U.S. Open 2012: Tiger Woods Tied For Lead After Two Rounds

By Mark Lamport-Stokes
SAN FRANCISCO, June 15 (Reuters) - It was not easy going in swirling winds on a lightning-fast layout but Tiger Woods was delighted be back in the position he covets after moving into a tie for the lead in Friday's second round at the U.S. Open.
Four long years after he last won a major title, Woods stayed patient on the frustratingly difficult Lake Course at the Olympic Club, grinding out a level-par 70 to join fellow Americans Jim Furyk and David Toms at the top of the leaderboard.
"I'm right there in a good spot," Woods told reporters after making a few errors, hitting several superb shots and suffering one or two bad breaks before ending the day at one-under 139.
"This tournament, you are just plodding along. This is a different tournament. You have to stay patient, got to stay present, and you're just playing for a lot of pars.
"This is not a tournament where we have to make a bunch of birdies. You've just got to hang in there with a bunch of pars."
The 14-times major champion felt his second-round 70 was better than his opening 69, given how much faster the brutally challenging layout had become.
"Absolutely it was probably better," Woods said after mixing three birdies with three bogeys in the second round. "Even though I didn't miss a shot in the last three holes, I ended up with just three pars.
"It was one of those days where you just had to be so patient. If the wind wasn't blowing, it wouldn't have been so bad.
"That golf course was some kind of quick. It got dried out. It was really, really tough. You just had to stay as patient as possible and I did a really good job of that today."
WORST BREAKS
One of the worst breaks Woods suffered on Friday came at the par-five 17th where he struck what initially appeared to be an exquisite soft four-iron for his second shot.
The three-times U.S. Open champion watched in horror as his ball bounced short of the green, then rolled all the way over the back and 40 yards down a hill into a run-off area.
"I thought I threw it up high enough to land it soft enough and evidently it didn't," Woods said. "Then I'm down there in a spot where it's as tough to get it close, and I thought I did a pretty good job of that."
Woods salvaged a par on that hole, and also the last, to remain in a three-way tie for the lead at the championship's halfway point, a position he has relished over the years.
Eight times out of nine when he has held at least a share of the lead after 36 holes at a major he has gone on to win.
"As far as being in that position, I like it," said the former world number one, who clinched the most recent of his majors at the 2008 U.S. Open. "I know that it takes a bit out of us, but so be it.
"I'd much rather be there than missing cuts or just making the cut. It's a wonderful place to be with a chance to win your nation's Open." (Editing by Julian Linden)

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Of 2 Minds: How Fast and Slow Thinking Shape Perception and Choice [Excerpt]

Features | Mind & Brain

In psychologist Daniel Kahneman's recent book, he reveals the dual systems of your brain, their pitfalls and their power

By Daniel Kahneman ?| June 15, 2012?|

Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC. Image:

In this groundbreaking adventure into the worlds of psychopaths, the renowned psychologist Kevin Dutton argues that there is a fine line between a brilliant...

Read More??

To survive physically or psychologically, we sometimes need to react automatically to a speeding taxi as we step off the curb or to the subtle facial cues of an angry boss. That automatic mode of thinking, not under voluntary control, contrasts with the need to slow down and deliberately fiddle with pencil and paper when working through an algebra problem. These two systems that the brain uses to process information are the focus of Nobelist Daniel Kahneman's new book, Thinking, Fast and Slow (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC., 2011). The following excerpt is the first chapter, entitled "The Characters of the Story," which introduces readers to these systems. (Used with permission.)

Understanding fast and slow thinking could help us find more rational solutions to problems that we as a society face. For example, a commentary in the March issue of the journal Nature Climate Change outlined how carbon labeling that appeals to both systems could be more successful than previous efforts to change consumer habits. (Scientific American is part of Nature Publishing Group.) Understanding how we think can also guide more personal decisions. Last month, Kahneman highlighted in a lecture given at the National Academy of Sciences "The Science of Science Communication" conference how realizing the limitations of each system can help us catch our own mistakes.
?

To observe your mind in automatic mode, glance at the image below.

Your experience as you look at the woman?s face seamlessly combines what we normally call seeing and intuitive thinking. As surely and quickly as you saw that the young woman?s hair is dark, you knew she is angry. Furthermore, what you saw extended into the future. You sensed that this woman is about to say some very unkind words, probably in a loud and strident voice. A premonition of what she was going to do next came to mind automatically and effortlessly. You did not intend to assess her mood or to anticipate what she might do, and your reaction to the picture did not have the feel of something you did. It just happened to you. It was an instance of fast thinking.

Now look at the following problem:

17 ? 24

You knew immediately that this is a multiplication problem, and probably knew that you could solve it, with paper and pencil, if not without. You also had some vague intuitive knowledge of the range of possible results. You would be quick to recognize that both 12,609 and 123 are implausible. Without spending some time on the problem, however, you would not be certain that the answer is not 568. A precise solution did not come to mind, and you felt that you could choose whether or not to engage in the computation. If you have not done so yet, you should attempt the multiplication problem now, completing at least part of it.

You experienced slow thinking as you proceeded through a sequence of steps. You first retrieved from memory the cognitive program for multiplication that you learned in school, then you implemented it. Carrying out the computation was a strain. You felt the burden of holding much material in memory, as you needed to keep track of where you were and of where you were going, while holding on to the intermediate result. The process was mental work: deliberate, effortful, and orderly?a prototype of slow thinking. The computation was not only an event in your mind; your body was also involved. Your muscles tensed up, your blood pressure rose, and your heart rate increased. Someone looking closely at your eyes while you tackled this problem would have seen your pupils dilate. Your pupils contracted back to normal size as soon as you ended your work?when you found the answer (which is 408, by the way) or when you gave up.
?

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Recession, Stalemate in Washington vs. Obama's record

This transcript is automatically generated

Long term remember that the economic vision of mr.

Romney and his allies in congress.

What's tested just a few years ago we try this.

Their policies did not grow the economy.

Cannot grow the middle class.

They did not reduce our debt.

Why would we think that they would work.

Better this time.

He has put together almost as much public debt as all the prior presidents combined.

You want four more years of that.

You call that forward.

That's forward over a cliff.

That that's forward on the way to Greece I don't want that I will finally get America on track to have a balanced budget that we will limit the size of government.

Obama and got a.

Romney almost bumped into each other today President Obama and governor -- both in Ohio and both playing out there competing economic visions.

Farm presidential candidate senator Fred Thompson -- there thank you good with you put it takes a lot harder -- a bad economy to be the incumbent he said his statement president Obama's that we test that we tried this he's been an -- three and a half years the first thing I thought of the Yangtze at 69000 jobs in May which was terrible which is -- and out of -- up eight point 2% so under that theory we tried -- he's argued against himself.

Yeah yeah he's between a rock and a hard place.

-- for the last.

Three and a few years he's been demonstrating the -- and understand the basics of the economy and what to do about.

They came in very convinced that games' in economics you bail amount.

They were very brash about what they thought the unemployment.

Percentage would be after -- policies were a student dead wrong about that dead wrong about the effect of the stimulus.

Went around -- that you know we don't turn this thing around me you know give us you know you can kick us out Clinton said that.

And couple years ago.

As well as Obama so now.

They can only resort he can only resort to going back and the reason he stumbled so much -- because he's looking backwards all the and that's a strategy apparently.

Well it certainly -- width and blessing economy starts soaring between now and November if it continues to stay as it is or even declines -- all those problems in Europe which could have a ripple effect.

Which we're likely to feel here at home.

Is that it almost becomes what we're governor -- doesn't even need an economic strategy or policy because I would think that the voters think -- but he.

But because we've we've tried this and didn't work so unless unless he shows you are an improvement and strong trend.

Governor Romney.

Is -- and tactically doesn't mean I would say that the shop much.

I think that's a big dangers when would get a -- I think that I.

I'm not suggesting you do that -- and that it let's admit.

That is due to the event and on the day you know the president didn't seem to feel this way right now it's gonna be the person that the people feel like.

Is gonna do the most for the economy in the future and the one that will be the best caretaker going forward -- There's sort of looking back here and I think that LeBron is getting his legs under him they made a very good speech -- they didn't use approach teleprompter.

President was up there you know same old teleprompter saying little -- been giving you know same old litany of good things that presence of them saying they wanted since George Washington.

I -- which is -- you're working against.

So.

I think that.

You know the president is.

Is intent on rewriting history.

He talks about the failed policies of the past you know Republicans don't wanna be tied to George W.

Bush anybody else so they let that person shouldn't.

People are to me anyway I don't have to let that parents should leave.

The policies of George WW bush should not be measured but the last 24 hours -- worst year of his administration.

Fact my bush tax -- she didn't cause this -- didn't cause this deficit after the bush tax cuts we have the greatest increase in revenue for the federal government.

In the history.

And lots of things -- recessions you know we've had five or six of them in my generation.

We always come out of recession.

I've actually congress we've can be blamed that collectively for the analog reception because of the housing bubble and and their inability to be good stewards of our economy and all the things with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac so there's a week so -- Moos there -- and a lot of there's a lot of blame to go around you know what I -- us it said the president strength was in inspiring people.

And today he see says something he admits economically that and that our economy isn't where it needs to be.

And I thought you know he's he's he's he's so off -- balance in terms of inspiring people obscenity you know I -- He's used -- making admissions that I think take away from it strikes.

He's literally out of things to say.

I mean they -- this is there's a framework speech you know going forward and all but you know the president at this -- the game with this economy.

I was standing up there I'm saying -- our plan is education.

Infrastructure.

Balanced budget balanced budget -- it but but all those I mean.

Come home I mean you know we have now.

A half a million more people unemployed.

Then.

Than we did the day took office.

He can't escape his own.

Tenure in office you know weren't -- Romney did twenty years ago -- the private sector he thinks is Roland what bush did you know 458.

Years ago we've -- drove it.

But what he's doing today him for the last three and a half years.

Is not relevant the fact of the matter is.

That and we got out of this recession about a half a year and and Obama's first years.

I mean if you talk about.

Turning turning the corner about six months then we turned the corner built up to grow through about 4% of their time in the last part of his first year.

-- the first part of his second year we were up to about 4%.

Then there's something strange happened usually who have moved the -- the recession the quicker the bounce back we started bounced back and then something happened.

And that was that things turned back around again just -- his spending.

Started kicking and the economy started going down has been going down ever sense and now it's more what one point 71 point eight.

Is that growth -- and he says he's got six months so our last 200 that are up there on time.

There's no -- bed and you know you know singling out the 1% you noted demagogue.

There's there's not gonna get it done he's talking about dividing the country and then re dividing the economic times simply trying to make the -- bigger -- about it.

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Affairs of politics and heart mark French election

PARIS (AP) ? Back-room deals, black lists and bitter duels. Political and personal intrigue has wormed its way into Sunday's final round of French legislative elections. President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party is battling to assure a solid majority and fulfill his vows to boost growth in Europe and redefine the presidency as one beholden to the people.

Barring surprises, the Socialists and their allies should win enough seats to control the crucial 577-seat lower house of parliament, after a strong showing in the first round a week ago. To get there, the party is trying to fend off conservatives who dominated parliament under former President Nicolas Sarkozy.

They're also trying to shame those in the mainstream right who are cutting vote-getting deals with the extreme right, anti-immigrant National Front, which is conniving for its first real presence in parliament in more than a quarter century.

"The right no longer knows where it lives. It no longer knows what it is," said Economy Minister Pierre Moscovici this week on France 2 TV. "It's lost its markers, its identity, its values."

One unexpected hitch for the Socialists flew straight out of Hollande's most inner circle: His live-in companion's tweet this week in support of a dissident candidate in western France, a not-so-subtle attack on the Socialist Party's official candidate ? the president's ex-partner and mother of his four children, Segolene Royal.

Royal is portrayed in the French press as the nemesis of a jealous Valerie Trierweiler, whose tweet on Tuesday upended the image Hollande has been trying to project: that of a "normal" leader intent on keeping the public and private spheres separate.

That stance is meant to set Hollande apart from the brash Sarkozy, who grabbed headlines with his complicated private life while building up a presidency that critics said was too centered on his own personality and his rich friends' interests. Hollande defeated him in the May 6 presidential vote, amid voter frustrations with Sarkozy's handling of the economy and the presidency.

The tweet also dealt a blow to Royal, whose chances of winning her parliamentary race were already shaky. Polls suggest that Royal, a former presidential candidate, will lose to dissident Socialist Olivier Falorni by a wide margin, a defeat that would leave her without a job in politics.

Far more grave is the perception that the moral ramparts built to ensure that the anti-immigration National Front remains a political pariah are being chinked away by conservative politicians. Sarkozy's conservative UMP party is struggling to hold onto seats, and many candidates are angling for far-right votes to defy polls and win.

Polling firms have calculated the National Front could get up to three seats in the National Assembly, a symbolic victory. The party's leader, Marine Le Pen ? who is running in a former coal mining region in northern France ? says one seat would be a victory since the party hasn't had a real parliamentary presence since 1986. In that year, 35 lawmakers were elected under a voting system that favors smaller parties ? but the system was abolished two years later. Le Pen thinks pollsters underestimate the National Front's potential.

The newly robust anti-immigration party, which wants to abandon the euro currency and stop immigration, is on a roll. Le Pen has revamped the party to bury its reputation as racist and anti-Semitic inherited under the reign of party founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen. Daughter Marine placed a solid third in spring presidential elections and its candidates ranked third in last Sunday's first round of parliamentary voting.

Sarkozy has disappeared into the shadows but he and his Union for a Popular Movement, or UMP, are being blamed for blurring the lines between the mainstream and extreme right by taking up some National Front themes, including the need to preserve France's national identity or try to ensure a low profile for Muslims.

Socialist Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault accuses the conservatives of creating a "strategic alliance" with the National Front.

"There is no alliance," UMP leader Jean-Francois Cope said in an interview published Friday in the daily Le Figaro.

"The French must understand that if the left gets all the power Sunday, it's like signing a blank check for five years," Cope said.

The Socialist Party already controls the Senate and most regional and local governments, and adversaries say the majority it expects on Sunday would amount to a "Socialist state" in France.

Any candidate who won support of more than 12.5 percent of registered voters in the first round advances to Sunday's runoff, and many districts have three-way races, including several with National Front candidates.

Nadine Morano, a former Sarkozy minister battling for a parliamentary seat in the eastern Moselle region, has publicly reached out to National Front voters "who share our values, my values."

"I don't hear extremist words coming from their mouths," she said this week on TF1, in the company of former Prime Minister Francois Fillon on a campaign outing.

For Le Pen, the isolation wall "has imploded."

The conservatives "have evolved under the pressure of their voters and their base," Le Pen was quoted as saying Wednesday in the online publication Le Telegramme." A very large majority of UMP voters feel close" to National Front's views.

The anti-Racism group SOS Racism denounces deal-makers as the "candidates of shame."

Says the No. 2 in the Socialist Party, Harlem D?sir: "The extreme right is advancing inside UMP like in Swiss cheese."

___

Cecile Brisson in Paris contributed to this report.

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Want a Retina MacBook Pro? It'll take a month or so

3 hrs.

Devin Coldewey

The latest object of adoration in the tech world is Apple's new MacBook Pro, with its sleek exterior and high-resolution display. But it's proving hard to find: as stock runs low, online orders are not expected to ship for three to four weeks, and stores are getting limited inventory.

Is it a ploy by Apple to keep their luxury item scarce and desirable? Or can they literally just not make them fast enough? As much as Apple's savvy market tactics might suggest the former, in all likelihood they really are just in short supply. Even Apple Stores can't get enough ? one store in Seattle reported that they'd received only a handful of the laptops, and even then they were strictly?for display purposes. Customers looking to buy would be helped through the online purchasing process.

Blame the Retina display. This type of high-quality display, both in the MacBook and previously in the iPad, has been nothing but trouble for manufacturers. Samsung, Sharp, LG and others have all been aiming at producing the high-resolution panels, but the amount they could successfully create was limited. Why, only they could tell you, but it most likely has to do with the precision needed to create the tiny sub-pixel machinery ? no easy task even for less advanced displays.

The other parts of the laptop aren't nearly so thin on the ground. Apple famously has control over a huge amount of the world's advanced aluminum milling lines, so the unibody construction is no problem. The flash memory, RAM, CPU and graphics chips may be in a custom configuration, but they aren't themselves exotic ? just fairly high-quality off-the-shelf parts.

Chances are that every factory that can reliably manufacture Retina displays is working literally around the clock to produce as many as physically possible. And after Apple's initial stockpile ran out, that amount just isn't enough.

As demand tapers off and more factories are added to the process, the wait should be reduced. But how long that will take is anyone's guess. In the meantime, you can find them on eBay ? for a hefty markup, naturally.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for msnbc.com. His personal website is coldewey.cc.

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FT sees BlackBerry with smaller role in future

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Skype For Mac Update Brings Improved Contact List, Video Calls & Screen Sharing, But No ?Conversation Ads? Just Yet

Skype just announced a new version of its Mac software which brings changes based on user feedback, including the return of the resizable contact list and improvements to video calls and screen sharing features. The news follows yesterday's announcement from the company which said that Windows users on Skype's free service would now see advertisements in the software. However, no mention of the same was made in detailing today's new feature set for Mac.

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