Kerry: Window on Iran not open 'indefinitely'

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, second from right, is greeted as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, second from left, speaks with an advisor before the start of their meeting at Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday, March 4, 2013. Saudi Arabia is the seventh leg of Kerry's first official overseas trip. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, second from right, is greeted as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, second from left, speaks with an advisor before the start of their meeting at Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday, March 4, 2013. Saudi Arabia is the seventh leg of Kerry's first official overseas trip. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, meets with Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah at Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday, March 4, 2013. Saudi Arabia is the seventh leg of Kerry's first official overseas trip. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry drinks coffee with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, during a welcoming ceremony on his arrival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, March 3, 2013. Saudi Arabia is the seventh leg of Kerry's first official overseas trip. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) ? U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in Saudi Arabia for talks with Saudi and Gulf Arab officials, said Monday the window of opportunity for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear problem "cannot by definition remain open indefinitely."

But Kerry, who was meeting in Riyadh with the foreign ministers of Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman as well as the Saudi crown prince and foreign minister, added that "there is time to resolve this issue providing the Iranians are prepared to engage seriously" on proposals to defuse it.

"But talks will not go on for the sake of talks and talks cannot become an instrument for delay that will make the situation more dangerous," he said. Kerry said he and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal "discussed our shared determination to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon."

Saud said that Saudi Arabia "supports the efforts to resolve the crisis diplomatically in order to alleviate all doubts surrounding the program."

"Therefore, we hope that the negotiations will result in putting an end to this problem rather than containing it," he said, "taking into account that the clock is ticking and negotiations cannot go on forever."

In addition to Iran, Kerry, who is on his first overseas trip as secretary of state after succeeding Hillary Rodham Clinton, also held discussions about the situation in violence-torn Syria. He repeated U.S. pressure on Syria's President Bashar Assad to step down, saying that Assad "is destroying his country ? and his people in the process ? to hold onto power that is not his anymore."

"The United States will continue to work with our friends to empower the Syrian opposition to hopefully be able to bring about a peaceful resolution, but if not, to increase pressure on Assad," he said. The United States last week agreed to increase non-lethal aid to Syrian opposition groups.

Saudi Arabia and several other Gulf states are believed to be involved in shipping weapons to Syrian rebels, who have yet to receive lethal aid from the West. They share deep U.S. concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions and increasing assertiveness in the region.

Saud said that in the talks here Monday, "The Kingdom stressed the importance of enabling the Syrian people to exercise its legitimate right to defend itself against the regime's killing regime."

"Saudi Arabia will do everything within its capacity, and we do believe that what is happening in Syria is a slaughter," he said, "... and we can't bring ourselves to remain quiet. Morally we have a duty."

Kerry also was to meet in Riyadh with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who is visiting the Saudi capital. Kerry's working lunch with Abbas was coming two weeks before the secretary is to accompany President Barack Obama to Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan to explore ways of restarting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Kerry travels next to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar before returning to Washington Wednesday.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-03-04-Kerry/id-a40395ba5b9d4348909b0c8b729e76db

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OBAMA'S PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION DREAM: SOCIALIST PLAN ...

There is little or no doubt in my mind that international socialists and communists understand the political value of indoctrinating children at a young age to accept authority and to inculcate social values which seem as a ?normal? reference point as the child age. Teaching children that the collective is more important to society than the individual, that America has not always been a good ?world? citizen, or that we need to accept sacrifice in order to achieve social justice.

Not to mention that if pre-school education becomes mandatory, the state will use their current unionized teachers mechanism to certify, monitor and control all pre-school teachers. In effect, insuring an expansion of a corrupt, socialist union environment which is rapidly bankrupting municipalities, states and the federal government with unfunded pension liabilities.

Most parents view pre-school programs as government-subsidized day care rather than a real educational opportunity.

Pre-school ?head start? programs cannot be cost-justified ?

There is little reason to believe President Obama?s assertion that every dollar invested in quality early education can save more than seven dollars later on. In fact, Obama, with his proven penchant for lying to the American people for political advantage, makes one wonder if he is in ?campaign mode? or telling the truth.

In his own words: platitudes and unrealistic expectations ?

?Every dollar we invest in high-quality early education can save more than seven dollars later on -- boosting graduation rates, reducing teen pregnancy, reducing violent crime. In states like Georgia that have made it a priority to educate our youngest children, states like Oklahoma, students don?t just show up in kindergarten and first grade more prepared to learn, they're also more likely to grow up reading and doing math at grade level, graduating from high school, holding a job, even forming more stable families.

What the President is basing his assumptions on are two old social science studies known as the Perry project (1962)? (123 students) and the ABC Project (1972-1985) (111 children) which are dated and may not be relevant to today?s cultural and educational environment. Considering just the change in playground dynamics or the behaviors of children makes these studies irrelevant today. It should also be noted that these were very small studies and very intrusive into family lives ? conditions that are unlikely to scale today.

There is no current statistical proof that a program that has not been implemented yet can increase graduation rates, affect holding a job or produce more stable families in the inner cities. And, to believe that this is possible would require a fundamental shift in community dynamics where the prevailing attitude among youth is anti-education, anti-achievement, pro-victimhood, pro-irresponsibility. One might ask, how such a so-called ?religious? community dominated by faith-based community activists could tolerate so much antisocial and immoral behavior?

And then, at a certain point -- I bet a lot of teachers have seen this -- kids aren't stupid. They know they?re behind at a certain point, and then they start pulling back, and they act like they're disinterested in school because they're frustrated that they're not doing as well as they should, and then you may lose them.? Read the entire Obama speech here.

Apparently, the President picked Georgia because of their state-run pre-school program. A costly program which is unlikely to be replicated elsewhere.

Rank hypocrisy and demagoguery ?

Every dollar we invest in high-quality early education can save more than seven dollars later on -- boosting graduation rates, reducing teen pregnancy, reducing violent crime. In states like Georgia that have made it a priority to educate our youngest children, states like Oklahoma, students don?t just show up in kindergarten and first grade more prepared to learn, they're also more likely to grow up reading and doing math at grade level, graduating from high school, holding a job, even forming more stable families.

Hope is found in what works. This works. We know it works. If you are looking for a good bang for your educational buck, this is it right here. (Applause.)

Yes, Mr. President, we can look about our nation and see what your promises of ?hope and change? have wrought. But, the biggest problem is the President?s hypocrisy and demagoguery.

But, the real bottom line is that our failed educational system is not doing a good job of educating the children in their charge now ? and that adding additional children to this broken system is unlikely to make any measurable change. Has anyone noticed that between 1970 and 2010 there was a 375% (in inflation-adjusted dollars) increase in educational spending and both reading and math test scores (in spite of teaching to the test and altering the test criteria) remain flat over the same period. <Source>

Consider why children do not excel at school.

1. Their home life is chaotic, lack of parental supervision, parents who cannot assist in doing homework, parents who are too tired to be involved with school activities.
2. There culture is one which does not promote educational achievement. How many people have seen Asian immigrants, poor and unable to speak the language, push their children towards educational excellence? How many people have seen recently-arrived immigrants find jobs and work themselves out of poverty within a single generation? Why is it that President Obama?s core minority constituency, the Black and Hispanic communities, fail to achieve the same level of growth? Could it be because these cultures promote ethnicity over education? Because these cultures promote victimhood over achievement? Because these cultures promote a sense of ?machismo? which demands a violent response to every real and imagined insult ? and lack of respect?
3. Teachers unions are about achieving membership and pension contributions rather than teaching children.
4. Governmental ?social policies? are aimed at dumbing down the population lest they question the effectiveness and efficiency of a corrupt political class who runs government for their own benefit.

If the government really had the answer, why is their chaos in the classroom when it comes to classroom discipline? Why are the facilities allowed to continue to crumble as graffiti and vandalism are tolerated as a means of employing additional unionized people to clean up the mess? Why are some janitors paid as much as teachers? Why are textbooks so damn expensive when the material has been well-known and proven over decades

What HHS found ?

Department of Health and Human Services 2011 study

A 2011 report by the Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start Impact, examined the cognitive development, social-emotional development, and physical health outcomes of Head Start students as compared to a control group that attended private preschool or stayed home with a caregiver. Head Start students were split into two distinct cohorts ? 3-year-olds with two years of Head Start before kindergarten, and 4-year-olds with only one year of Head Start before kindergarten. The study found:

1. Though the program had a ?positive impact? on children?s experiences through the preschool years, ?advantages children gained during their Head Start and age 4 years yielded only a few statistically significant differences in outcomes at the end of 1st grade for the sample as a whole. Impacts at the end of kindergarten were scattered??
2. After first grade, there were no significant social-emotional impacts for the cohort of 4-year-olds, and mixed results on measures of shyness, social withdrawal and problematic student-teacher interactions. The cohort of 3-year-olds with two years of Head Start attendance, however, manifested less hyperactive behaviors and more positive relationships with parents.
3. By the end of first grade, only ?a single cognitive impact was found for each cohort.? Compared to students in the control group, the 4-year-old Head Start cohort did ?significantly better? on vocabulary and the 3-year-old cohort tested better in oral comprehension.

The study concludes, "Head Start has benefits for both 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds in the cognitive, health, and parenting domains, and for 3-year-olds in the social-emotional domain. However, the benefits of access to Head Start at age four are largely absent by 1st grade for the program population as a whole. For 3-year-olds, there are few sustained benefits, although access to the program may lead to improved parent-child relationships through 1st grade, a potentially important finding for children?s longer term development.? <Source>

We need to remember, that the government program is not just about providing education to children, but encompasses an entire range of social benefits. Including removing a layer of parental responsibility for their children?s health and welfare as well as increasing the government?s control over parental rights.

?The Head Start Program is a program of the United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families.

In fact, if you want to see where the government is almost a total failure, one merely looks at the children raised on Indian tribal land to see how government policies can adversely affect an entire population of children.

Not everyone agrees ?

A report commissioned by the National Bureau of Economic Research, titled ?Does Head Start Do Any Lasting Good? published the following summary.

Head Start is a federal early childhood intervention designed to reduce disparities in preschool outcomes. The first randomized experimental study of Head Start, the National Head Start Impact Study (NHSIS), found impacts on academic outcomes of .15 to .3 standard deviations measured at the end of the program year, although the estimated impacts were no longer significant when measured at the end of kindergarten or first grade. Assessments that Head Start is ineffective based on the NHSIS results are in our view premature, given our currently limited understanding of how and why early childhood education improves long-term life chances. Many of the specific changes to Head Start that have been proposed could potentially wind up doing more harm than good. <Source>

Bottom line ?

The sad fact is that any measurable gains (depending on the tests used) for children enrolled in pre-school programs fade out as the children progress through elementary school. Thus, indicating the results are temporary and the taxpayer?s money is being wasted ? unless you consider bolstering union membership for political purposes to be a net benefit to America. (Just being facetious.) By third or fourth grade, you can?t tell which children were in the pre-K educational program and which simply progressed through the normal school program.

Again, we find the federal government proposing to use taxpayer funding to purchase political power from the democrat base constituency: women, minorities and the poor. These programs are thought to be as ineffective as the war on poverty which has seen trillion dollar expenditures of taxpayer funds with absolutely no significant reduction in poverty since the day the program was implemented.??

The government does not have the answer. If they had the answer, they would have fixed the problem by now. A nation that can put a man on the Moon and a dune buggy on Mars is not without capabilities. What is lacking are honest politicians who put the objective first ? over the profits and welfare of the special interests such as the public employees unions and the special interests who inflate the costs of running and repairing our infrastructure.

I am dead set against any program which will expand the power of unionized public employees as results will show that public employee unions result in increased corruption of politicians, the reward of seniority over merit, promotion of the status quo over innovation, rising taxes, rising costs with no corresponding or provable increase in productivity or effectiveness. In fact, unions go out of their way to bifurcate jobs so that two or more union members are required to do the work of a single person.

While I am for education and improving the health and welfare of children, perhaps the government should look at those parents who insist on having multiple children with multiple deadbeat fathers and are driving the poverty, ill-health, and general decline of education in minority areas. In fact, if the government wants to do something substantive, let them remove the minority-based gangs that are killing minority children and promote a culture where educational achievement is not regarded for ?sucka?s.? Where children can excel without fear of ridicule or punishment from their low-achieving, low-life peers.

Ask yourself, why parents are not teaching their children their A-B-Cs and demanding specific academic and disciplinary performance. WHY ARE WE TRYING TO EXPAND A PROGRAM THAT IS NOT WORKING?

-- steve

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Source: http://www.onecitizenspeaking.com/2013/03/obamas-pre-school-education-dream-socialist-plan-to-indoctrinate-children-and-expand-union-membership.html

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Talking Point: The Positive Power of Gaming - Nintendo Life

Stepping away from blaming games

We live in a world where blame is often too easily shifted and personal responsibility too easily avoided. Excuse-making has arguably become the fad of our time; as the laundry-list of blame-accepting environmental influences grows larger, the courage to accept and improve our own faults seemingly becomes more rare.

It?s in this environment that legislators, executive officers and community groups gather to determine the impact of violent games on the minds of impressionable youths and adults. Not to be misunderstood, there is a place, even in an excuse-making world, for these types of investigations and legislative remedies meant to better our societies. And, if there is a proven connection linking violent video games to the ever increasing occurrences of unspeakable acts of rage, our world could be better off without them ? or at least benefit from stronger age-gating. But for every criticism of the video game industry (founded or unfounded), there are many unheard and unrepresented voices of those who have been positively influenced by gaming.

Certainly, violence is not the only criticism of video games. While the debate over violent games rages in the wake of recent tragedies, it is worth noting that criticism of the gaming community is nothing new. Any discussion on the merits or vices of the medium should recognize that this debate is longstanding and broader than the current issues over violence.

To be sure, almost every game has some amount of violence built into its game-play. When they were first introduced to mainstream culture, many of us may remember the shock of seeing the wholesome, even if pixilated, Mickey Mouse fall victim to Peg-Leg Pete in a pirate-ship battle. Even the swing of Link?s sword or the flash of Rock?s blaster deals death to any creature that dares come in their path. Admittedly, the violence in these games (and many like them) pales in comparison to the realistic modern-day shooters, designed to give the player as close to a real-life experience without actually pulling the trigger of a gun. Still, the point bears repeating: violence is inherent to nearly all video games.

Whether well-intentioned or another attempt to shift blame, the recent impetus to investigate and ban violent games ignores one key piece of information: for many, they?re a source of comfort in difficult times.

Video games are familiar, predictable and easy to understand in an otherwise complicated world.

Video games are familiar, predictable and easy to understand in an otherwise complicated world. Examples abound of people who, through no fault of their own, have become lost, scared and, in their own eyes, alone. Despite best efforts, health, family relationships and social surroundings can spin out of control. But every time someone boots up a video game, he or she takes command; the destiny of their character and an entire world, waiting to be saved, is within their power. With hard work and a little luck, the player can accomplish great feats, go on unimaginable adventures and become the hero of an entire civilization.

If he or she stumbles along the way, no matter ? checkpoints, extra lives and fresh starts provide a consequence-free way to keep moving toward an end goal. Video games can offer hope amid bleakness, endow courage to overcome and, put simply, make people feel good about themselves. They offer second chances in a world where re- starts are difficult to come by. Regardless of personal circumstances, many of us have experienced this kind of comfort and healing-power afforded by a simple video game.

One well-documented example of this positive influence of video games is that of Steve Wiebe, a former Donkey Kong champion, whose pursuit of a world-record is chronicled in the documentary film, The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Steve used games to help get him through a difficult time, which included the hardship of a job layoff. In his own words, describing the comfort he received from playing Donkey Kong, Steve said, ?When I got laid off and I had time on my hands, I was thinking ?what can I do to feel like I have control of something?? With this, it?s just me and the machine. It doesn?t matter if you let me down or someone doesn?t come through, I?m in control.?

Looking back on his period of unemployment, Steve?s wife recalled that video games were a ?Godsend to him the last couple of years to get him through, it was a safe-haven for him.? Sometime later, after Steve had been chasing a world record and an elusive matchup with renowned Donkey Kong expert, Billy Mitchell, stress and time away from family had taken its toll on Steve?s wife, who again said of her husband, ?he was searching ? he wanted something and I wanted that for him because I wanted him to be happy, so now I see that.?

Steve Wiebe (Image credit: http://www.classicarcadegaming.com)

Steve Wiebe?s experience may resonate with many, especially young gamers looking for something certain in an uncertain world ? something, as Steve Wiebe put it, to control. It doesn?t matter if school, family or health let them down, video games can be a welcome diversion for many young people searching for happiness. That much needs to be understood by anyone who advocates banning the sale of violent video games. In the process of gathering information and formulating legislation and community rallies, it must be understood that many turn to video games for reasons much nobler than the pursuit of violence.

Again, this is not an attempt to put a stop to these types of investigative discussions. In fact, the tendency to shift blame to violent video games and the call for personal responsibility falls just as squarely on the shoulders of gamers as it does the legislators and lawmakers. Rather, the purpose of this article is to point out that there is a deeper-seeded issue at play and that many turn to games for positive reasons, not with an intention to hurt.

So, as discussions move forward to determine the impact of violent video games, let the unrepresented voices of gamers be heard to say that there is a deeply powerful quality about video games, a quality that helps many to overcome problems, cultivate courage, inspire hope, and most importantly find a source of happiness.

Source: http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/03/talking_point_the_positive_power_of_gaming

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Next steps in budget battle

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Even as automatic spending cuts take effect by midnight Friday, the White House and Congress are looking ahead to several more budget battles in the coming weeks. They include:

?Avoiding government shutdown. Lawmakers and the White House face a March 27 deadline to prevent a partial shutdown of government agencies. That's when a six-month stopgap funding bill passed last fall runs out. The GOP-led House plans the week of March 4 to approve a plan that would include new line-by-line budgets for the Pentagon and the Veterans Administration while keeping domestic agencies on autopilot, frozen at last year's levels. Senate Democrats would like to incorporate more detailed spending bills for domestic programs but may face opposition from Republicans wary of concocting a foot-tall "omnibus" spending bill.

?2014 budget plans. In mid-March, both the House and Senate are expected to debate rival budget plans. These budget resolutions are non-binding but represent an important statement of party principles. The House GOP plan promises to come to balance by the end of a decade without raising taxes; the alternative by Senate Democrats is expected to mix in new revenues and not show balance. The two sides are not expected to be able to reconcile their differences, which promises to make it difficult to pursue follow up legislation like the 12 annual appropriations bills.

?Obama's budget. In mid-late March, Obama is expected to release his budget ? over a month behind schedule. Budget observers will be watching for new initiatives that might help spur budget negotiations. But if he follows past practice, Obama's budget will take few, if any, political risks.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/next-steps-budget-battle-200054431.html

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Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's Resignation Hints Were There All Along

April 19, 2005 -- Elected Pope

On April 19, 2005 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was elected as successor to Pope John Paul II. He became the 265th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and chose the name Benedict XVI. FILE - Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, in this April 19, 2005, file photo. Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, who chose the name of Pope Benedict XVI, became the 265th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis/file)

April 24, 2005 -- Inaugural Mass

On April 24, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI led the inaugural mass of his pontificate at St. Peter's Square. This is the homily that <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20050424_inizio-pontificato_en.html">he gave</a>. VATICAN CITY - APRIL 24: Pope Benedict XVI (L) leads his inaugural mass in Saint Peter's Square April 24, 2005 in Vatican City. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims attended the first mass led by the 265th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. (Photo by Davide Santorelli/Getty Images)

Aug. 18-21, 2005: First Trip to Germany

From Aug. 18-21, 2005 Pope Benedict XVI went on his first trip to his native Germany. There he attended the World Youth Day festivities and visited a synagogue, becoming one of the only two popes (the other was his predecessor John Paul II) since St. Peter. He also initiated dialogue with the Muslim and Protestant communities. COLOGNE, GERMANY - AUGUST 21: Pope Benedict XVI (C) celebrates World Youth Day Mass at the Marienfeld with an estimated 900,000 pilgrims and clerics attending on August 21, 2005 near Cologne, Germany. Hundreds of thousands of Catholic pilgrims have descended on the city for World Youth Day and the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, who arrived last Thursday for a four-day visit. (Photo by Guiseppe Cacace/Getty Images)

Nov. 29 2005 - Vatican Bans Gays From Priesthood

On Nov. 29, 2005, the Congregation for Catholic Education issues a document effectively banning gays from the Seminary and Holy Orders. According to Catholic World News translation: <blockquote>this department, in agreement with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, holds it necessary clearly to affirm that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, may not admit to the seminary and Holy Orders those who practice homosexuality, show profoundly deep-rooted homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called gay culture.</blockquote> Read the whole letter <a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=40891">here</a>. ROME - SEPTEMBER 30: Pope Benedict XVI greets a crowd as he arrives at the Pediatric Hospital 'Bambin Gesu' for a visit September 30, 2005 in Rome, Italy. Reports say the Vatican may be releasing a directive to exclude most gay candidates from becoming priests. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

Jan. 25, 2006 - Released 1st Encyclical on Love

On Jan, 25, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI released his first encyclical <em>Deus Caritas Est</em>, or God is Love. The encyclical can be read <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est_en.html">here</a>. VATICAN CITY - JANUARY 25: A nun holds Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical at St. Peter's Square, January 25, 2006 in Vatican City. The Pontiff released his first encyclical entitled 'God is Love' in which he explored the relationship between God's love for mankind and the church's work for charity. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

May 25-28, 2006: Trip to Poland

Pope Benedict visited Poland from May 25-28, 2006. In addition to meeting with religious leaders, he <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5024324.stm">visited</a> the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz. Benedict XVI, who was an involuntary member of Hitler Youth, lit a candle and met 32 survivors, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5024324.stm">BBC notes</a>. He <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/may/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060528_auschwitz-birkenau_en.html">prayed for peace</a> in his native language German, which caused some controversy. <a href="http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2010/04/18/chronology-of-five-years-of-pope-benedicts-papacy/">Reuters notes</a> that his speech disappointed some Jewish groups because it did not mention antisemitism. In this May 28, 2006 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI walks through the gate of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz in Oswiecim, Poland, to pay his respects to the Holocaust victims. Sign at left reads "stop" in German and Polish. Sign above the gate reads "Arbeit macht frei," German for "work will set you free." (AP Photo/Diether Endlicher)

Sept. 12, 2006 -- Regensburg Lecture

Pope Benedict XVI visited his native Germany on his second papal trip from Sept. 9 to Sept. 14, 2006. On Sept. 12, he gave a lecture at Regensburg University where he formerly served as a professor of theology. The lecture was titled "Faith, Reason and the University -- Memories and Reflections." In that lecture, he cited remarks by a 14th century Byzantine emperor that provoked protests around the world and hurt the sentiments of Muslim leaders. According to the Vatican website, the statement quoted was: <blockquote>Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.</blockquote> The entire address can be read <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg_en.html">here</a>. On Sept. 17, Pope Benedict <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14871562/#.US8bOBlPFOE">apologized for his remarks</a>, stating that it did not express his personal views and on Sept. 25 <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060925_ambasciatori-paesi-arabi_en.html">issued a letter</a> to the ambassadors of Muslim-majority countries emphasizing his respect for Islam, and the need for interreligious and inter-cultural dialogue. REGENSBURG, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 12: In this picture released by the Vatican Newspaper L'Osservatore Romano on September 16, 2006 Pope Benedict XVI holds a speech to faculty and students of the University of Regensburg on September 12, 2006 in Regensburg, Germany. Muslim leaders condem remarks made by the Pope during his last visit in Germany, about Islam. The strongest denunciations came from Turkey where Benedict is scheduled to visit in November as his first trip as Pope to a Muslim country. (Photo by Arturo Mari L'Osservatore Romano Vatican Pool via Getty Images)

Nov. 28-Dec 1, 2006 -- Turkey Visit

Pope Benedict XVI visited Turkey from Nov. 28 until Dec 1, 2006. This was his first papal trip to a Muslim-majority country. Barely months after his controversial remarks at Regensburg, his visit was met by protests. While there, Pope Benedict XVI visited the famous Blue Mosque, where he prayed along with Muslim clerics. His visited was the second papal visit to a Muslim place of worship, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6158811.stm">BBC notes</a>. ISTANBUL, TURKEY - NOVEMBER 30: Pope Benedict XVI visits the Ottoman era Sultanahmet mosque, known as the Blue Mosque on November 30, 2006 in Istanbul. Pope Benedict XVI began the third and busiest day of his four-day visit to Turkey by attending a St. Andrew's day mass celebrated by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, at the Orthodox Patriarchate. (Photo by Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

July 7, 2007 -- Eases Restrictions on Latin Mass

On July 7, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI eased restrictions on the use of an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/world/08POPE.html?_r=0">older Latin mass</a>, known as the Tridentine Mass. This move was hailed by some traditionalists in the Church like the SSPX, and protested by Jewish groups like the Anti-Defamation League, which called it a "body blow to Catholic-Jewish relations," the New York Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/world/08POPE.html?_r=0">notes</a>. The apostolic letter "Summorum Pontificum" issued by Pope Benedict "motu proprio" can be read <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/letters/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_let_20070707_lettera-vescovi_en.html">here</a>. Vatican City, VATICAN CITY STATE: Pope Benedict XVI reads from a latin gospel in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican 29 June 2007, during a mass for the celebration of feast for the apostles Peter and Paul, patrons of the church, prior to giving the pallium to 46 bishops and archbishops from around the world. The pontiff will publish a decree in the coming days allowing greater use of mass in Latin signalling a bid to heal a decades-old split in the Roman Catholic Church. AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO (Photo credit should read VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images)

Nov. 30, 2007 -- Released Second Enyclical on Hope

On Nov. 30, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI released his second encyclical called 'Spe Salvi' (Saved Through Hope). The encyclical can be read <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html">here</a>. Pope Benedict XVI signs his second encyclical, with the Latin title 'Spe Salvi' (Saved Through Hope), 30 November 2007 in Vatican. The popes have traditionally issued such letters as guidance for the Roman Catholic Church as a whole on matters of doctrine, morals or discipline. AFP PHOTO / OSSERVATORE ROMANO

Feb. 5, 2008 -- Changes to Good Friday Prayer for the Jews

The Good Friday Prayer for the Jews is an annual prayer in the Christian liturgy. On Feb. 5, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI issued <a href="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope_benedict_xvi_issues_new_good_friday_prayer_for_the_jews/">changes to Good Friday Prayer for the Jews</a> after receiving complaints from both Jewish and Catholic leaders. These complaints were sparked by the permission he gave the previous year to celebrate the Tridentine mass. The new prayer reads thus: Let us also pray for the Jews: That our God and Lord may illuminate their hearts, that they acknowledge Jesus Christ is the Savior of all men. (Let us pray. Kneel. Rise.) Almighty and eternal God, who want that all men be saved and come to the recognition of the truth, propitiously grant that even as the fullness of the peoples enters Thy Church, all Israel be saved. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. VATICAN CITY - DECEMBER 25: Pope Benedict XVI delivers his Christmas Urbi Et Orbi blessing from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica on December 25, 2008 in the Vatican City. (Photo by L'Osservatore Romano - Vatican Pool via Getty Images)

April 15-20, 2008 -- Visit to the United States

Pope Benedict XVI <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2008-04-15/us/pope.us_1_pope-benedict-xvi-papal-visit-pontiff?_s=PM:US">visited the United States</a> from April 15-20, 2008. Highlights from the trip include being received at the White House, addressing American bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, address to the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York and mass at Ground Zero. In a homily at St. Patrick's Cathedral, he spoke about the child sex abuse scandal and of the need for healing and in Washington DC, he met with victims of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/us/nationalspecial2/18pope.html?pagewanted=all">clergy child abuse</a>. Pope Benedict XVI walks down the ramp to Ground Zero in New York on April 20, 2008. Benedict XVI Sunday pleaded for an end to sectarian hatreds as he became the first pontiff to pray at Ground Zero, the site where nearly 3,000 people died in the September 11, 2001 attacks. AFP PHOTO / Ettore Ferrari/POOL (Photo credit should read ETTORE FERRARI/AFP/Getty Images)

July 13-21, 2008: Australia Visit

Pope Benedict XVI visited Australia from July 13-21, 2008. He participated in the World Youth Day festivities. On 19 July, 2008, in a sermon at St. Mary's Cathedral, he apologized for child sex abuse saying: <blockquote>I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country. I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured and I assure them that, as their pastor, I too share in their suffering.</blockquote> The sermon in full can be read <a href="http://wdtprs.com/blog/2008/07/scholion-pope-benedicts-sermon-in-st-marys-cathedral-sydney/">here</a>. He also met with victims of <a href="http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gKSHzEnFg_IjhlGLRKN9EoDNf3jg">child sex abuse</a>. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 21: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI concludes his World Youth Day activities by thanking all the volunteers at The Domain on July 21, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. Organised every two to three years by the Catholic Church, World Youth Day (WYD) is an invitation from the Pope to the youth of the world to celebrate their faith. The celebration, being held in Sydney from July 15 to July 20, 2008, will mark the first visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Australia. (Photo by Dean Lewins-Pool/Getty Images)

Jan. 24, 2009: Lifts Excommuncation of Traditionalist Bishops

On Jan. 24, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI lifted the excommunication of four Traditionalist bishops, including a Holocaust denier, which caused outrage amongst Jewish groups. The Vatican said this move was part of Benedict XVI's attempt to bring the dissident SSPX back into the Vatican fold, NBC <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28831756/#.US8vDhlPFOE">notes</a>. On March 12, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/letters/2009/documents/hf_ben-xvi_let_20090310_remissione-scomunica_en.html">sent a letter</a> to the world's bishops explaining this decision. Pope Benedict XVI sets free a dove from the window of his apartment at the end of his Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter's square at the Vatican on January 25, 2009. The pontiff has decided to cancel the excommunication of four bishops ordained in 1998 by the controversial French bishop Marcel Lefebvre. The latter, who died in 1991, was excommunicated in 1988 by the then-Pope Jean Paul II for having ordained the bishops in defiance of the Vatican's authority. AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO

March 17-23, 2009: Visit to Cameroon and Angola

Pope Benedict XVI visited Cameroon and Angola from March 17-23, 2009. The visit was marked by controversy, because he made a statement reaffirming the ban on condoms, saying it was <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/17/pope-condoms-not-the-answ_n_175623.html">not the solution to AIDS</a>. FILE - In this Tuesday, March 17, 2009, file photo, an African clergyman kisses Pope Benedict XVI's ring as the pope arrives at the airport in Yaounde, Cameroon. Benedict announced Monday Feb. 11, 2013 he would resign Feb. 28, the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

May 8-15, 2009: Visit to Jordan, Israel and Palestinian Territories

Pope Benedict XVI visited Jordan, Israel and Palestinian Territories from May 8-15, 2009. The visit was mired in controversy because Benedict XVI had backed the beatification of <a href="http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=9363">Pius XII</a>, the Holocaust-era pope and Jewish leaders assert that the <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2009/05/2009510175658903863.html">pope did not do enough</a> to speak out against Nazi efforts, Al Jazeera notes. Benedict also made a plea for an <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/pope-challenges-israel-to-give-palestinians-homeland-1684587.html">independent Palestinian state</a>. FILE - In this Tuesday, May 12, 2009 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI places a note in the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City. Benedict announced Monday Feb. 11, 2013 he would resign Feb. 28, the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years.(AP Photo/David Silverman, Pool)

July 7, 2009: Released Third Enyclical on Charity

On July 7, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI released his third encyclical Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth). The encyclical can be read <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.html">here</a>. VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - JULY 07: Pope Benedict XVI signs his new Encyclical letter Caritas in Veritate at his studio on July 7, 2009 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by L'Osservatore Romano Vatican Pool via Getty Images)

Jan. 17. 2010: Visits Synagogue in Rome

On Jan. 17, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI became the second pope to visit Rome's main synagogue. The <a href="http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-welcomed-rome-synagogue-despite-tensions">visit was clouded</a> by the Vatican's move to beatify Nazi-era Pope Pius XII. Still, Pope Benedict XVI ensured the Catholic Church was committed to dialogue with Jews. Pope Benedict XVI (L) stands by chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni in Rome's main Synagogue on January 17, 2010. The Roman Catholic Church provided 'often hidden and discreet' support for Jews during the Holocaust, Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday during a landmark visit to Rome's main synagogue.AFP PHOTO / Filippo MONTEFORTE

March 19, 2010: Issues Apology To Ireland

On 19 March, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI issues heartfelt apology to the people of Ireland, and to the victims of child abuse, the BBC <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8578064.stm">notes</a>. "I openly express the shame and remorse that we all feel," he wrote. The letter can be read <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/letters/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_let_20100319_church-ireland_en.html">here</a>. A priest takes mass at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Friday, March, 23, 2010. Pope Benedict has written a pastoral letter to the Catholics of Ireland with guidelines on preventing and punishing sexual abuse of children by priests. It is unknown if the letter, to be read at Sunday Mass, includes an apology. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

April 17-18, 2010: Trip to Malta

Pope Benedict XVI visited Malta from April 17-18, 2010. While in Malta, he met with eight people who were sexually abused by priests. Per <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/18/AR2010041802807.html">Reuters report</a>, he promised that the church is doing "all in its power" to bring the guilty to justice and protect the young. Pope Benedict XVI (C) arrives to celebrate a Pontifical Mass on the Granaries on April 18, 2010 in Floriana. The 83-year-old pope arrived in Malta the day before on his first foreign trip since having to deal with the fallout from a wave of priest sex abuse scandals across Europe and the Americas. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI

Nov. 6-7, 2010: Spain Trip

Pope Benedict XVI visited Spain Nov. 6-7, 2010. While in Spain, he saw rise of anti-church sentiment, the New York Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/world/europe/07pope.html">notes</a>, spoke out against abortion and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/07/pope-gay-marriage-spain_n_780049.html">gay marriage</a>. Pope Benedict XVI (R) arrives to celebrate a mass consecrating the Sagrada Familia in basilica on November 7, 2010, on his two-day visit in Spain. Pope Benedict XVI warned of a very strong clash between faith and modernity in Spain and he called for dialogue, not confrontation. The pontiff said an anti-clerical movement erupted in Spain in the 1930s in the run-up to the Spanish Civil War. AFP PHOTO/ RAFA RIVAS

July 25, 2011: Vatican Recalls Irish Ambassador

The Vatican has recalled its ambassador to Ireland following severe criticism by the Irish parliament of the Church's role in covering up child sex abuse, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/25/pope-ireland-ambassador-idUSLDE76O0EZ20110725">Reuters reports</a>. FILE - In this Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI arrives in the Paul VI hall for his weekly general audience at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI is addressing Ireland on Saturday, March 19, 2010 in an unprecedented letter apologizing for chronic Catholic child abuse in this once-devout land. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, file)

Oct. 27, 2011: Hosts Interfaith Meeting

Pope Benedict XVI hosted some 300 representatives of world religions here on Thursday (Oct. 27) for an interfaith summit on justice and peace, with distinct changes made to the event first convened 25 years ago by Pope John Paul II. Benedict, who had been critical of John Paul's 1986 event, welcomed a small group of agnostics and, in a bid to avoid the impression that all religions are identical, made prayer private and optional, Religion News Service <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/28/assisi-interfaith-summit-2011_n_1062649.html">reports</a>. In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI receives a delegation of religious leaders from all over the world he met at a peace meeting in Assisi yesterday, at the Vatican Friday, Oct. 28, 2011. The pontiff invited Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims to a pilgrimage to the Umbrian hilltop town of Assisi where 25 years ago Pope John Paul II, the Dalai Lama and others spent the day praying for peace amid the Cold War. (AP Photo/Osservatore Romano, HO)

Jan. 6, 2012: Names 22 New Cardinals

On Jan 6, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named 22 new cardinals who were <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/18/world/europe/vatican-new-cardinals">appointed in Feb. 2012</a>. In an unusual move, Pope Benedict XVI named another <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/24/world/europe/vatican-new-cardinals">6 cardinals in Nov. 2012</a>. Pope Benedict XVI arrives for the mass in solemnity of the chair of St. Peter with new Cardinals in St. Peter's basilica at the Vatican on February 19, 2012. The Pontiff put his stamp of authority on the body that will elect his successor as he appointed 22 new cardinals at a time of roiling tensions in the Vatican administration. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images)

Oct. 6, 2012: Paolo Gabriele Found Guilty

Pope Benedict XVI's former butler, Paolo Gabiele, was convicted on Oct. 6, 2012, of aggravated theft after stealing the pontiff's personal papers and leaking them to the media in a bid to expose the "evil and corruption" in the Catholic Church. The pope <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/22/pope-pardons-ex-butler-paulo-gabriele_n_2351602.html">pardoned him around Christmas</a>. Speculations have been rife has to whether Pope Benedict's resignation is linked to the "Vatileaks" scandal. More on that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/vatileaks">here</a>. FILE - In this file photo taken Wednesday, May 2, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI, right, arrives in St. Peter's square at the Vatican for a general audience as his then-butler Paolo Gabriele, bottom, and his personal secretary Georg Gaenswein sit in the car with him. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)

Dec 3, 2012: Joins Twitter

On Dec. 3, 2012, Pope Benedict <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/03/pope-joins-twitter_n_2230411.html">joined Twitter</a>. However, he did not send out a tweet until days later on Dec. 12, 2012. His <a href="https://twitter.com/Pontifex/status/278808536404852736">first tweet</a> said: "Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response, I bless all of you from my heart." In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI pushes a button on a tablet at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. In perhaps the most drawn out Twitter launch ever, Pope Benedict XVI pushed the button on a tablet brought to him at the end of his general audience Wednesday. It read: "Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart."Later in the day he was to respond to a few messages sent to him from around the world.As the countdown to his first tweet from his Twitter handle (at)Pontifex neared, the pope had garnered nearly 1 million followers in the eight languages of his account. (AP Photo/Osservatore Romano, ho)

Feb 11, 2013: Announces He Will Abdicate

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, third from left, delivers his message at the end of a meeting of Vatican cardinals, at the Vatican, Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign Feb. 28 - the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. From left are Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, Mons. Franco Camaldo, and Mons. Guido Marini, pope aides. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho)

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/02/pope-emeritus-benedict-xvis-resignation-hints-were-there-all-along_n_2799071.html

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Make a Custom Messenger Bag on the Cheap

Messenger bags are a staple of the modern mobile technophile, and for that reason you can end up paying over $100 for something you can make yourself for $10. Amber Price, over at Make Projects, shows you how it takes little more than three yards of fabric.

As you can see from the picture above, Amber chose a flower pattern for her messenger bag. You can choose whatever you like, or get custom-printed fabric for a more unique option. You just need three yards. You'll also want to use a sewing machine to make sure the bag is nice and sturdy. Although I haven't made this specific bag, I have made a few in the past and it's actually very easy. The hardest part involves figuring out on which side you need to lay each piece of fabric so you don't accidentally end up with a bag that looks like it's inside out. Amber does a good job explaining these steps so if you follow the guide over at Make closely, you'll have a cool custom messenger in no time.

Messenger Bag | Make: Projects

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/7FZoI8DUOdo/make-a-custom-messenger-bag-on-the-cheap

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Samsung Series 7 (DP700A3D-A01US)

Is this an all-in-one desktop PC or a 23-inch HDTV? Well, the price of the Samsung Series 7 (DP700A3D-A01US) ($1,099.99) is a dead giveaway, but you'd be forgiven thinking it's an HDTV if you approach it when it's showing HD videos. Like the latest round of Samsung Smart TVs, the system has a sculpted silver metallic stand and slim screen profile. The DP700A3D is a very good system for media consumption, with a clear and bright display for videos, photos, and webs sites. It takes a few concessions to come in less expensive than rivals, but unless you're a heavy media creation user, you're unlikely to notice. It's system for those who want an all-in-one desktop that you can hide in plain sight rather than hide away.

Design and Features
The DP700A3D has the look of one of Samsung's new HDTVs, like the Samsung UN55ES8000F. Both have curved, silver-colored stands shaped like a sculpted rectangular oval supporting the screen. The DP700A3D tilts from straight up to lean back about 30 degrees. It's not quite as versatile as say the tilt on the Dell XPS One 27 Touch ($2,599), but then again, the SP700A3D isn't anywhere close to being that expensive. The DP700A3D measures about 23 by 17 by 7 inches (HWD), so it will fit on most work surfaces.

The 23.6-inch LED backlit screen is clear, with just a touch of reflectiveness on the surface. The ten-point touch screen is responsive and reacts quickly to Windows 8 gestures and finger taps. It's very clear and bright, with a wide viewing angle both horizontally and vertically. This is likely due to Samsung's ability to source HDTV-quality panels from its own factories.

The system has I/O ports under a door on the right side of the screen, as well as on the back panel of the system (sort of). The ports on the right are under an easily opened door, and they include the system's SD card slot, two USB 3.0 ports, microphone jack, and headphone jack. The door is a nice touch, since when closed the PC still looks like a HDTV.

The ports on the back are a little more problematic. They are all on the bottom of a crossbar, so you have to plug cables "up" into the crossbar. This can be an issue if you have dexterity problems or limited space around your system, or if you're constantly connecting and disconnecting cables. The ports in the back include a Kensington security slot, Ethernet, HDMI out, HDMI in, three USB 2.0 ports, and the system's speakers. A memory cover on the back panel can be unscrewed and removed to reveal the system's memory slots (both filled). The right side of the screen holds the system's tray-loading DVD burner.

The system we tested came with a wireless keyboard and mouse, which use a USB dongle that can be plugged into one of the USB 2.0 ports in the back of the system. The system uses an external AC adapter, and while that power brick can be unsightly if left out, it also means that the screen with the PC components built in is only about an inch-and-a-quarter thick. The system comes with a one-year warranty.

The DP700A3D is well suited for media entertainment. It comes with 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4GHz and 5GHz) Wi-Fi so you can connect it to a less crowded frequency in your area. The DVD drive can be used to playback older movies, though we would've liked to have seen a Blu-ray player on this media-oriented system. The built-in speakers lacked a subwoofer, but they still pumped out a decent amount of sound, and the included Dolby audio software helps shape the sound for movies, games, or music. Plugging in an external settop box was easy, thanks to the HDMI-in port, and you can even hook the PC up to an external HDTV with the HDMI-out port.

Touch-sensitive soft keys silkscreened on the front of the system control all onscreen functions like brightness, source (HDMI-in), disc eject, and system volume. The DP700A3D is a bit better equipped than rivals like the Lenovo IdeaCentre B540 (899.99) and Apple iMac 21.5-Inch (Late 2012) ($1,299), both of which lack an HDMI-in port. If you need more than just the HDMI-in port, the Dell Inspiron One 23 ($1199) also comes with VGA in/out and composite AV in.

The system comes with a 1TB hard drive, sufficient for the light to moderate media collector. If you need more space, you can connect external hard drives to the the two USB 3.0 ports on the side. The system comes with a selection of pre-loaded software, including programs like Jamie Oliver recipes, Pinball KX2, Adera, Shark Dash, Fresh Paint, Kindle, Netflix, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Music Maker Jam, Evernote, Norton Internet Security (60-day trial), Skype, Stumbleupon, S Player, S Camera, Allshare Play, S Service, Support Center, Recovery, and Help Desk. Quick Starter is an interesting program: Initially it brings up an app-loading dock. However, if you dig deeper, you'll see that Quick Starter replicates the behavior of the Windows 7 Start menu, including access to the computer drives, control panel, and programs. It's a nice touch, though you have to know it's there before you're able to use it.

Another feature that is searching for usefulness is the built in Gesture Control that uses the webcam to follow your hand. Yes, you can use the Gesture Control by holding out your hand, then controlling elements on the screen using an open hand/closed fist motion, or swipes, turns, and rotation motions. However, it's nowhere nearly as developed as gesture controls like the hand and arm motions on the Xbox's Kinect peripheral, and your arm will get tired quickly when you need to constantly hold it straight out to register in Gesture Control. In most cases it will be more convenient to physically touch the screen or use the keyboard/mouse.

Performance
The DP700A3D comes with an Intel Core i5-3470T processor with Intel HD Graphics 2500, 6GB of memory, a 1TB hard drive, and Windows 8. The combo is good for decent, if undistinguished scores on our day-to-day performance (PCMark7), multimedia (Handbrake and Photoshop CS6), and processor rendering (CineBench R11.5) tests. It's worth noting that the DP700A3D falls behind the Dell Inspiron One 23, which has a "slower" Core i5 processor, and the Toshiba LX835-D3380 ($1,399), which has a more powerful quad-core processor and discrete 3D graphics.

Both the Dell Inspiron One 23 and DP700A3D use Intel HD Graphics 2500 integrated 3D graphics, which is less capable than the Intel HD Graphics 4000 or Nvidia GeForce discrete graphics in most of the other all-in-ones in this price range. Take a look at our benchmark charts if you're curious, but suffice to say that you'll get good to very good general performance out of the DP700A3D, but don't expect to play current 3D games on it.

The Samsung Series 7 (DP700A3D-A01US) has great styling and a very good feature set. It is less expensive than the Dell Inspiron One 23, which has a similar feature set, though the DP700A3D's monitor brightness and clarity blow the Dell Inspiron One 23 out of the water. Vizio's 24-Inch All-in-One (CA24T-A4) ($1,299) is $200 more expensive and has a similarly nice screen thanks to its HDTV pedigree, but in this case you're really paying extra for the styling. Ultimately, the Apple iMac 21.5-Inch (Late 2012) holds on to its Editors' Choice for midrange all-in-one desktops due to its overall performance, future-proofing technology, and 3D discrete graphics. The DP700A3D is a good choice if you're looking for attractive styling, an equally nice screen, Windows 8 compatibility, and if your needs lean more toward media appreciation rather than media creation.

BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Samsung Series 7 (DP700A3D-A01US) with several other desktops side by side.

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