Show of NATO unity over unpopular Afghan war

US President Barack Obama and NATO allies put up a united front Sunday to persuade a war-weary public that the Afghan conflict will end in two years, as President Hamid Karzai vowed Afghanistan will no longer be a "burden."

Leaders of the 28 NATO nations stood in solemn silence as a bugler's lament recalled the heavy cost of a conflict that has killed over 3,000 coalition soldiers, maimed thousands more and left tens of thousands of Afghans dead.

As anti-war protesters clashed with police near the Chicago summit site, the two-day talks aimed to endorse a withdrawal strategy and seek firm commitments from allies to train and bankroll Afghan forces.

Before the summit Obama held talks with Karzai, three weeks after his dramatic trip to Kabul where the two leaders inked a security pact for going forward after the last 130,000 international troops withdraw in late 2014.

"We're confident that we are on the right track, and what this NATO summit reflects is that the world is behind the strategy that we've laid out," said Obama, who faces a tough re-election in November.

But in a sign of growing impatience within the alliance, new French President Francois Hollande refused to back down from his decision to pull troops out in 2012, a year earlier than planned.

"I told everyone I spoke with that this was not negotiable because it was a question of French sovereignty and everyone understood," he said, adding France would continue to train Afghan forces after 2012.

Karzai said his country no longer wanted to be a "burden," urging the international community to complete a security transition to his Afghan forces.

"Afghanistan... is looking forward to an end to this war and a transformational decade in which Afghanistan will be working further for institution building and the development of sound governance in the country," he said.

Along with reaffirming the 2014 deadline, the summit is expected to back Obama's plan to cede the lead in combat missions to Afghan troops next year, while making a commitment to securing $4 billion annually for Afghan forces.

"Once the Afghans have full responsibility by the end of 2014, our combat mission will come to an end but we will not walk away," assured NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

A Western official told AFP Sunday that nations with troops in Afghanistan had pledged roughly $1 billion to bankroll Afghan security forces after 2014. The bulk of the funding is expected to come from the United States.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's attendance at the summit had raised hopes his government was ready to lift a blockade on NATO convoys, but talks on reopening the routes have stumbled over Islamabad's demand to charge steep fees for trucks crossing the border.

Zardari and leaders from some 30 other nations and international organizations will join the 28 NATO allies for Monday's second day of talks.

In a sign of the waning appetite for further conflict, Rasmussen said the western defense alliance "has no intention to intervene" in Syria despite concern at the bloodshed there.

"We strongly condemn the behavior of the Syrian security forces and their crackdowns on the Syrian population and we urge the Syrian leadership to accommodate the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people," he told reporters.

The summit in Obama's hometown went ahead under a massive security operation as normally bustling Chicago streets were deserted.

Boats with machine guns patrolled a river near Obama's hotel and police enforced a wide security perimeter around the conference center.

Thousands of protestors have taken to the streets in recent days calling for an end to war. Although the rallies have been largely peaceful, scuffles broke out Sunday when some hardcore demonstrators refused police orders to disperse.

The NATO talks come against a backdrop of a changing geopolitical landscape for the 63-year-old organization also grappling with shrinking defense budgets.

Leaders on Sunday launched the first phase of a US-led missile shield for Europe and sought to appease Russian anger over the system by renewing an invitation to cooperate.

Obama and fellow leaders also agreed on a slew of some 20 joint projects to pool military hardware as part of a so-called "Smart Defense" initiative.

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Starting Over

Starting Over

Can these two new kids survive their initial attempts to start over and begin anew? Or will their old lives and habits catch up with them first?

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November_Rain_18
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Could I reserve 'Miss Popularity' please? :p

? The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.?

Winter is coming.

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crybloodredtears
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Can I reserve new girl please? c:

You might be a king or a little street sweeper, but sooner or later, you all dance with the Reaper...
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ReaperGirl4
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May I reserve the Art and Music students?

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Kitchen Cabinet Remodeling - Five Tips for Choosing the Right ...

Kitchen cabinet remodeling is an effective way to provide a fresh, modern look to your entire kitchen. The kitchen is often the center of activity within the household, so updating this area can make a significant difference in the beauty and enjoyment the entire family derives from the home. Finding the right contractor for a kitchen cabinet remodeling project is the first step towards a more beautiful kitchen. Below are five tips for choosing the right kitchen remodeling contractor for the job.

Reputation

Doing some basic research on the contractors under consideration can provide a general idea of the quality of their work and their commitment to customer service. Online reviews are often useful in this regard, as they typically represent the experiences and viewpoints of former customers. Calling the references provided by the contractor can also provide greater insight into what to expect once the project has begun.

Price

While cost should not be the most important factor when choosing a contractor for a kitchen remodeling project, planning a budget and sticking to it can help narrow down the range of choices. The most expensive choice may not be the best. In fact, in some cases, experienced and knowledgeable contractors can complete the project in less time. This can significantly reduce costs while providing outstanding results for the remodeling project. Kitchen cabinet refacing is already a cost-effective choice; by comparing prices from a number of different contractors, consumers can reduce the cost of their projects even more.

Experience

The primary reason to employ a contractor rather than attempting a kitchen cabinet refacing project alone is the experience that a reputable contractor brings to the project. While there is no magic number of years of experience that can ensure the quality of the work, typically consumers should look for contractors with at least three years in the specific remodeling field needed. This will usually ensure that the contractor has navigated the initial learning curve successfully, increasing the chances of success and quick completion for the project.

Licensed and Insured

Selecting a home remodeling contractor who is both licensed and insured against accidents and injuries can provide added assurance that the job will be done correctly. It lets you know that any mishaps will be handled by the contractor rather than becoming the homeowner's responsibility. This can potentially save hundreds or thousands of dollars in the event of an accident. Additionally, licensed contractors must demonstrate their knowledge of building codes and regulations in order to achieve this qualification; this can further protect homeowners against work that otherwise might not be performed to code.

Communication

The most important element in any successful home remodeling project is communication. Choosing a contractor who provides clear and accurate information of the services to be performed, and listens and responds to his or her clients is essential in order to ensure the best possible results.

These five tips can help homeowners choose the right kitchen remodeling contractor for their project.

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A Brief Guide To Patent Legal Proceedings . | USPTO GOV BLOG

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Trend setters, and idea designers have a visually boosted brain, and they can create and conceive of virtually anything. They're creative geniuses, and we are fortunate to have them in our civilization and society. Sadly with this amazing present, they frequently lack the constant details, and incapability to work inside a structured environment of forms, law, and filing the patents they have to protect their genius. Maybe , that is the reason why I bought a book regarding how to design and make your very own patents, and one that can give you enough info to do almost all of the legwork ahead, before taking your invention concept to a patent solicitor. I want to suggest a good book to you on this subject, the book is, ?Nolo?s Patterns for Beginners,? by David Pressman and Richard Stim, 2001 The book covers approved classes and issues with process patents and software, machines and tooling, producing processes, and chemical compositions of matter. Administration has granted your invention its protection, under the law. Your talks will include possible licensing charges, residual payments, signing costs, bonuses, etc ? not bad, eh? Once you have decided which group or company offers you the hottest deal for developing and distributing your invention, you'll ?assign ? them the prerogative to complete the full patent filing ? at their cost, naturally. You currently have adequate time to go forward.

This may protect them as well as your invention. This requires the invention be far more than an easy adjustment on top of an established piece, and would benefit those concerned in the purpose or trade for which it?s built. Legal action is a discussion between 2 separate people or groups concerning a disagreement of intellectual or tangible property. Patent legal action is when an inventor, company, or other non-public organisation is the founder of a patent, and that's infringed on by another entity. A patent law suit is generally a time-intensive and all-embracing process which will cost both parties a major amount of cash. It?s cheap. It is easy to complete.

Without ?judging? the patentability of your submitted invention, the US Patent & Trademark Office ( USPTO ) will date- and time-stamp your correctly finished application, and award you ?Patent Outstanding ? standing for your invention. Bingo! You presently have a full 12 months to do your talks and the find the best partners to bring your product to market. There are several reasons to patent a discovery, and one of the leading reasons is that of what will occur if you don't patent your invention. In addition, a patent permits the owner to talk about the discovery with folks so they may start an enterprise that is based round the invention. If you invent something and don't patent it, any person can use, turn out, and even sell your invention without getting your authorization. While it is often feasible to keep a discovery a secret, it is frequently not possible to do so if technology is on view as a part of the discovery.

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interview: sam miller, writers' assistant | kiyong's blog of creative ...

Sam worked as a Writers? Assistant on Desperate Housewives, and is?now on the Nickelodeon live action show Supah Ninjas. Before that, he worked in comedy development at?ABC?Studios, and is a writer who got to the phone interview stage?in the ABC Disney Writing Program. I met him through the yahoo tv writers group.

What is your background, and how did you break in with your first?industry job when you got to LA?

I started screenwriting in high school with some short films. I went to college at Vanderbilt which had a small film program so I was able to take three screenwriting courses, ending with two feature scripts. The year I graduated, a Vanderbilt alum, Chad Gervich, started a program called ?Vandy-in-Hollywood? which got students internships in Hollywood. Chad got me an internship at ABC Studios in creative affairs. He also wrote a business guide for TV writers called SMALL SCREEN, BIG PICTURE which I cannot recommend highly enough. You know how they say there?s no manual for becoming a TV writer? Chad actually wrote a manual. It?s been my Bible.

Writers? Assistant jobs are super competitive. How did you first get that job?

After working at the studio for three years, I met with my boss? boss? boss? who referred me to a production executive that set me up for an interview on Desperate Housewives for a Writers PA gig. I interviewed with three people, including a friend I met through a studio co-worker, and was offered the job in the room because they knew I?d already done food runs as an intern.

What was the interview process like? What do they look for? Do they?ask to read any writing samples?

The interview process was with three people, ultimately ending with meeting an executive producer. It was as much about my personality as my attitude about the job, which translates to make them laugh, don?t creep them out, and prove a willingness to do anything. They didn?t ask to read any samples, though I?ve heard of places that have.

What do you do as a Writers? Assistant? What are your?responsibilities? What?s a normal day like?

My main responsibilities are taking notes in the room and editing the script while it?s on a screen with the writers pitching changes. That means the best skills I can bring to the table are computer knowledge and typing speed (thank you, instant messenger). A normal day can involve breaking a story in the room in the morning and punching up a script in the afternoon, or all day breaking or all day revising the script. There are other things, like lists and grids and story bibles, which are clerical tasks alongside the in-room work. There?s also a script coordinator who?s technically my boss and I try to help fill in as I can.

You used to work as a Writers? Assistant on Desperate Housewives, and?now you?re on Supah Ninjas. How do the two compare?

Desperate was a network hit, so there?s a lot of money, which translated to a really high-level writers room. There were eight different writers with show running experience, which is just unbelievable. On Supah Ninjas, the pyramid is more typical, with a majority of writers at the lower levels. The Desperate room used cork boards with index cards to break stories, which I hear is atypical. Supah Ninjas uses a white board to write out story breaking, which I think is more typical. Desperate had to cater to four lead actresses, each with basically their own A story, while Supah Ninjas typically focuses on one of the three characters each week in the A story while having an emotional B story with the other characters. Theme is used by both to unify the stories.

One obvious thing the two have in common is an ADJECTIVE NOUN title, which I think I?m going to try and figure out for my next pilot.

What?s the etiquette when you?re in the room? Do you ever get to pitch ideas?

There are very specific room rules. The first two are don?t shoot down other people?s ideas (that?s the executive producer?s job) and don?t pitch the same thing twice (if they didn?t respond, it?s not that they didn?t hear it, it?s that they didn?t like it). Higher level writers talk more than lower level ones, which just makes sense. I was told when I got the job as Writers? Assistant that the executive producers have been writing professionally for twenty years and have likely thought of anything I?ll think of and have thought through it more. That was fairly true. I do pitch ideas, but I?ve been told by both shows to be less vocal (and rightly so). I just get so excited about ideas, it?s really hard for me to keep them inside. I find that it can help to have a notepad or something to write ideas down on so at least I get them out of my system. And then you secretly cheer when someone pitches the idea you had five minutes later. But you then hear how they pitched it so much better and more well developed than you had. It?s really not about the ideas in TV ? it?s the execution.

Based on what you?ve observed, what advice would you have to a new?Staff Writer? How should they navigate being in the room?

I heard the advice that staff writers should pitch one thing a day. I think that?s a really great place to start (and something I have to work more on). I recently heard the advice to speak less than the quietest writer in the room, so that?s another way to look at it. Body language is a key skill to develop as you?ll quickly learn when people are receptive to something and when they?re not ? timing is very important. Also, take improv classes as it?s said it?s not the best idea that wins in the room, but the best pitched so performance is really important. The big thing to do is ?yes, and? everything ? add to the ideas, don?t try to take it in a completely different direction, though notice how if people do that, they?ll qualify their pitch by saying something like ?this is completely different, but what if?? or ?this is a dumb pitch, but?? Also, find something to be an expert on ? the show?s history, or a profession, or a character?s hobby, or whatever ? as it ?provides a clear way to participate in the discussion and can really help the process.

Do you get a chance to befriend the writers? What kind of?relationships were you able to build? Do any writers offer to read?your scripts?

It?s a very team-based business, so it?s important to be friendly with everyone. It?s kind of easy, because you relate to a lot of the same things ? you watch the same shows, you have similar humor sensibilities, it all kind of fits together. The hiring process is really about figuring out if people can be friends with you. Some writers become better friends with assistants than others ? a lot of it is based on personality compatibility, just like all friendships. I?ve been able to build some sort of relationship with everyone, though some are better than others. I asked one executive producer on Desperate to read my script which was very kind of him and he had some good thoughts for a rewrite, and a story editor on Desperate offered, though I didn?t have anything that was really ready and good for him. I think it?s key for a writer to have a script that matches the sensibility of the reader, so asking someone to read a spec of a show they don?t watch isn?t the best way to use that favor I don?t think.

How long do people usually work as a Writers? Assistant? What?s the?career trajectory? What?s the likelihood of getting hired as Staff?Writer, or given a freelance script?

There?s no set time limit. There was an article in a local LA publication a few years ago about people who got stuck at the writers assistant or script coordinator level. I think it?s a real risk. Some writers have said how it?s hard to look at an assistant as anything but an assistant, even after they?ve become staffed writers in their own right. There?s a certain stigma that can come with the job. Having said that, two writers assistants were promoted in the seventh season of Desperate and a story editor there used to be Marc Cherry?s assistant (as was one of the assistants promoted). So if you?re on a hit show there?s a better chance than if you?re not and there are ?Writers? Assistants? and ?Writer?s Assistants? that do get staffed. The other writers? assistant on Desperate got one and half freelance scripts and the script coordinator got one as well. The script coordinator on Supah Ninjas has a freelance this year and had one last year. If you put in the time, and really make an effort, I think executive producers tend want to reward it.

What advice would you give to someone who was trying to become a?Writers? Assistant?

Get an industry job (it?s Chad?s biggest advice in his book). Work really hard at it for a few years. Network with everyone you can (I was co-president of a group called JHRTS which has been a great resource). Not only did I know someone when I went to interview on Desperate, I knew the executive producers? assistant on Supah Ninjas. It really puts you ahead of the application process. Plus you have industry professionals able to give you personal referrals. So start preparing today for an opportunity years down the road which you can go all in for when the time comes. And just know that if you?re not working or networking, you?re competing with all the people who are.

What have you learned as a Writers? Assistant that?ll help you once?you get staffed as a writer?

Staff writers have put in a lot of work to get where they are. They?re constantly writing and working on the next thing while hustling to meetings with executives and drinks with friends. Breaking in doesn?t stop with breaking in. Every staff writer wants to become a producer-level writer. The spec and pilot writing process doesn?t end with a credit. Also, it?s a lot easier to get an agent when you can prove you?re able to get employment. A lot of writers have said they?ve gotten most (if not all) of their gigs on their own. I think too many writers make the mistake of thinking if they just get representation, representation will get them a job. It really doesn?t work that way. Everyone has to get their own work. But I think if you can build the network and experience to get a Writers? Assistant position, you?ll be able to do the same to get staffed.

- ? -

Wow, so much great information! Thanks to Sam for taking the time to share his experiences. If you have any questions for Sam, leave a comment below and he?ll try to follow up. Also, you can follow him on twitter @thesammiller.

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Flood Damage Insurance - NFIP | DryPatrol

Flood Damage Insurance ? NFIP

Many homeowners purchase flood damage insurance as a way to protect their homes in case of a flood disaster. The National Flood Insurance Program is a government program that is designed to help citizens purchase flood insurance. In the following, we will tell the basics and how this program works.

The National Flood Insurance Program is a program that was enacted in 1968 to allow the federal government to sell flood insurance directly to consumers. This program was developed to assist those that are in communities that are subject to frequent flooding and to help eliminate flood damage nationwide.

Part of the program deals with interactions with consumers who want flood insurance. The other part of the program actually deals with the communities in which these people live. In order to qualify for the program as a consumer, you must live in a community that adheres to the guidelines set forth by the National Flood Insurance Program.

The National Flood Insurance Program charges a premium to its customers and is designed to support itself with these premiums. However, any deficits in the budget caused by flood damage are picked up by tax dollars.

Remember, if you face water damage in your home, whether from a natural event or from burst pipes, leaking appliances, or the penetration of moisture, DryPatrol can help! Call us today!

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Disco Queen Donna Summer dies at 63

FILE - In this May 21, 2008 file photo, Donna Summer performs during the finale of "American Idol" at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Summer, the Queen of Disco who ruled the dance floors with anthems like ?Last Dance,? ?Love to Love You Baby? and ?Bad Girl,? has died. Her family announced her death in a statement Thursday, May 17, 2012. She was 63. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)

FILE - In this May 21, 2008 file photo, Donna Summer performs during the finale of "American Idol" at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Summer, the Queen of Disco who ruled the dance floors with anthems like ?Last Dance,? ?Love to Love You Baby? and ?Bad Girl,? has died. Her family announced her death in a statement Thursday, May 17, 2012. She was 63. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2009 file photo, Donna Summer performs at the conclusion of the Nobel Peace concert in Oslo, Norway. Summer, the Queen of Disco who ruled the dance floors with anthems like ?Last Dance,? ?Love to Love You Baby? and ?Bad Girl,? has died. Her family announced her death in a statement Thursday, May 17, 2012. She was 63. (AP Photo/John McConnico, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 11, 1977 file photo,Donna Summer holds her award at the Billboard Number 1 Music Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. Summer, the Queen of Disco who ruled the dance floors with anthems like ?Last Dance,? ?Love to Love You Baby? and ?Bad Girl,? has died. Her family released a statement, saying Summer died Thursday, May 17, 2012. She was 63. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - In this Nov. 2, 1979 file photo, Gerald and Betty Ford, left, Donna Summer, right, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center board chairman Steve Broidy at a reception prior to gala disco party benefit in Beverly Hills, Calif. Summer, the Queen of Disco who ruled the dance floors with anthems like ?Last Dance,? ?Love to Love You Baby? and ?Bad Girl,? has died. Her family released a statement, saying Summer died Thursday, May 17, 2012. She was 63. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2009 file photo, Donna Summer performs at the conclusion of the Nobel Peace concert in Oslo, Norway. Summer, the Queen of Disco who ruled the dance floors with anthems like ?Last Dance,? ?Love to Love You Baby? and ?Bad Girl,? has died. Her family released a statement, saying Summer died Thursday, May 17, 2012. She was 63. (AP Photo/John McConnico, File)

(AP) ? Like the King of Pop or the Queen of Soul, Donna Summer was bestowed a title fitting of musical royalty ? the Queen of Disco.

Yet unlike Michael Jackson or Aretha Franklin, it was a designation she wasn't comfortable embracing.

"I grew up on rock 'n' roll," Summer once said when explaining her reluctance to claim the title.

Indeed, as disco boomed then crashed in a single decade in the 1970s, Summer, the beautiful voice and face of the genre with pulsating hits like "I Feel Love," ''Love to Love You Baby" and "Last Dance," would continue to make hits incorporating the rock roots she so loved. One of her biggest hits, "She Works Hard for the Money," came in the early 1980s and relied on a smoldering guitar solo as well as Summer's booming voice.

Yet it was with her disco anthems that she would have the most impact in music, and it's how she was remembered Thursday as news spread of her death at age 63.

Summer died of cancer Thursday morning in Naples, Fla., said her publicist Brian Edwards. Her family released a statement saying they "are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy."

It had been decades since that brief, flashy moment when Summer was every inch the Disco Queen.

Her glittery gowns and long eyelashes. Her luxurious hair and glossy, open lips. Her sultry vocals, her bedroom moans and sighs. She was as much a part of the culture as disco balls, polyester, platform shoes and the music's pulsing, pounding rhythms.

Summer's music gave voice to not only a musical revolution, but a cultural one ? a time when sex, race, fashion and drugs were being explored and exploited with freedom like never before in the United States.

Her rise was inseparable from disco's itself, even though she remained popular for years after the genre she helped invent had died. She won a Grammy for best rock vocal performance for "Hot Stuff," a fiery guitar-based song that represented her shift from disco to more rock-based sounds, and created another kind of anthem with "She Works Hard for the Money," this time for women's rights.

Elton John said in a statement that Summer was more than the Queen of Disco.

"Her records sound as good today as they ever did. That she has never been inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame is a total disgrace especially when I see the second-rate talent that has been inducted," he said. "She is a great friend to me and to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and I will miss her greatly."

Summer may not have liked the title and later became a born-again Christian, but many remembered her best for her early years, starting with the sinful "Love to Love You Baby."

Released in 1975, a breakthrough hit for Summer and for disco, it was a legend of studio ecstasy and the genre's ultimate sexual anthem. Summer came up with the idea of the song and first recorded it as a demo in 1975, on the condition that another singer perform it commercially. But Casablanca Records president Neil Bogart liked the track so much that he suggested to producer Giorgio Morodor they re-record it, and make it longer ? what would come to be known as a "disco disc."

Summer had reservations about the lyrics ? "Do it to me again and again" ? but imagined herself as a movie star playing a part as if she were Marilyn Monroe. So she agreed to sing, lying down on the studio floor, in darkness, and letting her imagination take over. Solo and multitracked, she whispered, she groaned, she crooned. Drums, bass, strings and keyboards answered her cries. She simulated climax so many times that the BBC kept count: 23, in 17 minutes.

What started as a scandal became a classic. The song was later sampled by LL Cool J, Timbaland and Beyonce, who interpolated the hit for her jam "Naughty Girl." It was also Summer's U.S. chart debut and the first of 19 No. 1 dance hits between 1975 and 2008 ? second only to Madonna.

Summer, real name LaDonna Adrian Gaines, was born in 1948 in Boston. She was raised on gospel music and became the soloist in her church choir by age 10.

"There was no question I would be a singer, I just always knew. I had credit in my neighborhood, people would lend me money and tell me to pay it back when I got famous," Summer said in a 1989 interview with The Associated Press.

Before disco, she had already reinvented herself several times. She sang Motown songs with local groups in Boston as a teenager, then dropped out of school in the late 1960s and switched to pyschedelic rock after hearing Janis Joplin. An attempt to get a part in the musical "Hair" led her to get the principal role in Munich. She stayed in Germany for five years, worked in other productions and modeled.

Meanwhile, she was performing in operas, singing backup for Three Dog Night and other groups and releasing songs of her own. A marriage to Helmuth Sommer didn't last, but the singer did hold on to her ex-husband's last name, changing it to "Summer." By 1974, she had met producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte and released her first album, "Lady of the Night," to success in Europe.

Then came "Love to Love You Baby," her memorable U.S. debut. Through the rest of the disco era she burned up the charts: She was the only artist to have three consecutive double-LPs hit No. 1, "Live and More," ''Bad Girls" and "On the Radio." She was also the first female artist with four No. 1 singles in a 13-month period, according to the Rock Hall of Fame, where she was a nominee this year but was passed over.

Musically, she began to change in 1979 with "Hot Stuff," which had a tough, rock 'n' roll beat. Her diverse sound helped her earn Grammy Awards in the dance, rock, R&B and inspirational categories.

Summer said grew up on rock 'n' roll and later covered the Bruce Springsteen song "Protection."

"I like the Moody Blues, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones as well as Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, the Supremes and Temptations," she said. "I didn't know many white kids who didn't know the Supremes; I don't know many black kids who don't know the Moody Blues."

Warwick said in a statement that she was sad to lose a great performer and "dear friend."

"My heart goes out to her husband and her children," Warwick said. "Prayers will be said to keep them strong."

Summer later became a born-again Christian and was accused of making anti-gay comments in relation to the AIDS epidemic ? a particular problem for a woman who was and remains a gay icon. Summer denied making the comments, but became the target of a boycott.

Religion played an important role in her later life, said Michael Levine, who briefly worked as her publicist.

"Her passion in her life, besides music, was God, spirituality and religion. She held a bible study class at her home every week," he said.

Summer released her last album, "Crayons," in 2008. It was her first full studio album in 17 years. She also performed on "American Idol" that year with its top female contestants.

Summer is survived by her husband, Bruce Sudano, and three daughters, Brooklyn, Mimi and Amanda.

____

AP National Writer Hillel Italie in New York and AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Associated Press

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World stock markets sink on US, Europe worries

A security man walks past an electronic board at Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo, Friday, May 18, 2012. Asian stocks dived Friday after discouraging U.S. economic reports unnerved investors already worried about the stability of the 17-country euro currency union. Japan's Nikkei 225 tumbled 2.4 percent to 8,660.23 as signs of weakness in critical export markets battered some of the country's behemoth manufacturers.(AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

A security man walks past an electronic board at Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo, Friday, May 18, 2012. Asian stocks dived Friday after discouraging U.S. economic reports unnerved investors already worried about the stability of the 17-country euro currency union. Japan's Nikkei 225 tumbled 2.4 percent to 8,660.23 as signs of weakness in critical export markets battered some of the country's behemoth manufacturers.(AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

A TV cameraman sets up a camera at Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo,Friday, May 18, 2012. Asian stocks dived Friday after discouraging U.S. economic reports unnerved investors already worried about the stability of the 17-country euro currency union. Japan's Nikkei 225 tumbled 2.4 percent to 8,660.23 as signs of weakness in critical export markets battered some of the country's behemoth manufacturers.(AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

(AP) ? World stocks fell Friday after credit downgrades slapped on Spanish banks unnerved investors already worried about the stability of the 17-country euro currency union.

The fall in European shares followed a sharp downturn in Asia where markets were also rattled by weak U.S. manufacturing figures.

The nervousness about Spain's banks comes as the European financial crisis intensifies.

Political turmoil in Greece has increased the likelihood that it could leave the 17-country monetary union, a move that could have ripple effects throughout Europe and the world's financial markets.

Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.8 percent to 5,295.30 and Germany's DAX was 0.5 percent lower at 6,279.36. France's CAC-40 lost 0.7 percent to 2,991.85.

But Wall Street looked set for a higher opening on Friday when shares of social media giant Facebook will start trading. Buyer demand is expected to be very strong. Dow Jones industrial futures rose 0.2 percent to 12,439 and S&P 500 futures added 0.2 percent to 1,304.40.

Markets were jolted by Moody's downgrade Thursday of 16 Spanish banks, said Jackson Wong, vice president at Tanrich Securities in Hong Kong.

Moody's said it took the action because the banks face a rising tide of bad loans linked to Spain's recession, a gloomy real estate market and high unemployment.

"It's very hard to predict how the euro crisis will evolve. All the news is bad, so investors like to stay on the sidelines even though stocks are very attractive right now," Wong said.

Japan's Nikkei 225 tumbled 3 percent to close at 8,611.31, its lowest finish in four months as signs of weakness in the U.S., a critical export market for Japanese companies, battered some of the country's behemoth manufacturers.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 1.3 percent to 18,951.85 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slid 2.7 percent to 4,046.50. South Korea's Kospi tumbled 3.4 percent to 1,782.46. Benchmarks in Singapore, Taiwan and New Zealand also fell.

Mainland Chinese shares lost ground, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index losing 1.4 percent to 2,344.52. The Shenzhen Composite Index fell 1.5 percent to 940.91. Shares in ports and trading related companies led the gains, while shares in banks, shipping and defense industry companies weakened.

"The investors are pessimistic over China's economic outlook, on top of the problems in Europe. It is more like a panic selling," said Guo Yanhong, an analyst at Huachuang Securities, based in Beijing.

In the U.S., meanwhile, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said Thursday that its index of factory activity fell to minus 5.8 from 8.5 in April. Any reading below zero indicates contraction. Measures of new orders and employment also fell in May, the bank said. That suggests manufacturers in the region are cutting jobs.

Among individual stocks, Japanese vehicle makers were hit hard. Yamaha Motor Co. tumbled 5 percent and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. was down 5.1 percent. Toyota Motor Corp. lost 3.7 percent.

Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea's second-largest carrier, plunged 5.1 percent after reporting that its earnings slid in the first quarter of 2012 from a year earlier, mainly due to soaring fuel prices, Yonhap News Agency said.

Gold miners were among the gainers. Australia's Newcrest Mining rose 3.8 percent on rising prices for the precious metal. Hong Kong-listed Zijin Mining Group Co., China's largest gold miner, rose 3.4 percent.

Benchmark oil for June delivery was down 1 cent to $92.55 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 25 cents to settle at $92.56 in New York on Thursday.

In currencies, the euro fell to $1.2686 from $1.2714 late Thursday in New York. The dollar rose slightly to 79.30 yen from 79.28 yen.

___

Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson

___

AP researcher Fu Ting contributed from Shanghai.

Associated Press

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A novel mechanism for anxiety behaviors, including a previously ...

A novel mechanism for anxiety behaviors, including a previously unrecognized inhibitory brain signal, may inspire new strategies for treating psychiatric disorders, University of Chicago researchers report. By testing the controversial role of a gene called Glo1 in anxiety, scientists uncovered a new inhibitory factor in the brain: the metabolic by-product methylglyoxal. The system offers a tantalizing new target for drugs designed to treat conditions such as anxiety disorder, epilepsy, and sleep disorders...

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