Inventories boost U.S. economic growth, but trend weak

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy grew faster than initially thought in the third quarter as restocking by businesses provided a big boost, but consumer and business spending were revised lower in a sobering reminder of the recovery's underlying weakness.

Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.7 percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said on Thursday, as export growth also helped to offset the weakest consumer spending and first drop in business investment in more than a year.

While the growth pace was much quicker than the 2 percent rate the government estimated last month and the best since the fourth quarter of 2011, it was hardly a sign of strength as the lift from inventories will likely be lost in the fourth quarter.

The economy is also bracing for deep cuts in government spending and tax increases early next year, known as the fiscal cliff, which could suck $600 billion from the economy and fuel a fresh recession.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected GDP growth to be raised to a 2.8 percent pace.

"It is hard to have a strong economy when households are not hitting the malls hard and businesses have assumed the turtle position fearful of a crash due to the fiscal cliff," said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors in Holland, Pennsylvania.

A separate report from the Labor Department showed initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 23,000 to a seasonally adjusted 393,000, but still staying elevated after superstorm Sandy.

Economists fear the storm, which ripped through the East Coast in late October, could deal the labor market a setback this month, after employment growth accelerated in October.

"Employment growth could slow dramatically in November to around the 100,000 range," said Millan Mulraine, a senior economist at TD Securities in New York.

Employers added 171,000 jobs to their payrolls in October, up from 148,000 in September. The government will release its closely watched employment report for November on December 7.

Stocks on Wall Street opened high on optimism that lawmakers and Obama administration will reach an agreement on the fiscal cliff. Prices for longer-dated U.S. Treasury debt fell, while the dollar was weak against a basket of currencies.

INVENTORIES ADD, NOT SUBTRACT

Business inventories added 0.77 percentage point to third-quarter GDP growth. They were previously estimated to have subtracted 0.12 percentage point.

Excluding inventories, GDP rose at a revised 1.9 percent rate, underscoring sluggish demand. Final sales of goods and services produced in the United States had been previously estimated to have increased at a 2.1 percent pace.

A smaller trade deficit was also a factor behind the upward revision to GDP as export growth outpaced a rise in imports. But the trend in exports is unlikely to be sustained given slowing global demand, especially in China and debt troubled Europe.

Trade contributed 0.14 percentage point to GDP growth instead of subtracting 0.18 percentage point, as previously reported.

Other details of the report were rather weak. Consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, was lowered to a 1.4 percent growth rate - the slowest since the second quarter of 2011, from the 2 percent gain previously reported.

Consumer spending increased at a 1.5 percent rate in the second-quarter.

Business spending was revised to show much deeper cutbacks, which have been blamed on the fears of a tightening in fiscal policy next year. Business investment fell at a revised 2.2 percent rate instead of a 1.3 percent decline. That was the first drop since the first quarter of 2011.

Part of the drag in business investment, which had been a source of strength for the economy, came from equipment and software, where spending was the weakest since the second quarter of 2009.

The report also showed that after-tax corporate profits rose at a 3.3 percent rate in the third quarter after gaining 2.2 percent in the second quarter.

Spending on nonresidential structures contracted after five straight quarters of growth. Government investment was revised to a 3.5 percent growth rate from 3.7 percent as defense, and state and local government spending estimates were pared.

Growth in home building was trimmed to a 14.2 percent rate from 14.4 percent. Residential construction is benefiting from the Federal Reserve's ultra accommodative monetary policy stance, which has driven mortgage rates to record lows.

A third report showed contracts to buy previously owned U.S. homes surged in October, a sign the housing market recovery advanced into the fourth quarter despite a mammoth storm and concerns over looming tax hikes.

The National Association of Realtors said on Thursday its Pending Home Sales Index, based on contracts signed in October, gained 5.2 percent to 104.8.

(Additional reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Neil Stempleman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/jobless-claims-fall-second-straight-week-133533746--business.html

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Chatham Men's Softball | Chatham Sports & Recreation Events on ...

The borough's recreation department offers lots of joint programs with the township. Information on those programs is available on the Web site, but the department also administers its own tennis courts, municipal pool, playgrounds and parks.

Such sites include Shepard Kollock Park, Memorial Park, Garden Park, Stanley Park and the Lum Avenue Field. The borough's municipal pool is in Memorial Park.

The department's director is Carol Nauta.

Source: http://chatham.patch.com/events/chatham-mens-softball

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Gilda's Club name change seen as insult to Radner

Paintings imagining comedian Gilda Radner in recognizable locations in Madison hang on the wall inside the cancer support group Gilda's Club Madison on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2012, in Middleton, Wis. The Madison-area chapter of the national group is the latest to change its name to the Cancer Support Community, a move its director said was necessary because young people don't know who Radner was. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)

Paintings imagining comedian Gilda Radner in recognizable locations in Madison hang on the wall inside the cancer support group Gilda's Club Madison on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2012, in Middleton, Wis. The Madison-area chapter of the national group is the latest to change its name to the Cancer Support Community, a move its director said was necessary because young people don't know who Radner was. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)

In a May 4, 2012 photo Bonnie Hanson polishes furniture in the "Baba Wawa" room at Gilda's Club in Middleton, Wis. The Madison-area chapter of the national cancer support group Gilda's Club is the latest affiliate to change its name, saying many no longer know who comedienne Gilda Radner was. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, M.P. King.)

FILE - In this Sept. 27, 1983 file photo, actress and comedienne Gilda Radner holds up copies of her book, "Roseanne Roseannadanna's "Hey, Get Back To Work," at a New York bookstore. The Madison, Wis.-area chapter of Gilda's Club is the latest to change its name to the Cancer Support Community, a move its director said was necessary because young people don't know who Radner was. (AP Photo/Suzanne Vlamis)

A framed image of comedian Gilda Radner hangs on the wall inside the cancer support group Gilda's Club Madison on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2012, in Middleton, Wis. The Madison-area chapter of the national group is the latest to change its name to the Cancer Support Community, a move its director said was necessary because young people don't know who Radner was. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)

A June 8, 2012 photo shows the exterior of Gilda's Club in Middleton, Wis. The Madison-area chapter of the national cancer support group Gilda's Club is the latest affiliate to change its name, saying many no longer know who comedienne Gilda Radner was. (AP Photo/The Capitol Times, Michelle Stocker.)

MIDDLETON, Wis. (AP) ? Remember Roseanne Roseannadana? Or Emily Litella? Or Baba Wawa?

Younger generations might not recognize the characters popularized by comedienne Gilda Radner. Nor might they remember Radner herself, an original cast member of Saturday Night Live who died 23 years ago and for whom a national cancer support group is named.

That's troubling to the Madison-area chapter of Gilda's Club, which planned on Thursday to change its name in part because of concern that many don't know who Radner was. The move prompted outrage from some Radner fans, who see it as a slight to a woman who confronted cancer with dignity and humor, and led other chapters across the nation to hastily reaffirm they have absolutely no intention of changing their names.

Lannia Syren Stenz, the Madison-area club's executive director, said her organization decided to change its name to Cancer Support Community Southwest Wisconsin after it realized that most college students were born after Radner died in 1989.

"We are seeing younger and younger adults who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis," Stenz told the Wisconsin State Journal. "We want to make sure that what we are is clear to them and that there's not a lot of confusion that would cause people not to come in our doors."

Her comments angered some Radner fans, who let loose a storm of criticism on the organization's Facebook page.

"The only educating you're doing is teaching kids that when they die from cancer, their name will be erased from history in 20 years because the next generation doesn't know who they are. Way to give them hope!" wrote Mark Warneke, 44, a full-time college student in Arlington, Texas. He told the AP that taking Radner's name off the foundation was an insult to her memory.

Stenz referred questions from The Associated Press to Linda House, executive vice president of the national group. House said there was no evidence that young people are unfamiliar with Radner and the name change was motivated by the desire to make the organization's mission clear. She called Stenz's comments "not accurate, period."

"Gilda Radner is very much a part of the fiber of this organization," House said. "There has never been an intent and there is no intent to lose Gilda as part of the organization."

Radner, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1986, sought support from The Wellness Community in California and wrote about her experience in her book "It's Always Something," a reference to one of her characters' catch-phrases.

Her friends and family started Gilda's Club in 1991 on the East Coast to honor her legacy. The name was inspired by something Radner said after her diagnosis: "Having cancer gave me membership in an elite club I'd rather not belong to."

Gilda's Club Worldwide merged with The Wellness Community in 2009, and the joint headquarters in Washington changed its name to the Cancer Support Community. Local chapters were given the choice of keeping their names or switching to Cancer Support Community, House said.

The 56 chapters around the world deliver $40 million a year in free care to about 1 million cancer patients and their families, she said. Of those chapters, 20 are known as Gilda's Club, three are Wellness Community and 23 are Cancer Support Community.

Changing the chapters' names made sense to Ron Nief, a professor at Beloit College in southern Wisconsin who has made a career out of studying how different generations view the world differently. He said it could become harder for Gilda's Club to attract donations as fewer people remember seeing Radner on TV.

"I think we all want to keep our traditions alive," he said, "but there comes a reality in this case of what does this group represent and how do we raise money for it."

Radner's husband, actor Gene Wilder, said he didn't like the name change but he understood it.

He said if he had to break the news to his late wife she might ask, "Do they have to throw me out?"

"I'd say, 'It's not throwing you out, honey, it's getting more money.' And she'd say, 'OK, I guess if they have to, they have to,'" he said. "It's too bad. I wish it weren't so. But I understand."

The Wellness Center where Radner once sought support in Los Angeles was one of the groups that updated its name. Julia Forth, the marketing director of what's now called the Cancer Support Community Benjamin Center, said people who get sick Google the word cancer, so it helps to have that word in the name.

Other organizations were adamant about keeping the Gilda's Club name. LauraJane Hyde, who runs the Chicago chapter, said her group has spent 15 years teaching people that Radner's name was synonymous with cancer support, in the same way people know what Starbucks sells even though "coffee" isn't in its name.

"A lot of people feel very passionately about the name," she said. "We will lose donations if we change it."

Radner remains a strong presence at the Madison-area club even without her name on the building in the suburb of Middleton. Paintings and drawings of Radner line the walls. One depicts her on top of Madison's state Capitol. Another imagines her sitting along the shores of Lake Mendota on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

The meeting rooms are named after her Saturday Night Live characters, including New York-street smart reporter Roseanne Roseannadana, out-of-sync editorialist Emily Litella and speech-impeded talk show host Baba Wawa, a parody of Barbara Walters.

___

Ramde reported from Milwaukee and can be reached at dramde(at)ap.org. Associated Press researcher Rhonda Shafner contributed to this report from New York. Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sbauerAP.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-11-29-Gilda's%20Club-Name%20Change/id-9711556a18184dc3bf36da1cf6e08b85

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Study points to potential new therapies for cancer and other diseases

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute (TRSI) are fueling the future of cancer treatment by improving a powerful tool in disease defense: the body's immune system. By revealing a novel but widespread cell signaling process, the scientists may have found a way to manipulate an important component of the immune system into more effectively fighting disease.

The study, recently published online ahead of print by the journal Blood, shows that disabling a particular enzyme, called ItpkB, in mice improves the function of a type of immune cell called Natural Killer cells.

"This is an exciting finding because it could possibly lead to the development of drugs that improve Natural Killer cell function," said TSRI Associate Professor Karsten Sauer, PhD, who led the study. "Natural Killer cells have gained clinical interest as innovative biological therapeutics for certain cancers and also in certain infectious diseases."

The Body's 'SWAT Team'

Natural Killer cells patrol the body and detect characteristic alterations on the surface of cancer cells or virus-infected cells. Through a complicated and little understood signaling machinery?a domino effect of molecular reactions in a cell that ultimately produces a certain signal?Natural Killer cells then destroy such "stressed" cells.

Compared to other types of immune cells, Natural Killer cells kill these cells quickly. This makes Natural Killer cells important early responders of the immune system. Not surprisingly, researchers have explored engaging this "SWAT team" of the body therapeutically, particularly in blood cancers.

However, to date, the therapeutic efficacy of Natural Killer cells has been limited. "A key bottleneck is our limited understanding of signaling mechanisms that dampen Natural Killer cell function," Sauer said.

Sauer and colleagues' new research reveals crucial details of this puzzle.

A Way to Prime the Attack

The Sauer group had previously identified ItpkB as a key regulator of immune function. ItpkB acts primarily by producing IP4, a small molecule messenger that controls the functions of various other important signaling molecules. IP4 can improve or inhibit signaling depending on the cell type in which it is produced.

The new research showed that Natural Killer cells from mice lacking ItpkB show elevated signaling and function better than Natural Killer cells that have the enzyme. As a result, mice lacking ItpkB are more effective than mice expressing ItpkB in attacking cells that display characteristic surface changes of cancer cells.

"The enzyme ItpkB has unique features that facilitate its highly specific inhibition by small molecules," said Sauer. "Our findings suggest that such compounds could possibly be used to improve Natural Killer cell function therapeutically. If successful, this could overcome a bottleneck and engage the body's SWAT team to fight cancer."

###

Scripps Research Institute: http://www.scripps.edu

Thanks to Scripps Research Institute for this article.

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

This press release has been viewed 38 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/125545/Study_points_to_potential_new_therapies_for_cancer_and_other_diseases

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Helpful Tips for Managing your Debt - My Personal Finance Journey

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Welcome to My Personal Finance Journey! If you are new here, please read the "About" or "First-Time Visitor" pages to find out more about us. If you would like to receive free updates on articles like this by email, then sign up here or you can?subscribe to the RSS feed. Also, check us out on Twitter or Facebook. Thanks for visiting! Keep on learning!
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Click here?to enter my free $60 giveaway for a chance to win 5% of My Personal Finance Journey blog income and give another 5% to a charity of your choosing! Deadline to enter is November 30th, 2012.

The following article is by MPFJ staff writer, Miss T from Prairie Eco-Thrifter. If you want to learn how to live your dream life in a sustainable, healthy, and money savvy way, check out her site?here.

Personal debt has unfortunately become a way of life in the 21^st century, with levels reaching all time highs.

Easy credit, a have-it-now mentality, and the consumer-driven society have all created this situation. A recent survey in the US showed that increasing numbers of people are filing for bankruptcy, as their debts reach levels they simply cannot service. Managing your debt is vital if you are to avoid going down this road.

There are some simple ways to manage your debt, and you will find four helpful tips here in this article. I learned many of them from personal experience when I realized that I had to do something about my credit card debt that was?spiraling?out of control. I was spending more than I earned, using my several credit cards to buy just about everything, and paying off one balance so I had enough credit to pay another. Does any of that sound familiar?

When I came clean with a couple of my friends, I discovered that they were in a similar situation, and they knew others who were also struggling with high debt levels. We made a pact to gather information and share ideas for managing debt. I?ve got to say, talking about the problem really helped, and I felt good knowing I was doing something about it.

Tip # 1 - Keep Debt Payments to Less than 30% of Your Take-Home Pay

One of the things we found out was that debt, in itself, isn?t necessarily a bad thing; it?s the volume of debt that becomes a problem. I mean, debts like mortgages, student loans and car loans are almost a necessity in this day and age; the trick is to keep your repayments below 30% of your income?or things can get unmanageable. The total of all your repayments on loans, mortgages, and credit cards must be less than one third of what you bring home in your pay packet. This is the first tip for managing debt; do the math and work out exactly where you stand financially, how much you owe and what your repayments are each month.

Tip # 2 - Create a Budget and Stick to It

The best tool for getting a very clear picture of your financial situation is a personal budget. If you don?t have one, create one; it?s the best way of seeing at a glance what you have coming in and what your commitments are. A budget also shows you where your money goes; some spending patterns might come as a bit of a surprise. Look for one or more areas of spending where you can cut back to help you get rid of excess debt sooner.

Tip # 3 - Contact Your Creditors and Negotiate Your Situation With Them

Like me, you were probably way over the 30% figure when you realized that you were heading for financial trouble. So, the next thing you need to do is look for ways to reduce your commitments. I was told by a financial?advisor?to contact my lenders and credit card companies and negotiate a better deal. He said that credit companies want their money back, and most are prepared to cut you some slack to help to get your debts under control. They have a better chance of getting their money if you can manage your debts rather than declare bankruptcy.

I tell you, this was one of the scariest things I?ve done but I was amazed at how kind and helpful every company was. I simply explained my situation and asked how they could help me meet my commitments. So this is tip number three ? contact your creditors and ask for their help. What I found was that some were prepared to waive repayments for a few months; one restructured my loan and reduced the repayments, while one company actually lowered my interest rate. I would never have believed this could happen. When I shared this finding with my friends, they all did the same and got similar results.

Tip # 4 - Shop Around for Better Interest Rates

This tip led one guy to investigate different interest rates. He found one company which offered a competitive rate and was prepared to consolidate some of his debts into a lower interest loan. He reduced his monthly commitment as well as saving big time in interest. It certainly pays to shop around; I started looking for credit card companies that offered a better rate than I was paying. I found one company with a really good interest rate and I was able to transfer three of my biggest balances and pay a really small rate for the first six months. It felt great to cut up those three cards, knowing how much money I was saving! The fourth tip, therefore, is to shop around for better interest rates and look for companies that will consolidate several loans into one.

Use these four tips to start to get some control over your finances by managing your debt. Use any money you save to throw at other debts to help reduce them faster. Make debt reduction your focus to get the fastest results. Good luck!

How about you all? Have you used any of these strategies to help you better manage your debts??

What percent of your take-home pay do you currently put towards debt repayments? Is it less than or greater than the 30% target mentioned in this article?

Share your experiences by commenting below!

***Photo courtesy of?http://www.flickr.com/photos/59937401@N07/7214450550/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Source: http://www.mypersonalfinancejourney.com/2012/11/helpful-tips-for-managing-your-debt.html

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Iran: Nuclear enrichment advances with 'intensity'

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran's nuclear chief says uranium enrichment will move ahead with "intensity" with a sharp increase in the number of centrifuges used to make the nuclear fuel.

Wednesday's statement attributed to Fereidoun Abbasi by state TV is likely to escalate tensions between Iran and the West, which fears the enrichment program could lead to warhead-grade material. Iran says it only seeks to make fuel for energy and research reactors.

But it appears unlikely that the stepped up work would be at higher enrichment levels than already acknowledged to U.N. nuclear watchdogs.

The remarks come days after the U.N. agency said Iran is poised to double its output of higher-enriched uranium at its fortified Fordo underground uranium enrichment facility, which could put Tehran closer to possible warhead capabilities.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-11-28-Iran-Nuclear/id-c231af035cf142d6a7726d7539f7cf9f

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$600 car issued more than $100,000 in parking tickets

A Chevy Monte Carlo abandoned at O'Hare Airport (Fox 32 News)An abandoned car in Chicago worth an estimated $600 has been issued more than $100,000 in parking tickets over the past three years.

Jennifer Fitzgerald, 31, is currently stuck with the bill but says the 1999 Chevy Monte Carlo actually belongs to an ex-boyfriend who registered the car in her name without her knowledge or consent.

The Expired Meter reports that from May 23, 2009, through April 30, 2012, the Chicago Department of Finance (DOF) issued 678 tickets against the car, totaling $105,761.80 and setting a Chicago record both for the total number and amount of parking fines issued.

In fact, it blew past the previous record holder, which was $65,000 from approximately 400 violations.

But Fitzgerald says she doesn't owe the city a dime and has filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against the city of Chicago, United Airlines and the ex-boyfriend.

Fitzgerald has two main arguments in her case. First, she says her ex-boyfriend, Brandon Preveau, is the actual owner of the car, having purchased it from her uncle for $600 in 2008, according to Courthouse News. In fact, Preveau paid for the car's title, registration and insurance, but it was nonetheless registered in Fitzgerald's name.

"Brandon used his 2007 income tax refund to pay Patrick $600 for the automobile," reads Fitzgerald's complaint. "For reasons not recalled by Patrick, however, Patrick signed the title to the automobile over to Jennifer."

Second, Fitzgerald's attorney is arguing that the city should have simply towed the vehicle after 30 days from O'Hare Airport, where it was parked and where Preveau worked at the time.

According to Fitzgerald's complaint, "On or before November 17, 2009, Brandon drove the automobile into the parking lot and never drove it out again."

And as the Expired Meter reports, Chicago law does specify that an abandoned vehicle is to be towed 30 days after being illegally parked: "Any vehicle parked in violation of this section shall be subjected to an immediate tow and removal to city vehicle pound or authorized garage," the law reads.

So far, Fitzgerald; Preveau; Fitzgerald's pro bono attorney, Robin Omahana; and the DOF have all declined to officially comment on the case.

In the meantime, Fitzgerald, who is unemployed and a single mother, has also had to deal with her driver's license being suspended while she pursues her case.

"If a vehicle is in a lot for more than 30 days and Standard Parking was not notified, then the company will try to contact the owner to find out his plans to get the vehicle," Department of Aviation spokesman Karen Pride told the Meter. "If Standard cannot contact the owner, then the vehicle is towed to Lot F, where it might remain for 30 to 90 days, in case the owner comes back for it. After that period, the vehicle is towed to the city impound lot as abandoned."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/600-car-issued-more-100-000-parking-tickets-234529296.html

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Fitness Expert Benji Williford Featured on ABC on Health and ...

Benji Williford was recently featured as the focus of the TV show, ?Health and Wellness Today?. The show was seen on NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX network affiliates around the country.

Orlando, FL ? November 28, 2012 ? Benji Williford, Owner of Chain Reaction Fitness, LLC, was recently featured as an expert guest on the TV show ?Health and Wellness Today.? The show was seen on NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX network affiliates around the country.? The show was filmed in Orlando, FL and was hosted by noted fitness and personal development coach John Spencer Ellis.

?Health and Wellness Today? features segments featuring some of the best health and fitness experts from across the United States.? Mr. Williford was a recent featured expert, discussing his unique and effective take on motivating his clients to reach and exceed their fitness goals.

Benji Williford was voted 2nd in Volume One?s 2011 ?BEST OF? poll as the Best Health-Related Business (non hospital) for the Chippewa Valley between the YMCA and Gold?s Gym. Williford gets to know his clients by educating, motivating, and supporting them. He finds out what is preventing them from achieving their goals and creates a realistic plan of action that will guide and encourage them towards reaching their personal potential. Williford says, ?Every workout is invigorating and designed to achieve optimal results.?

?Health and Wellness Today? was produced by Emmy Award winning director and producer, Nick Nanton, Esq. and Emmy Nominated Producer, JW Dicks, Esq., Co-Founders of America?s PremierExperts? and The Dicks and Nanton Celebrity Branding Agency?.

For more information on Benji Williford, please visit http://www.benjiwilliford.com

Source: http://www.pressnewsroom.com/index.php/2012/11/28/fitness-expert-benji-williford-featured-on-abc-on-health-and-wellness-today/

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Video: Holiday View from Lands' End

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/49966537/

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Greg Mankiw On Warren Buffett - Business Insider

In a NYT Op-Ed today, Warren Buffett argued that the rich should pay a certain minimum tax, and he explained to activist Grover Norquist that it's preposterous to think that businessmen would forgo profitable deals merely because the rate of tax on the profits would go up.

But why do people listen to Buffett on taxes?

Basically because he's a rich, successful guy (which is why a lot of people are listened to on a lot of subjects).

To that end, economist and former Romney advisor Greg Mankiw has a short post talking about Buffett as a master of "tax avoidance," wherein he lists four things Buffett does to avoid paying taxes.

• Berkshire never pays a dividend (so the jump in dividend tax hikes don't effect him).
• Berkshire only trades long-term? (so short-term cap gains, which are taxed at income tax rates don't effect him).
• He's giving most of his money away to charity.
• His children won't pay income taxes on any assets that are bequeathed to them, so an income tax hike doesn't affect them.

None of these are wrong or illegal or anything. And giving your money away to charity is admirable. So the point isn't that Buffett is doing anything wrong, but that he's advocating policies which will have very little effect on him. So if we're going to listen to him because of who he is, it's not preposterous to note how little of an effect rule changes would have on him.

Other folks, in the past, have charged that Buffett specifically benefits from the tax proposals he backs.

Tim Carney of the Washington Examiner has pointed out:

Buffett regularly lobbies for higher estate taxes. He also has repeatedly bought up family businesses forced to sell because the heirs? death-tax bill exceeded the business?s liquid assets. He owns life insurance companies that rely on the death tax in order to sell their estate-planning businesses.

All that being said, the arguments against raising taxes marginally on the rich (assuming a deficit reduction deal is warranted) tend to be pretty poor.

For more on today's Op-Ed, see here >

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/greg-mankiw-on-warren-buffett-2012-11

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Euro officials seek way to unlock Greek crisis

A European Union flag billows in the wind as the ruins of the 5th century BC Parthenon temple is seen in the background on the Acropolis in Athens, on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012. The ministers of the 17 countries that use the euro are meeting in Brussels later Monday to try to reach an agreement on disbursement of Greece's next rescue loan installment, after several delays. Athens faces bankruptcy without the cash. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

A European Union flag billows in the wind as the ruins of the 5th century BC Parthenon temple is seen in the background on the Acropolis in Athens, on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012. The ministers of the 17 countries that use the euro are meeting in Brussels later Monday to try to reach an agreement on disbursement of Greece's next rescue loan installment, after several delays. Athens faces bankruptcy without the cash. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

A worker cleans graffiti off the Bank of Greece logo, outside the central bank's headquarters in Athens, Monday, Nov. 26, 2012. The ministers of the 17 countries that use the euro are meeting in Brussels later Monday to try to reach an agreement on disbursement of Greece's next rescue loan installment, after several delays. Athens faces bankruptcy without the cash. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

BRUSSELS (AP) ? Finance ministers from the 17 European Union countries that use the euro are trying to hammer out a deal Monday in Brussels on the next installment of bailout money for struggling Greece.

The ministers have failed twice in the last two weeks to reach an agreement to release some ?44 billion ($56.8 billion) for the cash-strapped country.

Greece is living on borrowed time ? it still owes money it was supposed to repay last week.

On his way into the meeting, Olli Rehn, the EU's top financial official, said it was important for the ministers and the International Monetary Fund to agree on a deal. Distributing the next batch of loans was essential, he said, "in order to end the uncertainty that's still hanging over Greece. It's important for Greece, important for Europe."

"I want to encourage all the euro area member states and the IMF to go the last mile to find an agreement ? in fact to go the last centimeter, because we are so close," Rehn said. "Greece has delivered. Now it is the delivery time for the eurogroup and the IMF."

The so-called troika of the European Central Bank, IMF and the European Commission, which is the 27-country EU's executive arm, have twice agreed to bail out Greece, pledging a total of ?240 billion in rescue loans. In return for its bailout loans, Greece has had to impose several rounds of austerity measures and submit its economy to scrutiny.

Greece's fortunes are inextricably tied to the rest of the eurozone. Without the bailout funds that have been keeping it afloat since May 2010, the country would default and could end up having to leave the eurozone. This could have a domino effect on other financially troubled eurozone nations.

Greek Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras said action needed to be taken.

"Greece has fully delivered its part to the agreement, so we expect our partners to deliver their part, too, and I am sure we will find a mutually beneficial solution," he said.

But the prospect of yet another batch of bailout money left some ordinary Greeks unimpressed.

"Did we get anything from any of the previous loan installments?" asked Eleni Myronidou, a retiree in Athens. "Did the people get anything? The banks did. It's all about the banks. Nothing for the people. They should be ashamed of themselves. They should be ashamed."

Greece is unlikely to complete its program of budget cuts and reforms by 2014. For this reason, it is likely to be given an additional two years by the troika. But that extension will cost several billion more, and it is disagreements over how to fund this that have stopped Greece from getting its money.

Several proposals have been floated as ways to plug the financial hole. These include reducing the interest rate Greece pays on its loans from euro partners, lenders such as the ECB giving up interest or profit on their loans, a debt buyback that would reduce the country's burden in the long term, and debt forgiveness by some other countries in the eurozone.

But most of those solutions involved dipping once again into the pockets of taxpayers ? something that has become increasingly unpalatable politically.

"There have been disputes in recent weeks among the members of the troika," said Craig Erlam, an analyst at Alpari. "However these are expected to be resolved today, meaning Greece will finally receive the next bailout payment. If not, Greece could run out of money in the coming days, the consequences of which could be disastrous for the eurozone."

The troika partners disagree on whether Greece should be given an extra two years, to 2022, to bring its debt down to 120 percent of gross domestic product from the 176 percent forecast for this year. The IMF has resisted such an extension.

The ministers hope to reach a political agreement Monday. That agreement will have to be submitted to national parliaments in some countries. After that, the finance ministers plan to hold another meeting, either in person or by telephone, to give final approval to the disbursement.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble ruled out a public-sector debt write-off, and said other eurozone member countries had taken the same position.

But he said he was optimistic about the talks.

"We will find a solution, I am very confident of that," Schaeuble said.

___

Raf Casert in Brussels, Pan Pylas in London and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report. Don Melvin can be reached at http://twitter.com/Don_Melvin.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-11-26-Europe-Financial%20Crisis/id-a838cd0e2d4f46bab6e1f886d206eba0

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MATCHED

M?TCHED

Many say we are fortunate to have been chosen to have such gifts, but I like to think of it as a curse.

Ten babies were chosen in this experiment. But only six survived. Each test was different for each child and if you were strong enough, you would be deemed 'Perfect'. Our appearance and every fiber of our DNA was designed for perfection. But humans are not capable of such perfection, which is why we didn't turn out as they thought. We were built to be indestructible; when we reached our 24th birthdays, we stopped aging; we are capable of superhuman abilities.
But they cruelly placed us in chambers, where we were told what to do everyday of our lives. We were built to become their weapon of mass destruction. But, we weren't something that can be contained. Escaping was the easy part....

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/Cy2UuhirJ_4/viewtopic.php

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Herron Hacienda | Faith, Family, & Frugal Finds in Michigan ...

You already know and love Shutterfly so I know you will also LOVE Treat!? Treat is a new division of Shutterfly that allows you to create custom greeting cards for every occasion.? It's so hard to find that "perfect" card and now Treat just made it a whole lot easier!? Treat cards are perfect for holidays, birthdays, congrats, thank yous and every occasion in between. It?s crazy fun. It?s super easy. And it?s totally personal.

You might be like me and prefer the chance to "try before you buy."? You are in luck!? You can create a custom greeting card absolutely free on Treat.com today and tomorrow only!? Don't miss out on your chance.? Whether saying thanks for Thanksgiving, wishing a friend a holiday birthday (such as my husband's Turkey day birthday), or simply sharing the holiday cheer with a just because card, Treat lets you create a one-of-a-kind card that is sure to impress.

Why wait!?!? Go to Treat.com now and create your FREE custom greeting card when you enter the code TREATBLOGR at checkout!? Short on stamps?? No problem!? Treat will directly mail your card for you for the cost of the stamp.? It doesn't get any easier than this to have a personal and creative touch for that special occasion.

*Treat.com offered me a credit to their site in exchange for my honest review.? All thoughts expressed are my own!

Source: http://jonathanherron.typepad.com/amberherron/2012/11/-treat-yourself-.html

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More Wii U Stock Available For Black Friday In North America ...

reading:Home ? Nintendo News ? More Wii U Stock Available For Black Friday In North America

By Francesco De MeoPublished: 20 November 2012 12:42 PM UTC

Posted in: Nintendo News

Tags: francesco de meo, News, nintendo, Reggie, wii u stock shortage

The Wii U launch in North America was a great success for Nintendo: the console is practically unavailable in most retailers and prices on ebay are skyrocketing, with consoles selling for over 500$, well over the retail suggested price.
With the holiday season almost upon us a stock shortage could really hurt potential Christmas sales but fear not, Nintendo is ready to provide more console for all retailers.

Speaking with CNBC, Nintendo of America president Reginald? Fils-Aime has confirmed that stock levels will be back to launch day levels not only for Christmas, but also in time for the Black Friday sales.

Most retailers expressed some doubts on the future Wii U availability since the numbers of consoles sold in a few days totally excedeed expectations: premium bundles are unavailable everywhere while the normal console pack is quickly getting scarce. Gamestop retail chain estimates that total preorder for the console amounts to 1.2 millions and there?s a waiting list that goeas well beyond 500.000 orders. Nintendo probably expected such a situation given the quick answer given by Reggie.

If you?re still undecided on getting the new Nintendo console during this holiday season you better think about it fast since the console shortage problem may be present again in the coming weeks.

Europe and Japan still have to wait a few more days before being able to get the new Nintendo WII U: the console will hit shelves on November 30 in Europe and on December 6 in Japan.

?

Article from Gamersyndrome.com

Related posts:

1. Black Wii Launches in Europe
2. Black Friday ? Massive Sales All Round For Console Manufacturers
3. Dragon Quest IX Coming to North America in July
4. Demon?s Souls North America release
5. Resonance of Fate coming to North America on March 16

Source: http://gamersyndrome.com/2012/news/nintendo-news/more-wii-u-stock-available-for-black-friday-in-north-america/

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Over 34,000 affected by floods

Over 34,000 people have been affected by floods and water logging in the country.

A report by the Uganda Red Cross Society on Disaster Response indicates that Otuke County in Lira District has been the most affected, where 6,225 people have been left homeless.

The Secretary General of the Uganda Red Cross Society, Michael Nataka says they have responded to over 17,000 people who have been availed with essential household items.

Other districts affected include Soroti, Amuria, Katakwi, Nakapiripirit, Kween, Tororo, Kapchorwa, Lira, Ntoroko, Moroto, Nebbi, Kibale and Kotido.

Floods and water logging have ravaged the country since March 2012.

Nataka adds that the annual emergency stock of essential household items of 20, 000 kits are not enough to respond to the country?s increasing emergency needs calling for support.

?

Source: http://www.kfm.co.ug/news/over-34000-affected-by-floods.html

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Baby boomers are headed toward a 40th high school reunion ...

?
If you?re a baby boomer, then your high school reunion is coming up. If you?re a leading edge boomer, in just a year or two it?s the 40th. Yikes! But even if you?re on the youngest side of our generation, you?re looking at 30 years. The question is, if someone plans a reunion, should you go? Lorie Eber just went to hers and she says, absolutely. Not just because you?ll learn something about your old classmates, but because you?ll learn something about yourself.

My high school reunion was held under rather inauspicious circumstances. New York City had just suffered the double whammy of being sucker-punched by Hurricane Sandy, then was jabbed again by a cold, snowy, angry Nor?easter. The school had been without power for a week.

Nonetheless, this was a command performance that warranted traveling across the country. The hallowed occasion was not only my graduating class?s 40th anniversary, but also a celebration of the founding of this all-girls Catholic high school by a small order of sisters a hundred years ago. In the early 1970s, the facility consisted of two brownstones on the Upper West Side. A ?no congregation? rule was in effect to prevent us from becoming prey to the unsavory neighborhood denizens, lurking close by, taking swigs from paper bags.

Lorie Eber and her high school friends gather in New York for a reunion.

Since I?d failed to keep in touch with my forty-five compatriots, curiosity was a major drawing card. Given the locale, I expected a Seinfeld moment and Jerry delivered. As I approached the school building, I was accosted by a frail-looking woman in her 80s, parading near the entrance, brandishing a ?Shame on You? placard. A labor dispute? No. Something much more bizarre? a former student who claimed she?d been ?forcibly kissed on the lips? by the nun who was principal in the 1940s. She was soliciting alumnae to champion her stale cause. I later learned that the school had retained an attorney to deal with this grievance. You can?t make this stuff up.

Then it was down to the serious business of catching up on 40 years? worth of life stories. I was immediately struck by two conspicuous differences between the New Yorkers I grew up with and the Southern Californians among whom I now live. New Yorkers don?t sugarcoat. They speak the unvarnished truth. They say, ?My teenager hates me,? rather than ?Sarah is still trying to find herself.? What joy to be delivered from political correctness if only for a day!

The other coastal variation was physical. Try as I might, I was unable to identify even a single pair of saline implants in the group. Quite a contrast to my SoCal gym locker room, where I?m an endangered species because I don?t sport a Victoria?s Secret 38DDD bra. Perhaps the absence of surgical enhancements parallels the New York speech pattern.

While I can?t promise that you?ll feel the kinship I did among your long-ago classmates, there is good reason to reunite with fallen away friends: you?ll learn a lot about yourself.

Lorie?s high school picture.

As I reminisced with my high school peers, a Polaroid image of Lorie as a young adult started to develop. I was an intelligent but very shy girl, yet even at that tender age, my rebellious, non-conformist streak was evident to my classmates.

I?d almost forgotten that the nuns threatened to ban me from the graduation ceremony because my shoes were deemed to be the wrong color and I?d refused to wear a bra under the hideous graduation dress. We compromised. I borrowed appropriate shoes and the sisters relented on the undergarment.

I was reminded that our small class had been arbitrarily divided into two sections: one designated ?smart? and the other ?not so smart.? Seems rather unchristian, doesn?t it? While this dichotomy had faded from my memory, my stigmatized colleagues remembered it as if it happened yesterday. Ironically, the perk for being ordained a ?smart? girl was mandatory enrollment in physics class at the expense of acquiring what we all knew was far more employable typing talent. Even as an unworldly teenager, I realized that secretarial skills would trump understanding E=mc2 in the real world. Clearly the sisters did not foresee the tech revolution on the horizon. Smart or not so smart?

As the festivities wore on, it became obvious that my only trait that has notably changed over the years is that I now run my mouth a lot more. But, maybe that?s more a manifestation of advancing age.

Is your high school or college reunion on the horizon? Are you on the fence about going? Show up. You just might learn something about yourself.

Lorie Eber, JD is a nationally-known keynote speaker on Healthy Living, Healthy Aging and Elder Care issues. Author of ?Boomers: Aging Beats the Alternative and a Sense of Humor Helps,? she is also a prolific boomer blogger, a Gerontologist and a Certified Personal Trainer and Senior Fitness Specialist. Visit Lorie?s websites at www.AgingBeatsTheAlternative.com and www.LorieEberKeynoteSpeaker.com.
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Tags: baby boomers, Featured, high school, Lorie Eber, reunion

Category: Baby Boomers, Lorie Eber

Source: http://www.boomercafe.com/2012/11/19/baby-boomers-are-headed-toward-a-40th-high-school-reunion-yikes/

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Fitbit One Review: Slightly Flawed, But Still A Great Way To Quantify Yourself

The original Fitbit first saw the light of day over four years ago, and boy how things have changed since then. Now it seems like everyone from old incumbents to ambitious upstarts have offered their own takes on the activity-tracking formula, so how does Fitbit's newest offering stack up to the competition?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/tK_C-vRAtBQ/

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Ohio State University Football vs. Michigan

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Back to Search Results Ohio State University Football vs. Michigan Dates: November 24, 2012 Location: Ohio Stadium Hours: Saturday noon Address: Woody Hayes Drive, Columbus, 43210 Phone: 614-292-2624, 800-GO-BUCKS Web: www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com ??Get Tickets Cheer on the Buckeyes in the grand Ohio Stadium, which is registered on the National Register of Historic Places. Please note: Information for the calendar of events is gathered from multiple community sources. Experience Columbus is not responsible for the accuracy and content of information. Times, dates and locations are subject to change.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ColumbusSports/~3/H3vFFiDLojY/event-detail.cfm

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SeedCamp Alumni SocialBro Scores ?500K For Its Twitter Community Analytics And Management Tool

SeedCamp alumni, SocialBro, which offers a web app for the management and analysis of Twitter communities, has scored ?500k (approx. $638k) from a syndicate of angel investors from the UK and Spain. The round was led by "serial tech angel investor", Stephen Bullock, and Chris Underhill, who has a background in digital marketing. Both Bullock and Underhill will join the SocialBro's Board.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/hJJ8a1QyioU/

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Obama Makes First Visit to Myanmar (WSJ)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/263893997?client_source=feed&format=rss

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SIGNING DAY Lathrup athletes charge towards college

By SCOTT BURNSTEIN
Special to the Oakland Press

LATHRUP VILLLAGE ? Charging towards the next level, four Southfield-Lathrup Chargers signed National Letters of Intent to play sports in college Wednesday.

Jonathan (Jon-Jon) Williams, Sydni Davis and Christina Green all signed to play basketball and Johnny Slater signed to play baseball, in a heavily-attended ceremony held in the school?s library and media center.

Williams, one of the top boys basketball players in the state, signed with the University of Toledo and Davis, one of the best girls hoopsters in the state, inked with Stetson down in Florida.

Green, the Chargers? captain on the hardwood, signed with Wayne State and Slater, a dynamic threat on the diamond, signed to play in the Big Ten Conference with the University of Michigan.

?I?m very excited to become a Michigan Wolverine,? said Slater after penning his letter of intent. ?I focused on improving my skills every year since I was a freshman and that focus paid off. I?ve made a big jump in my play and I intend to keep making further jumps over the next year, prior to getting up to Ann Arbor.?

Slaters? versatility might be his most appealing attribute. A smooth and savvy lefty, Slater is a specimen, terrorizing opponents whether pitching, hitting, running the base paths or on defense in centerfield.

Last season, he sported a whopping .576 batting average.

Darren Mosley, the Chargers? skipper, can?t say enough about his star player.

?Johnny is a great kid, a great baseball player and a great student, what more can you ask for?,? he said. ?He?s incredibly humble and he leads by example. We?ve put a lot of pressure on him these past couple of seasons and he?s always delivered.?

Williams returns to the basketball court this season after averaging almost 30 points, six assists and seven rebounds per game last year as a junior, establishing himself as one of the most exciting backcourt prospects in the area with his well-rounded game.

?It feels good to get everything wrapped up,? said Williams following the ceremony. ?Now, I can just worry about finishing out my senior year and making it count in every way.?

While Williams committed back in the spring, Slater, Green and Davis made their commitments during the fall.

This will be Davis? first year in a Chargers? uniform, after playing the past three seasons at West Bloomfield.

Davis and Green, teammates on the AAU circuit with the Michigan Storm since they were little, will head a Lathup girls basketball squad this winter that will be a favorite to win a league title and in the hunt for the program?s third straight district championship.

Last Updated: 11/14/2012 8:16:11 PM EST

Source: http://miprepzone.com/oakland/results.asp?ID=8401

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bryant releases budget recommendation for coming ... - Phil Bryant

Provides Tax Relief to Small Businesses, Prioritizes Spending, Bolsters Savings, No Tax or Fee Increases

JACKSON ? Presenting his second Executive Budget Recommendation as governor, Phil Bryant provided a balanced budget plan for the state that also provides tax relief to more than 1,700 small businesses throughout Mississippi.

Bryant?s budget calls for changes to the way Mississippi collects taxes from some small businesses. Under a 2002 law, certain small businesses are required to pre-pay a portion of their tax liability at the close of the state fiscal year each June, allowing Mississippi to count tax revenues that actually belong to the new fiscal year that begins each July.

?Small businesses are our number-one job creators, and this tax practice hurts them by basically requiring them to pay extra taxes each June,? Gov. Bryant said. ?In 2007, the Legislature realized this practice hampered business in the state, and a measure was passed?but repeatedly suspended?to exempt businesses with smaller tax liabilities from the pre-payment requirement. This year, we have identified a special fund surplus that will allow us to return to the 2007 exemption standards, providing tax relief to 67 percent of Mississippi businesses.?

Bryant?s budget maintains his commitment to spending only 98 percent of available revenues and builds the state?s reserves to protect against the potential effects of a struggling national economy.

?We are continuing to save and budget conservatively, finding more efficiencies and relying on less one-time money to fund recurring expenses,? Gov. Bryant said. ?We are also funding Mississippi?s highest priorities? investing in our children by improving our education outcomes, protecting public safety, continuing our economic development efforts and ensuring the basic function of critical government systems.?

Bryant?s Fiscal Year 2014 budget utilizes a total of $5.8 billion in revenue and reserves nearly $100 million of Mississippi?s revenue as savings for fiscal year 2015.

?I thank the Legislature for heeding my call to return to saving two percent of our revenues, and my budget continues this commitment,? Gov. Bryant said. ?As a result of our discipline, Mississippi had about $96 million to start the fiscal year we are currently in. In previous years when the savings law was not obeyed, we often started with nothing.?

Economic forecasts for Mississippi indicate slow growth, and Bryant?s budget reduces appropriations to most state agencies by 1.5 percent. The governor prioritized state spending, concentrating resources in public safety and economic development and directing new funds to education improvement.

Education:

• Level funding for MAEP using $2.03 billion in state funds.
• Full funding for National Board Certified Teacher program.
• Level funding for Teach for America and Mississippi Teachers Corps.
• More than $24 million in new education funding to address improvement priorities, including:
  • $2 million to fund a pilot program to develop innovative performance-based compensation models for educators.? Four districts in the state are participating.
  • Improve Mississippi?s literacy outcomes through $15 million in funding for ongoing, research-based training for classroom teachers, as well as providing reading interventionists throughout the state.
  • $1 million each for two new scholarship programs for high-achieving students who agree to teach five years in a Mississippi public school.
  • $250,000 to help students enrolled in high school technical programs earn national certifications and accreditations that will help prove their qualifications in the job market.
  • $1 million for dropout intervention efforts conducted by Jobs for Mississippi graduates.
  • $3 million for Mississippi Building Blocks continuing pilot program.
  • $1.8 million for the State Longitudinal Data System, also known as Lifetracks, to gather and analyze education metrics.

Community Colleges and IHL:

• Fully funds Student Financial Aid.
• My budget reflects a commitment to these valuable institutions and the services they provide by increasing funding to the IHL and Community and Junior College general support budgets by $9.1 million.
• Level funding for IHL agricultural units.

Public Safety:

• Exempts most public safety agencies from budget cuts.
• Provides $8.5 million increase to Mississippi Highway Patrol to fund a trooper school, compensate on-the-road troopers who have advanced their career ladders, and replace and equip aging vehicles.
• Provides funds to replace commodities used by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency in response to Hurricane Isaac.
• Meets construction and maintenance needs of the Mississippi Wireless Integrated Network (MSWIN).
• Provides a fiscal year 2014 increase to the Department of Corrections, as well as funds to meet remaining needs in the current fiscal year.

Health Care:

• Provides appropriation to University of Mississippi Medical Center equal to its fiscal year 2013 appropriation, which includes $3.2 million for the Rural Physician Scholarship Program.

Division of Medicaid:

• Recommends Medicaid receive $878.4 million to fund needs in fiscal year 2014 as well as remaining needs in the current fiscal year.
• If the federal government continues to create uncertainty in the business climate or the global economy deteriorates, Medicaid?s actual needs may be $921 million or more.

Additional Priorities:

• Reserves half of the balance in the Capital Expense Fund so the Department of Finance and Administration can utilize this fund for its proper purpose of conducting maintenance and repairs on state buildings.
• Uses one-time dollars in an idle fund to meet one-time needs for upgrades to the state?s accounting system and to county-based tax collection and vehicle titling systems.
• Calls for the adoption of performance based budgeting and provides $250,000 to implement a performance audit pilot program.
• As chairman of state bond commission, Gov. Bryant will?not approve issuance of more debt in any given year than is retired.

?Budgets, ultimately, reflect priorities, and this budget represents how I believe we can best use our resources to continue moving this state forward,? Gov. Bryant said. ?By opening the doors to opportunity through an improved public education system, safeguarding our communities, and encouraging investment in sectors most likely to bring lasting economic growth, Mississippians will rise together, in the coming fiscal year and beyond.?

For a copy of the Executive Budget Recommendation click here.

###

Source: http://www.governorbryant.com/bryant-releases-budget-recommendation-for-coming-fiscal-year/

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Website Developer With Voip Website ... - UK Business Forums

As the title says ? I am looking for a web developer with experience in building VoIP service websites (I AM ONLY INTERESTED IN PEOPLE WITH RELEVENT VOIP WEBSITE BUILDING EXPERIENCE) I am looking for any offers or recommendations. Would be working with our software engineers to provide a slick automated end user customer sign-up experience.

PM ONLY PLEASE.

__________________
New low cost VoIP calls coming soon! Unbeatable prices & service. No number transfer charges in or out!

Source: http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=277720

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Lost in space: Rogue planet spotted? Orphaned world may help to explain how planets and stars form

ScienceDaily (Nov. 14, 2012) ? Astronomers using ESO's Very Large Telescope and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope have identified a body that is very probably a planet wandering through space without a parent star. This is the most exciting free-floating planet candidate so far and the closest such object to the Solar System at a distance of about 100 light-years. Its comparative proximity, and the absence of a bright star very close to it, has allowed the team to study its atmosphere in great detail. This object also gives astronomers a preview of the exoplanets that future instruments aim to image around stars other than the Sun.

Free-floating planets are planetary-mass objects that roam through space without any ties to a star. Possible examples of such objects have been found before [1], but without knowing their ages, it was not possible for astronomers to know whether they were really planets or brown dwarfs -- "failed" stars that lack the bulk to trigger the reactions that make stars shine.

But astronomers have now discovered an object, labelled CFBDSIR2149 [2], that seems to be part of a nearby stream of young stars known as the AB Doradus Moving Group. The researchers found the object in observations from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and harnessed the power of ESO's Very Large Telescope to examine its properties [3].

The AB Doradus Moving Group is the closest such group to the Solar System. Its stars drift through space together and are thought to have formed at the same time. If the object is associated with this moving group -- and hence it is a young object -- it is possible to deduce much more about it, including its temperature, mass, and what its atmosphere is made of [4]. There remains a small probability that the association with the moving group is by chance.

The link between the new object and the moving group is the vital clue that allows astronomers to find the age of the newly discovered object [5]. This is the first isolated planetary mass object ever identified in a moving group, and the association with this group makes it the most interesting free-floating planet candidate identified so far.

"Looking for planets around their stars is akin to studying a firefly sitting one centimetre away from a distant, powerful car headlight," says Philippe Delorme (Institut de plan?tologie et d'astrophysique de Grenoble, CNRS/Universit? Joseph Fourier, France), lead author of the new study. "This nearby free-floating object offered the opportunity to study the firefly in detail without the dazzling lights of the car messing everything up."

Free-floating objects like CFBDSIR2149 are thought to form either as normal planets that have been booted out of their home systems, or as lone objects like the smallest stars or brown dwarfs. In either case these objects are intriguing -- either as planets without stars, or as the tiniest possible objects in a range spanning from the most massive stars to the smallest brown dwarfs.

"These objects are important, as they can either help us understand more about how planets may be ejected from planetary systems, or how very light objects can arise from the star formation process," says Philippe Delorme. "If this little object is a planet that has been ejected from its native system, it conjures up the striking image of orphaned worlds, drifting in the emptiness of space."

These worlds could be common -- perhaps as numerous as normal stars [6]. If CFBDSIR2149 is not associated with the AB Doradus Moving Group it is trickier to be sure of its nature and properties, and it may instead be characterised as a small brown dwarf. Both scenarios represent important questions about how planets and stars form and behave.

"Further work should confirm CFBDSIR2149 as a free-floating planet," concludes Philippe Delorme. "This object could be used as a benchmark for understanding the physics of any similar exoplanets that are discovered by future special high-contrast imaging systems, including the SPHERE instrument that will be installed on the VLT."

Notes

[1] Numerous candidates for these kinds of planets have been found before (with corresponding press releases and papers, e.g. from Science, Nature, Royal Astronomical Society). These objects started to become known in the 1990s, when astronomers found that the point at which a brown dwarf crosses over into the planetary mass range is difficult to determine. More recent studies have suggested that there may be huge numbers of these little bodies in our galaxy, a population numbering almost twice as many as the main sequence stars present.

[2] The object was identified as part of an infrared extension of the Canada-France Brown Dwarfs Survey (CFBDS), a project hunting for cool brown dwarf stars. It is also referred to as CFBDSIR J214947.2-040308.9.

[3] The team observed CFBDSIR2149 with both the WIRCam camera on the Canada France Hawaii Telescope on Hawaii, and the SOFI camera on the ESO New Technology Telescope in Chile. The images taken at different times allowed the object's proper motion across the sky to be measured and compared to members of the AB Doradus Moving Group. The detailed study of the object's atmosphere was made using the X-shooter spectrograph on ESO's Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory.

[4] The association with the AB Doradus Moving Group would pin down the mass of the planet to approximately 4-7 times the mass of Jupiter, with an effective temperature of approximately 430 degrees Celsius. The planet's age would be the same as the moving group itself -- 50 to 120 million years.

[5] The team's statistical analysis of the object's proper motion -- its angular change in position across the sky each year -- shows an 87% probability that the object is associated with the AB Doradus Moving Group, and more than 95% probability that it is young enough to be of planetary mass, making it much more likely to be a rogue planet rather than a small "failed" star. More distant free-floating planet candidates have been found before in very young star clusters, but could not be studied in detail.

[6] These free-floating objects can also reveal their presence when they pass in front of a star. The light travelling towards us from the background star is bent and distorted by the gravity of the object, causing the star to suddenly and briefly brighten -- a process known as gravitational microlensing. Microlensing surveys of the Milky Way, such as OGLE, may have detected free-floating planets in this way (for example, a Microlensing Experiment published in Nature in 2011).

More information

This research is presented in a paper, "CFBDSIR2149-0403: a 4-7 Jupiter-mass free-floating planet in the young moving group AB Doradus?" to appear in Astronomy & Astrophysics on 14 November 2012.

The team is composed of P. Delorme (Institut de plan?tologie et d'astrophysique de Grenoble, CNRS/Universit? Joseph Fourier, France [IPAG]), J. Gagn? (Universit? de Montr?al, Canada), L. Malo (Universit? de Montr?al, Canada), C. Reyl? (Institut UTINAM, CNRS/OSU THETA Franche-Comt?-Bourgogne/Universit? de Franche Comt?, France), E. Artigau (Universit? de Montr?al, Canada), L. Albert (Universit? de Montr?al, Canada), T. Forveille (Institut de plan?tologie et d'astrophysique de Grenoble, CNRS/Universit? Joseph Fourier, France [IPAG]), X. Delfosse (Institut de plan?tologie et d'astrophysique de Grenoble, CNRS/Universit? Joseph Fourier, France [IPAG]), F. Allard (Universit? Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France), D. Homeier (Universit? Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France).

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by European Southern Observatory.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. P. Delorme, J. Gagn?, L. Malo, C. Reyl?, E. Artigau, L. Albert, T. Forveille, X. Delfosse, F. Allard, D. Homeier. CFBDSIR2149-0403: a 4?7 Jupiter-mass free-floating planet in the young moving group AB Doradus? Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2012; 548: A26 DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201219984

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/astronomy/~3/BdBE16iJETI/121114083411.htm

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