wettest prosperous: November 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

Chicago Bulls, Led By Deng, Beat Dallas Mavericks 101-78

CHICAGO -- Luol Deng had 22 points and six rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls over the Dallas Mavericks 101-78 on Wednesday night.

Five Chicago players scored at least 11 points to help the Bulls (7-7) beat the Mavericks for the fourth straight time.

Nate Robinson came off the bench and added 14 points and six assists for Chicago, and fellow reserve Jimmy Butler scored a career-high 13, including 9-of-10 shooting from the free throw line.

Joakim Noah chipped in 13 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks as Chicago avoided its first three-game losing streak at the United Center since dropping five straight from March 1-19, 2010.

Shawn Marion scored 18 points for Dallas, which shot just 35 percent to lose for the eighth time in its last 11 games.

The Mavs (7-9), who had won 21 of its last 27 overall against Chicago, dropped to 2-6 on the road.

Both teams were coming off difficult losses. Chicago blew a 27-point third-quarter lead in a 93-92 loss to Milwaukee on Monday, while the Mavericks lost 100-98 at Philadelphia on Tuesday when O.J. Mayo missed a pair of free throws with 2.7 seconds left in the game. The Bulls had a 78-51 lead in Monday's loss before the Bucks broke off a game-changing 31-4 run.

Dallas closed within six with 2:30 to go in the third Wednesday but after a timeout, Deng buried a 3-pointer and Robinson scored on a drive to give Chicago its biggest lead, 77-56.

The Bulls staved off another round of drama in the fourth, pushing the lead to as many as 29 and never fewer than 17.

The crowd roared to life in the closing minutes as Chicago neared 100 points, meaning a free sandwich for everyone in attendance. Nazr Mohammed's dunk did the trick, eliciting a huge roar from the remaining fans.

The Bulls closed the first quarter with a 9-2 run and led by a point even though Dallas shot 55 percent from the field. Deng scored 12 points in the period, while Dominique Jones racked up six points and three assists for the Mavericks.

Chicago's reserves keyed a second-quarter spurt to open up the game. After Rodrigue Beaubois' 3 cut the lead to 31-28, Chicago went on a 13-0 run and outscored Dallas 18-2 over the next 4:40.

Robinson keyed the spree with 10 points and four assists in the period. The Bulls outscored the Mavericks 16-4 from the line in the first half, getting whistled for just four fouls to Dallas' 13. Chicago led by as many as 19 in the quarter and was up 58-42 at the break, led by Deng's 14 points. Marion led Dallas with 12 points.

Dallas leading scorer Mayo was held to a season-low four points on 2-for-9 shooting. He entered the game averaging 20.8 points and had scored in double digits in each of the Mavs' first 15 games.

NOTES: Mavericks G Darren Collison was inactive because of a sprained right middle finger. The point guard has struggled recently in his first season with Dallas, shooting 35 percent over his last seven games and averaging 3.0 turnovers per contest. Collison started 14 of Dallas' first 15 games, coming off the bench for the first time this season in Saturday's loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He has been replaced in the starting lineup by third-year point guard Dominique Jones. ... Both teams took the floor with its best players still rehabbing from knee surgery. Neither Chicago's Derrick Rose (left knee) nor Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki (right knee), both former NBA MVPs, were at the game. . Mayo is averaging 24.3 points on 52-percent shooting at home, but just 15.3 points on 40.6 percent shooting on the road.

Earlier on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/29/chicago-bulls-led-by-deng_n_2211003.html

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1 Trend, 3 Ways: Flynn Bloom?s Polished Sweat Pants

Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom's little boy Flynn looks adorable in his sweats and sweaters. Check him out, plus our picks for every budget.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/GAJzNSjnACo/

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Things You Need To Know About Antique Care | Life Coach ...

By Administrator on Nov 27, 2012 in Home and Family

Antiques could possibly be a wonderful indication of our family, history or maybe a unique touch from another place and occasion. Taking care of these unique bits makes sure that they will be passed down to another generation or sold at the biggest price. Antiques have a wow factor in most people, so proper care will help your investment improve in value or enable you to pass them on for the enjoyment of your family.

Dusting off furnishings must be carried out with a soft, lint-free fabric and wooden pieces only waxed with high quality beeswax. Try to avoid positioning pieces of furniture in bright light or in rooms which have significant alterations in temperature or humidity. When moving antique pieces of furniture, constantly lift and in no way drag.

For pottery, glass and porcelain, stay away from extremes and handle carefully. Wash each one in a padded washing basin to prevent chipping. Use warm water as well as a moderate cleanser with a soft bristled brush. Never place antique glasses or dishes inside the dishwasher. The intense heat and harsh detergent might be damaging. Carefully wipe glasses dry and allow dishes to air dry. Liquids left in glassware can stain, so refrain from leaving say, cut flowers in contact with the glass if the water starts to turn or the leaves begin to dry out.

Both carpets and fabrics require exceedingly gentle handling when relocating, stocking or scrubbing. Moving should be done steadily and with care as antique textiles are sensitive and may completely tear or pull apart. Rugs should be rolled with the pile facing outwards in order to prevent crushing or damage. Garments should be hung on durable hangers and coated in white cotton or rolled with acid free paper and tied closed on either end. Rugs and textiles can be cleaned delicately with a vacuum on a low setting. Be very cautious with textiles given that the suction can pull materials apart. Any other cleaning should be done by a specialist.

Source: http://www.mylife-coach.net/6351/things-you-need-to-know-about-antique-care/

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How Rare Black Dahlias Get Their Color

Of the 20,000 varieties of dahlia flowers, only 10 to 20 kinds are black in color. Now researchers say they've solved the molecular mystery of how these rare flowers get their dark hues.

Flower color in dahlias is determined by a mixture of plant metabolites called flavonoids. Scientists already know that red dahlias' tones come from high concentrations of anthocyanins, flavonoids that are responsible for the color of blueberries, blue corn, blackberries and other fruits and vegetables. White dahlias, meanwhile, are short on anthocyanins but contain large amounts of flavones, flavonoids that are colorless themselves but can alter the shade of a flower by interacting with pigments like anthocyanin.

Researchers from the Vienna University of Technology in Austria analyzed the pigments, enzyme activity and gene expression in samples of black dahlias to study their deep burgundy hues. Compared to most varieties, black dahlias have huge amounts of anthocyanins and drastically reduced concentrations of flavones, confirmed by the flowers' low flavone synthase II (FNS) isoenzyme activity, the researchers found.

But the color of black dahlias is not simply due to increased activity of the plant's anthocyanin pathway, rather molecular intermediates that would normally form flavones are converted into extra anthocyanins, the team found.

The findings suggest there could be a way to engineer dahlias with tailor-made flavone contents to produce specific colors.

"The strategy of bypassing flavones into anthocyanins is a new approach," study researcher Heidi Halbwirth told LiveScience in an email. Halbwirth added that understanding how the black dahlia manages to knock out the FNS isoenzyme activity could improve techniques for flower breeding and could be used to develop a marker for the color change.

The research is detailed online Nov. 23 in BioMed Central's journal BMC Plant Biology.

Follow LiveScience on Twitter @livescience. We're also on Facebook?& Google+.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rare-black-dahlias-color-135013194.html

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Expo speakers to cover viticulture, marketing, production, direct sales

Wine Industry Network SANTA ROSA ? North Coast Wine Industry Expo, set for Dec. 5 in Santa Rosa, will feature a dozen local wine industry experts in growing, production, law, marketing and sales.

The four expo conference sessions?will?have three speakers each and run from?9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The expo is being held at?the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.

The first panel will cover viticulture, particularly what growers can do to manage contracts and labor at a time of high demand for grapes. Speakers include Hector Bedolla, owner of Grape Wise and ranch manager for Stuhlmuller Vineyards, Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty contract and real property attorney Caroline Boller, and Mark Chandler of?wine and food marketing consulting firm?Chandler & Company.

Ms. Boller plans to lead a a discussion of key contractual protections for growers when negotiating grape purchase agreements, followed by the status of vineyard management companies under California law and implications for vineyard management agreements.

Next will be a panel discussion of marketing, particularly related to connecting wineries directly to consumers. Discussing the value of social media in this pursuit as well as properly collecting and managing consumer data will be social media critic Michael Houlihan, a founder of Barefoot Cellars, a management consultant with Houlihan & Jones and an investor in telesales firm Provino Wine Services; social networking analysis software developer and proponent Paul Mabray of Napa-based VinTank; and Ryan Thurman of Santa Rosa-based Contact Center Compliance Corp.

?Building the Barefoot brand from coast to coast, we found there is no substitute for direct, real time communication,? Mr. Houlihan said. ?People buy from people and especially where larger sums are involved. Telephone communication can provide the level of personalized attention necessary to sell higher priced wine at full price.?

?Balancing compliance and marketing in the age of increased social media and regulatory enforcement trends requires an evolving overall strategy,? Mr. Thurman said. ?Discover the hidden demographics behind wireless users and learn how to target wine prospects with better data.?

The production panel will explore new versus long-used technologies. Speakers include winemakers Sara Fowler of Peju Province Winery on the Napa County side of Los Carneros appellation, Lisa Amaroli of Benziger Vineyards in Sonoma Valley and Nick Goldschmidt of Goldschmidt Vineyards near Healdsburg.

Tackling strategies for managing deals with distributors and brokers in the coming year will be Dan Kosta, of Kosta Browne Winery; Julie Pedroncelli St. John of Pedroncelli Winery, and Janet Viader of Viader Vineyards.

?Managing national distribution for a small winery ? 4,000 cases ? it is sometimes hard to get a response from national distributors,? Ms. Viader said. Her advice will be on establishing good communication with them, getting them to pay attention to such a small brand, balancing distribution between on- and off-premise markets, and winning placements on national wine lists with higher prices.

Ms. Pedroncelli St. John plans to share her quarter century of experience in marketing her family?s small-winery brand in the U.S. three-tier distribution system as well as for export.

?I am more an on-the-road brand ambassador, telling our story both via sales meetings as well as one-on-one sales calls with distributor reps,? she said.

Mr. Kosta will focus on Kosta Browne?s approach to limited distribution of a?primarily direct-to-consumer brand via the?three-tier system and allocation. ?

North Coast Wine Industry Expo?(707-433-2557,?wineindustryexpo.com)?will have 190 exhibitors in Grace Pavilion at the fairgrounds. Click here for a PDF of the vendor map and key.

Source: http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/65094/expo-speakers-to-cover-viticulture-marketing-production-direct-sales/

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Facebook Copyright Post a Hoax | XFINITY News Blog by Comcast

A new post showing up on Facebook has some users incorrectly thinking they have copyright ownership of the images and content they post to the social media site.

The New York Daily News calls the post a ?hoax,? and says that users are still beholden to Facebook?s sharing policy despite any legal notice posted.

Many of the posts start out with a section of text that reads:

?In response to the new Facebook guidelines I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, comics, paintings, professional photos and videos, etc. (as a result of the Berner Convention). For commercial use of the above my written consent is needed at all times!?

Snopes.com, a site dedicated to sniffing out and debunking online hoaxes, also calls the posting false.

?In fact, there are no ?new Facebook guidelines,? the ?Berner Convention? is a bungled reference to the Berne Convention ? a 126-year-old international copyright policy ? and users are still bound by the terms and conditions set by Facebook during sign up,? the Daily News reports.

Snopes said the posting is similar to another hoax that circulated several years ago when website owners believed they could avoid piracy prosecution by posting a legal notice on sites.

?Facebook users cannot retroactively negate any of the privacy or copyright terms they agreed to when they signed up for their Facebook accounts nor can they unilaterally alter or contradict any new privacy or copyright terms instituted by Facebook simply by posting a contrary legal notice on their Facebook walls,? Snopes reports.

Source: http://xfinity.comcast.net/blogs/news/2012/11/26/facebook-copyright-post-a-hoax/

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Best Cold Weather Coats

Winter is here & temperatures are dropping. While some snow-lovers are cheering, sun worshippers are sobbing. Cold Weather -- love it or hate it, here are the best coats!

Basic Puffy Coat

According to Glamour Magazine, a puffy coat is a must-have for basic everyday wear."A fitted lightweight down jacket that is nipped in at the waist keeps you warm (without looking like a Michelin tire)". Shorter teens should choose one that is a bomber or car length, while taller kids can wear long ones.?

The Justice faux-fur collar parka comes in many colors and is a perfect?everyday school jacket. It layers well, is machine washable and it's durable enough to last more than one season. Priced around $60, you can often find 40% off coupons and sales to make this winter coat an easy top pick.

For guys, Old Navy has been creating basic winter coats since they launched in 1996. The Basic Hooded Sherpa keeps you warm, layers well and is a good length to keep your body warm on cold, windy days.?

Outdoor Winter Sports

Spyder and North Face have you covered in cold weather. You can find deals around the $100 mark for both brands, though the newest styles can be much pricier.

The Spyder Boys' Guard jacket, shown here, sells for $130 on the Spyder website and in stores. Waterproof, breathable and layer-friendly, it protects you from the cold and wind no matter what?snow sport you choose.

?The Girls' North Face Mountain View?TriclimateJacket?combines a waterproof, breathable, fully seam sealed HyVent^? shell with a removable, insulated interior jacket for adaptable protection in any condition you care to sink your skis (or skates or board or sled) into.

Have Your Say

What do you wear when winter's chill finally arrives? Are you a cold weather afficionado, or is a warm climate your thing? Do you do winter sports, or stay indoors as soon as the temperature dips? Have your say in the comments below!

Source: http://www.kidzworld.com/article/27633-best-cold-weather-coats

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Chicago Fed: US economy at near-recession level

The Chicago Federal Reserve National Activity Index fell notably in October 2012, slumping to?a near-recessionary level of -0.56.

By SoldAtTheTop,?Guest blogger / November 26, 2012

This graph shows the Chicago Federal Reserve National Activity Index since 2000. The index indicated pronounced weakness for the US economy in October 2012.

SoldAtTheTop

Enlarge

The latest release of the?Chicago Federal Reserve National Activity Index (CFNAI)?indicated pronounced weakness for the national economy with the index falling notably from the prior month to stand at a near-recessionary level of -0.56 while the three month moving average also slumped to -0.56.?

Skip to next paragraph SoldAtTheTop

Writer, The PaperEconomy Blog

'SoldAtTheTop' is not a pessimist by nature but a true skeptic and realist who prefers solid and sustained evidence of fundamental economic recovery to 'Goldilocks,' 'Green Shoots,' 'Mustard Seeds,' and wholesale speculation.

Monday, November 26, 2012

A checklist to see whether debt reduction is real

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama and leaders of the lame-duck Congress may be just weeks away from shaking hands on a deal to avert the dreaded "fiscal cliff." So it's natural to wonder: If they announce a bipartisan package promising to curb mushrooming federal deficits, will it be real?

Both sides have struck cooperative tones since Obama's re-election. Even so, he and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, the GOP's pivotal bargainer, have spent most of the past two years in an acrid political climate in which both sides have fought stubbornly to protect their constituencies.

Obama and top lawmakers could produce an agreement that takes a serious bite out of the government's growing $16 trillion pile of debt and puts it on a true downward trajectory.

Or they might reach an accord heading off massive tax increases and spending cuts that begin to bite in January ? that's the fiscal cliff ? while appearing to be getting tough on deficits through painful savings deferred until years from now, when their successors might revoke or dilute them.

Historically, Congress and presidents have proven themselves capable of either. So before bargainers concoct a product, and assuming they can, here's a checklist of how to assess their work:

OVERALL DEFICIT CUTS

The House and Senate have four weeks until Christmas. Their leaders and the president want a deal before then. Bargainers are shooting for a framework setting future debt-reduction targets, with detailed tax and spending changes to be approved next year but possibly some initial savings enacted immediately.

Obama has suggested 10-year savings totaling around $4.4 trillion.

Passing a framework next month that sets deficit-cutting targets for each of the next 10 years would be seen as a sign of seriousness. But look for specifics. An agreement will have a greater chance of actually reducing deficits if it details how the savings would be divided between revenue increases and cuts in federal programs, averting future fights among lawmakers over that question.

Better yet would be including a fast-track process for passing next year's tax and spending bills if they meet the savings targets so they can whisk through Congress without the possibility of a Senate filibuster, in which 41 of the 100 senators could kill a measure they dislike.

Another sign of sincerity: An enforcement mechanism that imposes savings automatically if lawmakers gridlock over details. Legislators' efforts now to avert January's combination of automatic tax boosts and spending cuts underscores the effectiveness of forcing them to act.

Less impressive would be verbal pledges by the White House and congressional leaders to meet deficit-cutting goals without passing legislation inscribing the figures into law.

___

TAXES

A deal that specifies where revenue would come from would lay important groundwork for next year's follow-up bill enacting actual changes in tax laws.

The biggest clash has been over whether to raise income tax rates on earnings over $200,000 annually for individuals, $250,000 for families. Obama wants to let them rise next year to a top rate of 39.6 percent but has suggested he would compromise. Boehner and other Republicans oppose any increase above today's top marginal rate of 35 percent. Instead, they advocate lower rates and eliminating or reducing unspecified deductions and tax credits. Settling that would resolve the toughest impediment to a deal.

Raising money from higher rates, closing loopholes or a combination of the two would create real revenue for the government. The problem is many tax deductions and credits , such as for home mortgages and the value of employer-provided health insurance, are so popular that enacting them into law over objections from the public and lobbyists would be extremely difficult.

With the price tags of tax and spending laws typically measured over a decade, delaying the implementation date can distort the projected impact of a change on people and the government's debt.

Tax cuts written to expire in a certain year can put future lawmakers under political pressure to extend it. That is what Obama and Congress face today with the January expiration of tax cuts, including many enacted a decade ago under President George W. Bush.

Even more questionable are assumptions that overhauling tax laws will boost economic activity and thus produce large new revenues for the government. Many Republicans and ideologically conservative economists contend that's the case, but most economists say there is no sound way to estimate how much revenue can be generated from strengthening the economy by revamping the tax system. Many believe the amount is modest.

___

SPENDING

A serious agreement should specify how much savings would come from entitlements, meaning those big, costly benefit programs such as Social Security and Medicare. It also should say how much would come from discretionary spending, which covers federal agency budgets for everything from the military and national parks to food safety inspections and weather forecasts.

Why the need for specificity?

Because spending for entitlements occurs automatically, accounts for nearly two-thirds of federal spending and is the fastest growing part of the budget. Discretionary spending has been shackled by past budget deals and, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, is moving toward falling below 6 percent the size of the economy by 2022, the lowest level in at least 50 years.

A sincere effort to control expenditures would focus on entitlements, the true source of the government's spending problem. An agreement that envisions deep discretionary cuts risks a reliance on savings that future lawmakers could find unbearable and rescind.

Savings that come from weeding out waste, fraud and abuse, which sounds good but are difficult to find, or rely on one-time sales of federal assets should be treated with suspicion.

Deep cuts that take effect in the future, say after Obama leaves office in 2017, might be better than imposing them now and hurting an already weak economy by reducing spending.

But delayed cuts also open the door for Obama's successors and future Congresses to roll them back. In 1997, Congress voted for cuts in Medicare reimbursements to doctors; those cuts have grown so large that lawmakers now vote annually to restore the money.

Postponing the implementation of spending increases already scheduled to take effect, such as federal health insurance subsidies under Obama's health care overhaul, saves money upfront but makes no permanent changes that would ease future spending pressures.

Another debatable source of deficit reduction would be the hundreds of billions of dollars the Obama administration says the government is saving by winding down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While there is no question those expenditures are dropping, the government has run huge deficits while those wars were waged, so there's no money being left unspent as those wars end.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/checklist-see-whether-debt-reduction-real-220013472--finance.html

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Dallas, Texas Auto Insurance Minimums | UMC Milford

The Texas car insurance minimum coverage requirements were applied to make sure that all drivers involve some protection if they are involved in an accident. The minimum coverage requirements for car insurance in TX are legal requirements for anybody who is traveling for the reason that State. Teaching yourself about these just is practical, whether your home is in Texas or elsewhere. Ready to compare quotes? Click here to find cheapest Dallas auto insurance.

Buying additional coverage over the minimum amounts required under Texas law makes good financial sense. It?s a relatively inexpensive way to protect your hard-earned assets in case you are responsible for any sort of accident.

Consider as it were that which you own and just how hard you worked to obtain those activities. Next, consider the method that you would feel when you sell them off to purchase someone else?s medical expenses. Click here to find more information on Austin auto insurance.? You realize you?re responsible for the damages, but perhaps it would be better if you simply take out a larger insurance coverage? People may resent making those monthly premium payments however, if any sort of accident happens, they will really do comprehend the fact that the protection is at place.

The state law requires every driver to have auto insurance. Additionally, if funds are still owed towards the car, lenders require drivers to transport collision and comprehensive coverage also. Texas car insurance policies covers damages, injuries, and other losses included because of your policy. Once in a while, research your policy and appearance for the exclusions section which details all of the things it won?t provide coverage for. Understand the Declarations page (front page with the policy) which lists information and facts such as your policy number and coverage/deductible amounts.

Texas car insurance is supplemented with an car insurance Consumer Bill of Rights. Geico, State Farm, or other car insurance carrier in Texas can send you a duplicate of one?s policy or policy renewal, which you should read to understand how Texas law covers you.

All Texas drivers must show proof of financial responsibility with regards to paying for accidents they?re at fault for. Auto insurance props up key for most Texas drivers. According to Texas law, each injured person falls within a minimum coverage of $20,000 and up to $40,000 for all mixed up in accident, in addition to $15,000 valuation on property damage. In Texas, this form of coverage is dubbed ?20/40/15? coverage. However, many Texas drivers might find that basic coverage isn?t enough. Buy a lot more than the basic policy if you feel you?ll be held liable one day with an accident (poor display of confidence, yet needed!)

Many drivers opt for more coverage than is needed legally. It is because the minimal coverage usually is inadequate to really purchase expenses as a result of any sort of accident. Additionally, bodily injury and property damage coverage do not provide you with much protection yourself and your vehicle.

To acquire the excess protection yourself you would need to add additional coverage. Most insurance firms will suggest you no less than add coverage for underinsured/uninsured motorists. This coverage will pay for damages that occur if you are in an accident with somebody that doesn?t have insurance or would you not have enough insurance to pay the costs.

For those who have a lien on your vehicle then your lender will probably request you have much more coverage with collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage can pay to correct or replace your vehicle which is damaged in an accident. Comprehensive will pay for damages that occur as a result of something other than any sort of accident.

With extra coverage you?re just ensuring that you and your vehicle are safe. Once the unexpected happens it can be rather costly, however with the best insurance coverage you are able to protect yourself from financial trouble.

Source: http://www.umcmilford.org/legal/dallas-texas-auto-insurance-minimums.html

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Paxatore | Many Characters Wanted!

>> Setting & Information <<

After the Protest of 2056, demanding equal rights for everyone, government fell completely, leaving no one to rule the country. For years, the country was war-torn, with no rules to guide anyone. People were dying all the time, of starvation, murder and suicide. People soon realized how much they missed rules, but there was nothing they could do about it.

The Rising of Baxter, as it is called, in 2098, was when Charlie Baxter II, after a few protests and a lot of great speeches, was elected as President. He renamed the country that used to be the United States of America to Paxatore, saying that their dreadful history would never be repeated. For this to happen, they needed a set list of rules, one that everyone would abide by, or suffer the consequences. With the new government came a lot of changes, including the removal of people's right to vote for the ruler, and the biggest change, the scientific break-through known as Purus Humans.

Purus Humans, are people who have either broken the law severely or have volunteered to be cleansed, or purified. This means that all their memories are wiped, excluding the basics. Their brains are completely rewired to be the perfect servants for other humans, and if you can pay enough, they can be specifically rewired to your particular needs. Purus humans, if there is a lack of criminals or volunteers, are sometimes just innocent people the government steals off the street, though the country of Paxatore has yet to learn this.

It is now 2287AD, and David Baxter, Charles grand-son, now rules Paxatore. This roleplay will be set in the third largest city in Paxatore, which is called Sectates. It is quite big, as you can imagine, which though it means a lot more security is around and a lot more monitored than some others, it also means it is too big for the security to be everywhere, meaning that a few areas will not always be guarded, though people rarely test these boundaries as the guards switch where they are situated every few hours and there are few areas that escape their watch.

>> Plot <<

There won't be one main plot to this roleplay, and this will be a very sandbox type roleplay, with no set way for the plot to go. There will be a starting ground but that is it, and we will see where the plot develops from there. Some of the Purus are starting to become faulty, meaning that they are developing thoughts outside those of their masters wishes, and slowly remembering their past. If this is found out by the government, they will either be purified yet again, or if this doesn't work executed. At the beginning of the roleplay the families will not yet know this, it is up to the players of the Purus to decide whether they will tell anyone.

The Characters Wanted Are As Follows:
-- The Cherren Family --
Father: RESERVED [Could Possibly be NPC, works as security at The Chains.]
Mother: OPEN [Could Possibly be NPC, part-time waitress at a fancy local restaurant called Bia.]
Eldest Brother: OPEN [Aged Nineteen, Male, In a relationship with eldest Everly sister.]
Youngest Sister: OPEN [Aged Sixteen, Female, best friends with eldest Everly brother.]
-- Home -;;- House --
PURUS: The Innocent One

-- The Swefield Family --
Mother: OPEN [Could Possibly be NPC, works as a shopkeeper at CEES&MON.]
Twin One: OPEN [Aged Fourteen, Male, sympathetic towards Purus Humans.]
Twin Two: TAKEN [Aged Fourteen, Female, Worried about Twin One's thoughts on Purus.]
-- Home -;;- Apartment --
PURUS: The Volunteer

-- The Everly Family --
Father: OPEN [Could Possibly be NPC, works as an accountant.]
Eldest Sister: OPEN [Aged Eighteen, Female, In a relationship with eldest Cherren brother.]
Eldest Brother: OPEN [Aged Seventeen, Male, Has a crush on youngest Cherren sister.]
-- Home -;;- House. --
PURUS: The Criminal

NOTE
The Everly and Swefield family are related, their parents are divorced but the twins live with the mother and older siblings live with the father. They visit often, at least once a week.

All of the Purus have the same room, which look like this.

-- Faulty Purus Humans --
The Criminal: RESERVED [Male, Aged (Above 18), was arrested after trying to start a mob to overthrow the government and stop the purifying of humans, and beating up and eventually killing a guard that attempted to stop him.]

The Innocent One: RESERVED [Female, Aged Fifteen, was taken off the street after a shortage of Purus.]

The Volunteer: TAKEN [Female, Aged Fifteen, volunteered after their mother passed away and was left at home with abusive father, thought of committing suicide but decided to become a Purus instead.]

-- Other Characters --
There are no basics for a character here, but if you wish to create a different character than the ones listed [all characters above except for those saying that they could possibly be NPC's, must be filled unless it is an exceptional character sheet before I shall except one of these] then either PM me or comment in the OOC with your idea, and I will most likely approve, depending. Some possible character ideas could include; Cherren Cousin, Eldest Everly Sister's Best Friend etc.

>> The Role Play <<

The link to the roleplay is here, click it for more information and to create a character. I except semi-literate/literate roleplayers with a minimum of 100 words per post.

Go on, click the link, I know you want to. ^^;;

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/GxwKi6P7lRI/viewtopic.php

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Internet Marketing Australia | Social Media Management | Logan ...

Like children, online marketing platforms too go through growing pains before they come of age. 2012 can be classified as the year social media matured. Admittedly it has grown at an alarming rate since social media officially become a ?baby? in 2004. So what are some of the most influential changes in 2012?

Social Media Platforms & Smart Phones

Smart phones and tablets/iPad became a serious contender for any business and presented an opportunity for all marketers. This year, if smart mobile sales are any indication, mobile is here to stay! Even Facebook acknowledged that mobile offers the biggest opportunity and threat to its business. But Facebook countered that by buying Instagram and going all out on its mobile app.

Google+ ? A Social Media Networking Platform?

Several experts including?its creators say?? Google+ is not a social network. According, to Vic Gundotra, Google+ is an upgrade to Google?s existing portfolio. There have been several interesting developments this year with Google Local and Google Events. Experts are awaiting for Google Hangouts to be extended to enterprise.

Smartphones and mobile applications have given rise to the smart shopper. Consumers are extremely adept in searching for customised deals based on their location. There is no one size fits all strategy any more. Customers need to be targeted individually based on their browsing habits and social media engagement.

It is not enough to have a great marketing strategy. Peer recommendations and customer reviews are the future. Statistics?show that?consumers are more inclined to make a purchase that has been recommended by a peer. Your marketing is not just from within the company any more. The most influential marketer is your consumer. In the digital age, the customer holds all the power.

Moving towards Touch Activated Devices

Most electronic devices are now touch activated. Phones, tablets and now laptops. With smart phones and tablets set to overtake PC sales in 2013, the world is going to be touch! Businesses need to gear for this and ensure the websites, applications and other digital marketing material are touch activated.

These are the top influencers of the Social.Local.Mobile revolution in 2012. The 2013 looks to be the year when localised search, smartphones, tablets and mobile applications really take off!

This article is first in a four part series. Next week, we will look at the biggest changes in Facebook and Twitter this year!

About Logan Nathan

Social Media Business Consultant | Social.Local.Mobile Marketing-Strategist | Speaker | Trainer

Based in Sydney, Australia, Logan has been an avid & passionate social media user since the advent of Facebook. ?As the Social Media Business Consultant with over 30 years? experience in corporate, SME business, together with running his own organisation for the past eight years. Logan is focused on guiding organisations through the four stages of social media for business ? Education, Strategy, Implementation and On-going Management. If your business needs expert assistance on creating a custom Social Media, Web Presence Optimisation Strategies and Mobile Applications, contact us via?logan@logannathan.com. Logan is also an expert on use of major Social Media sites for Business (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn). He is running a series of customised workshops for companies in Australia and overseas. Contact Logan via?logan@logannathan.com?for more information.

Source: http://www.logannathan.com.au/the-biggest-trendsetters-in-2012-social-local-mobile-solomo/

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Sunday, November 25, 2012

Crowdfunding Startup Razoo Makes Philanthropy Easy | Social ...

donations-welccome Half of American adults plan on giving to charity this holiday season, according to a recently published survey by Razoo, an online crowdfunding platform for causes. The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Razoo, also found that 47% of the unemployed plan to give to charity during the holidays.

"Despite these tough economic times, it's encouraging to see half of America has plans in the works to give back to their favorite nonprofit - and Thanksgiving and the holiday season are the perfect time to do so," said Razoo's CEO Lesley Mansford.

Razoo, based in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., makes it easy for people to raise money online for around 1 million different nonprofit organizations. Razoo has helped raise $125 million to date, over half of which was raised in the last 10 months.

One such campaign is Sarah's Steps for Success, a giving campaign to raise money to help educate medical and school professionals on the effects of amplified pain on children and their families. The campaign was organized by teenager Sarah Wilen, who suffers from amplified pain syndrome. Sarah created a short video on Sept. 30, uploaded it to Razoo, and has already raised almost $11,000.

As consumers access the web more and more through the mobile web, Razoo has embraced mobile giving as a way to raise even more money for charity.

"We believe that both fundraisers and donors should be able to access Razoo anywhere, anytime," Mansford told Justmeans in an email. Over 15% of Razoo's traffic comes from users on mobile devices.

"Our focus has been the development of the best mobile optimized web experience that makes it easy to discover and donate to causes without having to download an app," she continued. "For fundraisers we have an iphone app that allows them to manage their fundraising activity and the ability to use QR codes for events and marketing materials."

Razoo also offers "Giving Cards," which the company hopes will be especially popular this holiday season. Giving Cards let costumers select a donation amount, and the recipient of the card can choose the nonprofit that the money will go to.

"There is nothing better than to be able to give the gift of giving.? Giving Cards allow you to empower the recipient to pick the charity that is most important to them," added Mansford. "Plus they make the perfect gift for anyone, especially for someone who wants a one-stop charitable choice for everyone on their gift list."

Razoo is also a partner of Giving Tuesday, a national day to give back to counter the unbridled consumerism characteristic of Black Friday. "Sometimes the real meaning of the holidays gets lost amongst all the holiday shopping craziness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday," wrote Christian Brink, Razoo's Communications Coordinator, in a recent blog post.

"Enter #GivingTuesday, the antithesis to Black Friday and Cyber Monday," wrote Brink. "#GivingTuesday is a movement that aims to put charitable giving back on the calendar for November." Giving Tuesday will be held this year on Nov. 27.

Founded in 2006, Razoo has received seed funding from the Dubai-based investment firm Legatum. Razoo uses a business model whereby it takes a small percentage (less than 3%) of every donation raised through its platform.

Image credit: Howard Lake, Flickr

Source: http://www.justmeans.com/Crowdfunding-Startup-Razoo-Makes-Philanthropy-Easy/56866.html

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Ezine Alert: The Not So New Misleading Numbers Scam to Avoid ...

check the facts I did not set out to do this.

I?m not one who spies on their neighbors, wonders who is doing or saying what, or plays party police.

But, I confess, curiosity got the better of me the other day. I just had to know. What was I missing? How could that be? Who was I missing? What could I do?

All these questions running through my head.

So, I took a trip around the net and zeroed in on a particular site. The numbers sounded ?like the good old days? when I worked with as many as 190 publishers at any given time.

But that?s the thing? time?s change.

So, the site I found sounded just a tad too good to be true.

Armed with my color coded spreadsheet, I?m confident that the publishers listed and working with me at MyWizardAds are on the up and up. I also confess to being ruthless (and sad) when I have to chop an ezine with say 70,000 readers because the publisher isn?t doing his or her job.

Would I prefer to pretend, turn a blind eye? While tempting, I just can?t. At this moment, I actually have one ezine I?m considering putting on that chopping block, but I need to investigate just a bit more. I?m not stupid, but I will not lie.

I feel I have a personal connection with the publishers working WITH me, most of them since MWA opened in October 2001.

So it struck me as odd that either something was strangely amiss with my spreadsheet or something wasn?t quite right outside MWA?s virtual walls.

Wondering if it was just envy, I?d be the first to admit that it is absolutely wonderful when any program can claim over a million potential ezine readers.

But, it?s only wonderful when it?s true.

When it?s not, that?s where we part ways.

Whether it?s the program you?re promoting or, as in my case, a competitor fibbing (a whopper) misleading is downright wrong.

The claim was close to 1.5 million readers. Wow, what a great sounding number, right? I mean who wouldn?t want to have their promotionals exposed to that many readers.

But, again, something just sounded a bit too good to be true.

After 10 years plus, and the onset of blogging (which btw if you are a blogger you, too, can be part of MWA with one tiny page addition), I know my industry.

Ezine advertising was (and remains) one of the very first ways to communicate. The doorway that lead to all the current social media websites.

Forums were another. Ezines and their ever faithful publishers still exist. It?s work. And it can be very rewarding.

Being an ezine publisher can actually be a bit easier than being a blogger. Taken from another point of view, combining the two can really up your game. Either, or both, take dedication.

But I digress?

So back to that 1.5 million?

Wow, what a whopper?

Would you believe that 1.5 million is really around 760,000?

The reasons range from out of print (but listed ?as if?) ezines to ones that do not run ezine (classified) ads. They just straight up don?t do it. I looked and looked, frankly hoping I?d be wrong.

One ezine site even had a ?holy cow turn around right now and get the f___ out of here!? message. My firewall was on fire.

So what?s this really all about?

Being in business means being in business. You don?t try to short change anyone. Tell it like it is because ezines are valuable. Unlike unsolicited leads, real ezine publishers and driven bloggers do a fine job to meet deadlines. They work hard to build their lists, and put their creativity to use to hold their readers attention.

You may be missing out on the actual networking opportunities being a subscriber gives you, but at least you?re subscribed to an in print choice.

It?s frustrating for you and for me.

One and a half million? Really?

Hmmmm?

from your own site.

Source: http://www.mywizardads.com/blog/2012/11/ezine-alert-the-not-so-new-misleading-numbers-scam-to-avoid/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ezine-alert-the-not-so-new-misleading-numbers-scam-to-avoid

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Portland political consulting firm draws national attention in recent ...

PORTLAND, Maine ? It?s not only the recently elected politicians and successful advocacy groups who are celebrating big wins in the wake of election season.

A small political consulting firm in Portland has emerged with a winning record and a national reputation for producing compelling, authentic political advertisements for television and Web.

The company, CD2 Consulting, produced some of the most memorable ads from Maine?s recent election cycle. Remember Harlan Gardner, the 90-year-old WWII veteran and Machias resident who, while sitting at the dinner table with four generations of his family, including his gay granddaughter, said ?marriage is too precious not to share?? That ad was one of CD2?s creations. Remember the York firefighters who appeared in an ad with their gay colleague? That was a CD2 ad. There were several others produced throughout the campaign, which was successful and made Maine the first state to legalize same sex marriage by popular vote.

David Farmer, communications director for Mainers United for Marriage, gives CD2 a big share of the credit for the power and recognition their ads brought to the campaign.

?They were able to turn real Maine people into household names,? said Farmer, who also served as deputy chief of staff and communications director for former Gov. John Baldacci, and writes a political blog and a weekly column for the Bangor Daily News. ?They are storytellers and were able to tell stories in 30 seconds in a way that made a real difference.?

The ads CD2 produced for Mainers United for Marriage were so effective, in fact, they were picked up around the country and used as templates for ads in other states such as Minnesota and Washington state, according to Farmer.

?They (CD2 owners) are on the verge of big, big things,? he said.

Maine?s Yes on 1 campaign had a high profile, and several ?top-notch? political consulting firms wanted to produce those television ads, Farmer said. Yet CD2 got the job. ?They won on the merits of their work, and they delivered,? he said.

Besides the Yes on 1 campaign, CD2 also produced web advertisements for Elizabeth Warren?s successful Senate campaign in Massachusetts, unseating incumbent Scott Brown; online content for Maggie Hassan?s successful gubernatorial campaign in New Hampshire; and a TV ad in support of Rep. Carol Shea-Porter?s successful Congressional race in New Hampshire.

?That?s a winning record right there,? Farmer said. ?The results speak for themselves.?

There was a time when all the big political consulting firms were in Washington, D.C., and New York City, but technology has made that model obsolete, and today consultants can work anywhere. CD2 owners Jim Cole, Aaron Duffey and David Loughran choose to work in Maine, where the three grew up in the Greater Portland area.

?It?s great to be doing what I want to be doing in the place where I want to live,? Duffey said on a recent morning in CD2?s office in Portland?s Old Port.

The company doesn?t have to be in D.C., Loughran said. ?There are probably opportunities we miss by not being there,? he said, ?but there are other opportunities we?ll gain from being here.?

CD2 is actually a conglomeration of smaller, specialty operations that each of the men ran before joining forces to offer a wider range of political consulting services.

Cole and Duffey formed Gum Spirits Productions, a film production company, in Portland in 2008. They produced independent films (Sundowning and Three Priests are two of the more well-known flicks) and TV advertisements for political campaigns, including for VoteVets.org. In 2009, they joined forces with a pair of Bowdoin College alums, Frank Chi and William Donahoe, who live in Washington, D.C., and produce websites for political campaigns. Cole and Duffey joined Chi and Donahoe ? notice the initials? ? to form CD2 in 2009.

Loughran had worked on political campaigns all over the country before returning to Maine in 2008 to form his own political communications consultancy called Mach3Media. Loughran reconnected with Duffey, who he grew up with in Gorham, upon his return to the Portland area. In 2010, he officially joined CD2.

The crew first gained national attention in February 2011 for an ad it produced about the battle in Wisconsin over Gov. Scott Walker?s attack on the collective bargaining rights of unions.

Instead of writing a 30-second script, the CD2 crew spent the entire day in snowy, 16-degree weather interviewing protesters in Madison, Wisc., as snow piled on their shoulders. ?That?s why we?re able to capture authentic moments and are able to turn what would be a good ad into a great ad,? Loughran said.

Cole, who Duffey called the ?creative genius? behind CD2, then spent the evening cutting more than three hours of raw interview footage into a 30-second ad spot, which was extremely successful and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in small donations in the following weeks.

The ad, which was produced for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, got national attention. Rachel Maddow called it ?the most pointed, stand-with-the-people-who-work-for-a-living ad that we have seen for a very long time.? Lawrence O?Donnell called the ad ?beautiful film making,? and said ?I?m really quite struck by it.?

?You don?t usually get people on D.C. television talking in such effusive ways about a TV ad, but that speaks to the power of this particular one,? said Adam Green, the D.C.-based co-founder of Progressive Change Campaign Committee.

Duffey said the ad opened doors. Loughran and Duffey expect they?ll be able to leverage the success of its ads during the recent election season to grab more work on other high-profile campaigns.

Judging by the ads it?s produced, CD2?s future looks bright, Green said.

Progressive Change worked with 40 campaigns this past election season, and Green said he?d be looking for CD2 to contribute to more campaigns in the future. ?We definitely hold [CD2] out as a model for the future of ad making as we try to wean candidates off the past ? overly priced D.C. consultants doing lesser quality work,? he said.

Green said the fact CD2 is based outside D.C. is a benefit as they?re not captive to the standard talking points. ?Instead, they?re thinking outside the box,? Green said. ?They?re thinking about persuading the people on Main Street back home.?

Loughran declined to discuss CD2?s revenue except to say it has grown ?tenfold? since 2010. But Loughran and Duffey (Cole was out of the state on a shoot) don?t want CD2 to grow too big too fast.

?We don?t want to take every possible project that comes through the door,? Duffey said, because doing so would force them to not be so hands-on with the various campaigns.

?Our business will grow, and Jim, Aaron and I will continue to be principals in every campaign,? Loughran said. ?That?s how we want it to be.?

Source: http://bangordailynews.com/2012/11/23/business/portland-political-consulting-firm-draws-national-attention-in-recent-campaigns/

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Saturday, November 24, 2012

Can Shellfish Adapt to More Acidic Water?

November 23, 2012 from KQED

Scientists say oceans are becoming more acidic as they absorb the carbon dioxide added to the air through the burning of fossil fuels. That can be bad news for oysters, mussels and others animals that are key to the seafood industry and to the marine food web. Scientists are using the unique ocean conditions off the California coast to monitor developments.

Copyright ? 2012 National Public Radio. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

The shellfish industry on the West coast has had a bumpy few years and increasingly, it is pointing to climate change as the cause. Scientists believe the oceans are becoming more acidic as they absorb the increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the air and they are not sure if oysters and other shellfish will be able to adapt to this change. Lauren Sommer, from member station KQED, has this report.

LAUREN SOMMER, BYLINE: Cary Sawyer(ph) does a brisk business in oysters.

CARY SAWYER: I take the sucking knife and I'll go into the hinge. You see there's no meat on the top shell?

SOMMER: His farm, Hog Island Oyster Company, is about an hour north of San Francisco and today, his workers are sorting two kinds of oysters, kumamotos...

SAWYER: Nutty, creamy flavor...

SOMMER: And sweet waters.

SAWYER: Some people do describe it as sweeter.

SOMMER: The oysters grow up in big mesh bags that sit in the cold waters of the Pacific. Sawyer gets the oysters from hatcheries in Oregon and Washington, but a few years ago, he started getting calls from his suppliers. They couldn't fill the orders.

SAWYER: They would have tens of thousands of gallons of tanks that were absolutely full of larvae and they'd have they entire system die.

SOMMER: Their intake pipes were pulling in the same sea water, but now it was more acidic, which makes it harder for oysters to build their shells. The ocean is basically a giant sponge for carbon dioxide and scientists say sea water has become 30 percent more acidic since the start of the industrial revolution. Sawyer's growing his own oyster larvae now so he'll have a more predictable supply, but he says there's no question that climate change is affecting his bottom line.

SAWYER: We don't know if we're going to be able to survive the real trending that is going on out there.

SOMMER: It's a trend that doesn't just affect oysters. On a rocky point farther point, about two hours from San Francisco, oceanographer Tessa Hill of the University of California Davis shows me tide pools packed with California mussels. These mussels and other shelled animals like sea urchins and tiny marine snails are crucial to the marine food wedge, she says.

TESSA HILL: Probably most people like the fact that we have things like whales and salmon along our coast and those organisms are likely to be impacted because their food source will be impacted.

SOMMER: In 100 years, oceans could be more than twice as acidic. So, Hill says, they're trying to find out if marine life can adapt. The mussels and sea urchins here could help answer that, since they're already part of a naturally occurring experiment.

HILL: They're facing the most acidic water that you'd see in the ocean today.

SOMMER: Marine life on the West Coast is blasted with acidic water from the deep ocean during seasonal upwelling in the spring and summer. So maybe they've developed ways to handle it.

HILL: SB is Santa Barbara and MB is Monterrey Bay.

SOMMER: Inside their lab, Hill shows me jars full of young mussels almost too small to see. Each jar is from a different part of the West Coast, from central Oregon to southern California. Scientists are growing them in more acidic water to see if they have key genetic differences.

STEVE PALUMBI: We found they have lucky genes.

SOMMER: Steve Palumbi is a biology professor at Stanford University who is also working on the project. He found that some West Coast sea urchins have around 100 genes that make them better adapted to more acidic water. That makes them more likely to survive and reproduce.

PALUMBI: This is good news because these organisms have the capacity to deal with more acidifications. But it's not good news forever, because all it does is give us a little breathing room.

SOMMER: And not much breathing at that, says Palumbi. The ocean is acidifying faster than it ever has before. Organisms will evolve, he says, but probably not fast enough to keep up. That means the shellfish industry could face even bigger challenges down the road. For NPR News, I'm Lauren Sommer in San Francisco.

Copyright ? 2012 National Public Radio. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to National Public Radio. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR's prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2012/11/23/165749924/can-shellfish-adapt-to-more-acidic-water?ft=1&f=1007

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Friday, November 23, 2012

Massive pileup shuts I-10 in Texas; dozens injured

BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) ? Dozens of people have been injured in an estimated 100-vehicle pileup that forced the closure of Interstate 10 in Southeast Texas.

KFDM-TV reports that the collision happened around 8 a.m. Thursday on I-10 near Beaumont, about 80 miles east of Houston.

The Texas Department of Public Safety says at least 100 cars and trucks crashed in extremely dense fog. Officials at Acadian Ambulance service tell KFDM that at least 48 people have been taken to area hospitals.

No deaths have been reported.

I-10 remains shut down in both directions.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/massive-pileup-shuts-10-texas-dozens-injured-170440390.html

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With Kasab execution, Indian gears of justice unusually swift

India executed the sole surviving gunman of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Ajmal Kasab, in a move prompting surprise, cheers - and charges of politics.

By Rebecca Byerly,?Correspondent / November 21, 2012

Indians celebrate upon hearing the news of India executing Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 terror attacks, in Ahmadabad, India, Wednesday. Kasab, a Pakistani citizen, was one of 10 gunmen who rampaged through the streets of India's financial capital for three days in 2008, killing 166 people.

Ajit Solanki/AP

Enlarge

India executed the sole surviving gunman of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The execution of Ajmal Kasab was carried out in secret and surprised a nation accustomed to a much slower criminal justice system.?

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Mr. Kasab was sentenced to death in 2010 after a highly-watched trial. His plea for clemency was denied earlier this month. Kasab and nine other gunmen killed 166 people in a three-day?bullet-spraying, grenade-throwing rampage that targeted some of the most iconic places in the city. The attack, which left carnage throughout the heart of India?s commercial capital, is often compared here to the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

The first person to be executed in India since 2004 and the third since 1995, Kasab?s death was met with mixed reactions. Some victims and analysts see the relatively efficient trial and execution as a sign that India is growing more serious about serving justice in a system infamously mired in delays and inconclusive investigations. Others point out how the case's swift closure was an anomaly, propelled forward by politics at home and in the region.?

?India has proven itself incapable of resolving some of the most heinous crimes within its own country,? says journalist Adrian Levy, who is currently writing a book on the Mumbai attacks. "Killing Kasab does not restore a sense of justice to a country whose legal system is failing it. Killing Kasab is an act of vengeance that further destabilizes the notion of justice in India."

He notes the country has failed to resolve the murder of Jalil Andrabi, a prominent Kashmir human rights lawyer, even after the guilty party was exposed in court. Many are?also questioning why other people on death row like Afzal Guru, who was convicted of attacking the parliament in 2001 and sentenced to death in 2004, have yet to be executed.

It's not just the high-profile cases that get stuck. "A common murder or rape in India, are as likely to go unresolved as solved," Mr. Levy says.

With the Congress government mired in corruption charges and often considered weak on fighting terror by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Levy says the timeliness of Kasab?s execution is a political maneuver.

?Congress is accused by BJP of being the party of the economy and not Jai Hind [Hail India]. Congress has failed economically, corruption is rife, stagnation has come, and now Kasab's death seems like an awful ploy,? says Levy.

Indian authorities kept their plans to carry out the court's sentence this morning carefully under wraps. He was hung in a jail in the western city of Pune. ?

Vikram Sood, the former head of India's intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing, says Kasab?s execution just four days before the anniversary of the Mumbai attacks had a specific purpose.

?It?s sending a message that India still remembers the Mumbai attacks and is going to get more tough with Pakistan in the future.?

While Mr. Sood believes executing Kasab was a necessary step he doesn?t believe Pakistan is willing to listen and says the country will continue to support terrorism.

?We have achieved very little since the Mumbai attacks because nothing will work until Pakistan feels isolated and Pakistan will not feel isolated until the United States stops giving them support,? says Sood, the vice president of the Observer Research Foundation. ?It?s going to be difficult for any government to deal with Pakistan with the present administration in Islamabad and Army in Rawalpindi.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/lex4i3SQ6hk/With-Kasab-execution-Indian-gears-of-justice-unusually-swift

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Oil rises in Asia as China manufacturing improves

BANGKOK (AP) ? The price of oil rose Thursday after preliminary data showed China's manufacturing activity expanded for the first time in 13 months, a positive sign for the global economy.

Benchmark crude for January delivery was up 13 cents to $87.51 per barrel at late afternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 63 cents to finish at $87.38 a barrel on Wednesday.

Oil prices were responding to the release of HSBC Corp.'s monthly Purchasing Managers' Index for November, which showed a reading of 50.4 on a 100-point scale on which numbers over 50 indicate expansion.

That was a moderate improvement from October's 49.5 and boosted hopes that the world's No. 2 economy was finally emerging from the deep slump it has been mired in since the 2008 financial crisis.

"I think that number encouraged the traders to bet on rising oil prices," said Ken Hasegawa, energy analyst at Newedge brokerage in Tokyo.

Brent crude, used to price international varieties of oil, fell 21 cents to $110.65 a barrel in London.

In other energy futures trading in New York:

? Heating oil rose 2.4 cents to $3.072 a gallon.

? Wholesale gasoline added 2.1 cents to $2.709 a gallon.

? Natural gas gained 6 cents to $3.892 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oil-rises-asia-china-manufacturing-improves-053315602--finance.html

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Google Homepage Ad Pushes Google+ Hangouts, Other Google Properties

Along with the Thanksgiving-themed Google doodle gracing the Google.com homepage in the U.S. today (this year, it's a Thanksgiving Day parade with Google's letters as balloons), Google is also using the valuable advertising space below the search box to push Google+ and other Google properties.?The homepage text reads "Hang out with the whole family?this Thanksgiving," but after clicking through, you'll discover more than just tips on using Hangouts' video chat.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/cLb4XyFNyr8/

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Russian court throws out Madonna anti-gay compensation claim

ST.PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - A Russian court rejected a $10 million compensation claim against U.S. pop star Madonna on Thursday by a group of anti-gay activists who accused her hurting their feelings by promoting homosexuality at a St.Petersburg concert.

Performing in black lingerie with the words "No Fear" scrawled on her back, Madonna attacked a city law adopted in March that imposed fines for spreading homosexual "propaganda". She had earlier called the law a "ridiculous atrocity".

The activists based their case on a video recording where they claimed Madonna could be seen trampling on an Orthodox cross and asking spectators to raise their hands with pink bracelets in support of the gay movement.

Judge Vitaly Barkovsky did not explain his decision but also ruled the activists should compensate legal expenses to companies which organized Madonna's concert. The activists said they will appeal the court ruling.

"Our position is the same. We believe there was a case of the breach of law, namely gay propaganda among minors," said activist Darya Dedova.

Homosexuality, punished with jail terms in the Soviet Union, was decriminalized in Russia in 1993, but much of the gay community remains underground as prejudice runs deep.

(Reporting by Liza Dobkina; Editing by Jon Hemming)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russian-court-throws-madonna-anti-gay-compensation-claim-174542963.html

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REFERENCES AND EDUCATION DIRECTORY ? How Naturopathic ...

Monday, November 12, 2012

Interview by Lon Woodbury

Dr. Jade Wimberley, a Consulting Naturopathic Physician at Open Sky Wilderness Therapy Program, was interviewed by Lon Woodbury on L.A. Talk Radio about how Open Sky?s approach to wellness counts on many principles of Naturopathic medicine. As a matter of fact, Open Sky is presently the only wilderness therapy in the nation that uses alternative medicine.

She pointed out that Naturopathy focuses on optimizing health and wellness by including nature?s help in healing mind and body. Unlike conventional medicine, where the doctor invests an average of about 7 minutes with each client, a Naturopathic specialist will devote an hour or even more to deeply comprehend the patient?s personal history in an effort to isolate the cause of the disease.

About Dr. Jade Wimberley

Jade is a qualified Naturopathic specialist with a BA from Denison University and with a doctorate from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. Her enthusiasm for the wild, her Naturopathic background, and her interest in helping struggling teenagers has made her a perfect fit for the Open Sky Wilderness programs. She has a large and diverse work history and much personal experience with recovery issues. Besides working as a Program Liaison at Open Sky, she also has her own private practice.

What Is Naturopathic Medicine?

In the course of the interview, Jade described Naturopathy as a successful healthcare model that was the least harmful and intrusive. This was due to the fact that it depended on the treatment power of nature and acknowledged, recognized and believed in the self-healing power in each person.

A Naturopath worked to identify and treat the cause. As an illustration, she described how she had helped a 19-year-old-girl at Open Sky lose 45 pounds in 13 weeks and completely regain her health by identifying and removing the causes of her illness, rather than struggling to eliminate or suppress symptoms. She was successful in educating and inspiring rational hope in the young lady and encouraging self-responsibility for health. As a Naturopath, she treated the whole person because health and disease results from a complex of physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social and other factors.

In essence, then, Naturopathy focused on prevention, emphasizing the condition of health to promote well-being and to prevent diseases for the individual.

Want to find out more about help for Struggling Teens, then listen to the full interview by Lon Woodbury on L.A. Talk Radio.

Source: http://referencesandeducation.info/2012/11/how-naturopathic-medicine-treats-the-whole-child/

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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

'Liz & Dick' Reviews: How Did Lindsay Lohan Do?

The reviews are in, and critics are talking about the actress' portrayal of Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor.
By Kara Warner

Lindsay Lohan in the "Liz and Dick" teaser
Photo: Lifetime

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1697852/lindsay-lohan-liz-and-dick-reviews.jhtml

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New H.I.V. Cases Falling in Some Poor Nations, but Treatment Still Lags

New infections with H.I.V. have dropped by half in the past decade in 25 poor and middle-income countries, many of them in Africa, the continent hardest hit by AIDS, the United Nations said Tuesday.

The greatest success has been in preventing mothers from infecting their babies, but focusing testing and treatment on high-risk groups like gay men, prostitutes and drug addicts has also paid dividends, said Michel Sidib?, the executive director of the agency U.N.AIDS.

?We are moving from despair to hope,? he said.

Despite the good news from those countries, the agency?s annual report showed that globally, progress is steady but slow. By the usual measure of whether the fight against AIDS is being won, it is still being lost: 2.5 million people became infected last year, while only 1.4 million received lifesaving treatment for the first time.

?There has been tremendous progress over the last decade, but we?re still not at the tipping point,? said Mitchell Warren, the executive director of AVAC, an advocacy group for AIDS prevention. ?And the big issue, sadly, is money.?

Some regions, like Southern Africa and the Caribbean, are doing particularly well, while others, like Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East, are not. Globally, new infections are down 22 percent from 2001, when there were 3.2 million. Among newborns, they fell 40 percent, to 330,000 from 550,000.

The two most important financial forces in the fight, the multinational Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the domestic President?s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, were both created in the early 2000s and last year provided most of the $16.8 billion spent on the disease. But the need will soon be $24 billion a year, the groups said.

?Where is that money going to come from?? Mr. Warren asked.

The number of people living with H.I.V. rose to a new high of 34 million in 2011, while the number of deaths from AIDS was 1.7 million, down from a peak of 2.3 million in 2005. As more people get life-sustaining antiretroviral treatment, the number of people living with H.I.V. grows.

Globally, the number of people on antiretroviral drugs reached 8 million, up from 6.6 million in 2010. However, an additional 7 million are sick enough to need them. The situation is worse for children; 72 percent of those needing pediatric antiretrovirals do not get them.

New infections fell most drastically since 2001 in Southern Africa ? by 71 percent in Botswana, 58 percent in Zambia and 41 percent in South Africa, which has the world?s biggest epidemic.

But countries with drops greater than 50 percent were as geographically diverse as Barbados, Cambodia, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, India and Papua New Guinea.

The most important factor, Mr. Sidib? said, was not nationwide billboard campaigns to get people to use condoms or abstain from sex. Nor was it male circumcision, a practice becoming more common in Africa.

Rather, it was focusing treatment on high-risk groups. While saving babies is always politically popular, saving gay men, drug addicts and prostitutes is not, so presidents and religious leaders often had to be persuaded to help them. Much of Mr. Sidib??s nearly four years in his post has been spent doing just that.

Many leaders are now taking ?a more targeted, pragmatic approach,? he said, and are ?not blocking people from services because of their status.?

Fast-growing epidemics are often found in countries that criminalize behavior. For example, homosexuality is illegal in many Muslim countries in the Middle East and North Africa, so gay and bisexual men, who get many of the new infections, cannot admit being at risk. The epidemics in Eastern Europe and Central Asia are driven by heroin, and in those countries, methadone treatment is sometimes illegal.

Getting people on antiretroviral drugs makes them 96 percent less likely to infect others, studies have found, so treating growing numbers of people with AIDS has also helped prevent new infections.

Ethiopia?s recruitment of 35,000 community health workers, who teach young people how to protect themselves, has also aided in prevention.

Mr. Sidib? acknowledged that persuading rich countries to keep donating money was a struggle. The Global Fund is just now emerging from a year of turbulence with a new executive director, and the American program has come under budget pressures. Also, he noted, many countries like South Africa and China are relying less on donors and are paying their own costs. The number of people on treatment in China jumped 50 percent in a single year.

Mr. Warren?s organization said in a report on Tuesday that the arsenal of prevention methods had expanded greatly since the days when the choice was abstain from sex, be faithful or use condoms. Male circumcision, which cuts infection risk by about 60 percent, a daily prophylactic pill for the uninfected and vaginal microbicides for women are in use or on the horizon, and countries need to use the ones suited to their epidemics, the report concluded.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/21/world/new-hiv-cases-falling-in-some-poor-nations-but-treatment-still-lags.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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