Friday, September 21, 2012

Club for Growth president: Mitt Romney is 'a mixed bag'

The Monitor Breakfast

Chris Chocola, president of the influential conservative group the Club for Growth, certainly wants Mitt Romney to defeat President Obama. He's just not sure what Romney would do once in office.

By David Cook,?Staff writer / September 20, 2012

Chris Chocola, president of the Club for Growth, speaks in Washington on Thursday.

Michael Bonfigli/The Christian Science Monitor

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Chris Chocola, president of the influential free-enterprise and anti-tax group the Club for Growth, called GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney ?a mixed bag? in a sign of the remaining challenges the party standard-bearer faces in energizing conservative Republicans.

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Mr. Chocola, a former member of Congress, spoke Thursday at a Monitor-hosted breakfast for reporters. When asked what his group?s expectations were for a potential Romney presidency, Chocola said, ?our expectations are uncertainty.???

He added: ?That is the knock against Romney?. You don?t really know how he will serve.? There is always a question because of how he has served in the past, gives you some uncertainty as how he will serve in the future.?

"He has the potential to exceed expectations," Chocola said. "But it is a mixed bag, and that is his problem.... People really don't know."

The Club for Growth focuses its attention on backing what it considers the most conservative electable candidates in House and Senate races. Sometimes it targets Republican incumbents the group finds insufficiently in line with its anti-tax, free-trade views. ?Our first focus is open, safe Republican seats. Our second focus is incumbents behaving badly,? Chocola said.?

The Club played a key role in the defeat of Utah Republican Sen. Bob Bennett in 2010 as well as helping fund the successful candidacy of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio that year. In the current election cycle, the Club?s financial backing played a key role in the come-from-behind victory of Senate candidate Ted Cruz in the Texas Republican primary.

Despite reservations about Romney, Chocola made clear that he prefers the former Massachusetts governor to President Obama. Romney ?has a mixed record when it comes to our issues. We didn?t endorse him in the primary. He is our only choice ? now so we are not going to criticize him. We are going to hope that he exceeds our expectations," he said.?

Chocola praised Romney?s spending record while he was governor of Massachusetts as ?pretty good.? Annual increases were in the 2.1 to 2.2. percent range, he said. But he was critical of the governor?s tough stance on trade with China, where Romney has called for the US to brand China a currency manipulator.

?Romney and Obama had their dueling 'bash China' sessions,? Chocola said. ?When you start to threaten a trade war with China, when you start to pander politically on trade issues, you are hurting the economy, you are not helping it?. We think that both of them are guilty of political pandering to the detriment of economic growth.?

The Club for Growth president ran CTB International, a successful agricultural equipment manufacturing firm, before he was elected to Congress in 2002. The company, which his grandfather founded, was sold to billionaire Warren Buffett in 2002. Chocola argued that business executives who go into politics, like Romney, often have trouble adjusting.?

?In politics, 90 percent of what you do is look like you are doing something, 10 percent is actually doing something. In business 90 percent of what you do is doing something and the other 10 percent may be trying [to] ? convince people you are great. And so business people have a very hard time understanding why results just don?t speak for themselves and 'Why do I have to tell people how great I am?' ? he said.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/i3UV8CJ7EBo/Club-for-Growth-president-Mitt-Romney-is-a-mixed-bag

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Have you Heard of Business Fundability? - Business Finance

Business Fundability is actually a product developed by CredSystems in early 2012. It was developed in response to businesses that often fail early in their life cycle due to problems with their financial management. The company works in collaboration with a natiowide network of financial advisors and Experion credit resporting agency to help business owners learn how to apply for commercial loans and determine the sources of loans that are right for them.

Business Fundability, though a product, is fast becoming a concept as well. Learn about this technique of helping businesses secure loans and perhaps take the test that is offered to see if your business is fundable. Take a look at my article on Business Fundability and check it out for your business!

Most Popular Topics |Latest Articles | Newsletter | Discuss in my Forum | Add to RSS Feed |Follow me on Twitter!|Join my Google + Circles

Source: http://bizfinance.about.com/b/2012/09/21/have-you-heard-of-business-fundability.htm

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Fitted Wardrobes ? Full Cabinet Wardrobes systems | Tony Lum's Blog

September 20th, 2012 by HomeImprovement

Fitted wardrobes can offer a fashionable and space-saving accessory your bedroom. Whether you are looking for a sleek exterior or possibly a roomy interior, there is a fitted wardrobes?to suit everyone and budget.

Fitted wardrobes are categorized as three important categories:

  • Foremost Frame Wardrobes System
  • Voluminous?Full Cabinet Wardrobes System, and
  • Fitted Sliding Wardrobe Doors System

Here is an introduction to the principle fitted wardrobe styles and what they offer:

Foremost Frame Wardrobes?Construction: ? Foremost Frame?Fitted Wardrobes?systems make use of a basic framework which is constructed upwards from your floor to the ceiling and away from a wall. Your bedroom wall will in fact form the main wall for that wardrobe, simply because this model just isn?t generally furnished with backs or sides.Front Frame systems do not have a set depth measurement, and thus they can be easily installed around non-movable household features such chimneys or other possible obstructions.They may be ideally worthy of rooms which may have sloping ceilings, for example loft spaces that was converted to a bedroom.

Voluminous?Full Cabinet Wardrobes System?Construction: ? Voluminous?Full Cabinet Fitted Wardrobes?are quite like large wardrobes which can be freestanding. They?re simply fixed into position using infill panels, at both ends in the wardrobe, as well as a top filler panel which fits as much as the ceiling. Often Full Cabinet Wardrobes have a fixed depth measurement, that?s usually around 610mm. Adding cabinets across potential obstacles, such as the aforementioned chimney breast, is often a more complex process. The whole cabinet back must be cut away prior to being re-supported for the build.Because of the onsite modifications that should be created to Full Cabinet Wardrobes, if your space is tricky, they wouldn?t be well suited for rooms with sloping ceilings.

Fitted Sliding Wardrobe Doors System: ? Sliding Door Fitted Wardrobes?generally change from permanent and come with both frame and cabinet. You are likely to run into these kinds of wardrobes in modern properties.Normally the entranceway strategy is constructed being a frame before cabinet interior units are situated behind the doors.The device may be customised to match customers&rsquo needs as doors could be?both made to measure or standard. Doors which are a regular size tend to have large door overlaps, helping to make accessing the inner more problematic.As door systems develop sliding door systems are getting to be considerably more innovative. For example anyone can get soft close doors. Sliding doors aren?t at the cheaper end from the wardrobe market and costs can come upon the thousands. They also come in a whole host of different door styles for example Multi Panel Glass Systems, Sloping Doors, and Wood/Glass/Mirror mixes.

Related posts:

Source: http://tonylum.webaeon.org/fitted-wardrobes-full-cabinet-wardrobes-systems/953/

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Lawmakers to hear from 'gun-walking' investigator

FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2009, file photo, acting ATF Director Kenneth Melson speaks during a news conference in San Antonio. The Justice Department's internal watchdog on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 20012, faulted the agency for misguided strategies, errors in judgment and management failures during a bungled gun-trafficking probe in Arizona that resulted in hundreds of weapons turning up at crime scenes in the U.S. and Mexico. One of those criticized in the report, Melson, who headed that office during the Fast and Furious investigation, retired upon release of the report.(AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2009, file photo, acting ATF Director Kenneth Melson speaks during a news conference in San Antonio. The Justice Department's internal watchdog on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 20012, faulted the agency for misguided strategies, errors in judgment and management failures during a bungled gun-trafficking probe in Arizona that resulted in hundreds of weapons turning up at crime scenes in the U.S. and Mexico. One of those criticized in the report, Melson, who headed that office during the Fast and Furious investigation, retired upon release of the report.(AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Kent Terry Sr., father of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, and Richard "Rick" Barlow, chief patrol agent of the Tucson sector, share a quiet moment during the dedication ceremony for a new station named after Brian Terry, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012 on Naco, Ariz. Brian was killed in a December 2010 firefight with bandits north of the Mexican border. Two guns found at the scene of the shootout were bought by a member of a gun smuggling ring that was being monitored in the government's botched gun smuggling probe known as Operation Fast and Furious. (AP Photo/Sierra Vista Herald, Beatrice Richardson)

(AP) ? House Republicans investigating a bungled gun-trafficking probe in Arizona see vindication in a long-awaited watchdog report that criticizes one of their favorite targets: Attorney General Eric Holder's Justice Department. But Justice's inspector general absolved Holder himself of blame.

The department's internal watchdog, Michael Horowitz, will be the only witness Thursday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, a day after he faulted the department for misguided strategies, errors in judgment and management failures in an operation that disregarded public safety and allowed hundreds of guns to reach Mexican drug gangs.

"The inspector general's report confirms findings by Congress' investigation of a near total disregard for public safety in Operation Fast and Furious," said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., the committee's chairman.

However, committee Republicans will have to tread carefully. The IG's report knocks down some of the many accusations Republicans have made about the Obama administration during their year-and-a-half-long investigation of the operation by the Justice Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In places, the report reads like a rebuttal of House Republicans' past statements.

"We found no evidence" that staff at the department or at ATF informed the attorney general about Operation Fast and Furious before 2011, the report says.

Former Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary Grindler received a briefing on Operation Fast and Furious in 2010.

"We found, however, that the briefing failed to alert Grindler to problems in the investigation," the report says.

"We found no evidence to suggest" that Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer, head of the Justice Department's criminal division, was aware that the ATF and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona had adopted a strategy of not interdicting firearms, the report adds.

Still, the inspector general's report was a form of validation for the Republican-led investigation, saying lower-level officials should have briefed Holder about the investigation much earlier.

The inspector general referred 14 people for possible department disciplinary action in Operation Fast and Furious and a separate, earlier probe known as Wide Receiver, undertaken during the George W. Bush administration ? Grindler, Breuer and two other people from the Justice Department, four from ATF headquarters, four at ATF in Phoenix and two from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix.

A former head of the ATF, Kenneth Melson, and a deputy assistant attorney general in Justice's criminal division in Washington, Jason Weinstein, left the department upon the report's release Wednesday ? the first by retirement, the second by resignation.

Operation Fast and Furious involved "gun-walking," an experimental tactic barred under longstanding department policy. ATF agents in Arizona allowed suspected straw purchasers, in these cases believed to be working for Mexican drug gangs, to leave Phoenix-area gun stores with weapons in order to track them and bring charges against gun-smuggling kingpins who long had eluded prosecution, but they lost track of most of the guns.

Two of the 2,000 weapons thought to have been acquired by illicit buyers in the Fast and Furious investigation were recovered at the scene of a shootout that claimed the life of U.S. border agent Brian Terry. About 1,400 of the total have yet to be recovered.

The experimental operations were a response to widespread criticisms of the agency's anti-smuggling efforts. Because of thin ATF staffing and weak penalties, the traditional strategy of arresting suspected straw buyers as soon as possible had failed to stop the flow of tens of thousands of guns to Mexico ? more than 68,000 in the past five years.

Fast and Furious has produced charges against 20 gun traffickers, 14 of whom have pleaded guilty so far.

Horowitz indicated he will continue his investigation of matters related to Fast and Furious, Issa noted, including a look at possible retaliation against whistle-blowers and an effort to have the Justice Department unseal wiretap applications that were approved by senior officials.

A cover memo reviewed by Weinstein for one of the wiretap applications in Fast and Furious "clearly suggests" ATF agents had allowed a known illicit gun purchaser to continue his illegal activities for a gun-trafficking ring selling weapons to a Mexican drug cartel, the inspector general's report found.

In response to the criticism, Weinstein's lawyer said that before reviewing any Fast and Furious wiretaps, Weinstein had been assured by ATF Deputy Assistant Director William McMahon that guns were being aggressively interdicted.

During the House committee's investigation, President Barack Obama ordered Holder to withhold from the House committee, under executive privilege, some documents describing how the Justice Department responded to the panel. The Republican-controlled House voted to hold Holder in contempt, and Issa's committee has filed a civil lawsuit to make the administration turn over the documents. Horowitz said he was not denied access to any of the documents.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-09-20-Fast%20and%20Furious/id-c46053bf33d64c3c9bb986bdd293a2c3

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Ten new charges sought against accused Colorado gunman: report

DENVER (Reuters) - Prosecutors have filed a motion to add 10 new charges against accused Colorado gunman James Holmes, arrested following the July movie theater shootings that killed 12 people, and have asked to amend 17 others, the Denver Post reported on Wednesday.

The judge in the case has ordered nearly all court filings be sealed, and it was not clear what the additional charges were from a register of court actions, the Denver Post reported.

Holmes, a former neuroscience graduate student, is accused of opening fire on July 20 at a midnight screening of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, a Denver suburb. Twelve people were killed and 58 were wounded in the attack.

A court official declined to confirm the report of the additional charges.

Holmes, 24, already faces 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116 counts of attempted murder. Under Colorado law, the doubling of charges allows prosecutors to have two pathways to secure a conviction.

The newspaper noted that a separate motion was filed to amend 16 counts of attempted murder and one count of crime-of-violence sentence enhancement against Holmes, although it did not reveal how they would be amended.

Prosecutor Rich Orman said at a hearing last month that Holmes bought a ticket to the midnight screening, then left the theater through an exit door that propped open on his way out.

Holmes then put on a gas mask and ballistic protective gear before returning to the theater and spraying the crowd with gunfire, Orman said.

Wednesday's developments came a day before the scheduled continuation of a hearing on whether a parcel Holmes sent to University of Colorado psychiatrist Lynne Fenton falls under patient-doctor privilege.

Fenton testified at an earlier hearing that she treated Holmes more than a month before the rampage, but that their professional relationship had ended well before he mailed the package to her a day before the massacre.

(Editing by Mary Slosson and Will Dunham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ten-charges-sought-against-accused-colorado-gunman-report-000538767.html

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UK needs more ambitious electric car grant scheme - MPs

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain needs a more ambitious programme to encourage the uptake of low-carbon vehicles, as sales of the cars have disappointed, a committee made up of MPs said on Thursday.

As part of its aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, the government has offered 25 percent off the price of a plug-in electric car capped at 5,000 pounds.

Plug-in cars, such as the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf, Toyota Prius and Vauxhall Ampera, typically cost in excess of 20,000 pounds.

The government expects to see tens of thousands of plug-in vehicles, which have a longer driving range than all-electric vehicles but which still need to be charged, on the roads by 2015, but demand has been weak, said a report by the Transport Select Committee.

In 2011, 1,052 vehicles eligible for the plug-in car grant were registered. The committee said consumer demand was lagging behind and that the subsidy was ineffective because the purchase price was still too high.

"So far, Department for Transport expenditure on plug-in cars - some 11 million pounds - has benefited just a handful of motorists," said Louise Ellman, chair of the committee.

"Ministers should not sit back and hope that the government's policy on plug-in cars will reduce transport carbon emissions. Far more work is required to ensure that this programme is a good use of public funds."

Emissions from domestic transport account for around a quarter of the UK's total carbon dioxide emissions, with car emissions accounting for over half of that amount.

There is also uncertainty over the number of charging points being installed across the country.

"It is unclear whether the provision of public charging infrastructure encourages demand for plug-in cars. Indeed, the government does not even have a register of all the charge points installed at public expense," Ellman said.

The government should set milestones for the number of plug-ins it expects to see on the roads so the success of its low-carbon vehicle strategy can be assessed, the report said.

(Editing by Louise Heavens)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uk-needs-more-ambitious-electric-car-grant-scheme-021221539--finance.html

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ION iCade Mobile Gaming Controller Review ? The Gadgeteer

There?s no denying the fact that?people love playing games on the iPhone and iPod Touch. Using the capacitive touch screen to play puzzle and word games on these devices is fun and easy. But playing action games using an on screen?touch controller is less fun and less easy. At least for me? I find that I really miss using a good old fashioned?joystick and the control that it offers. That?s why I was excited?to try the iCade Mobile Gaming Controller from ION. Does the iCade?turn your iPhone into a Gameboy-like video gaming system? Let?s see.

Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.

Package Contents

iCade Mobile Gaming Controller
2 AA batteries
Quick start guide

The iCade?is made of a hard plastic with a 4-way D-pad on the left and 4 buttons on the right. In the center is a silicone holder for your iPhone or iPod Touch.

This holder has the ability?to rotate 90 degrees for games that require a portrait orientation.

In addition to the D-pad and 4 buttons on the face of the controller, there are 2 sets of shoulder buttons on the top edge of the iCade. These buttons may not work for every compatible game, it just depends on the game.

The iCade features two grips that allow you to easily hold on to the controller while you?re playing games.

To start using the iCade, you first have to load 2 AA batteries. This requires you to remove the small screw on the bottom of the controller and then slide off the cover.

The small Philips screwdriver is not included with the iCade.

After the batteries are loaded?and the cover is snapped?back in place, you can pair the iCade?with your iPhone or iPod Touch. First make sure you have Bluetooth enabled on the iOS?device and then by holding a certain button combination on the controller, you?ll be in pairing mode. A popup?window on the device will ask you to press some of the keys on the iCade and after doing so, you?re connected and ready to play.

The iCade?controller feels natural (if you?ve ever used a joystick or played with a Gameboy) to hold and use. It works well in landscape orientation.

And also works well in portrait orientation. It makes action games a LOT more enjoyable. BUT, here?s the problem? the iCade?is not compatible with 1000?s of exiting?games in the app store. However, it will work with 100?s of games. But 99% of those games you?ve probably never seen before. It also seems that the games that will work with this device are very old school. iCade has a list of compatible games with links to them in the?app store. You?re not going to find Angry Birds or Cut the Rope there. The only game I found on their list that was new and popular was Temple Run. As a result, I did most of my testing with the iCade?using this game. I was horrible at this game before the iCade, and with the iCade it?s fun and kind of addictive. I found the controls to work great. No problem with buttons sticking or presses not being recognized. However, it would be nice if the 4 small buttons were rubber instead of hard plastic as I noticed my thumb getting a little sore after a particularly long session playing Temple Run.

Will the iCade?make you better at action games on your iPhone or iPod Touch? Yes, definitely. If only it worked with all your favorite games (and Android devices)? If you?re a big fan of retro games, you?ll love the iCade. But if you?re a gamer that likes the latest and greatest games, I think you?ll be disappointed.

Product Information

Price:$59.99
Manufacturer:ION
Requirements:
Pros:
  • Provides physical joystick controls
  • Can be used in portrait or landscape orientation
Cons:
  • Not compatible with all games
  • Not compatible with Android

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/09/18/ion-icade-mobile-gaming-controller-review/

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Antireflux Surgery

Did you know antireflux surgery is on the rise? And gastroesophageal reflux disease, better known as GERD, is the culprit. This insidious and annoying medical condition comes from stomach acid backing up into the esophagus. The end result symptom is heartburn.

If you?ve ever experienced heartburn, you know it?s an uncomfortable burning feeling in the middle of your chest. It may be felt all the way up through the throat area. Many people, with serious heartburn issues, experience it numerous times throughout a 24-hour day.

Other symptoms may be nausea, a dry cough or even severe pain in the chest causing some to think they are experiencing a heart attack. When symptoms become too problematic, antireflux surgery is often the only thing that will help.

Unfortunately, the cause of GERD is nothing more than food itself ? especially acidic or spicy foods. The normal process of food leaving your mouth and going to your stomach involves the esophagus. This is a long tube, which connects the two areas. A small muscle ring known as the lower esophageal sphincter or, LES, is a little valve, which opens in one direction. This action allows the food to pass into the stomach.

But sometimes the LES loses its functionality and the stomach acid begins to back up into the esophagus. This acidic process actually ?burns? the esophagus area thus causing constant inflammation and irritation. With enough of this burning process taking place, over time, it could harm the esophagus in a more serious way.

There are certain causes for a weak LES.

Present at birth

Spicy, fatty foods

Certain medications

Smoking

Caffeine

Alcohol consumption

Tight clothing

Certain exercises

Lying down or bending over

Hiatal hernia

The good news is that there are effective ways to treat GERD. The first and foremost should always be lifestyle adaptations. The elimination or reduction of known foods or beverages and losing weight will go a long way to reduce the symptoms. Propping your head up with 2-3 pillows during sleep is also a huge help.

Medications, either prescribed or over-the-counter, can be very effective. Be sure to talk over this option with your doctor.

If all else fails and none of these remedies help, antireflux surgery may be the answer. One popular method is laparoscopic. There are many advantages to this approach such as reduced pain level, a quicker return to work following a shorter hospital stay and smaller incision areas.

After a thorough examination, your gastroenterologist will know whether you?ll be a good candidate or not for this surgery. The success rate for this type of corrective procedure is very high with only a rare few reporting no improvement at all.

GERD is nothing to fool around with. It?s a very serious medical condition, which can cause wreck and ruin to every day life. It?s vital to do everything possible to find a way to control it either through various lifestyle changes or surgery.

Source: http://toddsblogs.com/healthandfitness/2012/09/18/antireflux-surgery/

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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

AT&T under fire for FaceTime pay policy

1 hr.

A group of public interest organizations are preparing a complaint against AT&T for violating net neutrality rules by blocking access to a video-conferencing application.

In a letter to AT&T, three groups ? Free Press, Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute ? assert that the telecommunications giant is running afoul of Federal Communications Commission regulations by charging a premium for access to FaceTime, an Apple program available on iOS devices. FaceTime is free via Wi-Fi, but with iOS 6, due out this week, it can be used over a cellular carrier's network.

"We respectfully request that AT&T reconsider its behavior and the impact that blocking FaceTime will have on its customers, particularly the deaf and hard of hearing, as well as all who use this application to communicate with family and friends over the Internet," the letter reads.

"Making mobile use of the application available only to those customers who pay for unlimited voice and text messages harms individuals and innovation alike."

Spokesmen for AT&T did not respond to request for comment.

Under the FCC's guidelines, the subject of any complaint must be notified 10 days before a complaint is filed. If the public interest groups cannot convince AT&T to come to a resolution, the complaint will either be heard by the FCC's enforcement bureau or along to an administrative law judge, John Bergmayer, senior staff attorney at Public Knowledge told TheWrap.

Bergmayer said that unlike Sprint and Verizon, AT&T does not allow iPhone users to access FaceTime over cellular?unless they subscribe to one of its "Mobile Sharing" plans. He said that violates open Internet rules that prohibit companies from blocking these types of applications on their mobile networks.

"There's really no factual dispute about what AT&T is doing, we just have to see if they agree their behavior is against the open internet rule," Bergmayer said.

Bergmayer said a resolution could come anywhere between 45 days and several months.

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at:?http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp?

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/att-under-fire-facetime-pay-policy-1B5964131

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Monday, September 17, 2012

New Product Launch? Free Training Videos?

Product Launch FormulaEvery now and then, Jeff Walker releases a series of free training videos... and it's always a complete internet marketing education in itself.

Jeff does this as part of the warm-up for his next Product Launch Formula class. If you're working on a new product launch, or your first major launch ever, you'll definitely want to tune in & take notes.

Whether or not you're interested in PLF or in product launches, there's still A LOT to learn from Jeff's free training series. Even if you're just studying his content delivery and follow-up methods. And the price is right (free)... it won't cost you anything (other than your email address) to access the videos & downloads.

There's a lot of controversy (and negative talk) about product launches in the Internet Marketing space. I wrote a blog post about that a couple of years ago, here: Open Discussion on Jeff Walker, Product Launches & the State of Internet Marketing

Great discussion in the 80+ comments. There is a very clear divide on this topic: those who loathe new product launches, and those who profit from them.

Product Launch Formula 2012

The free training is different every time Jeff releases Product Launch Formula. The series offers brand new video content and fresh case studies. Here is a quick list of the the four free videos in the 2012 series:

  • Sideways Sales Letter
  • Six Figures Case Study
  • The Seed Launch (No Product, No List...)
  • Product Launch Blueprint (PDF) + Training Video

All you have to do is register here and you'll be able to access ALL of the new product launch content immediately, and study it at your leisure. But the content does go away once Jeff releases his newest version of Product Launch Formula, so you'll want to view the free content now while it's still available.

The latest release is the new Product Launch Blueprint. It's a free 13-page downloadable PDF, and a full-length training video that goes through the PDF step-by-step. It basically lays out the entire launch strategy and gives you a "behind the scenes" look at Jeff's multi-million-dollar product launch strategies.

Jeff Walker Featured on Forbes.com

Last week Forbes.com published a profile on Jeff, and it was the #4 trending article on the site. You can see it here: Why Jeff Walker is the 400 Million Dollar Man -- And 7 Lessons You Can Learn From Him.

Pretty cool. :) I was really impressed with Jeff Walker when I met him in person a few years ago. Unlike many of the "gurus" in our industry, he is not at all ego-driven. He is very down to earth and grounded in solid life principles. And he puts out top-notch training on his one topic that all of the other 'experts' use as their blueprint...

On a final note, product launches are NOT just for the Internet Marketing space. Some of the super successful case studies of new product launches that Jeff shares are in completely different industries - which I love...

Best,

p.s. These training videos won't stay online for long...

Source: http://www.clicknewz.com/5152/new-product-launch/

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SMP at Home: A Surprise Party, Part IV | Style Me Pretty

It?s been quite a day! But the reason that we wanted to break apart this particular party is because we want you to see what a fun and creative process planning something special in your own home can be. This was my first grown-up, I can?t believe we hired a chef and actually had rentals in my home, definitely a splurge kind of party but it was so worth it. Sitting in such a warm and familiar spot, all gussied up and glittery, with the people that you love, sharing wine and laughs and a sense of peace?it was just a beautiful time. Thank you so very much to all of the vendors (listed below) who helped to build this celebration, especially Justin Marantz for trapsing all the way here to capture it on camera. We love you. Click here to see the full gallery.

photos by Justin Marantz

Okay, now that you can see everything together in one spot, I?ll break it down a bit more. Sarah True of True Event was awesome in helping me to think through all of this, refine the design and just be her general amazing self.

The Paper Goods.?I was hugely inspired by Julie Song?s work for her very own wedding featured on Style Me Pretty and when I began conceptualizing this event, my mind was racing with visions of watercolor and art and effortless grace. Julie?s name immediately came to mind. The gracefullness of her watercolor, the modernity of her lettering..it all gave me butterflies so we asked her to create a masterpiece for this event and to say that we were blown away, is the understatement of the century. Julie was exceptional. She took our general concept and came up with a beautiful design, then waterfalled that very vibe down to the hand lettered menus, the fold-out cupcake recipe tags, the amazing bar sign and the gorgeous gilded plate favors. The result was spectacular.

The Flowers.?We wanted the flowers to be French inspired and yet grounded it tradition. We didn?t want too much structure, instead hoping for graceful, easy pieces that suited the intimate environment we were hoping to create, using a collection of pinks, peaches, reds and a deeper hues. Yumiko, of Hana Floral Design ? who is our forever go-to flower genius because she is so inspired, such a breeze to work beside and so thoughtful with her work ? had the idea of using black urns to house the arrangements. Love, love, love the result.

The Decor. For our bar area, we started with the sketch that you saw earlier, then had our newest SMP guru craft do-it-yourself chevron print risers & gorgeous gold leaf coasters (which we have a DIY for tomorrow!). We used a dresser that I have in my home and filled in with pretty flowers and a pop of color through fresh fruit. The gorgeous sign that Julie made was placed on a basic easel that we found at AC Moore and painted gold with this amazing new spray we found.

As for the table, I had a leftover gift certificate to West Elm, which isn?t a bad place to be wildly inspired, so that was my first pit stop. I found these incredible chargers there, filled in the remaining pieces from the china dinnerware set that I already had, and splurged on a new set of gold flatware that will replace my current IKEA brand that I?ve had for a decade. I made absolute sure to only purchase items that I would use in my daily life so the money really was well spent. I found gold hobnail votives on Save on Crafts that finished off the table look.

As a little aside, we had planned to have the entire party outside but rain put a damper on our plans so we moved dinner from outside under the tree, to inside our screened porch. Which actually turned out beautiful and so nice BUT I didn?t get to use these adorable hanging votives that I found on Save on Crafts.

The Food.?For the first time in my life, I hired a chef. I wanted to really enjoy being with my guests and I wanted someone else to be in control in the kitchen. Our menu was inspired by local farms and their offerings and included an amazing collection of foods by Chef Gary Ankin and featured such yummies as seared scallops with a carrot chardonay beurre blanc, pork loin with pickled peach relish and so much more. Gary and his girlfriend, Tammy, made the party run seamlessly and without stress. It was awesome.

The Conversation.?Even though we were all family, I wanted to have a back-up conversation starter on the table, so I printed thoughtful & funny questions on gold paper, then curled them and placed them in two bowls on the table. Judy, our guest of honor, discovered the game and off we went. We ended up going through all of the questions ? which were a combination of thoughtful ?what do you dream for your children? to fun, ?if you had a yacht, what would you name it.? It made for such a fun, laughter & tear filled evening.

The Dessert.?We opted for something inspired by home. Cupcakes. And we chose the ones that made our hearts go pitter patter from last week?s Crush event?Georgetown Cupcakes who graciously delivered 120 cupcakes that were both served and gifted as favors and were promptly devoured in one night. Or close to that at least. We plated a petite selection of our favorites?Salted Caramel, Vanilla with Buttercream, Chocolate Fudge and Red Velvet. I have NO words for how delicious these cupcakes are and we all laughed because each person had a different favorite. They were amazing.

The Favors. We wanted to gift something thoughtful. Because we are of the camp that unless a favor brings something special to the evening, it should be skipped. So we had Julie hand letter some basic white ceramic plates with liquid gold leaf paint. She painted festive sayings like ?celebrate? and ?yum? on each, then tied them with an amazing fold-out card containing a recipe for Salted Caramel Cupcakes. A box of mini cupcakes was also gifted to tie everything together.

Music. We stuck to a simple playlist. Michael Bubble and the soundtrack from Midnight in Paris.

Do ? it ? Yourself. We have two amazing DIY projects coming up tomorrow. So sorry to make you wait but we didn?t want to crowd out the party that really did take center stage. Plus, we wanted an excuse to remind our weekly readers that we?re hear blogging on Sundays so it?s really jut a shameless plug for SMP at Home!

Can?t wait to hear what you think of the party! AND, I would love to hear and see all about the dinner parties that you are throwing at home. Anything you?ve found that makes it easier? Cheaper? Fun? We?d love to know!

Thank you to everyone who made this little dinner party so very special!

VENDORS. Designer & Planner: Sarah True of?True Event?/?Designer: Abby Larson & Jess Blazejewski of?Style Me Pretty?/?Florals: Yumiko of?Hana Floral Design?/?Paper & Favors: Julie of?Julie Song Ink?/?Photography:?Justin Marantz?/?Rentals:?Rentals Unlimited?&?New England Country Rentals?/?Linens:?La Tavola?/?Beauty: Kristine Collins (Boston based hair/makeup stylist) /?Cupcakes:?Georgetown Cupcake

SOURCES. Linens: New York Nudes 134? Rounds from La Tavola, Hemstitched White Napkins via La Tavola?/ Table Rentals: High Top Cocktail and 8ft Long Banquet via Rentals Unlimited?/ Chairs: Wooden X Backs Bistro Chairs via New England Country Rentals?/ Tablesettings: Wooden Chargers, Gold Flatware, China, Game Bowls via West Elm / Votives via Save on Crafts / Coasters & Chevron Risers via Jess Blazejewski (DIY)

Source: http://www.stylemepretty.com/2012/09/16/a-surprise-party-part-iv/

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Land makes NH project standstill - Real Estate India

??|?? September 16, 2012 ?? 08:36am ??|Contributed by manoja

NH-34 Contractor winds up work, says not an acre acquired in 2 yrs.

The road widening project for the National Highway 34, from Barasat in south to Dalkhola in north Bengal has come to a standstill due to non-availability of land.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) took up the project to widen the 422-kilometre stretch in 2010 and it was estimated to cost Rs 4,227 crore. However, the construction company, which was awarded the contract for building the road, has almost winded up its operation citing non-availabilitry of land. According to the contractor, not even an acre of land has been acquired till date. To execute the project, the firm says, 900 hectares of land has to be acquired.

For NHAI projects, the state government acts as the facilitator for acquiring the land. The state issues the notification for land acquisition and NHAI pays the compensation. For the Barasat to Behrampore stretch, the NHAI needs 300 hectares for widening the NH-34. However, till date the NHAI has no land in its possession. For the Beharmpore to Dalkhola stretch, the NHAI has to acquire 670 hectares and it has managed to possess a meagre 0.18 hectares.

?The contractors build the roads on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. So, the contractors suffer huge losses if the work gets delayed due to the non-availability of land. There are several legal issues involved. As of now, the contractor has withdrawn from three projects and it will withdraw from two other projects soon as nothing is happening in the state due to the land acquisition issues,? said a senior NHAI official, who did not wish to be named.

Significantly, the Trinamool Congress-led government is at loggerhead with the NHAI for the maintenance of national highways in the state.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/land-makes-nh-project-standstill/1003246/0

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Source: http://www.indianrealtynews.com/real-estate-india/kolkata/land-makes-nh-project-standstill.html

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Americans largely in favor of campaign spending limitations (Los Angeles Times)

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Pakistan News Watch - MoU signed for lease of plot in Karachi ...

MoU signed for lease of plot in Karachi: PBSA dream of snooker academy on verge of realisation

MoU signed for lease of plot in Karachi: PBSA dream of snooker academy on verge of realisation KARACHI, Sept 15: The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association?s (PBSA?s) quarter-of-a-century old dream to have their own academy came true on Saturday when the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) leased them a plot measuring 2250 square yards at the junction of Kashmir Road and New M. A. Jinnah Road for 25 years. Administrator of the KMC, Mohammad Hussain Syed, and president of the PBSA, Alamgir Shaikh formally signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a simple ceremony held at the Karachi Gymkhana. Chief of the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), Ahmed Chinoy, and Senior Director, Culture, Sports, and Recreation KMC, Mohammad Rehan Khan, also signed the document as witnesses. The ceremony was attended, among others, by provincial secretary Youth Affairs, Shoaib Siddiqui, secretary PBSA Munawar Hussain Sheikh, President Karachi Gymkhana Ali Rahim, Abbas Valika and Anjum Nisar. At the outset, fateha was offered for the victims who lost their lives in the Baldia fire incident. Speaking on the occasion, the KMC administrator said there was a five percent annual influx in the city and plans are afoot to create infra-structure for sports and recreation to avert diversion of youth to undignified activities. He said soon after taking over charge of office, he put an embargo on marriages at KMC Sports Complex swimming pool besides giving his nod for turning the premises into a multi-purpose sports centre. Emphasising upon public-private partnership, he said it was vital for the uplift of sports and to nurture sportspersons of the city. Mohammad Hussain Syed recalled that work on the Landhi Sports Complex which started in 1991 has been completed and will be inaugurated by the Sindh Governor soon. He, however, lamented that swimming pool is being modified due to faulty design. Asked about the period of lease, he said it is for 25 years and the renewal is subject to its proper utilisation. ?We?ve been cautious now as those who were awarded amenity plots in the past have misused them,? he remarked. The PBSA chief thanked the Sindh Governor, Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, for his blessings in the venture besides a word of praise for CPLC chief, KMC administrator and others. Responding to a query, he said the proposed Sindh Snooker Academy would be constructed in two phases by raising funds through own resources. Ahmed Chinoy and Shoaib Siddiqui also spoke on the occasion and elaborated on how the consistent efforts of PBSA chief bore fruitful results. Like this:Be the first to like this.

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Source: http://news.one.com.pk/2012/09/16/mou-signed-for-lease-of-plot-in-karachi-pbsa-dream-of-snooker-academy-on-verge-of-realisation/

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Saturday, September 15, 2012

Shopping spree at new Academy Sports + Outdoors store is a big hit ...

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HICKORY ? What do you get when you turn 30 youngsters loose for a shopping spree in a brand-new store? A lot of great big smiles, that?s what.

Academy Sports + Outdoors gave members of The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club the first chance to see the new store ? and shop for $100 in merchandise Thursday.

Academy Sports renovated the building at 2162 US 70 SE (the old TJ Maxx) into 62,000 square feet of merchandise space. It?s the Texas-based company?s 144th store. It?s bright white, like the Alamo. The company has 146 in all. The Hickory store, the only one in North Carolina, opens Friday 8 a.m.

The store carries everything from boots by Bates to live baits for fishing. Separate rooms allow customers to test golf clubs and archery equipment. Sports apparel includes the Magellen Sportswear house brand, and licensed collegiate and pro sports items. There is all kinds of gear for playing at home or heading outdoors for camping, hiking and canoeing. And there are lots of bicycles.

Montasia got one. She called her mother to make sure it was OK. Did she get shoes, mom asked? Oh yes. So the pink bike with white tires was hers. The conversation revealed why her friends call her ?Giggles.? And she had enough money in her gift from Academy to get another pair of sporty shoes.

?This is overwhelming,? said Capt. Christine Harris of The Salvation Army Hickory Command. ?The generosity is really a blessing.?

The children appreciated Academy?s gesture.

Danny gave the store two thumbs up. ?If I could put up all my fingers and toes, I would,? he said. He chose an ASU tee, a Nerf gun (just for fun), and a bicycle. He also picked out a soccer ball for his girlfriend. ?I?m coming back for my birthday,? he said.

?We do this at every opening,? said Eric Herrera, public relations manager for Academy Sports. ?We partner a lot with the Boys and Girls Club. We always find an organization related to children when we come to a new city.?

Herrera lives in Houston. He?ll go back home after the grand opening in two weeks. Jerry Shepherd is the director of the Hickory store. That means he?s the boss. He moved to Hickory from Knoxville, Tenn. He?s been involved with a lot of store openings. He?s ready to stay put for a while.

Shepherd spent time showing off the store to the news media Thursday. He speaks with pride of the company that started in 1939 in San Antonio as a tire store. ?This is a one-stop store,? he said. ?If you play sports, if you want fitness equipment, or want to cook out ? we have it all. And we are serious about customer service.?

There were some empty counters in the hunting and fishing section. Shepherd said the store was waiting until the children?s visit was over before displaying the handguns. ?They?ll be out tomorrow,? he said. None of the kids got close to the long arms or archery equipment. Besides, they were interested in other things.

Chris, who belongs to the Boys and Girls Club, said he really likes the store. He plays baseball with the Hickory Rangers. He?s a catcher, and he landed a new catcher?s mask. It?s the first new mask he?s ever had, and ?I?ve been playing baseball for six or seven years.? He also picked out a bat.

The children?s joy brought tears to some of the adults? eyes. Each youngster was accompanied by a store employee. There are 130 at the store. They took their time going through the place with the kids.

Lori Wolfe, executive director of the club, tried to hide her emotion, but couldn?t.

?I can?t tell you the times he (Chris) has said he wanted new equipment. Now, he has it. A lot of our kids have never had new things before.?

But no doubt about it, two-wheelers were popular items. Almony picked out her favorite and wouldn?t let it out of her grasp. ?It?s nice here,? she said. ?It?s a go-to place.?

Michael was animated when he says he?s coming back. ?It?s great,? he said, showing off a skateboard, a soccer bag and ball. He had other stuff, but the group was gathering at the entrance to head back to The Salvation Army. There were lots of laughter and shouts of appreciation.

And the giveaways aren?t over. Herrera said there will be prizes and gifts for customers when Academy Sports has its grand opening in two weeks. It will be a three-day affair, Friday through Saturday. Come Christmas, the store will hand out more bicycles to a local school for kids whose families can?t afford them.

?We really focus on family,? Herrera said. He?s worked at a half-dozen store openings. ?This is my favorite part,? he said of the children?s shopping spree.

Source: http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2012/sep/13/5/shopping-spree-new-academy-sports-outdoors-store-b-ar-2606051/

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Home Improvements That Make Life More Comfortable ...

Written by: admin on September 15, 2012 @ 9:31 am

Your happiness (or lack thereof) in your home can color the way you look at the rest of the world. All of us spend a good deal of time in our homes and people who work from home know better than the rest of us the impact your home environment can have on your life. When your home is a relaxing, inviting and functional space, you experience less stress and a better overall feeling of well-being that will help you get more done. Below are a few ideas that are sure to make your home a place where you feel comfortable and content. marketpressrelease.com

You want your home to be a comfortable place to be. There is probably something that you don?t like about your home, so you should work towards rectifying that. You need to be comfy in your home to feel complete. You may have something you are dissatisfied with in your home. It may be an old bathtub or faded curtains. Whatever it is, changing it into something you really like is important to your very sense of well-being. article.wn.com

Even with making the most of your space, you may still feel the need to add on to your house. Keeping your home clean and organized can make a huge difference in your life.

Try to add some fun places to your house. A jacuzzi or pool is a great recreational addition. These improvements will not only make your house more inviting, but they will also give you much enjoyment. You can significantly increase the value of your home by doing this. 2leep.in

Lighting can be very important in improving a room. Improving light fittings and buying modern bulbs can give a room a whole new look and feel. It may also help to alleviate headaches, fatigue and eyestrain. If you are new to the do-it-yourself home improvement mindset, installing new lighting fixtures is a good first project. worldpressrelease.nl

Start a garden for yourself. You will want to spend more time at your house if you put effort into creating a beautiful garden. If gardening is not for you, whether it?s time or skill, you can employ a professional to landscape for you. No matter how you get your garden, being surrounded by plants will reduce your stress levels and make your home feel more luxurious. Don?t forget that having lots of plants and greenery around will improve the quality of air you are breathing. Once your garden is created, you can enjoy picking your own vegetables for dinner, your own herbs to season it, and a bouquet of flowers for the dinner table. submit-articles.net

Fix the exterior of your home. You can easily replace roof shingles and put a new door on your home to improve the look of it. Whenever you turn in to your driveway, you will be proud of your home and eager to get inside and enjoy the comfort and pleasure it affords.

Since you spend a good bit of time at home, you will he happier with it if it is the way you want it. Since this is true, it?s important to improve your home not only to increase its value, but also to improve your overall health and happiness.

Tags: home, home improvement, online

Catogories: Uncategorized

Source: http://guide2bestdomainregistration.info/home-improvements-that-make-life-more-comfortable

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Friday, September 14, 2012

Starving polar bears a sign of warming Arctic

A recent voyage by the National Geographic Explorer ship to the Arctic captured a female polar bear fighting a male for food. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports on the trip, which allowed experts to evaluate the environmental changes in the Arctic.

By Miguel Llanos, NBC News

Wildlife biologist Ian Bullock is a seasoned visitor to the Arctic, but even he was surprised by what he saw last month: a thin female polar bear, shadowed by her cub, trying to challenge a much bigger, stronger male for food.

It wasn't much of a challenge, but it showed just how desperate she was, Bullock told NBC News on returning from his 10th straight summer cruise to the Arctic.

That desperation, he feels, stems from the fact that the Arctic's summer sea ice ? which polar bears using as floating stations from which to hunt seals ? has been shrinking over the last few decades due to a warming Arctic, forcing polar bears into smaller areas and more intense competition.?

"She was the thinnest female with cub I have ever seen," he said. "She had a single cub which implies she has already lost one other cub this year.

"If she cannot feed, she cannot suckle her cub; with a hungry cub it is even harder for her to hunt effectively, so from what I saw her last cub is at risk and ultimately so is she," he added. "This is why she was challenging a big male with food. She was hungry enough to take a big risk."?


In a video filmed during the National Geographic Explorer cruise to the Arctic's Svalbard region, Bullock said it looks like that reduced ice is "really putting the bears under stress."

"The worst thing is when we've encountered bears, we've found them really packed in tight, in the last little areas of fast ice attached to land, or the last little patches of pack ice at sea," said Bullock, who served as a guide on the cruise ship. "And there they've been in competition."

Polar bears are listed as "vulnerable" and in decline by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which estimates the population at no more than 25,000 across the Arctic.

The U.S., which has two Arctic regions where polar bears live, in 2008 listed its population as "threatened".

Last year, researchers cited three incidents where polar bears might even have resorted to cannibalism due to warming and reduced sea ice.

The diminished sea ice also got the attention of the National Geographic Explorer's skipper.

Captain Leif Skog told NBC News that he had e-mailed his boss, Sven Lindblad of Lindblad Expeditions, to describe "a shocking escalation of the reduction of sea ice."

One data graph he monitored daily, showing the total volume of Arctic sea ice, "could be called the death spiral of the Arctic sea ice," he said in his e-mail to Lindblad.

Because of the reduced sea ice, he added, the cruise was able to visit northeast Greenland "a month earlier than what was normal in the past."

"We expected to face some sea ice but everything was gone in the fjords upon our arrival," he added. "The sea water temperature in the fjords was also unbelievably high."

Another expert on the cruise called the outside temperature "surprisingly warm."?

"It was T-shirt weather," Paul Berkman, an environmental science professor at the University of California Santa Barbara, told NBC News. Berkman noted two other major Arctic developments over the summer:

Berkman said the polar regions, and the Arctic in particular, show an "amplified response" to a warming climate ahead of other parts of the globe.

That response is twofold, he adds: Arctic temperatures have warmed 3-6 degrees F above the global average, and reduced ice removes huge amounts of reflective white from the sea and reveals a dark sea that absorbs heat.

The sea ice is like "a giant mirror on Earth's surface" he said. "Without summer Arctic sea ice, more heat from the sun is absorbed into the Earth system, which is a feedback that further accelerates warming of our climate."

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/13/13830880-warming-sign-in-the-arctic-starving-female-polar-bear-challenges-male-for-food?lite

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W. African military chiefs meet to plan military intervention in Mali

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast - The military chiefs of 15 West Africa nations have begun deliberations to "finalize a roadmap" for an armed intervention in Mali, whose northern half is occupied by al-Qaida-linked Islamists.

interim President Dioncounda Traore on Sept. 1 asked the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, for air support to destroy rebel bases and for five battalions to help reconquer northern towns. The meeting's agenda includes a review of that request and a presentation of a deployment plan.

In opening remarks, Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, ECOWAS political commissioner, said she is optimistic officials can overcome "disagreements" concerning the proposed first phase of the mission, which involves stabilizing southern Mali, where a coup occurred in March. The coup leader previously refused to accept a foreign force.

Source: http://www.startribune.com/world/169773806.html

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Michael Kors' Utopian Glory

The most accomplished show in the current New York fashion week has to be Michael Kors, whose exuberant Sixties slick chic collection won the most thunderous applause for any show this season.

Before a packed audience in Lincoln Center on Wednesday, Sept. 12, the catwalk rocked from the opening passage - a couple in dramatic horizontal stripe jerseys; their midriffs dissected by bold belts, their faces emboldened by massive aviator glasses.

Kors kept the mood graphic throughout, particularly with some fantastic Der Stijl like dresses with dramatic rectangular color blocks. With all the insouciance of the Sixties, Kors cut cocktails trim and finished with high court judge collar, and completed sleek women's coats with curvy lapels and beautiful Verner Panton era ergonomic belt buckles.

"Isn't that what every woman really wants, a front row coat?" laughed the designer backstage, where a small mob of fans waited to shower him in compliments. Kors was in an understandably ebullient mood: his stock market flotation has probably been the most successful ever in fashion; his shows have never been more assured.

For guys - since Kors always shows men and women on his catwalks - he suggested nautical dandy yachting jackets and two-tone stiff cotton coats.

After a dynamic score of opening looks, a couple of cloud formation print designs didn't quite work, but they were a rare squiggle in an otherwise flawless collection, which also included superb micro check suits, beach windbreaker stripe jackets and many sure-fired winner metallic leather handbags.

When asked amid the throng of fans by one enthusiast backstage how he felt about being "the four billion dollar man," Kors chuckled: "All I think about is work, work, work and work!"

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/michael-kors-utopian-glory-235620285.html

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Sounds of space: New 'chorus' recording by Radiation Belt Storm Probes' EMFISIS instrument

ScienceDaily (Sep. 13, 2012) ? Researchers from the Radiation Belt Storm Probes' Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS) team at the University of Iowa have released a new recording of an intriguing and well-known phenomenon known as "chorus," made on Sept. 5, 2012.

The Waves tri-axial search coil magnetometer and receiver of EMFISIS captured several notable peak radio wave events in the magnetosphere that surrounds Earth. The radio waves, which are at frequencies that are audible to the human ear, are emitted by the energetic particles in Earth's magnetosphere.

"People have known about chorus for decades," says EMFISIS principal investigator Craig Kletzing, of the University of Iowa. "Radio receivers are used to pick it up, and it sounds a lot like birds chirping. It was often more easily picked up in the mornings, which along with the chirping sound is why it's sometimes referred to as 'dawn chorus.'"

This recording was made by many members of the EMFISIS team, including Terry Averkamp, Dan Crawford, Larry Granroth, George Hospodarsky, Bill Kurth, Jerry Needell and Chris Piker.

You can listed to the audio of the phenomenon known as "chorus" radio waves within Earth's magnetosphere that are audible to the human ear, as recorded on Sept. 5, 2012, by RBSP's Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS). Five six-second "events" are captured in this sample, and they are played end-to-end, one right after the other, without gaps:

http://www.nasa.gov/wav/687014main_emfisis_chorus.wav

Credit: University of Iowa

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'Mini' stroke can cause major disability, may warrant clot-busters

ScienceDaily (Sep. 12, 2012) ? A transient ischemic attack, TIA or a "mini stroke," can lead to serious disability, but is frequently deemed by doctors too mild to treat, according to a study in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.

Patients with transient ischemic attack, TIA or "mini" stroke, are not typically given clot-busting drugs because the condition is considered too mild to treat. However, 15 percent of patients had some disability 90 days after a mini stroke. Some patients with minor stroke may benefit from clot-busting drug treatment.

"Our study shows that TIA and minor stroke patients are at significant risk of disability and need early assessment and treatment," said Shelagh Coutts, M.D., lead author of the study at Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. "We should be imaging patients earlier and be more aggressive in treating patients with thrombolysis if we can see a blockage no matter how minor the symptoms are."

Thrombolysis is a treatment used to dissolve dangerous clots and restore healthy blood flow to the brain. TIA and minor stroke patients don't typically receive this treatment because the condition is frequently not deemed serious enough to warrant it, researchers said.

Among the 499 patients studied, 15 percent had at least minor disability 90 days after their original "mini stroke." Minor disability was defined as being unable to carry out previous activities, but capable of and handling personal affairs without assistance.

Computed tomography (CT) scans showed some "mini stroke" patients had narrowed blood vessels in the brain, and others reported ongoing or worsening symptoms. Those patients were more than twice as likely to have disability at 90 days. Coutts suggests that thrombolysis treatment should be considered in these patients.

Patients with type 2 diabetes had a similarly high risk of disability. Also, women were nearly twice as likely as men to be disabled 90 days after TIA.

"For every second after a mini stroke, the patient's brain may be losing oxygen -- possibly leading to a major event," Coutts said. "If a scan finds that you have a narrowing of a blood vessel in or outside of the brain, you are at a high risk of being disabled."

Recurrent strokes posed the greatest threat to patients. Of those who had recurrent strokes, 53 percent were disabled, compared to 12 percent of patients without a recurrent stroke.

In 2009, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recommended immediate action and thorough testing for TIA -- much like the exams performed after a full-blown stroke. These exams can show blockage in a brain blood vessel, which can increase patients' risk of a subsequent, more serious event.

"The symptoms of a TIA -- abrupt onset of inability to move one side of your body, numbness on one side, dizziness and trouble walking -- may pass quickly," Coutts said. "But, if you experience them, you should immediately go to the hospital, where proper scans can be done. Based on these results we have started a trial in Canada giving clot busting drugs to patients with mild symptoms, but blocked blood vessels in the brain.

"If ignored, these symptoms can lead to death. This is not a benign disease."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Heart Association.

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Journal Reference:

  1. Shelagh B. Coutts, Jayesh Modi, Shiel K. Patel, Heidi Aram, Andrew M. Demchuk, Mayank Goyal, and Michael D. Hill. What Causes Disability After Transient Ischemic Attack and Minor Stroke?: Results From the CT And MRI in the Triage of TIA and Minor Cerebrovascular Events to Identify High Risk Patients (CATCH) Study. Stroke, 2012; DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.112.665141

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/health_medicine/heart_disease/~3/It1_DEofIEs/120913162437.htm

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