calculate ailey: September 2012

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Russian church: Pussy Riot deserve mercy if repent

FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012 file photo feminist punk group Pussy Riot members, from left, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich sit in a glass cage at a court room in Moscow, Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church on Sunday Sept. 30, 2012, asked for clemency for three jailed members of the rock band Pussy Riot if they repent for their "punk prayer" for deliverance from President Vladimir Putin at Moscow's main cathedral, a statement that came a day before an appeal hearing and appeared to reflect a desire to put an end to the case that has caused an international outrage. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze, file)

MOSCOW (AP) ? The Russian Orthodox Church on Sunday asked for clemency for three jailed members of the rock band Pussy Riot if they repent for their "punk prayer" for deliverance from President Vladimir Putin at Moscow's main cathedral, a statement that came a day before an appeal hearing and appeared to reflect a desire to put an end to the case that has caused an international outrage.

But it was unclear whether the women, who were sentenced to two years last month, would offer a penitence sought by the church and how much leniency a court may show. Putin has always been reluctant to avoid leaving an impression that he could bow to public pressure and has taken an increasingly tough line on dissent since his inauguration in May.

Monday's appeal hearing has caught their family members between hope and despair as they attempt to gauge from the words and actions of government and church officials whether the political tide will turn in their favor.

In Sunday's statement, the church reaffirmed its condemnation of the women's raucous stunt, saying such actions "can't be left unpunished." But it added that if the women show "penitence and reconsideration of their action," their words "shouldn't be left unnoticed."

Earlier this month, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that keeping them in prison any longer would be "unproductive" ? a statement that encouraged hopes the appeals court could set them free. But skeptics said that ahead of the band members' conviction on charges of "hooliganism driven by religious hatred," Putin himself said the women should not be judged too harshly, raising similar hopes for their release that proved vain.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alekhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, were arrested in March after dancing and high-kicking at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral as they pleaded with the Virgin Mary to save Russia from Putin, who was elected to a third presidential term two weeks later. They said during their trial in August that they were protesting the Russian Orthodox Church's support for Putin and didn't intend to offend religious believers.

Both the government and the church may have a strong interest in putting the Pussy Riot case behind them to avoid further damage at home and abroad.

The band members' imprisonment has come to symbolize intolerance of dissent in Putin's Russia and caused a strong international condemnation. Their cause has been taken up by celebrities and musicians, including Madonna and Paul McCartney, and protests have been held around the world.

Even some government loyalists criticized the harsh sentence, voicing concern about the church's interference in secular affairs and a growing repressive streak in the Kremlin's policies.

Since his inauguration in May, Putin has taken an increasingly tough stance against dissent in response to a series of massive winter protests against his 13-year rule.

Opposition activists have faced interrogations and searches, and the Kremlin-controlled parliament quickly stamped a slew of draconian bills, including the one that raised fines 150-fold for taking part in unsanctioned protests and another obliging those non-government organizations that receive foreign funds to register as "foreign agents."

In a clear nod to the Pussy Riot stunt, pro-Kremlin lawmakers last week discussed a new bill that would make "offending religious feelings" a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

Actions like these have left the friends, families, and lawyers of the Pussy Riot women pessimistic about the possibility of a successful appeal.

Violetta Volkova, one of the three lawyers for the women, said Friday after visiting a prison where they are being held that she had little hope for a fair sentence in a country where courts bow to the authorities.

"There is always at least some minimal hope for common sense and that the court will act in accordance with the law," she said. "But given the political situation in Russia, we can't depend on a legal sentence."

Stanislav Samutsevich, the father of one of the women, said he also had little hope, saying that he believed the government would use the appeals process to "in some way justify the severe sentence imposed."

Friends and family say they have tried to keep the women busy with books and letters to try to lighten their mood.

Olga Vinogradova, a children's librarian, book reviewer, and longtime friend of the convicted Maria Alekhina, sent her philosophy books to read. She said she received messages from Alekhina once or twice a week.

Like Tolokonnikova, Alekhina is the mother of a young child, a 5-year-old boy, a fact which has drawn particular sympathy from supporters of the women, who have been behind bars since their arrest in March.

"One thing that she wrote to me in a letter is that . she couldn't pay a higher price than such a long separation from her child," said Vinogradova. "For her freedom to speak her mind that is the greatest price."

Vinogradova said that in her exchanges with Alekhina her friend had expressed little hope of leaving with an effective appeal.

"She's scared about what's happening now, with the new laws," said Vinogradova, "I think she may have expected more from the protest movement."

____

Vladimir Isachenkov contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-09-30-Russia-Pussy%20Riot/id-3abb498d6d7a4c56b9aeed55ab11270a

lamar d antoni fashion star andrew bird lizzie borden lizzie borden iona

5 Tips For Creating Effective Digital Marketing for Insurance Agents ...

Despite the fact that insurance is such a vital part of every business, digital marketing for insurance agents is minimal at best. For many agents, digital marketing is something they?d like to do but don?t have time. Or they have a digital marketing plan that involves tweeting one insurance-related news article a week and updating their LinkedIn profile twice a year. Other agents look to these examples and claim them as evidence that digital marketing isn?t a viable option for insurance agents.

Digital marketing techniques like content and social media marketing are ideal fits for insurance agents. And there?s a simple formula you can use to start your digital marketing strategy.

Invite Questions

Insurance is something most business owners know very little about. It?s something a lot of the general public see as a closed shop. They see it as a secretive and untrustworthy industry that looks after itself first. A great way to break through that stereotype is to invite people to ask questions about insurance.

You can do this through social media, through blogs or on your website. Insurance is something everyone has a question about, and as an insurance expert, you?re the one they want to ask.

Answer Them for Free

So much of marketing for insurance is about building trust. The simple invitation to ask a question won?t build that trust on it?s own. People may misinterpret it as an invitation to a paid consultation.

There?s no better way to build trust than to answer insurance questions without asking for anything in return. People love to get things for free and, if they find your answers helpful, that?s a great endorsement of your abilities.

Offer Advice Without Being Asked

Of course you don?t need to be asked a question to offer advice. People research insurance online all the time. They look up policies and jargon or just seek advice. If you have informative blogs, whitepapers and other resources on your website, you can capture some of that research traffic.

The target here is to make people want to work with your agency. If you help a business owner with their research, they?re likely to come back in a professional capacity.

Be Proactive

Digital marketing for insurance agents isn?t just about creating content and hoping you get found. You need to be proactive too. Social media is vital in this. Your target market is active on Twitter and LinkedIn so you should be too. Remember, these people want to hear what you have to say; you just need to put it in front of them.

As a starting point you need to be sharing all of your content across your social channels. You should get involved with insurance groups on LinkedIn, get involved in insurance conversation on Twitter and make sure your agency name is at the center of that activity.

Don?t Ignore it

For a lot of insurance agents, and other small businesses, marketing is something they do when all their work is done. It?s often an afterthought for people who?ve spent their day dealing with clients and providers, and just don?t have the time. Consistency is vital in digital marketing. The odd post here or there won?t cut it. You need to create new blog content and engage with social media more than once a week, every single week.

If you?re not ready to do this, don?t start. Either engage with a digital marketing company who can help you, or prepare a strategy and start once you?re ready. Once you start, you need to keep the activity consistent. Old, or rarely updated, social media accounts or blogs can do as much damage as good.

The basics of digital marketing for insurance companies are simple. Create useful content, engage with your target market and offer to help. After that, the biggest challenge is staying on top of it.

?Get a FREE Insurance Marketing & Website Evaluation!

Source: http://www.business2community.com/online-marketing/5-tips-for-creating-effective-digital-marketing-for-insurance-agents-0290069

daughtry lakers trade ann arbor news ides of march elizabeth smart nick young south dakota state

Blessed union: Couple thankful to share wedding with mom battling terminal cancer

Jaqueline Diaz-Sua, left, embraces her new mother-in-law, Geri Kidawski, shortly after her wedding ceremony Sept. 23 at the assisted-living facility where Kidawski lives as she fights cancer. (Lenn Stout | The Coloradoan)

FORT COLLINS?? Most brides plan their wedding over a span of months, crafting every detail with precision and care ? down to the last flower petal.

But for Jaqueline Diaz-Sua, 23, of Florida, the perfect wedding required no pomp and circumstance ? only the people she loves and the blessing of her 63-year-old mother-in-law, Geri Kidawski.

Diaz-Sua and her fianc?, Chris Kidawski, 34, began planning the makeshift ceremony three days before saying "I do," flying to Colorado on Friday night to give the family one more memory together before the end of Geri's two-year battle with cancer. She's expected to die in the coming weeks.

"That's what weddings are all about ? to have the people around you who you love there to witness your love," Diaz-Sua said minutes before walking down a makeshift aisle in the garden of Turnberry Place Assisted Living, where Geri recently moved. "That's the most important thing in this world."

Change of plans

The couple, who got engaged July 22, originally had planned a larger February ceremony in Diaz-Sua's Florida home. When it became apparent that Geri likely wouldn't survive long enough to be there, the bride and her mother began drafting a plan to include her "second mom" in their special day ? a gift to her husband-to-be and the woman who raised him.

The February ceremony will feature a slide show from their fly-by wedding in Colorado, she said. Last Sunday's ceremony was as "perfect" as any wedding could be.

She donned "something new" ? a princesslike white dress purchased from David's Bridal the night before. Her hair was swept into a simple, romantic side ponytail by a local stylist at Arabella Salon.

She slipped "something blue" ? graceful royal- blue sandals ? onto her feet.

"Something borrowed" came in the multiple donations from the Fort Collins community ? a donated cake from Baby Cakes bakery, donated photography services from Natalie Beck Photography, donated decorations from Fort Collins Nursery and a donated arch and chairs from Front Range Event Rental ? that put the finishing touches on what started out as a small, private ceremony.

"We have everything," said Chris Kidawski, looking on as flower girl Hailey Meurer, 6, twirled around the property in her turquoise dress. "This is indescribable."

"The people of Fort Collins have been very good to us," Diaz-Sua said. "There are a lot of good, beautiful people in the world ? and I now know that there's a higher majority of those people here. ... They made miracles happen."

As the bride and her mother, Astrith Sua, shared precious moments together before the ceremony, Geri quietly prepared herself in another room, adjusting her wig and smoothing the green flowered dress that hung gracefully from her shoulders.

Linda Bennett, Geri's nurse from Pathways Hospice, grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table and tucked them into the side of Geri's wheelchair.

"You better just take the whole box," Geri said, laughing. "I'm going to be crying today."

The tears started early as she began talking about the young couple and the "love that surrounded" her on their wedding day.

"I called Jackie 'my daughter' from the very first time she called me," she said. "She is such a sweetheart, and I love her so dearly. ... My boys have also just been amazing through all of this. They love me so much. I know they'd do anything for me."

"Lover of life"

Chris said the wedding was a "bittersweet" gift to the ever-giving mother of three boys who always hoped for a daughter ? battling miscarriages, stillbirths and "so many bad things."

Geri's strength and inspiration through trials, culminating in her fight with cancer, is a "constant inspiration" to the three boys, he said.

"Describing my mom is like writing a book or trying to do a crib-notes version of the 'The Iliad,' " he said. "She's a lover of life ... even though she's been hurt her entire life ? she's been controlled, she's been manipulated, she's gone through indescribable things ? you'd never know it. Even in this situation, she's smiling and she's happy. There's never any animosity towards anything that's happened to her. She's very selfless."

She passed on those qualities to her son, said his mother-in-law, Astrith Sua.

"My daughter found someone who will love her and trust her and take care of her for all her life, thanks to Geri," Sua said. "She did an excellent job."

Source: http://feeds.denverpost.com/~r/dp-news-local/~3/HY3sNJHn7bg/blessed-union

kid cudi ben breedlove matt barnes hcm loretta lynn gene kelly zoe saldana zooey deschanel and joseph gordon levitt

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Analysis: Candidates' Deficit Plans Don't Add Up

Here's the rap on the presidential candidates' plans for cutting federal deficits: Mitt Romney's is too bold and the numbers don't add up, while President Barack Obama's is too timid and his numbers don't add up, either.

As the government closes the books Sunday with a $1.1 trillion deficit for the year, which required borrowing 32 cents for every dollar it spent, budget analysts have little confidence in either man's plan to address the accumulating debt, now at about $16 trillion.

The Republican nominee promises to balance the budget in eight years to 10 years, but he also offers a mix of budgetary contradictions: higher Pentagon spending, restoring cuts that Democrats made in Medicare and an absolute refusal to consider tax increases.

To fulfill his promise, Romney would require cuts to other programs so deep ? under one calculation requiring cutting many areas of the domestic budget by one-third within four years ? that they could never get through Congress.

In other words, it wouldn't work.

Obama claims more than $4 trillion in deficit savings over the coming decade. But it you peel away accounting tricks and debatable claims on spending cuts, it's more like $1.1 trillion. Republicans say it's even less because of creative bookkeeping used to mask spending on Medicare reimbursements to doctors.

The accounting gets tricky, but the biggest faults with Obama's math are his claims of more than $2 trillion in savings from earlier budget deals with Republicans and an additional $848 billion in savings from winding down of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"You can't find a $4 trillion number," said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a conservative who once led the Congressional Budget Office.

Obama promises relatively small cuts of $597 billion from big federal benefit programs such as Medicare and Medicaid over the next decade while proposing tax increases of $1.9 trillion that he couldn't push through Congress when Democrats controlled both the House and Senate.

Obama's performance on the deficit should be his Achilles heel. The deficit has exceeded $1 trillion each year on his watch. He gave a cold shoulder to his own special deficit commission. Whatever efforts have occurred over the past two years to curb the deficit have come under pressure by Republicans.

"The American people see the financial chaos. They know it must stop. They know their families are at risk, and that their country is in danger," Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said in a recent GOP radio address. "Yet the president does not rally the country to action. Instead, he says our debt course is nothing to worry about."

Romney offers a set of principles and promises rather than a detailed plan. He pledges to shrink the government to 20 percent of the size of the economy, as opposed to more than 23 percent of gross domestic product now, by the end of his first term. The Romney campaign estimates that would require cuts of $500 billion from the 2016 budget alone.

Romney proposes saving hundreds of billions of dollars over the coming decade by following House Republicans' plan to sharply cut federal spending on Medicaid health care for the poor and disabled, and turn it over to state governments. He pledges to cut the federal workforce by 10 percent.

But Romney also promises large budget increases for the Pentagon and rejects a plan by his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., that endorses more than $700 billion in cuts to Medicare that were made as part of Obama's health care law. Social Security is off the table.

That means big cuts to what's left over: nuts-and-bolts government agencies including the FBI, Federal Aviation Administration and Border Patrol; programs such as food inspection and space exploration; and popular subsidy and benefit programs for farmers, veterans and college students.

The liberal-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities calculates that Romney's budget outline could require a one-third cut in domestic programs by 2016, excluding Social Security and Medicare, to make the math work. By 2022, such programs would have to be cut by more than half.

"You have to have large cuts in the rest of the non-defense budget, very large cuts," said Paul Van De Water, an analyst at the budget think tank. "Whether it's politically and practically achievable is subject to question."

Romney also is light on details on his tax cut proposal.

He says he wants to cut rates by 20 percent, but won't specify how he'll find the $5 trillion required to pay for it. For all the rhetoric of tax loopholes and cleaning up the tax code, finding that kind of money would require looking at popular deductions and tax breaks for the middle class. Those include deductions for mortgage interest, charitable contributions and state and local taxes, and breaks for college savings, employer-paid health insurance and families with children.

Tax experts say he could very well come up short.

Obama's budget has a lengthy and detailed mix of initiatives. But other than raising $1.4 trillion over a decade by allowing George W. Bush-era tax cuts on family income exceeding $250,000 to expire, they're mostly small-bore ideas.

There's little in the way of political danger. For instance, his budget would permit the cost of both Medicare and Medicaid to double over the coming decade. He offers cuts to health care providers, but asks no sacrifice from beneficiaries.

In private negotiations last year with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, that failed, Obama displayed some willingness to take on Medicare's problems by raising from 65 the age to qualify for benefits. A "grand bargain" to get the debt under control would require him to go further.

"What he's put on the table is insufficient to get us to the goal," said Robert Reischauer, a former Urban Institute president and one-time director of the Congressional Budget Office who is one of the trustees for who oversee Social Security and Medicare. "He's going to have to ramp up the game after the election if he really wants to stabilize the debt in a reasonable length of time."

???

EDITOR'S NOTE ? Associated Press writer Andrew Taylor has covered Congress and fiscal policy for The Associated Press since 2005.

An AP News Analysis

The Happy Entrepreneur (by Paul W. Smith)

I?ve asked myself the following question literally hundreds of times.? There are stacks of books with entrepreneurial stories, books about the life of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, et al.? We know these guys are driven, talented, obsessed, ruthless, workaholic and a little bit lucky (see, e.g., How to Spot an Entrepreneur).? We envy them and even try to model our lives after them, but why?? What makes them happy?

A passion for the pinnacle of money, power and prestige could be a good answer, but surely these high achievers know that someone always comes along to nudge you off the platform.? Consider Bill Gates; in an astonishing display of fiscal virility, he rented the entire Hawaiian island of Lanai for his wedding to Melinda.? One would assume this was a happy occasion, as they are still husband and wife after 18 years.? Bill set a new standard for opulence, until billionaire Larry Ellison came along and bought Lanai outright.? Larry has not been forthcoming about his intentions for the purchase (to date, he has been married and divorced four times).?

It is worthwhile to remember that ?happiness? is much more than a new-age, feel-good buzzword sparring with ?balanced?, ?centered? and ?good karma? in the titles of bestsellers and self-improvement workshops.? America?s founders trusted Thomas Jefferson with drafting the first version of the Declaration of Independence, and his second sentence is one of the most elegant and profound ever written.? There is more to this journey than just life and liberty from British rule, Jefferson wrote.? It is also about pursuing happiness.?

Although this happiness thing is in our mission statement, it has proven elusive.? In 1988, Bobby McFerrin promoted a two step process, the first of which was ?Don?t worry.?? Whether or not it worked, it made Bobby a lot of money.? History is unclear on how happy he was.

Politicians routinely ask if we are better off now than we were four years ago.? Numbers are tallied and scrutinized.? How much do we earn?? How many new homes are we building?? How many iPhone5?s were sold in the first 24 hours?? It?s been over 200 years since Jefferson suggested happiness as one of the key metrics of the American experiment and the government still hasn?t found a good way to measure it.?

The traditional metric for happiness has been the GDP per capita, a number representing the total value of goods and services produced in the country per unit human.? This presumed surrogate for standard of living only works if making and using stuff leads us to happiness.? According to the CIA (one of several agencies which tabulate GDP data) the top three countries in the world in this category are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.? The U.S. is in the 19^th spot.?

?We love to talk about people who are poor but happy and rich people who are probably miserable, but what?s the real story?? The polling gurus at Gallup took it straight to the source, surveying folks directly to ask just how happy they really are.? The results show the top three happiest countries are Denmark, Finland and Norway.? On this list the U.S. ranks 11^th, just ahead of Costa Rica.

The confusing message in this data has not gone unnoticed.? Americans are kicking butt on Life and Liberty, but two out of three is just not good enough.? Inquiring minds need to know; are we happy??

There?s a saying in engineering ? ?You can?t control it if you can?t measure it.?? Vermont, Maryland, Seattle, Somerville, Wisconsin and California?s Nevada City are just a few of the states and cities that are developing measures of happiness. ?The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is working on an official index.? This stuff we keep getting more of, is it really the right stuff?? What if economic growth is harming the environment without improving the real quality of life?

For many pragmatists the whole idea of happiness is just too ?fluffy?.? Work hard, stay focused, count your blessings, and be thankful you?re not living in a poor country like the tiny South Asian nation of Bhutan, where the average life expectancy is 67 years and annual income is $2000.?

Back in 1972, the King of Bhutan, sensing that money and happiness were not well correlated, called for a Gross National Happiness index.? National policies based on the GNH limit tourism, ban tobacco, and keep motorists away from town centers every Tuesday.? The 7 million people of Bhutan are warm, friendly, and measurably happier than they were 40 years ago.?

You don?t have to travel to Bhutan to see that GDP per capita is leaving out something important.? At the beginning of his Presidential campaign in 1968, Senator Robert Kennedy said the GDP?

"...does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages ? it measures everything in short, except that which makes life worthwhile."

It is tempting to think of ?The Happy Entrepreneur? as a risk taker who has put up big numbers.? Perhaps the definition should be revised to look more like this;

entrepreneur [ahn-truh-pruh-noor] noun; an enterprising individual who builds happiness through risk and initiative, accepting full responsibility for the outcome.

As citizens of this great country we are entitled, in fact we are expected, to pursue happiness. ?Soon the Federal Government will be telling us exactly how happy we really are.? Once that happens, things are bound to get better.

Don?t worry.

PaulWSmith Logo ?

Author Profile - Paul W. Smith, a Founder and Director of Engineering with INVENTtPM LLc, has more than 35 years of experience in research and advanced product development.?

Prior to founding INVENTtPM, Dr. Smith spent 10 years with Seagate Technology in Longmont, Colorado. At Seagate, he was primarily responsible for evaluating new data storage technologies under development throughout the company, and utilizing six-sigma processes to stage them for implementation in early engineering models. While at Seagate, he was a proud member of the team that brought the world?s first notebook disk drive with perpendicular recording technology to the market.?

Paul holds a doctorate in Applied Mechanics from the California Institute of Technology, a Master of Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Source: http://www.lovemytool.com/blog/2012/09/the-happy-entrepreneur-by-paul-w-smith.html

jane goodall saturday night fever glamping forgetting sarah marshall taraji p. henson irs shuttle discovery

Benson Henderson talks about fighting close to home, network television pressures and soccer moms

UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson will get to fight Nate Diaz at the next UFC on Fox card. Henderson talked to Cagewriter about how he is excited about the chance to fight at home, what network television means to him, and soccer moms.

Henderson's fight is the main event at UFC on Fox 5 in the Key Arena, the former home of the Seattle Supersonics. He grew up just a half hour from the arena and went to basketball games there, but he has never fought in his home state. His previous visits to the Key Arena were as a fan.

"I didn't have the money to go to a ton of Sonics games, but when I went, I would go to Key Arena. Not only my first time ever in Washington, but to have it in Seattle. Not only in Seattle, but to have it in Key Arena. Not only is it in Key Arena, but I'm? the main event."

Expect to hear a crowd squarely in Henderson's corner.

"Five minutes after they announced it, I had 20 calls and texts. I've got a ton of messages and tweets and emails from my buddies. There's going to be a large pro-Ben Henderson crowd."

The last time Henderson was on a Fox card, his fight didn't make the network airing. His bout with Clay Guida was on the undercard of the UFC's first fight on Fox. The only bout that was on Fox was Junior dos Santos' quick knockout of Cain Velasquez. This time, Henderson knows he'll make the airing because his fight is the main event.

"This time on Fox, I get to be the actual guy on Fox, so I'm really excited about that. My first time on Fox, it was the first time the UFC was on Fox and it was so hyped and it was so big, and then, I wasn't really on Fox. They didn't show me, and it was so hyped up. I'm stoked this time to be the main event."

But he says fighting on network television in front of a home crowd doesn't put more pressure on him.

"There's no additional pressure. The pressure I place on myself, the standards I hold myself to are higher than anyone else's."

In fact, Henderson is happy to get back to more accessible television. While fighting for World Extreme Cagefighting, Henderson would appear on cable TV regularly as his fights would often be rerun on Versus. This ended up winning him fans from surprising backgrounds.

"A few times I've been shocked by the people who recognize me. And not because their kid is a fan, but they are fans. Soccer moms will say to me, 'I saw you on TV the other day! I love watching you!' and I'll ask, 'Did you watch with your son?' and they say, 'No, I was flipping channels while I was cooking dinner and I started watching you.'? That's happened a bunch of times. Going through my local grocery store, and I met a lady whose a crazy fan. She always watches. She saw from when I was on Versus. I think it's cool when fans you wouldn't expect are huge fans of MMA. They wouldn't normally buy a pay-per-view, but they see it on TV and become huge fans of it. "

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/benson-henderson-talks-fighting-close-home-network-television-180000285--mma.html

Olympics 2012 Schedule Kenneth Branagh Lupe Ontiveros London 2012 China muhammad ali Opening ceremony London 2012 Google Fiber

4 Ways To Stay Connected To Your Kids While Traveling ...

Posted on 28. Sep, 2012 by Danielle Buffardi in Family

Being away from your family is hard and none but our kids feel it the most.

Regardless if you?re mom or dad, your kids will miss you while you?re on the road. Bedtime won?t be the same, they?ll miss out on an extra kiss before school and the overall absence of one of their parents will be surely felt.

But that doesn?t mean that you have to miss out on what?s going on at home if you?re traveling for work.

Here are four ways to stay connected to your children while you?re away from home.

1. Have A Schedule

Plan out the best times to call home. We all have smart phones or computers where we can download Skype and see each other during video chats ? so use technology to your advantage.

Not only will it allow you to see your family in real time but it also lets your kids know that you?re putting aside specific time to connect with them while you?re away ? and that can make a huge difference to your children when they?re missing you.

2. Audiobooks Are A Hit

One of the simplest ways you can keep your kids reminded of your love is to record yourself reading a story to them.

There?s an array of books to choose from where you simply press record and read the pages. Your family will love having the story read to them but also your kids will love to hear your voice and feel close to you.

Our pick is Guess How Much I Love You from Hallmark?s record-a-book series.

3. Pick Out Meaningful Gifts While You?re Away

All children adore getting presents from their parents so while you?re traveling be sure to choose gifts that speak to the bond you share with your family.

If you know your daughter loves elephants, then choose something that highlights that aspect but also ties in your role in her life.

Don?t forget to keep durability in mind as your kids will want to play with the gift. Choose something that will withstand some play time as well as hold its meaning for years to come.

4. The Home Stretch

In the days right before you?re coming home, raise the excitement level for your family. Think of fun things like a countdown board or a personalized calendar that you both can enjoy during your video chats.

And once you reach your haven, drop everything and spend some time with your kids. Embrace them and let them know how much you?ve missed them and go over their gifts with them in detail ? be sure to explain why you picked them for each child individually and what they mean to you as well as what message you hope your children get from them.

Talk about your trip ? where you went, why you went, and what you did while you were away. Our kids are eager learners and they?ll love hearing the details about your adventures away ? even if it was a business trip.

Follow the American Pregnancy Association on Facebook!

_______________________________________________________

About the author: Danielle is a professional blogger, freelance writer, social media manager, and web content editor specializing in parenting, family, pregnancy, social media, start-ups and entrepreneurial topics. To learn more about Danielle, please visit her website at www.PenPointEditorial.com.

Tags: stay connected with your family when traveling for business

Source: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyblog/2012/09/4-ways-to-stay-connected-to-your-kids-when-traveling/

ray j anthony shadid gary carter this means war bobby brown suzanne somers colbert

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Etisalat Nigeria Extends Broadband Services to Akure

Home ? News ? Etisalat Nigeria Extends Broadband Services to Akure

3 (L-R): Director, Corporate and Indirect Channel Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ken Ogujiofor; Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Wael Ammar; His Royal Highness, the Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida, Afunbiowo II and Director, Product & Service, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Lucas Dada, during the visit to the Deji of Akure palace, as part of activities to mark the Etisalat 3G launch in Akure

Etisalat Nigeria, the fastest growing and most innovative telecommunications company in the country, in its efforts to offer quality internet service to its customers, last week formally launched its 3.75G easyblaze broadband service in Akure. The service promises to significantly improve how Etisalat subscribers in the city experience and use the internet on a wide variety of devices while enabling more businesses meet their communication needs through super fast? connectivity.

The two-pronged launch event included a courtesy visit to the Deji of Akure, HRM Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida to demonstrate the easyblaze speed, and a roadshow to flag-off field marketing activities and had members of the senior management team of Etisalat, Palace High Chiefs and the media in attendance.

Speaking at the Deji of Akure?s palace, Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Wael Ammar, said that with the launch of the 3.75G HSPA+Easyblaze broadband Service in Akure, Etisalat customers can now buy data bundles on mobile phones, smartphones, MiFi and WiFi devices, as well as on USB modems. ?The launch of the 3G platform promises changes that will enhance multimedia functionality, high speed mobile broadband and internet access; allowing users to make video calls, watch live videos, send and receive emails and download music from their devices,? he said.

According to him, the 3.75G service will give offer Etisalat Nigeria subscribers mobile internet at unrivalled speed. ?We all know small and big businesses rely on the internet for communications. With the extension of our easyblaze service to Akure, businesses can access the web much faster and at affordable costs whether through their laptops, mobile phones, smartphones or tablets,? Ammar said.

Responding to the goodwill message of the Etisalat delegation, the Deji of Akure, His Royal Highness, Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida, applauded Etisalat Nigeria for raising the bar of telecommunication services in the state. ?I am really happy with Etisalat for the progress it has made in the nation?s telecommunications industry despite its late entry into the market, and I urge them to continue with this good work,? he said.

Also speaking at the launch, High Chief Engineer, J. Olusoga, the Lisa of Akure, commended Etisalat. In his words, ?Etisalat is young but your presence has been felt leading to improved competitiveness of the Nigerian telecoms industry. We thank Etisalat for the work done in giving scholarships to undergraduates at the Federal University of Technology here in Akure, and urge you to continue to invest in the Nigerian economy and remain competitive so that at the end of the day, subscriber will continue to be the winners.?

Another highlight of the launch was the unveiling of an easyblaze branded power bike which is on tour of all cities where the service is live. Two lucky easyblaze subscribers will emerge from draws which will take place within the duration of the easyblaze roadshow.

Etisalat eazyblaze is a broadband service built with the High Speed Packet Access+? (Dual Carrier) technology, giving customers, fast, high quality and efficient Internet service. The broadband service is available on both Etisalat postpaid and prepaid packages.

Etisalat 3G services is currently available in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, Zaria, Warri, Enugu, Aba, Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha, Akure, Ilorin, Uyo, Jos and Benin amongst other cities and continues to extend coverage to more locations across Nigeria.

Tags: 3 (L-R): Director, Afunbiowo II and Director, as part of activities to mark the Etisalat 3G launch in Akure, Corporate and Indirect Channel Sales, during the visit to the Deji of Akure palace, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ken Ogujiofor; Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Lucas Dada, Mr. Wael Ammar; His Royal Highness, Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida, Product & Service, the Deji of Akure

Source: http://www.mobileworldmag.com/etisalat-nigeria-extends-broadband-services-to-akure.html

wiz khalifa Michael Clarke Duncan Nazanin Boniadi Deval Patrick Dedication 4 labor day college football scores

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

David Lindsay: Bringing It Home

Simon Hughes makes a good case, but his party is past help. Let us see what succeeds it. In his case, what is he doing to influence that succession?

There must be a tax on the productive value of land per acre, other than that occupied by the homes of the less well off, perhaps making possible the abolition of stamp duty, and in any event establishing and enforcing the principle that no one should own land other than in order to make use of it; this was proposed by Andy Burnham, increasingly a man to watch, when he was a candidate for Leader of the Labour Party.

There must also be a statutory requirement of planning permission for change of use if it is proposed to turn a primary dwelling into a secondary dwelling, a working family home into a weekend or holiday home.

The Lib Dems are not going to either of those things. Ed Miliband, over to you.

Source: http://davidaslindsay.blogspot.com/2012/09/bringing-it-home.html

hawaii weather the jerk lake havasu halo 4 jewel san francisco earthquake san francisco earthquake

Four diy projects that can make your home more secure | Industry ...

(ARA) ? If spring makes our thoughts turn to love, the cooler temperatures of fall make many of us think about nesting ? and, often, how much more we would love our home if we improved it a little. A sense of security is one of the most comforting aspects of home, so this autumn, why not focus on home improvements that can make your home more secure?

Improving the safety of your home doesn?t have to be an expensive or time-consuming proposition. Here are four simple DIY projects that can help make your house safer:

1. De-clutter, inside and out.

Most home improvement projects are either about creating space or improving the usability of existing spaces. De-cluttering inside your home can open up rooms and offer more flexibility in how you use and decorate the space. De-cluttering the documents you store in your home can help improve its security. Getting rid of sensitive documents you no longer need can reduce your overall exposure to identity theft. Be sure to shred all documents before discarding them. On the outside of your home, de-clutter around access points. Shrubs, trees and debris that obscure your windows and doors not only look bad, they can provide cover for burglars who might try to enter your home.

2. Upgrade your appliances.

While a new dishwasher or clothes dryer may make your life easier, when it comes to improving security, think about appliances like your paper shredder or home security system. Bizarre as it may sound, identity thieves have been known to pick through trash and reassemble poorly shredded documents. Fall is a great time to invest in a cross-cut shredder that will make such an identity theft tactic virtually impossible.

3. Lock it up

The dog sitter, babysitter, house cleaner, house sitter ? how many people have had access to a key to your home in the past year? It?s prudent to switch out the locks in your home every now and then ? especially if you have reason to believe your security might have been compromised. It?s even easier to ?lock up? sensitive personal information. Invest in a locking file cabinet or fireproof lock box to store important documents. Lock up your technology by changing passwords and creating strong new ones that can help deter hackers, phishers and other scammers. Keep your computer security software up-to-date.

4. Enlist assistance

If you were building an addition onto your house, you would ask for help if you needed it. Sometimes you need help with security as well, especially identity theft prevention. Despite all the safeguards you?ve already taken to make your home more secure, identity protection is a round-the-clock job, and most of us could use some help with it. A comprehensive identity theft detection, protection and resolution product like ProtectMyID can help prevent the damages caused by identity theft.

Home improvements aimed at boosting your security don?t have to be big and expensive. Simple, cost-effective steps can help improve your home?s security. They key is to be proactive and focus on preventing a problem, rather than just repairing damage after it occurs.

Article source: http://www.fox54.com/story/19631881/four-diy-projects-that-can-make-your-home-more-secure

No related posts.

Source: http://www.newtelecomblogs.com/2012/09/25/four-diy-projects-that-can-make-your-home-more-secure/

keystone xl pipeline idaho potato bowl cagayan de oro cagayan de oro bowl schedule 2011 bowl schedule barry bonds

AP Interview: Ahmadinejad pushes new world order

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks during an exclusive interview with Associated Press editorial staff during his visit to the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012 in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad listens during an exclusive interview with Associated Press editorial staff during his visit for the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012 in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, center, and Iranian government officials, left, hold an exclusive interview with Associated Press editorial staff, right, during his visit for the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012 in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that a new world order needs to emerge, away from years of what he called American bullying and domination.

Ahmadinejad spoke to The Associated Press in a wide-ranging interview on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly ? his last as president of Iran. He was to address the Assembly Wednesday morning.

He also discussed solutions for the Syrian civil war, dismissed the question of Iran's nuclear ambition and claimed that despite Western sanctions his country is better off than it was when he took office in 2005.

"God willing, a new order will come together and we'll do away with everything that distances us," Ahmadinejad said, speaking through a translator. "I do believe the system of empires has reached the end of the road. The world can no longer see an emperor commanding it."

"Now even elementary school kids throughout the world have understood that the United States government is following an international policy of bullying," he said.

President Barack Obama warned Iran earlier Tuesday that time is running out to resolve the dispute over its nuclear program. In a speech to the General Assembly, Obama said the United States could not tolerate an Iran with atomic weapons.

Ahmadinejad would not respond directly to the president's remarks, saying he did not want to influence the U.S. presidential election in November.

But he argued that the international outcry over Iran's nuclear enrichment program was just an excuse by the West to dominate his country. He claimed that the United States has never accepted Iran's choice of government after the 1979 Islamic revolution.

"Everyone is aware the nuclear issue is the imposition of the will of the United States," he said. "I see the nuclear issue as a non-issue. It has become a form of one-upmanship."

Ahmadinejad said he favored more dialogue, even though negotiations with world powers remain stalled after three rounds of high-level meetings since April.

He said some world leaders have suggested to him that Iran would be better off holding nuclear talks only with the United States.

"Of course I am not dismissing such talks," he said, asked if he were open to discussions with the winner of the American presidential election.

Israeli leaders, however, are still openly contemplating military action again Iranian nuclear facilities, dismissing diplomacy as a dead end. Israel and many in the West suspect that Iran is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, and cite its failure to cooperate fully with nuclear inspectors. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Ahmadinejad also proposed forming a new group of 10 or 11 countries to work to end the 18-month Syrian civil war. Representatives of the nations in the Middle East and elsewhere would meet in New York "very soon," he said.

Critics have accused Tehran of giving support to Syrian President Bashar Assad in carrying out massacres and other human rights violations in an attempt to crush the uprising against his rule. Activists say nearly 30,000 people have died.

He said the so-called contact group hopes to get the Syrian government and opposition to sit across from each other.

"I will do everything in my power to create stability, peace and understanding in Syria," Ahmadinejad said.

Earlier this month, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi announced the formation of a four-member contact group with Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. But Saudi Arabia so far has not participated.

He denied Iranian involvement in plotting attacks on Israelis abroad, despite arrests and accusations by police in various countries. He also vehemently disputed the U.S. claim that Iranian agents played a role in a foiled plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States last year.

Ahmadinejad will leave office next June after serving two four-year terms. He threw out numbers and statistics during the interview to show that Iran's economy and the lives of average Iranians have improved under his watch. Since his 2005 election, he claimed, Iran went from being the world's 22nd-largest economy to the 17th-largest; non-petroleum related exports increased sevenfold; and the basic production of goods has doubled. Median income increased by $4,000, he said.

"Today's conditions in Iran are completely different to where they were seven years ago in the economy, in technical achievement, in scientific know-how," Ahmadinejad said. "All of these achievements, though, have been reached under conditions in which we were brought under heavy sanctions."

Iran has called for the U.S. and its European allies to ease the sanctions that have hit its critical oil exports and left it blackballed from key international banking networks.

Ahmadinejad said he had no knowledge of the whereabouts of Robert Levinson, a private investigator and former FBI agent who vanished in Iran five years ago. He said he directed Iranian intelligence services two years ago to work with their counterparts in the U.S. to locate him.

"And if any help there is that I can bring to bear, I would be happy to do so," he said.

He also claimed never to have heard of Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine who is imprisoned on espionage charges in Iran. Hekmati was arrested while visiting his grandmother in Iran in August 2011, and his family has been using Ahmadinejad's visit to New York to plead for his release.

____

Associated Press writers Maria Sanminiatelli and Christopher Chester contributed to this story.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-09-25-UN-General%20Assembly-Ahmadinejad/id-ca29a6d332eb42eeb41a5f96d3d28bcf

roseanne barr margaret sanger paul george eddie long ufc 143 weigh ins micron ceo glenn miller

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Simple Ways to Save on Your Crafting Supplies | Craft Blog

a Guest Post by Laura M

Getting crafty is one of the best ways to have fun, no matter how old you are. Whether you like to get stuck into crafts alone, or use it as a fun family activity, it is an excellent and therapeutic way to enjoy yourself. As anyone who enjoys crafting knows, the costs of making little creations can soon add up. By taking the right approach to craft shopping, you can save money and enjoy your favorite activity at the same time.

Going wholesale

One of the main reasons crafting costs so much is traditional craft stores increase their prices for profit. The best way to get around this is to look for wholesalers in your area, and buy in bulk. You will end up with more supplies than you need initially, but in the long term this can significantly save money on crafts. Some wholesalers only operate from stores, but an increasing number are beginning to allow people to buy online. If there isn?t a local wholesaler in your area, turn to the Internet instead.

Using Coupons

Thanks to the online coupon industry, it is easier than ever to find craft coupon codes to use online, or find printable coupons and use them in your local stores. Taking this approach can help you save as much as 40% on usual crafting costs, and it is a great solution for those who do not want to visit wholesale stores to buy their supplies. Look out for coupons periodically and save them if you are not ready to increase your supplies just yet.

Getting thrifty with where you spend

By heading for eBay and charity shops, you can purchase craft supplies that are significantly cheaper than those bought from chain stores. Many people resell or donate supplies that they have been given as gifts, and as such sellers are prepared to accept a fraction of the retail price, you will find it easier to spend less. Ebay is also a great place to buy supplies at near-to wholesale prices, as sellers do not have to cover overheads like staff and utilities and can therefore sell on cheaper. Ebay is a particularly great source of needlework supplies, particularly if you are willing to purchase from an international supplier.

Gathering crafts from around the home

The crafts you use in your creations do not have to come directly from stores. If you are making seasonal crafts, you can gather nature related items like leaves and acorns. Alternatively, you can use old clothes, buttons, and trash items like cereal boxes and plastic bottles. The items you use can soon be jazzed up with paints, glitter and glue.

Get involved in a craft swap

If there are other people at your local church or your child?s school who like to use crafts, arrange to hold a craft swap meeting. Anyone who likes to create things will accumulate residual supplies that they no longer want or need at some point. By taking them along to a craft swap, you can exchange them for items that you want. If there isn?t an existing swap in your local area, you can always organize one yourself.

Getting the most out of your craft habit on a budget is possible. By knowing where to shop and varying your approach, you can indulge in your favorite activity and save money at the same time.

Laura M is a British student and mother who loves crafting. She chooses a range of stores and solutions for purchasing her supplies, saving money as a result.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Source: http://craftblog.stitchingthenightaway.com/2934/simple-ways-to-save-on-your-crafting-supplies/

times square new years eve liquor store how to tie a bow tie diverticulitis jello shots bowl games abc store

Monday, September 24, 2012

2013 Sony World Photography Awards judges announced

The World Photography Organisation is proud to announce the judging panels for the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards.

The Honorary Jury will judge the Professional competition for all serious photographers submitting a body of work. Made up of prestigious photography professionals from the World Photographic Academy, the Honorary Jury each year includes some of the world?s leading industry members, such as photo editors, photographers, agency directors, critics, curators and publishers. Each expert judge is selected to uncover outstanding new work to award from amongst the 15 Professional categories and ultimately grant one photographer the L?Iris d?Or, the Sony World Photography Awards Professional Photographer of the Year, and $25,000 (USD).

Catherine Chermayeff will chair the judges and comments: "I am honoured to be chairing this year's Sony World Photography Awards. We are living in such a transitional and dramatically evolving moment in visual culture. The opportunity to recognize new and emerging talent in photography is more important than ever. I look forward to working with my fellow jurors to recognize and better understand photography in this unique landscape.?

Astrid Merget, Creative Director of the World Photography Organisation, adds: ?Selecting the honorary jury each year is a central task to our organisation and one that must be carefully approached. The jury must be well balanced to represent a wide range of expertise within technical, aesthetic, subject and cultural trends. These members face the challenge to choose excellent work amongst thousands of submitted images, and must do so fairly and collectively. It is a difficult but very rewarding process.?

The 2013 Honorary Jury includes:

Architecture / Conceptual / Portraiture / Still Life

Juana de Aizpuru - Gallery Director, Galeria Juana de Aizpuru (Spain)
Olga Sviblova - Director, Moscow House of Photography Museum (Russia)

Lifestyle / Fashion & Beauty / Campaign / Sport

Catherine Chermayeff (Chair) - Director, i2i photo agency (USA)
Tim Paton - Managing Director, Balcony Jump (UK)

Current Affairs / Contemporary Issues / People / Arts & Culture

Fiona Shields - Picture Editor, The Guardian (UK)
Francesca Sears - Director, Panos Profile at Panos Pictures (UK)
Chien-Chi Chang - Magnum Photographer (Taiwan)

Travel / Landscape / Nature & Wildlife

Caroline Metcalfe - Director of Photography, Conde Nast Traveller (UK)
Monica Suder - Photographic Consultant and Coach (Germany)
Macduff Everton - Photographer (USA)

The Student Focus judging panel has also been selected from the World Photographic Academy. Led by photographic consultant W.M Hunt (US), the panel is completed with British photographers Leonie Hampton and Jonathan Worth. Student Focus is the world's largest student photography programme and competition. The judges will select ten finalists who will be flown to London in April 2013 to compete for the Student Focus winner title. The prize for the winning university consists of ?45,000 worth of Sony photography equipment and out of this amazing prize collection each of the 10 finalist students will be given a professional camera.

The Open Competition, for amateurs and enthusiasts, will be firstly judged by WPO's pre-selection committee. A shortlist and winners will then be decided by a special judging panel including the Chair of the Honorary Jury and representatives from Sony and the WPO.

The Sony World Photography Awards is the world?s leading photography programme. A record number of over 112,000 images from 171 countries were entered into the 2012 competition.

Further details about the World Photography Organisation and the Sony World Photography Awards can be found at www.worldphoto.org

For press enquiries, interviews and images please contact:
Jill Cotton at World Photography Organisation
+44 (0) 20 7886 3146/ + 44 (0)7557 261 537 / jill@worldphoto.org

Source: http://presscentre.sony.eu/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=8030&NewsAreaID=2

louisiana primary syracuse basketball chipper jones chipper jones dancing with the stars cast mickael pietrus heart transplant

Saturday, September 22, 2012

RIMM drops on news of Blackberry outage

'},"otherParams":{"t_e":1,".intl":"US"},"events":{"fetch":{lv:2,"sp":"2146517768","ps":"LREC,MON","npv":true,"bg":"#FFFFFF","em":escape('{"site-attribute":"_id=\'f117ffe2-6a3f-3ed3-8e04-c5c0eba7f11d\' sensitivity=\'0\' rs=\'lmsid:a077000000IpoJiAAJ\' ctype=\'fn_news;News\' ctopid=\'2299500;2319500;1542500;1577000;9174489;1506489;1859000;1560500;1480989;2332500\' can_suppress_ugc=\'1\' content=\'no_expandable;ajax_cert_expandable;\' ADSSA"}'),"em_orig":escape('{"site-attribute":"_id=\'f117ffe2-6a3f-3ed3-8e04-c5c0eba7f11d\' sensitivity=\'0\' rs=\'lmsid:a077000000IpoJiAAJ\' ctype=\'fn_news;News\' ctopid=\'2299500;2319500;1542500;1577000;9174489;1506489;1859000;1560500;1480989;2332500\' can_suppress_ugc=\'1\' content=\'no_expandable;ajax_cert_expandable;\' ADSSA"}')}}};var _createNodes=function(){var nIds=_conf.nodeIds;for(var i in nIds){var nId=nIds[i];var dId=_conf.destinationMap[nIds[i].replace("yom-","")];n=Y.one("#"+nId);if(n)var center=n.one("center");var node=Y.one("#"+dId);var nodeHTML;if(center && !node){nodeHTML=_conf.nodes[nId];center.insert(nodeHTML);};};};var _prepareNodes=function(){var nIds=_conf.nodeIds;for(var i in nIds){var nId=nIds[i];var dId=_conf.destinationMap[nIds[i].replace("yom-ad-","")];n=Y.one("#"+nId);if(n)var center=n.one("center");var node=Y.one("#"+dId);if(center && node){center.set("innerHTML","");center.insert(node);node.setStyle("display","block");};};};var _darla;var _config=function(){if(YAHOO.ads.darla){_darla = YAHOO.ads.darla;_createNodes();};};var _fetch=function(spaceid,adssa,ps){ if (typeof(ps)!='undefined') _conf.events.fetch.ps = ps;if(typeof spaceid != "undefined") _conf.events.fetch.sp=spaceid;adssa = (typeof adssa != "undefined" && adssa != null) ? escape(adssa.replace(/\"/g, "'")) : "";_conf.events.fetch.em=_conf.events.fetch.em_orig.replace("ADSSA", adssa);if(_darla){_prepareNodes();_darla.setConfig(_conf);_darla.event("fetch");};};Y.on("domready", function(){_config();});;var that={"fetch":_fetch,"getNodes":_conf.nodes,"getConf":_conf};return that;}();/* Backwards compatibility - Assigning the latest instance to the main fetch function */YUI.PhotoAdsDarla.fetch=YUI.PhotoAdsDarla.photoslightboxdarla.fetch; }); Y.later(10, this, function() {YAHOO.namespace('Media.Social').Lightbox = {}; }); Y.later(10, this, function() {Y.Media.Article.init(); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {new Y.Media.AuthorBadge(); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {new Y.Media.Branding(); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {Y.on("load", function () { YUI.namespace("Media.SocialButtons"); var instances = YUI.Media.SocialButtons.instances || [], globalConf = YAHOO.Media.SocialButtons.conf || {}, vplContainers = []; Y.all(".ymsb").each(function (node) { var id = node.get("id"), conf = YAHOO.Media.SocialButtons.configs[id], instance; if (conf) { instance = new Y.SocialButtons({ srcNode: node, config: Y.merge(globalConf, conf.config || {}), contentMetadata: conf.content || {}, tracking: conf.tracking || {} }); vplContainers.push( { selector: "#" + id, callback: function(node) { instance.render(); instance = conf = id = null; } }); if (conf.config && conf.config.dynamic) { instances.push(instance); } } }); Y.Global.Media.ViewportLoader.addContainers(vplContainers); YUI.Media.SocialButtons.instances = instances; }); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {YUI.namespace("Media.Article.Lead"); YUI.Media.Article.Lead.config = { playerUrl : 'http://d.yimg.com/nl/ynews/site/player.swf', autoPlay : 1 }; }); Y.later(10, this, function() {new Y.Media.RelatedArticle({count:"2",start:"1", mod_total:"10", total:"0", content_id:"f117ffe2-6a3f-3ed3-8e04-c5c0eba7f11d", spaceid:"2146517768", related_count:"-1" }); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {(function(d){ d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d.createElement('script')).src='http://d.yimg.com/oq/js/csc_news-en-US-core.js'; })(document); }); Y.later(10, this, function() { if(!("Media" in YAHOO)){YAHOO.Media = {};} if(!("ugcrate" in YAHOO.Media)){YAHOO.Media.ugcrate = {};} if(!("Media" in Y)){Y.namespace("Media");} YAHOO.Media.ugcrate.ratings_f6babd0b0b2627cff56df0f586143fb7 = new Y.Media.UgcRate({"context_id":"230df77a-5e3e-400e-815c-51bda7ca2cdb","sCrumb":"","containerId":"yom-sentimentrate-f6babd0b0b2627cff56df0f586143fb7","rateDimensions":"d1","appLang":"en-US","sUltSId":"2146517768","sUltProperty":"news-en-US","sUltCampaign":"","sUltPlatform":"ugcwidgets","sUltIntl":"US","sUltLang":"en-US","selfPageUrl":"http:\/\/news.yahoo.com\/rimm-drops-news-blackberry-outage-160931385--finance.html?_esi=0","artContentId":"f117ffe2-6a3f-3ed3-8e04-c5c0eba7f11d","sUltQstnTxt":"How long would you wait in line for a hot new product?","artContentTitle":"RIMM drops on news of Blackberry outage","artContentDesc":" Shares of Research In Motion approached nine-year lows Friday as its Blackberry service went down in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.","sUltBucketId":"test1","sUltSection":"sentirating","sUltBeaconUrl":"","sUltRecordPageviews":"1","sUltBeaconEnable":"1","serviceUrl":"\/_xhr","publisherContextId":"","propertyId":"2fcd79b5-b3a3-333e-b98e-722536a6698f","configurationId":"435db9ee-c55e-3766-b20d-c8ad3ff889d1","graphId":"","labelLeft":"Not even an hour","labelRight":"At least a week","labelMiddle":"","itemimg":"http:\/\/l.yimg.com\/a\/i\/ww\/met\/yahoo_logo_us_061509.png","selfURI":"","aggregateRatingCount":"8501","aggregateReviewCount":"0","leftBlocksNum":"7891","rightBlocksNum":"605","leftBlocksPerCent":"93","rightBlocksPerCent":"7","ugcrate_apihost":"api01-us.ugcl.yahoo.com:4080","publisher_id":"news-en-US","yca_cert":"yahoo.ugccloud.app.trusted_proxies","timeout_write":"5000","through_proxy":"false","optionStats":"{\"s1\":6230,\"s2\":855,\"s3\":338,\"s4\":271,\"s5\":197,\"s6\":605,\"s7\":0,\"s8\":0,\"s9\":0,\"s10\":0}","l10N":"{\"FIRST_TO_READ\":\"You are first to read this. Share your feelings and start a conversation.\",\"SHARE_YOUR_FEELINGS\":\"You too can share your feelings and start a conversation!\",\"HOW_YOUR_FRIENDS_THINK\":\"Thank you for sharing your feeling on this article!\",\"PRE_SHARE_MSG\":\"Your Facebook friends on Yahoo! can see how you responded to this question. To share your response on Facebook, click on the Facebook share option.\",\"START_THE_CONVERSATION\":\"Start the Conversation\",\"THANKS_FOR_SHARING\":\"Sure, that's how you feel... But what do your friends think?\",\"POLL_HEADER\":\"SOCIAL SENTIMENT\",\"SERVER_ERROR\":\"Oops there seems to be some error, please try again later\",\"LOADING\":\"Loading...\",\"SHARE_AFTER_COMMENT\":\"Your response has been shared on Facebook.\",\"UNDO\":\"Undo\",\"UNIT_PEOPLE\":\"People\",\"NUM_PEOPLE_DISAGREE\":\"disagree with your opinion.\",\"READ_MORE_TEXT\":\"Read what they have to say.\",\"SLIDER_THUMB_WORDING_BEFORE_VOTING\":\"WHAT DO YOU THINK?\",\"SLIDER_THUMB_WORDING_VERB_BEFORE_VOTING\":\"DRAG\",\"SLIDER_THUMB_WORDING_THANKS_VOTING\":\"Thanks for voting\",\"NUM_PEOPLE_ANSWERED\":\" 8,501 people have answered this question\",\"ONE_PERSON_ANSWERED\":\" 1 person has answered this question\",\"TWO_PEOPLE_ANSWERED\":\" 2 people have answered this question\",\"NUM_PEOPLE_RATED__s1\":6230,\"NUM_PEOPLE_RATED__s2\":855,\"NUM_PEOPLE_RATED__s3\":338,\"NUM_PEOPLE_RATED__s4\":271,\"NUM_PEOPLE_RATED__s5\":197,\"NUM_PEOPLE_RATED__s6\":605,\"NUM_PEOPLE_RATED__s7\":0,\"NUM_PEOPLE_RATED__s8\":0,\"NUM_PEOPLE_RATED__s9\":0,\"NUM_PEOPLE_RATED__s10\":0}","fbconfig":"{\"message\":\"undefined\",\"name\":\"undefined\",\"link\":\"\",\"source\":\"\",\"picture\":\"http:\\\/\\\/l.yimg.com\\\/a\\\/i\\\/ww\\\/news\\\/2011\\\/09\\\/27\\\/yahoo-tc.jpg\",\"description\":\"\",\"captionLeft\":\"undefined\",\"captionRight\":\"undefined\",\"app_id\":\"196660913708276\",\"redirect_uri\":\"\\\/_xhr\\\/ugcratefbredirect\\\/\"}","template_id":"LONG_SLIDER_SOUTH","obj_id":"ratings_f6babd0b0b2627cff56df0f586143fb7","opt_count":"6","opt_color1":"","opt_color2":"","template_html":"

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rimm-drops-news-blackberry-outage-160931385--finance.html

melanie amaro x factor boise state jordans prometheus movie posterior adam lambert arrested barkley

Friday, September 21, 2012

Japan firms say China protests affect business plans: Reuters poll

TOKYO (Reuters) - About 41 percent of Japanese firms see friction with China affecting their business plans, with some considering pulling out of the country and shifting operations elsewhere, a Reuters poll showed, amid growing tensions sparked by a territorial dispute.

However, only a fraction of firms said improving relations with Asia should be at the top of the agenda for the next government, to be formed after general elections that must be held by around August 2013.

The poll comes as relations between Asia's two biggest economies have hit their lowest point in decades over a dispute centered on an uninhabited group of islands in the East China Sea -- known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

Street protests in China have forced some Japanese firms to suspend operations in that country, and the share prices of Japanese firms with exposure to China have tumbled.

But the poll of 400 large and medium-sized firms, of which roughly 260 responded between August 31 and September 14, was taken before the worst of the protests, which damaged factories, restaurants and retail stores.

Firms in sectors such as wholesale, transport equipment and electric machinery were among those expecting the most fallout from worsening relations with China and other parts of Asia.

Some of the firms which see friction with China affecting business plans have suffered not only from rowdy protests involving damage and consumer strikes, but other problems as well.

"We were stranded at customs there even as we followed proper procedures for exporting parts," said one machinery firm.

A transport machinery company complained that it was excluded from bidding in China.

"We need to consider closing our base in China and withdrawing our personnel," said one metal products company.

Others voiced caution about investing in China, while considering putting off plans to make inroads into Chinese markets or seeking alternate sites.

China, the world's second-largest economy, and Japan, the third-largest, have total two-way trade of around $345 billion, but some experts believe anti-Japan sentiment could prompt firms to rethink investments in China in the longer term.

In the Reuters poll, 56 percent of firms urged the next Japanese government to put the utmost priority on steps to prop up the economy and stabilize currency rates, while only 2 percent cited smoother diplomatic relations with Asia.

With the dollar hovering around 78 yen, not far from a record low of 75.31 yen hit last October when Japanese authorities intervened heavily to stem their currency's gains, about one-third or respondents sought yen-selling intervention to help safeguard the export-reliant economy.

On the government's contentious plan to double the sales tax to 10 percent by 2015, 45 percent said it should be implemented as planned while 40 percent said the state of the economy at the time should be considered before making a final decision.

Only 10 percent called for putting off the sales tax rise, in stark contrast with the many lawmakers who are wary of a voter backlash over the tax increase.

(Editing by Kim Coghill)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/japan-firms-china-protests-affect-business-plans-reuters-210353073--business.html

al green burger king delivery etta james at last john king obama sings al green heidi klum and seal ohare airport

Double assault on tough types of leukemias

Friday, September 21, 2012

Investigators at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have identified two promising therapies to treat patients with acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMKL), a rare form of leukemia where the number of cases is expected to increase with the aging population.

The disease is characterized by an overload of white blood cells that remain forever young because they can't mature into specialized cells. Published in a recent issue of the journal Cell, the study found that the drug with the generic name alisertib (MLN8237), induced division and growth of healthy cells to overtake the proliferation or "blasts" of immature cells.

In the study, a mouse model with this leukemia that was treated with alisertib showed a striking reduction in the number of leukemia cells, including dramatic reductions in overwhelming white cell counts and the weights of their spleens and livers, which are indications of leukemia.

Alisertib has been tested before in humans with limited success to treat other types of leukemia and lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system. However, the drug should be effective against AKML in humans because it specifically targets the enzyme Aurora A kinase, said study senior author John Crispino, the Robert I. Lurie, MD, and Lora S. Lurie Professor of Hematology/Oncology at Feinberg. In normal cell development, this enzyme enables healthy cells to proliferate correctly, but with leukemia, is also allows adolescent cells to multiply unchecked if they are in the mix.

Crispino also is a member of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

"Alisertib was really potent against the proliferation of cancer cells," Crispino said. "We were incredibly excited when we found that the drug we predict will reverse AMKL is already far along in clinical development. The fact that we don't have to start from scratch means we could be years closer to finding an effective therapy."

Crispino expects alisertib will be a more gentle cancer drug without the ravaging side effects of conventional chemotherapies. This is because the drug specifically targets a key enzyme, avoids healthy cells in the bone marrow and blood, and will probably be more effective at lower doses than drugs tested in previous studies.

"This study has given us a scientific rationale to take this drug to an early phase clinical trial in this very challenging form of leukemia," said Jessica Altman, M.D., assistant professor in hematology/oncology at Feinberg and an oncologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Altman also is a member of the Lurie Cancer Center. Together with other leukemia specialists, she is designing a multi-center clinical trial planned to open in 2013.

Investigators also identified another attack plan for other types of leukemias. Sifting through 9,000 chemical compounds during the study, they found that dimethylfasudil boosted the number of mature bone marrow cells and shot down malignant ones.

Dimethylfasudil could be useful against AMKL and tolerated better by patients, Crispino says. However, he adds that alisertib is moving forward now because there is urgent need and the drug is available. Meanwhile, Crispino's team and other scientists at Northwestern's Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery are developing the compound dimethylfasudil into an acceptable anticancer drug for clinical trials, which may take two to three years.

Investigators believe dimethylfasudil may be valuable to fight other types of leukemias because it has broad action against other enzymes that let cancer cells reproduce.

###

Northwestern University: http://www.northwestern.edu

Thanks to Northwestern University for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 14 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/123727/Double_assault_on_tough_types_of_leukemias

nbc sports bengals vs texans nfl playoffs cincinnati bengals bengals the stand josh mcdaniels

Focus on the Family Community: Relationships and Marriage ...

Currently Being Moderated

Sep 19, 2012 1:16 PM

My husband called me on my way home from church a couple of weeks ago and told me he was leaving the house and wants a divorce. Since then, he comes home each night to see our son and leaves to spend the night elsewhere. He also comes back for the weekend and stays at the house and does his laundry. He is continuing to support the household, but has a lack of respect for me and does not inform me of when he plans to come by and what his intentions are. He has put his phone on its own plan as it was on mine, but has not served any papers nor have we had any discussion as to the house or the finances, other than to say he doesn't want? "the state" to get involved, whatever that means. I told him that he cannot have his cake and eat it too and that he couldn't spend the night at the house and he said it was his house too and threatened to withhold financial support. My mother, who is also on the title to the house and lives with us, and I can pay the bills so that isn't much of a threat at this point.......I want to stand for my marriage and I'm glad he's spending time with his son but this boomerang behavior is emotionally taxing and disruptive to say the least. He texts our son but won't text me or call me. I don't want to file for divorce and there is no legal seperation in our state. He says his relationship with the OW is over, but I don't know if I believe him or not. I am at my wits end and am not sure how to handle this...... please any advice would be an encouragement!

Source: http://www.focusonlinecommunities.com/thread/25149

angelina jolie right leg saving face academy award winners best picture 2012 oscar winners channel 3 news j lo