Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/287563652?client_source=feed&format=rss
Dicks Sporting Good office max office max jcp Sports Authority Hollister old navy
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
Celebs, Kimmel join forces in faux movie trailer
ABC
By Randee Dawn, TODAY contributor
What do you do after the trailer for a movie you never made gets 20 million hits on YouTube? That's a question Jimmy Kimmel had to answer after his "Movie: The Movie" star-studded parody racked up huge numbers of clicks following its post-2012 Oscars premiere.
But he knew what had to be done: Make another one!
"When you have a big success in Hollywood, there's only one reasonable thing you can do, and that is is cheapen it with a sequel," he told his "Live!" audience Sunday night after the 2013 awards fest. Then he premiered ... "Movie: The Movie: 2V."
Yet again the world is in danger, and it's up to Kimmel to organize the forces of good to save everybody. But this time there's no meteor hurtling toward the planet -- instead, sexy, deadly vampires, mummies and leprechauns have unleashed the "sexpocalypse," and no one is safe. Kimmel plays the double-eyepatch-wearing leader of an "Avengers"-esque task force that is the Earth's only hope.
Here's what you can expect from the 7-minute-plus trailer:
- Jessica Chastain, watching the carnage, noting "Teenage girls and their weird moms don't stand a chance."
- Gerard Butler imitating Liam Neeson's fierce, family-saving character from "Taken."
- Brian Cranston playing the piano with his face.
- John Krasinski morphing into a crime-fighting crustacean. "It's shrimpin' time," he gloats.
- President Oprah Winfrey.
- Kimmel's nemesis Matt Damon, in a full-body motion-capture suit eating a sandwich, kind of.
- Amanda Seyfried singing and breakdancing in a "Les Miserables" dress.
- A giant Channing Tatum saving the world.
- Samuel L. Jackson toppling over an even more enormous Jenga game, also to save the world.
Yes, there's some swearing, but it's bleeped out. And, as Kimmel promises at the end of the video, Monday night's show will feature "a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of 'Movie: The Movie: 2V' for film buffs."
"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on ABC.
Related content:
obama state of the union 2012 2012 state of the union address jorge posada maurice sendak sotu boehner demi moore hospitalized
Monday, 25 February 2013
More on TPP, and RCEP, and Japan and China and South Korea
Paul Sracic and Richard Katz have kindly corrected my error regarding the 90-day prior notification to?not approval from?Congress, while reminding me that it is no longer required by law since trade promotion (fast-track) authority (TPA) expired in 2007 but the Obama administration is respecting it any way since it will be seeking fast-track authority when it seeks ratification. Thanks. It?s a slippery road from a technical error to rumormongering if I don?t check the facts with an authoritative source. And it?s unporofessional. Paul?s substantive point, actually, is that that TPA will be harder to secure than TPP ratification itself because it can be filibustered while ratification under TPA cannot. Paul also mentioned that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) pushed by ASEAN is ?portrayed as a competitor or threat to TPP.? in the US media. Let?s hope that he amplifies that point in an op-ed or something of the sort. In the meantime, the following was my more general take on the proliferation of FTAs. Now that everyone?and I mean literally everyone?agrees that the Doha Round is dead, FTA is the name of the game, and there's a lot of (positive) competition going on among the various efforts. The US and EU plant a kicking tee for an FTA? All the more reason for the Abe administration to finesse its way into the TPP negotiations, which in turn is surely pushing China and South Korea to move forward on the trilateral FTA with Japan.
If throwing your hat into the TPP negotiations is enough to help China and South Korea to put domestically combustible history and sovereignty issues aside to negotiate with Japan on a prospective FTA, then it should be more than enough to?convince them to move forward with RCEP, a development for which the rest of the prospective RCEP members will offer their unconditional support for commercial, geoeconomic, and geopolitical reasons.
Source: http://son-of-gadfly-on-the-wall.blogspot.com/2013/02/more-on-tpp-and-rcep-and-japan-and.html
pat burrell hilary rosen grilled cheese allen west north korea missile don t trust the b in apartment 23 world financial center
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Reprogramming cells to fight diabetes
Feb. 22, 2013 ? For years researchers have been searching for a way to treat diabetics by reactivating their insulin-producing beta cells, with limited success. The "reprogramming" of related alpha cells into beta cells may one day offer a novel and complementary approach for treating type 2 diabetes. Treating human and mouse cells with compounds that modify cell nuclear material called chromatin induced the expression of beta cell genes in alpha cells, according to a new study that appears online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
"This would be a win-win situation for diabetics -- they would have more insulin-producing beta cells and there would be fewer glucagon-producing alpha cells," says lead author Klaus H. Kaestner, Ph.D., professor of Genetics and member of the Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Type 2 diabetics not only lack insulin, but they also produce too much glucagon.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are caused by insufficient numbers of insulin-producing beta cells. In theory, transplantation of healthy beta cells -- for type 1 diabetics in combination with immunosuppression to control autoimmunity -- should halt the disease, yet researchers have not yet been able to generate these cells in the lab at high efficiency, whether from embryonic stem cells or by reprogramming mature cell types.
Alpha cells are another type of endocrine cell in the pancreas. They are responsible for synthesizing and secreting the peptide hormone glucagon, which elevates glucose levels in the blood.
"We treated human islet cells with a chemical that inhibits a protein that puts methyl chemical groups on histones, which -- among many other effects -- leads to removal of some histone modifications that affect gene expression," says Kaestner. "We then found a high frequency of alpha cells that expressed beta-cell markers, and even produced some insulin, after drug treatment.
Histones are protein complexes around which DNA strands are wrapped in a cell's nucleus.
The team discovered that many genes in alpha cells are marked by both activating- and repressing-histone modifications. This included many genes important in beta-cell function. In one state, when a certain gene is turned off, the gene can be readily activated by removing a modification that represses the histone.
"To some extent human alpha cells appear to be in a 'plastic' epigenetic state," explains Kaestner. "We reasoned we might use that to reprogram alpha cells towards the beta-cell phenotype to produce these much-needed insulin-producing cells."
Co-authors are Nuria C. Bramswig, Logan Everett, Jonathan Schug, Chengyang Liu, Yanping Luo, and Ali Naji, all from Penn, and Markus Grompe, Craig Dorrell, and Philip R. Streeter from the Oregon Health & Science University. The Oregon group developed a panel of human endocrine cell type-specific antibodies for cell sorting.
The research was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U01 DK070430, U42 RR006042, U01DK089529, R01DK088383, U01DK089569) and by the Beckman Research Center/NIDDK/Integrated Islet Distribution Program (10028044).
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Nuria C. Bramswig, Logan J. Everett, Jonathan Schug, Craig Dorrell, Chengyang Liu, Yanping Luo, Philip R. Streeter, Ali Naji, Markus Grompe, Klaus H. Kaestner. Epigenomic plasticity enables human pancreatic ? to ? cell reprogramming. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2013; DOI: 10.1172/JCI66514
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/YsxoP3tN1kI/130223111356.htm
2012 grammy awards powerball results pebble beach golf beverly hilton roland martin whitney houston dead at 48 whitney houston dead 2012
Sponsored By:
We were unable to forward you to the advertisement you clicked on.
The likely cause for this is that your browser, feed reader, or email application is configured to not accept cookies, or your reader may launch an external browser to view links without sharing cookies.
- If you're using Internet Explorer, make sure your privacy setting is at medium or below.
- Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
- Click the Privacy tab
- Adjust your privacy setting if necessary
?
- If you're using a reader that embeds Internet Explorer (examples: Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Feed Demon), you'll also need to select Internet Explorer as your default web browser.
- Open Internet Explorer
- Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
- Click the 'Programs' tab and check the box for Internet Explorer to check if it is the default browser and save your change
- Close your browser, re-open it, and when prompted, select Internet Explorer as your default
- You can then click on an ad in your newsletter and visit the site you wish to view
Source: http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=f5e44853b2cfa26452d06ad1235109b1&p=4
jessica chastain jessica chastain hugh jackman Amy Poehler Australian Open Girls Hbo Golden Globes
Saturday, 23 February 2013
Israeli Oscar contenders force citizens to confront uncomfortable questions
Two Israeli documentary films nominated for Oscars, 'The Gatekeepers' and '5 Broken Cameras,' raise difficult questions about the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian?territories.
A poster for the Oscar-nominated documentary '5 Broken Cameras' is displayed at a theatre in the West Bank city of Ramallah, last month.
Mohamad Torokman/Reuters
EnlargeA former spy chief is making gripping statements about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but at Jerusalem?s chic Cinamatheque, two university students can?t keep their eyes on the screen. One sends text messages and checks Facebook; the other shifts uneasily.
Skip to next paragraph' +
google_ads[0].line2 + '
' +
google_ads[0].line3 + '
Subscribe Today to the Monitor
?I felt uncomfortable in my chair,? says one of them, Shay Amiran, a former combat soldier, after the screening of Oscar-nominated ?The Gatekeepers.? He especially bristled at a comparison between Israel and Nazi Germany during World War II.
?The Gatekeepers,? which interviews six former heads of Israel?s Shin Bet intelligence agency, along with ?5 Broken Cameras,? which captures a Palestinian family?s life amid protests against construction of Israel?s separation wall, are the first Israeli-funded films to receive Academy Award nominations for best documentary since 1975. While winning international acclaim, the movies are riling people on both sides of the political aisle in Israel ? from those who see them as government-funded ?self-flagellation? to those who see the movies as raising crucial issues that the Israeli public and government are unwilling to address.
?It?s an incredible achievement for the Israeli film industry,? says Amy Kronish, an Israeli film critic. ?Both of these films deal with issues that are not being grappled or tackled by the Israelis at this time.?
While the movies were initially pigeonholed as boutique films that would draw only a fraction of Israelis, ?The Gatekeepers? recently became the first documentary to be shown in commercial theaters in Israel and is the second-highest grossing Israeli film of the year.
The overriding message of the films, which both received indirect government funding through subsidies to the Israeli film industry, is that the status quo in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is unsustainable. What sets them apart from the many other films on the topic is the rarity of the voices that share the message: Israelis from the heart of the defense establishment in ?The Gatekeepers? and a young Palestinian boy in ?5 Broken Cameras.?
In the opening scene of ?5 Broken Cameras,? Palestinian Emad Burnat, who shot the footage and co-directed the movie, describes the birth of his children as symbolizing different phases of the conflict. His first son was born, he says, ?in the optimism of Oslo,? his second at the start of the second intifada. His third son, Gibreel, was born in 2005 at the same time his village began protests against construction of the Israeli separation barrier through their farmland.
The movie captures Gibreel?s first words: ?wall? and ?soldiers.?
In ?The Gatekeepers? all six former heads of Shin Bet call, in varying degrees, for collaboration with Palestinians. Sitting calmly in suspenders or polo shirts, the former chiefs reflect on the moral dilemmas they faced, such as deciding whether to drop a one-ton bomb on a Gaza militant if it meant others in the neighborhood would be killed.
The movie portrays the ex-chiefs as questioning whether they succeeded at a tactical level, but lacked a broader strategy to bring lasting peace.
?We?re winning all the battles,? says Ami Ayalon, Shin Bet chief from 1996 to 2000, in the movie. ?And we?re losing the war.?
'Occupation' should end
The directors and their supporters say that Israel?s policies toward the Palestinian territories are ultimately undermining the longevity of the Jewish state.
Dror Moreh, director of ?The Gatekeepers,? says he intended his film for Israelis plus an international audience that would exert pressure on the Israeli government.
?I wanted this movie to change things, to stir up debate, to stir up beliefs and to challenge people who believe in one thing,? he says. ?The message [is] that the occupation of the West Bank is bad for the safety and security of Israel.?
Guy Davidi, the Israeli co-director of ?5 Broken Cameras,? also believes pressure should come from Israeli society and abroad if government policies are to change.
?I don?t believe that change comes from just inside, or just outside,? he says. ?It?s natural to want pressure from other countries to stop occupation because from my point of view stopping occupation is something good for Israel.?
For some Israelis, however, the films present an incomplete portrait of a complex conflict. Some see them as part of a broader asymmetry, in which the international community focuses disproportionately on Israeli missteps without regard to transgressions by Palestinians ? like in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, which seeks to penalize Israel financially and isolate it internationally for its policies toward the Palestinian territories.
?While the films are well-made, we can suspect that their nomination does not stem from international recognition of the Jewish state?s filmmaking abilities, but from an international obsession with shaming it,? wrote opinion columnist Hagai Segal in Israel?s YNet News.
There?s also a sense that those abroad are overly critical of Israel without understanding the security concerns of its citizens, many of whom have had to contend with violence in their daily lives ? whether through army service, suicide bombings, or rocket attacks.
Indeed, security is of top concern for Mr. Amiran and his friend Hila, who went to the Jerusalem Cinamatheque screening of ?The Gatekeepers? out of curiosity from the Oscar buzz. Their view is shaped by personal loss and a distrust of Palestinian desire for peace, which they believe was discredited by the outbreak of the second intifada after a peace offer by former Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
?If you want to talk about morality, you have no justification for killing kids, teenagers,? says Hila, whose friend was killed in 2001 in an attack on a cafe when she was 15.
jon jones rashad evans ufc jones vs evans watergate mlb pregnant man outside lands 2012 lineup beloved
iPhone Siri wannabe apps
Apple?s Siri voice recognition ushered in a whole new era in smart-phone technology. Now downloadable apps are trying to get in on the conversation. Consumer Reports just took a look to see how two of the leading free apps?Robin and Speaktoit?stack up.
Speaktoit is available on several platforms, including iPhone; Robin is exclusively for Android phones. Consumer Reports asked each similar questions. Both Robin and Speaktoit do well with some requests. But they struggle with other questions. Siri, on the other hand, has no problem with these requests.
Consumer Reports says Siri remains the voice-recognition standout. It?s hardwired into your iPhone and has access to much more of your personal information. And that?s an edge that none of the other apps can compete with yet.
If you don?t have an iPhone with Siri, Consumer Reports says downloading a free app gives you at least some voice-recognition capability. Speaktoit seems to be one of the best so far. It works on both the iPhone and Androids.
mark kirk florida gop debate freddie mac kristin cavallari rough riders joy division norco
Catch a wave at this Calif. home
9 Arroyo Quemada Ln, Goleta, Calif.
For sale: $2.45 milliom
Normally you wouldn't be able to hear the sound of waves in a home perched 60 feet above the beach, but the Wave House in Goleta was engineered to not only look like a wave but to capture the sound as well.
"You hear the waves pounding even though they are quite a ways away," said Montecito listing agent Steven Richardson of Coldwell Banker. "It's part of the treats offered up."
There are several other design "treats" revealed throughout the home ? from the spectacular views of the ocean to the curved exterior. The residence was reportedly designed by Michael Carmichael, who was given free rein to engineer the one-of-kind home.
The two-bed, one-bath dome includes an office, large kitchen and living room framed by spiraling glass windows facing the water.
"It's hard to put into words the sensation that you get when you're inside the property and around the grounds," said Richardson. "Most of the inside of the house draws the outside in. From the sounds and the views -- [they] all blend and mix around you."
A guest tower provides additional whimsy. Measuring 30-feet high, the tower is topped by an ocean-facing observation deck. At the edge of the property, another deck and hot tub also provide an unobstructed view of the water.
Newly constructed stairs lead to the beach below. The California home is also situated beyond a gated street, ensuring privacy.
And, as you could guess, Richardson said the sunsets are incredible.
More from Zillow:
Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/catch-wave-calif-home-1C8417255
joe paterno British Open MC Chris Colorado shooting suspect accuweather Finding Nemo 2 Provigil
Native Instruments announces Traktor DJ for iPad, brings the mix to iOS (video)
Native Instruments Releases TRAKTOR DJ App Exclusively for iPad
Berlin, February 21, 2013 ? Native Instruments today released TRAKTOR DJ ? a unique, hands-on DJ app built from the ground up for iPad aimed at DJs of all levels from novices to touring professionals. Created by the same team behind the top-selling TRAKTOR brand, TRAKTOR DJ strikes a balance between instant, fun usability and advanced, professional features. TRAKTOR DJ allows users to intuitively access their music in a whole new way while also complementing the TRAKTOR family through bi-directional content synchronization with TRAKTOR PRO software.
TRAKTOR DJ puts the waveform in the center of user interaction, featuring two decks, each with dedicated 3-band EQ and filter sections, as well as 8 proven TRAKTOR effects. Utilizing familiar iOS Multi-Touch gestures like pinch and swipe, TRAKTOR DJ brings a professional quality mixing experience to iPad ? equally suited to full performance or on-the-go set preparation. Users can intuitively manipulate waveforms by touch, "grabbing" their music with two fingers to instantly set a loop, perform scratches, mark cue points for live re-editing, and scrub, browse or navigate through tracks ? the key functions of the TRAKTOR PRO 2 software, re-designed for touchscreen interaction.
TRAKTOR DJ introduces the completely new Freeze Mode, which lets users slice up a waveform into playable parts for on-the-fly remixing and entirely new musical performances. The app also allows users to create beat grids in real time, intuitively mapping out a song's groove without having to stop the music. DJs are encouraged to discover the full extent of TRAKTOR DJ's capabilities at their own speed via the Notification Center, which tracks the user's progress through the app's features and unobtrusively offers tips, tricks, and techniques from within the app.
With over a decade of technological refinement through the evolution of TRAKTOR, TRAKTOR DJ's automatic tempo detection and sync engine are now accompanied by precise downbeat analysis. This makes beat mixing completely straightforward and frees users to creatively interact with their music via the touch interface. Full iTunes music library integration of TRAKTOR DJ means DJs can easily search their library for the next track. Unique to TRAKTOR DJ, the app introduces a recommendation engine that uses advanced tempo, key, and timbre detection algorithms. TRAKTOR DJ recommends compatible tracks from your iTunes library with the same tempo and harmonic structure in real time, facilitating smooth and ear-pleasing mixes for users of all levels. Both the advanced downbeat and key detection features will also be available to TRAKTOR PRO customers with a dedicated 2.6.1 software update.
Complementing the existing range of TRAKTOR products, TRAKTOR DJ bi-directionally syncs track settings and properties with TRAKTOR PRO 2. This gives DJs an ideal workflow for planning a set while on the move. Users can also transfer all their stored work in TRAKTOR PRO directly to TRAKTOR DJ ? all beat grids, cue points, loops and BPM counts seamlessly transfer between iPad and TRAKTOR PRO 2 and back via a free Dropbox account.
Additionally, because of the powerful Core Audio engine built into iOS, TRAKTOR DJ also offers ultra-low latency playback, manipulation and recording while also supporting professional class compliant hardware audio interfaces, such as the TRAKTOR AUDIO 6 and 10, something currently not possible on any other mobile platform. DJs can connect these and other devices to their iPad using the iPad Camera Connection Kit? for optimum audio quality and pre-listen and cue functionality, or to a splitter cable with dedicated cue and master controls. All of this allows TRAKTOR DJ users to easily record their mixes live on their iPad, or pump their music out to the house in the highest quality possible.
A video of visionary DJ Richie Hawtin's first day with TRAKTOR DJ, in which he prepares a set and performs live with the app at BPM festival in Mexico, is available on YouTube at:
http://youtu.be/ScjJiGYawuM
The TRAKTOR DJ App is available for $ 19.99 / 17.99 ? / 1700 ? from the App Store on iPad or at www.AppStore.com/TRAKTORDJ. TRAKTOR DJ officially supports iPad with Retina display, iPad mini and iPad 2, running iOS 6 and above.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/21/traktor-dj-ipad-app/
ray charles cheney heart transplant weather san diego unitarian new black panther party lost in space elizabeth banks
Friday, 22 February 2013
Chromebook Pixel hands-on
Taking a small stage in San Francisco's Portero neighborhood, Google's Sundar Pichai introduced the Chromebook Pixel, the company's attempt to "rethink everything" in terms of laptop design. We can't say that the touchscreen notebook is a stark departure from the category's norm, but it certainly feels like a solid piece of kit. Weighting in at 3.35 pounds, the Chromebook Pixel's unibody frame looks and feels somewhat like a MacBook Pro -- flanking a comfortable chicklet keyboard and a luxuriously large trackpad with a small dip at its south end. The usual bevy of navigation and control keys headline the keyboard, and the machine's left side is populated by a mini DisplayPort port, a power plug and two USB 2.0 plugs. The right edge houses an SD / MMC card reader, an SD card slot and, well nothing else. The Pixel is a minimalist machine, and it both looks and feels good for the subtlety of design.
The machine's real star is its 12-inch, 3:2 display. True to Google's word, the screen is gorgeous, and makes full use of that 2,560 x 1,700 resolution. Photos pop, text is crystal clear and at 400-nits, everything is stunningly bright. At first swipe, it seems to be a capable touchscreen too -- in the few minutes we had with the device, we didn't have any trouble flicking our way through Engadget's news roll, though the traditional trackpad still feels more natural at this stage. Still, everything we did was comfortable, eye-catching and rather quick, thanks, no doubt, to the Pixel's Intel Core-i5 processer. First impressions? Very solid, and possibly the finest Chromebook yet -- but at $1,299 for WiFi and $1,449 for LTE, it had better be. Skip on past the break for a hands-on video and a second hand look at the Pixel's high resolution display.
Filed under: Google
Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/eI4kf8TVLuY/
super bowl kick off chili recipes carlos condit diaz vs condit super bowl 2012 kickoff time football score ron paul nevada
Thursday, 21 February 2013
US Army general facing sex charges adding lawyers
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) ? A U.S. Army general charged with sexual misconduct plans to add civilian lawyers to his legal team after expressing concern his military lawyers feared their careers would be harmed by defending him.
Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair appeared in court Thursday for a hearing on pre-trial motions. Sinclair faces court martial in June on charges that include forcible sodomy, indecent acts, violating orders and adultery. He has thus far deferred entering a plea.
Military judge Col. James Pohl asked Sinclair Thursday about an e-mail the general sent to the head of the Army's legal branch suggesting the three lawyers assigned to defend him feared retaliation. At a past hearing, the defense has suggested they may call some of the Army's top generals as witnesses in the case.
"I had a belief, I was concerned," Sinclair told the judge. He then added that he felt his military lawyers would defend him to the utmost of their ability, but that he still wished to add four civilian lawyers from the firm Montgomery McCracken, based in New York and Philadelphia.
On Thursday, Pohl denied an earlier motion from the defense to disqualify prosecutors over privileged emails erroneously sent to them by criminal investigators. The messages included exchanges between Sinclair and his lawyers, his wife and with a family friend who is an ordained minister.
Other pre-trial motions in the case are due Friday. The Army has thus far rebuffed public records requests from The Associated Press for copies of all motions filed in the case by either the prosecution or defense.
A 27-year Army veteran, Sinclair faces life in prison if convicted on the most serious offenses. It's rare for an Army general to face court-martial. There have been only two cases in recent years.
More commanders have lost their posts over sex. Of the 18 generals and admirals, from one star to four stars, fired in recent years, 10 lost their jobs because of sex-related offenses.
That tally does not include retired Army general David Petraeus, who was forced to resign as CIA director in November after he admitted to an affair with the woman who wrote the biography of his military career.
The investigation of Petraeus also ensnared Marine Gen. John Allen, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, over thousands of flirty emails he exchanged with a Tampa, Fla., socialite. The Pentagon later cleared Allen of inappropriate conduct, but he announced earlier this week he would retire rather than take command of NATO forces in Europe, as had been scheduled.
At an evidentiary hearing for Sinclair in November, prosecutors presented testimony about his conduct with five women who were not his wife, including officers who served under his direct command. The charges involve activities when he was in Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany and at installations in the United States.
Sinclair was deputy commander in charge of logistics and support for the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan before being relieved in May during the criminal investigation. He has been on special assignment since then at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
The female captain at the heart of the case said she carried on a three-year sexual relationship with Sinclair, a father of two. Adultery is a crime under military law, and the admission could end her career.
She testified at the evidentiary hearing that she repeatedly tried to break off the affair with Sinclair, who she says threatened to kill her and her family if she told anyone about their frequent sexual liaisons in hotels, headquarters and war zones.
The woman said she usually wanted to have sex with the general, though she said that on two occasions he exposed himself and physically forced her to perform oral sex, even as she sobbed.
The Associated Press does not publicly identify victims of alleged sexual assaults.
Two other female officers who served with Sinclair also testified that they had given the general nude photos at his request.
Sinclair is also accused of possessing alcohol in a war zone and disobeying orders. Maj. Gen. James Huggins, Sinclair's superior officer in Afghanistan, testified he ordered Sinclair to cease contact with the female captain after she reported the affair. Sinclair is alleged to have willfully disobeyed that order by then calling the woman's phone.
Sinclair has not yet spoken publicly about the charges against him. At the pretrial hearing, his defense lawyers conceded the affair with the female captain, while working to paint her as a liar trying to ruin the general's life and military reputation. During the hearings, they characterized her as a manipulative "back-stabber" who blamed others for her mistakes.
The general's wife, Rebecca Sinclair, has stayed away from court but went public with an opinion piece in The Washington Post. In that column, she said she was not condoning her husband's infidelity, but she said that a decade of war had taken a toll on military couples and brought pressure on their marriages.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Rebecca Sinclair said her husband called her last spring to tell her about the affair and allegations, and she said they were trying to mend their relationship.
___
Follow AP writer Michael Biesecker at twitter.com/mbieseck.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-army-general-facing-sex-charges-adding-lawyers-123915933.html
kickoff time super bowl 2012 superbowl national anthem patriots vs giants super bowl superbowl halftime show jason wu for target underwood buffalo wings
Friday, 15 February 2013
Marketing Your Lake Barrington Shores Condos and Town Houses.
Let?s take a look at marketing your Lake Barrington Shores condos and town houses as part of our selling guide, and in case you?ve just joined us, take a few minutes to read our first article.
Selling your Lake Barrington Shores Home?- Part one. Selecting Your REALTOR?, preparing your home, pricing your property.
I just wanted to re-iterate how many web site visitors we have had in the last six weeks looking just at homes in Lake Barrington Shores. As of February 13th I reviewed my web site data to establish how many visitors came, and how many returned. The total was a staggering 212 visitors of which 42% came back for a second or third view. Many of my competitors don?t get that many visitors in a year, let alone six weeks for one neighborhood.
Marketing Plan ? What We do and How It Benefits You
When you choose who to list your home with do you know what they will do to market it? If they even tell you, do you understand what the benefits are?
What a REALTOR? must do.
When you choose to work with a REALTOR? part of that agreement includes compensation for them and how much they will share with a buyers broker. This entitles your property to be listed on the MLS. It?s a little more in depth than that but for the purposes of this post, it?s all you need to know. You do have the choice to say no to the MLS. We call that a pocket listing and before you choose that option, you and I would need to explore the pros and cons.
In addition to the MLS exposure, you?ll likely want as many photos published as possible and a virtual tour, perhaps a lox box to enable showings by other REALTORS?. This would be the very basic level of marketing and sadly all too often that?s all you get. We would like to open your eyes to a much more pro-active plan for marketing your home.
Let?s Explore
Real estate is local, it?s what makes our villages and neighborhoods unique from anyway else in the world. But your buyer may not be local at all. In fact it?s more likely that they will come from 10, 20, 200 or even 1,000?s of miles away. The traditional methods of marketing only ever targeted local buyers. The internet is a total game changer, for sellers, buyers, and REALTORS?.
Just one of our tools is this very website and blog. One of, if not the most visited REALTOR? web site, for the Barrington area, we attract thousands of visitors every month. They are not looking for Chicago homes, or Naperville properties, they are looking for Barrington properties and a Barrington real estate agent to help them. As I mentioned above 212 visitors since January 1st searched for LBS, found us, viewed all the available listings. They also look at our featured listings to see what we have and we are now looking to add LBS homes to that featured list. We want to place your home in front of those 212 buyers, a number which will undoubtedly increase as we head into spring and summer.
This is the kind of exposure we give to get your property in front of the non local buyers. It?s why we have sold units in LBS and why more buyers contact us to help them buy.
Our marketing continues. We don?t stop there either. Every LBS home will get:
- MLS listed
- Up to 25 photos
- Virtual Tour
- Locbox
- Featured homes on this site
and
- Property domain name
- Property website
- Full description of the home published across several blogs written by Corinne with large photos.
- Property articles shared across nationwide social networks
- Just listed postcards sent to every resident in LBS so they can let their friends know
- more??we don?t want to give it all away to our competitors here now do we?
There is just so much we do it takes about a month to get all our marketing done. Releasing your home across the internet in stages is a way to get fresh eyes on it all the time. This is the perfect way to supplement the MLS which will get the most eyes on your home in the first to third weeks.
We don?t expect you to understand all that we do to market your home; what we like to think is that you can see we don?t take the job lightly; we don?t rely on one single method, the MLS, to sell your home; we have the knowledge and ability to draw a lot of buyers looking for LBS every month. More importantly buyers are seeing your home from all over the USA and farther. If you want to see, try it for yourself. Search Bing, Yahoo, Google for Lake Barrington Shores and you?ll find us there on page one just below your HOA. Add ?real estate? at the end and you might even find us at the very top. ?That?s how we attract buyers.
If you would like to discuss our marketing of LBS condos and town homes, simply request an appointment. For now we are off to work on the next article in this guide, which?addresses?those unsold listings we talked about in the first article.
Guide to Selling your Lake Barrington Shores Home?Part One.
shel silverstein niki minaj grammy performance grammys 2012 deadmau5 phoebe snow jennifer hudson tribute to whitney houston nicki minaj grammy
Budget cut impact: Smaller Navy, fired teachers
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio arrives to meet with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio arrives to meet with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
What does smaller government look like? The budget standoff between President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans means Americans may soon find out, and the picture the Obama administration sketches is downright scary.
Cuts in the Navy's Pacific operations of one-third. Furloughed food inspectors forcing nationwide closures of meat and poultry plants. Ten thousand laid-off teachers. A $1 billion reduction in the relief fund for disaster victims. Less secure airline flights and longer waits on airport security screening lines. Reduced monitoring of air pollution, oil spills and hazardous waste.
All this and more because $85 billion in cuts across most federal programs will be automatically triggered March 1 unless Obama and Republicans do something that's eluded them for months: approve alternative savings.
A look at the fight over the so-called sequester, and what its impact could be:
?State of play: The cuts ? plus nearly $1 trillion more over the coming decade ? were enacted two years ago in hopes that their sheer ugliness would force the two sides to replace the reductions with a sweeping, bipartisan deficit-reduction deal. So far that's not happened.
The administration has repeatedly warned that the sequester must be avoided. White House budget office controller Daniel L. Werfel told Congress on Thursday that they would have "destructive consequences."
Though many lawmakers of both parties would like to find a way out, conservative Republicans have said they're willing to live with the reductions. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told The Associated Press this week that "we're going to be stuck with it" until Obama proposes a solution that can pass the Democratic-led Senate.
?Overall impact: Administrations past and present always excel at threatening scenarios that make it appear that life as we know it will end. In this case, the law limits the flexibility government officials will have to protect favored programs, but Werfel wrote that the White House has instructed agencies to give priority to avoiding cuts that could "present risks to life, safety or health" and seek other ways to minimize harm to important government services.
The sequester law exempts Social Security, Medicaid, food stamps and Medicare recipients' benefits from cuts, but most programs are vulnerable.
The cuts were expected to mean reductions this year of 8 percent in defense and 5 percent in nondefense programs. But because lawmakers recently delayed the impact until March 1 ? meaning they will affect only the last seven months of the government's budget year ? the sequester will force deeper reductions of 13 percent for defense and 9 percent for other programs.
?Defense: The Defense Department announced last week that because of the cuts it is withdrawing one of its two aircraft carriers from the Persian Gulf region, but there's more coming.
The Navy's top officer, Adm. Jonathan Greenert, told Congress that because of the sequester and already planned long-range reductions, the Navy could not fully support counterterrorism operations in Somalia and Yemen. A letter the Pentagon sent to Congress this week says the military will protect operations for ongoing wars, but expects to curtail maintenance of aircraft and ships, reduce training and maintenance for some Army units and cut Air Force flying hours. There would probably be a freeze in hiring civilians, instead of the 1,500 to 2,000 new jobs monthly. Current civilian workers could be furloughed up to 22 days. And the military's Tricare health care system could lose $3 billion, threatening elective care for some military dependents and retirees.
?Homeland Security: Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano wrote to Congress that there will be fewer border agents and fewer facilities for detained illegal immigrants. There would be reduced Coast Guard air and sea operations, furloughed Secret Service agents and weakened efforts to detect cyberthreats to computer networks. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster relief fund would lose more than $1 billion. "We do not have the luxury of making significant reductions to our capabilities without placing our nation at risk," Napolitano wrote.
?Education: Education Secretary Arne Duncan told Congress that 70,000 Head Start pupils would be removed from the pre-kindergarten program, about 1 of every 13. Duncan warned those cuts would mean layoffs of 10,000 teachers and thousands of other staffers because of cuts in federal dollars that state and local governments use for schools. Cuts for programs for handicapped and other special needs students would threaten 7,200 teachers and aides, he said.
?Health: The National Institutes of Health would lose $1.6 billion, trimming research on cancer, drying up money for hundreds of other research projects and eliminating up 20,000 private research positions nationwide. Health departments would give 424,000 fewer tests for the AIDS virus this year. More than 373,000 seriously ill people may not receive needed mental health services.
?Transportation: The Federal Aviation Administration plans to furlough most of its 47,000 employees, including air traffic controllers, for an average of 11 days, with most furloughs probably over the summer. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta told employees in a letter this week that while the furloughs can be managed safely, "We might see travel delays and disruptions during the critical summer travel season."
?Environment: Cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency would jeopardize its ability to protect the public from oil spills, air pollution and hazardous waste, according a letter from Bob Perciasepe, who becomes interim head of the agency on Friday until a replacement is named. States would have to shut down some pollution monitors that determine if air is healthy to breathe. The popular color-coded air quality forecasting system that keeps schoolchildren and others inside on bad-air days would be curtailed or eliminated.
The EPA, which already inspects only a tiny fraction of facilities with the potential to spill oil, would do even less. New models of cars and trucks could be delayed from getting to dealership lots because the EPA couldn't quickly validate that they meet emissions standards.
?Internal Revenue Service: A Treasury Department letter to Congress said the IRS would review fewer tax returns, which "could result in billions of dollars in lost revenue." The agency offered no specifics but said each $1 spent on the IRS has meant at least $4 in additional revenue.
?Agriculture: The Agriculture Department says meat inspectors could be furloughed up to 15 days, shutting meatpacking plants intermittently and costing up to $10 billion in production losses and $400 million in lost wages. The Food and Drug Administration would conduct 2,100 fewer food facility inspections this year. About 600,000 low-income pregnant women and new mothers would lose food aid and nutrition education.
?FBI: FBI Director Robert Mueller wrote to Congress that sequestration would be the equivalent of cutting 2,285 employees, including 775 agents, through furloughs and a hiring freeze. Every FBI employee would be furloughed for 14 workdays.
? Interior Department: The department says it is preparing to reduce hours and services at all 398 national parks and might close up to 128 wildlife refuges. As much as $200 million in direct payments to states, mainly the West, could be eliminated. The cuts could force local governments to cut back on police and fire protection, schools, road maintenance and more.
?Labor: More than 3.8 million people jobless for six months or longer could see their unemployment benefits reduced by as much as 9.4 percent. Thousands of veterans would not receive job counseling. Fewer Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors could mean 1,200 fewer inspections of dangerous work sites. There would be fewer investigations into complaints workers are being denied minimum wage and overtime pay. About 1 million fewer people would get help finding or preparing for new jobs.
?NASA: Nearly $900 million in cuts would come from programs including money to help private companies build crew capsules to eventually send astronauts to the International Space Station, and to test new technologies for sending astronauts into deep space.
?Housing: The Department of Housing and Urban Development said about 125,000 households could lose benefits from the agency's Housing Choice Voucher program and risk becoming homeless. The vouchers are the federal government's major program to assist low-income families, the elderly and the disabled.
___
Associated Press writers Seth Borenstein, Dina Cappiello, Matthew Daly, Philip Elliott, Sam Hananel, Mary Clare Jalonick, Richard Lardner, Joan Lowy, Andrew Miga, Lauran Neergaard, Stephen Ohlemacher and Pete Yost contributed to this report.
Associated Pressglen rice jr bars lindzi cox bachelor finale courtney robertson ben flajnik hunger games premiere
Thursday, 14 February 2013
The Mother-in-Law in Moroccan Society - Morocco World News
By Omar Bihmidine
Morocco World News
Sidi Ifni, Morocco, February 14, 2013
As Moroccans, in nearly every aspect of our lives, we carry cultural traditions and practices in approaching life situations. Helas, some of these traditions have destructive ramifications. Let?s take the case of the marriage of men in Morocco and the perceptions of their mothers.
In Morocco, when a man, for instance, prepares to get married, many of his female relatives including the mother, regurgitate details about the woman chosen by the son. From hindsight, curiosity would seem normal in such a situation. However, what is unbearable is the extent of involvement in the process by female circle before the proposal day which may cause frictions in the dynamics of the marriage. Surprisingly, Moroccan mothers feel happier seeing their daughters get married than seeing their sons get married.
?I am afraid the new woman may take my son?s heart,? a Moroccan mother wonders. ?Beware! The new woman may make your son fall under her spell and therefore spoil your life, ?aunts warn the mother.? Once married, your son will no longer take care of you as he used to do,? some women tell the mother. In some way or another, Many Moroccan mothers develop a pre-disposed assumption against their future daughter in law. Some maintain this apprehension towards the daughter in laws, while others overcome it. Nowadays, this sort of hatred which breaks up families is growing more and more rampant.
In this respect, the perception that Moroccan mothers must get rid of is the illusive threat sons? wives pose to them, and the same is true of wives towards the mothers of their husbands. What so many Moroccan families forget to bear in mind is that Islam which orders men to treat their mothers in the best manner imaginable is the same religion that orders men to get married the soonest possible, especially for fear of temptations.
?You must wait; why are you in a hurry for marriage?? mothers tell their sons. Doubtless, the mother?s love is irreplaceable. We all take this for granted. Yet, the question that comes to mind is why mothers don?t say the same thing to their daughters. ?You should get married as soon as possible!? mothers advise their daughters.
Put simply, it is for the simple reason that daughters are married to men, not women, whereas sons are married to women, not men. In other words, when women are the strangers, many mothers feel there is a threat, and when men are the strangers, mothers feel there is comfort. In some mothers? eyes, a man is a blessing to the family, while a woman is a looming threat.
Needless to say, there are exceptions that serve nothing but prove the rule. Here, we must make it clear that Moroccan mothers are not being attacked in any way here. Simply, they are being reminded of a perception that they may showcase towards their daughter in law and which could bear a negative connotation on the dynamics of the family unit .
In a Muslim home, Islam never considers a wife as a threat to the mother nor a mother as a threat to a wife.? Some couples have broken up because of their parents. Others have divorced because of a row between the mother and the wife. It is high time mothers and wives went on well with each other. It is also high time some mothers and wives dispel their complexes.
The views expressed in this article are the author?s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News? editorial policy
? Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed
oscars red carpet jennifer lopez wardrobe malfunction hugo hugo nfl combine 84th annual academy awards beginners
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Lower autism risk with folic acid supplements in pregnancy
Feb. 12, 2013 ? Women who took folic acid supplements in early pregnancy almost halved the risk of having a child with autism. Beginning to take folic acid supplements later in pregnancy did not reduce the risk. This is shown in new findings from the ABC Study and Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study published in the Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA).
Women who took folic acid supplements from four weeks before conception to eight weeks into pregnancy had a 40 per cent lower risk of giving birth to children with childhood autism (classic autism). Use of folic acid supplements midway through pregnancy (week 22) had no effect.
The findings only apply to a lower risk of childhood autism, the most severe form of autism. The results show no reduction in the risk of atypical or unspecific autism. The study also investigated the prevalence of Asperger syndrome, but the number of examined children was too low to give a reliable result.
Food and other supplements did not reduce risk
The researchers found no connection between childhood autism and intake of other supplements during pregnancy. They also found no correlation with maternal intake of folate through food.
"It appears that the reduced risk of childhood autism only reflects folic acid supplements, not food or other supplements, and that the crucial time interval is from four weeks before conception to eight weeks into pregnancy," says Dr P?l Sur?n, primary author of the paper and researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Clear results that pave the way for further research
The results show an association between the use of folic acid supplements in the mother during pregnancy and a reduced risk of childhood autism.
"The study does not prove that folic acid supplements can prevent childhood autism. However, the findings are so apparent that they constitute a good argument to further examine possible causal mechanisms. It should also be ascertained whether folic acid is associated with a reduced risk of other brain disorders in children," says Sur?n.
Emphasises the importance of folic acid supplements
The results support the Norwegian Directorate of Health's recommendations for folic acid supplements during pregnancy and emphasise the importance of starting early -- preferably before conception.
Method
The ABC Study included participants in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) who were born in 2002-2008, and included a total of 85,176 children. The mothers had given detailed information about their diet and the use of supplements in early pregnancy. Children with autism diagnoses in MoBa were identified through questionnaires, referrals from parents and health personnel and through links to the Norwegian Patient Register. When the analyses were done, 270 children with autism diagnoses were identified in the study population. Of these children, 114 children had autism, 56 had Asperger syndrome and 100 had atypical or unspecified autism.
The use of folic acid supplements in early pregnancy increased sharply from 2002 to 2008 among women who participated in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. 43 per cent of mothers took folic acid supplements in 2002, while the percentage had risen to 85 per cent in 2008. However, many women began later than is desirable; only half of women who took folic acid supplements had begun before conception.
About the study
The ABC study is conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in collaboration with Columbia University in New York and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in Bethesda, USA. The study received funding from NINDS. In addition, funds for research analysis were provided by the Norwegian Research Council. MoBa is managed by the NIPH.
Intake of folic acid protects the developing brain and spinal cord
The Norwegian Directorate of Health recommends that women who are planning to become pregnant should take folic acid supplements from one month before conception and during the first three months of pregnancy. The recommendation is based on research showing that the use of folic acid supplements in early pregnancy protects the fetus from spina bifida and other neural tube defects.
In recent years, researchers have begun to investigate whether folic acid supplements may also have other beneficial effects on the development of the brain and spinal cord in the fetus. A study from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study showed that mothers who took folic acid supplements early in pregnancy halved the risk of having children with severe language delay at three years-old. A study of autism spectrum disorders from California found a lower risk of autism among children of expectant mothers who had taken multivitamin supplements containing folic acid.
Background Information:
- Folic acid is a B vitamin that is essential for the construction and repair of DNA molecules, the genetic material which controls all body cells.
- Folate is the naturally occurring form of folic acid and is found in leafy vegetables, peas, lentils, beans, eggs, yeast and liver.
- For most pregnant women, folic acid supplements are required to reach the recommended levels of folate in the blood.
- Some countries add folic acid to flour, so that the entire population receives a supplement, but this is not done in Norway.
- Studies from other countries show that many pregnant women consume less dietary folate than is necessary to prevent neural tube defects.
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Sur?n P, Roth C, Bresnahan M, et al. Association between maternal use of folic acid supplements and risk of autism in children. JAMA, 2013 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2012.155925
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hKPV7C4GB_g/130212172209.htm
aubrey huff the killers julianne hough brandy michael pineda charles taylor bruins
Lexus tops vehicle dependability study
Today?s vehicles are more reliable than ever, according to a new study, though Toyota remains the king when it comes to long-term dependability.
Nonetheless, the gap between import and domestic brands continues to close, with General Motors giving close chase to Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus, finds the J.D. Power and Associates? 2013 Vehicle Dependability Study.
?The continuous improvement in long-term dependability means consumers should have more confidence in three-year-old vehicles, whether they are keeping their current vehicle or shopping for a used car, truck, crossover or SUV,? says David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power and Associates, or JDPA.
Based on the responses from 37,000 owners of 2010-model cars, trucks and crossovers, the annual study shows that the number of problems being reported has fallen five percent since the previous report, known by the shorthand VDS. On average, there were 126 problems for every 100 vehicles, or 126 PP100 in Power-speak, down from 132 in the 2012 study. That?s the lowest figure since Power launched the widely-quoted measure of vehicle reliability in 1989.
The Detroit Bureau: As Truck Wars Heat Up Ram Ramps up Production
Domestic makers have traditionally lagged behind foreign-based rivals but the gap has narrowed sharply for 2013, Detroit makers averaging a score of 133 compared to 123 for imports. The higher the score the more the problems. As recently as 2011, the gap was 18 points, Power points out.
There is a frequent, though not absolute, link between the way individual brands perform in Power?s short-term quality studies, such as the Initial Quality Study. Toyota?s Lexus routinely leads the IQS and it is tops in the 2013 VDS, as well, with a benchmark 57 problems per 100. In other words, barely half of the Lexus owners surveyed reported any problems at all.
Porsche came in second, followed by Lincoln, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz to round out the Top Five. Meanwhile, Chrysler?s truck arm, the Ram brand, posted the biggest improvement of any marque, its score improving by 52 PP100.
The Detroit Bureau: Auto Bailout Losses Dip - Still Likely to Top $20 Billion
In terms of individual product segments, Lexus led in two, with the Lexus ES350 named tops in the Entry Premium Car category, while its RX model led among Midsize Premium Crossover/SUV models. Toyota took seven segment awards overall, including its Scion and Toyota brands, more than any other automaker.
But General Motors was second on the list with four individual segment awards for models including the Buick Lucerne sedan and the big Chevrolet Tahoe SUV. American Honda took two segment wins, with Audi, Ford, Hyundai, Mazda and Nissan also grabbing awards.
The 2013 Vehicle Dependability Study delivered some significant surprises, most notably by revealing that conventional wisdom is wrong when it comes to the reliability of all-new products. ?The perception that all-new or redesigned models can?t be as dependable as those that have been on the market for a year or more is not accurate,? Sargent stresses, adding, ?The rapid improvement in fundamental vehicle dependability each year is more than offsetting any initial glitches that all-new or redesigned models may have.?
The Detroit Bureau: Chevy Stuggles to Kickstart Slow-Selling Malibu Sedan
The upward trend in vehicle dependability is certainly good for those looking to buy a new vehicle. But it?s perhaps even better news for those in the market for a ?nearly-new? vehicle.
?If you can?t afford a new vehicle, or simply don?t want one, you should feel confident when buying a certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle,? notes a Power statement.
There has been a significant increase in demand for CPO vehicles in recent years. Most makers now offered a certified used car program in which models coming off lease undergo extensive inspections and, if necessary, repairs. They are typically backed by like-new warranties.
Copyright 2013 The Detroit Bureau
Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/lexus-tops-vehicle-dependability-study-1C8349543
us open tennis us open tennis Empire State Building shooting Republican National Convention Karlie Redd guild wars 2 adrian gonzalez
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Facing labour shortage Indian construction sector looks at project ...
Track2Realty: In India, labour shortage?is pegged to go up by 65 per cent by the next decade with more workforce moving from traditional brick and mortar industry like the construction and real estate sectors to more lucrative industries such as IT, ITeS, Banking and Telecom.
The acute labour shortage in the construction sector is going to drive the industry to go in for large-scale mechanization and also project management, as per the Report Titled ? ?Indian Construction Sector ? The Great Leap Forward?,?by?Synergy Property Development Services, the Global Project Management Consulting & Turnkey Solution Company.
The comprehensive report has clearly indicated that the future of the construction sector will hinge on project management, mechanization and pre-cast or prefabricated technology, to meet the challenges of cost, quality and time.
Sankey Prasad, Chairman and Managing Director, Synergy Property Development said, ?The last decade was very interesting. We witnessed high and low of all aspects of the construction sector, the demand supply of materials, the housing market, labour availability and geographic shifts. Overall it was a honeymoon period. The next 10 years will be a period of caution and uncertainty, with innovation and technology adoption being the guiding force. Further cost rise of construction materials and inflation will remain a concern.?
Mechanization & Project Management
The report highlights the industry?s constant struggle to manage cost, quality and time in construction projects.? It has pointed out that with the cost of material expected to double in the near future, the sector in India has no other option but to adopt and blend in global best practices. In order to survive and sustain, the sector has to go in for large scale ?mechanization??and??outsourcing of project management services?.
It said that the rate of mechanization in India at 20 per cent was low compared to the developed countries where it was between 60 and 70 per cent. With India at the cusp of rapid urbanization and development, there was ever-increasing demand for commercial and residential space and it could be met only through adoption of mechanization and project management practices.
The report gives a multi-faceted industry perspective on compulsions and circumstances that have resulted in the sector come to the present crossroads. The report, which is timely and incisive, reiterates the potential of the construction sector to propel India to becoming the country with the third largest GDP in the world in just two decades.
Labour Shortage
With rapid development across Tier II & III cities, India will witness acute labour shortages in the coming years. It is here that project management services will provide the customer with a one-stop professionally trained and proven solution that will enable integrated and supervised project implementation, from design to delivery. The report there was distinct labour trend. In 2002, the number of labourers required to build half a million sq. feet was about 700-800 construction workers and in 2012 with gradual mechanization it had come down to about 200 workers and by 2022, it would reduce further.
Time is Ripe to Investment in Residential & Commercial Property
The report said that the present times were appropriate for those wanting to invest in either in their ?dream house? or commercial property, as there are indications of increase in prices by nearly 50 per cent, based on RBI projections.
?Investment in real estate now would be timely and save the buyer the pangs of acquisition, compounded by inflationary trends,??said Sankey Prasad ? Chairman & MD ? Synergy Property Development Services.
Additionally, without proper project management practices, that involve design, construction related activities, management of work schedules etc, there could be time overruns in the delivery of the project. This is likely to increase the overall cost of construction. Therefore, the RBI projections notwithstanding, the overall project implementation practices also impact on the cost, quality and time of projects, particularly the residential and commercial ones.
act Black Ops 2 Secede ben roethlisberger Diwali elmo nascar
Democrats in Trenton endorse Governor Christie's recommended ...
Backers of online gaming in New Jersey cheered Governor Christie?s conditional veto last week, because they could live with the recommended changes (tax rate from 10 pct to 15 pct, stricter regulations, more money to combat compulsive gambling, etc).
On Monday, leading Democrats in Trenton signaled that this bill will be on a fast track.
How fast? There is talk of a full vote of the legislature on Feb. 26, when all convene for Christie?s budget address.
From the press release:
?Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver today announced their intention to adopt the changes made to A2578/S1565 under Governor Christie?s conditional veto as quickly as possible so that Internet gambling can be adopted here in New Jersey.
SWEENEY:
?Internet gaming will be a crucial boost to Atlantic City as we continue our efforts to revitalize the area. The economic benefits to the region will mean additional revenue, additional jobs, and additional growth. It cannot be stressed enough how important it was that New Jersey be ahead of the curve on Internet gaming. I want to thank my colleagues, Senators Lesniak and Whelan, and Assemblymen Burzichelli, Prieto and Ramos for their dedication, commitment and willingness to see this through. I appreciate the governor?s having agreed to allow it to move forward.
?The Senate will move forward to adopt the governor?s conditional veto on February 26th. The sooner we bring Internet gaming to New Jersey, the better off Atlantic City is going to be.?
OLIVER:
?We need to keep New Jersey?s gaming industry modern and competitive, and that means allowing carefully regulated Internet gaming. This bill and the proposed changes to it are the best way to accomplish that goal, and I look forward to the Assembly voting on Feb. 26 to move the bill forward and get this done.?
Assemblyman John Burzichelli:
?We must position New Jersey?s gaming industry to thrive in the 21st Century, and that involves authorizing a legally sound Internet gaming law such as the one now on the table. This will be another key piece of our effort to boost New Jersey?s gaming industry by expanding and modernizing our wagering options, and I look forward to it becoming law.?
Senator Raymond J. Lesniak:
?Internet gaming will provide a lifeline to New Jersey casinos by producing more jobs and additional revenue. It will help casinos recover from the gaming losses that have plagued them in recent years. It could even save some casinos from closing their doors. At the same time, it will contribute to the state?s economic recovery and generate more revenue for state programs for seniors and the disabled.
?I will work to make the recommended changes to the legislation and get it returned to the Governor. The sooner we get Internet gaming in place, the sooner we will begin to see the economic benefits that will come with it.?
Senator Jim Whelan:
?The Governor?s recommendations on the Internet gaming legislation are simple changes that can be made to tighten up the bill, while ensuring that we move forward on legislation to bring Atlantic City gaming into the 21st Century. Opening New Jersey gaming up to Internet wagering will provide untold benefits to the state and to the city, which has had to contend with increased out-of-state gaming competition in recent years. While the revenue raised from Internet gaming will provide a boost to Atlantic City, it will also save thousands of jobs for our residents. I appreciate the Senate President working to get this to the floor quickly.?
Assemblyman Vincent Prieto:
?New Jersey?s gaming industry must, like just about everything else in today?s economy, offer an Internet option if it?s to remain competitive. This is a carefully crafted plan designed to ensure Internet gaming on casino games is offered the right way and is a much-needed competitive step forward for our casinos that could also raise more revenue to benefit senior and disabled citizens.?
Assemblyman Ruben J. Ramos Jr. (D-Hudson), bill sponsor:
?The Internet has long been a reality, and Internet gaming in New Jersey should now be reality too. This bill will thoughtfully position our gaming industry to succeed, and it will mean economic growth and job creation for our state.?
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
aaron smith wilt chamberlain joe arpaio cat in the hat green eggs and ham wiz khalifa and amber rose oh the places you ll go
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Mary McAngus Resigns: Ohio Mayor Stepping Down Over Accusations Of Gay Slurs
CINCINNATI ? The mayor of a southeastern Ohio town has resigned over accusations that she repeatedly called a gay police officer "queer" in front of his colleagues and created a hostile work environment.
Jackie Welker, council president in the Village of Pomeroy, tells The Associated Press that 78-year-old Mayor Mary McAngus submitted a letter of resignation Saturday.
Police Chief Mark Proffitt told the council this week that McAngus referred to Officer Kyle Calendine as "queer" in front of other officers and dispatchers. He says that at one point she said, "I don't like a queer working for the village."
Proffitt had warned the council that McAngus' alleged comments could open the village to a lawsuit.
Calendine says the situation worsened in recent weeks.
McAngus did not immediately return a call for comment.
___
Welsh-Huggins reported from Columbus.
Also on HuffPost:
"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/09/mary-mcangus-resigns-ohio-mayor-gay-slurs_n_2654159.html
dianna agron million hoodie march tebow trade mike the situation jacksonville jaguars jacksonville jaguars benjarvus green ellis
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)