Snoop, Khalifa look to be next Cheech and Chong (AP)

ATLANTA ? Snoop Dogg remembered watching all of the Cheech and Chong movies growing up, idolizing the pothead tandem's ability to always escape from danger in their comedy films.

Wiz Khalifa revered Snoop Dogg for his weed-smoking, ultra-smooth West Coast swagger shown extensively throughout his rap career.

One is the mentor, the other is the protege. Since the two rappers met for the first time last year, they've built a strong rapport with each other and have united to create their own album, "Mac & Devin Go to High School," which was released this week.

The album is the soundtrack of the rappers' upcoming stoner comedy, "Mac & Devin Go to High School," which is expected to be released early next year. The duo feels they are capable of following the footsteps of Cheech and Chong, who gained fame through their marijuana humor.

"They smoked joints, they were funny, they were cool and they would get into real situations," Snoop Dogg said. "To me, that's what me and Wiz represent. A lot of kids growing up don't understand who Cheech and Chong are. So we're the modern-day image of them. We're bringing it back."

Snoop Dogg and Khalifa have embodied the fun-filled, carefree life, with a devotion to smoking marijuana. Their easygoing demeanor is displayed on the duo's single, "Young, Wild & Free," featuring Bruno Mars, which peaked at No. 10 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

The rappers are latest popular hip-hop characters to create an album and movie revolved around their pothead excursions. Rapper Redman and Method Man appeared in the 2001 film, "How High."

But Khalifa said he and Snoop Dogg are ""trying to create our own lane.

"There have been others to pave the way for us, so we're just trying to keep it going, and tell our own stories," added Khalifa, who finished a six-city tour with Snoop Dogg this week.

Some believe the rappers are having too much fun with their storytelling. In May, there were reports that school officials canceled the filming of "High School" at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, Calif., after learning the theme of the movie was centered around marijuana, which is an illegal substance.

When contacted by The Associated Press, school officials declined to comment.

But Snoop Dogg and Khalifa ? who both stand at a lanky 6-foot-4 ? coolly denied there were any problems.

"We heard about it, but it didn't mean much to us," Snoop Dogg said. "We got done what we needed to get done. It was shot and promptly prepared."

Snoop Dogg, 40, took a liking to the 24-year-old Khalifa after he noticed his kids' infatuation with the Pittsburgh-bred rapper's ubiquitous 2010 hit "Black and Yellow." From there, Snoop Dogg invited Khalifa to his home in Los Angeles.

"We have built a bond and a friendship that's going to last a lifetime," Khalifa said. "People will hear it in the music, and see it in the movie."

After a conversation that lasted a few hours, the two rappers decided that same day to collaborate for an album and movie. They didn't waste time, filming the movie and recording the album within a two-month timeframe.

In "High School," Khalifa stars as a senior valedictorian named Devin who is only focused on his academics. He breaks out of his shell after meeting Snoop Dogg's character, Mac, a teenage student (yes, he is playing a teen) who has street smarts but struggles to apply them in the classroom.

Snoop Dogg described his partnership with Khalifa as "a magical situation."

"I've been around magic a lot of times from being with Dr. Dre, Tupac, Master P. and Nate Dogg. What me and Wiz had was a magical moment right there."

___

Online:

http://www.snoopdogg.com

http://www.wizkhalifa.com

___

Follow Jonathan Landrum Jr. on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/mrlandrum31

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111216/ap_en_mo/us_music_snoop___wiz

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Adobe releases final mobile Flash update, includes Ice Cream Sandwich support (Digital Trends)

Announced in an official blog post earlier today, Adobe pushed out?Flash Player version 11.1 for Android devices. The new software supports version 4.0 of the Android operating system otherwise known as Ice Cream Sandwich. The update for Flash Player is?available?on the Android Market and owners of the brand new Samsung?Galaxy Nexus can download the update immediately. Adobe also announced the upcoming release of?Adobe AIR 3.1, software that helps bring applications utilizing Flash to a variety of platforms. Using Adobe AIR 3.1, developers can bring apps to the Amazon Kindle Fire, Barnes and Noble Nook and BlackBerry PlayBook as well as Apple and Android platforms.

Adobe will continue to push out?bug fixes and security updates for the mobile version of Flash Player, but will no longer continue development of the product in regards to new features. Adobe officials claim to be shifting to HTML5 development and will seek ways to integrate Flash into HTML5 applications and Web development products. In regards to desktop PCs and laptops,?Flash Player 12 is currently under development and the company is looking for ways to integrate Flash into HTML5 sites.

Microsoft recently announced that the?Metro-style version of Windows 8 will no longer support plugins within Internet Explorer 10. This means that consumers won?t be able to install Adobe Flash on the metro version, possibly a contributing factor to Adobe?s decision to focus on HTML5 development. However, Windows 8 owners that utilize the traditional desktop style will be able to install Adobe Flash and view Flash animations within Internet Explorer 10. While no release date has been announced for the new version of Windows, Microsoft plans to show off the new operating system at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show during January 2012 as well as release the public beta of the software during?February 2012.

This article was originally posted on Digital Trends

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Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/digitaltrends/20111216/tc_digitaltrends/adobereleasesfinalmobileflashupdateincludesicecreamsandwichsupport

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Putin's challenger vows to pardon Khodorkovsky (AP)

MOSCOW ? The Russian billionaire who plans to challenge Vladimir Putin in Russia's presidential election said Thursday that his first move if elected will be to pardon jailed tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Mikhail Prokhorov said he would also allow free registration of opposition parties and restore popular elections of provincial governors if he wins March's vote. Putin has marginalized opposition forces, tightened election rules and abolished direct elections of governors.

The 46-year-old Prokhorov, estimated to be worth $18 billion, made his fortune in metals, banking and media. He also owns 80 percent in the New Jersey Nets. Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, has been in jail since 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges seen as a punishment for defying Putin's power.

Khodorkovsky's lawyers have lost numerous appeals to clear him of the charges.

Prokhorov's surprise announcement this week that he would seek the presidency came in the wake of nationwide protests over alleged fraud in national parliament elections. The protests, which included a throng of tens of thousands in Moscow, were an unprecedented public display of widespread discontent with the man who has dominated Russian politics for a dozen years as president and later as prime minister.

Putin stepped down as president in 2008 because of term limits, but seeks to return to the Kremlin in the March 4 election.

Speaking at a meeting with supporters at a meeting to nominate him for the race, Prokhorov hailed last weekend's protest in Moscow against vote fraud, which attracted tens of thousands in the largest show of discontent in 20 years.

"I deeply understand the demands and the strivings of the people who took to the streets," Prokhorov told reporters, adding that he may join a follow-up protest later this month.

Prokhorov said that "expert opinion" has prompted him to believe that the Dec. 4 parliamentary election was unfair and rigged. But he argued for a legal response to the fraud allegations.

The tycoon avoided criticizing Putin directly, but said he wasn't afraid to challenge his power: "Putin is a serious rival, but I'm not afraid of competition."

Prokhorov, noted for his playboy lifestyle, also humorously noted that he might need to settle down and find a potential first lady.

"I'm ready even for this ? if that's necessary for my country and for winning the presidential election."

Prokhorov's presidential bid follows his botched performance before the parliamentary election when he formed a liberal political party with the Kremlin's tacit support but abandoned it under what he called Kremlin pressure.

Some observers alleged that Prokhorov may have made amends with the Kremlin and might be running for president to accommodate voters unhappy with the authorities to steal the thunder from the opposition.

Prokhorov said in his blog Wednesday that he would play his own game.

"Naturally, my candidacy is good for the Kremlin. Naturally, they want to play democracy and show that people have 'some kind of a choice'," he wrote.

"But we must absolutely use the authorities, too, if we don't want to just make some noise and disappear, but to change our lives for the better."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/russia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111215/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_prokhorov

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Long time RPer, first time poster.

Oh wow. Here I am.

The name's Jen. I'll be 22 in about a week.
I've been role playing since the late 90s, early millennium and have been an avid reader/writer since I could, well, read and write. I haven't RPed in a very long time, but I miss it. Especially in the winter where I am most creative. All of my RPing buddies have dropped off the face of the earth or grown up and fled the coop. Good for them, but I'm suffering without the sport of characters and imagination.

My main inspirations are Stephen King and horror movies, and I tend to write in this style the majority of the time.
I love anything with a twist and a dark story, so it's no surprise that the majority of my characters are naughty or at least dysfunctional. I almost can't even help it! I play mostly females but been shifting towards males, and I can comfortably play both.

This place is overwhelming! I don't know what to do with so many people like me!

My role playing preferences:

- Realism or fantasy [usually semi-fantasy, majority realism]
- Elements of horror, gore, rated R, etc. Of course, I have no qualms about straying outside the zone of horror.
- Advanced, as in I put a lot of work into my stories. I would expect others to do the same. More fun that way!
- I can really get into our stories. I used to make entire elaborate websites detailing everything. I believe obsessed is the word. >.>
- Uh... Can't think of anything else right now.

Take a stab at me. I've been wanting to join for a long time now. Just haven't had the balls. ;-;

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/5DXZVgtQ8-8/viewtopic.php

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Romney snags endorsement from South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (Daily Caller)

Mitt Romney picked up a major South Carolina endorsement on Friday from the state?s governor, Nikki Haley.

?The election next November will have ramifications for generations,? Haley said. ?Neither South Carolina nor the nation can afford four more years of President Obama, and Mitt Romney is the right person to take him on and get America back on track.?

Haley, who will serve as co-chairman of the Romney campaign?s national steering committee, announced her endorsement on ?Fox and Friends? this morning. On Friday, Romney will campaign with her in Greenville. They?ll also appear together at events Saturday in Charleston and Myrtle Beach.

Haley, viewed as a rising star in the Republican party, was elected to the gubernatorial seat in the Palmetto State in 2010. Her rise was aided with help from an endorsement by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who listed her as one of her ?mama grizzlies.?

?It is an honor to have the endorsement of Governor Haley,? said Mitt Romney. ?As a successful businesswoman who entered public service so government could better serve the people, Governor Haley?s career-long efforts to reform government, make government more accountable to the taxpayers, and fight wasteful spending should be examples for leaders across the country.?

Follow Alex on Twitter

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Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/dailycaller/20111216/pl_dailycaller/romneysnagsendorsementfromsouthcarolinagovnikkihaley

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Europe debt woes prompt year-end flight from risk (Reuters)

SINGAPORE (Reuters) ? Asian shares fell into bear market territory for the year and commodities and the euro nursed stinging losses on Thursday, after fears that Europe's debt crisis is still worsening prompted investors to dump riskier assets and huddle in the safety of the dollar and Treasuries.

The gloomy mood was not improved by a private sector survey indicating China's factory output shrinking again in December, adding to the headwinds facing a global economy struggling with sluggish U.S. growth and the euro zone sliding back into recession.

"We're quite bearish about the world at the moment," said Damien Boey, equity strategist at Credit Suisse in Sydney. "You're looking at basically the three major economies in the world causing problems."

The market view that a European Union summit last week had failed to produce a solution to the crisis was reinforced when Italy was forced to pay an eye-watering 6.47 percent on 5-year bonds on Wednesday, a record borrowing cost for the euro era.

Japan's Nikkei fell 1.3 percent and MSCI's broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was down 1.8 percent, following losses of around 1 percent on Wall Street and a steeper sell-off in Europe. (.T) (.N) (.EU) (.L)

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

HSBC China flash PMI: http://link.reuters.com/hyd55s

Japan BOJ Tankan: http://link.reuters.com/pez55s

Euro zone crisis in graphics: http://r.reuters.com/hyb65p

Interactive timeline: http://link.reuters.com/rev89r

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>

The MSCI Asia ex-Japan is down 20 percent for 2011 -- the rule-of-thumb definition of a bear market -- while the Nikkei has lost about 17.5 percent. Both have underperformed global equities (.MIWD00000PUS), which have lost around 12.5 percent, and U.S. stocks (.SPX), which are only down around 3.5 percent.

Europe remains investors' biggest worry, with markets still braced for ratings agency downgrades of euro zone sovereigns.

"Markets are frustrated and disappointed, waiting for a road map on the resolution of the two-year-old debt crisis," said Ong Yi Ling, an investment analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore. "Risk assets are all down. The debt crisis will be with us at least through the first half of 2012."

Equity losses in Hong Kong (.HSI) and Shanghai (.SSEC) deepened after the release of HSBC's China flash PMI, the latest piece of data to show the world's second largest economy losing steam, but reaction in broader markets was muted.

COMMODITY SLIDE

Wednesday's stock market declines were dwarfed by carnage in commodity markets, where oil, gold and copper shed 4-5 percent.

Gold has been hammered in recent days as fund managers liquidate their holdings, either to cover losses elsewhere or to lock in profits on an asset that is still up more than 10 percent for the year.

"Some macro hedge funds are liquidating gold holdings and taking profits in a difficult year," said James Steel, chief technical analyst at HSBC.

The precious metal edged down a little further on Thursday to around $1,572 an ounce, while U.S. crude oil inched up to $95.20 a barrel and Brent crude bounced more than 50 cents to around $105.60.

The euro fell as low as $1.2944, its weakest level since January 11, and was later steady around $1.2990.

A downgrade by ratings agency Fitch of five major European financial groups, including France's Credit Agricole to A-plus from AA-negative, added to the already euro-negative sentiment.

This comes on top of the prospect of further cuts by rival Standard & Poor's, which warned earlier this month it could downgrade the ratings of 15 of the 17 euro zone members.

"I can see the U.S. dollar keep trending higher while the euro flounders," said Joseph Capurso, a strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

(Additional reporting by Miranda Maxwell in Melbourne, Jane Lee in Kuala Lumpur and Frank Tang in New York; Editing by Richard Borsuk)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111215/bs_nm/us_markets_global

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Highlights: Russian PM Putin holds call-in show (Reuters)

MOSCOW (Reuters) ? Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made the following remarks during a televised program in which he answered questions from Russians nationwide.

ON ELECTIONS AND PROTESTS:

"From my point of view, the result of the (December 4) election undoubtedly reflects public opinion in the country."

"As for the fact that the ruling force, United Russia, lost certain positions, there is also nothing unusual about this. Listen, we have gone through a very difficult period of crisis, and look at what is happening in other countries."

"It's clear that this negatively affected people to a certain degree, and the standard of living decreased, some lost their jobs."

"And so it is significantly easier for the opposition to recruit people who are dissatisfied into their ranks than it was before. ... But United Russia after all retained its leading position, and that's a very good result."

"The fact that people are expressing their views about what is going on in he country in the economic, social and political spheres is absolutely normal as long as everyone acts within the framework of the law. I hope it will be this way."

"I am proposing and asking for the installation of web cameras at all the polling stations in the country."

ON ALLOWING MORE OPPOSITION PARTIES

"Well, we will register them, probably -- we'll see. We will have to change the legislation somehow. I repeat: We can liberalize things, we can move in this direction."

ON THE ECONOMY:

"We have many unresolved issues, but nevertheless some remarkable and meaningful things have been done in recent years."

"Over 10 years we have cut the number of people who live below the poverty line twofold. Today it is 12.5 percent ... now this parameter is even more modest that in European countries."

Putin said that average wages in Russia had risen sharply during his rule, outpacing the rate of inflation.

"We went through the crisis years of 2009 and 2010 much more softly than other countries."

Putin forecast that the economy would grow by 4.2-4.5 percent this year, and that inflation would fall to just over 6 percent.

"Inflation is at a record low -- a level we have never seen in Russian history."

Putin said that the Russian state pensions system needed to be strengthened by reducing the rate of early retirement, but not by raising the statutory retirement age.

ON FORMER FINANCE MINISTER KUDRIN:

"Alexei Leonidovich Kudrin never left my team. We are old comrades. He's my friend."

"He has not gone far ... I understand his position on many issues ... He did a lot for the country. I'm proud that this man worked in my government."

Putin said he had met Kudrin on Tuesday to discuss the economic situation and outlook.

"It's true that we don't agree on everything, but our differences are not cardinal."

"Such people were needed and will be needed in past and future governments."

ON PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL MIKAIL PROKHOROV:

"Mikhail Dmitrievich is a consistent person, he doesn't give up. I understand he has decided to use a new platform to promote the ideas he considers right for our country."

"I can't say I wish him success, because I am also going to run. But I think he will be a worthy -- a strong competitor."

ON GOVERNMENT MINISTERS

"They, as well as governors, are always at the forefront of criticism and of problems, and it is easy to make any of them a scapegoat. Something may be disputed, something may be criticized, but the worst we could do is turn to ministerial merry-go-round. We've had that in our history already."

"As for rotation, we have talked about it, the time will come. And of course, without any doubt, the future government needs an update."

ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

"Some want to shift Russia off to the side somewhere so that it does not interfere with them ruling the globe.

"They still are afraid of our nuclear potential. ... We have our own opinion, we conduct independent foreign policy and I hope will continue to do so in the future. This, of course, can be a hurdle for someone.

"But the West is not monolithic, and we have more friends than foes."

ON LIBYA AND JOHN MCCAIN

"Mr. McCain ... fought in Vietnam. I think he has enough blood of peaceful civilians blood on his hands. ... Maybe he can't live without horrible, disgusting scenes of Gaddafi massacre when it was shown on all TV screens around the world how he was being killed.

"Is that democracy? Who did that? Pilotless drones, including American ones. They struck his convoy. And then by radio via special forces that should not have been there anyway, brought in so-called oppositionists and fighters and destroyed him without trial or investigation."

"Mr. McCain ... was taken prisoner in Vietnam and was not just in jail, they put him in a pit and he sat there for several years. Anyone would go nuts."

ON ELECTING REGIONAL GOVERNORS

"We could think about ... all parties in regional parliaments ... proposing candidates for governors, regional leaders. These proposals would be filtered by the president and he would propose these candidates ... for election by the entire population of the region. This step seems to me absolutely possible and well founded."

ON TERRORISM:

"The most necessary thing has been done. Separatism and terrorism have bee suppressed. Look at what is happening in the Caucasus, how people suffer from these phenomena.

"As soon as you let things go a little bit, many people will appreciate 'the difficulties of today', when they will have to face bullets to fight terrorism rather than demonstrating in the squares."

ON THE NORTH CAUCASUS:

"The most important thing to do is to create jobs in the Caucasus itself. Not so long ago people were saying (Chechnya's capital) Grozny couldn't be restored; it looked like Stalingrad after the war. There are many questions for (Chechnya's leader Ramzan) Kadyrov, but Kadyrov is restoring Chechnya, and has restored Grozny like no one else has managed to."

"I am certain that corruption in Chechnya is minimal, but we need to develop enterprise, the economy, the social sphere in the Caucasus so that people would not want to leave, so they could realize their potential in their native regions. And to do that, certainly, if we want to maintain the unity of our state, we have to invest money there."

(Compiled by Steve Gutterman, Edited by Douglas Busvine)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111215/wl_nm/us_russia_putin

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