Oil jumps 4 percent on Iran anxiety (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) ? Oil prices surged on Tuesday, with U.S. crude hitting the highest settlement since May, fueled by strong economic data from the United States and China and mounting concern about supply disruption from Iran.

Brent crude jumped $5 in late activity as markets latched on to data showing U.S. construction spending near a 1-1/2 year peak in November and China manufacturing data that eased concerns of a slowdown in the world's No. 2 oil consumer.

Tuesday's gains on the first day of trading in the new year added to Brent's 13 percent rise in 2011, with support in recent weeks coming from Iranian threat's to choke of crude oil shipments through the strategic Strait of Hormuz in Tehran's ongoing standoff with the West.

"The supportive economic data and the geopolitical concerns are furthering the crude oil rally," said John Kilduff, partner at hedge fund Again Capital LLC in New York.

"The temperature is going up every day now on the Iran situation -- new sanctions, new missile launches, and saber rattling are all contributing," Kilduff added. (.N)

Brent February crude rose $4.75 to settle at $112.13 barrel, the highest close since the November 15 settlement at $112.39. It reached as high as $112.44 a barrel in post-settlement activity.

U.S. February crude rose $4.13 to settle at $102.96 a barrel, the highest close since May 10, after reaching a high of $103.37 earlier -- the highest intraday level since November 17.

Crude futures trading volumes rebounded after two weeks of thin holiday trading. Brent volume climbed 29 percent above its 30-day average, with U.S. volume 32 percent above its 30-day average.

U.S. heating oil jumped more than 4 percent and U.S. gasoline futures gained after European refiner Petroplus (PPHN.S) announced it may have shut down 3 refineries, with combined throughput capacity of nearly 340,000 barrels per day (bpd), after the company was hit by a credit freeze.

Workers at the Petroplus Petit Couronne refinery in France will meet union representatives from nearby refineries on Wednesday to decide whether to call for strike action after temporary shutdowns announced for the three plants.

THREATS TO OIL SUPPLY

Tensions between the West and Tehran, which stem from Iran's nuclear program, rose further as new U.S. and European Union financial sanctions began to take a toll on the OPEC member's economy.

Iran last week threatened to cut of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, through which 35 percent of seaborne oil shipments travels. Iran on Tuesday threatened to act if the U.S. Navy carried through with plans to send an aircraft carrier back into the Gulf.

Trouble in fellow OPEC member added to oil market supply concerns. Nigeria's president declared a state of emergency in parts of the north affected by an Islamist insurgency after a series of bombs set off on Christmas Day.

In addition, Nigeria's fuel subsidies were ended on Sunday and prompted unions to call for strikes and protests.

U.S. OIL INVENTORIES

Weekly reports on U.S. oil inventories will be delayed by Monday's holiday. U.S. crude stocks were expected to have fallen, with distillate and gasoline stockpiles up last week, according to a preliminary survey of analysts on Tuesday.

The industry group American Petroleum Institute's inventory data is due at 4:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT) on Wednesday, with the U.S. Energy Information Administration data following on Thursday morning.

(Additional reporting by Christopher Johnson in London and Florence Tan in Singapore; Editing by Alden Bentley; Marguerita Choy, Matthew Robinson and David Gregorio)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/energy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120103/bs_nm/us_markets_oil

tom brady packers green bay packers tim tebow chiefs kc chiefs kc chiefs

Elizabeth Banks: Our Surrogate Is "Still in Our Lives" (omg!)

Elizabeth Banks surprised fans last March when she announced the arrival of her son Felix, born via surrogate. But according to the 37-year-old Hunger Games star, her family's new addition was a long time coming.

PHOTOS: Celebs who welcomed children through surrogacy

"It was a womb issue for me. Embryos wouldn't implant," Banks tells the February issue of Lucky. "It's a big leap, inviting this person into your life to do this amazing, important thing for you. And it's hard losing that kind of control. But our surrogate is so extraordinary, and she's still in our lives. She like an auntie."

PHOTOS: See the Hunger Games cast in costume

Banks, who fell "madly in love" with husband Max Handelman at age 18, hopes her son maintains his sense of wonder and adventure as he grows up.

"My plan is that when Felix is 15, we'll go skydiving together," she says. "I mean, the guy is fierce and fearless, and I'm hoping he stays that way. Because I want to be that mom. The one who takes her kid skydiving."

VIDEO: Watch The Hunger Games trailer

Until then, Banks is focusing on her acting career -- which includes a role in the highly-anticipated Hunger Games trilogy and a new TV show, Dave's Dead.

"It's a buddy comedy," Banks says of Dave's Dead. "It's basically Two and a Half Men but if Charlie Sheen were dead and constantly in a different body."

Get more Us! Follow us on Twitter, Friend us on Facebook, Subscribe to Us Weekly

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_elizabeth_banks_surrogate_still_lives203101889/44064987/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/elizabeth-banks-surrogate-still-lives-203101889.html

darrell hammond darrell hammond boxer rebellion boxer rebellion stanford football lsu football schedule lsu football schedule

18 Occupy protesters arrested at Iowa campaign HQs (AP)

URBANDALE, Iowa ? Eighteen protesters connected to the nationwide Occupy movement were arrested Saturday outside the presidential campaign headquarters of Republicans Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.

Local police in suburban Des Moines, Iowa, say the 16 adults and two juveniles were arrested for trespass, a simple misdemeanor. Most were released later Saturday.

Dozens of demonstrators massed outside the office where Bachmann had come to rally staff and make calls to potential caucus-goers. Campaign security told the protesters not to approach the office.

Urbandale police Lt. Kent Knopf said the 10 Occupy demonstrators were arrested, handcuffed and taken away in squad cars from Bachmann's office after they ignored security, who called police.

Bachmann did not come outside of the building, but she laughed off the disruption. "The people who are outside are the president's re-election advance team," she told reporters and others inside the office.

One young demonstrator, a 16-year-old high school student who was among those arrested in front of Bachmann's office, said she wished the candidate had come out and heard her concerns about the cost of higher education, the war in Afghanistan and the national debt.

The protesters moved on to Texas Gov. Rick Perry's campaign office, where no arrests were reported, and then on to Gingrich's office, where five more arrests were made. The demonstration shifted to Santorum's office, where three more were arrested.

Hundreds of Occupy activists from at least 10 states were expected to participate in a "People's Caucus" in Des Moines as the Jan. 3 caucuses near. The activists are promising to interrupt candidates at events and camp out at their Iowa campaign offices.

The congresswoman from Minnesota is far back in public opinion polls as the first vote in the Republican nominating season begins, but insisting that a surprise is coming on Tuesday.

"I'm believing in a miracle because I know the one who gives miracles," she said in an interview being taped for ABC News.

Bachmann didn't venture outside the Des Moines-area on Saturday; her only public event on Sunday is an appearance at the Oskaloosa church where she has the pastor's support.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111231/ap_on_el_pr/us_bachmann_protests

usc football cybermonday coach outlet apostasy canon powershot elph 300 hs christmas lights canon eos rebel t3

No. 10 Florida rolls to 90-70 win over Yale

GAINESVILLE, Fla. ? Kenny Boynton?s 26 points led No. 10 Florida to a 90-70 victory over Yale on Saturday less than 40 hours after the Gators were upset at Rutgers.

Patrick Young added 19 points and Erik Murphy had 18 for Florida (11-3), while Bradley Beal had 11.

Greg Mangano led Yale (8-4) with 26 points and Austin Morgan added 10. Mangano?s game-high 15 rebounds helped the Bulldogs to a 37-32 rebound advantage.

Boynton, who matched his season-high in scoring, had 18 points by halftime as the Gators took a 46-35 lead. Florida held its biggest lead at 83-57 with 4:04 left.

The Gators didn?t show any signs of a hangover from its 85-83 double-overtime loss at Rutgers on Thursday.

Boynton, who came into the game averaging 18.9 points, had a big first half making 6 of 7 shots, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range.

Florida took the lead for keeps at 13-12 on a basket by Murphy after Yale started the game by making three straight 3-point shots to grab a 9-0 lead in the opening 2 minutes.

Yale hit 9 of 14 from 3-point range in the opening half to keep the score respectable with the 6-foot-10 Mangano perfect on three tries from long distance. Mangano had 11 points and seven rebounds in the first half.

Both teams shot well from 3-point range. Yale connected on 11 of 21 with Mangano hitting 5 of 7, while Florida was 12 of 21 with Boynton and Murphy each good on 5 of 7.

Florida shot 53.4 percent overall to Yale?s 42.9 percent.

Both teams were coming off tough road losses Thursday night. Yale rallied from a 19-point deficit before having a six-game winning streak snapped at Wake Forest.

The Gators blew a seven-point lead in the final 3 minutes of regulation and a three-point lead with less than 20 seconds to go in the first overtime before losing at Rutgers. All three of Florida?s losses this season have come on the road, the others against Syracuse and Ohio State, the nation?s Nos. 1 and 2 teams. The Gators are 8-0 at home and 3-0 at neutral sites.

? Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bostonherald/sports/~3/Tyi_xm2obZk/view.bg

hocus pocus hocus pocus bj penn roasted pumpkin seeds roasted pumpkin seeds pumpkin seed recipe mark madoff

Rachel Uchitel: Expecting a Girl!

Rachel Uchitel, who confirmed she's expecting with an oh-so-cute Tweet earlier this week, is having a girl. That ought to make for some interesting conversations someday when the younger Uchitel decides to Google mom.

She and husband Matt Hahn are very excited about the female bundle of joy and are already stocking up preparing for her arrival. Rache is five months along.

It was TMZ who first scooped the sex of the baby. Don't ask us how, but those guys are never wrong. Maybe they just got ahold of the wedding registry.

Uchitel, whose affair with Tiger Woods, and before that David Boreanaz - both men were married with children at the time - put her on the map, is due in April.

Congratulations and good luck to Matt Hahn - you'll need it B!

[Photo: WENN.com]

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/12/rachel-uchitel-expecting-a-girl/

carlos the jackal namibia namibia hell on wheels hell on wheels new york city marathon andy williams

Moon countdown: Hours until 1st NASA probe arrives (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? NASA is counting down the seconds until its twin spacecraft bound for the moon make back-to-back arrivals over the New Year's weekend.

The washing machine-size probes have been cruising independently toward their destination since launching in September aboard the same rocket on a mission to measure lunar gravity.

Approaching the moon from the south pole, the Grail spacecraft ? short for Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory ? won't land on the surface, but will survey from orbit.

On New Year's Eve, Grail-A was poised to fire its engine for more than a half hour to slow itself and get captured into orbit. Grail-B will follow suit on New Year's Day.

Deep space antennas in the California desert and Madrid will track the tricky maneuvers and feed real-time updates to ground controllers.

"The anxiety level is heightened," project manager David Lehman of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory said earlier this week.

Grail is the 110th mission to target the moon since the dawn of the Space Age including the six Apollo moon landings that put 12 astronauts on the surface. Despite the attention the moon has received, scientists don't know everything about Earth's nearest neighbor.

Why the moon is ever so slightly lopsided with the far side more mountainous than the side that always faces Earth remains a mystery. A theory put forth earlier this year suggested that Earth once had two moons that collided early in the solar system's history, producing the hummocky region.

Grail is expected to help researchers better understand why the moon is asymmetrical and how it formed by mapping the uneven lunar gravity field that will indicate what's below the surface.

"It seems that the answer is not on the surface," said chief scientist Maria Zuber of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "We think that the answer is locked in the interior."

Previous lunar missions have attempted to study the moon's gravity ? which is about one-sixth Earth's pull ? with mixed results. Grail is the first mission devoted to this goal.

Once in orbit, the near-identical spacecraft will spend the next two months refining their positions until they are just 34 miles above the surface and flying in formation. Data collection will begin in March.

The $496 million mission will be closely watched by schoolchildren. An effort by Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, will allow middle school students to use cameras aboard the probes to zoom in and pick out their favorite lunar spots to photograph.

Despite the latest focus on the moon, NASA won't be sending astronauts back anytime soon. The Obama administration last year nixed a lunar return in favor of landing humans on an asteroid and eventually Mars.

A jaunt to the moon ? about 250,000 miles away from Earth ? is usually speedy. It took the Apollo astronauts three days to zip there aboard the powerful Saturn V rocket. Since NASA wanted to economize by launching on a small rocket, it took Grail a leisurely 3 1/2 months to make the trip covering 2 1/2 million miles.

NASA's last moonshot occurred in 2009 with the launch of a pair of spacecraft ? one that circled the moon and another that deliberately crashed into the surface and uncovered frozen water in one of the permanently shadowed lunar craters.

___

Online:

Mission: http://grail.nasa.gov

___

Follow Alicia Chang's coverage at http://www.twitter.com/SciWriAlicia

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/space/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111231/ap_on_sc/us_sci_nasa_moonshot

marco rubio marco rubio no shave november miranda lambert kim kardashian divorce generators generators

Top 20 Concert Tours from Pollstar (AP)

The Top 20 Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows in North America. The previous week's ranking is in parentheses. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.

TOP 20 CONCERT TOURS

1. (1) Kanye West / Jay-Z; $2,243,684; $120.57.

2. (2) Cirque du Soleil ? "Michael Jackson: The Immortal"; $1,924,258; $116.04.

3. (3) Taylor Swift; $1,281,481; $68.89.

4. (4) Enrique Iglesias; $780,382; $69.09.

5. (7) Foo Fighters; $686,129; $49.41.

6. (5) Journey; $677,924; $59.35.

7. (6) Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band; $671,909; $67.88.

8. (8) Keith Urban; $562,494; $60.08.

9. (9) Caifanes; $515,338; $47.84.

10. (New) Trans-Siberian Orchestra; $499,628; $47.67.

11. (11) Sting; $475,037; $92.43.

12. (12) Furthur; $443,639; $51.89.

13. (13) Guns N' Roses; $415,202; $52.44.

14. (14) Andre Rieu; $372,293; $74.30.

15. (15) Deadmau5; $356,388; $47.05.

16. (17) Duran Duran; $288,046; $73.98.

17. (16) Tiesto; $271,114; $49.68.

18. (18) Paul Simon; $254,164; $76.88.

19. (19) Jeff Dunham; $251,471; $46.79.

20. (20) Roger Daltrey; $235,006; $80.61.

For free upcoming tour information, go to http://www.pollstar.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111229/ap_en_mu/us_top20_concert_tours

garmin nuvi 1450 amzn tommy john surgery colorado weather alcohol poisoning alcohol poisoning mark ingram