Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Stars Align: Obama Supporter Jon Hamm Makes Pitch for Early Voting

Jon Hamm Makes Pitch for Early Voting category: Barack Obama

"Mad Men" star Jon Hamm encourages Colorado voters to vote early in a new Obama for America video.

In the instructional clip, Hamm encourages early voters in the Centennial State by saying, "It's easy if you make a plan. You can either vote by mail or vote early in person." He then continues to break down in detail the step-by-step early voting process.

The "Mad Men" star subtly touts his support for Obama in the video by showing marked voting ballots next to the president's name, and he recommends that voters begin by looking up their polling location at BarackObama.com/lookup.

Hamm is not the only star to show some Obama love in an Obama for America ad. In early October, a cavalcade of stars such as Jay-Z, Jane Lynch ("Glee"), Jesse Tyler Ferguson ("Modern Family") and Chaz Bono hit the Obama for America website, releasing a slew of ads.

Hamm ends his endorsement by reminding Coloradans that "time is running out. The last day you can vote early in person is Nov. 2nd -- and that's it!

"So, what are you waiting for?" the actor asks. "Make your plan to vote early today."

Kelly Clarkson Shifts From Paul to Obama category: Barack Obama

Pop sensation Kelly Clarkson claims to be a Republican at heart but is planning to vote for a Democrat this election. The 30-year-old Texas native told the Daily Star that she is probably going to vote for Obama again.

"I've been reading online about the debates, and I'm probably going to vote for Obama again, even though I'm a Republican at heart." Clarkson continues.

"I can't support Romney's policies, as I have a lot of gay friends and I don't think it's fair they can't get married. ... I'm not a hardcore feminist, but we can't be going back to the '50s."

Though the former "American Idol" winner is now throwing her support behind the president, in 2011 Clarkson tweeted her "love" for a different politician.

"I love Ron Paul," Clarkson wrote. "I liked him a lot during the last Republican nomination, and no one gave him a chance. If he wins the nomination for the Republican Party in 2012, he's got my vote. Too bad he probably won't."

Alan Cumming, Cyndi Lauper Host Last Hurrah for Swing States category: Barack Obama

The Scottish singer/actor/director and star of CBS' "The Good Wife," Alan Cumming, is teaming up with pop star Cyndi Lauper to host a performance and silent auction tonight in New York for the Obama campaign. Acting as a prelude to the last national debate of the 2012 election, the event is called "The Last Hurrah for the Swing States."

"It don't mean a thing if we ain't got those swings," Cumming wrote on his blog.

Cumming tweeted Monday morning that there were still tickets available for the Obama fundraiser. For just $100, guests can enjoy general admission seating with drinks included, while $500 gets VIP seating and table service.

In 2010, Cumming criticized Obama for his record on gay rights. Almost a year and a half later, he praised the president for coming out in favor of same-sex marriage. Cumming has donated $3,300 to the president since September 2011, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

It's not the first time Lauper has declared her support for Obama, either. Lauper took to Twitter in January to declare her outrage at Mitt Romney's use of her 1986 hit "True Colors" in an attack ad. Lauper, who launched a campaign focused on LGBT youth homelessness last summer, has also praised President Obama for his stance on same-sex marriage.

Springsteen Hopes to Return Obama to 'Glory Days' category: Barack Obama

Long time rocker Bruce Springsteen joined former president Bill Clinton at rally to back President Obama in Ohio, telling supporters America needs a leader "who has a vision that includes all our citizens, not just some."

"The forces of our opposition have been tireless," Springsteen said, before thanking Obama for health care reform, "a more regulated Wall Street," and the fact that "GM is still making cars."

"Without them, what would I write about?" he asked with a smile. "I'd have no job."

Springsteen, who endorsed the president and touted the importance of this election, also played some crowd pleasers at the rally to rev up the audience. The Boss played six songs, including a cover of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land," "We Take Care of Our Own," from his new album, and "No Surrender," which he dedicated to the president. Springsteen closed out the rally with the fan favorite "Thunder Road."

A few days earlier, the rocker released a written endorsement of the president on his website.

"Right now, there is a choice going on in America, and I'm happy that we live in a country where we all participate in that process," the "Born in the U.S.A." singer writes. "For me, President Obama is our best choice because he has a vision of the United States as a place where we are all in this together."

Lindsay Lohan Becomes Political Turncoat category: Mitt Romney

Actress Lindsay Lohan has voiced her support for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. "I think unemployment is very important for now, so as of now I think (my vote) is Mitt Romney." Lohan made the comment Oct. 11 reports FOX411's Pop Tarts, at the Mr. Pink Ginseng Drink Launch Party Los Angeles.

Lohan who called President Obama's presidential victory "amazing" four years ago, said she couldn't watch the vice presidential debate but didn't give a reason, cloaking her political change of heart in mystery.

"It's a long story, but you're going to have to wait for that." Lohan said.

The troubled actress's political activism has spiked in recent weeks. Last month Lohan tweeted the president, suggesting that he "cut taxes for those who need it: middle-class families, small businesses," as well as "those that are listed on Forbes as 'millionaires.'"

"Girls" Star Endorses Obama category: Barack Obama

Lena Dunham, the creator, writer and star of the HBO series "Girls," endorsed Barack Obama's re-election bid via Twitter.

The tweet read "I'm voting because I want to party at my sister's future wedding #ForAll" and was accompanied by a photo of Dunham with the words "marriage equality" written across her hand. The star's announcement grabbed the attention of the Obama campaign and was featured on its official tumblr page.

Dunham's sister Grace acted alongside her in the film "Tiny Furniture," which was also written and directed by the "Girls" star.

'Clueless' Star Gives Romney Red-Hot Endorsement category: Mitt Romney

Stacey Dash -- who rose to prominence by playing Alicia Silverstone's character's best friend in the movie "Clueless" -- endorsed Mitt Romney Oct. 7 on Twitter, sharing a picture of herself in a red bathing suit in front of an American flag backdrop.

"Vote for Romney. The only choice for your future," Dash tweeted.

Dash received some heat for her endorsement, with some of her Twitter followers tweeting insults at the '90s movie star.

Abortion-activist and Obama supporter Sandra Fluke came to Dash's defense on Twitter, writing, "So disappointed to see people attacking @REALStaceyDash for voicing her opinion. Disagree politically, but #racist attacks are unacceptable."

Romney Gets Buzz Bissinger Endorsement category: Mitt Romney

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and "Friday Night Lights" author Buzz Bissinger has officially endorsed Mitt Romney.

Romney lately has been using the motto from the television show "Friday Night Lights," based on Bissinger's book. "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose" was printed on a poster that the Romney campaign hung in the Magness Arena during the presidential debate in Denver Oct. 3. Romney started his stump speech on Oct. 5 with that phrase.

Explaining his endorsement in an Oct. 8 column for the Daily Beast, Bissinger wrote: "Four years ago, all Obama had to do was speak and everyone swooned. That was four years ago. It is now four years later. He is no longer the chosen one. He is just too cool for school in a country desperate for the infectiousness of rejuvenation."

Although he supported Obama in the 2008 election, he has come to the conclusion that "Romney has it" and "Our president no longer does." The tipping point, he says, came last week after watching the two candidates debate in Denver.

Romney Scores Touchdown Endorsement

Mitt Romney received a hefty endorsement from Denver Broncos legendary QB John Elway.

Elway threw his support behind presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Oct. 1, two days before the first presidential debate in Denver.

The football legend called the Romney ticket a touchdown, dubbing Mitt Romney and running mate Paul Ryan America's "comeback team."

"Gov. Romney is a proven leader with the experience and background to turn around our struggling economy," Elway said in a news release. "In these tough economic times, we need a president who understands how to get America working again -- by standing on the side of taxpayers and small-business owners who do the real job creating. I am endorsing Gov. Romney and Congressman Ryan for president and vice president, because I know having the courage to make decisions and tackle challenges is what leads to results and real change. America needs a comeback team ? Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are that team."

After his endorsement, Elway appeared at a rally for Romney in Denver, which the Romney campaign said drew 5,500 people.

Obama Gets Celeb Attention Overseas category: Barack Obama

Pop sensation Jennifer Lopez was just one of the many famous faces who attended a Democratic fundraiser in Paris for President Obama. The singer was accompanied by her beau, Casper Smart, 25, a dancer in her video for "Get on the Floor."

The celeb couple was joined by a flock of celebrities who came out to support the president at the swanky international event hosted by Vogue editor Anna Wintour. Guests included Scarlett Johansson, Kanye West, Stella McCartney, Mick Jagger and Lee Radziwill.

The Paris party had a $2,500 ticket price and reportedly Johansson took the stage at the event to deliver a speech in support of the president. The supporters gathered at La Maison 8, a former home of designer Kenzo Takada.

This is not the first fundraiser hosted by the Vogue editor. Wintour has already held two fundraisers for Obama this year. Wintour is in Paris for Fashion Week to view spring/summer 2013 collections. By the time those clothes are in stores, Wintour no doubt hopes that President Obama will still be in the White House.

Romney Gets a 'Dirty' Sort of Endorsement category: Mitt Romney

Mike Rowe, host of the Discovery Channel series "Dirty Jobs," appeared with Mitt Romney Sept. 26, 2012, at a campaign event in Ohio. The media personality and Ford ad star touted the importance of job opportunity while standing next to the GOP presidential nominee onstage.

"There's got to be a better way to be happy and successful in your career than simply assuming a massive amount of debt and exiting an educational program that gives you a degree without training," Rowe said.

Despite appearing at Romney's campaign event, Rowe argued he was not technically endorsing Romney. Earlier this month, Rowe posted an online open letter to Romney. The letter began, "If you read the whole thing, I'll vote for you in November."

Rowe said Romney responded to his letter.

Rowe's post, which aimed to emphasize the value of hard work and the nation's skills gap, was not one-of-a-kind, as Rowe admitted in a postscript that he directed in a similar letter to President Obama in 2008.

"P.S. In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I wrote a similar letter to President Obama," Rowe wrote in the letter. "Of course, that was four years ago, and since I never heard back, I believe proper etiquette allows me to extend the same offer to you now. I figure if I post it here, the odds are better that someone you know might send it along to your attention."

Jay-Z and Beyonce category: Barack Obama

President Obama was hosted Sept. 18 in New York City by rap mogul Jay-Z and wife Beyonce. The fundraiser, organized by the two longtime Obama supporters, was held in the rapper's swanky 40/40 Club in the heart of Manhattan.

The mega-star power couple has an ongoing relationship with the first family. Beyonce sang at the president's inauguration in 2008, and she also attended a fundraising dinner in March hosted by the first lady. The love of the ladies is mutual as Michelle Obama helped Beyonce with efforts to promote global humanitarianism.

Jay-Z and the president also have a bond. In early September, the president appeared in a prerecorded video at a Jay-Z event in Philadelphia.

In an email to Obama supporters, Beyonce said she's a huge fan and will do whatever it takes to help him win a close race.

Gwen Stefani category: Barack Obama

There was face painting, animal balloons and fake tattoos on the tennis courts, and big white umbrellas on the lawn of Gwen Stefani's Beverly Hills house Sunday, Aug. 12, as she played host to Michelle Obama for a family-friendly Sunday of Fun.

The No Doubt rocker and her two sons, 6-year-old Kingston and 3-year-old Zuma, frolicked with the first lady at the $2,500-per-family fundraiser, which Stefani called a "playdate."

"Getting ready for Michelle Obama to come for a playdate," Stefani tweeted before the event, adding later that "Zuma cried all over my pink top! Oh well mom central."

While President Obama has been racking up Hollywood endorsers, the first lady has attracted support of her own from an array of female singers.

From Stefani to Beyonce to George Clooney to Morgan Freeman, here's a look at the celebrities who have thrown their support to Obama, and those who have put their money on Mitt Romney.

Elizabeth Banks category: Barack Obama

"Hunger Games" actress Elizabeth Banks may not want to talk to her employer about her intimate women's health issues, but she candidly laid them out for President Obama supporters in a campaign ad.

Banks, who played Effie Trinket in "The Hunger Games," admitted she got birth control from Planned Parenthood as an uninsured college graduate "for my massive migraine headaches and my heavy flow."

"These aren't the types of things I want to discuss with employers," Banks said, weighing in on the debate between Republicans and Democrats over Planned Parenthood funding. "That's between me and my doctor and, at the time, my doctor happened to be at Planned Parenthood. So I'm really grateful they exist."

Banks said she was supporting Obama because he has "not compromised on women's rights," while his GOP rival Mitt Romney wants to cut funding for Planned Parenthood over the small percentage of the health care provider's business that goes to providing abortions.

"For that little 5 percent that Mitt Romney decides he doesn't agree with he's going to take away cancer screenings? What is he doing?" Banks says in the ad. "He's going to take away people's access to health care close by."

Anne Hathaway category: Barack Obama

Days after "The Dark Night Rises" hauled in $36 million at the box offices last weekend, its fierce female star, Anne Hathaway, helped President Obama rake in millions for his re-election campaign at a Hollywood-studded fundraiser in Connecticut.

Hathaway co-hosted the $35,800 per-person fundraiser Aug. 6, 2012, with producer Harvey Weinstein at his home in Connecticut. The duo helped Obama add $2 million to his campaign war chest.

Hathaway is a longtime Obama supporter, having attended his inauguration festivities in 2009 and telling People magazine shortly after his election that she'd love to work in the White House as "first babysitter" for Obama's daughters, Sasha and Malia.

The president returned the compliment at Monday's fundraiser, gushing about Hathaway's "spectacular" performance as Catwoman in the latest Batman movie.

"She's spectacular," Obama told the crowd of about 60 supporters. "I got a chance to see 'Batman,' and she was the best thing in it.

"That's just my personal opinion," the president said as Hathaway beamed and laughed, according to the pool press report.

Other notable names at the fashionable fundraiser included "West Wing" screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, Vogue editor Anna Wintour and reality-TV host Jerry Springer.

Clint Eastwood category: Mitt Romney

On Aug. 3, Clint Eastwood came out in support of Mitt Romney when he made an appearance at an Idaho fundraiser for the presumptive GOP nominee.

The Oscar-winning director said he is supporting Romney this November "because I think the country needs a boost somewhere."

While Eastwood also endorsed the Republican presidential candidate in 2008, lending his support to Sen. John McCain in his bid for the White House and even campaigning for him, his position the 2012 race hasn't always been clear. After a cameo in a Super Bowl ad about the revival of the auto industry this February, where he uttered the instantly famous line, "It's halftime, America," Eastwood was forced to clarify that he was not in fact supporting Obama's re-election campaign.

Jenna Jameson category: Mitt Romney

Sipping champagne in the VIP lounge of San Francisco's Gold Club gentleman's lounge, former porn star Jenna Jameson said she was supporting Mitt Romney to win the White House in November.

"I'm very looking forward to a Republican being back in office," Jameson told a CBS San Francisco staffer in August. "When you're rich, you want a Republican in office."

But four years ago Jameson, who is estimated to have a net worth of $20 million, was singing the opposite tune.

"I look forward to another Democrat being in office," Jameson told PR.com, noting that Republicans "put their crosshairs on the adult industry."

Jameson said in the 2007 interview that she supported then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

"I love Hillary," Jameson said. "I think that in some ways she's pretty conservative for a Democrat, but I would love to have a woman in office."

Jerry Springer category: Barack Obama

Talk show host Jerry Springer, a lifelong Democrat, does not see why America would not want President Obama in the White House for another four years. The reality TV presenter lavished praise on the president after meeting with him in Cincinnati in July.

"I have met with lots of politicians, but this man is truly exceptional," Springer said after the meeting, according to the Huffington Post. "He's so competent and so smart, I just don't see why we wouldn't want him for four more years as president."

Springer was once a politician himself, serving one year as mayor of Cincinnati and running failed campaigns for Congress and Ohio governor.

"I'm a long-standing supporter of the Democratic Party and believe in President Obama," Springer said.

Morgan Freeman category: Barack Obama

Morgan Freeman, actor and vocal Obama supporter, became the second celebrity donor to write a $1 million check to the support the president's re-election bid. Since there is a spending cap on individuals contributing to political candidates, Freeman gave his million to the pro-Obama Super PAC Priorities USA Action.

"Pres. Obama has done a remarkable job in historically difficult circumstances," Freeman said.

The actor praised Obama for ending combat operations in Iraq, reforming Wall Street, keeping the auto industry alive, reforming health care and appointing the first woman to the Supreme Court.

"He has led our nation to be more tolerant," Freeman said. "In return, he is the target of hundreds of millions of dollars from right-wing sources. I am proud to lend my voice - and support - to those who defend him. Priorities USA Action is doing a great job of protecting the values I believe in. I am happy to help them and I hope others will join me."

Bill Nye the Science Guy category: Barack Obama

Bill Nye, that quirky science guy from 1990s TV fame, took his brightly-colored bow ties on the campaign trail making a trip through New Hampshire in support of the Obama campaign on July 16. At stops in three New Hampshire towns, Nye sang the praises of the president's education policies and pushed for more science and engineering programs.

"This is the most important election of my life and I believe we're at a crossroads, a turning point," Nye told the Fosters Daily Democrat. "We can either move forward, especially in education, or backward. I think voters have a clear choice, so I'm supporting the president."

The eccentric Science Guy who showed children the fun side of learning on his 'Science Guy' TV show appeared as a special guest at both of the White House Science Fairs.

"The choice is clear" on who to vote for in November Nye proclaimed at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, N.H. "The president supports moving education forward, supporting our teachers and administrators and public education, and the other side, for lack of a better expression, just wants to take it for granted."

Marc Anthony category: Barack Obama

President Obama has added another star-studded fundraiser to his already history-breaking list, appearing with singer Marc Anthony in Miami Beach in June.

The concert featuring the Latino singer in the heavily-Hispanic state of Florida came just one day after the Supreme Court struck down three key parts of Arizona's immigration law ? a win for Obama ? and upheld the state's right to check the immigration status of everyone stopped by police ? a win for Republican Gov. Jan Brewer.

Anthony, who supported Obama in 2008, aimed to convince Latinos to support the president in a campaign video released in early June.

"The president has our back, so it's time to let him know that we've got his," Anthony says in the video.

Bob Dole category: Mitt Romney

While former presidential candidate Bob Dole is not your typical Hollywood celebrity, as a 40-year veteran of the Republican Party leadership his endorsement still packs a punch.

Dole, you could say, endorsed Mitt Romney before endorsing Mitt Romney was cool, writing a letter supporting the former Massachusetts governor that ran in the Des Moines Register in the midst of the rough and tumble of the GOP primary in December.

Dole described that early endorsement this week in an interview with GQ, saying his support came down to a choice between Romney and former GOP candidate Newt Gingrich.

"I'm not a Gingrich fan, so ?" Dole said, "I thought he ? well, I'll say this: Romney looks like a president."

Dole insisted his Romney endorsement was "not tepid at all," noting that Romney's opponent President Obama is "totally out of step."

Cristina Saralegui category: Barack Obama

Days after President Obama announced that his administration would no longer deport young undocumented immigrants, the woman often dubbed the "Hispanic Oprah" made her first-ever presidential endorsement, pledging her support for Obama.

Cristina Saralegui, who has hosted a popular Univision talk show for more than 20 years, is featured in two Obama for America campaign videos, one in English and one in Spanish.

"I came to this country when I was 12 years old because my parents wanted to give me new opportunities to succeed," Saralegui says in the video. "President Obama wants everyone to have the chances I had."

Saralegui's support comes as both Obama and Romney are making a push to court Hispanic voters, one of the fastest-growing voting blocs. If endorsements from Latino celebrities are any guide, Obama has a head start over Romney, with Saralegui joining the likes of Marc Anthony, Eva Longoria and Ricky Martin on the president's side.

Spike Lee category: Endorsed: Barack Obama

Director Spike Lee, an ardent Obama supporter in 2008, is less optimistic about the president's election prospects this time around, telling GQ magazine in an article published June 12 that an Obama win in November "is not a lock."

"The people have to get out and vote," Lee said. "It is not a lock that President Obama is getting a second term, and people have to really rekindle the enthusiasm that we had the first time."

As for Mitt Romney, Lee said the best thing he has going for him is that "he's not Obama."

"Once we get to the debates my man [Obama] is going to tear him up," Lee said. "It's going to be obvious who should lead this country for the next four years once they go head to head, toe to toe, elbow to elbow, butt to butt. And I don't think Mr. Romney can hang with him. He just can't!"

Lee and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, hosted the president at their New York City brownstone home for a $35,800-per-ticket fundraiser in January.

During his remarks to the crowd of about 40 supporters, Obama told the movie producer/director that on his "first official date" with Michelle Obama, he took her to see "Do the Right Thing," which Lee wrote and directed in 1989.

"I think you helped me out that day," Obama said. "So it worked out, which is why I've always had a soft spot for Spike Lee in my heart."

Jay-Z category: Endorsed: Barack Obama

If there's any lingering doubt about whether rapper Jay-Z is an Obama supporter, as he was in 2008, the hip-hop megastar dispelled it in June.

In an interview with CNN, Jay-Z said President Obama is a better choice for the country than Mitt Romney "by leaps and bounds."

The rapper praised Obama's recent support for same-sex marriage, saying the issue "is still holding the country back."

"You can chose to love whoever you love; that's your business," Jay-Z, 42, said. "It's no different than discrimination against blacks. It's discrimination plain and simple."

Jay-Z and wife Beyonce have been ardent Obama supporters since his 2008 campaign. And the president is equally supportive of the hip-hop duo. When The Atlantic asked whether he preferred Jay-Z or Kanye West, Obama said, without hesitation, "Jay-Z."

Beyonce showed her love for the first family in January, writing a letter to Michelle Obama in which she said the first lady was "the ULTIMATE example of a truly strong African American woman."

Ricky Martin category: Endorsed: Barack Obama

International pop star Ricky Martin, famous for hits like "Livin' La Vida Loca," swung his infamously leather pants clad hips in step behind President Obama, endorsing him for the 2012 election.

The openly gay singer hosted a fundraiser with Obama in New York just days after the president publicly declared his support for same-sex marriage in May.

"I applaud President @barackobama for affirming that ALL Americans should enjoy equal rights," Martin tweeted shortly after the president's announcement. "Historic! I will be a very proud host on Monday."

While the fundraiser was scheduled weeks before Obama's announcement, it takes on a new significance following Obama's assertion that "same sex couples should be able to get married."

"I am proud to support our president," Martin told Univision's Spanish-language program Primer Imapcto after announcing the fundraiser in April.

"I believe Barack Obama has shown a deep conviction to help those most in need, even if their voices are not always the ones heard the loudest in Washington," Martin continued. "He has also been an exceptionally strong advocate for the Latino and LGBT communities, leading us to precedent setting milestones such as the appointment of the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice and the repeal of [Don't Ask, Don't Tell]."

George Clooney


Actor George Clooney was an Obama supporter before being an Obama supporter was cool. In a 2006 interview with ABC News, Clooney said then-Sen. Obama was "the most charismatic person I've been in a room with in a long time."

"I must tell you, I've never seen anybody in my life in person that was as qualified this young to do what I think we need done," Clooney said.

And six years later, Clooney is still a firm Obama supporter. Clooney hosted one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for President Obama, hauling in a record-breaking $15 million at the star-studded black tie event at Clooney's Hollywood home.

Other big names at the $40,000 per plate dinner included actors Toby Maguire and Salma Hayek, designer Diane Von Furstenberg, singer Barbara Streisand and comedian Billy Crystal.

"I'm disillusioned by the people who are disillusioned by Obama, quite honestly, I am," Clooney said on ABC News Now's "Popcorn with Peter Travers" before the October release of "The Ides of March," a political movie that he wrote, directed and starred in. "Democrats eat their own. Democrats find singular issues and go, 'Well, I didn't get everything I wanted.' I'm a firm believer in sticking by and sticking up for the people whom you've elected."

Sarah Jessica Parker category: Barack Obama

Two weeks after the president enlisted the help of Hollywood A-lister George Clooney to host a $12 million campaign fundraiser, Obama is pumping up his star power again, only this time it's "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker who is hosting.

Parker is not only an Obama donor, but has participated in his campaigns and his administration. She volunteered to call undecided voters in the week leading up to the election in 2008, she served on the president's Committee on Arts and the Humanities starting in 2009, and she recorded a public service announcement supporting a White House veterans program earlier this year.

"For me, this election is even more important than 2008," Parker wrote in a letter to Obama supporters. "I'm hosting this event on June 14th because there is so much at stake this year, and I want to keep doing what I can."

The "fabulous" New York City fundraiser, as Parker describes it, is likely to be a hot spot for celebrities, much like Clooney's Los Angeles gala was.

Jeff Foxworthy category: Endorsed: Mitt Romney

He already loves the cheesy grits. He has perfected the twang in his "y'all." And in order to further beef up his Southern street cred before the Alabama and Mississippi primaries, Mitt Romney called in the blue-collar cavalry.

Self-proclaimed Redneck comedian Jeff Foxworthy joined Romney on the Alabama campaign trail in March, just days before the state's primary election, after endorsing the GOP candidate via Twitter.

"Time for Republicans to unite behind Governor Romney, a great leader who can win the White House and rebuild our economy for all Americans," Foxworthy tweeted.

The "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" headliner most famous for his "you might be a redneck if..." jokes went out on the stump to support Romney amid a torrential downpour in Mobile, Ala., before traveling to two additional meet and greets in Biloxi, Mississippi and Richland, Mississippi.

Bon Jovi category: Barack Obama

Ten days before Sarah Jessica Parker hosts her "fabulous" fundraiser, rocker Jon Bon Jovi will take the stage to serenade Obama donors at an equally-pricey and similarly-star-studded fundraising "gala dinner."

Like Parker, Bon Jovi is a longtime Obama supporter. He hosted a fundraiser for then-candidate Obama at his home in 2008 and was one of a handful of music stars who played in Obama's pre-inauguration concert.

The rock star also serves on the White House Council on Community Solutions, which promotes volunteerism and community building.

James Taylor

How sweet is it to be loved by James Taylor? If you're President Obama, it's pretty sweet considering the sing/songwriter is embarking on an 18-city concert tour through a handful of battleground states.

Taylor, who endorsed Obama in 2008 as well, said he will throw a little politics between the fire and rain on his folk-rock tour this year.

"I really love this president. I love what it says about America, that we were able to elect this man," Taylor, 63, said in an interview with local North Carolina TV affiliate WCNC.

The North Carolina native will sing the president's praises in tough general election states like Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Ohio and Colorado.

Ted Nugent

Hollywood may be leaning toward President Obama, but the rockers seem to be picking Romney. Ted Nugent came out in support of Mitt Romney shortly after Kid Rock made a guest appearance on the Romney campaign trial to play his song "Born Free."

Nugent announced his endorsement on Twitter, telling his 44,000 followers "after a long heart & soul conversation with Mitt Romney today I concluded this good man will properly represent we the people & I endorsed him."

Nugent, who is from Michigan but now lives in Texas, told the Texas Tribune that before deciding on his endorsement he spoke with Romney over the phone to make sure the former Massachusetts governor would not enact any gun law restrictions and would help rein in what he dubbed the "out of control" U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"The conclusion based on all the evidence I can find is that Mitt Romney has the best shot at bringing the U.S. Constitution, common sense, and the American way back to the White House," Nugent told the Tribune.

But Romney was not Nugent's first choice for president.

"It is my firm belief that Rick Perry would have [made] and would make the best president we could choose," Nugent said, adding that he was baffled by Perry's debate performances. "If the real Rick Perry had been at those debates, he would still be in the race."

Kid Rock

Kid Rock found his presidential jam the day before his home state's voters found their polling places. The rapper-turned-country-rocker belted out "Born Free," Mitt Romney's official campaign song, at the presidential candidate's final Michigan rally before Romney's home state voted Feb. 28.

While the musician did not actually endorse Romney, he insisted on a personal meeting with the GOP candidate before he agreed to take the stage at Romney's rally.

"The other day I got in my car and I drove out to a home of a fellow that lives in this area, and I asked him whether he might come here tonight," Romney said before introducing Kid Rock. "He said, 'If you're elected president, will you help me help the city of Detroit?' I said I would. And then I turned to him, and I said, 'By the way, given the fact that I'm willing to do those things, will you come here and perform a concert tonight for my friends, and he said he would."

Rock's pseudo-endorsement represents a change of heart for the music star. During the last presidential race, Rock, whose real name is Bob Ritchie, said celebrities should keep their political opinions to themselves.

"I truly believe that people like myself, who are in a position of entertainers in the limelight, should keep their mouth shut on politics," he told CMT Insider. "Because at the end of the day, I'm good at writing songs and singing. What I'm not educated in is the field of political science. And so for me to be sharing my views and influencing people of who I think they should be voting for ... I think would be very irresponsible on my part."

Rock went on to say that celebrity endorsements actually "hurt politicians."

"As soon as somebody comes out for a politician, especially in Hollywood, when they all go, 'I'm voting for this guy!' -- I go, 'That's not who I'm voting for!'" Rock said in the 2008 interview.

Bill Maher

While another comedian makes a mockery of Super PACs, liberal jokester Bill Maher put $1 million worth of support behind the pro-Obama Super PAC Priorities USA.

Maher said he decided to write the mega-check to Priorities "partially out of fear -- fear of Santorum and Romney," who he said live in a "bubble of insanity."

"Half the country is nuts, and Obama could very well lose," Maher told the Los Angeles Times after announcing his donation in February. "He may not have been the best president in his first term, but given the alternative, I feel there's a clear choice.

"Unless the rich liberals get into the game," Maher added, "Obama will be horribly outspent. If he is outspent, he stands a good chance of losing."

Maher told ABC News that he hoped his hefty donation would inspire other wealthy Democrats to do the same.

"Hey, rich liberals," he said. "If I can do this, there's a lot of people who can do it even easier."

Eva Longoria


To say that actress Eva Longoria is an Obama supporter would be a glaring understatement.

Not only has the "Desperate Housewives" star publicly announced her support for the president and held high-dollar fundraisers to fill his election war chest, she is one of two big names in Hollywood who signed on to be one of 35 "ambassadors" for his re-election campaign.

Longoria will spearhead efforts to reach women and Hispanic voters leading up to the 2012 election, Obama's re-election campaign announced in February. Kalpen Modi (aka Kal Penn) is the only other actor on the list.

Before a high-dollar fundraising dinner with the president in September, Longoria told Jimmy Kimmel that Obama has been "very receptive" to her in her efforts to promote Latino issues.

"I'm a big Obama supporter no matter what he's been through -- he's been beaten up the past couple of years," Longoria said, according to the Huffington Post. "He's been very receptive for me, I'm a big advocate for Latino issues, and so he's been a big listener and he's done a lot of coalitions and roundtables regarding what we want changed."

Longoria helped raise between $200,000 and $500,000 for Obama's re-election in 2011 and in she helped inspire additional online donations in December when the Obama campaign raffled off a dinner with the actress to five online donors.

Chuck Norris


Chuck Norris' endorsement of Newt Gingrich was nearly as epic as the decades of jokes about his larger-than-life persona.

"Civilization is on the brink," Norris wrote in a WND.com editorial. "We need a veteran of political war who has already fought Goliath, because he will be facing Goliath's bigger brother. [Gingrich] is the best man left on the battlefield who is able to outwit, outplay and outlast Obama and his campaign machine."

After the endorsement, Gingrich anointed Norris as a member of his "Faith Leaders Dream Team," a group of what he called "fearless Christians" who serve as Gingrich's "official advisory coalition on issues pertaining to life, marriage, and religious liberty," according to his campaign website.

Donald Trump


If you ask Donald Trump, the most important endorsement of the GOP primary was Donald Trump's, which he bestowed on Mitt Romney after a whirlwind of rumors that the real estate mogul was going to pick Newt Gingrich.

Trump officially announced his endorsement in the Trump International Hotel on the Las Vegas strip shortly before the Nevada Caucus.

"Mitt is tough, he's smart, he's sharp, he's not going to allow bad things to continue to happen to this country that we all love," Trump said. "So, Gov. Romney, go out and get 'em. You can do it."

Vince Vaughn


Hollywood humor met primary politics when actor Vince Vaughn endorsed Rep. Ron Paul while introducing him at the Liberty Political Action Conference in September.

"Ron and Vince are friends, with Vince not merely interested in Dr. Paul's philosophy but he also graciously invited Dr. and Mrs. Paul to the premier of his film 'Couples Retreat,'" Paul's campaign manager Jesse Benton said in a statement, according to Slate.

Vaughn is a long-time supporter of Paul, having endorsed his 2009 book "End the Fed," as well.

Stephen Spielberg


Having a three-time Academy Award winning director on your side is not only good for morale; it's also great for fundraising. Director Steven Spielberg donated nearly $150,000 to Democratic election efforts in 2011, including $5,000 to Obama's campaign and $100,000 to pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

While Spielberg is a long-time supporter of the Democratic Party, he was not one of the original Hollywood Obama-backers. During the 2008 Democratic primary, Spielberg endorsed Obama's opponent Hillary Clinton.

Cindy Crawford


Supermodel City Crawford was a firm supporter of Barack Obama in 2008, with both she and her husband contributing the federal limit to the Illinois senator's presidential campaign.

But in 2012, the model-turned-actress is putting her bet on Mitt Romney. Crawford appeared in an early campaign video for the former Massachusetts governor, although her spokeswoman told CNN at the time that Crawford was "not politically aligned with any party or candidate" and merely doing a favor for one of Romney's sons, with whom she was friends.

Kelly Clarkson


While pop star Kelly Clarkson did not officially endorse Ron Paul, the original "American Idol" winner tweeted some Ron Paul Revolution love to her 1.1 million followers back in December.

"I love Ron Paul," Clarkson tweeted. "I liked him a lot during the last Republican nomination, and no one gave him a chance. If he wins the nomination for the Republican Party in 2012, he's got my vote. Too bad he probably won't."

Clarkson's tepid support ignited a deluge of 140-character criticisms from her Twitter fans, many of whom were apparently unhappy about racist newsletters Paul sent out during his decades-long tenure as a Texas congressman.

Clarkson later apologized to her Twitter fans for throwing her support behind Paul.

"I am really sorry if I have offended anyone," Clarkson tweeted. "Obviously, that was not my intent. I do not support racism. I support gay rights, straight rights, women's rights, men's rights, white/black/purple/orange rights. I like Ron Paul because he believes in less government and letting the people (all of us) make the decisions and mold our country. That is all. Out of all of the Republican nominees, he's my favorite."

In an interview for Rolling Stone in March, Clarkson said she was flabbergasted by the instant outrage that her political-themed tweet incited.

"I'm hanging out with my brother and my little niece, playing Barbies, and Ron Paul comes on TV," she said according to Politico. "He doesn't BS around anything. I was like, 'This dude is refreshing.' All I did was tweet what I thought, and people went crazy! All of a sudden people were like, 'You hate gay people' -- what? I didn't even endorse him! All I said was that I liked him. I voted for Barack, so it's not even like I'm a hardcore Republican."

Michelle Branch


Apparently pop stars flock together when it comes to presidential endorsements. Shortly after Kelly Clarkson tweeted her support for Ron Paul, fellow pop princess Michelle Branch retweeted her support, writing, "@kelly_clarkson I wholeheartedly agree. #RonPaul."

Branch is best known for her early 2000s hits "Breathe" and "All You Wanted."

Gene Simmons


Gene Simmons, the bassist in the rock band Kiss, chose team Romney in January, telling Big Hollywood that Romney has the best chance of beating President Obama.

"Who's got a chance? Mitt Romney's got a chance and he's got the experience," Simmons said in the Big Hollywood interview. "He's run successful companies, knows how to make money. I believe Mitt Romney and President Obama are going to have a very good dialogue, and I want to hear that dialogue."

Joe Perry


In what is becoming typical rock star fashion, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry used Twitter to tell the world he was voting for Ron Paul.

"Obama hasn't done anything close to what he promised he'd do," Perry tweeted in January. "Didn't get my vote and I got lotta grief. Well, my votes for Ron Paul."

Pat Boone


The 1950s singer, actor and author Pat Boone, 77, threw his support behind Rick Santorum, saying in a statement that Santorum is "experienced, honest and deeply principled," according to Politico.

"I am excited to endorse Rick Santorum for president. I've known Rick for many years, and Rick has been a consistent defender of conservatism and the values our great nation was founded upon," Boone said in a statement released by Santorum's campaign.

Boone, whose rendition of Little Richard's "Tutti Fruiti" sent him to the top of the Billboard charts, is an outspoken critic of President Obama. He told the San Francisco chronicle in September that he believes the president was born in Kenya, is a Muslim and is "spending millions" to hide his real birth certificate. Each charge was refuted after Obama released both his certificate of live birth and long-form birth certificate.

Snooki


The Donald might not be running for president, but if he were, he would enjoy the backing of one of his fellow reality-TV superstars, Snooki. The "Jersey Shore" diva, whose real name is Nicole Polizzi, told the Huffington Post in January that Donald Trump would be her pick for president.

"I thought Trump was going to run," Snooki told the Huffington Post. "But he's not, right? I would endorse him and vote for him."

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stars-align-obama-supporter-jon-hamm-makes-pitch-140245535.html

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Monday, October 29, 2012

Obama cancels stops in Virginia, Colorado because of storm

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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Who will be the next Steve Jobs? - The Nation

Grace Ching
The Straits Times October 10, 2012 1:00 am

Jobs died on October 5 last year after a seven-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He gave birth to products that changed the way people use computers and phones, listened to music and read books. He transformed seven industries: personal computing, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, retail stores and digital publishing.

No one can possibly match him.

But there are two candidates who can claim the mantle of the next tech icon and visionary. One is Jeff Bezos, founder and chief executive of e-commerce giant Amazon; the other is Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

Brin, 39, the "propeller head" who leads Google X Lab, the search titan's secret research facility, is turning science fiction into reality. From here emerged Google Glass, a full-blown computer worn as a pair of glasses.

The gadget displays the Internet on a small screen above the right eye. It lets a user communicate with others as he would with a phone. It is a sexy gizmo but still a prototype. Commercial versions are due in 2014.

Google X Lab has also been researching driver-less cars. Computers built into cars can detect speed, direction, distance, weather conditions, traffic and road signals and signs. They can share information with other similar cars.

Brin is turning Google X Lab into America's next Bell Labs, pushing the tech envelope to create never-seen-before gizmos and services.

Bezos' innovation is Amazon, the world's largest online retailer.

The 48-year-old former hedge-fund manager understood that warehouses and a scalable infocomm technology system would form the pillars of a successful e-commerce business.

He was harangued by Wall Street for bleeding the Internet firm he listed in 1997 by building warehouses. Amazon did not make money until 2002. But the warehouses let Amazon ship orders quickly - satisfying customers.

Amazon was the first to introduce customer reviews and a system which recommends other titles to a customer based on his buying pattern.

The business expanded beyond books to CDs, movies, toys, clothing and even expensive watches.

In late 2007, Bezos introduced the Kindle, an e-book reader capable of downloading books wirelessly, about three years ahead of Apple's iPad. The Kindle was more affordable and seriously undercut Apple's iPad.

Significantly, Bezos knows how to unveil products by demonstrating what they are good at and announcing price and product availability the way Jobs did with Apple products. No other company has done this before.

He has driven up Amazon's worth to about US$113 billion - an e-commerce giant that is unparalleled anywhere. He has also built an ecosystem as seamless as Apple's. It offers customers on-demand services.

They can download e-books, music, movies and Android apps and pay for them in an e-commerce system first developed for his online book business.

While Brin has captured the imagination of many with the sexy Google Glass and driverless car concepts, Bezos's work has already touched millions of users and impacted industry.

He has my vote as the next tech icon and visionary.

Latest stories in this category


Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Who-will-be-the-next-Steve-Jobs-30192014.html

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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

End of the line for returnable Coca-Cola bottle

NEW YORK (AP) ? It's the end of an era for Coca-Cola lovers, as the last 6.5-ounce returnable, glass bottle rolls off the production line.

A small Coke bottler in Minnesota says it's stopping production of the bottles, which customers could return to get back a 20-cent deposit. The company in Winona, Minn., had been refilling the returnable bottles since 1932 but said it no longer makes business sense to continue doing so.

LeRoy Telstad, the bottler's vice president and general manager, says the last run for refilling the bottles was Tuesday.

The Coca-Cola Co, based in Atlanta, notes that its 8-ounce glass bottles are still widely available across the country. Those recyclable bottles are nearly identical to the smaller 6.5-ounce bottles. They have less glass but hold more cola.

The glass bottles that were refilled in Winona, Minn. had a very limited footprint, distributed in only four counties.

"They were made on an old line that would have to be completely replaced ? they kept them going as long as they could," said Susan Stribling, a Coca-Cola spokeswoman.

And people often kept the vintage bottles after they bought them instead of returning them.

As one of the last makers of the refillable bottles, Telstad said people would travel from all over to pick them up. Customers paid a deposit on each bottle they bought and would get that deposit back when they returned the bottles.

The bottling company, which will continue to distribute other Coca-Cola products, says it refilled about 6,000 bottles for the final run. The bottles will be sold online for $20 each starting Monday, with proceeds going toward the Lake Winona Pedestrian and Bicycle Path restoration project.

The Coca-Cola Co. made its trademarked contour glass bottle in 1916. In 1961, it made its first glass bottle that couldn't be refilled or returned. The vast majority of glass bottles made in the U.S. are recyclable.

Globally, Coca-Cola says about 11 percent of its packaging was in refillable glass as of 2010.

___

Online: http://cocacolawinona.wordpress.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/end-line-returnable-coca-cola-bottle-203553601--finance.html

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2012 physics Nobel recognizes experiments probing quantum world

2012 physics Nobel recognizes experiments probing quantum world

Work could lead to revolutions in computing

Web edition : Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Two scientists have won the 2012 Nobel Prize in physics for their pioneering work in quantum optics, a field that manipulates light and matter to measure very precise properties of single particles.

The Nobel committee awarded the prize October 9 to Serge Haroche, of the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, and David Wineland, of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colo.? The two were cited for related but independent work: Haroche bounces light particles between mirrors to probe their quantum states, and Wineland creates traps for charged atoms and shoots in laser light to control those particles.

Discoveries based on those experiments have already been used to develop ultra-accurate atomic clocks and could eventually lead to the development of quantum computers much faster and more secure than existing electron-based technology.

?The two of them together are the total pinnacle of the whole field,? says Jonathan Home, a physicist at ETH Zurich and former member of Wineland?s group. ?It?s a great achievement.?

Studying individual particles in the quantum realm is tough because the very act of measurement usually destroys the information being sought. To get around that problem, researchers have developed ways to trap and handle particles delicately while probing them for information about their quantum states.

In 1978, Wineland and his colleagues did some of the first experiments using trapped electrically charged particles, or ions. His team developed ways to cool the ions and extract quantum information from them. Such information, such as the orientation of the ions? magnetism, may one day be used as a bit of information in quantum computers much as 1s and 0s make up the stream of bits in a classical computer.

Trapped ions can also be used to improve atomic clocks, which rely on ultra-precise, natural fluctuations such as certain regular transitions within an ion. Wineland?s team has made atomic clocks so accurate that scientists can measure relativistic effects over extremely short distances or time periods. The most accurate clock in the world, which uses aluminum ions, sits in his lab in Boulder.

Haroche, for his part, uses mirrors to bounce light particles around and store them for a very long time, relatively speaking. Photons can bounce between the two mirrors for more than a tenth of a second before disappearing; during that time they might travel 40,000 kilometers before vanishing.

Like Wineland, Haroche has used his experimental setup to create quantum states inspired by the famous Schroedinger?s cat paradox. In this, a quantum system exists in a superposition of two states (such as the cat being both alive and dead at the same time) until a measurement is made and the system is resolved into one of the two possible states. In 2008, Haroche?s team described creating versions of these states and making a movie as they evolved from the quantum into the everyday world (SN Online: 9/24/08).?

The work of both laureates is an early step toward quantum computers, which are a long way from reality but could one day be a far faster and more secure method for certain types of computing. ?These are two great experimentalists and I?m really glad they won,? says Robert Garisto, a physicist and editor at the journal Physical Review Letters.

Haroche said he had been walking with his wife when he saw the Swedish calling prefix pop up on his phone this morning. ?I was in the streets passing near a bench, so I was able to sit down,? he said. ?We have champagne at home.?

Wineland, in Colorado, was awoken by the phone call from the Nobel committee. ?We probably won?t go back to sleep for a while,? he said a few minutes later in an audio interview posted at the Nobel web site.

This year?s physics prize is worth 8 million Swedish kronor, or about $1.2 million, and will be shared equally between the winners.

This year?s physics prize is worth 8 million Swedish kronor, or about $1.2 million, and will be shared equally between the winners.

Citations

2012 Nobel physics prize announcement: [Go to]

Suggested Reading

D. Castelvecchi. Photons caught in the act. Science News Online, September 24, 2008.
[Go to]

D. Castelvecchi. Crueltyfree: counting photons without killing them. Science News. Vol. 172, August 25, 2007, p. 117.
[Go to]

P. Weiss. Teleporting matter's traits: beaming information quantum-style. Science News. Vol. 165, June 19, 2004, p. 387.
[Go to]

I. Peterson. Cold traps for ion crystals, solid plasmas. Science News. Vol. 135, May 6, 1989, p. 18.
[Go to]

D.E. Thomsen. Clocks test Einstein vs. Mach. Science News. Vol. 127. June 22, 1985, p. 388.
[Go to]

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/345652/title/2012_physics_Nobel_recognizes_experiments_probing_quantum_world

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New psychology study reveals unexamined costs of rape

New psychology study reveals unexamined costs of rape [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 9-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: David Buss
dbuss@psy.utexas.edu
512-475-8489
University of Texas at Austin

Evolutionary psychologists find rape impacts sexual behavior, self-esteem

AUSTIN, Texas Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder are commonly associated with sexual assault, but a new study from The University of Texas at Austin shows that female victims suffer from a wide spectrum of debilitating effects that may often go unnoticed or undiagnosed.

Researchers Carin Perilloux, now a visiting assistant professor at Union College in New York, and David Buss, a professor of psychology at The University of Texas at Austin, found significant negative consequences of rape and attempted sexual assault in 13 domains of psychological and social functioning, including self-esteem, social reputation, sexual desire and self-perceived mate value.

The study, to be published in a forthcoming issue of the Archives of Sexual Behavior, will lend important insight into psychological and social ramifications, and possibly interventions, for rape and sexual assault victims.

"These findings document that victims of sexual assault, and even victims of attempted sexual assault, suffer psychological and social costs more far ranging than previously suspected," says Perilloux, who earned her Ph.D. at The University of Texas at Austin in 2011.

As part of the study, the researchers conducted a survey with 140 women who had experienced rape or attempted sexual assault. On a scale of negative three to positive three, with zero representing no change, they evaluated the severity of damage they experienced after their rapes or assaults. The respondents also provided subjective descriptions of the impact of their experiences in relation to each of the psychological and social domains that were studied.

Though all victims of rape and attempted sexual assault reported negative effects in every domain, rape victims reported significantly more negative outcomes than victims of attempted rape in 11 domains.

Across the board, the most negatively affected domains were self-esteem, sexual reputation, (i.e. being labeled as promiscuous), frequency of sex, desire to have sex, and self-perceived mate value or desirability.

Though the sobering data cannot be taken lightly, hope could be found in some respondents' self-described feelings of optimism.

"Women often show exceptional resilience," Perilloux says. "With support and assistance, many rape victims may be able to regain normalcy in some of the domains of their lives affected by the victimization."

###


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


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.


New psychology study reveals unexamined costs of rape [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 9-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: David Buss
dbuss@psy.utexas.edu
512-475-8489
University of Texas at Austin

Evolutionary psychologists find rape impacts sexual behavior, self-esteem

AUSTIN, Texas Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder are commonly associated with sexual assault, but a new study from The University of Texas at Austin shows that female victims suffer from a wide spectrum of debilitating effects that may often go unnoticed or undiagnosed.

Researchers Carin Perilloux, now a visiting assistant professor at Union College in New York, and David Buss, a professor of psychology at The University of Texas at Austin, found significant negative consequences of rape and attempted sexual assault in 13 domains of psychological and social functioning, including self-esteem, social reputation, sexual desire and self-perceived mate value.

The study, to be published in a forthcoming issue of the Archives of Sexual Behavior, will lend important insight into psychological and social ramifications, and possibly interventions, for rape and sexual assault victims.

"These findings document that victims of sexual assault, and even victims of attempted sexual assault, suffer psychological and social costs more far ranging than previously suspected," says Perilloux, who earned her Ph.D. at The University of Texas at Austin in 2011.

As part of the study, the researchers conducted a survey with 140 women who had experienced rape or attempted sexual assault. On a scale of negative three to positive three, with zero representing no change, they evaluated the severity of damage they experienced after their rapes or assaults. The respondents also provided subjective descriptions of the impact of their experiences in relation to each of the psychological and social domains that were studied.

Though all victims of rape and attempted sexual assault reported negative effects in every domain, rape victims reported significantly more negative outcomes than victims of attempted rape in 11 domains.

Across the board, the most negatively affected domains were self-esteem, sexual reputation, (i.e. being labeled as promiscuous), frequency of sex, desire to have sex, and self-perceived mate value or desirability.

Though the sobering data cannot be taken lightly, hope could be found in some respondents' self-described feelings of optimism.

"Women often show exceptional resilience," Perilloux says. "With support and assistance, many rape victims may be able to regain normalcy in some of the domains of their lives affected by the victimization."

###


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


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/2012-10/uota-nps100912.php

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Showing new confidence, Romney casts White House as weak on Syria; Obama looks to regroup

WASHINGTON - Republican Mitt Romney, flashing new confidence on the campaign trail as polls showed him gaining ground in a tight race, assailed President Barack Obama's leadership in the Middle East and declared the U.S. must join other nations in helping arm Syrian rebels.

Hoping to bolster his own foreign policy credentials, Romney said he would identify and organize those in the Syrian opposition who share American values, then work with American allies to "ensure they obtain the arms they need to defeat Assad's tanks, helicopters and fighter jets."

His wide-ranging address at the Virginia Military Institute on Monday attempted to establish an image of Romney as a man who would be a strong commander in chief, an area where Obama has long held an advantage, as the president who oversaw the demise of Osama bin Laden and the winding down of two unpopular wars.

One month from Election Day, polls show a close race. And with millions of Americans already casting ballots in early voting, the candidates have little room for error as they seek to sway a narrow swath of undecided voters.

Following Romney's strong performance in the first presidential debate last week, both Democrats and Republicans say internal campaign surveys show the Republican has cut into the lead Obama had built up in many key battleground states. But they say Obama still has an advantage in most of the nine or so critical states, including Ohio and Virginia. A lack of independent polling makes it difficult to know whether that's true. Romney pulled ahead of Obama, 49 to 45 per cent nationally, among likely voters according to a Pew Research Center poll conducted after the debate.

The U.S. president is chosen not by national popular vote but in state-by-state contests, making fierce battlegrounds out of a handful of states where voters are neither reliably Democratic nor Republican.

"Things are going pretty good," the usually cautious Romney said Monday with a smile.

In his foreign policy speech, Romney emphasized a different course on Syria, casting the civil war there as a proxy conflict with Iran and saying it's in America's interest to court an opposition likely to play a key role in leading a future Syria.

"It is essential that we develop influence with those forces in Syria that will one day lead a country that sits at the heart of the Middle East," Romney said.

Obama's administration still seeks a peaceful political transition, even though the president acknowledged in August that the likelihood of a soft landing for the conflict "seems pretty distant."

Romney aides said he wasn't calling for the U.S. to directly arm the rebels.

Nor has Obama. The president's re-election campaign dismissed Romney's remarks as "saber-rattling" and accused the Republican of refusing to outline just how his policies would differ from the incumbent's.

The administration has been quietly co-ordinating with partners in the region who want to provide military assistance. But Obama has opposed directly providing weapons to the rebels or using U.S. air power to prevent Syrian jets from flying.

Obama aides acknowledge Romney's strong turn on the debate stage helped him shift gears from a rocky September. But they also argue that Romney's momentum was arrested somewhat by a Friday jobs report showing the unemployment rate declined to 7.8 per cent, the lowest level of Obama's presidency. For voters, the economy is by far the most important issue in this election cycle.

Democrats say the president was thrown during the debate by what they call Romney's willingness to abandon his previous positions, including his $5 trillion tax cut proposal. In the next debate ? and in television advertisements before then ? the Democrat and his aides are expected to accuse Romney of lying about his own plans.

As the president's aides worked to poke holes in Romney's foreign policy address, Obama made a cross-country swing for cash and Hispanic votes Monday. He declared a national monument at the Keene, California, home of Latino labour leader Cesar Chavez, the United Farmworkers Union founder who died in 1993.

Obama's campaign is banking on a massive get-out-the-vote operation and state-by-state shades of economic improvement to maintain its apparent polling edge in swing states from Ohio to Virginia.

The president has more get-out-the-vote offices than Romney in every competitive state; some offices never closed after the 2008 campaign.

There are more registered Democrats than Republicans in nearly every competitive state with party registration, including Florida and Nevada. Democrats appear to have an edge among early voters in Iowa and Ohio.

Romney's team is working hard to chip away at that margin. Romney's early voting efforts are showing signs of paying off in North Carolina and Florida, two competitive states that the Republican nominee can ill afford to lose.

__

Associated Press writers Stephen Ohlemacher, Steve Peoples, Ben Feller, Ken Thomas, Nedra Pickler and Jim Kuhnhenn contributed to this report.

___

Associated Press writers Julie Pace in Washington and Kasie Hunt and Steve Peoples in Lexington, Virginia, contributed to this story.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/showing-confidence-romney-casts-white-house-weak-syria-005026814.html

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Monday, October 8, 2012

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/H9Q05iVwD5Q/story01.htm

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iPhone 5 Purple Haze Issue - Business Insider

Apple has been pretty good lately about admitting when it is wrong.

Today, the iPhone maker has released a support document addressing another iPhone issue: a purple haze in iPhone 5 photos.

Over the past few days, iPhone 5 users have been reporting a "purple haze" prevalent in photos.

The issue is officially described as, "a?purplish or other colored flare, haze, or spot is imaged from out-of-scene bright light sources during still image or video capture."

Apple does not officially acknowledge that the issue is specific to the iPhone 5, instead it suggests that users reposition their camera when taking a photo.

Apple's official solution:?

Most small cameras, including those in every generation of iPhone, may exhibit some form of flare at the edge of the frame when capturing an image with out-of-scene light sources. This can happen when a light source is positioned at an angle (usually just outside the field of view) so that it causes a reflection off the surfaces inside the camera module and onto the camera sensor. Moving the camera slightly to change the position at which the bright light is entering the lens, or shielding the lens with your hand, should minimize or eliminate the effect.

Apple's support document basically suggested that users were holding their camera wrong in the first place but because it issued this document we believe the issue was bigger than the company initially thought.

Have you experienced the "purple haze effect"? Tell us about it in the comments.

Don't Miss:?The Best Apps To Replace Apple Maps On Your iPhone >

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-5-purple-haze-issue-2012-10

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Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Measure of US home prices rises by most in 6 years

(AP) ? A measure of U.S. home prices jumped 4.6 percent in August compared to a year ago, the largest year-over-year increase in more than six years.

CoreLogic, a private real estate data provider, also said Tuesday that prices rose 0.3 percent in August from July, the sixth straight monthly gain.

Steady price increases, combined with greater home sales and rising builder confidence, suggest the housing recovery may be sustainable.

Other measures of home prices have also increased. The Standard & Poor's/Case Shiller index rose in July compared to a year ago, the second straight yearly increase after two years of declines. And an index compiled by a federal housing regulator has also reported annual increases.

Housing prices are rising in most areas, according to CoreLogic. Only 20 large cities out of 100 tracked showed declines in the 12 months ending in August. That compared to 26 in July. And only six states reported declines in August.

States with the biggest price increases in the past 12 months were Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Hawaii. Prices soared 18.2 percent in Arizona, partly because the supply of homes for sale is low and foreclosure sales have slowed. Prices have risen 10.4 percent in Idaho.

The states with the biggest declines were Rhode Island, Illinois, New Jersey, Alabama and Connecticut.

The housing market has begun to rebound this year more than five years after the bubble burst.

Sales of previously occupied homes jumped in August to the highest level since May 2010. The rate at which builders started single-family homes rose last month to the fastest in more than two years. Builders have also increased their spending on single-family home construction for the five straight months. And the lowest mortgage rates on record have made home buying more attractive.

Even with the gains, the housing market has a long way back. Many would-be buyers can't qualify for stricter lender standards or save enough money for larger down payments that most banks now require. Home sales, housing starts and prices all remain below healthy levels.

CoreLogic said its measure of prices is 26.7 percent below a nationwide peak in April 2006.

Still, the broader economy will likely benefit from rising home values. When prices rise, people typically feel wealthier and spend more. And more Americans are likely to put their houses up for sale, which could further energize the market.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-10-02-Home%20Prices/id-95be69f9b2bc4a47b9dbb2ed1b19b2a6

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