6 killed in Afghanistan were Hawaii-based Marines

U.S. officials say there was no sign of enemy fire and the crash is still under investigation. NBC's Lester Holt reports.

By msnbc.com staff and news services

HONOLULU -- All six Marines killed in the crash of a U.S. helicopter in Afghanistan were based in Hawaii, a Hawaii congresswoman said Friday.

The CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter crashed Thursday in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Friday she's saddened to hear of the deaths. Her spokeswoman, Ashley Nagaoka Boylan, said the congresswoman was notified Thursday evening that all six Marines were Hawaii-based.

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"All who have called Hawaii home are part of our island ohana, and every loss like this touches us deeply," Hanabusa said in a statement, using the Hawaiian word for family.

The commander of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, ?Lt. Col. Mark Revor, said on the unit's Facebook page that all six killed were from the Kaneohe-based unit, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

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A senior U.S. defense official confirmed all six were Marines on condition of anonymity because the U.S. command in Afghanistan had not yet publicly released details.

Family members identified one of those killed?as Marine Cpl. Kevin Reinhard, 25, of the Colonia section of Woodbridge, the Newark Star-Ledger reported. Reinhard was a 2005 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Metuchen.

An obituary written by his family and provided to The Star-Ledger?said Reinhard, based in Hawaii, was a crew chief who served on Sikorsky Sea Stallion helicopters.

"For his family and friends he was already a hero ... before he ever put on a uniform for his country," his relatives wrote. "The uniform only announced to the rest of the world what a wonderful man, what a wonderful soul he was ? that he was a hero for all of us."

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Reinhard joined the Marine Corps in 2008 and was with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, the Lucky Red Lions.

The unit deployed in late August to southern Afghanistan and?is scheduled?to return home in March, Hawaii News Now reported. The unit's mission is to provide assault support, transport Marines and critical supplies, as well as equipment during expeditionary operations

The CH-53D, a?Vietnam War-era helicopter, is the same model as one that crashed and killed a Marine in a bay off Hawaii on March 29. An investigation later revealed mechanical failure caused that accident.

The defense official said there is no indication that the helicopter in Afghanistan was hit by enemy fire.

'Tragic news'
Thursday's crash was the deadliest in Afghanistan since August, when 30 American troops died after a Chinook helicopter was apparently shot down in Wardak province in the center of the country.

The cause of the latest crash is still being investigated, but a statement issued by the NATO international military coalition said there was no enemy activity in the area when it happened.

German Brig. Gen. Carsten Jacobson, a spokesman for the NATO coalition in Kabul, said officials were looking at a "technical fault" as the possible culprit.

"The helicopter is one of the safest forms of transport," Jacobson said. He said not only does it protect troops the danger of roadside bombs on the ground, but it is well-tested, well-proven way to travel.

Previous story: 6 Marines die in Afghanistan copter crash

CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters were first used in the 1960s, and the Marine Corps used them in the Vietnam War.

All Sea Stallions still used operationally are stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay. The military plans to replace them with the MV-22 Osprey.

"The loss of the six U.S. Marines in yesterday's helicopter crash in Afghanistan comes as tragic news for our island community and our nation," U.S. Rep. Mazie K. Hirono, of Hawaii, said in a statement. "We owe them and all of our brave servicemen and women a debt of gratitude for their dedication to our country."

In 2005, the same base lost 27 Marines when a CH-53E Super Stallion deployed to Iraq crashed during a desert sandstorm. Altogether, 30 Marines and a Navy medic were killed in that crash.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Source: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/20/10201881-6-killed-in-afghanistan-were-hawaii-based-marines

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This Deadly Jet Boat Is a Pirate's Worst Nightmare [Monster Machines]

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Rock Hall of Fame opens archives to public (AP)

CLEVELAND ? The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened its new library and archives to the public on Tuesday to give scholars and fans access to the stories behind the music through such "artifacts" as personal letters from Madonna and Aretha Franklin and 1981-82 video of the Rolling Stones tour.

The collection, catalogued over the last few years, includes more than 3,500 books, 1,400 audio recordings and 270 videos, and is housed in the new four-story, $12 million building.

Thousands more books and recordings and hundreds of videos will be added as previously stored items and new donations are catalogued, said Andy Leach, director of the library and archives.

"We hope to serve music scholars, teachers, students and the general public," Leach said. "We hope to see all of them here."

Tuesday's opening of the building on the Cuyahoga Community College campus in Cleveland, not far from the Rock Hall, occurred without a lot of fanfare. The low-key opening allows the public to enjoy the library before a grand opening April 9. The college funded the building, which the library and archives share with the college's Center for Creative Arts. The Rock Hall financed construction and furnishings of the interior of its section of the building.

The library also offers photos, albums and covers, oral histories and scrap books.

Leach said the Rock Hall has done a great job of telling the story of rock `n' roll. He said he sees the library as bringing the museum more recognition and showing "it to be a serious place of research."

The library collection also includes movie posters, photos and memorabilia related to Alan Freed, the DJ credited with coining the phrase rock `n' roll; a handwritten list by Elvis Presley of songs included in one of his concerts; and personal letters from artists including Mick Jagger.

Visitors will not be allowed to check out items, but anyone can use the library reading room to browse through books, listen to audio recordings and watch videos. A smaller archives reading room allows supervised access to certain items.

Steve Waksman, an associate professor of music and American studies at Smith College in Massachusetts, did research at the library prior to its opening for his book on the history of American live music.

"It was very useful, with material that I haven't found anywhere else," Waksman said Tuesday. "They had a lot of material regarding the stage sets of music performers from the `60s and the `70s, such as David Bowie and the Rolling Stones."

Elizabeth Papp Taylor, 53, of Shaker Heights, was at the library opening day.

"I'm looking forward to coming back for a look at the archives, but my first visit was exciting," she said in a phone interview. "It's very impressive."

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Online:

http://library.rockhall.com/

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Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/music/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120118/ap_en_mu/us_rock_archives

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Cokie Robert's Iowa Caucus Prediction (ABC News)

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Chinese video websites in court as industry grows

BEIJING (AP) ? China's two biggest video websites are fighting in court over accusations they are misusing each other's programming as rivalry heats up in an industry that is luring viewers from bland state TV.

The conflict between Youku.com Inc. and Tudou Inc. is part of a struggle for dominance in an online market with nearly 400 million viewers and dozens of privately owned outlets that might represent the future of China's video watching and a lucrative advertising stream.

"Everybody is shooting for that golden demographic ? the young people who are just out of school, have a lot of disposable income and that watch online video instead of television," said David Wolf, a marketing consultant in Beijing.

China's video websites started out imitating YouTube, relying on users to upload cat videos and other free material. But to lock in affluent viewers, the most ambitious started to imitate TV stations, paying to import foreign programs or create their own.

Still more viewers might be driven to video websites by a new government campaign to clean up China's airwaves and promote "socialist core values."

Rules that took effect Sunday strike at a hugely popular market segment for China's ambitious local broadcasters by slashing the number of reality, talent and dating shows they can show on satellite channels. State media say the number of prime-time entertainment shows plunged from 126 in December to just 38 this week.

That hurts local stations just as rising revenues allow online rivals to produce even more content, highlighted by the court fight between Youku and Tudou.

In a Dec. 16 lawsuit, Youku accused Tudou of stealing 60 of its programs including serials called "The Emperor's Harem," ''Hip-Hop Office Quartet" and "Miss Puff."

Tudou says it has filed suit in Shanghai and Beijing accusing Youku of showing a Taiwanese series, "Kangxi Has Come," after Tudou obtained rights to it. The company claims Youku showed Japanese cartoons without the owner's permission.

The companies, both of which have shares traded on U.S. exchanges, accuse each other of trying to use legal claims to gain a competitive edge.

"Youku think they can live on free traffic without paying for the content," said Tudou CEO Gary Wang in a statement, "and they are trying to hide the fact that they are actually not as competitive as they pretend to be."

Both companies reject the accusations in the lawsuits.

"Tudou is playing games," said a Youku spokeswoman, Jean Shao.

Beijing has allowed such private companies to flourish with fewer of the controls imposed on China's entirely state-owned newspapers, TV and radio, possibly to avoid stifling what is seen as a promising high-tech industry.

Their surging popularity threatens to erode viewership for state TV, which Beijing sees as a tool to mold public opinion. That raises the threat communist leaders might tighten controls to protect their media presence.

Tighter regulation might "threaten private online video sites' very existence, and put investors at risk," said CMM Intelligence, a media consulting firm in Beijing, in a March report.

Chinese video websites make money from advertising and also have pay-per-view and other premium services. But while viewership and revenue are soaring, companies are losing money as costs for programs, marketing and Internet bandwidth rise.

The number of Chinese who watch online video jumped from 284 million in 2010 to 394 million in 2011, according to CMM Intelligence. It said the total might pass 445 million by the end of 2012.

Total industry revenue rose 139 percent over a year ago in the three months ending in September to 1.5 billion yuan ($238 million), according to Analysys International, a research firm. Youku had 25.6 percent of the market and Tudou 14.5 percent. Sohu Video, part of Internet portal Sohu Corp., was close behind at 13.3 percent.

Youku, founded in 2006, says it gets 200 million visitors a month. It reported quarterly revenues surged 129 percent over a year earlier but it still reported a 47.5 million yuan ($7.4 million) loss. Tudou, which says it has 90 million registered users, lost 55.6 million yuan ($8.7 million) despite a 52 percent jump in revenue.

Other outlets include Ku6.com, with shares traded in United States, and LeTV, listed on the Shanghai stock market.

Youku has a venture with state-owned China Telecom Ltd. to distribute video on mobile phones and announced a deal in August to show DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.'s "Kung Fu Panda" movies on its premium service. Tudou said in November it will show TV Tokyo Corp.'s animated series online one hour after they air in Japan.

Online video also gives foreign broadcasters access to China, where they are barred from most cable systems. Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks, the Discovery Channel and others have struck deals with partners such as search engine Baidu Inc. to distribute programs.

Managers of China Central Television and local state-owned broadcasters have tried to become more commercial. But the government bars foreign programs from prime time and any material deemed racy or vulgar, leading to a schedule heavy with family-friendly but dull historical sagas and variety shows.

Video websites, with looser controls, show dramas and comedies from the United States, Taiwan and Europe and their own programs. Viewers can download shows to watch on mobile phones during their morning subway ride.

Neither the government nor private researchers have reported on how many online viewers might have abandoned state TV outright.

"We all know it's taking place but nobody wants to go out and publicize the data," said Wolf, chairman of Wolf Group Asia. "The online video guys are terrified that if there are statistics that show the 'golden demographic' dropping TV to watch online video, then the government is going to come after them."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-01-05-AS-China-Online-Video-Battle/id-015fb598838948afa93f0b1ab350ca84

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NFL: Black Monday?Rams & Bucs Fire Coaches

Posted by Sabrina B.?@gametimegirl

The?St. Louis Rams?fired coach Steve Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney, the team announced on Monday AND?Raheem Morris has been fired as head coach of the?Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the club announced in a press release Monday.?

The 52-year-old Spagnuolo was just 10-38 in three seasons in St. Louis after being hired in January 2009. Devaney, 56, was promoted to general manager in December 2008.

ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen reported Sunday night that Spagnuolo and Devaney would be fired.

?I would like to personally thank Steve and Billy for their dedication to the St. Louis Rams organization over the past several seasons,? Rams owner Stan Kroenke said in a statement. ?This was a difficult decision for many reasons. We have tremendous respect for Steve and Billy as people and football professionals.

?No one individual is to blame for this disappointing season and we all must hold ourselves accountable. However, we believe it?s in the best interest of the St. Louis Rams to make theses changes as we continue our quest to build a team that consistently competes for playoffs and championships. We wish Steve, Billy and their families the very best in the future and thank them again for their commitment to our organization and the city of St. Louis.?

The Rams lost 34-27 to the rival 49ers on Sunday to finish the season 2-14, tied with theIndianapolis Colts?for the worst record in the NFL.

The lowly mark was an even bigger embarrassment considering it followed a six-win improvement last season. Attendance at Sunday?s regular-season finale was announced as 55,990, about 9,000 shy of capacity at the Edward Jones Dome, but the stadium appeared no better than half-full and drained quickly in the second half.

-ESPN

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The?Tampa Bay Buccaneers?fired coach Raheem Morris on Monday, the team announced.

General manager Mark Dominik will remain in his role, a source told ESPN.com?s Pat Yasinsksas. Dominik is under contract for the next three seasons.

Dropping their season finale 45-24 to the?Atlanta Falcons?on Sunday, the Bucs closed the year with 10 straight losses ? the franchise?s worst in-season stretch since the 1977 team lost its first 12 games.

?We want to thank Coach Morris for all his hard work and dedication as head coach of the Buccaneers,? Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement.

Morris finished 17-31 in his three seasons with Tampa Bay.

As the NFL?s second-youngest team, the Bucs (4-12) might have not handled last year?s NFL lockout as well as an experienced club, but Tampa Bay still managed a 4-2 start that included an emotional 16-13 win over Atlanta. That Week 3 victory ended a five-game series losing streak that gave quarterback?Josh Freeman?his first win over the Falcons.

While Freeman completed a career-high 62.8 percent of his passes this year, he threw 22 interceptions just a year after throwing just six.

When Tampa Bay struggled badly in Morris? first season of 2009, the Bucs still had a reputation for playing hard despite their 1-12 start.

But they won 16 of their next 25 and seemed ready to challenge New Orleans and Atlanta for supremacy in the NFC South.

Everything began to unravel, however, after they beat the Saints 26-20 on Oct. 16. They lost their next 10 ? the franchise?s worst stretch since the 2008-09 teams combined to drop 11 straight.

Sunday marked the seventh loss this season by 16 or more points.

-ESPN

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Source: http://www.inflexwetrust.com/2012/01/02/nfl-black-monday-rams-bucs-fire-coaches/

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