Grimaldi's Pizza for Pets and Phyllo Pie in Today's Eater's Digest ...

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    Source: http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bella/2011/11/grimaldis_pizza_for_pets_and_p.php

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    Report: UK tabloid spied on Prince William

    The News of the World newspaper, a tabloid at the center of the News Corp phone-hacking scandal, paid a private investigator to spy on Britain's Prince William and a host of other high-profile targets, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

    The report, based on an interview with the private detective, is yet another damaging revelation for News Corp's British operation and comes in the week Rupert Murdoch's son James will testify for a second time before British lawmakers.

    Story: News Corp. told in 2008 its reporters broke law

    According to former police officer Derek Webb, the now defunct News of the World asked him to carry out surveillance on Queen Elizabeth's grandson Prince William, his brother Harry's former girlfriend, former Attorney General Lord Peter Goldsmith and the parents of "Harry Potter" actor Daniel Radcliffe.

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    "I was working for them extensively on many jobs throughout that time," Webb said according to quotes on the BBC website.

    "I never knew when I was going to be required. They phoned me up by the day or by the night... It could be anywhere in the country."

    William, who the report said was trailed in 2006 while in western England, was one of more than 90 people Webb was asked to follow in eight years of working for the paper from 2003 until it was closed down in July.

    The prince's office said it had no comment on the story.

    "Basically I would write down what they were wearing at the time, what car they were in, who they met, the location they met, the times -- the times were very important -- and I would keep that," Webb was quoted as saying.

    While surveillance is not illegal, the latest revelations add to the perception that the News of the World went beyond acceptable behavior. The paper was shut down this year after it emerged that it had widely engaged in the practice of illegally listening to people's telephone messages.

    Webb stood behind the work he did for the newspaper in his interview with the BBC, saying it was not illlegal.

    "The News of The World employed me to do a job, I did the job to the best of my ability. I didn't infringe on private ground, on private property... I never did anything which is unlawful," he said.

    On Monday, News International, the UK newspaper arm of News Corp, admitted its staff had ordered surveillance of two lawyers representing victims suing the media group over the phone-hacking.

    Harry warned off 'fornicating'?

    The company described the surveillance of the two lawyers as "inappropriate." It said on Tuesday it would not comment on specific work carried out by Webb.

    On Thursday, James Murdoch, who is chairman of News International, will return to face parliament's powerful culture and media committee to explain discrepancies in evidence he gave at a previous hearing in July.

    Former senior executives from News International have indicated to the committee that he was aware of the extent of the hacking earlier than he had acknowledged.

    Until this year, News International had said the practice was limited to one rogue reporter who had been jailed.

    Detectives have now arrested 17 people, including former senior News International figures as part of a new inquiry into phone-hacking and illegal payments to police officers, and say that almost 5,800 people had been targeted.

    Dozens of hacking victims have filed lawsuits against News International, with police still to contact the vast majority of suspected targets, according to lawyers involved in the process.

    The company has already settled in some of the most high-profile cases, including that of actress Sienna Miller and the parents of murdered British schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

    Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45211327/ns/world_news-europe/

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    US delays massive oil pipeline from Canada

    Demonstrators march with a replica of a pipeline during a protest to demand a stop to the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline outside the White House on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

    Demonstrators march with a replica of a pipeline during a protest to demand a stop to the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline outside the White House on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

    Demonstrators march with a replica of a pipeline during a protest to demand a stop to the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline outside the White House on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

    Gerhard Grieb, of Sandy Spring, Md., holds an American flag with corporate logos during a protest against the Keystone XL Pipeline outside the White House on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

    (AP) ? The Obama administration said Thursday it is delaying a decision on a massive oil pipeline until it can study new potential routes that avoid environmentally sensitive areas of Nebraska, a move that likely puts off final action on the pipeline until after the 2012 election.

    The announcement by the State Department means Calgary-based TransCanada Corp. will have to figure out a way to move the proposed Keystone XL pipeline around the Nebraska Sandhills region and Ogallala aquifer, which supplies water to eight states. The State Department said it will require an environmental review of the new section, which is expected to be completed in early 2013.

    President Barack Obama said the 1,700-mile pipeline could affect the health and safety of the American people as well as the environment.

    "We should take the time to ensure that all questions are properly addressed and all the potential impacts are properly understood," Obama said in a statement.

    The decision on whether to approve the $7 billion pipeline "should be guided by an open, transparent process that is informed by the best available science and the voices of the American people," Obama said.

    TransCanada Corp. is seeking to build a 36-inch pipeline to carry oil derived from tar sands in Alberta, Canada, to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast. The pipeline would travel through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma before reaching Texas.

    The heavily contested project has become a political trap for Obama, who risks angering environmental supporters if he approves the pipeline and could face criticism from labor and business groups for thwarting job creation if he rejects it.

    Some liberal donors have threatened to cut off contributions to Obama's re-election campaign if he approves the pipeline.

    The project has become a focal point for environmental groups, which say it would bring "dirty oil" that requires huge amounts of energy to extract. They also worry that the pipeline could cause an ecological disaster in case of a spill.

    Thousands of protesters gathered across from the White House on Sunday to oppose the pipeline, and celebrities including "Seinfeld" actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus have made videos urging Obama to reject the pipeline. The State Department has authority over the project because it crosses a U.S. border.

    Environmental activist Bill McKibben, who led protests against the pipeline and was arrested in a demonstration earlier this year, said on Twitter that the protests had an effect on the Obama administration.

    "A done deal has come spectacularly undone!" he wrote.

    The Keystone XL pipeline would carry as much as 700,000 barrels of oil a day, doubling the capacity of an existing pipeline operated by TransCanada in the upper Midwest. Supporters say the pipeline to Texas could significantly reduce U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil while providing thousands of jobs.

    TransCanada said in a statement it was disappointed in the delay but confident that the project ultimately will be approved. The company has previously said a delay could cost millions of dollars and keep thousands of people of from getting jobs.

    Russ Girling, TransCanada's president and CEO, called the pipeline "shovel-ready," adding that it could create as many 20,000 jobs.

    "If Keystone XL dies, Americans will still wake up the next morning and continue to import 10 million barrels of oil from repressive nations, without the benefit of thousands of jobs and long-term energy security," he said.

    The American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry's chief lobbying group, said the decision put election-year politics above creation of thousands of jobs. "Whether it will help the president retain his job is unclear, but it will cost thousands of shovel-ready opportunities for American workers," said API president Jack Gerard.

    House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, used similar language, saying Obama had sacrificed thousands of jobs "solely to appease his liberal base. It's a failure of leadership."

    Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper also was disappointed.

    "As we have consistently said, the pipeline will create thousands of jobs and billions in economic growth on both sides of the border," Harper said.

    Still, Harper said he remained hopeful that the project will eventually be approved.

    Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman said the State Department decision was due largely to pressure from Nebraskans. Heineman called a special session of the Nebraska Legislature to address pipeline concerns, including a possible rerouting of the pipeline around the Sandhills.

    Heineman, a Republican, called the State Department decision "an exceptional moment for Nebraskans" and a sign their voices have been heard.

    The decision to reroute the project comes as the State Department's inspector general has begun a review of the administration's handling of the pipeline request. That examination follows complaints from Democratic lawmakers about possible conflicts of interest in the review process.

    The inspector generator will look at whether the State Department and others involved in the project followed federal regulations.

    ___

    Associated Press writers Grant Schulte in Lincoln, Neb., and Dina Cappiello in Washington contributed to this report.

    ___

    Follow Matthew Daly on Twitter (at)MatthewDalyWDC

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-11-10-Oil%20Pipeline/id-73dd888836b349dd8e8300706e7c3bb8

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    Ways that powerfoods help us (Y! Green)

    You may have powerfoods in your kitchen right now and don?t know it.

    By eating powerfoods everyday you can energize and balance your body without costly vitamins and medical bills. Foods affect us on many levels and understanding these factors can help you make better health choices.

    Before understanding the power of the foods around me, I was unhealthy, unhappy and confused. Constant visits to doctors and health food stores had little effect on my deep fatigue and constant hunger. That was 30 years ago when Western nutritional science was not as advanced as it is now.

    It was the 5,000 year old Chinese herbal knowledge that made the difference for me. Using specific foods and food combinations to feed specific systems and create balance brought me back to the energy and joy I had as a teenager.

    Since then I learned from all cultures. The message is always the same: Food can heal. Food can be your medicine. Food has POWER!

    Five Sources of Power for Powerfoods:

    1. Broad chemical influences on the body

    These include:

    • Alkaline-forming vs. acid-forming
    • Organic vs. chemical-infused
    • Raw vs. cooked
    • Gluten-free vs. gluten-containing foods
    • Complex carbohydrates (smart carbs) vs. simple sugars (dumb carbs)
    • Whole vs. processed
    Each of these factors has multiple influences on the body and a person will respond to these differences depending on their predisposition and levels of health.

    Powerfoods are almost always whole but not necessarily gluten-free, raw or alkaline.

    2. Specific chemical needs: The GAP Theory

    Each food has different levels of specific nutrients. If a person has a particular need for a nutrient it will affect them greatly. Powerfoods tend to have very high levels of certain nutrients.

    For example: suppose a person has a strong need for vitamin C.? It is winter and she is not eating enough fruits and vegetables.? An orange has vitamin C, so mandarin oranges that are popular around Christmas, have just the right chemistry to feed her immune system and prevent a cold.

    3. Genetic influences of food

    Scientists have been debating for years what is more important: your genetics given to you by your parents or your upbringing.? It turns out that the two are combined.? Your environment activates the expression of your genes. This is very powerful.

    For example research has shown that a diet high in omega-3 fats reduces the expression of the Alzheimer?s gene APOE4.? We can sidestep bad genes by eating healthy.

    4. Subtle influences of food

    Many healthy systems around the world have different ways to conceptualize health with very powerful results.? Instead of interpreting food in terms of vitamins and minerals and proteins they talked about principles like heat, cold, fire, water and air, which they could directly perceive.

    These principles are understandable within chemistry or physics to a degree but often the complete use of these systems relies on the idea of subtle energies that modern science has not been able to consistently measure ? energies like chi and prana in food, our bodies and the environment.

    These cultures have produced large numbers of remarkably healthy individuals. They picked out certain foods (powerfoods) that were particularly balancing for various needs.

    5. Social and cultural influences of food

    Growing, preparing and eating food takes more time and energy than any other facet of man?s life. In all societies there have evolved intricate cultures around food which affect how we think, how we act and what kind of lives we will live.

    Older cultures also discovered foods and combinations of foods that were particularly healthy.

    The Mediterranean diet is one example.? At first nutritionists did not understand how everyone could be so healthy consuming so much oil.? It turned out that mono-unsaturated olive oil has many properties that are just now being understood and appreciated. The Italians did not understand the chemistry of various levels of saturation of fats.? They just knew olives grew well and over time, through trial and error, developed just the right combination of oil and tomatoes and vegetables and meats to maintain health.

    How Many Powerfoods Are in Your Kitchen Right Now?

    With all these factors in mind, it turns out there are many foods that can bring you greater health, if you understand their potential and use them in the best situation.

    For example, strawberries (like many berries) have amazing properties but they are one of the foods that often get the most toxic sprays when growing. If you eat a case of non-organic strawberries thinking you are getting all the powerfood benefits, it may be that the overload of toxicity in your system will take away any positive influences on a chemical or subtle level.

    Personally I like to keep up with all the recent research about food but I know that any single study can be deeply flawed or biased. I always try to balance what I am hearing with the finding of older health systems and cultures. My final decision for me is whether my body is attracted to a particular food at this time.

    At Real Food for Life we continue to bring people?s awareness to the power of foods. We also have used vital health testing to determine which foods are suitable for an individual at this time.

    Here are a few powerfoods:

    • Walnuts ? The crinkly powerfood with the highest antioxidant activity of any nut
    • Saskatoons ? Our favorite berry
    • Cabbage -? For glowing skin and hair ? some say it collects ?moon power?
    • Stevia ? Many sweet benefits.? Make sure its still in whole food form. (not the white powder)
    • Green Tea ? The powerfood that ruled the world
    For a more complete list of powerfoods with explanations, click here.

    ?

    More healthy and green articles from Care2:

    ?

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/environment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ygreen/20111108/sc_ygreen/waysthatpowerfoodshelpus

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    Review: Motorola revives Razr name with smartphone (AP)

    SAN FRANCISCO ? With its super-slim, stylish frame, Motorola's Razr phone became incredibly popular in 2004 ? a smash hit that Motorola hasn't been able to replicate. Now, many years later, the company is trying to recapture some of that magic by ushering the Razr into the smartphone age.

    The new Droid Razr, available Friday through Verizon Wireless for $300 with a two-year service contract, echoes the svelte form and good looks of its ancestor.

    It has many great features, including a big touch screen and the ability to use Verizon's high-speed 4G LTE network for zippy Web surfing. It also has Motorola's MotoCast service for wirelessly streaming and downloading content stored on your computer.

    Yet I couldn't get much time to enjoy the phone because using it with LTE quickly wore down the battery.

    And while the phone runs the latest version of Google Inc.'s Android software that is available for smartphones, shoppers may be tempted to wait. Verizon will soon offer Samsung's Galaxy Nexus, which will come with an even newer version of Android called Ice Cream Sandwich. The Droid Razr is expected to get that update, too, but not until next year.

    Don't get me wrong, though: The Droid Razr is a hot phone.

    Gazing at it for the first time, I had the same thought as I did when I first laid eyes on the now-ancient Razr phone: How the heck did Motorola make the phone that thin? Except for a chunk at the top that houses the rear camera, flash and an external speaker, the Droid Razr is slimmer than any other smartphone. It's just a third of an inch thick. It's light, too, at 4.5 ounces.

    It makes other smartphones ? Apple's iPhone included ? look chubby by comparison.

    Its back is covered in diagonal gray and black lines composed of Kevlar fiber, which is meant to increase the phone's strength. Another perk, though one that's not visible: The phone has a water-repellent coating both inside and outside that is meant to shield it from damage caused by the occasional spill.

    The Droid Razr boasts a 4.3-inch display, which is too big to fit too comfortably in my hand, but plenty large for watching videos and checking out websites. It isn't the highest-resolution screen you'll find on a smartphone, but colors looked bright and images were crisp.

    The screen also works well as a viewfinder for the Razr's 8-megapixel camera. The camera snaps photos pretty quickly. I was able to capture sharp shots in bright and low light.

    The phone is speedy overall, owing to its dual-core processor and 1 gigabyte of memory. I had no problem streaming tunes while I bounced between IM'ing friends, checking up on gossip sites and using Google Maps to find a good restaurant near my office.

    The phone has a big battery that promises 12.5 hours of talk time. To keep the phone slim, the battery is built-in and cannot be easily replaced.

    And, as expected, it won't last long if you're on Verizon's faster data network: Using a combination of LTE and Verizon's slower 3G network to surf the Web, stream an episode of "The Office," download apps and stream music from Pandora, I only had 15 percent battery life left after two-and-a-half hours.

    That seemed lame. Of course you can lengthen the battery life by not using the LTE network, or by severely limiting how much you use it. But access to this high-speed network is one of the phone's best features, improving all sorts of Web-related tasks, including video streaming and Web surfing.

    Fortunately, Motorola included a very neat app called Smart Actions that can alleviate a bit of the battery drain. Smart Actions can be set to automatically alter the Razr's settings at a certain time, either by using built-in "rules" that you can modify or by using ones you determine.

    For example, you can set a low battery saver rule to dim your screen, turn off the phone's GPS and stop content from syncing in the background when the phone's battery reaches a certain level or when you get home. You can also set rules to support your own laziness. I instituted one that makes the phone launch its music app whenever I plug in a pair of headphones.

    The phone also includes a service called MotoCast, which comes across as Motorola Mobility Holding Inc.'s answer to Apple Inc.'s iCloud content streaming service. With MotoCast, you can wirelessly access and download documents, music, videos and photos stored on your Mac or PC on your Razr.

    Unfortunately, because content you stream with MotoCast is housed on your computer ? not on remote computer servers as it is with iCloud ? that computer must be on and connected to the Internet for you listen to The Beatles or watch old episodes of "The Simpsons." I don't know about you, but I don't leave my home or work computer online all the time.

    You can download files to the phone for use at any time, but even with the phone's 32 gigabytes of storage space you can't possibly store as much content as you could on your computer.

    Still, MotoCast is free. The software, which works with a number of Motorola smartphones, was easy to set up on my home computer. On the Razr, streaming songs show up in the phone's music app, denoted by a tiny icon, and they played flawlessly. Videos are less obvious: I found them in the phone's file manager and gallery apps. They didn't seem to stream as well, looking pixelated despite my connection to LTE.

    Beyond the strengths and weaknesses of its hardware and software, though, I couldn't forget about the Razr's $300 price tag. This is higher than most other Android smartphones offered by the major wireless carriers. Even the cheapest iPhone 4S can be had for $200. It's sure to make some potential buyers balk.

    The Droid Razr is as impressively skinny and stylish as its namesake. But shortcomings like its brief battery life when using LTE will likely make it hard for this smartphone to become as popular as its predecessor.

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111109/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_digital_life_tech_test_droid_razr

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    Violence, boycott call deter Liberia voters (Reuters)

    MONROVIA (Reuters) ? Many Liberians failed to vote in a presidential run-off on Tuesday, poll observers said, some people staying away for fear of further violence and others following an opposition boycott appeal.

    Voters trickled into polling stations in the capital Monrovia in much lower numbers than the first round vote last month, Reuters witnesses said. Feedback from elsewhere in the West African state also put turnout down by late-afternoon.

    Incumbent Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is tipped to win re-election after leading the first round vote, and because second placed challenger Winston Tubman has withdrawn from the contest citing electoral fraud.

    But a low turnout risks harming Johnson-Sirleaf's authority in a new term despite international praise for the new Nobel peace laureate and broad condemnation of Tubman's boycott call.

    United Nations peacekeepers were deployed, but the streets of the capital were quiet after a day of clashes that officials say killed at least two.

    "People are taking a long time to come because of the situation of yesterday. There is fear in the voters," said Mitchell Gbarteah, an election worker in Monrovia's West Point, a slum of tin and wood hovels.

    Officials from two observer groups said low numbers were also being reported by colleagues country-wide.

    "We have spoken to our observers across the country and the indication that we are getting is that turnout is very low," said Dan Saryee, head of the Liberia Democratic Institute, which is tracking the vote.

    "If it continues the way it is going now, I can safely say that turnout will be 25-35 percent," he said. In the Oct 11 first round vote, turnout was more than 71 percent.

    The poll is the first locally-organised presidential election since a civil war ended in 2003. It is expected to pave the way for new investment, but fears are rising it could instead usher in open-ended political turmoil.

    On one street corner in the crumbling coastal capital, a group of two dozen young men stood discussing politics.

    "I will never vote, the government has stacked things massively against us ... They came in there shooting, not just teargas, at harmless people" said Anthony Korvayan, 28.

    On Monday, police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Tubman's supporters and officers also fired live rounds when they stormed Tubman's CDC party headquarters. [ID:nL6E7M726J]

    But, standing next to Korvayan, Benedict Hena held up an ink-stained finger, and said he had voted: "It is our right."

    U.S. President Barack Obama called on Liberian security forces to show restraint and allow peaceful protest, and he warned against any voting violations. [ID:nN1E7A622S]

    "The international community will hold accountable those who choose to obstruct the democratic process," he said.

    Two radio stations seen to support Tubman and running mate and former football star George Weah, were shut down overnight.

    After voting in Fefee, her home town just outside Monrovia, Johnson-Sirleaf sought to dampen tensions, saying she regretted the loss of life and promised an investigation.

    "Liberia is going to move forward. We will find a way to heal the wounds. We will also find a way to reconcile people," she said, vowing to make youth a priority of her mandate.

    However, Tubman, a former U.N. ambassador, accused the president of using "violence against peaceful people." On Tuesday he remained vague on his next move. "We will boycott today and wait and see how that pans out."

    Liberia is one of the world's poorest countries and some 14 years of war killed nearly 250,000 and left its infrastructure in ruins.

    "DON'T WANT TROUBLE"

    Johnson-Sirleaf -- whose standing at home, where many complain improvements have come too slowly, is not always on a par with international praise for the recently-named Nobel Peace Prize winner -- won nearly 44 percent of the first round vote.

    She has since secured the backing of the third-placed finisher, former warlord Prince Johnson.

    Tubman, who won about 33 percent in the first round , has alleged three ballot boxes were tampered with and said he would only participate in a run-off if it were delayed by two to four weeks and if counting procedures were amended.

    The October 11 first round was broadly accepted by international observers and regional bodies have criticized Tubman's boycott decision.

    Yet many of his supporters are unemployed former fighters and, while it is too early to be sure of turnout, analysts warned a successful boycott would complicate the incumbent's next mandate, perhaps forcing her into dialogue with Tubman.

    "Instead of consolidation and construction, it will be a second mandate of justification and possibly power-sharing," said Lydie Boka, head of risk consultancy StrategiCo.

    Liberia's iron ore and oil have already attracted major firms including ArcelorMittal, BHP Billiton and Anadarko Petroleum and a smooth poll could entice more.

    Many in Liberia are just hoping for peace.

    "We don't want any trouble. But monkey and baboon not getting along," said a Monrovia resident who called himself Tarr, using the nicknames Liberians have given the candidates.

    (Additional reporting by Claire MacDougall; Writing by David Lewis; Editing by Giles Elgood and Matthew Jones)

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/africa/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111108/wl_nm/us_liberia_election

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    Republican presidential candidates on the issues (AP)

    WASHINGTON ? Here's where the 2012 Republican presidential candidates stand on a selection of issues.

    They are Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, businessman Herman Cain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Utah Gov. John Huntsman, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

    ABORTION:

    Bachmann: Backed efforts to declare the unborn "persons" under the Constitution, the most direct challenge to the Supreme Court's affirmation of abortion rights. Signed pledge to advance only anti-abortion appointees for relevant administration jobs, cut off federal dollars for clinics that perform or finance abortions, and support a ban on abortions after the fetus reaches a certain stage in development. Introduced bill to require pregnant women to see and hear the fetal heartbeat before having an abortion. Promoted other anti-abortion bills, including some that contained exceptions for rape, incest or the life of a mother. Sought to put abortion restrictions into Minnesota's constitution while in state Legislature.

    Cain: Says president should only nominate anti-abortion judges, "the Constitution contains no right to take the life of unborn children," and he would support amending the Constitution to ban the procedure. Took contradictory positions, saying there should be "abortion under no circumstances" yet it is "not the government's role" to decide the question but rather a decision for women and families to make.

    Gingrich: Signed anti-abortion pledge. "Principles to protect life" platform calls for conservative judges and no subsidies for abortion but not for constitutional abortion ban.

    Huntsman: Signed abortion restrictions into law as governor, favors constitutional abortion ban.

    Paul: Says federal government should have no authority either to legalize or ban abortion. Yet signed pledge to advance only anti-abortion appointees for relevant administration jobs, cut off federal dollars for clinics that perform or finance abortions, and support a ban on abortions after the fetus reaches a certain stage in development.

    Perry: Now supports constitutional abortion ban after saying states should decide their own laws on such issues. Backed Texas law that attempts to discourage abortions by making doctors describe the fetus' size limbs and organs to the woman, and make available an image of the fetus and the sound of its heartbeat to her, before she can have the procedure.

    Romney: Opposes abortion rights. Previously supported them. Says state law should guide abortion rights and Roe v. Wade should be reversed by a future Supreme Court. But says Roe vs. Wade is law of the land until that happens and should not be challenged by federal legislation seeking to overturn abortion rights affirmed by that court decision. Would not sign pledge to advance only anti-abortion appointees for relevant administration jobs, cut off federal dollars for clinics that perform or finance abortions, and support a ban on abortions after the fetus reaches a certain stage in development. "So I would live within the law, within the Constitution as I understand it, without creating a constitutional crisis. But I do believe Roe v. Wade should be reversed to allow states to make that decision."

    Santorum: Favors constitutional abortion ban and opposes abortion even in cases of rape because "I would absolutely stand and say that one violence is enough." Previously supported right to abortion in cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother.

    ___

    DEBT:

    Bachmann: Opposed the agreement worked out by Congress and the White House to raise the debt ceiling and avoid a default. Said U.S. could have paid only the interest on debt while working out a plan to cut spending more deeply.

    Cain: Opposed deal to raise debt ceiling and avoid default. Favors unspecified spending cuts to balance federal budget.

    Gingrich: As House speaker in mid-1990s, engineered passage of a seven-year balanced-budget plan. It was vetoed by President Bill Clinton but helped form a bipartisan balanced budget two years later. Supports constitutional balanced budget amendment. Said that without a balanced budget, the U.S. had no choice but to raise its debt limit in the deal that avoided a default.

    Huntsman: Only candidate to endorse the deal that averted a default on U.S. debt payments, "a positive step toward cutting our nation's crippling debt."

    Paul: Would eviscerate federal government, slashing nearly half its spending, shut five Cabinet-level agencies, end spending on existing conflicts and on foreign aid.

    Perry: Was non-committal on the deal that avoided default and raised debt ceiling. Proposes to cap federal spending at 18 percent of gross domestic product, down from about 25 percent today, but no specifics on major spending cuts other than raising retirement age for Social Security and Medicare benefits for future retirees. Favors constitutional balanced-budget amendment. "No more bailouts." Freeze size and salaries of federal civilian work force until budget is balanced.

    Romney: Defended 2008 bailout of financial institutions as a necessary step to avoid the system's collapse, criticized the bailout of General Motors and Chrysler and said any such aid should not single out specific companies. Cap federal spending at 20 percent of gross domestic product, down from today's recession-swollen 25 percent. Stayed silent during debt-ceiling negotiations, only announcing his opposition to the final deal shortly before lawmakers cast their votes. Favors constitutional balanced budget amendment. Proposes 10 percent cut in federal workforce, elimination of $1.6 billion in Amtrak subsidies and cuts of $600 million in support for the public arts and broadcasting.

    Santorum: Opposed the financial-industry bailout and stimulus programs of the Bush and Obama administrations. Supports constitutional balanced budget amendment.

    ___

    ECONOMY:

    Bachmann: Voted for $192 billion in stimulus spending in July 2009; voted against two earlier stimulus packages totaling nearly $900 billion and against housing aid and auto-industry aid. Opposed extension of jobless benefits. "Government overregulation is the single biggest jobs killer." Repeal the financial-industry regulations enacted in response to the subprime housing crisis.

    Cain: Proposal for 9 percent tax on income, business and sales is centerpiece of economic platform. Reduce regulations. "Ultimately, the free market, aided in part by the watchful eyes of investors and consumers, will regulate itself." Supported Wall Street bailout, says it was executed poorly.

    Gingrich: Repeal the 2010 financial industry and consumer protection regulations that followed the Wall Street meltdown, and repeal the 2002 regulations enacted in response to the Enron and other corporate and accounting scandals. Restrict the Fed's power to set interest rates artificially low. Make work training a condition of unemployment insurance and have states run it.

    Huntsman: End corporate subsidies, cut regulations, lower taxes, spur jobs through energy development, seek repeal of President Barack Obama's health care law.

    Paul: Return to the gold standard, eliminate the Federal Reserve, let gold and silver be used as legal tender, eliminate most federal regulations.

    Perry: Spur economy by repealing rafts of regulations, Obama's health care law and the law (Dodd-Frank) toughening financial-industry regulations after the meltdown in that sector. Create jobs in energy sector by removing obstacles to drilling and production. Cut corporate taxes.

    Romney: Lower taxes, less regulation, balanced budget, more trade deals to spur growth. Replace jobless benefits with unemployment savings accounts. Proposes repeal of the law (Dodd-Frank) toughening financial-industry regulations after the meltdown in that sector. Proposes changing, but not repealing, the (Sarbanes-Oxley) law tightening accounting regulations in response to corporate scandals, to ease the accountability burden on smaller businesses. "We don't want to tell the world that Republicans are against all regulation. No, regulation is necessary to make a free market work. But it has to be updated and modern."

    Santorum: Spur jobs by eliminating corporate taxes for manufacturers, drill for more oil and gas, and slash regulations. "Repeal every regulation the Obama administration has put in place that's over $100 million. Repeal them all. You may have to replace a few, but let's repeal them all because they are all antagonistic to businesses, particularly in the manufacturing sector."

    ___

    EDUCATION:

    Bachmann: Wants to abolish Education Department, which she calls unconstitutional. Says federal government doesn't have a role in education; jurisdiction is with state and local governments. Tried to pull Minnesota out of No Child Left Behind law.

    Cain: "Unbundle education from the federal government down to the local level," expand charter schools and school choice.

    Gingrich: "Dramatically shrink the federal Department of Education, get rid of virtually all of its regulations." But supported Obama administration's $4 billion Race to the Top grant competition for states, which encourages compliance with national education standards, because it also promotes charter schools.

    Huntsman: "No Child Left Behind hasn't worked for this country. It ought to be done away with." Favors more school choice.

    Paul: Abolish the Education Department and end the federal role in education.

    Perry: Turned down federal education aid to Texas worth up to $700 million because he saw it as imposing national standards on Texas schools. Says No Child Left Behind law gave Washington too much power to interfere with local government.

    Romney: Supported the federal accountability standards of No Child Left Behind law. In 2007, said he was wrong earlier in his career when he wanted the Education Department shut because he came to see the value of the federal government in "holding down the interests of the teachers' unions" and putting kids and parents first.

    Santorum: Voted for No Child Left Behind law. Wants "significantly" smaller Education Department but not its elimination. Criticized early childhood education programs as an attempt by government to "indoctrinate your children."

    ___

    ENERGY:

    Bachmann: Reduce regulatory impediments to drilling. Voted to open the outer continental shelf to oil drilling. Voted against tax breaks for renewable energy and conservation.

    Cain: "Responsibly" relax regulations on energy industries. Policy should be "drill here, drill now." End restrictions on exploiting Western shale oil deposits. Opposes ethanol subsidies.

    Gingrich: Let oil and natural gas industries drill offshore reserves now blocked from development, end restrictions on Western oil shale development. In Alaska alone, "We could liberate an area the size of Texas for minerals and other development."

    Huntsman: Used tax credits to promote clean energy in Utah but says he has learned that "subsidies don't work and that we can no longer afford them." Favors phasing out all energy subsidies and cutting regulatory obstacles to drilling and production. Says nation's fuel distribution network should be subject to Federal Trade Commission and Senate Judiciary Committee review because it gives oil an unfair advantage over natural gas. "We need to break oil's monopoly as a transportation fuel, and create a truly level playing field for competing fuels."

    Paul: Remove restrictions on drilling, coal and nuclear power, eliminate gasoline tax, provide tax credits for alternative fuel technology.

    Perry: Proposes authorizing more development on federal lands and slashing regulations to spur drilling in restricted areas and open off-limits waters and lands to production, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Southern Atlantic and Alaskan outer continental shelves. Opposes federal restrictions on natural gas production, including environmentally risky fracturing techniques and horizontal drilling.

    Romney: Accelerate drilling permits in areas where exploration has already been approved for developers with good safety records. Supports drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic and Pacific outer continental shelves, Western lands, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore Alaska; and supports exploitation of shale oil deposits. Reduce obstacles to coal, natural gas and nuclear energy development. Says green power has yet to become viable.

    Santorum: Favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and scaling back "oppressive regulation" hindering drilling elsewhere.

    ___

    ENVIRONMENT:

    Bachmann: Open federal lands to economic activity by "repealing radical environmental laws that kill access to natural resources." Voted to bar Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases. Opposes cap and trade.

    Cain: EPA has gone "wild with abuse." The science establishing the existence of global warming is "poppycock." Says climate change poses no real threat.

    Gingrich: Convert EPA into an "environmental solutions agency" devoted to scientific research and "more energy, more jobs and a better environment simultaneously." Supported tougher environmental regulation early in congressional career.

    Huntsman: End the EPA's "regulatory reign of terror." Acknowledges the scientific evidence that humans contribute to global warming. As governor, supported regional cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and urged Congress to cap them. "I will break down barriers to the continued, safe use of fracking," an environmentally risky technique for extracting natural gas.

    Paul: In 2008, said "human activity probably does play a role" in global warming and part of the solution should be to stop subsidizing the oil industry and let prices rise until the free market turns to alternate energy sources. Now calls the science on manmade global warming a "hoax." Says emission standards should be set by states or regions, not Washington.

    Perry: Manmade global warming is a "scientific theory that has not been proven and from my perspective is more and more being put into question." Proposes repeal of EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases and elimination of all EPA programs to restrict carbon dioxide emissions. Opposes restrictions on coal industry under the Clean Air and Clean Water acts. Says environmental regulation and conservation are best achieved at state level and EPA should be converted to a "research and advisory" agency with no enforcement powers except when states ask for federal arbitration of regional disputes. As governor, cut money for clean air programs, cut the budget for Texas' environmental watchdog by a third and sued EPA to avoid enforcing clean air laws. Signed law that requires Texas to consider the effect of new regulations on the economy before passing them. Supports environmentally risky techniques for extracting natural gas.

    Romney: Spending a fortune to cut the emissions linked to global warming "is not the right course for us." Has acknowledged the scientific consensus that humans contribute to global warming: "I believe the world is getting warmer, and I believe that humans have contributed to that." But now says: "My view is that we don't know what's causing climate change on this planet." Proposes to remove carbon dioxide from list of pollutants controlled by Clean Air Act, and amend clean water and air laws to ensure the cost of complying with regulations is balanced against environmental benefit. Says cap and trade would "rocket energy prices."

    Santorum: The science establishing human activity as a likely contributor to global warming is "patently absurd" and "junk science."

    ___

    GAY MARRIAGE:

    Bachmann: Supports constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Says federal law trumps state law on the issue but she "would not be going into the states to overturn their state law."

    Cain: Says traditional marriage should be protected in federal law and no longer believes the question can be left to each state.

    Gingrich: If the Defense of Marriage Act fails, "you have no choice except a constitutional amendment" to ban gay marriage. Under the act, the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriage and no state is forced to recognize a same-sex marriage validated by another state.

    Huntsman: Supports same-sex civil unions, with many of the rights of marriage, and says states should decide their own policies.

    Paul: Says decisions on legalizing or prohibiting should be left to states. Supports federal law allowing one state to refuse to recognize the same-sex marriages of another state.

    Perry: Now supports constitutional ban on gay marriage after saying states should choose their own courses.

    Romney: Favors constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, says policy should be set federally, not by states. "Marriage is not an activity that goes on within the walls of a state."

    Santorum: Supports constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, not leaving decision to states. "We can't have 50 marriage laws." "Abraham Lincoln said the states do not have the right to do wrong. I respect the 10th Amendment, but we are a nation that has values. We are a nation that was built on a moral enterprise, and states don't have the right to tramp over those because of the 10th Amendment."

    ___

    HEALTH CARE:

    Bachmann: Promises to seek repeal of Obama's health care law. Favors limits on medical lawsuits as a way to control health care costs. Voted against expanding Children's Health Insurance Program and against regulating tobacco as a drug.

    Cain: Repeal Obama's health care law. Expand tax-advantaged medical savings accounts. Control medical malpractice lawsuits in hopes of lowering costs in health care system. Set up state or federal insurance pools for people shut out of insurance because of pre-existing illness.

    Gingrich: Repeal Obama's health care law if Republicans win congressional majorities. Prohibit insurers from cancelling or charging discriminatory rate increases to those who become sick while insured, which is an element of Obama's law. Offer the choice of a "generous" tax credit to help people buy health insurance or the ability to deduct part of the cost from taxes, another feature similar to the existing law. Limit medical lawsuits to restrain health care costs and let people in one state buy policies in another. "Block-grant Medicaid and send it back to the states." Previously supported proposals that people be required to carry health insurance.

    Huntsman: "Let the states experiment." Says government should "absolutely not" require anyone to have health insurance, although he once said a mandate would be necessary for any comprehensive change to succeed. Open to restricting Medicare benefits for the wealthy. Seek repeal of Obama's health care law.

    Paul: Opposes compulsory insurance and all government subsidies for health coverage. Favors letting people deduct full cost of their health coverage and care from taxes. Says doctors should then feel an obligation to treat the needy for free.

    Perry: Repeal Obama health care law. Raise eligibility age for Medicare benefits, limit benefits for the wealthy and give people the choice of receiving federal aid to help purchase their own insurance instead of getting the direct benefits of the current system. Proposes turning Medicaid over to the states with no-strings federal support. Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured people in the nation. Signed a law that would allow Texas ? subject to federal approval ? to band together with other states and take over the role of providing health care coverage for the elderly, the poor and the disabled.

    Romney: Promises to work for the repeal of the federal health care law modeled largely after his universal health care achievement in Massachusetts because he says states, not Washington, should drive policy on the uninsured. But would retain the prohibition against denying insurance to people with pre-existing conditions. Would expand individual tax-advantaged medical savings accounts and let the savings be used for insurance premiums as well as personal medical costs. Would let insurance be sold across state lines to expand options, and restrict malpractice awards to restrain health care costs. Introduce "generous" but undetermined subsidies to help future retirees buy private insurance instead of going on traditional Medicare. No federal requirement for people to have health insurance. His Massachusetts plan requires people to have coverage, penalizes those who don't, and penalizes businesses of a certain size if they do not provide coverage to workers. His state has highest percentage of insured in nation. On Medicaid, proposes to convert program to a federal block grant administered by states

    Santorum: Would seek to starve Obama's health care law of money needed to implement it. Supported Bush administration's prescription drug program for the elderly.

    ___

    IMMIGRATION:

    Bachmann: Favors fence all along the 1,900-mile U.S.-Mexico border, not just the 650 miles built at a cost of $2.6 billion. Opposes government benefits for illegal immigrants and their children.

    Cain: Secure the border with "whatever means necessary" and "empower the states" to deal with the issue. "We can have high fences and wide open doors, all at the same time."

    Gingrich: Make English the official language. Divert more Homeland Security assets to fighting illegal immigration at Mexican border.

    Huntsman: Unrealistic to deport all illegal immigrants. Says a fence is probably a necessary step to securing the border even though "the thought of a fence to some extent repulses me, because it is not consistent with the image that we projected to the rest of the world." In Utah, threatened to veto a bill to repeal cheaper in-state college tuition rates for children of illegal immigrants.

    Paul: Do "whatever it takes" to secure the border, end the right to citizenship of U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants, no social services for illegal immigrants, aggressive deportation of those who overstay a visa or otherwise break U.S. law.

    Perry: Opposes complete U.S.-Mexico border fence, which he calls "idiocy," instead wants more border agents. Supports continued U.S. citizenship for U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants can get in-state tuition at Texas universities if they meet other residency requirements. Neither employers nor state agencies required to run job applicants through a federal database to determine their legal status. Illegal immigrants have access to services for drug treatment, mental health and children with special health care needs.

    Romney: Favors complete U.S.-Mexico border fence, opposes education benefits to illegal immigrants. Proposes more visas for holders of advanced degrees in math, science and engineering who have U.S. job offers, and would award permanent residency to foreign students who graduate from U.S. schools with a degree in those fields.

    Santorum: Supports complete border fence, opposes letting children of illegal immigrants qualify for cheaper in-state tuition and says federal government should not require states to offer any social services to illegal immigrants. Favors making English the official language.

    ___

    SOCIAL SECURITY:

    Bachmann: Keep Social Security for older workers and "wean everybody else off." Says it is "very likely" that the age for retirement benefits will have to go up for new workers.

    Cain: Give younger workers the option of diverting Social Security taxes to private retirement accounts. Keep Social Security intact for older workers. Ultimately "wean people off the current system," pare down federal entitlements and leave the needy to be helped by states, cities, charities and businesses.

    Gingrich: Give younger workers the option of diverting Social Security taxes to private retirement accounts.

    Huntsman: Open to raising the retirement age to qualify for full benefits and to restricting benefits for the wealthy.

    Paul: Says younger workers should be able to opt out of Social Security taxes and retirement benefits.

    Perry: Proposes raising retirement age for full benefits and restricting increases in benefits for the wealthy. Previously branded Social Security a "disease" inflicted by Franklin Roosevelt, now says system should be saved for future generations while younger workers are given the option of building private accounts instead of paying taxes into the entitlement.

    Romney: Says raising the age for benefits and reducing inflation adjustments for rich retirees are among options that should be considered.

    Santorum: Supports option of private retirement accounts instead of Social Security taxes and benefits for younger workers.

    ___

    TAXES:

    Bachmann: Eliminate estate tax. Tax holiday followed by low tax rate, 5 percent, for U.S. companies operating overseas that repatriate their profits.

    Cain: Replace the federal tax code ? with its multiple levels of income, investment, Social Security and investment taxes ? with 9 percent tax income, business and sales taxes. Exempt people at or below the poverty level from income tax; reduce or eliminate business tax in certain poor neighborhoods. Keep income tax deduction for charitable giving.

    Gingrich: Cut corporate tax to 12.5 percent from maximum 35 percent, eliminate capital gains and estate taxes, let companies write off all new equipment in one year. For personal taxes, let people choose whether to file under the current system or pay a 15 percent tax, preserving the mortgage interest and charitable deductions.

    Huntsman: Favors lower income tax rates coupled with the elimination of deductions and loopholes. Cut corporate tax to 25 percent from a maximum 35 percent, and phase out all subsidies.

    Paul: Eliminate the federal income tax and the IRS. Meantime would vote for a national sales tax, supports certain excise taxes and certain tariffs. Favors massive spending cuts to defund close to half the government and eliminate the need to replace the income tax at all.

    Perry: Let taxpayers choose between current system and 20 percent flat tax on income. Under the flat-tax option, mortgage interest and charitable contributions would continue to be deductible. For each individual or dependent, $12,500 in income would be exempt. Flat-tax plan would eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits, inheritances, dividends and long-term capital gains. Also proposes to cut corporate tax rate to 20 percent from 35 percent.

    Romney: No one with adjusted gross income under $200,000 should be taxed on interest, dividends or capital gains. Cut corporate tax rate to 25 percent from a high of 35 percent. Opposes proposals to replace current tax system with national sales tax because he says it raises taxes on middle class while lowering them for rich and poor. Make Bush-era tax cuts, including for the wealthy, permanent. Eliminate estate tax.

    Santorum: Proposes zero corporate tax. "If you manufacture in America, you aren't going to pay any taxes." Opposes any national sales tax.

    ___

    TERRORISM:

    Bachmann: Expand Guantanamo, no Miranda or constitutional rights for foreign terrorist suspects.

    Cain: Said he would not be comfortable nominating Muslims to the Cabinet or the courts out of concern they will try to force their faith on public policy and the law.

    Gingrich: Supports continued use of Guantanamo Bay detention for suspected terrorists. Supported creation of Homeland Security apparatus, because "we need some capacity to respond to massive events." "Only a grand strategy for marginalizing, isolating, and defeating radical Islamists across the world will lead to victory."

    Huntsman: Said Homeland Security Department has been heavy-handed, conveying a "fortress security mentality that is not American."

    Paul: Opposes the surveillance and search powers of the Patriot Act. Says terrorists would not be motivated to attack America if the U.S. ended its military presence abroad.

    Perry: Said it was "unprincipled" for Republicans to vote for creation of the Homeland Security Department. Supports continued use of Guantanamo Bay detention for suspected terrorists.

    Romney: No constitutional rights for foreign terrorism suspects.

    Santorum: Defends creation of Homeland Security Department as an attempt to fix a "complete mess" in the domestic security apparatus. Voted to reauthorize Patriot Act.

    ___

    WAR:

    Bachmann: "Defense spending did not cause our budget crisis and we must maintain our military strength." Opposed U.S. intervention in Libya, saying the effort might be helping terrorists there. Called Afghanistan a war "we must and can win" provided generals have sufficient troops and money.

    Cain: No defense cuts except wasteful spending. Opposed intervention in Libya. "I want to be out of Afghanistan and all war-torn countries as much as the next person. But I am not going to propose a half-baked plan based on half the information I would need to make the right decision, just to pretend I know everything."

    Gingrich: Initially criticized Obama for not intervening in Libya, then did an about-face after the president had sent in U.S. war planes to support the rebels fighting the government. "I would not have used American and European forces." No cuts in defense spending except waste. Supported Iraq war and opposed early timetables for withdrawal. Praised Obama's decision to bolster troops in Afghanistan two years ago; noncommittal this year on when and how they should withdraw.

    Huntsman: Proposes scaling back U.S. involvement in international conflicts and, in contrast with most rivals, says Pentagon budget should be cut. Opposes U.S. military assistance of new Libyan government. Opposed U.S. military intervention in Libya absent congressional approval. In June, said the pace of withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan was too slow, and questioned whether the battle against the Taliban and other anti-government insurgents served U.S. interests any longer. Says to end nation building abroad "when this nation needs to be built."

    Paul: Bring all or nearly all troops home, from Afghanistan and other foreign posts, "as quick as the ships could get there." Opposed U.S. intervention in Libya. "We've been fighting wars since World War II, technically in an unconstitutional fashion." Cut Pentagon budget.

    Perry: Criticized Obama for announcing withdrawal of troops from Iraq by end of this year and from Afghanistan next year but has not said how many troops should remain or for how long.

    Romney: Has not specified the troop numbers behind his pledge to ensure the "force level necessary to secure our gains and complete our mission successfully" in Afghanistan. Said Obama was wrong to begin reducing troop levels as soon as he did. Would increase strength of armed forces, including number of troops and warships.

    Santorum: Said in September 2011 that 20,000 to 30,000 U.S. troops should remain in Iraq. Says U.S. troops should withdraw from Afghanistan "a little slower" than Obama is planning. "When we engage in Iraq and Afghanistan, we engage because we want to be successful. We want victory." In May, accused Obama of "dithering" in Libya and creating a "morass" because he let the international community take the lead in aiding Gadhafi's opponents. Opposes closure of U.S. bases abroad. "We have to have the ability to confront those threats from around the world, which means we need basing around the world."

    ___

    Associated Press writers Brian Bakst and Chris Tomlinson contributed to this report.

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111107/ap_on_el_pr/us_where_they_stand_issues

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    A bumpy road to 'Modern Warfare 3' (AP)

    LOS ANGELES ? Behind a pair of nondescript black doors on the second floor of an angular office building along an unremarkable stretch of Ventura Boulevard is the headquarters for "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" developer Infinity Ward. It's out of sight from Hollywood in an unsuspectingly sterile place where one might expect to find spreadsheets, not video games.

    Yet beyond these doors is where one of the gaming industry's most successful titles was created ? and where its sequel nearly unraveled last year when "Call of Duty" publisher Activision Blizzard Inc. fired Infinity Ward executives Jason West and Vince Zampella, a shake-up that left shoot-'em-up fans wondering if there would even be a "Modern Warfare 3."

    Past the trophy case in the reception area, on the opposite side of the building from the cafeteria that's always stocked with energy drinks, is the corner conference room where the developers from Silicon Valley-based Sledgehammer Games would meet with the San Fernando Valley-based Infinity Ward staffers who didn't follow West and Zampella out the doors.

    "It started with flying back and forth all the time," said Glen Schofield, general manager and co-founder at Sledgehammer Games. "Once we got to know each other really well, we did more videoconferencing. That was pretty much daily. We were in constant contact, reviewing each other's missions, playing multiplayer and collaborating together."

    Undeterred by the behind-the-scenes drama, Activision replaced West and Zampella with Activision chief technology officer Steve Pearce and head of production Steve Ackrich, while the newly formed Sledgehammer Games switched from developing a brand-new "Call of Duty" game to formulating "Modern Warfare 3" with the remaining Infinity Ward developers.

    "There was no dividing it up," said Pearce. "That was a decision we made right from the get go. Everyone worked on all parts of the story. We really became one big virtual studio drawing on each other's strengths, bringing the lore and experience from this end (at Infinity Ward) and the unique input and creativity from the other end at Sledgehammer."

    Together, they constructed the story of "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3," which picks up almost immediately after the events of "Modern Warfare 2" when Washington, D.C., was under attack from Russian forces. In the third installment, the conflict sparked by terrorist Vladimir Makarov has engulfed several other cities, including New York, Paris and London.

    Schofield and his colleagues at Sledgehammer Games, who worked on the sci-fi horror title "Dead Space," boldly accepted the challenge of tackling the industry's biggest franchise. They ditched work on their "Call of Duty" spin-off and focused on creating a completely new "Modern Warfare" game that was true to the series' previous two installments.

    "There was definitely a steep learning curve with this franchise," said Bret Robbins, creative designer at Sledgehammer Games. "There are a lot of unwritten rules about what makes these games great that we had to discover and then have them ingrained in us. It was challenging to think in a different way. It drives you forward once you learn it."

    Robbins said he originally underestimated the importance of dialogue in the game, which is scheduled for release Tuesday. As players transverse the single-player campaign, voices from enemies and squadmates must not only create an immersive experience but also detail what's happening outside the player's view with the game's global conflict.

    Robert Bowling, the creative strategist who has been at Infinity Ward since the first "Modern Warfare," believes the series' casual fans probably don't know ? or don't care ? about the collaboration, but that die-hard players will be aware that Sledgehammer helped shape "Modern Warfare 3." (Raven Software was also enlisted to work on the multiplayer mode.)

    "I wanted to see us improve on what we had done in the past and go in a new direction," said Bowling. "It was actually really refreshing to have Sledgehammer come in early on because we had been making `Call of Duty' games for a long time. It kind of reminded me of the excitement of working on `Call of Duty 4' when we set out to create a new game from scratch."

    Under the command of West and Zampella, Infinity Ward reinvigorated Activision's aging "Call of Duty" franchise in 2007 with "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare," a first-person military shooter that swapped the series' authentic World War II recreations for fictional current-day conflicts. They followed it up in 2009 with "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2."

    When "Modern Warfare 2" launched, the title broke entertainment industry records and went on to earn more than $1 billion in sales, paving the way for Santa Monica, Calif.-based developer Treyarch's "Call of Duty: Black Ops" to sell more than 25 million copies in 2010. "Modern Warfare 3" is expected to top that, despite the loss of West and Zampella.

    "It's still kind of shocking to this day," said Zampella, who is embroiled in a lawsuit with West against Activision for $36 million in unpaid "Modern Warfare" royalties. "We did the most successful thing they've ever had, and for it to come to them firing us, it was inconceivable. I still don't fully understand it to this day. I guess we'll see how that goes."

    Activision said West and Zampella breached their contracts by meeting with rival publisher Electronic Arts Inc. Their dismissal led to an exodus of staffers from Infinity Ward to Respawn Entertainment, a new studio founded by West and Zampella that will create games published by Electronic Arts. They're all scheduled to duke it out in court next May.

    While the battle between Activision, West and Zampella is far from resolved, the developers at Sledgehammer and Infinity Ward affirm that the storylines from the previous "Modern Warfare" games will be wrapped up in the third. However, if "Call of Duty" fans have learned anything over the past eight years, it's that the doors are always open for more "Call of Duty."

    ___

    Online:

    http://www.callofduty.com/

    ___

    AP Entertainment Writer Ryan Pearson contributed to this report.

    ___

    AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/derrikjlang.

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/videogames/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111107/ap_en_ot/us_games_call_of_duty

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