Friday, July 26, 2013

Mike Tyson jokingly threatens to bite TV critics

TV

18 hours ago

Mike Tyson appeared at the TV summer press tour Thursday to discuss his HBO film, "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth."

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

Mike Tyson speaks onstage during the "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth" panel at the HBO portion of the 2013 summer press tour in Beverly Hills.

Mike Tyson's highly successful Las Vegas and Broadway one-man show, "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth," has been filmed by HBO for an upcoming film directed by Spike Lee. In it, the former heavyweight champion of the world opens up about everything--his troubled youth, his boxing career, his family and other relationships, his time in prison, and key things he's learned about himself throughout his life.

To perform on the stage, Tyson said he gets into the mindset of an actor playing a part because, otherwise, he might not be able to handle it.

"What is reckless on the stage is splendor in the ring. And what is sometimes great in the ring is pretty reckless on stage," said Tyson, who appeared with Lee at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Thursday.

"I?m a human being," he continued. "There?s no way I can do my show and really be open and emotionally naked and not feel sorry for myself. I might fall apart on stage. So I have to look at it from that objective. I?m not Mike Tyson. I?m an actor playing Mike Tyson. I?m just portraying this gentleman that went through my life."

Lee became involved with the project after a friend saw the show in Las Vegas last summer and recommended it to him. Lee contacted Tyson and helped him take the show to Broadway, and then to HBO. Tyson's wife, Kiki, wrote the script. The film will air on HBO sometime later this year, executives said.

Lee said he was drawn to the show because of Tyson's honesty.

"Most human beings are not going to display dark parts of themselves, the demons they have to the world," Lee said. "That?s just not human instinct. And when you see this and for people who saw the play, he?s out there on this stage naked sharing his experience, his ups and downs to the audience. And it?s traumatic. And to do that, without thinking about whether people are gonna love me or like me or hate me?he doesn't care about that. It?s the most courageous thing I?ve ever seen in my life. I couldn?t do it and most people couldn?t do it."

Tyson, looking a bit embarrassed, implored everyone in the room: "Guys, please don?t get carried away. There?s no way I?m Charles Manson but I?m never gonna be Mother Teresa either. So don?t be so quick to understand. Don?t get too close. And be careful, I will bite you, as you may know."

Lee assured the journalists covering the event that "Iron Mike" was joking.

Tyson said he was inspired to do the stage show after he saw Chazz Palminteri's autobiographical one-man show, "A Bronx Tale." When asked the similarities and differences between boxing and performing on stage, Tyson replied:

"The similarity is I can?t wait to get my hands on the guy, just like I can?t wait to get on stage. The non-similarity is I don?t have to go to the hospital after I perform ... Just like in a fight, I wanted to kill everybody in the room. With my performance, of course."

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/mike-tyson-jokingly-threatens-bite-tv-critics-6C10754757

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Annual grades fall sharply for Florida schools

Published: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 11:40 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 11:40 a.m.

TALLAHASSEE ? The number of top-rated schools in Florida is falling sharply.

The Department of Education on Friday released new A to F grades for many of the state's public schools.

The grades showed that the number of A-rated schools fell nearly 39 percent this year, while the number of F-rated schools more than doubled.

The number of F-rated schools could have been much higher. Earlier this month, the State Board of Education voted by a 4-3 margin to tweak the formula that allowed as many as 150 schools to avoid getting an F grade.

The decision to change the grading standards was done over the protest of some officials who said the move would confuse parents and mask the true performance of many schools.

Source: http://www.ocala.com/article/20130726/wire/130729805

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Are you going to try out Google's cheaper version of Apple TV?

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/scottevest/posts/10151545381071801

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Monday, July 22, 2013

Dunham?s Sports coming to Randolph Mall in Asheboro

Courtesy photo

Dunham's Sports plans to open a store at the Randolph Mall in Asheboro.

Sporting goods retailer Dunham?s Sports is coming to the former Dillard?s location at Randolph Mall in Asheboro, according to an announcement from mall operator CBL & Associates Properties Inc.

Dunham?s is expected to open sometime before the 2013 holiday season. The retailer operates more than 170 stores offering traditional sporting goods and athletic equipment and a variety of active and casual sports apparel and footwear, including one in Burlington.

The Dillard?s store closed this month, and renovations on the 60,200-square-foot anchor space are expected to begin soon. The announcement did not name a general contractor for the project, and CBL (NYSE: CBL) representatives were not immediately available for comment.

Dillard?s Inc. (NYSE: DDS) confirmed in April that the Randolph Mall store would close. Store closures are determined by a store?s performance, a Dillard?s spokeswoman said at the time.

Catherine Carlock covers commercial and residential real estate, construction, economic development and retailing and restaurants. Contact her at (336) 370-2918.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vertical_50/~3/9PjyqyQPCoM/dunhams-sports-coming-to-randolph.html

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Thursday, July 18, 2013

Football. CSU football adds pair of televised road games for 2013

July 17, 2013

2013 Football Schedule

DENVER, Colo. -- ROOT SPORTS and the Mountain West announced Wednesday that the network will televise 10 live MW football games in 2013, including two Colorado State road contests. All matchups will be produced in high definition and, in the Rocky Mountain and Northwest territories, will be available exclusively on ROOT SPORTS.?

As part of the agreement, Colorado State's Oct. 19 matchup in the "Border War" vs. rival Wyoming at UW's War Memorial Stadium will kick off at 12 p.m. MT.? CSU's Nov. 16 road game at New Mexico is now set for a 5 p.m. MT kickoff from University Stadium in Albuquerque, N.M.

The addition of two more television games to the Rams' schedule brings the total number of broadcasts for the 2013 campaign to 10.

The three remaining games - vs. Cal Poly (Sept. 14), at Alabama (Sept. 21) and at Hawai'I (Oct. 26) - have yet to be assigned national, regional or local television rights.

Below is the list of 10 CSU games scheduled at this time for television broacasts, on CBSSN, ESPN Networks, or ROOT SPORTS:
? Colorado at Colorado State (Sports Authority Field at Mile High) - Sept. 1, 4 p.m. MT (CBSSN)
? Colorado State at Tulsa - Sept. 7, 5 p.m. MT (CBSSN)
? UTEP at Colorado State - Sept. 28, 1:30 p.m. MT (Ag Day) (CBSSN)
? San Jose State at Colorado State - Oct. 12, 1:30 p.m. MT (Homecoming & Family Weekend) (CBSSN)
? Colorado State at Wyoming - Oct. 19, 12 p.m. MT (ROOT SPORTS)
? Boise State at Colorado State - Nov. 2, 6 p.m. MT (CBSSN)
? Nevada at Colorado State - Nov. 9, Time TBD (ESPN Networks)
? Colorado State at New Mexico - Nov. 16, 5 p.m. MT (ROOT SPORTS)
? Colorado State at Utah State - Nov. 23, 1:30 p.m. MT (CBSSN)
? Air Force at Colorado State - Nov. 30, Time TBD (ESPN Networks)


?

?


Source: http://onlyfans.cstv.com/schools/csu/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/071713aaa.html

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Keeping Pets Safe During Heat Wave | WNEP.com

SPCA

POTTSVILLE ? Veterinarians are urging pet owners to watch for signs that their furry friends may be feeling the effects of the heat wave.? Experts some common sense rules can help prevent problems.

Nadine Witmer of Pottsville recently got a German shepherd pup. She has her hands full but knows part of her responsibility is to make sure her pet doesn?t get sick from the heat wave.

?She can be out for a little while and gets hot and needs to drink, she drinks water like crazy!? Witmer explained.

Witmer has one pet to care for. At the Hillside S.P.C.A. near Pottsville, the staff cares for dozens of dogs and cats. Experts said water and shelter are key to keeping your pets healthy during the heat wave.

S.P.C.A. staffer Donna Martin said the facility uses fans and air conditioners keep the animals cool.

?The cats generate a lot of heat on their own and to keep the temperatures cool in here is a good idea so they?re not overheating and could make them sick.?

S.P.C.A officials said they recently saved two dogs from possible death from the heat.? Janine Choplick said their owners put them in a small room during the heat wave.

?There was no food, no water and fortunately some neighbors heard them barking and gave them food and water and called us, but maybe those dogs would have perished in another day.?

At the Mountain Shadow Veterinary Hospital near Schuylkill Haven, experts warned of the signs from heat stroke in your pet.

Dr. John Broshkevitch explained when to get professional help.

?Their temperatures will be really high. They will feel hot to you when you?re feeling them. Their color in their tongue and gums will become very pale and they may be experiencing diarrhea.?

For more information to keep your pet safe from the heat, click here.

Source: http://wnep.com/2013/07/17/keeping-pets-safe-during-heat-wave/

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Analysis: Ship seizure shows dire straits of Cuban military rather than threat

MIAMI | Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:47pm EDT

MIAMI (Reuters) - The seizure in Panama of a North Korean cargo ship carrying aging Cuban military hardware in need of repair is more a sign of hard times in Havana than of any sinister military threat, analysts say.

Although Cuba may have violated United Nations sanctions barring military trade with North Korea, the infraction could result in little more than a slap on the wrist as the Soviet-era weaponry appears unrelated to international concern over proliferation of nuclear weapons by Pyongyang.

"Based on what we know, the military impact seems to be negligible," said Philip Peters, a Cuba expert at the Virginia-based Cuban Research Center. "This material has nothing to do with the international community's core concern about North Korea, which is nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles."

The shipment included two anti-aircraft missile batteries, nine disassembled missiles, two MiG-21 aircraft, and 15 MiG engines, all Soviet-era military weaponry built in the middle of the last century.

The Cuban military was "using weapons and equipment of staggeringly old vintage" and the Pentagon had long since written off the island as a military threat, said Hal Klepak, professor of History and Strategy at the Royal Military College of Canada and author of a book on the Cuban military.

At the same time, Cuba's military doctrine was designed to deter any attack, and its defensive capacity was badly in need of an upgrade, he said.

"Nothing Cuba has, as the Pentagon has repeatedly made clear in its own analyses, constitutes a threat to the U.S. or other neighbors, but if Cuba cannot keep any limited air-defense capability in being at all, then it cannot convince anyone that its conquest would not be easy to achieve," he said.

In a 1998 report, the Pentagon concluded that the collapse of the Soviet bloc in 1991 had seriously eroded the size and power of Cuba's military, which was left posing "a negligible threat to the U.S. or surrounding countries."

The report said Cuba's army could no longer mount "effective operations" due to mothballed equipment, and it's air force had fewer than two dozen operation MiGs.

Despite the possible violation of U.N. sanctions, the Obama administration has reacted cautiously to the Panama seizure.

It went ahead on Wednesday with scheduled migration talks with Cuba, and rather than lash out at Havana, U.S. officials have taken a wait-and-see approach, saying they plan to speak to the Cubans about the incident once all the facts are known.

"HOPELESSLY OUT OF DATE"

Cuba says the "obsolete" weapons were being sent back to North Korea for repair and has insisted it remains committed to international law and nuclear disarmament.

Klepak termed the MiG-21, which first flew in the 1950s, "hopelessly out of date," as were the anti-aircraft radar systems reportedly on the ship.

"Cuba cannot afford to buy anything newer and does not have repair facilities of its own for such needs. Thus if it is not to scrap, for example, the aircraft entirely, it must repair and potentially update them in some areas," he said.

Cuba's dire financial situation most likely led it to turn to North Korea, allowing Havana to enter a barter arrangement, perhaps for sugar, Klepak added, noting that the North Koreans had repaired similar weaponry in the past in exchange for food.

While Russia and China could repair the systems, or perhaps modernize them, they would only do so for cash, he said.

The surreptitious nature of the cargo, and the ship's route with its transponder switched off when it left the Panama Canal to collect the Cuban weapons, indicated that Cuba knew it was violating the U.N. sanctions, but was willing to take the risk of being caught, according to some analysts.

Despite official U.S. caution so far, the weapons shipment could hurt Havana's efforts to rekindle relations with Washington, given that Cuban-American members of Congress have already called for tougher action from the Obama administration.

"Weapons transfers from one communist regime to another hidden under sacks of sugar are not accidental occurrences, and reinforces the necessity that Cuba remain on the State Department's list of countries that sponsor state terrorism," U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement.

Peters called Cuba's action a political blunder. "Cuba deserves to be criticized for violating a U.N. resolution, but it's a long leap to then take this action and spin it into some big security threat emanating from Cuba because it just doesn't exist," he said.

"The Cuban military has never been an offensive threat to the United States and for the past 20 years it's been a shell of its former self."

(Additional reporting by Marc Frank in Havana; Editing by David Drunnstrom)

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/18/us-panama-northkorea-cuba-weapons-analys-idUSBRE96H01G20130718?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

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Refurbished iPad w/ Retina WiFi + 4G from $529 + free shipping

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Source: http://dealmac.com/Refurbished-iPad-w-Retina-Wi-Fi-4-G-from-529-free-shipping/792231.html?iref=rss-dealmac-todays-edition

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Carry an ultralight camping stove in your backpack

If open fires aren’t allowed where you camp, you’ll need some sort of stove to prepare your food. ?The Ultralight Backpacking?Canister Camp Stove with Piezo Ignition, plus a canister of gas, is all you’ll need for cooking. ?The stove itself folds up into a small package, as seen in the upper left and right images. [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/07/16/carry-an-ultralight-camping-stove-in-your-backpack/

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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Hudson, IA 2008 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Used SUV Waterloo, IA Cedar Rapids, IA Bill Colwell Ford for $28,600


*The advertised price does not include sales tax, vehicle registration fees, finance charges, documentation charges, and any other fees required by law. We attempt to update this inventory on a regular basis. However, there can be lag time between the sale of a vehicle and the update of the inventory.

EPA mileage estimates are for newly manufactured vehicles only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Before purchasing this vehicle, it is your responsibility to address any and all differences between information on this website and the actual vehicle specifications and/or any warranties offered prior to the sale of this vehicle. Vehicle data on this website is compiled from publicly available sources believed by the publisher to be reliable. Vehicle data is subject to change without notice. The publisher assumes no responsibility for errors and/or omissions in this data the compilation of this data and makes no representations express or implied to any actual or prospective purchaser of the vehicle as to the condition of the vehicle, vehicle specifications, ownership, vehicle history, equipment/accessories, price or warranties.

Source: http://www.billcolwellford.com/2008-Chevrolet-Suburban-1500-Hudson-IA/vd/15550662

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Monday, July 15, 2013

Surface RT prices slashed in UK and Australia, 32GB model down to ?279 or $389

Surface RT prices slashed

Following the significant price cut Microsoft's Surface RT received in the US recently, its cost has begun dropping in other regions, too. In the UK, Redmond's official online store is selling the 32GB model for £279 (down from £399) and the tablet with 64GB of storage for £359 (reduced from £479) -- adding £80 to those prices will get you the Touch Cover bundle. UK retailers John Lewis and PC World are offering the same discounts (although the latter is £0.99 more expensive across the board), and Microsoft's Australian store is knocking up to 180 Aussie dollars off the tablets and cover bundles. We imagine all countries the RT ships to will follow suit if they haven't already, so check your local MS store for confirmation. Meanwhile, it's hard to escape the feeling that RT as a whole has been overtaken by full-fledged Windows 8 machines.

[Thanks, Erik]

Filed under: ,

Comments

Via: TechRadar

Source: MS store (UK), MS store (Australia), PC World, John Lewis

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/dBQhKfxMW0M/

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Scientists at NCI generate largest data set of cancer-related genetic variations

Scientists at NCI generate largest data set of cancer-related genetic variations [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 15-Jul-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Jeremy Moore
jeremy.moore@aacr.org
215-446-7109
American Association for Cancer Research

PHILADELPHIA Scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have generated a data set of cancer-specific genetic variations and are making these data available to the research community, according to a study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

This will help cancer researchers better understand drug response and resistance to cancer treatments.

"To date, this is the largest database worldwide, containing 6 billion data points that connect drugs with genomic variants for the whole human genome across cell lines from nine tissues of origin, including breast, ovary, prostate, colon, lung, kidney, brain, blood and skin," said Yves Pommier, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology at the NCI in Bethesda, Md., in an interview. "We are making this data set public for the greater community to use and analyze.

"Opening this extensive data set to researchers will expand our knowledge and understanding of tumorigenesis [the process by which normal cells are transformed into cancer], as more and more cancer-related gene aberrations are discovered," Pommier added. "This comes at a great time, because genomic medicine is becoming a reality, and I am very hopeful this valuable information will change the way we use drugs for precision medicine."

Pommier and colleagues conducted whole-exome sequencing of the NCI-60 human cancer cell line panel, which is a collection of 60 human cancer cell lines, and generated a comprehensive list of cancer-specific genetic variations. Preliminary studies conducted by the researchers indicate that the extensive data set has the potential to dramatically enhance understanding of the relationships between specific cancer-related genetic variations and drug response, which will accelerate the drug development process.

The NCI-60 human cancer cell line panel is used extensively by cancer researchers to discover novel anti-cancer drugs. To conduct whole-exome sequencing, Pommier and his NCI team extracted DNA from the 60 different cell lines, which represent cancers of the lung, colon, brain, ovary, breast, prostate and kidney, as well as leukemia and melanoma, and cataloged the genetic coding variants for the entire human genome. The genetic variations identified were of two types: type I variants corresponding to variants found in the normal population, and type II variants, which are cancer-specific.

The researchers then used the Super Learner algorithm to predict the sensitivity of cells harboring type II variants to 103 anti-cancer drugs approved by the FDA and an additional 207 investigational new drugs. They were able to study the correlations between key cancer-related genes and clinically relevant anti-cancer drugs, and predict the outcome.

The data generated in this study provide means to identify new determinants of response and mechanisms of resistance to drugs, and offer opportunities to target genomic defects and overcome acquired resistance, according to Pommier. To enable this, the researchers are making these data available to all researchers via two database portals, called the CellMiner database and the Ingenuity systems database.

###

Follow the AACR on Twitter: @aacr

Follow the AACR on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aacr.org

About the American Association for Cancer Research

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 18,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes eight peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the scientific partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration and scientific oversight of team science and individual grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit http://www.AACR.org.

To interview Yves Pommier, contact Mike Miller at ncipressofficers@mail.nih.gov or (301) 496-6641. For other inquiries, contact Jeremy Moore at jeremy.moore@aacr.org or (215) 446-7109.


[ 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.


Scientists at NCI generate largest data set of cancer-related genetic variations [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 15-Jul-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Jeremy Moore
jeremy.moore@aacr.org
215-446-7109
American Association for Cancer Research

PHILADELPHIA Scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have generated a data set of cancer-specific genetic variations and are making these data available to the research community, according to a study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

This will help cancer researchers better understand drug response and resistance to cancer treatments.

"To date, this is the largest database worldwide, containing 6 billion data points that connect drugs with genomic variants for the whole human genome across cell lines from nine tissues of origin, including breast, ovary, prostate, colon, lung, kidney, brain, blood and skin," said Yves Pommier, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology at the NCI in Bethesda, Md., in an interview. "We are making this data set public for the greater community to use and analyze.

"Opening this extensive data set to researchers will expand our knowledge and understanding of tumorigenesis [the process by which normal cells are transformed into cancer], as more and more cancer-related gene aberrations are discovered," Pommier added. "This comes at a great time, because genomic medicine is becoming a reality, and I am very hopeful this valuable information will change the way we use drugs for precision medicine."

Pommier and colleagues conducted whole-exome sequencing of the NCI-60 human cancer cell line panel, which is a collection of 60 human cancer cell lines, and generated a comprehensive list of cancer-specific genetic variations. Preliminary studies conducted by the researchers indicate that the extensive data set has the potential to dramatically enhance understanding of the relationships between specific cancer-related genetic variations and drug response, which will accelerate the drug development process.

The NCI-60 human cancer cell line panel is used extensively by cancer researchers to discover novel anti-cancer drugs. To conduct whole-exome sequencing, Pommier and his NCI team extracted DNA from the 60 different cell lines, which represent cancers of the lung, colon, brain, ovary, breast, prostate and kidney, as well as leukemia and melanoma, and cataloged the genetic coding variants for the entire human genome. The genetic variations identified were of two types: type I variants corresponding to variants found in the normal population, and type II variants, which are cancer-specific.

The researchers then used the Super Learner algorithm to predict the sensitivity of cells harboring type II variants to 103 anti-cancer drugs approved by the FDA and an additional 207 investigational new drugs. They were able to study the correlations between key cancer-related genes and clinically relevant anti-cancer drugs, and predict the outcome.

The data generated in this study provide means to identify new determinants of response and mechanisms of resistance to drugs, and offer opportunities to target genomic defects and overcome acquired resistance, according to Pommier. To enable this, the researchers are making these data available to all researchers via two database portals, called the CellMiner database and the Ingenuity systems database.

###

Follow the AACR on Twitter: @aacr

Follow the AACR on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aacr.org

About the American Association for Cancer Research

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 18,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes eight peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the scientific partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration and scientific oversight of team science and individual grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit http://www.AACR.org.

To interview Yves Pommier, contact Mike Miller at ncipressofficers@mail.nih.gov or (301) 496-6641. For other inquiries, contact Jeremy Moore at jeremy.moore@aacr.org or (215) 446-7109.


[ 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/2013-07/aafc-san071013.php

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Canada men's volleyball stopped by Ukraine at Summer Universiade quarters

CIS:KAZAN, Russia (July 13, 2013) Canadas chance to move into the mens volleyball semifinals for the second straight Universiade ended abruptly with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-23) loss to undefeated Ukraine, on Saturday evening.

The Canucks (3-2), fourth two years ago in Shenzhen, China, will face South Korea (3-2) in consolation action Sunday at 1 p.m. local time (5 a.m. ET). The South Koreans were defeated by Poland in five sets in their quarter-final match.

Late errors by Canada and strong serving by Ukraine led to a 25-21 opening set loss despite an early 7-4 lead.

The red and white rebounded and made a strong bid to tie things up in the second frame, which was the closest of the match as the rivals remained within two points of each other throughout. Outstanding defence on the back line allowed Ukraine to eke out a 25-23 victory.

Six-foot-eight middle Kostiantyn Riabukha and left side attacker Ian Iereshchenko then ensured the winners remained firmly in control in the final stanza and the unbeaten side scored another 25-23 set win.


Theyre strong players and theyre going to show up for games like this. It was up to us to slow them down and we didnt quite figure it out soon enough, said left side hitter Marc Howatson of Victoria (Trinity Western University).

They were good in their block and their defence, so its a credit to all of our spikers that they were able to get all of the kills that they did, added Canadian head coach Larry McKay.

Nicolas Hoag of Sherbrooke, Que., led Canada in kills for the third time in five matches in Kazan, recording 15. Steven Marshall of Abbotsford, B.C. (Trinity Western) had a strong game on the left side with 14 kills.

His university teammate Lucas Van Berkel of Edmonton was a factor in the middle, logging six blocks and providing thunderous kills at key moments to keep Canada within striking distance.

We have really good players on this team who are hoping to emerge internationally and they got an excellent team to measure themselves against today, said McKay. We get another excellent team tomorrow, so in that sense this is an excellent tournament for us to be in.

You wish you go at it again, but you cant so you have to move on and do as best you can, said Howatson. Were going for fifth, no regrets.

BOXSCORE:Canada vs Ukraine

Team Canada website:http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer/2013
Team Canada Twitter: @CDNUniversiade | #gocanada
Summer Universiade website:
www.kazan2013.com/en

Source: http://boxscorenews.com/canada-mens-volleyball-stopped-by-ukraine-at-summer-universiade-quarters-p58517-163.htm

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Non-Celtics NBA Offseason Game Thread

@ESPNSteinLine Rockets, I'm told, still exploring trades for Aaron Brooks and/or Carlos Delfino that must be consummated today to avoid releasing them

@SpearsNBAYahoo Pelicans strongly interested in signing free agent forward Andre Iguodala to join old Sixers teammate Jrue Holiday, sources tell Y! Sports.

@sam_amick Couple free agency tidbits-Teams I'm hearing in the mix for Andre Iguodala: Denver, Hawks, Pistons, Kings, Mavs, Pelicans, Warriors, Rockets

@WojYahooNBA Memphis will meet with free agent guard Tony Allen shortly after start of free agency, sources tell Y! Pacers, Bucks, Knicks in pursuit.

@WojYahooNBA Doc Rivers would love to reunite with Tony Allen with Clippers, but unclear how competitive Clips will be with an offer, sources tell Y!

@TommyBeer Max NY can offer is the mini-mid-level (~3.1 MM). Presumably not enough. MT @WojYahooNBA: Grizz to meet w/ Tony Allen... Knicks in pursuit

@SpearsNBAYahooThunder G Kevin Martin expected to get interest from OKC, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Minnesota, Dallas and Detroit, source tells Y! Sports.

@sam_amick More free agent rumblings - OJ Mayo's likely suitors: Jazz, Bucks, Minnesota, Clippers, Blazers, Bobcats, Bulls.

@AlexKennedyNBA The Cavaliers, Blazers, Hawks, Mavericks and Rockets are interested in free agent Andrew Bynum, writes @YannisHW: http://t.co/N8zQ8OWzSt

Edited by knucklecup, 30 June 2013 - 01:03 PM.

Source: http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/77737-non-celtics-nba-offseason-game-thread/

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Sunday, July 14, 2013

Israeli Leader: Don't Trust New Iranian President

This article is about the modern state of Iran. For historical uses[1][2], see Greater Iran.

Coordinates: 32?N 53?E? / ?32?N 53?E? / 32; 53

Islamic Republic of Iran

?????? ?????? ?????
Jomhuri-ye Esl?mi-ye Ir?n

Motto:????????. ?????. ?????? ??????
Independence, Freedom, Islamic Republic
Anthem:?National Anthem of Islamic Republic of Iran
Capital
(and largest city)
Tehran
35?41?N 51?25?E? / ?35.683?N 51.417?E? / 35.683; 51.417
Official language(s) Persian
Spoken languages Persian, Azeri, Kurdish, Arabic, Balochi, Lori, Gilaki, Mazandarani, Turkmen, Armenian, Aramaic
Demonym Iranian
Government Unitary state, Islamic republic
?-? Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
?-? President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
?-? First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi
?-? Speaker of the Parliament Ali Larijani
?-? Chief Justice Sadeq Larijani
Legislature Islamic Consultative Assembly
Unification[3]
?-? Median Empire 625 BCE?
?-? Achaemenid Empire 550 BCE?
?-? Safavid Empire 1501[4]?
?-? Islamic Republic 24 October 1979?
?-? Current constitution ?
Area
?-? Total 1,648,195?km2?(18th)
636,372?sq?mi?
?-? Water?(%) 0.7
Population
?-? 2012?estimate 78,868,711[5]?(18th)
?-? 2011?census 74,700,000?
?-? Density 48/km2?(162rd)
124/sq?mi
GDP?(PPP) 2011?estimate
?-? Total $990.219 billion[6]?
?-? Per capita $13,053[6]?
GDP (nominal) 2011?estimate
?-? Total $482.445 billion[6]?
?-? Per capita $6,359[6]?
Gini?(2008) 38[7]?(medium)?
HDI?(2011) increase 0.707[8]?(high)?(88th)
Currency Rial (?) (IRR)
Time zone IRST (UTC+3:30)
?-? Summer?(DST) IRDT?(UTC+4:30)
Drives on the right
ISO?3166?code IR
Internet TLD .ir, ?????.
Calling code 98
1 Bookrags.com
2 Iranchamber.com
3 Statistical Center of Iran. "????? ? ????? ??? ??????" (in Persian). http://www.sci.org.ir/content/userfiles/_sci/sci/SEL/f02/2.1.html. Retrieved 13 February 2009.?[dead link][dead link]
4 CIA Factbook

Iran (Listeni/??r??n/[9] or /a??r?n/;[10]Persian: ?????? [?i???n]?( listen)), officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (Persian: ?????? ?????? ?????? Jomhuri-ye Esl?mi-ye Ir?n), is a country in Southern and Western Asia.[11][12] The name "Iran", which in Persian means "Land of the Aryans", has been in use natively since the Sassanian era. It came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia (play?/?p?r??/ or /?p?r??/).[10][13] Both "Persia" and "Iran" are used interchangeably in cultural contexts; however, "Iran" is the name used officially in political contexts.[14][15]

The 18th-largest country in the world in terms of area at 1,648,195 km2 (636,372 sq?mi), Iran has a population of around 79 million.[5] It is a country of particular geopolitical significance owing to its location in the Middle East and central Eurasia. Iran is bordered on the north by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. As Iran is a littoral state of the Caspian Sea, which is an inland sea, Kazakhstan and Russia are also Iran's direct neighbors to the north. Iran is bordered on the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan, on the south by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, on the west by Iraq and on the northwest by Turkey. Tehran is the capital, the country's largest city and the political, cultural, commercial and industrial center of the nation. Iran is a regional power,[16][17] and holds an important position in international energy security and world economy as a result of its large reserves of petroleum and natural gas. Iran has the second largest proven natural gas reserves in the world and the fourth largest proven petroleum reserves.[18]

Iran is home to one of the world's oldest civilizations.[19] The first dynasty in Iran formed during the Elamite kingdom in 2800?BC. The Iranian Medes unified Iran into an empire in 625?BC.[3] They were succeeded by the Iranian Achaemenid Empire, the Hellenic Seleucid Empire and two subsequent Iranian empires, the Parthians and the Sassanids, before the Muslim conquest in 651?AD. Iranian post-Islamic dynasties and empires expanded the Persian language and culture throughout the Iranian plateau. Early Iranian dynasties which re-asserted Iranian independence included the Tahirids, Saffarids, Samanids and Buyids.

The blossoming of Persian literature, philosophy, medicine, astronomy, mathematics and art became major elements of Muslim civilization. Iranian identity continued despite foreign rule in the ensuing centuries[20] and Persian culture was adopted also by the Ghaznavids,[21]Seljuk,[22][23]Ilkhanid[24] and Timurid[25] rulers. The emergence in 1501 of the Safavid dynasty,[4] which promoted Twelver Shia Islam[26] as the official religion of their empire, marked one of the most important turning points in Iranian and Muslim history.[27] The Persian Constitutional Revolution established the nation's first parliament in 1906, within a constitutional monarchy. In 1953 Iran became an authoritarian regime, following a coup d'?tat instigated by the UK and US. Growing dissent with foreign influence culminated during the Iranian Revolution which led to establishment of an Islamic republic on 1 April 1979.[28][29]

Iran is a founding member of the UN, NAM, OIC and OPEC. The political system of Iran, based on the 1979 constitution, comprises several intricately connected governing bodies. The highest state authority is the Supreme Leader. Shia Islam is the official religion and Persian is the official language.[30]

The name of Iran (?????) is the Modern Persian derivative from the Proto-Iranian term Ary?n?,, meaning "Land of the Aryans", first attested in Zoroastrianism's Avesta tradition.[31][32][33][34] The term ?r?n is found to refer to Iran in a 3rd century Sassanid inscription, and the Parthian inscription that accompanies it uses the Parthian term "ary?n" in reference to Iranians.[35] However historically Iran has been referred to as Persia or similar (La Perse, Persien, Perzi?, etc.) by the Western world, mainly due to the writings of Greek historians who called Iran Persis (??????), meaning land of the Persians. In 1935 Rez? Sh?h requested that the international community should refer to the country as Iran. Opposition to the name change led to the reversal of the decision, and in 1959 both names were to be used interchangeably.[36] Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979 the official name of the country has been the "Islamic Republic of Iran."

Pre-Historic era[link]

The earliest archaeological artifacts in Iran were found in the Kashafrud and Ganj Par sites that date back to the Lower Paleolithic era. Mousterian Stone tools made by Neanderthal man have also been found.[37] There are more cultural remains of Neanderthal man dating back to the Middle Paleolithic period, which have been found mainly in the Zagros region and less frequently in central Iran at sites such as Shanidar, Kobeh, Kunji, Bisetun, Tamtama, Warwasi, Palegawra, and Yafteh Cave.[38] Discovery of human skeletons in the Huto cave and the adjacent Kamarband cave near the town of Behshahr in the Mazandaran Province, and Amol and Babol old cities north of Iran, south of the Caspian Sea, suggest human habitation of the area as early as 75,000 years ago.[39] However, recent studies in the valleys of Shuresh, around the earlier mentioned caves, led to the discovery of 400,000 year old stone tools.[40] Evidence for Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic periods are known mainly from the Zagros region in the caves of Kermanshah and Khorramabad.

Early agricultural communities such as Chogha Bonut in 8000?BC,[41][42]Susa (now a city still existing since 7000?BC)[43][44] and Chogha Mish dating back to 6800?BC.[45][46] started to form in the western Iran. Dozens of pre-historic sites across the Iranian plateau point to the existence of ancient cultures and urban settlements in the 4th millennium BC,[46][47][48] centuries before the earliest civilizations arose in nearby Mesopotamia.[49]

Early history (3200?BC ? 625?BC)[link]

Elam was part of the early urbanization during the Chalcolithic. The emergence of written records from around 3000?BC also parallels Mesopotamian history. In the Old Elamite period (Middle Bronze Age), from around 2800?BC, Elam consisted of kingdoms on the Iranian plateau, centered in Anshan, and from the mid-2nd millennium BC, it was centered in Susa in the Khuzestan lowlands. The Elamite kingdom continued its existence until the emergence of the Median and Achaemenid Empires.

Proto-Iranians first emerged following the separation of Indo-Iranians, and are traced to the Andronovo culture.[50]Proto-Iranian tribes arrived in the Iranian plateau in the third and second millennium?BC, probably in more than one wave of emigration, and settled as nomads.

Further separation of Proto-Iranians into "Eastern" and "Western" groups occurred due to migration. By the first millennium BC, Medes, Persians, Bactrians and Parthians populated the western part, while Cimmerians, Sarmatians and Alans populated the steppes north of the Black Sea.

Other tribes began to settle on the eastern edge, as far as on the mountainous frontier of the north-western Indian subcontinent and into the area which is now Balochistan. Others, such as the Scythian tribes, spread as far west as the Balkans and as far east as Xinjiang. Avestan is an eastern Old Iranian language that was used to compose the sacred hymns and canon of the Zoroastrian Gathas in c. 1000?BC.

Pre-Islamic statehood (625?BC ? 651?AD)[link]

The Medes are credited with the unification[3] of Iran as a nation and empire (625[3]?559? BC), the largest of its day, until Cyrus the Great established a unified empire of the Medes and Persians leading to the Achaemenid Empire (559?330? BC), and further unification between peoples and cultures. After Cyrus' death, his son Cambyses II continued his father's work of conquest, making significant gains in Egypt.

Following a power struggle after Cambyses' death, Darius the Great was declared king (ruled 522?486?BC). Under Cyrus and Darius, the Persian Empire eventually became the largest and most powerful empire in human history up until that point.[51] The borders of the Persian empire stretched from the Indus and Oxus Rivers in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, extending through Anatolia (modern day Turkey) and Egypt.

In 499?BC, Athens lent support to a revolt in Miletus which resulted in the sacking of Sardis. This led to an Achaemenid campaign against Greece known as the Greco-Persian Wars which continued through the first half of the 5th century BC. During the Greco-Persian Wars Persia made some major advances and razed Athens in 480?BC, but after a string of Greek victories the Persians were forced to withdraw. Fighting ended with the peace of Callias in 449?BC.

The rules and ethics emanating from Zoroaster's teachings were strictly followed by the Achaemenids who introduced and adopted policies based on human rights, equality and banning of slavery.[citation needed] Zoroastrianism spread unimposed during the time of the Achaemenids and through contacts with the exiled Jewish people in Babylon freed by Cyrus, Zoroastrian concepts further propagated and influenced the Abrahamic religions. The Golden Age of Athens marked by Aristotle, Plato and Socrates also came about during the Achaemenid period while their contacts with Persia and the Near East abounded. The peace, tranquility, security and prosperity that were afforded to the people of the Near East and Southeast Europe proved to be a rare historical occurrence, an unparalleled period where commerce prospered and the standard of living for all people of the region improved.[52]

In 334?BC, Alexander the Great invaded the Achaemenid Empire, defeating the last Achaemenid Emperor Darius III at the Battle of Issus in 333?BC. He left the annexed territory in 328?327. In each of the former Achaemenid territories he installed his own officers as caretakers, which led to friction and ultimately to the partitioning of the former empire after Alexander's death, and the subsequent formation of the Seleucid Empire.

The Parthian Empire (238 BC?226?AD), led by the Arsacid Dynasty, was the third Iranian kingdom to dominate the Iranian plateau, after defeating the Greek Seleucid Empire, beginning in the late 3rd century BC, and intermittently controlled Mesopotamia between ca. 150?BC and 224?AD. This was the third native dynasty of ancient Iran and lasted five centuries. After the conquests of Media, Assyria, Babylonia and Elam, the Parthians had to organize their empire. The former elites of these countries were Greek, and the new rulers had to adapt to their customs if they wanted their rule to last. As a result, the cities retained their ancient rights and civil administrations remained more or less undisturbed.

Parthia was the arch-enemy of the Roman Empire in the east, limiting Rome's expansion beyond Cappadocia (central Anatolia). By using a heavily armed and armoured cataphract cavalry, and lightly armed but highly mobile mounted archers, the Parthians "held their own against Rome for almost 300 years".[53] Rome's acclaimed general Mark Antony led a disastrous campaign against the Parthians in 36?BC, in which he lost 32,000 men. By the time of Roman emperor Augustus, Rome and Parthia were settling some of their differences through diplomacy. By this time, Parthia had acquired an assortment of golden eagles, the cherished standards of Rome's legions, captured from Mark Antony, and Crassus, who was defeated by General Surena in the Battle of Carrhae in 53?BC.[54]

The end of the Parthian Empire came in 224?AD, when the empire was loosely organized and the last king was defeated by Ardashir I, one of the empire's vassals. Ardashir I then went on to create the Sassanid Empire. Soon he started reforming the country both economically and militarily. The Sassanids established an empire roughly within the frontiers achieved by the Achaemenids, referring to it as Er?nshahr or Iranshahr, Eranshahr.svg, "Dominion of the Iranians", (i.e. of Iranians), with their capital at Ctesiphon.[55] Unlike the diadochic Seleucids and the succeeding Arsacids, who used a vassalary system, the Sassanids?like the Achaemenids?had a system of governors (MP: shahrab) personally appointed by the Emperor and directed by the central government. The Romans suffered repeated losses particularly by Ardashir I, Shapur I, and Shapur II.[56] During their reign, Sassanid battles with the Roman Empire caused such pessimism in Rome that the historian Cassius Dio wrote:

? Here was a source of great fear to us. So formidable does the Sassanid king seem to our eastern legions, that some are liable to go over to him, and others are unwilling to fight at all.[57] ?

In 632 raiders from the Arab peninsula began attacking the Sassanid Empire. Iran was defeated in the Battle of al-Q?disiyyah, paving way for the Muslim conquest of Persia.

During the Parthian and later Sassanid eras, trade on the Silk Road was a significant factor in the development of the great civilizations of China, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, Indian subcontinent, and Rome, and helped to lay the foundations for the modern world. Parthian remains display classical Greek influences in some instances and retain their oriental mode in others, a clear expression of the cultural diversity that characterized Parthian art and life.[58]

The Parthians were innovators of many architecture designs such as that of Ctesiphon, which later influenced European Romanesque architecture.[59][60] Under the Sassanids, Iran expanded relations with China. Arts, music, and architecture greatly flourished, and centers such as the School of Nisibis and Academy of Gundishapur became world renowned centers of science and scholarship.

Middle Ages (652?1501)[link]

After the Muslim conquest of Persia, most of the urban lands of the Sassanid Empire, with the exception of Caspian provinces and Transoxiana, came under Islamic rule.[61] Many provinces in Iran defended themselves against the Arab invaders, although none in the end were able to repulse the invaders. However, when the Arabs had subdued the country, many of the cities rose in rebellion, killing Arab governors, although reinforcement by Arab armies succeeded in putting down the rebellions.

However, the Iranians' conversion to Islam was a complex process and is generally considered to have been gradual; the notion of force has largely been discredited,[62] although occasional acts of violence did take place, with Zoroastrian scriptures being burned and Zoroastrian priests being executed.[61][63]

By the 9th century, Islam became a dominant religion in Persia and the conversion of Iranians to Islam brought profound changes to their life and culture.[61] However, in some regions, such as the Fars province, Zoroastrianism remained strong up to the 9th century, although Sufis such as Abu Eshaq Kazeruni, the founder of Kazeruni Sufi order, brought mass conversion of Zoroastrians to Islam in the 10th century.[61]

During the Abbasid caliphate decline, independent[64][65] and semi-independent native Iranian dynasties arose in different parts of Persia including the Tahirids, Saffarids, Samanids, Afrighids, Ghurids, Sallarids, Justanids, Shaddadids and Buyids. Socially, the Arabs abolished the previous social class system of Sassanians while later, especially under the Ummayyads, another form of discrimination and exclusion against non-Arabs evolved.[66] In reaction to these, Abu Moslem, an Iranian[67][68] general, expelled the Umayyads from Damascus and helped the Abbasid caliphs to conquer Baghdad. The Abbasid caliphs frequently chose their Iranians as their "wazirs" (viziers), and Iranian governors acquired a certain amount of local autonomy. Thus in 822, the governor of Khorasan, Tahir, proclaimed his independence and founded a new Persian dynasty of Tahirids. And by the Samanid era, Iran's efforts to regain its independence had been well solidified.[69]

Attempts at Arabization thus never succeeded in Iran, and movements such as the Shu'ubiyya became catalysts for Iranians to regain their independence in their relations with the Arab invaders.[70] Other notable major revolts, some by Iranian Muslims and others by practitioners of old Iranian religions against Arab rule were led by Al-Muqanna, Sunpadh, Khurramites, Babak Khorramdin, Maziar, Mardavij, Ustadh Sis and Ya'qub-i Laith Saffari.

The cultural revival of the post-Abbasid period led to a resurfacing of Iranian national identity. The resulting cultural movement reached its peak during the 9th and 10th centuries. The most notable effect of the movement was the continuation of the Persian language, the official language of Iran to the present day. Ferdowsi, Iran's greatest epic poet, is regarded today as the most important figure in maintaining the Persian language. After an interval of silence Iran re-emerged as a separate, different and distinctive element within Islam.

In 1218, the eastern Khwarazmid provinces of Transoxiana and Khorasan suffered a devastating invasion by Genghis Khan. During this period more than half of Iran's population was killed,[71] turning the streets of Persian cities such as Nishapur into "rivers of blood", as the severed heads of men, women, and children were "neatly stacked into carefully constructed pyramids around which the carcasses of the city's dogs and cats were placed".[72]

According to Steven R. Ward, "Overall, the Mongol violence and depredations killed up to three-fourths of the population of the Iranian plateau, possibly 10 to 15 million people. Some historians have estimated that Iran's population did not again reach its pre-Mongol levels until the mid-20th century."[73] In a letter to King Louis IX of France, Holaku, one of the Genghis Khan's grandsons, took sole responsibility for 200,000 deaths in his raids of Iran and the Caliphate.[74] He was followed by yet another conqueror, Tamerlane, who established his capital in Samarkand.[75] The waves of devastation prevented many cities such as Nishapur from reaching their pre-invasion population levels until the 20th century, eight centuries later.[76]

In 1387, Tamerlane avenged a revolt in Isfahan by massacring 70,000 people.[77] But both Hulagu, Tamerlane, and their successors soon came to adopt the ways and customs of that which they had conquered, choosing to surround themselves with a culture that was distinctively Persian.[78] The mid-14th-century Black Death killed about 30% of the country's population.[79]

Iran was gradually Islamized after the collapse of the Sassanid Empire; however, it was not Arabized. Iranian culture re-emerged with a separate and distinctive character and made an immense contribution to the Islamic civilization.[80][81] When Islam came through Iran, what developed was an Iranian Islam or Persian Islam rather than the original Arab Islam, and this new Islam is sometimes referred to by scholars as Islam-i Ajam (Persian Islam).[80][82]

It was this Persian Islam and Sufism which was brought to new areas and new peoples such as the Turks of Central Asia, the Ottoman Empire, and the Indian subcontinent.[80] Among the major Iranian Muslims who cultivated Sufism and helped the spread of Islam through Sufism, one can mention Habib Ajami, Hallaj, Hasan Basri, Junayd Baghdadi, Bayazid Bastami, Maruf Karkhi, Abdul-Qadir Gilani, Moinuddin Chishti, Jalaluddin Rumi, Najmuddin Kubra, and Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari. Note should also be made of Abu Hanifa, the founder of the Hanafi school of thought which is followed by most Muslims today.

Arabic writer Ibn Khaldun has remarked that the sedentary culture which was necessary for the development of civilization was rooted in the Persian empire.[83]

One of the main developments after the advent of Islam in Iran was the rise of the New Persian language as an important Indo-European language. The New Persian language was an evolution of Middle Persian, which in turn was derived from Old Persian. New Persian absorbed a considerable amount of Arabic vocabulary[84][85] during this era, although the Arabic vocabulary that was Persianized[86] often took a different meaning than the Arabic origin. In terms of contribution to the Arabic language, Iranians like Sibawayhi[87] pioneered writing books of grammar of the Arabic language.

Culturally, Iranians preserved their language, while they used Arabic for scientific and philosophical discourses;[88] this enabled them to reach a worldwide audience for the first time.[88] After the 10th century, Persian, written in the modified Perso-Arabic script alongside Arabic, was used for scientific, philosophical, historical, mathematical, musical, and medical works, as important Iranian writers such as Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, Avicenna, Qotb al-Din Shirazi, Gurgani, Nasir Khusraw, Biruni, Abd al-Qadir Maraghi made contributions to Persian scientific writing.

During this era, Iranians continued on a much larger scale the cultural and scientific enterprises set up by the Sassanids.[89] The blossoming Persian literature, philosophy, medicine, and art became major elements in the forming Muslim civilization. The Islamic Golden Age, which is characterized by developments in science, owed to a large extent its importance to vital contributions made by Iranians.[90] The Islamic Golden Age reached its peak in the 10th and 11th centuries, during which Persia was the main theatre of scientific activity.[89] The Persian influence of this period relied heavily upon the achievements of the Sassanids, and the weight of this influence has led the Muslim world to accept Islamic civilization as the Perso-Islamic civilization.[91]

Even in the development of Arabic scientific prose itself, which differs in style from that of the Quran, Persian scholars such as Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffa? had a major role. Indeed, the class of clerks and civil administrators that was responsible for the cultivation of the sciences in the early Islamic centuries consisted mostly of Persians.[92] The contributions of Iranians to the Arabic language are however not limited to scientific prose but are also found in Arabic poetry. The contributions by Iranians are characterised as "the lively and graceful fancy, elegance of diction, depth and tenderness of feeling, and a rich store of ideas".[93]

Iranian philosophy after the Islamic conquest is characterized by different interactions with Old Iranian philosophy, with Ancient Greek philosophy, and with the development of Islamic philosophy. Illuminationism and transcendent theosophy are regarded as two of the main philosophical traditions of this era in Persia. These movements continued well into the 11th century, during which the Nizamiyya University was founded, and hundreds of Iranian scholars and scientists contributed greatly to technology, science, and medicine, later influencing the rise of European sciences during the Renaissance.[94]

Early modern era (1501?1925)[link]

Iran's first encompassing Shia Islamic state was established under the Safavid dynasty (1501?1722) by Shah Ismail I. The Safavid dynasty soon became a major political power and promoted the flow of bilateral state contacts. The Safavid peak was during the rule of Shah Abbas The Great.[27] The Safavid dynasty frequently warred with the Ottoman Empire, Uzbek tribes and the Portuguese Empire.

The Safavids moved their capital from Tabriz to Qazvin and then to Isfahan, where their patronage for the arts propelled Iran into one of its most aesthetically productive eras. Under their rule, the state became highly centralized, the first attempts to modernize the military were made, and even a distinct style of architecture developed. In 1722 Pashtun rebels headed by the Hotakis of Kandahar defeated Sultan Husayn and ended the Safavid dynasty, but in 1735, Nader Shah successfully drove out the Pashtuns from Isfahan and established the Afsharid Dynasty.

He then staged an incursion into India in 1738, securing the Peacock Throne, Koh-i-Noor, and Darya-ye Noor among other royal treasures. His rule did not last long, however, as he was assassinated in 1747. The Mashhad based Afshar Dynasty was succeeded by the Zand dynasty in 1750, founded by Karim Khan, who established his capital at Shiraz. His rule brought a period of relative peace and renewed prosperity.

The Zand dynasty lasted three generations, until Aga Muhammad Khan executed Lotf Ali Khan, and founded his new capital in Tehran, marking the dawn of the Qajar dynasty in 1794. The Qajar chancellor Amir Kabir established Iran's first modern college system, among other modernizing reforms. Iran suffered several wars with Imperial Russia during the Qajar era, resulting in Iran losing almost half of its territories to Imperial Russia and the British Empire, via the treaties of Gulistan, Turkmenchay and Akhal. The Great Persian Famine of 1870?1871 is believed to have caused the death of 2 million persons.[95]

In spite of The Great Game Iran managed to maintain her sovereignty and was never colonized, unlike neighbouring states in the region. Repeated foreign intervention and a corrupt and weakened Qajar rule led to various protests and constitutionalization efforts which eventually resulted in the establishment of the nation's first parliament in 1906. This was followed by the Jangal movement of Gilan which lead to the short-lived Gilan Republic.

Pahlavi dynasty (1925?1979)[link]

In 1925, Reza Khan overthrew the weakening Qajar dynasty and became Shah. Rez? Sh?h initiated industrialization, railroad construction, and the establishment of a national education system. Rez? Sh?h sought to balance Russian and British influence, but when World War II started, his nascent ties to Germany alarmed Britain and Russia. In 1941, Britain and the USSR invaded Iran to use Iranian railroad capacity during World War II. The Shah was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

In 1951, after the assassination of prime minister Ali Razmara, Dr. Mohammad Mosaddegh was elected prime minister by a parliamentary vote which was then ratified by the Shah. As prime minister, Mosaddegh became enormously popular in Iran after he nationalized Iran's petroleum industry and oil reserves. In response, the British government, headed by Winston Churchill, embargoed Iranian oil and successfully enlisted the United States to join in a plot to depose the democratically elected government of Mosaddegh. In 1953 US President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized Operation Ajax. The operation was successful, and Mosaddegh was arrested on 19 August 1953. The coup was the first time the US had openly overthrown an elected, civilian government.[96]

After Operation Ajax, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's rule became increasingly autocratic. With American support, the Shah was able to rapidly modernize Iranian infrastructure, but he simultaneously crushed all forms of political opposition with his intelligence agency, SAVAK. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini became an active critic of the Shah's White Revolution and publicly denounced the government.

Khomeini was arrested and imprisoned for 18 months. After his release in 1964 Khomeini publicly criticized the United States government. The Shah was persuaded to send him into exile by General Hassan Pakravan. Khomeini was sent first to Turkey, then to Iraq and finally to France. While in exile, he continued to denounce the Shah.

Islamic Republic (1979?present)[link]

The Iranian Revolution, also known as the Islamic Revolution,[97][98][99] began in January 1978 with the first major demonstrations against the Shah.[100] After strikes and demonstrations paralyzed the country and its economy, the Shah fled the country in January 1979 and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile to Tehran. The Pahlavi dynasty collapsed ten days later, on 11 February, when Iran's military declared itself "neutral" after guerrillas and rebel troops overwhelmed troops loyal to the Shah in armed street fighting. Iran officially became an Islamic Republic on 1 April 1979, when Iranians overwhelmingly approved a national referendum to make it so.[28][29] In parallel nation wide uprisings against the new regime erupted in Kordestan, Khuzestan, Balochistan and other areas, though were eventually subdued, with some lasting until late 1980.

In December 1979, the country approved a theocratic constitution, whereby Khomeini became Supreme Leader of the country. The speed and success of the revolution surprised many throughout the world,[101] as it had not been precipitated by a military defeat, a financial crisis, or a peasant rebellion.[102] Although both nationalists and Marxists joined with Islamic traditionalists to overthrow the Shah, tens of thousands were killed and executed by the Islamic regime afterward, and the revolution ultimately resulted in an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.[103]

Iran ? United States relations deteriorated rapidly during the revolution. On 4 November 1979, a group of Iranian students seized US embassy personnel, labeling the embassy a "den of spies".[104] They accused its personnel of being CIA agents plotting to overthrow the revolutionary government, as the CIA had done to Mosaddegh in 1953. While the student ringleaders had not asked for permission from Khomeini to seize the embassy, Khomeini nonetheless supported the embassy takeover after hearing of its success.[105]

While most of the female and African American hostages were released within the first months,[105] the remaining 52 hostages were held for 444 days. Subsequent attempts by the Jimmy Carter administration to negotiate or rescue were unsuccessful. In January 1981 the hostages were set free according to the Algiers Accords.

Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein decided to take advantage of what he perceived to be disorder in the wake of the Iranian Revolution and its unpopularity with Western governments. The once-strong Iranian military had been disbanded during the revolution. Saddam sought to expand Iraq's access to the Persian Gulf by acquiring territories that Iraq had claimed earlier from Iran during the Shah's rule. Of chief importance to Iraq was Khuzestan, which not only has a substantial Arab population, but boasted rich oil fields as well. On the unilateral behalf of the United Arab Emirates, the islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs became objectives as well. On 22 September 1980 the Iraqi army invaded Iran at Khuzestan, precipitating the Iran?Iraq War.

Although Saddam Hussein's forces made several early advances, by 1982, Iranian forces managed to push the Iraqi army back into Iraq, allying with the Iraqi Kurds, who rose up in rebellion against Saddam. Khomeini sought to export his Islamic revolution westward into Iraq, especially on the majority Shia Arabs living in the country. The war then continued for six more years until 1988, when Khomeini, in his words, "drank the cup of poison" and accepted a truce mediated by the United Nations. The total Iranian casualties of the war were estimated to be anywhere between 500,000 and 1,000,000; with more than 100,000 Iranians being victims of Iraq's chemical weapons.[107][verification needed] Almost all relevant international agencies have confirmed that Saddam engaged in chemical warfare to blunt Iranian human wave attacks; these agencies unanimously confirmed that Iran never used chemical weapons during the war.[108][109][110][verification needed]

Following the Iran?Iraq War President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and his administration concentrated on a pragmatic pro-business policy of rebuilding and strengthening the economy without making any dramatic break with the ideology of the revolution. Rafsanjani served until 1997 when he was succeeded by the moderate reformist Mohammad Khatami. During his two terms as president, Khatami advocated freedom of expression, tolerance and civil society, constructive diplomatic relations with other states including European Union and Asian governments, and an economic policy that supported free market and foreign investment. However, Khatami is widely regarded as having been unsuccessful in achieving his goal of making Iran more free and democratic.[111]

In the 2005 presidential elections, Iran made yet another change in political direction, when conservative populist candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected over Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.[112]

A significant challenge to Ahmadinejad's political power, and the foundations of the Islamic Republic itself occurred during the 2009 Iranian presidential election that was held on 12 June 2009,[113] the tenth presidential election to be held in the country.[114] The Interior Ministry, announced incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won the election with 62.63% receiving 24.5 million vote, while Mir-Hossein Mousavi had come in second place with 13.2 million votes 33.75%.[115][116] There were large irregularities in the results and people were surprised by them, which resulted in protests gathering millions of Iranians in every Iranian city and around the world.[117][118]

Iran is the eighteenth largest country in the world,[119] with an area of 1,648,000 km2 (636,000 sq?mi).[120]

Its area roughly equals that of the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Germany combined, or somewhat more than the US state of Alaska.[121] Iran lies between latitudes 24? and 40? N, and longitudes 44? and 64? E. Its borders are with Azerbaijan (611?km/380?mi (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave (179?km/111?mi ))[122] and Armenia (35?km/22?mi) to the north-west; the Caspian Sea to the north; Turkmenistan (992?km/616?mi) to the north-east; Pakistan (909?km/565?mi) and Afghanistan (936?km/582?mi) to the east; Turkey (499?km/310?mi) and Iraq (1,458?km/906?mi) to the west; and finally the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the south.

Iran consists of the Iranian Plateau with the exception of the coasts of the Caspian Sea and Khuzestan Province. It is one of the world's most mountainous countries, its landscape dominated by rugged mountain ranges that separate various basins or plateaux from one another. The populous western part is the most mountainous, with ranges such as the Caucasus, Zagros and Alborz Mountains; the last contains Iran's highest point, Mount Damavand, Babol at 5,610?m (18,406?ft), which is also the highest mountain on the Eurasian landmass west of the Hindu Kush.[123]

The northern part of Iran is covered by dense rain forests called Shomal or the Jungles of Iran. The eastern part consists mostly of desert basins such as the Dasht-e Kavir, Iran's largest desert, in the north-central portion of the country, and the Dasht-e Lut, in the east, as well as some salt lakes. This is because the mountain ranges are too high for rain clouds to reach these regions. The only large plains are found along the coast of the Caspian Sea and at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, where Iran borders the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab (or the Arvand R?d) river. Smaller, discontinuous plains are found along the remaining coast of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

Climate[link]

Simplified Climatic Map of Iran

??Caspian Mild

??Mountains

??Arid and Semi-Arid

Iran's climate ranges from arid or semiarid, to subtropical along the Caspian coast and the northern forests. On the northern edge of the country (the Caspian coastal plain) temperatures rarely fall below freezing and the area remains humid for the rest of the year. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 29 ?C (84.2??F).[124][125] Annual precipitation is 680?mm (26.8?in) in the eastern part of the plain and more than 1,700?mm (66.9?in) in the western part.

To the west, settlements in the Zagros basin experience lower temperatures, severe winters with below zero average daily temperatures and heavy snowfall. The eastern and central basins are arid, with less than 200?mm (7.9?in) of rain, and have occasional deserts.[125] Average summer temperatures exceed 38 ?C (100.4??F). The coastal plains of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman in southern Iran have mild winters, and very humid and hot summers. The annual precipitation ranges from 135 to 355 mm (5.3 to 14.0 in).[125]

Fauna[link]

Iran's wildlife is composed of several animal species including bears, gazelles, wild pigs, wolves, jackals, panthers, Eurasian Lynx, and foxes. Domestic animals include, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, water buffalo, donkeys, and camels. The pheasant, partridge, stork, eagles and falcon are also native to Iran.

One of the most famous members of Iranian wildlife is the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah, also known as the Iranian Cheetah, whose numbers were greatly reduced after the Iranian Revolution. Today there are ongoing efforts to increase its population and introduce it back in India. Iran had lost all its Asiatic Lion and the now extinct Caspian Tigers by the earlier part of the 20th century.[126]

Provinces and cities[link]

Iran is divided into thirty one provinces (ost?n), each governed by an appointed governor (????????, ost?nd?r). The provinces are divided into counties (shahrest?n), and subdivided into districts (bakhsh) and sub-districts (dehest?n).

Iran has one of the highest urban growth rates in the world. From 1950 to 2002, the urban proportion of the population increased from 27% to 60%.[127] The United Nations predicts that by 2030, 80% of the population will be urban.[128] Most internal migrants have settled near the cities of Tehran, Isfahan, Ahvaz, and Qom. The listed populations are from the 2006/07 (1385 AP) census.[129] Tehran, with a population of 7,705,036, is the largest city in Iran and is the capital. Tehran, like many big cities, suffers from severe air pollution. It is the hub of the country's communication and transport network.

Mashhad, with a population of 2,410,800, is the second largest Iranian city and the centre of the Razavi Khorasan Province. Mashhad is one of the holiest Shia cities in the world as it is the site of the Imam Reza shrine. It is the centre of tourism in Iran, and between 15 and 20 million pilgrims go to the Imam Reza's shrine every year.[130][131]

Another major Iranian city is Isfahan (population 1,583,609), which is the capital of Isfahan Province. The Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The city contains a wide variety of Islamic architectural sites ranging from the 11th to the 19th century. The growth of the suburban area around the city has turned Isfahan into Iran's second most populous metropolitan area (3,430,353).[132]

The fourth major city of Iran is Tabriz (population 1,378,935), the capital of the East Azerbaijan Province. It is also the second industrial city of Iran after Tehran. Tabriz had been the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s and one of its former capitals and residence of the crown prince under the Qajar dynasty. The city has proven extremely influential in the country?s recent history.

The fifth major city is Karaj (population 1,377,450), located in Alborz Province and situated 20?km west of Tehran, at the foot of the Alborz mountains; however, the city is increasingly becoming an extension of metropolitan Tehran.

The sixth major Iranian city is Shiraz (population 1,214,808); it is the capital of Fars Province. The Elamite civilization to the west greatly influenced the area, which soon came to be known as Persis. The ancient Persians were present in the region from about the 9th century BC, and became rulers of a large empire under the Achaemenid dynasty in the 6th century BC. The ruins of Persepolis and Pasargadae, two of the four capitals of the Achaemenid Empire, are located in or near Shiraz. Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire and is situated 70 km northeast of modern Shiraz. UNESCO declared the citadel of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979.

Largest cities or towns of Iran
Statistical Center of Iran: Results of national census, 2012 [133]
Rank City name Province Pop. Rank City name Province Pop.
Tehran
Tehran

Mashhadhttp://article.wn.com/view/2013/07/14/Israeli_Leader_Dont_Trust_New_Iranian_President_k7/

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