Zehavya blog

S&P says no plans to cut U.S. rating in medium term

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Ratings agency Standard & Poor's does not have any plans to downgrade the U.S. sovereign debt rating, but it believes credit risk may increase in the long term, a senior official at the agency said on Thursday.

Moody's Investors Service warned a week ago that a lack of U.S. government action on the budget deficit increased the likelihood of it assigning a negative outlook to the country's top AAA credit rating.

"We have a stable outlook so don't expect a downgrade in the short- to medium-term on the U.S., not from Standard & Poor's in any case," said Scott Bugie, S&P's managing director for financial institutions.

On the same day as Moody's warned about the U.S. rating last week, S&P cut Japan's credit rating for the first time since 2002, saying Tokyo had no plan to deal with its mounting debt.

Bugie said the United States faced similar but less pronounced credit risks.

"The issues are similar to other countries, including Japan, but not in our opinion as pronounced as in Japan," he told journalists at the Troika Dialog investment conference in Moscow.

"It looks like there will be a slow but continual build of credit risk from what we view as excellent credit risk to what may not be as excellent... but in our view it is not a fast moving issue."

(Reporting by Antonina Vorobyova; Writing by Conor Humphries; Editing by Melissa Akin and Patrick Graham)

In L.A. Noire Asking Questions Trumps Firing Bullets

Rockstar and Team Bondi'swants to upend your expectations about what's possible in a video game. Not their plans to replicate Los Angeles circa 1947, the game's stylish film noir aesthetic, or that it stars Mad Men'sandor Fringe's . No, I'm talking about L.A. Noire's remarkable digital performers.

Their digital faces, I mean. They don't look like any you've seen in a game. In fact they don't look like any you've seen in most movies. The young Jeff Bridges character in Disney's CGI-saturated Tron: Legacy looks like a Botox zombie. The detective actor Aaron Staton plays in L.A. Noire looks like, well, Aaron Staton.

How'd they do that? With a little ingenuity, sure--and you know, 32 cameras wrapped around each actor to capture every forehead wrinkle and eyebrow lift. We asked Team Bondi lead Brendan McNamara to talk about what the new technology entails for the industry.

Game On: You've somehow managed to leapfrog not just one industry [gaming] but really kind of two [film]. Why'd it take us this long to get here?

Brendan McNamara: I think that the leap you're describing with [L.A. Noire] is thanks largely to the interactivity necessary for our game, and for the industry at-large. We have tried to develop a new type of gameplay based on asking questions. In this game asking a question is more important than firing a bullet. When that's the case you need to be able to make decisions based on how a character responds.

We're seeing a lot of films these days push some really advanced tech, but ultimately they only have to deliver to a passive audience. There's nothing the movie viewer can do to change the actions or movements happening on-screen. Conversely, our experience completely relies on the audience's interpretation of characters and scenes, and then ultimately, their decision-making. Without MotionScan this would not be possible.

So in the end you have to create the tools and processes that will make the entertainment you want to deliver possible. For Avatar that was retargeting human performances to alien characters, while for us it's a new way of capturing the essential humanity of our actors and deciding whether we believe them or not.

GO: How much of an actor's performance has to be retouched or tweaked in post-performance editing?

BM: Thanks to MotionScan, the experience is seamless and very little post-processing work is required. For the first time, we don't need animators or artists to touch up footage after filming is done. MotionScan allows us to directly capture and transfer the performance into the game, so post-processing becomes a much more efficient and streamlined effort.

Unlike traditional voice acting in games, we couldn't get away with using someone just for the quality of their voice. Players will see and interact with our actors' complete performances, so it was necessary to work with talented individuals that add unique dimension and nuance to characters both physically and emotionally.

GO: How much of L.A. Noire's gameplay hinges on simply "reading" people's intentions through their facial expressions?

BM: Interrogations play a key role throughout the course of L.A. Noire, and reading people's faces is a large part of that process. As a player, you'll use keen detective skills in identifying clues, but will also need to analyze a suspect's overall disposition. Whether suspects seem nervous, agitated, scared, or withholding, players must decide how best to react and respond. Their actions will then determine the course of the interrogation--in L.A. Noire, we want players to use their words and their emotions to connect and interact with their surroundings instead of sheer violence. That being said, you'll have to use your gun and take down criminals when necessary.

GO: What are some of the things MotionScan can't do?

BM: Right now with MotionScan, we're limited to capturing an actor from the neck-up. The next step, naturally, will be to make the technology capable of scanning an entire body. That would eliminate the use of traditional motion capture and increase fidelity and realism in performances while minimizing the time and resources needed during development. MotionScan is definitely an exciting technology, so we are looking forward to the future and seeing what else it can do.

GO: How long before others start copying what you've accomplished with MotionScan?

BM: We've noticed a few similar technologies. Tron: Legacy, for example, used a similar setup to capture Jeff Bridges' face. We showed off MotionScan at E3 in the past and have received an incredibly positive reception from people throughout the industry. We've spoken to most of the major developers and publishers and they seem genuinely excited by the potential. Having said all that LA Noire will be the first game to utilize the technology when it comes out on May 17. We are excited to have players get their hands on it and see how they react to a new type of gameplay.

GO: Thanks Brendan!

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Max Cure Foundation and Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Form Collaboration and Fund a New Grant

The Max Cure Foundation/Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Collaborative Grant in Pediatric Cancer Research will fund novel research to develop minimally toxic therapies to improve the quality of life for children with cancer, with the ultimate goal of finding cures for pediatric cancers.

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 26, 2011

The , a non-profit organization whose mission is to fund pediatric cancer causes, and the(SWCRF), an international organization dedicated to curing and preventing cancer, have established The Max Cure Foundation/Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Collaborative Grant in Pediatric Cancer Research to fund novel research in pediatric cancer. The goals of this new grant are to develop minimally toxic therapies to improve the quality of life for children with cancer, with the ultimate goal of finding cures for pediatric cancers.

“We are very pleased to partner with the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation,” said David Plotkin, chairman of The Max Cure Foundation. “The primary mission of Max Cure is the establishment of a cell therapy lab at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and we’ll now be able to expand our reach by helping to support the broader pediatric cancer research community.”

The Max Cure Foundation/Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Collaborative Grant in Pediatric Cancer Research will award $300,000 over a three-year period ($100,000 per year) to reprogram the cancer cell and deliver less toxic therapies.

“The treatments available for pediatric cancer patients today leave many survivors and their families worrying about the long-term effects of treatments,” said Samuel Waxman, M.D., who is the Scientific Director of the SWCRF. “The SWCRF helped develop a minimally toxic therapy to cure a rare leukemia more than two decades ago. Through collaboration and innovative research, we hope to offer pediatric cancer patients improved treatment options.”

The SWCRF will apply its stringent peer-review process in the grant selection by members of its Scientific Advisory Board. Funded investigators will become a part of the SWCRF's Institute Without Walls – which includes a cadre of scientists and researchers all over the globe who share ideas and resources to advance the pace of cancer research.

By joining the SWCRF in this collaborative effort, The Max Cure Foundation is thrust into the forefront of the segment of the international scientific community whose goal is to further the cause of pediatric cancer research.

ABOUT THE MAX CURE FOUNDATION FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER CAUSESFormed in December 2008, The Max Cure Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation focused on conventional and innovative fundraising with a clear and focused mission to advance a cure for pediatric cancer and finding effective treatments for children with cancer through:     Raising funds for innovative research to improve treatments and quality of life during and post treatment     Building public awareness of the fight to cure pediatric cancer     Inspiring hope and courage in children with cancer, their families and communities

The Foundation was established by the Plotkin family in honor of Maxwell Grant Plotkin, who, in May 2007 at age four, was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of B-cell Lymphoma and continues to bravely fight his disease and inspire others to rise above adversity.

The Foundation’s initial goal is to raise $5 million for the creation of a first of its kind Cell Therapy Laboratory at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).     In excess of $1.2 million has been raised to date.     $675,000 has been contributed to the Max Cure Fund at MSKCC, formed by the Plotkinfamily in June 2007, whose funds are earmarked for the underwriting of the innovative research laboratory.     $175,000 has been contributed to other pediatric cancer causes.

Visitfor more information about The Max Cure Foundation, its "Be Brave Adventures" program for kids at Kidville in New York City, and two upcoming events:     "Be Brave Spartan Adventure," Austin, Texas, March 26, 2011 (co-sponsored by Spartan Race and Run Tex)     "Roar For A Cure Carnival," East Hampton, N.Y., August 20, 2011

About The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research FoundationThe Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation is an international organization dedicated to curing and preventing cancer. The Foundation is a pioneer in cancer research, focusing on uncovering the causes of cancer and reprogramming cancer cells.

We dedicate ourselves to delivering tailored, minimally toxic treatments to patients. Our mission is to eradicate cancer by bridging the gap between lab science and the patient.

Through our collaborative group of world-class scientists, the Institute Without Walls, investigators share information and tools to speed the pace of cancer research. Since our inception in 1976, the Foundation has awarded more than $75 million to support the work of more than 175 researchers across the globe. Visitfor more information.

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WENDY HIRSCHHORN212-826-8790Email Information

Obama's education focus faces big hurdles

WASHINGTON – Signs of trouble are arising for President Barack Obama's plan to put education overhaul at the forefront of his agenda as he adjusts to the new reality of a divided government.

Giving students and teachers more flexibility is an idea with bipartisan support. Yet the debate about the overdue renewal of the nation's chief education law, known as No Child Left Behind, is complicated by political pressures from the coming 2012 presidential campaign and disputes over timing, money and scope of the update.

While education might offer the best chance for the White House to work with newly empowered Republicans, any consensus could fade in the pitiless political crosscurrents, leaving the debate for another day, perhaps even another presidency.

If so, parents, teachers and students would labor under a burdensome set of testing guidelines and other rules that many say are lowering standards.

It's that scenario that the president and his administration intend to invoke as a way to rally public support and spur lawmakers and interest groups into action against long odds.

"No one I'm talking to is defending the status quo," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in an interview. "Everyone I talk to really shares my sense of urgency that we have to do better for our children. We're fighting for our country here."

Duncan said Obama's State of the Union address on Jan. 25 will reflect his commitment to education.

Obama has spoken about the effect on the U.S. economy and competitiveness from lagging student test scores. Lawmakers and advocates will watch to see whether he keeps the issue in the spotlight in the months ahead.

"I don't think there's any substitute but for him to be out front," said Rep. George Miller of California, the top Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee.

Some Republicans, wary of another giant bill like health care, would prefer a series of small measures to the broad rewrite of No Child Left Behind favored by the administration.

Democrats and many outside advocates say Congress must enact an overhaul this year, before the 2012 campaign. For some in the GOP, getting it right is more important than getting it fast, and they refuse to spend any new money to do it.

"There's room to make cuts, and I think pretty substantial cuts, that would enable us to use some of those savings on things we think work," said Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California conservative who's the new chairman of a House Education and Workforce subcommittee. "I like the piecemeal approach. ... If you do it in bite-size pieces, you can tell what needs to be tweaked as you go."

No Child Left Behind would not have passed without President George W. Bush's strong advocacy in the first year of his administration. Since then, many lawmakers have concluded that the law failed to meet its overall objectives of raising student achievement. Instead, they say, it has meant relying too much on test results and arbitrary measurements that don't help students learn.

The Obama administration produced a framework for a new law last year. It would ease many testing requirements, put a new focus on teacher performance and the lowest-performing schools, and replace proficiency requirements with loftier goals of boosting college graduation rates.

Duncan has worked with lawmakers of both parties over the past two years to lay the groundwork for a rewrite. Republican and Democratic leaders of the education committees in the House and Senate say they want to move forward. "Everyone agrees this law needs reform," said Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., chairman of the House committee.

Obama focused on health care at the start of his presidency, when Democrats controlled Congress. Now Republicans control the House and are more powerful in the Senate. It's not clear that an education overhaul ranks high on their list of priorities, even if committee leaders support it.

The "Pledge to America," which the House GOP released before taking power in the November elections, never mentions education. Brendan Buck, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Boehner's focus is on "addressing the top priorities of the American people — creating jobs and cutting spending."

Administration officials will try to make the case that education is crucial for the economy and jobs — an argument Obama tried to use with health care, with limited success. "This isn't a distraction from the economy. This is important for the economy," said White House domestic policy adviser Melody Barnes.

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Online:

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Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee:

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Woman, 3 kids found dead in violent Fla. scene

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A woman and her three young children were found killed at a violent crime scene in a north Florida home on Saturday, and homicide detectives were out looking for whoever might have had a reason to harm them, police said.

Family and neighbors said the woman was a single, stay-at-home mother raising twin 6-year-old girls and a 3-year-old son.

Police spokesman David McCranie wouldn't elaborate on the signs of violence police found at the home, but investigators believe the four were slain by someone else. The case is being investigated as a homicide.

"We are trying to find out if anyone would want to harm the family," he said.

The man who lives two doors down said the neighborhood had burglary problems in recent years, though the crimes had waned with increased police patrols. McCranie said he wasn't aware of a lot of problems in the neighborhood and that police hadn't been called to the one-story home before.

It sits in a subdivision built about five years ago that's surrounded by dense woods a few miles from the campuses of Florida State University and Florida A&M University. McCranie said a lot of families live in the neighborhood.

"This is a very shocking and unusual case for us," he said.

McCranie wouldn't say how the four died or release their names. Their bodies were found after police received a suspicious call at 10:15 a.m.

Phone numbers listed for the home were not in service. A man who owns the property declined comment.

On Saturday afternoon, a crowd gathered outside the house while crime scene investigators came in and out. Several relatives had come but mostly wouldn't talk to reporters.

Dennis Williams, 35, of Albany, Ga., identified himself as the half-brother of the slain woman, who he said was 28. He said the two weren't close, but he knew the woman's focus was on her children.

Cedrica Smith lives across the street and said her young children often played with the children found dead. Smith said the twin girls and the boy had different fathers, neither of which had been married to the woman.

The deaths were a surprise to 40-year-old Antawn Ellison, who lives two doors down from the slain family. He said the neighborhood has been mostly free of crime since police stepped up patrols because of a rash of burglaries about two years ago.

"This is a big shock to me," he said.

However, a woman who came to the scene from her home in an adjacent neighborhood said crime is still a problem where she lives.

"There are a lot of home invasions out here," said Sandra Smith.

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Associated Press Writers Suzette Laboy in Miami and Jackie Quinn in Washington contributed to this report.