Friday, August 31, 2012

THE EVANGELICAL VOTE

Former pastor and one-time presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee says he wants to clear the air about whether "guys like me ? an evangelical ? would only support a fellow evangelical."

"Of the four people on the two tickets, the only self-professed evangelical is Barack Obama," Huckabee told the GOP convention. "And he supports changing the definition of marriage; believes that human life is disposable and expendable at any time in the womb, even beyond the womb; and tells people of faith that they must bow their knees to the god of government and violate their faith and conscience in order to comply with what he calls health care."

Referring to the Republican nominee's Mormon faith, former Arkansas Gov. Huckabee said: "I care far less as to where Mitt Romney takes his family to church than I do about where he takes this country."

? Connie Cass ? Twitter http://twitter.com/ConnieCass

EDITOR'S NOTE ? Convention Watch shows you the 2012 political conventions through the eyes of Associated Press journalists. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/evangelical-vote-015629807--election.html

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Editor: Judge 'throws the book' at UK media

LONDON (AP) ? The editor of a U.K. newspaper says he fears that the senior judge tasked with investigating Britain's scandal-tarred press is preparing to deliver a scathing indictment of the industry.

The Independent's Chris Blackhurst told BBC radio that documents he'd recently received from Lord Justice Brian Leveson were so harshly worded he was shocked.

Leveson was charged with investigating Britain's media in the wake of the phone hacking scandal, which exposed widespread illegal behavior across the industry.

The judge has promised to give confidential warnings to anyone he might criticize in his final report. Leveson's recommendations aren't binding but will likely have a major impact on Britain's media landscape.

No date is set for the report's release, but Blackhurst said Wednesday the warning he'd seen "throws the book at the industry."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/editor-judge-throws-book-uk-media-171940682--finance.html

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Stanford, San Jose State set to open football season

Season openers often bring the unexpected as teams work off the rust and work through the glitches. When both participants start rookie quarterbacks, as will be the case Friday when San Jose State visits No. 21 Stanford, the potential for mayhem soars.

The latest installment of the "Bill Walsh Legacy Game" could feature fumbled snaps, a pick-six, perhaps a dazzling touchdown pass or two.

And just think what might transpire in the second quarter.

"I feel good about 90 percent of what we're putting on the field," Cardinal coach David Shaw said. "We'll see about the other 10 percent."

San Jose State coach Mike MacIntyre echoed the sentiment, although he stopped short of attaching percentages. Neither coach named names, or positions, but the quarterbacks could figure prominently into the uncertainty.

Stanford's Josh Nunes and SJSU's David Fales aren't merely first-time starters -- they are essentially first-time players. Nunes has thrown two career passes; Fales hasn't thrown any at the major-college level, having transferred to SJSU from Monterey Peninsula College.

"I'm not nervous," Nunes said Monday. "But maybe a few butterflies will show up later in the week."

For both Nunes and Fales, the mission is the same: make sound decisions, complete enough passes to keep the defense honest and, above all, avoid turnovers. But their success in those vital areas will be based, to a large extent, on the respective running

games.

If Stanford tailback Stepfan Taylor churns for 5 or 6 yards per carry, for example, Nunes should have a relatively pressure-free evening. SJSU's defense won't know what is coming or when it is coming and will have to blitz judiciously.

"What makes them go is their offensive line," MacIntyre said. "It blows open holes even I could run through."

At the same time, if SJSU's tailbacks are stuffed at the line of scrimmage, Fales will face long-yardage situations against Stanford's relentless pass rush.

In last season's meeting between these teams, the Spartans rushed for 27 yards, lost three fumbles and fell 57-3. Stanford started six possessions in SJSU territory and converted the opportunities into 31 points.

"They return a lot of players that played last year, so we know they're good," Fales said.

But past success isn't necessarily indicative of what will unfold Friday -- even when it comes to Stanford's vaunted running game.

The Cardinal is replacing two of the best offensive linemen in school history (guard David DeCastro and tackle Jonathan Martin); it plans to use true freshmen in the rotation up front (tackles Andrus Peat and Kyle Murphy); and it probably won't have injured fullback Ryan Hewitt, one of its most valuable players.

So maybe Stanford will have a tough time running the ball, allowing SJSU's blitzers to rattle Nunes and setting the stage for a taut finish.

Or maybe it will be 58-3.

"You never know how it will unfold," MacIntyre said. "Sometimes, an uncertainty can become your strength."

For more on college sports, see Jon Wilner's College Hotline at blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports. Contact him at jwilner@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5716.

Source: http://www.insidebayarea.com/top-stories/ci_21439470/stanford-san-jose-state-set-open-football-season?source=rss

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Wenzhou government puts up 52 sites for sales as revenue falls

28 August, 2012, 15:26. Posted by Zarathustra

In case you have not noticed, Wenzhou?s real estate prices did not quite rebound as in the rest of the country according to the official residential real estate prices.?

Not surprising perhaps, as the centre for the shadow banking mess and with large number of companies facing financial difficulties, with real estate speculators in the city getting squeezed by falling prices, the real estate market did not quite warm up (or perhaps not yet, who knows).

A cooling real estate market puts local government under pressure, predictably, as it has become a major source of revenue.? In a sign of desperation, the local government of Wenzhou put up 52 pieces of land for sales in a sort of big road show, with a total area of 3,220 mu according to First Financial Daily (1 mu = 666.66 sq. metre).? Publicly, government officials told real estate developers that this is a brilliant time to invest in real estate, and to tell everyone that ?look, we have a lot of land available, surely the real estate market is now very rational?.? Whatever.? Of all the sites being offered, 10 of them were reportedly sold on the day.

Those with knowledge of the local government?s financial situation, of course, points out that this is merely a sign of desperation.? Wenzhou?s land sales have fallen by 84% in the first half of the year compared to a year ago.? Tax revenue also slowed together with the economy.? As a result, Zhejiang Province (where Wenzhou is located) local government total revenue growth has slowed to 4.4% for the first half of the year compared to a year ago, much lower than the 20-30% growth rate in the previous year according to First Financial Daily.?

But beyond the financial consideration of the local governments, funny enough, First Financial Daily also noted that other local governments are also putting up more land for sales.? Perhaps some of them are once again betting on real estate investment to stabilise growth.? It is still about investment, after all.

For more news and analysis, visit Also sprach Analyst. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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Source: http://www.alsosprachanalyst.com/real-estate/wenzhou-government-puts-up-52-sites-for-sales-as-revenue-falls.html

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Improve Your Exercise Routine With These Helpful Fitness Tips ...

The word ?fitness? covers a lot of terrain. Some parts of fitness include working out, eating healthy, and going to the gym. There are a number of ways to improve appearance and health. This article has advice that can help you find what you need to create a fitness plan that works for you.

Do ab exercises other than crunches. You should not waste your time with crunches if you are trying to lose weight, it takes a quarter million of them to lose a pound! It?s safe to say that crunches alone are sufficient to produce the desired results. Find other, more strenuous ways, to work those abdominal muscles.

It is important to test a workout bench prior to use. Apply pressure to the bench with your thumb to test for adequate padding. If a hard surface from under the cushioning is evident, look for a better bench.

Fitness provides you with much more than a better, healthier body. Getting fit is also great for your emotional wellbeing. The endorphins released during a workout can lead to a feeling of well being. You can also better your self-esteem and confidence by getting in shape. In some ways, therefore, a few workouts may be all that stands between you and happiness.

You can make your workouts more interesting with television workouts. Find exercise shows that can help your workout from the comfort of home. By doing this, you can learn some new moves, and you won?t know which episode is coming next. This helps maintain an engaged mind, and your workouts will go by even faster. Remember that the Internet can also provide useful fitness material if you?re having trouble locating some on TV.

Stretching is often ignored when developing aa fitness routine. Don?t make that mistake. This helps to expand your muscles, so that they can grow and remain healthy for as long as possible. It is very painful to have tightness in your muscles. For the most effective workout, take the time to stretch your muscles properly each time.

If you think that you have an excuse not to exercise, than you should try to schedule a specific time of the day to exercise and stick to it. When the day is done, you can find out whether or not your excuse was really true, or you were just letting it be true. Do not lie to yourself. Find a way to remain motivated and focused on your goals.

Starting dips is a great fitness ideas. Your shoulders, triceps, and chest all get a good workout from a set of dips. They come in many different varieties too. If you place two benches next to each other, you can use them to do dips. You can also add weight to your dips.

In the end you can help your whole life by getting fit. Some rules are black and white, but there are a lot of things that can be adjusted to suit your needs. The advice in this article is a starting point for you to customize your own fitness program.

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Source: http://www.adsforanickel.com/body-health/improve-your-exercise-routine-with-these-helpful-fitness-tips/

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Scholars say NBA not OK for Chinese dictionary

A group of Chinese academics has said English-language abbreviations which have become part of everyday life in China should be struck from the country's top dictionary.

A letter signed by more than 100 scholars condemned the inclusion of terms including NBA (National Basketball Association) and WTO (World Trade Organization) in the latest edition of China's most authoritative dictionary, the Global Times daily reported Wednesday.

Acronyms and other abbreviations derived from English are widely used in China, where millions of basketball fans refer to their favourite league as the NBA, rather than Mei Zhi Lan, the official Chinese translation.

English abbreviations for international bodies such as the WTO are also widely used, while PM2.5, a measure of air pollution, has become a familiar term among urban residents, who are increasingly concerned about air quality.

The latest edition of the Contemporary Chinese Dictionary, the country's most authoritative linguistic reference book, included more than 239 terms containing latin letters, up from 39 in 1996, the Global Times reported.

The academics say in their letter that the introduction of English abbreviations threatens the Chinese language, and their presence in the dictionary violates Chinese laws governing language usage.

"Replacing Chinese characters with letters in such a dictionary... deals the most severe damage to the Chinese language in a century," Li Mingsheng, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the paper.

"If we don't make standards, more and more English expressions will become part of Chinese," Fu Zhenguo, one of the scholars behind the protest letter, told The Beijing News.

China's state broadcaster CCTV triggered a public outcry when it banned English language abbreviations in 2010.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/scholars-nba-not-ok-chinese-dictionary-093037774.html

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Syrian helicopter downed in Damascus clashes

BEIRUT (AP) ? A Syrian military helicopter went down in a ball of fire Monday after it was apparently hit during fighting between government forces and rebels in the capital Damascus, activists said.

A video posted on the Internet showed the chopper engulfed in flames and spinning out of control shortly before it hit the ground amid bursts of gunfire near a mosque. Rebels shout "Allahu Akbar!" or God is great, as the helicopter goes down. The authenticity of the video could not be independently verified.

Syria's lightly armed rebels have grown bolder and their tactics more sophisticated in recent months. There have been claims of fighters shooting down helicopter gunships in the past, though the government has never confirmed it.

With its forces stretched thin by fighting on multiple fronts, Assad's regime has been increasingly using air power against the rebels ? both helicopters and fighter jets.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which along with other activists reported the chopper crash, said there was intense fighting between troops backed by helicopter gunships and rebels in the western Damascus neighborhood of Jobar. State-run media confirmed the crash in the district of al-Qaboun, which is near Jobar and a hotbed of Sunni Muslim rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad. But the reports gave no details about the cause of the crash

The rebels are not known to have any answer to the regime's warplanes except anti-aircraft guns that they mostly use as an anti-personnel weapon. Last month, rebels claimed to have shot down a Russian-made MiG fighter, but the government blamed the crash on a technical malfunction.

The military has for more than a month been fighting major battles against rebels in Damascus and its suburbs while engaged in what appears to be a stalemated fight in the north against rebels for control of Aleppo, the nation's largest city and commercial capital. The government has recently intensified its offensive to recapture districts in Damascus and its suburbs that have fallen into rebel hands.

Over the weekend, evidence mounted of mass killings by government forces in the Damascus suburb of Daraya.

Activists reported that regime forces went on a days-long killing spree after they seized Daraya from rebels Thursday. Reports of the death toll ranged from more than 300 to as many as 600. It was impossible to independently verify the numbers because of severe restrictions on media coverage of the conflict.

Video posted on the Internet by activists showed rows of bodies, many of them men with gunshot wounds to their heads. During mass burials on Sunday, bodies were sprayed with water from hoses ? a substitute for the ritual washing prescribed by Islam in the face of so many dead. The gruesome images appeared to expose the lengths to which Assad's authoritarian regime was willing to go to put down the rebellion that broke out in March last year.

In the north, thousands of Syrians fleeing violence were stuck at the border with Turkey after Turkish authorities blocked access to any more refugees while they rushed to build more camps to accommodate the deluge.

The refugee crisis is just one of many examples of how the civil war is spilling across borders into neighboring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan ? all of which have seen a massive influx of Syrians.

A Turkish official said the refugees still stuck on the Syrian side will be allowed in "within a day or two" when a new camp near the border is ready. Another official said Turkey was also carrying out more stringent security checks on the refugees, adding to the delays in crossing.

Turkey fears that Kurdish rebels fighting for self-rule in southeast Turkey may be coming in through Syria. There are also concerns that foreign jihadists are moving in and out of Turkey to fight the Syrian regime. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of government rules that bar civil servants from speaking to the media without prior authorization.

The official Syrian News Agency, SANA, also reported that authorities released 378 people detained for participation in peaceful street protests. It said those freed were never involved in acts of violence, an indirect admission that scores of people were detained for simply taking part in peaceful anti-government protests. The prisoners were released at the police headquarters in Damascus and the central city of Homs.

Authorities have issued similar pardons in the past, a practice apparently designed to isolate the rebels and create the image of a compassionate regime.

Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa said Syria approved of an initiative Iran plans to present at a world gathering of nonaligned nations that will be held in Tehran later this week. Iran says it plans talks on a peace plan to end Syria's civil war, but hasn't provided any details.

Any Iranian initiative proposing dialogue between the government and the opposition would be a nonstarter because rebels refuse to talk to Assad and because of Tehran's close bonds with his regime.

Al-Sharaa, in a statement issued by his office, said the way to settle the conflict without preconditions is by "achieving a ceasefire by all parties and launching a national dialogue."

___

AP writer Suzan Fraser contributed to this report from Ankara.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-helicopter-downed-damascus-clashes-084202813.html

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Oldest mites in amber discovered

230-million-year-old fossils push back date of resin-preserved arthropods

Web edition : 4:12 pm

Mites could give competitors on Survivor a run for their game-show money.

Two of the tiny creatures, trapped in fossilized tree resin, smash the record for ancient amber-preserved arthropods, a group of critters that includes beetles, butterflies, spiders and shrimp. At 230 million years old, the mite fossils are about 100 million years older than previous finds, and suggest that mites? basic body blueprint may be built to outwit, outplay and outlast.

?Dinosaurs have come and gone, but mites have hardly changed,? says David Grimaldi of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. ?Their body form is quite similar to what we see in gall mites today.?

That similarity is somewhat surprising considering that the Earth was profoundly different 230 million years ago, when most plants were ferns, the Atlantic Ocean didn?t exist and pterosaurs cruised the skies. The Triassic-period mites, however, look just like their present-day relatives: They have segmented bodies, piercing mouthparts and legs bristling with ?featherclaws,? Grimaldi and his colleagues report online August 27 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ?

Mites seem to have made major adaptations, however, to their food supply. Unlike modern gall mites, which feast mostly on flowering plants (sometimes forming bumpy growths on the leaves), the Triassic ones chowed on a more primitive type of greenery: conifers. Grimaldi?s team discovered the two new species of mites, one Triasacarus fedelei and the other Ampezzoa triassica, smothered in droplets of amber from a now-extinct species of cone-bearing tree. The amber also held the remnants of a fly.?

The golden globules are about the size of a grain of rice. The creatures are visible only through a microscope as tiny flecks that mar the fossilized resin?s clarity. ?You can see these little critters in all their lifelike glory ? it?s really quite amazing,? says paleoentomologist Michael Engel of the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

Limestone and shale can also hold arthropod fossils, but amber allows researchers to take a more intimate look. ?The detail preservation in these mites is leaps better than other Triassic arthropods,? Engel says. ?Actually, leaps is an understatement. The difference in preservation is a massive chasm.?

The team picked through ancient sediments in the Dolomite Alps of northeastern Italy in search of resin dollops, then took two years to examine 70,000 amber droplets, shards and fragments. Only three housed arthropods. ?With this discovery, we?re obviously all hot and ready to go back and screen through lots more,? Grimaldi says.

Arthropods are the most diverse group of creatures on Earth, making up more than 50 percent of all known species. They?re one of the key lineages of life, says Engel. ?Anything we can do to better understand what led to their successes and failures can tell us how they shaped the planet in the past and how they?re shaping the planet today,? he says.

Found in: Life

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/343296/title/Oldest_mites_in_amber_discovered

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How ocean currents affect global climate becoming better understood

ScienceDaily (Aug. 26, 2012) ? Florida State University oceanographer Kevin Speer has a "new paradigm" for describing how the world's oceans circulate -- and with it he may help reshape science's understanding of the processes by which wind, water, sunlight and other factors interact and influence the planet's climate.

A Florida State University professor of oceanography with a passion for teaching, Speer and a colleague recently published a significant paper in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Working with John Marshall, an oceanography professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Speer reviewed -- or essentially synthesized -- vast amounts of previous data on ocean circulation (including their own earlier papers). As a result, they have created what Speer calls a new paradigm in the study of ocean currents on a global scale.

Here's how it works: Basically, the oceans, together with the atmosphere, rebalance heat on the planet. The sun shines on Earth and heats up the tropics more than the poles. Near the poles, the ocean is cold and the water sinks; near the equator, the surface of the ocean is inviting and warm -- and floats on top of the colder deep water.

So the question is this: Where does the water that goes down come back up?

Speer, Marshall and other oceanographers now believe that it comes back up in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica -- not as much in the warm oceans as had been previously thought.

"We're not saying that nothing comes up in the rest of the World Ocean, just that the main thrust is in the Southern Ocean," Speer said. "To a large extent it's driven by the wind."

Very strong winds, to be precise.

In the rough waters around Antarctica, sailors call those winds the "Roaring Forties" and the "Furious Fifties." They originate near the Equator, where hot air rises and then is pushed toward the North and South poles by cooler air that rushes in to take its place.

The resulting "eddy-driven upwelling" in the Southern Ocean, as Speer characterizes it, may in fact describe the most important process to date that helps scientists understand the role of the ocean and climate.

Speer, who holds a doctorate in physical oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program, spent years living in France as an oceanographic researcher for a French governmental agency. (Yes, he's fluent in French.)

Today, from his office on the Florida State campus, Speer serves as interim director of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute, a warren of intriguing laboratories just a few steps outside his door. It is there that Speer helps students and postdoctoral researchers learn about how climate works.

The laboratory's equipment includes a large, vintage rotating table designed nearly a half-century ago by the lab's founder, Florida State meteorology Professor Richard Pfeffer. (The device may be old, but it's one of the biggest and best in the United States, Speer says). Here students can recreate the ocean's churning and study natural phenomena such as the Antarctic circumpolar current.

Speer and his students have been studying ocean currents thanks to $2.5 million in funding from a larger $10 million National Science Foundation grant that FSU shares with eight other universities and institutions worldwide. Research has included releasing tracers and floats into the ocean to study the mixing and spreading of currents.

One of Speer's graduate students, Druv Balwada, recently took part in a joint U.S.-United Kingdom research program to study ocean currents aboard a ship in the Southern Ocean.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Florida State University. The original article was written by Elizabeth Bettendorf.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. John Marshall, Kevin Speer. Closure of the meridional overturning circulation through Southern Ocean upwelling. Nature Geoscience, 2012; 5 (3): 171 DOI: 10.1038/ngeo1391

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g2-bcevCKoE/120827094213.htm

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Feng Shui for Interior Design | Randumbprod Home Improvement

The principles that are considered by the ancient art of Fang Shun. Indeed, quite rationally, believe it or not Studies show that the slowdown in home sales in December and January, when Thailand took the time to celebrate both traditional and Chinese New Year. There are a lot of close cultural ties between the two countries and a number of Thailand today seem traditional Chinese Astrology and Fang Shun beliefs consider.

Making Sense of Fang Shun

when translated into English, Fang Shun means water wings and a belief system that is based on the theory that energy flows through everything. School of thought is that any type of energy, the opposite pattern, and both free form simultaneously ? like yin and yang. Fang Shun is the practice of placing objects in such a way as to allow the proper flow of energy. The placement of objects everyday is important and can have a direct impact on the happiness of the population.

Fang Shun public confidence

Some brokers have found that good Fang Shun can help you close the deal and bad Fang Shun can it fall.

Today, many people, including the West, a Fang Shun practitioner. There are several schools of thought on the subject, but at the end of the day, it depends on what each person thinks and what makes them feel comfortable.

1) Building Structure

when it comes to the principles of Fang Shun, the bow is much more profitable than building with sharp corners and edges ? that is representative of the element of fire and is not the best idea to stay. Is from a design standpoint, the building has sharp corners normally use less space efficient, and is not ideal when it comes to home construction ? especially if the building tapers to a point and hence reducing the amount of space available on the ground. From experience, I?ve found that a rectangular shape is best left at home, but that the structure bent much interesting light. However, one must have a balance between the two, or to obtain the risk of loss of function.

2) Ventilation

in Fang Shun, much emphasis is placed on maintaining the air flow and excellent ventilation, especially in areas such as living rooms and bedrooms. There should be a window in every room, but this is not always practical in smaller structures. When it comes to a larger building, the design must be carefully planned to allow for proper ventilation in all rooms and has many windows. Each room should have a window, including the kitchen and bathroom and you will find that this may be an advantage if you sell the property.

3) Water Feature

when it comes to Fang Shun and the water comes out, as the water is very important. Every home should have a water feature. Add lotus pond or swimming can help the aesthetic value of the property while also useful in relation to the principles of Fang Shun. If you live in an apartment, you can use an aquarium or make sure that you have a clear view of the water.

4) Access, input and output

the possibility of unhindered access to both Fang Shun at home and it makes sense when it comes to traditional design principles. You should be able to easily access the input and the people you live in an apartment, you should. A good flow of traffic in the parking lot the entrance should be clearly marked and easy to see, even at night.

5) Lighting

Fang shun classifies the lighting is very important, and so is the overall design. Both indoor and outdoor lighting should be bright, especially when it comes to office buildings. Take the 7-Eleven as a good example of the principles of proper lighting.

6) Unit features

there are several things to consider when it comes to designing the interior design of each unit. Attention should be focused on the master bedroom and living room. The living room is needed to realize the Yang energy ? it must be light, airy and has plenty of ventilation and plenty of exercise. Balconies should be an extension of the room than the bedroom, because it combines the natural movement of the balcony. It makes sense. In the world of traditional design and Fang Shun World

When it comes to the bedroom, the head of the bed should never share the same wall as the toilet, as she thought was that this could lead to the disease. When it comes to design considerations, it would be very loud. The mirror should not see over your bed according to Fang Shun and this also applies to the principles of design as most people would rather not its reasoning. In fact, most of the Fang Shun master would advise against any mirror in the bedroom, like a mirror represents Yang energy, and this will disturb the quiet room. Mirrors are suitable for areas that require energy, such as living and dining area entrance

7) directions

In Feng shun is not always certain direction that is preferred over all others, but it depends on the specific circumstances and the number of variables. A number of Asian people shy away from the west facing unit, because they avoid the heat when the sun goes down want, but it denies the view was excellent. Building, the good use of aspects such as St Regis Residences West, The Lake and make 185 Rajadarmi sold easily.

8) Color Scheme

Dark colors tend to be best off if the conditions. Appropriate Fang Shun and in general, most buyers tend to choose color schemes usually easier Black or dark colors are mainly used with other colors and should not be used in front of residential buildings or their input.

If it is important, however, these principles are put into practice when they work. You need to ensure that your beliefs are angry with a dose of functionality.

Source: http://www.randumbprod.com/feng-shui-for-interior-design/.html

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Monday, August 27, 2012

GOP convention protesters: storms won't stop them

Protest marchers move with a puppet depicting Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney during a march, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, in Tampa, Fla. Hundreds of protestors gathered in Gas Light Park in downtown Tampa to march in demonstration against the Republican National Convention. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Protest marchers move with a puppet depicting Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney during a march, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, in Tampa, Fla. Hundreds of protestors gathered in Gas Light Park in downtown Tampa to march in demonstration against the Republican National Convention. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Demonstrators march, in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Hundreds of protestors gathered in Gas Light Park in downtown Tampa to march in demonstration against the Republican National Convention. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Demonstrators march, in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Hundreds of protestors gathered in Gas Light Park in downtown Tampa to march in demonstration against the Republican National Convention. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Franz Nertte, of Miami, shouts during a protest march in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Hundreds of protestors gathered in Gas Light Park in downtown Tampa to march in demonstration against the Republican National Convention. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Ganzalo Valdes, of Tampa, Fla., marches with demonstrators in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Hundreds of protestors gathered in Gas Light Park in downtown Tampa to march in demonstration against the Republican National Convention. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

(AP) ? The few hundred protesters gathered under wet skies in a park about a half-mile from the GOP convention on Sunday said an impending hurricane that is supposed to dump even heavier rains on Tampa won't stop them from trying to get out their message that America's middle class is in trouble and needs to be restored.

Giant blocks of ice spelling out the words "middle class" were melting on a warm, sticky, rainy day. Occupy protesters it represents the melting away of the middle class.

That message rings true for 52-year-old Tom Gaurapp and Cheryl Landecker from Freeport, Ill. Both worked for Sensata Technologies, owned by Bain Capital, in the city of some 25,000 people. They say 170 jobs there, including their own, were outsourced to China. Occupy protesters are often made up of younger people who generally believe the financial system is stacked against the majority. But in Tampa, many older people joined the marchers.

They included Gaurapp and Landecker, who said that just a few years ago, they never would have considered joining such a protest.

"But then again, we wouldn't have dreamed our jobs would have gone to China," Gaurapp said.

For months, protesters were gearing up for scores of people to converge on Tampa the day before the convention began to showcase their laundry list of beefs and key messages. The groups included organized labor and Occupy Wall Street.

Neither protesters nor the GOP, however, could foresee Tropical Storm Isaac, which is expected to become a dangerous Category 2 hurricane by the time it makes land over the northern Gulf Coast sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Tampa is expected to feel the brunt of the storm with winds, rain and maybe some flooding on Monday. The forecast caused Republicans to postpone their convention activities on Monday's opening day and not that many delegates seemed to be around Sunday to see the protesters.

The protests stayed small by mid-afternoon. And not all had the same message.

Some came to oppose just Mitt Romney, who officially will become the Republican nominee for president on Thursday. Others didn't seem to care for Romney nor President Barack Obama. And though jobs and wealth were strong messages, others had different agendas.

About 30 people, many with dogs, held a rally against Romney, who infamously strapped his dog in a crate to the top of his car on a family vacation years ago.

"If somebody is going to treat their animal inhumanely, how are they going to treat our country?" said Kim Swygert, 37, a law student from Tampa, who came with her Great Dane.

"He strapped his dog to the top of the car because he crapped, excuse my French," she said.

Several carried anti-Romney signs including one that read, "Don't roof rack me, bro."

The weather didn't deter 52 year-old Donald Butner. He says he's been sleeping at the Occupy camp in Tampa for a few months and that "we're here, baby, rain or shine. The weather is going to do what it is going to do."

Many protesters chanted "we are the 99 percent" and carried homemade signs. The 99 percent refers to the group's message that most don't share in the wealth of America.

The 54-year-old Landecker spoke to the group as rain started falling.

"These businesses have put corporate greed over everything else. If they can do it to us, they can do it to anybody," Landecker said.

Though protesters vow to stay put, if the weather threatens their safety or that of visitors on the streets, police officers will use public address systems and go person-to-person to warn them to leave, said Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor.

"As it is right now, there will be high winds and there will be rain but it's not going to be something that is going to prohibit anyone from doing what they want to do out on the streets," Castor said. "If it changes ... and it becomes an issue of public safety, we will order people into shelters."

About 50 people, from Occupy Wall Street and Code Pink groups, marched from the park about two blocks to the Tampa theater where the Faith and Freedom Coalition was holding an event. The protesters waved signs in front of people waiting to get into the theater, and seven of them lay down in front of the entrance. Other protesters covered them in a red cloth.

They were on the ground for about five minutes. When police asked them to move, they did, and then marched back to the park.

Code Pink is a women-focused group pushing to end the U.S.-led wars abroad. They held signs including, "Vagina. If you can't say it, don't legislate it," and "GOP, respect women."

"I'm completely opposed to the Ralph Reed agenda of the war on women," said Rae Abileah, 29, of San Francisco. Reed started the Faith and Freedom Coalition, which among other causes is against abortion.

___

Associated Press writers Brendan Farrington and Peter Prengaman contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-08-26-Convention-Protests/id-26602b59ba894ae7949c3ad037e3d6d2

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Friday, August 17, 2012

Deutsche Bank Debt Analyst To Brigade

Brigade Capital Management has hired a distressed-debt analyst from Deutsche Bank, the latest member of the bank's credit team to leave for a hedge fund.

Scott Hoffman started at Brigade this month after leaving Deutsche Bank last month, Bloomberg News reports. Hoffman spent three years at Deutsche Bank after stints at Citadel Investment Group and Credit Suisse First Boston.

Deutsche Bank has lost at least 10 credit traders since the beginning of last year, after it capped bonuses at ?100,000. Last month, the bank said it would further reduce risk-weighted assets.

Hoffman's departure coincided with those of Americas flow-credit trading head Antoine Cornut and credit Analyst Tom Higbie. Cornut went to an unidentified hedge fund and Higbie went to Solus Alternative Asset Management.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Finalternatives/~3/1mTi0o3s8yY/21330

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Thursday, August 16, 2012

LG 50PM9700

By Will Greenwald

Plasma HDTVs have the potential to be high-performing, relatively inexpensive options if you don't mind their higher power requirements. A good plasma panel can produce accurate colors and dark blacks simultaneously, and plasma screens are generally less expensive than their LED-backlit counterparts. The PM9700 series, unfortunately, doesn't live up to its potential as LG's high-end plasma line. At $1,699.99 (list) ?for the 50-inch 50PM9700, the price isn't particularly inexpensive when compared with similar LED HDTVs. And while you do get plenty of features like 3D and built-in Wi-Fi, the picture quality just isn't up to snuff.

Design
The 50-inch screen is relatively slim at 2.1 inches thick and quite heavy at 59.1 pounds without stand. The bezel is a brushed dark grey surface that frames the screen, surrounded by a metal edge. A set of basic controls including Power, Channel Up/Down, Volume Up/Down, Menu, and Input reside on the left side of the bottom edge of the screen, much more easily accessible than the controls on most HDTVs. The connections are clustered on the left side of the back panel of the screen. Two HDMI ports and two USB ports face left, while the rest face out from the back, including two more HDMI ports, an RF connection, component and composite video inputs, a PC input, an RS-232C remote port, a digital audio input, and a 3.5mm audio input.

As with LG's high-end LED HDTVs like the 55LM6700 , the 50PM9700 includes LG's Magic Motion remote, a motion-sensing wand that moves an on-screen cursor to navigate menus. The wand is curved and comfortable to hold, and its few buttons (Power, Home, Back, Volume Up/Down, Channel Up/Down, Mute, 3D, and Quick Menu) make it simple to use. Most controls are performed with the motion-sensing cursor and the direction pad, with the scroll wheel in the middle serving as the click button for the cursor. The scroll wheel also navigates channels. It's easy to accidentally roll the wheel instead of clicking it, which can make the remote frustrating until you get used to it.

If you don't like the Magic Motion remote, the 50PM9700 also comes with a 9.2-inch conventional remote. Several buttons glow in the dark, the different controls feel distinct, and the navigation pad and its surrounding buttons are very easy to find blindly, so it's a good alternative to the motion-sensing remote.

The set can access online content from numerous sources through LG's Smart Hub. The HDTV features built-in Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port for going online, and it can access multiple services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube and downloadable apps through LG's online store. LG's Smart Hub is similar to Panasonic and Samsung's HDTV media hubs, with extensive options in both services and apps. If you want to take advantage of the HDTV's 3D support but don't have any 3D channels or Blu-ray discs, LG's 3D World section offers plenty of free nature, science, and sports-themed 3D content.

Performance
We test HDTV s using the DisplayMate test pattern software, SpectraCal's CalMAN software, and a Konica-Minolta CS 200 chromameter. After basic brightness and contrast calibration with color temperature set to "Warm," the 50PM9700 showed a relatively nice, if not bright, picture. It reached a peak brightness of 124.09 cd/m2, and displayed a black level of 0.13 cd/m2. The black level can be coaxed darker with a few settings, but this results in clipping shadow detail, so it isn't advised. Color levels were extremely accurate in tint, but red and green channels appeared oversaturated, as shown in the chart below (the squares represent the ideal levels for their respective colors under the CIE color space, and the circles represent the measured levels from the HDTV).

The balance between shadow detail and deep blacks showed itself on the Blu-ray of Piranha. With the calibrated settings, shadow detail was relatively clear but not particularly dark. However, by adjusting the black level settings, I could make shadow detail become inky black, but at the expense of the fine details in those shadows. There isn't a solid middle ground that gets you the best of both worlds. Colors also looked slightly off, with the usually warm, sun-drenched party scenes appearing overcast. The 50PM9700 has several color adjustment modes, including multiple white balance settings and individual hue, saturation, and luminance settings for red, green, and blue, so you can probably tweak the screen to get the right colors. Out of the box and set to Warm, though, it doesn't quite hit it. The Panasonic TC-P55ST50? proves that plasma HDTVs can offer a great picture for the price of the 50PM9700, so the price of the screen can't explain why it doesn't hit the right marks.

The 50PM9700 features a 600Hz Sub Field Driving mode that smooths motion blur. I've found that these anti-blur features look artificial and off-putting, and I usually keep my screen set to 60Hz to avoid it. Unfortunately, I couldn't with the 50PM9700, even in the Expert mode. Even when I set the smoothing setting to "Off," the unsettling effect remained. LG's smoothing mode stayed on to some extent regardless of the setting. The feature can be disabled in Game mode, but that mode limits many other picture settings.

The screen uses active 3D, which requires AG-S350 electronic shutter glasses sold separately at $49.99 per pair. This is disappointing, considering LG's Cinema 3D LED HDTVs use passive 3D and include several pairs of glasses. The active 3D effect on the HDTV is excellent, with the fish in Sharks 3D popping out of the screen. Unfortunately, the shutters produced a headache-inducing flickering effect if I looked at any light source besides the HDTV. If you want to watch 3D movies on the screen in complete darkness, it's a wonderful effect. If you have a lamp or a window near your HDTV, it's going to be painful.

For a plasma screen, the 50PM9700 is relatively energy efficient. It consumes an average of 205 watts under standard viewing conditions with no energy saving features enabled, and it uses an average of 139 watts with energy saving set to "Medium," the highest energy saving level that still shows an acceptable picture. It still can't come close to a decent LED HDTV though, which consistently consume less than 100 watts even without energy saving features turned on.

The LG 50PM9700 is a full-featured plasma set, but significant picture issues hold it back from being a great HDTV?plasma or otherwise. Its seemingly always-on motion blur reduction is off-putting, the screen doesn't get particularly dark without robbing shadow details, and its colors need calibration before they look accurate. It also requires you to spend more money on 3D glasses if you want to use that feature, because unlike LG's 3D LED HDTVs, the 50PM9700 uses active shutter glasses, but doesn't ship with them. If you want plasma, go with the Panasonic TC-P55ST50 instead, or look at LED-backlit HDTVs like the Sharp LC-52LE640U.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/bWpKXWS_SZ0/0,2817,2408293,00.asp

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Romney: Never paid less than 13 percent in taxes

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney writes on a white board as he talks about Medicare during a news conference at Spartanburg International Airport, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in Greer, S.C . (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney writes on a white board as he talks about Medicare during a news conference at Spartanburg International Airport, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in Greer, S.C . (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012, in Davenport, Iowa, during a three day campaign bus tour through Iowa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks with the media after arriving at Spartanburg International Airport, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in Greer, S.C . (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. speaks at a campaign stop at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Republican vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. gestures during a campaign stop at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Tribune Review, Justin Merriman ) PITTSBURGH OUT

(AP) ? Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney declared Thursday he has paid at least 13 percent of his income in federal taxes every year for the past decade, offering that new detail while still decrying a "small-minded" fascination over returns he will not release. President Barack Obama's campaign shot back in doubt: "Prove it."

Campaigning separately, Romney and running mate Paul Ryan also scrambled to explain their views on overhauling Medicare, the health care program relied on by millions of seniors.

Romney, the former company CEO, set up a whiteboard to make his case with a marker, while lawmaker Ryan resorted to congressional process language to explain why his budget plan includes the same $700 billion Medicare cut that he and Romney are assailing Obama for endorsing.

Essentially, Ryan said, he had to do it because Obama did it first.

Politically, both topics tie into major elements of the presidential race less than three months before the election: how well the candidates relate to the daily concerns and to the life circumstances of typical voters. Democrats are using the tax issue to raise doubts about Romney's trustworthiness ? or, as Republicans contend, to distract from a weak economic recovery under Obama.

Romney's comments in South Carolina ? at a news conference designed to focus on Medicare ? showed that he remains sensitive to criticism of his tax payments but still is determined to release no more than two years of records despite contrary advice from some prominent Republicans.

The Obama campaign has aired an ad that, without evidence, raises the prospect that Romney paid no taxes some years. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., elevated that suggestion by claiming, also without proof, that an anonymous source told him Romney had not paid taxes for 10 years.

"I did go back and look at my taxes and over the past 10 years I never paid less than 13 percent," Romney told reporters after he landed in South Carolina for a fundraising event. "I think the most recent year is 13.6 or something like that. So I paid taxes every single year."

Aides later said Romney meant to say 13.9 percent, the amount he already disclosed for his 2010 federal return.

On average, middle income families, those making from $50,000 to $75,000 a year, pay 12.8 percent of their income in federal taxes, according to the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation. In 2010 and 2011, Romney made about $21 million a year.

Romney is able to keep his tax rate low because most of his income is from investments, which are generally taxed at a lower rate than wages. That type of legal tax figuring is something Obama has proposed changing, although his campaign notably said nothing about Romney's self-described tax rate itself.

Instead, the campaign targeted only Romney's truthfulness, refusing to accept his answer and pressuring him to release years of earlier tax returns.

"Prove it," said Obama spokeswoman Lis Smith. "Given Mitt Romney's secrecy about his returns, coupled with the revelations in just the one return we have seen to date and the inconsistencies between this one return and his other financial disclosures, he has forfeited the right to have us take him just at his word."

Reid's office said much the same. Romney demanded that Reid "put up" the name of his anonymous source.

"Given the challenges that America faces ? 23 million people out of work, Iran about to become nuclear, one out of six Americans in poverty ? the fascination with taxes I've paid I find to be very small-minded," Romney said.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have released their returns for the years since 2000. The Obamas paid 20.5 percent in federal income taxes in 2011.

Ryan, meanwhile, found himself doing his own explaining.

He and Romney have launched a new strategy this week of criticizing Obama for taking more than $700 billion in Medicare funds to help pay for his health care overhaul. Yet those same cuts are in a House Republican budget blueprint authored by Ryan.

A reporter pressed him on the issue during a stop at a hot dog restaurant in Warren, Ohio.

His explanation was that the Medicare cuts were part of the existing baseline budget, including the Obama health care law he opposes.

"It gets a little wonky, but it was already in the baseline," Ryan said. "We would never have done it in the first place."

Romney hadn't scheduled any public events but put together a last-minute news conference to explain the differences between his Medicare plan and Obama's.

"Which of these two do you think is better?" Romney asked as he stood under a glaring sun at an airport.

Romney says Obama has cut $716 billion from the Medicare trust fund to pay for his national health care overhaul, weakening the program. Those cuts, mostly from health providers and insurance plans instead of directly from beneficiaries, would decrease the cost of the entitlement program over time and extend the life of the trust fund.

Ryan's budget would make those same cuts, though he would use the savings differently.

Romney ? and Ryan, since joining the ticket ? insist the cuts must be restored. That could make Medicare go bankrupt more quickly. But Romney says other parts of his plan, including giving fewer benefits to wealthier retirees, would keep Medicare solvent in the long term.

Independent groups say he has not supplied enough details to determine whether he would significantly shore up Medicare in years to come.

Democratic strategists and party officials say that while they still expect the race to stay close through the fall, they sense a slight shift in Obama's favor over the past two weeks. However, they expect Romney to get a boost following his party's convention and say a dismal economic report right before the election could pull votes his way.

Obama spent the day in White House meetings save for a stop at Democratic National Committee headquarters. Romney is devoting most of this week, and much of next week, to raising money in non-competitive states including Alabama, South Carolina, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico.

___

Steve Peoples reported from Warren, Ohio. Associated Press writers Ben Feller, Stephen Ohlemacher, Kasie Hunt, Matthew Daly and Julie Pace contributed from Washington.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-08-16-Presidential%20Campaign/id-413ae6dda16f436e97fe29dfdc158f59

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US beats Mexico in Mexico for 1st time

U.S Michael Orozco, right, celebrates with teammate Terrence Boyd after scoring after scoring during a friendly soccer game against Mexico in Mexico City, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

U.S Michael Orozco, right, celebrates with teammate Terrence Boyd after scoring after scoring during a friendly soccer game against Mexico in Mexico City, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

U.S Michael Orozco celebrates after scoring during a friendly soccer game against Mexico in Mexico City, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

U.S Michael Orozco, front, celebrates after scoring during a friendly soccer game against Mexico in Mexico City, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

(AP) ? The United States defied expectations ? and a rowdy crowd elated by Mexico's Olympic gold ? to break a 75-year winless streak at the intimidating Azteca Stadium with an 80th minute goal and a series of saves that delivered a 1-0 victory.

Michael Orozco Fiscal's goal and Tim Howard's late sprawling saves left tens of thousands of opposing fans in stunned silence. The glum crowds filing out of Azteca after the game Wednesday night were stark counterpoint to a first half marked by raucous booing, choruses of booing, tossed drinks and laser pointers, all aimed at the Americans or their few fans.

The stadium is one of soccer's toughest for road teams, but the 56,000 fans at the half-full Azteca seemed driven beyond their usual aggressiveness by Mexico's Olympic win on Saturday ? some of the winners entered the stadium at halftime to an ear-splitting welcome and rounds of fireworks.

Then, overcoming the side that dominated them for most of the night, the Americans went ahead on a move created by a trio of second-half substitutes.

Brek Shea cut inside Severo Meza on the left flank and crossed to Terrence Boyd at the top of the 6-yard box. With his back to the goal, Boyd took a touch with his left foot and with his right made a quick backheel pass to Orozco Fiscal, who with his left foot poked it from 3 yards past goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and defender Jorge Torres Nilo for his first international goal.

"The goal was for the U.S. fans and the whole U.S. We made history," said Orozco Fiscal, a 26-year-old defender from Orange, Calif., who plays in Mexico for San Luis.

He entered in the 77th minute for his fifth international appearance and first since October. Shea, back with the team for the first time since February following a season of turmoil in Major League Soccer, came on a minute later. Boyd had entered to start the second half.

"Just happy we won and made history," Shea said. "It's something we haven't done in a long time. Just to be on the roster is cool."

Howard preserved the lead, changing directions to stop a deflected shot by Javier Hernandez in the 85th, then pawing away a 4-yard downward header by Chicharito in the 89th.

"I think it's huge. It's huge for I think all American fans, it's huge for the team, and it's historic," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "We were very well aware that we've never won here at the Azteca Stadium. This is an amazing experience for the all the players. We told them before the game: This moment is for you, go and grab it."

The U.S. had been 0-23-1 against El Tri in 75 years of games at Mexico, including 0-19-1 in the thin air at altitude in Mexico City ? where they had been outscored 81-14.

"You can shrivel up or you can accept it," Howard said. "We deserved a little bit of luck, and we got it tonight."

Mexico outshot the U.S. 15-6 and had a 10-0 advantage in corner kicks. But the Americans came away with their second big win this year, following February's first-ever victory over Italy, in a friendly at Genoa.

"Tim Howard kept us in the game I don't know how many times," said Klinsmann, who has been trying to change the defensive mindset the American had at times under Bob Bradley.

With the European clubs getting their seasons under way, the U.S. used a half-strength roster and a makeshift central defense.

Mexico also was below strength following the Olympics ? Carlos Salcido, its regular left back, started in the win over Brazil in the gold-medal game. El Tri dominated possession but failed to connect on several open shots as the Americans paired Maurice Edu and Geoff Cameron in the center of their back line in the absence of Carlos Bocanegra, Clarence Goodson and Oguchi Onyewu.

"For me, it's a game that I grew up watching," Cameron said of the U.S.-Mexico rivalry. "To be a part of a win for the first time speaks for itself.''"

The game marked the start of the Americans' second year under Klinsmann, who replaced Bradley last summer after Mexico overcame a two-goal deficit to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup final 4-2.

The U.S. figures to have a lineup closer to full strength for a pair of World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica next month, on the road on Sept. 7 and at Columbus, Ohio, four days later. Mexico plays Costa Rica on those same days.

"We know we have to improve in many, many elements," Klinsmann said. "We have to keep the ball longer. We have to create more chances. We have to do a lot of work still. But I think this gives us a lot of confidence."

Landon Donovan, searching for his 50th international goal, left at the start of the second half because of a tight hamstring and DaMarcus Beasley came in for his 97th international appearance. Boyd came in at the same time to replace an ineffective Jose Torres.

Cameron got his head on a cross from Elias Hernandez in the 56th minute, preventing Hernandez from an open shot in front. A minute later, Jesus Zavala put an open header over the crossbar.

With Ochoa off his line, Kyle Beckerman put a long, sliding shot just over the crossbar in the 60th.

Andres Guardado hooked a free kick just wide to Howard's right post in the 65th after Cameron fouled Hernandez just outside the penalty area. Hernandez then sent an open header wide in the 76th off a cross from Hernandez.

"It was very difficult in high altitude, with many of them flying in from Europe two days ago," Klinsmann said. "But we had a plan, and we tried to execute that plan and getting that win here, I mean it's quite enjoyable."

NOTES: The only previous U.S. non-loss against Mexico in Mexico was a 0-0 tie in a 1997 World Cup qualifier. At the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, the U.S. beat New Zealand and Germany in Guadalajara before losing to Mexico 1-0 in overtime at Azteca.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-08-16-SOC-US-Mexico/id-8fa388c6f7a24ec39f1b33bcabde99c8

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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

US government launches new immigration program

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Young illegal immigrants are scrambling to get passports and other records in order as the Homeland Security Department starts accepting applications to allow them to avoid deportation and get work permits.

Homeland Security announced the details Tuesday of what documents illegal immigrants would need to prove that they are eligible for the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The announcement came a day before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services was set to begin letting people apply for the program.

Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants potentially could benefit from the program, which President Barack Obama announced in June. The program is beginning just months before what promises to be a tight contest for the White House in which the Hispanic vote may play an important role.

Obama has come under fire from Hispanic voters and others who say he hasn't fulfilled a previous campaign promise to overhaul the nation's immigration laws. The policy change could stop deportations for more than 1 million young illegal immigrants who would have qualified for the failed DREAM Act, formally the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, which Obama has supported in the past.

Republican lawmakers have accused Obama of circumventing Congress with the new program in an effort to boost his political standing and of favoring illegal immigrants over unemployed U.S. citizens.

Some, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, have called the policy backdoor amnesty and said they worry about fraud.

"While potentially millions of illegal immigrants will be permitted to compete with American workers for scarce jobs, there seems to be little if any mechanism in place for vetting fraudulent applications and documentation submitted by illegal immigrants," Smith said Tuesday.

At the Honduran Consulate on Tuesday, a line of people wrapped around the building before it was open for business, and the office was crowded for much of the day.

Evelyn Medina, 23, got in line at about 6:30 a.m., and she wasn't alone. With her passport in hand, Medina was all smiles as she walked out of the building just before 2 p.m., saying "Finally" as she clutched the document.

Medina, a Maryland college student studying social work, said she expected to be ready to apply Wednesday. If she is allowed to stay in the U.S. and work, she hopes eventually to earn a master's degree.

The administration plan is to stop deporting many illegal immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. To be eligible, immigrants must prove they arrived in the United States before they turned 16, are 30 or younger, have been living here at least five years and are in school or graduated or served in the military. They also cannot have been convicted of certain crimes or otherwise pose a safety threat.

Under guidelines that the administration announced Tuesday, proof of identity and eligibility could include a passport or birth certificate, school transcripts, medical and financial records and military service records. The DHS said that in some instances, multiple sworn affidavits, signed by a third party under penalty of perjury, also could be used. Anyone found to have committed fraud will be referred to federal immigration agents, the department said.

Alejandro Mayorkas, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said being approved to avoid deportation "does not provide lawful status or a path to citizenship."

The paperwork for the program can be downloaded from the Immigration Services website. Applicants must pay a $465 fee and provide proof of identity and eligibility.

A decision on each application could take several months, and immigrants have been warned not to leave the country while their application is pending. If they are allowed to stay in the United States and want to travel internationally, they will need to apply for permission to come back into the country, a request that would cost $360 more.

Honduran Consulate officials said the number of people applying for passports has more than doubled in the past week, and almost all of them have said they were getting passports to apply to stay in the U.S.

Mayra Rivera, 47, brought her children, ages 18 and 20, to the consulate Tuesday from Philadelphia to help them apply for passports.

"They came here when they were children. So, for them, even though they are from Honduras ... this is their adoptive country and they love it a lot," Rivera said in Spanish. "For them to succeed ... is like winning the Lotto."

Rivera, who came to the U.S. seven years ago from Puerto Cortes, Honduras, is not eligible for the program. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano had said DHS does not intend to use the program to target parents for deportation.

Advocacy groups across the country are planning events starting this week to help immigrants fill out their applications and get all their paperwork in order.

The Migration Policy Institute and the Pew Hispanic Center estimate that as many as 1.7 million people could be eligible to stay in the U.S. and legally work under the new policy.

DHS officials have said repeatedly they don't have an estimate of how many people may apply. In an internal document outlining the program's implementation, officials estimated 1.04 million people would apply in the first year and about 890,000 would be eligible.

The document, obtained by The Associated Press, estimated that the program could cost between $467.7 million and $585.4 million. The department anticipated collecting about $484.2 million in fees.

___

Online:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: www.uscis.gov/childhoodarrivals

___

Follow Alicia A. Caldwell at www.twitter.com/acaldwellap

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-government-launches-immigration-program-070805690.html

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Getting Introduced to Internet Income University - Small Business ...

If you are looking for easy solutions to earning money online yet you are not as skilled and knowledgeable on this matter, it could be an advantage if you are to be introduced to the likes of the internet income university.? This is, as the name itself would give away, anybody?s chance to learn and train for money-making ventures online.? The beauty in this is that one can?t be bothered with a schedule that would get in the way of all your other daily obligations and that it leaves out the inconvenience of having to go to and fro a physical college or university.? It would probably work best for those with day-jobs to keep as of the time being and those who distaste attending classroom sessions, still the decision to avail of it is all up to the individual who get introduced to IIU. ?

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Source: http://www.smallbusinessmarketingcd.com/latest-business-news/getting-introduced-to-internet-income-university/

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Military lingers in Tamil areas years after Sri Lanka's civil war

The war in Sri Lanka is over, but the military still occupies Tamil areas with a heavy hand. Residents say they still live in fear of security forces, and in fear of speaking out.

By Alaina Varvaloucas,?Contributor / August 14, 2012

Every bus traveling north has to stop at the military checkpoint just after Vavuniya. Only men disembark. They know the drill.

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Without being asked, they form two orderly columns, present their IDs, spread their legs for a pat-down, and open their bags for soldiers to rifle through. Some field questions about why they are headed toward the territory once controlled by the separatist Liberation Tigers for Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Alternatively heralded as freedom fighters and decried as terrorists, the LTTE fought a 26-year war for Tamil independence against a majority-Sinhalese national government. Three years after the national Army defeated the LTTE in a 2009 offensive that left 40,000 civilians dead, military camps still mark the landscape in the predominantly Tamil north. The Sinhalese-controlled government justifies the militarization by citing national security concerns.

?When you?ve lived under terrorism for 30 years, you?re going to take precautions,? says?Malinda Seneviratne, the editor?in chief of The Nation, a weekly English newspaper in Sri Lanka.

But many Tamil civilians worry that the increased security is a cover to exert control over the Tamil minority. It?s a claim that, if true, could signal a return to the state-sponsored discrimination that led to war in the first place.

?Given the ethnic divide in Sri Lanka, there is a perception amongst people that the military are there to restrict the rights of the people of the region,? says Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, the director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives in Colombo. ?There is no chance of violence anytime soon. But if people come out in peaceful protest and violence is used against the population, then the likelihood of the population itself becoming more militant is greater.??

The Army tightly controls the region. Civilians have to ask Army permission for everyday activities ? from purchasing property to hosting a funeral.

Even nongovernmental organizations must get all projects pre-approved. One man says he can?t go home because the Army is using his family?s land.

?There is no freedom here,? says one Tamil social activist, who asks not to be named for security reasons.

Aid organizations estimate that more than 100,000 are still displaced. And in remote villages where many men are missing or dead, accusations of rape are common.

The military presence also stifles speech. Nobody seems to want to talk to a journalist in public; one man bolts his door before an interview begins, afraid someone will burst in at a sensitive moment. Another man blanches and leaps out of his chair when he sees someone in his front yard twisting to look at his Western guest. The man explains that former LTTE cadres released from government rehabilitation camps are often intimidated into acting as informants.

?You will be abducted in a white van?

Those who speak out against the Army say they fear reprisal.

Former member of Parliament Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam lists a string of recent assaults and threats against a student leader, two protest organizers, a priest, and the relatives of a dead prisoner.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/ozCtvV_h4G8/Military-lingers-in-Tamil-areas-years-after-Sri-Lanka-s-civil-war

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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

JFK security is breached by man who swam ashore

FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2008 file photo, planes taxi on runways at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. A man on a personal watercraft who became stranded in a bay easily breached Kennedy International Airport's security system, on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, by walking undetected across two runways and into a terminal. Daniel Casillo, 31, swam to a Jamaica Bay shore and then walked past motion sensors and closed-circuit cameras of the airport's state-of-the-art Perimeter Intrusion Detection System. The $100 million system, manufactured by defense contractor Raytheon Co., is meant to safeguard against terrorists. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2008 file photo, planes taxi on runways at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. A man on a personal watercraft who became stranded in a bay easily breached Kennedy International Airport's security system, on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, by walking undetected across two runways and into a terminal. Daniel Casillo, 31, swam to a Jamaica Bay shore and then walked past motion sensors and closed-circuit cameras of the airport's state-of-the-art Perimeter Intrusion Detection System. The $100 million system, manufactured by defense contractor Raytheon Co., is meant to safeguard against terrorists. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

(AP) ? In an era when airline passengers can't even pass through a checkpoint with a bottle of shampoo, security experts were shocked Monday by the case of a man who swam ashore, scaled a fence and walked dripping wet into Kennedy Airport despite a $100 million system of surveillance cameras and motion detectors.

"Thank God it wasn't a terrorist, but we have to look at it as if we had another attack," said Isaac Yeffet, former chief of security for Israeli airline El Al. "That's the only way we'll improve the system."

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees JFK, quickly added police patrols to the airport perimeter and said it is investigating the security breach.

Authorities said the trouble began Friday evening when 31-year-old Daniel Casillo's jet ski ran out of fuel in Jamaica Bay. Casillo swam toward the bright lights of Kennedy's runway 4L, which juts out into the bay, then climbed an 8-foot fence that is part of the airport's state-of-the-art Perimeter Intrusion Detection System, authorities said.

Soaking wet, wearing a bright yellow life jacket, Casillo made his way across two intersecting runways ? an estimated distance of nearly two miles ? before he was spotted on a terminal ramp by an airline employee, authorities said.

According to the police report, Casillo told an officer: "I needed help!"

The intrusion-detection system, manufactured by defense contractor Raytheon Co., should have set off a series of warnings, said Bobby Egbert, spokesman for the Port Authority police officers union.

"This system is made specifically for those types of threats ? water-borne threats," Egbert said. "It did not detect him climbing over a fence. It did not detect him crossing two active runways."

Port Authority police interrogated Casillo and charged him with criminal trespassing. Authorities said the airport grounds were clearly marked with no-trespassing signs that indicate it is a "restricted area for authorized personnel only."

Casillo was released without bail for a court appearance Oct. 2. A man who answered the phone at the home of Casillo's girlfriend said the couple's lawyer had advised them to stop speaking to the media.

"We have called for an expedited review of the incident and a complete investigation to determine how Raytheon's perimeter intrusion detection system ? which exceeds federal requirements ? could be improved," the Port Authority said in a statement.

The agency offered no explanation of what went wrong or whether it was human error or equipment failure.

A spokesman for Raytheon would not comment.

"The catastrophic failure was that nobody sounded the alarm to go to condition red intruder alert," said former New York City Detective Nicholas Casale, who was deputy director of security for counterterrorism at the New York metropolitan area's transit agency.

"Immediately there should've been an armed response. Heavy weapons, armored cars to the area that the perimeter was breached. The airport should have been locked down."

The intrusion-detection system employs sensors, motion detectors and video surveillance, Egbert said. A security guard employed by a private contractor is supposed to keep an eye on the footage from a monitoring room, the union spokesman said. If the guard determines there is a threat, a private security officer is sent to investigate, Egbert said.

From there, it is up to the private security force to decide whether to notify Port Authority police, Egbert said.

The detection system, which was phased in several years ago, has been a source of tension between the Port Authority and the police union. The union contends that manpower ? in the form of patrols in the air, on the water and on the ground ? is the best way to protect the airport.

"This has all been structured to remove the police from the situation," Egbert said. "Technology doesn't catch terrorists. Boots on the ground do."

___

Associated Press Writer Alex Katz contributed to this report.

___

Information from: New York Post, http://www.nypost.com

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-08-13-Security%20Breach-Kennedy%20Airport/id-86bd39e5e0b84e5fbf162d56b70a7799

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