The Note's Must-Reads for Monday, February 25, 2013

The Note's Must-Reads are a round-up of today's political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com

Compiled by ABC News' Jayce Henderson and Amanda VanAllen

PRESIDENT OBAMA: The Boston Globe: " New group seeks to 'strengthen progressive movement'" Two top political consultants to President Obama are forming a public advocacy group funded by donations from wealthy individuals and corporations. It is aimed at making political and legislative changes at the federal and state levels. The Organizing for Action says it will be nonpartisan and steer clear of election activity, although the line between issue disputes and electoral politics can be fuzzy. The first of an expected wave of ads on gun control, for example, has targeted only Republicans. LINK

SEQUESTER CUTS: ABC News' Rick Klein: " President Obama Faces 'Cliff Fatigue' in Latest Budget Fight" Hundreds of thousands of jobs are at risk. Delays await at airports. Padlocks are ready at national parks. The nation will suffer greater risk of wildfires, workplace deaths, and even surprise weather events, if government predictions are to be believed. Our entire military readiness and superiority are at risk. What if nobody cares? LINK

The Hill's Bernie Becker: " White House details state-by-state impact of looming sequester cuts" The White House escalated its efforts to pressure congressional Republicans on sequestration, releasing new reports that showed the state-by-state impact of some $85 billion in automatic spending cuts. President Obama's administration for days has been stressing the real-world implications of the spending cuts, which start going into effect on Friday, and has increasingly tried to bring that message directly to voters. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Paul West: " As Federal cuts near, White House trades blame with Republicans" With no progress evident in Washington's latest budget battle, the White House opened a new front Sunday by releasing state-by-state estimates on the effects of about $85 billion in spending reductions. The across-the-board cuts are scheduled to take effect Friday, but the two sides appear more eager to pin blame than to avert a potential economic crisis. LINK

The New York Daily News' Dan Hirschhorn: " Dems and Republicans take to Sunday morning airwaves to point fingers as sequester cuts loom" Billions of dollars in automatic cuts are set to hit government spending this week - and Washington is in full hysteria over who's to blame and just how bad it will really be. Democrats and Republicans took to the airwaves Sunday, each in a last-ditch attempt to blame the other for the so-called "sequester" cuts and to debate the impact on Americans' everyday lives. Democrats said Republicans haven't come to the table with a serious compromise to the replace the automatic cuts. LINK

USA Today's Susan Davis: " Sequester: 'Collateral damage' of budget war may be huge" Coming soon, the lines at airport security might get longer, the hours of service at Head Start centers might get shorter and the FBI might have fewer agents tracking down bad guys. These are only a few of the potentially sweeping effects of the latest battle in the ongoing two-year budget war between President Obama and a divided Congress. Across-the-board spending cuts totaling $85 billion start kicking in Friday if Washington doesn't act. LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Janet Hook and Peter Nicholas: " Fresh Front in Budget Battle" Already looking past the current budget impasse gripping the capital, congressional leaders are quietly considering a deal to avert a government shutdown next month-but at the cost of prolonging across-the-board spending cuts. Attention is beginning to shift from Friday, when the broad cuts known as the sequester kick in, to the next budget deadline: Congress must pass a so-called continuing resolution by the end of March to keep funding government operations. LINK

The New York Times' Jonathan Weisman: " Budget Impasse Signals a Shift in G.O.P.'s Focus" With Congress unlikely to stop deep automatic spending cuts that will strike hard at the military, the fiscal stalemate is highlighting a significant shift in the Republican Party: lawmakers most keenly dedicated to shrinking the size of government are now more dominant than the bloc committed foremost to a robust national defense, particularly in the House. That reality also underscores what Republicans, and some Democrats, say was a major miscalculation on the part of President Obama. LINK

The Washington Post's Zachary A. Goldfarb and Paul Kane: " White House releases state-by-state breakdown of sequester's effects" The White House on Sunday detailed how the deep spending cuts set to begin this week would affect programs in every state and the District, as President Obama launched a last-ditch effort to pressure congressional Republicans to compromise on a way to stop the across-the-board cuts. But while Republicans and Democrats were set to introduce dueling legislative proposals this week to avert the Friday start of the spending cuts, known as the sequester, neither side expected the measures to get enough support to pass Congress. LINK

TEA PARTY: The Washington Times' Seth McLaughlin: " Tea partyers fight for right-thinking GOP" Though years in the brewing, the internal fight over the direction of the Republican Party has exploded onto front pages and political talk shows this month after strategist Karl Rove announced the formation of a new political action committee designed to promote more electable candidates. Fed up with what they see as a sellout of their small-government agenda and tired of Election Day disappointments, tea partyers and many conservatives are firing back. LINK

IMMIGRATION: Politico's Kate Nocera: " Congress facing signs of immigration roadblocks" The push for immigration reform on Captiol Hill has been in overdrive thus far in 2013, but last week's recess serves as a reminder - if one was needed - that the issue is far from settled. On the face of things, there's plenty of momentum in Congress: The Senate Gang of Eight hopes to have a bill by mid-March; labor and business groups agreed on basic principles for low-skill workers; and a series of congressional hearings on the topic already have begun in earnest. LINK

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Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/notes-must-reads-monday-february-25-2013-081101115--abc-news-politics.html

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Panasonic's New Sensor Captures 3D Images With a Single Lens

Using similar techniques that enable the Nintendo 3DS to display 3D images without the need for special glasses, Panasonic has developed a new image sensor that can capture 3D stills and videos without the need for multiple lenses. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/mF1QZ_4sh5w/panasonics-new-sensor-captures-3d-images-with-a-single-lens

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LaLa Anthony and Fabolous Kin Pin Bowling Party NBA All Star Weekend

Atlanta?s ?BCB Media Group presented?Kin Pin Celebrity Bowling?Challenge Day party doing NBA All Star Weekend 2013 in Houston. The event was sponsored Monster ?and free headphones where given away through out the day.

DJ?Trauma?and DJ MLK?rocked the music and the lovely LaLa Anthony and Fabolous were the host. Trey Songz, Slim Thug, DJ Clue, Terrell Owens and John Wall of the?Washington?Wizards bowled with other celebrities.

Check out the photos of the celebrities?that were in the building

- Eric Black

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rollingout/~3/5wommIwAcNo/

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Full Court Press: Press: Don?t expect a new pope to change the Catholic Church

Bill Press observes that this has been a big week for news ? the Senate renewed the Violence Against Women Act, there was a showdown with a cop killer who used to be a cop, President Obama gave the State of the Union address. But one item overshadowed all else ? the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. After all, says Bill, there?s a State of the Union address every year, but it?s been nearly 600 years since a pope resigned. Bill says there?s probably no need to wonder why and that the bigger question is, ?What difference will a new pope make?? The answer: ?Expect a new face, but with the same old, tired policies.?

Source: http://current.com/shows/full-court-press/videos/what-difference-will-the-new-pope-make/

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Gitmo official: No eavesdropping on lawyers

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) ? A senior Guantanamo official says the FBI installed hidden microphones that have sparked fears of eavesdropping among defense attorneys in the Sept. 11 case.

Army Col. John Bogdan says the FBI set up the sound system in the meeting rooms for use by its agents at the U.S. base in Cuba. Bogdan, who is in charge of detention operations, testified that the military does not use the microphones to monitor private conversations between prisoners and lawyers.

He told the court he wasn't even aware of the microphones that look like smoke detectors until defense lawyers recently discovered them. He testified Wednesday in a hearing to determine if the government has eavesdropped on the defense in the Sept. 11. The issue has dominated a four-day pretrial hearing in the case.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-13-CB-Guantanamo-Sept-11-Trial/id-fadc04cec912493c80ce8b9529d665e8

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Tim Southee recovering well from thumb injury ? Cricket News ...

Tim Southee recovering well from thumb injury ? Cricket News Update

New Zealand seamer, Tim Southee, is confident of reuniting with the rest of his teammates during the ongoing home series against England after recovering from a thumb injury he sustained in late December.

The fast bowler injured himself while fielding during a domestic game for Northern District and was ruled out from the team?s tour of South Africa, where they were lost the T20I and Test series, before claiming win in the 50-over format. He was originally omitted for the shortest version due to the birth of his first child but missed out on selection completely due to extent of the injury. ?

The player had been in supreme form before that, helping his side to claim a famous victory on Sri Lankan soil. The bowler picked up 12 wickets in the two-match series, eight of which came in the second Test, which his side won by 167 runs.

He has set sights on returning to the domestic circuit first, where his side will be facing Wellington in the Plunket Shield from February 14. Ironically, Southee picked up the injury when the two sides last played each other in the same competition two months ago.

"I'm excited to get back out there. It's probably the longest layoff I've had. There wasn't a break but I ripped the ligaments clean off the bone. It was in a full cast for two and a bit weeks, then a splint for a while after that. Four or five weeks after surgery I was back into a bit of bowling, and I was also able to do some running and gym work," Southee was quoted as saying by Fairfax NZ News.

The 24-year-old is also hopeful of playing some part in the upcoming ODI series against England, which will commence following the conclusion of the T20I series, currently locked at one a piece. In addition to that, both sides will further lock horns in the Tests, beginning from next month.

"I'll play this game and keep in touch with the New Zealand medical staff and Brendon [McCullum, the captain] and Mike [Hesson, the coach] as well. I guess it's up to them what they want to do, whether [I'll] be involved in the one-day series or just get myself right for the Test series."

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Tim-Southee-recovering-well-from-thumb-injury-Cricket-News-Update-a213505

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Sony Mobile's top marketing guy, Steve Walker, resigns effective at the end of M...

Sony Mobile's top marketing guy, Steve Walker, resigns effective at the end of March

Sony Mobile's global marketing head, Steve Walker, is hanging up his slogans and taglines at the end of March, but not before he helps Sony market what essentially ?

Source: http://www.facebook.com/PhoneArena/posts/10151437658094598

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Vicar of St George?s Church, Baghdad: no better time than Lent to reflect

12 February 2013

Vicar of St George's Church, Baghdad: no better time than Lent to reflect

The vicar of St George's Church, Baghdad, has written a special reflection focusing on how Lent is a special time to refocus on God, to mark the launch of the Reflections for Lent 2013 app from Church House Publishing.

Canon Andrew White writes: "For all in this land Lent is combined with the fast of Nineveh and is an intense time of giving thanks to the Lord? In the midst of our immense suffering we remember the suffering of our Lord, culminating in his intense suffering on the Cross. That time though was also his greatest time of glory and also our greatest time of glory. So this is a time when we all draw near to God and He draws near to us. There is no better time to do this than to find time to reflect."

The full reflection is available at: www.chpublishing.co.uk

Lent 2013 begins on Ash Wednesday (13th February) and ends on Easter Eve (30th March). Many treat this time as a way of preparation for Easter. The concept of fasting for '40 days' (Sundays are sometimes excluded by those observing Lent) is to reflect the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert. More on Lent is available at http://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/being-a-christian/lent.aspx

Reflections for Lent 2013 app, containing daily reflections on Bible passages by four leading authors, produced by Aimer Media for Church House Publishing, is available from iTunes for ?1.99 at http://itun.es/i6JV4Gd.?

The contributors to Reflections for Lent are: the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell (Bishop of Chelmsford), the Rt Revd Steven Croft (Bishop of Sheffield), Barbara Mosse (Anglican priest and writer) and Mark Oakley (Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral).

??

Notes?

The full reflection reads:?

Again we are about to enter the time of Lent, the time when we remember the
time of Jesus fasting in the wilderness and the approach of Easter. For many it
is the time they will give up something; hopefully for all followers of Christ
it will also be the time they take up further spiritual reflection. Apps, books and e-books such as Reflections for Lent help us regain our right focus.

For those of us here in Iraq, Lent is longer and has a very real focus. Here
Lent is preceded by two further important events. First is the fast of Jonah,
three days with no food at all. Many will not even drink in this period. This
remembers Jonah in the belly of the whale when he did not eat or drink. Then we
come to the fast of Nineveh for 10 days leading into Lent. This remembers the
fasting of the Assyrians, when they turned from their evil ways to the Almighty.

The fact is that to this day all the Assyrians are Christian and all the Christians of Iraq come from Nineveh.

So for all in this land Lent is combined with the fast of Nineveh and is an
intense time of giving thanks to the Lord for sending us a miserable evangelist
in a submarine, but also a time of suffering and glory. In the midst of our
immense suffering we remember the suffering of our Lord, culminating in his
intense suffering on the Cross. That time though was also his greatest time of
Glory and also our greatest time of glory. So this is a time when we all draw
near to God and He draws near to us. There is no better time to do this than to
find time to reflect.

Canon Andrew White, Baghdad

Source: http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2013/02/vicar-of-st-george%E2%80%99s-church,-baghdad-no-better-time-than-lent-to-reflect.aspx

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Tired of wimpy magnets? Try Strong Like Bull Magnets

Face it.? The force of magnetism is simply amazing, and magnets are useful and fun.? We use them to hold up everything from grocery lists to our kids’ artwork.? But many magnets are just plain wimpy—either they are poorly constructed and fall apart or the force of their magnetic field is too weak to be [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/02/07/tired-of-wimpy-magnets-try-strong-like-bull-magnets/

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Stock market has worst day this year; Dow off 129

The stock market is closing out its worst day so far this year, bringing the Dow average back below 14,000.

The drop, which erased 129 points from the Dow Jones industrial average, came on the first trading day after the index closed above 14,000 for the first time since the financial crisis.

The Dow ended at 13,880 Monday, down 0.9 percent.

Other indexes fell slightly more. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 17 points to end at 1,495, a loss of 1.2 percent.

Technology stocks fell more than other sectors, pulling the Nasdaq lower. The technology-heavy index fell almost 48 points, or 1.5 percent, to 3,131.

Falling stocks outnumbered rising ones nearly four to one on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume was average, 3.4 billion shares.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stock-market-worst-day-dow-off-129-211726397--finance.html

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