best Films from Warner Brothers, among others. For the full press release and a list of just what movies are included in the 50/100 film sets, hit the jump.

Burbank, Calif., October 3, 2012 ? One of the most respected, diversified and successful motion picture studios in the world, Warner Bros. began when the eponymous brothers
? Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack ? incorporated on April 4, 1923. Four years later, the release of The Jazz Singer, the world?s first ?talkie,? set a tone of innovation and influence that would forever become synonymous with the Warner Bros. brand. Soon to be 90, Warner Bros. continues to entertain the world with films passionately produced, selectively acquired, carefully preserved and impeccably curated for both the casual and ultimate movie lover to enjoy forever.

As a result of all the films the studio has produced, co-produced (with numerous partners), acquired and distributed, Warner Bros. now boasts the largest film library in the world ? 6,800 feature films, with 2,000 films currently available on DVD and Blu-ray?. The library includes 22 Academy Award^?*-winning Best Pictures (the most in Oscar^? history), and leading franchises such as Harry Potter?, Batman?, Lord of the Rings?, The Matrix and Superman?.?

Beginning in January, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group (WBHEG) will launch a major Anniversary initiative that will continue through year-end 2013. This includes the release of seven new collections, including two limited and numbered anniversary collections ? 100 films on DVD and 50 films on Blu-ray?, both the largest collections ever released, to date, in their respective formats. The year-long celebration will also include several stand-alone releases of new-to-format classics on Blu-ray? for the first time, including The Jazz Singer, ?all three James Dean films (East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, Giant), Cabaret and Academy Award? Best Picture Winners Grand Hotel (1932), Mrs. Miniver (1943), and Driving Miss Daisy(1990).

?

The Collections

The Best of Warner Bros. 100 Film DVD Collection*: 100 movies including all 22 of Warner Bros. library?s Best Picture ? Winners and two new documentaries (details below) on 55 discs presented in book style premium packaging.

The Best of Warner Bros. 50 Film Blu-ray? Collection* includes 50 movies and the two new documentaries on 52 discs, also presented in book style premium packaging. It will introduce several new-to-Blu-ray film titles, including Grand Hotel, Mrs. Miniver, and Driving Miss Daisy.

Both of the above are limited and numbered collections and each includes a collectible poster and series of art cards featuring movie poster designs created by legendary American graphic designer Bill Gold.

Gold, who worked with Hollywood?s greatest filmmakers, including Clint Eastwood, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Elia Kazan, and Ridley Scott, had this to say:

?My 65-year career began with Yankee Doodle Dandy and Casablanca and continued on to every Clint Eastwood picture from Dirty Harry to Mystic River (and I came out of retirement to design the poster for J. Edgar). In my wildest dreams I could not have foreseen the world I would inhabit and the joy it would bring me over the years. Every poster I worked on had a story to tell, and I?m delighted to be able to share a sampling of some of them in these collections.?

?

The Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film DVD Collections will be released throughout the year in five separate sets. Each features a gem-packed collection of 20 essential movie classics in five major genres: Best Pictures (January), Musicals (February), Romance (April), Comedy (July) and Thrillers (September).?

The Best of Warner Bros. Animation Collections will be released throughout the year in three separate animation sets.? Each features animation at its best in three key brands Hanna-Barbera (May), Looney Tunes (June) and DC Comics (August).

The Best of Warner Bros. Superman Collection (May) features 9 essential Superman live action television and animated television shows in one collection.

Two New Documentaries to Celebrate Warner Bros. 90^th Anniversary?

Created specially for this anniversary, Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot is a full-length documentary that features some of Warner Bros.? top talent and executives giving an inside look at the history of the studio. In on-the-lot interviews, stars including Clint Eastwood, Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Martin Sheen, along with current and former studio toppers Barry Meyer, Alan Horn, Bob Daly, and Terry Semel, and others, recount personal reflections and anecdotes about their experiences at the studio. Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot was produced by documentarian Gary Khammar (It?s So Audrey! A Style Icon) and producer Bill Gerber (Gran Torino).

Now, for the first time, home viewers can take the hugely popular Warner Bros Studio VIP Tour in this new documentary produced exclusively for the 90^th Anniversary collections. In The Warner Bros. Lot Tour, an official WB Lot Tour Guide gives guests a ?virtual? tram ride (of what some 200,000 annual visitors experience) ? an extraordinary opportunity to see first-hand where movie magic happens at the world?s busiest motion picture and television studio. Unlike a theme park, the Tour represents a rare and intimate ?behind-the-scenes? look at real Hollywood, winding through back lot streets, sound stages, sets and craft shops.?

Best of Warner Bros. 100 Film DVD Collection

Street Date: 1/29/13

Order Date: 12/25/12

Catalog # 1000334080

Pricing: $597.92 SRP

Best of Warner Bros. 50 Film Blu-ray Collection

Street Date: 1/29/13

Order Date: 12/25/12

Catalog # 1000334079

Pricing: $597.92 SRP

The Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film DVD Collections

Street Date: 1/29/13

Order Date: 12/25/12

??? Catalog # 1000353487

Pricing: $98.92 SRP

The Best of Warner Bros. 100 Film DVD Collection
The Broadway Melody (1929)
Cimarron (1931)
The Public Enemy (1931)
Grand Hotel (1932)
42nd Street (1933)
Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
A Night at the Opera (1935)
The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
The Life of Emile Zola (1937
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Dark Victory (1939)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Gone with the Wind (1939)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Citizen Kane (1941)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
Mrs. Miniver (1942)
Casablanca (1942)
Gaslight (1944)
Anchors Aweigh (1945)
Mildred Pierce (1945)
The Big Sleep (1946)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
A Streetcar Named Desire: The Original Director?s Version (1951)
An American in Paris (1951)
Singin? in the Rain (1952)
A Star Is Born (1954)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
East of Eden (1955)
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
The Searchers (1956)
Giant (1956)
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
A Face in the Crowd (1957)
Gigi (1958)
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
North by Northwest (1959)
Ben-Hur (1959)
How the West Was Won (1962)
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
Viva Las Vegas (1964)
Doctor Zhivago (1965)
Who?s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Bullitt (1968)
The Wild Bunch: The Original Director?s Cut (1969)
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Dirty Harry (1971)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Cabaret (1972)
Enter the Dragon (1973)
The Exorcist: Extended Director?s Cut (1973)
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo?s Nest (1975)
All the President?s Men (1976)
Superman: The Movie (1978)
The Shining (1980)
Caddyshack (1980)
Clash of the Titans (1981)
Chariots of Fire (1981)
The Outsiders (1983)
National Lampoon?s Vacation (1983)
Risky Business (1983)
The Right Stuff (1983)
Amadeus: Director?s Cut (1984)
The Goonies (1985)
The Color Purple (1985)
Lethal Weapon (1987)
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Batman? (1989)
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
GoodFellas (1990)
Unforgiven (1992)
The Bodyguard (1992)
The Fugitive (1993)
Natural Born Killers: The Director?s Cut (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
Seven (1995)
L.A. Confidential (1997)
The Matrix (1999)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer?s Stone? (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring? (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers? (2002)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King? (2003)
The Notebook (2004)
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
The Departed (2006)
300 (2007)
The Dark Knight? (2008)
The Hangover (2009)
The Blind Side (2009)
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Inception (2010)

Documentaries: Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot, Warner Bros. Lot Tour (2013)

Best of Warner Bros. 50 Film Blu-ray? Collection

Grand Hotel (1932)
Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Gone with the Wind (1939)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Mrs. Miniver (1942)
Casablanca (1942)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
A Streetcar Named Desire: The Original Restored Version (1951)
An American in Paris (1951)
Singin? in the Rain (1952)
Gigi (1958)
North by Northwest (1959)
Ben-Hur (1959)
How the West Was Won (1962)
Doctor Zhivago (1965)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Bullitt (1968)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Dirty Harry (1971)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
The Exorcist: Extended Director?s Cut (1973)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo?s Nest (1975)
Superman: The Movie (1978)
The Shining (1980)
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Risky Business (1983)
Amadeus: Director?s Cut (1984)
The Color Purple (1985)
Lethal Weapon (1987)
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
GoodFellas (1990)
Unforgiven (1992)
The Bodyguard (1992)
Natural Born Killers: The Director?s Cut (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Matrix (1999)
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer?s Stone? (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring? (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers ? (2002)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King? (2003)
The Departed (2006)
The Dark Knight? (2008)
The Hangover (2009)
The Blind Side (2009)
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Inception (2010)

Documentaries: Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot, Warner Bros. Lot Tour (2013)

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1926011/news/1926011/

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Shawn Johnson's ready to break rules on 'DWTS'

Adam Taylor / ABC

For the next dance, Shawn Johnson reveals she and Derek Hough might have to break the ballroom rules.

By Michael Maloney, TODAY contributor

Each week, Olympian and season eight "Dancing With the Stars" champ Shawn Johnson will be sharing her experiences on "All-Stars" with The Clicker! Look for Q&As, exclusive photos and more from the gold medalist throughout the season as she competes to win her second mirror ball trophy, this time alongside pro Derek Hough.

You can follow us on Twitter@TODAY_Clicker?to get all the latest updates on Shawn's quest for ballroom glory. Shawn is also on Twitter?@ShawnJohnson.

The Clicker: How are you feeling after Monday?s dance?
Shawn: I feel good! I want to do it again! I feel the fire and the competitiveness. It?s addictive, and I want to do it again!

The Clicker: When are you taking Derek to a gymnastics studio?
Shawn: We?re working on that. I want to go home and see my coach and get back into a gym. I?m going to take Derek with me and teach him some stuff and show him the world I come from. I?ve already seen a glimpse of how good he?ll be. He catches on so fast. He picked up (that cartwheel we did on Monday?s show) really quickly.

The Clicker: We saw Joey Fatone stick his head into your rehearsal. How often do things like that happen?
Shawn: All the time. We?re all under the same roof. There are 12 different studios we train in. It seems like we see each other every few minutes throughout the day. There?s a lounge area and a kitchen area. A lot of times we?ll go into each other?s studios to see what the other is doing. It?s a pretty friendly environment.

The Clicker: Do people visit to just hang out and take a break or do you ever pick up?hmmm, so that?s what they?re doing!
Shawn: I?d say it?s a little of both. Yes, people are sizing each other up, but we?re also all helping each other. Helio (Castroneves) and Chelsie (Hightower) shared a studio with us the other day, and Derek helped Helio with something and Chelsie was helping me. The camaraderie that you see is actually real.

The Clicker: How were you able to help Derek with his sore back?
Shawn: Just with little tricks and things that I used to do when I was competing. A few things I suggested actually helped him. They were some instant fixes.

The Clicker: You?ve been together with Derek for about five weeks now. How is it different from being with Mark?
Shawn: It?s completely different. I was at a different stage in my life the first time I was here. I was 17, just coming off the Olympics and was blind to pretty much everything. Mark was a very protective big brother who just wanted to keep me away from everything. Derek?s a really good teacher and things are more open. He wants to involve me in everything. I wouldn?t take anything back or change it. Mark was a great partner. We won! I love Derek this time around. I think he?s the perfect partner for me this time. I?d take Mark in a heartbeat. Derek is really pushing me to the next level to help me become the dancer I can be.

The Clicker: Next week they want you to step it up. What the heck have you been doing up till now?
Shawn: I think they?re going to ask that of us every week. It is the all-star season. They want to see how far we can go. Next week, it?s going to be a little more difficult. We?re doing a dance and a style where we?re going to push the boundaries and probably break the rules and not please the judges 100%, but we?re hopefully we?re going to please the crowd.

Related content:

More in The Clicker:

Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2012/10/02/14181358-shawn-johnson-next-week-well-probably-break-the-rules-on-dancing-with-the-stars?lite

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White House continues Benghazi stonewall

White House spokesman Jay Carney is successfully stonewalling media questions about the Sept. 11, 2012, attack in Benghazi, Libya, amid damaging new revelations about security flubs, new congressional inquiries and the election-eve crash of the administration?s Muslim outreach strategy.

?Embassy security is a matter that has been the purview of the State Department. ? So I?m not going to have very much to provide to you on the security situation on the ground in Libya,? Carney told ABC?s Jake Tapper, in response to a question about the leaked news that requests by embassy staff for increased security were rejected by officials in Washington.

So far, the administration?s defensive stonewall has helped prevent the legacy media from treating the Benghazi attack as a foreign policy scandal during the last few weeks of the 2012 campaign.

Prior to the 2004 and 2006 elections, however, legacy media outlets did not hesitate to portray President George W. Bush?s campaign in Iraq as a shambles, despite its eventual victory over anti-government gunmen.

Carney kept up the defense of Obama on Tuesday.

?It is a known fact that in the eastern part of Libya there are militant groups, and in the country as a whole, but especially in eastern Libya, a great number of armed individuals and militias ? that is one of the legacies of the revolution there and the civil war,? Carney told Tapper.

?So beyond that, I?m just not going to be able to comment on what is a matter under investigation and review by both the FBI and the State Department,? he insisted, before inviting another reporter to ask a question.

The Sept. 11, 2012, attack was launched by a Libyan jihadi group, which emerged and armed itself from government armories while Obama used U.S. air power to help overthrow Libya?s dictator. The attackers killed the ambassador, an aide and two other Americans.

Since the attack, media outlets have gradually revealed that the facility was a poorly protected, walled villa, that it was defended by only a handful of Libyan and U.S. guards, that jihadis had attacked U.S. and U.K. diplomats on multiple occasions, and that officials had missed warning signs of an attack.

On Oct. 2, Rep. Darrell Issa sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton seeking information about the attack.

?Multiple U.S. federal government officials have confirmed to the committee that prior to the September 11, 2012 attack the U.S. mission in Libya made repeated requests to increase security in Benghazi ? [but] was denied these requests by officials in Washington,? the letter read.

Issa chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and has spearheaded the investigation of the administration?s Fast & Furious program, which allowed guns to be smuggled to Mexican drug gangs.

Immediately after the Sept. 11 attack in Benghazi, White House officials tried to argue that attack was caused by people enraged at a little-viewed YouTube video that made fun of Muhammad. The California-based producer of the video was repeatedly attacked by White House officials, and has been subsequently jailed on a probation violation.

In late September, Obama deputies ? but not the president ? dropped the claim that enraged anti-video protestors attacked the embassy.

But the attacks and attempted cover-up have damaged his poll ratings on foreign policy, and have prompted Republican nominee Mitt Romney to repeatedly criticize his foreign policy.

The policy was built around Obama?s June 2009 ?new beginning? strategy of outreach to the Middle East.

That strategy helped Islamists gain power in Egypt?s general election, and spurred Obama?s decision to overthrow Libya?s dictator in 2011.

Those empowered and ambitious Islamist leaders in Egypt, Turkey and other countries are now pushing Obama to curb Americans? free-speech, to provide more financial aid, and to increase pressure on Israel.

Islamists are also playing a leading role in Syria?s civil war against its dictator, Bashir Assad, and they have seized control of Northern Mali.

Mali is the country just south of Libya. Islamist jihadis, armed with weapons and experience from the Libyan war, have imposed Islamist rule on the norther part of the impoverished country.

Iran is also refusing to stop its nuclear weapons program.

Despite this and the Benghazi attack, few legacy media outlets are highlighting the collapse of the president?s 2009 strategy.

During the Oct. 2 press conference, Carney fended off Tapper?s questions, and only faced a follow-up from one other reporter, who asked about the news that the FBI investigators have not reached Benghazi because of danger from local jihadis.

?Well, the president is committed to ensuring that those who are responsible for the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi, including our ambassador, are brought to justice,? Carney said.

?He is committed to the investigation into what happened being full and comprehensive and uncovering all the facts that we need to know about that event,? he added, before inviting a question from another reporter.

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-continues-benghazi-stonewall-040407929.html

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Wall Street up as data show economy still growing

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks advanced on Wednesday after stronger-than-expected employment and service-sector data in the United States, but a gloomier outlook in China and Europe weighed on commodity prices and hit energy and materials shares.

Data showed growth in the U.S. services sector picked up in September, defying economists' expectations for a slight decrease, while last month, the private sector added more jobs than forecast. The data comes ahead of the closely watched monthly U.S. non-farm payrolls report on Friday.

"China is slowing down, and we are as well, but we still have growth," said Frank Lesh, a futures analyst and broker at FuturePath Trading LLC in Chicago. "The real question is: 'Does Europe drag China down and us with it?'"

The S&P's consumer discretionary sector index <.gspd> shot up 1 percent. It was the best-performing S&P 500 sector, helped by stocks like Amazon , up 1.3 percent at $253.88, and homebuilders like PulteGroup , up 5.7 percent at $16.45.

But prices of crude and metals slid, pressuring stocks in the energy and basic materials sectors, after the euro zone looked unable to dodge a recession based on a reading of purchasing managers indexes last month and China's slowdown looked likely to extend to a seventh quarter.

The S&P energy index <.gspe> fell 0.9 percent. Chevron Corp lost 0.9 percent to $116.85 and dragged on the Dow. Exxon Mobil dipped 0.1 percent to $91.65.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.dji> rose 35.82 points, or 0.27 percent, to 13,518.18. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.spx> added 7.51 points, or 0.52 percent, to 1,453.26. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.ixic> gained 19.30 points, or 0.62 percent, at 3,139.34.

Shares of Hewlett-Packard Co fell as much as 8.8 percent to $15.63 - the lowest since April 2003 - and ranked as the heaviest weight on the Dow after the company forecast that revenue at its enterprise services unit would fall between 11 percent and 13 percent in 2013. In early afternoon trading, HP's stock was down 7.6 percent at $15.83.

In contrast, Best Buy shares gained 3.8 percent to $17.62 as founder Richard Schulze and at least four private-equity firms started examining its books, in early steps toward what could become an $11 billion buyout.

The S&P 500 ended September with its fourth-straight month of gains, adding roughly 11 percent since the end of May.

"The market has lifted meaningfully since June 1st, and it has taken the last couple of weeks to consolidate those gains," said Jim Russell, chief equity strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management in Cincinnati. "I think it will be another day of flat to slightly down price action."

The proportion of bullish U.S. investment advisors fell below 50 percent for the first time in five weeks, hitting 46.8 percent in the latest week versus 51 percent the previous week, according to a survey by Investors Intelligence on Wednesday.

Investors often see bullishness as a contrarian indicator, meaning that when bullishness is running high, the market may be due for a pullback. Investors Intelligence said a reading of 55 can often signal a market top.

"Backing off without entering that territory suggests another run up to highs is still possible," Investors Intelligence said in its report. "However, with the averages more than doubling in less than four years, the rally is certainly mature and likely approaching its end."

Shares of Family Dollar Stores rose 3.5 percent to $68.30 after the discount chain posted a higher quarterly profit.

Not all was rosy, though, on the earnings front. Monsanto shares fell 1.8 percent to $88.91 after the agribusiness group posted a fourth-quarter loss during a seasonally sluggish sales period.

(Editing by Jan Paschal)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stock-index-futures-trade-slightly-lower-081723741--finance.html

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