Friday, August 31, 2012

?The Pinterest Effect?: The Economic Impact of Pinterest ? Her View ...

Editors note:? Traci is an ?old? Gamma Phi friend from my college days.? She blogs over at My Job is Amusing and makes me laugh out loud every time I read her posts.? You may remember a link we posted a while back about Traci?s husband delivering her baby?? At her home???? Yea.? We remember, too.? Here?s the link ~ you don?t want to miss it.?

Traci will be writing for Her View From Home this fall!? Yeah!? We will unveil more of her work (along with many other contributors) with the new launch.? Can?t wait to have her on board!? Here?s a sneak peek at her writing!? ~Leslie

**Authors Note: I have made up every single fact that I have reported in this blog post. There is no evidence to support a single claim I make. All statistics are based on anecdotal presumptions.

Thank you for taking a break from ?pinning? in order to read this post. I am not under the delusion that a single word I will say to you today will add anything to your life as valuable as what pinterest brings you on a day to day basis, but I am very pleased that you are here. When you are finished, please head straight to the store to pick up a yard of burlap and some PVC pipe for your next project.

The truth is, very little on the web can hold a candle to the phenomenon that is pinterest. I mean, come on?Preschool lunches featuring organic ingredients cut into silly shapes! How to make a $30 IKEA cabinet into a custom built-in using a hack saw & spray paint! Inspirational quotes shown using hipster graphic design! 431 ways to entertain your 2 year old! A tutorial on how to convert a ratty old sweatshirt into an adorable baby romper! How to make your own Mod Podge, Febreeze, ketchup, bug spray, or even a reed diffuser!

It?s all too much.

No matter how many pins you?ve seen, you remain in awe that you now hold the key to so much life change and possess such a wealth of knowledge. You feel inspired to purchase & create?and so does everyone else.

This mutual inspiration has caused a ripple effect in the economy that is changing lives for the better?

?AND for the worse (cue daunting music).

Today, I will share with you the economic victims of what I call ?The Pinterest Effect??as well as its top beneficiaries.

*VICTIM #1:?THE PAINT INDUSTRY: The manufacturers of interior & exterior house paint have been the hardest hit by the Pinterest effect. Behr, a captain of the industry, has reportedly been forced to lay off 5% of its work force. Why? Paint chip theft. Paint chips aren?t cheap people, and since the launch of pinterest, paint companies have had to increase paint chip production by 22%. My case in point: projects like these which are all over Pinterest:

Women have been hitting hardware stores in droves tucking paint chips into their home sewn satchels. There is actually a warrant out for the arrest of the person whose bedroom is photographed above.

The ripple effect of this thievery is drastic?countless jobs have been lost. This is the sad but true result of selfish pinterest crafting.

*VICTIM #2: THE WORLD OF COOKBOOKERY

With the influx of recipes available on pinterest, cookbook authors & publishers are encountering bleak times. Amazon has reported a 11.4% drop in sales in the cookbook genre since the invention of pinterest. Pulling a stack of cookbooks off the shelf is becoming a less and less popular way to plan dinner. Women are now choosing to do their meal planning online, especially through pinterest. Poor Betty Crocker.

*VICTIM #3: PERSONAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

Pinterest exposes users to a vast amount of clothing, home decor, makeup, craft supplies, jewelry, children?s products, books, party supplies, & electronics that would not have been discovered otherwise. This exposure creates not only the urge to buy an item here and there, but a general desire to attain a certain ?way of life?. Whether it be the modern urbanite, the hyper organized stay at home mom, the granola yuppie, geek chic, the vintage hipster, or countless other lifestyle options..a pinterest user can often find themselves with a unspoken yearning to create a world for themselves that looks like the pins on their boards.

This affects the economy in a positive way: increased spending. Sadly though, there is a voiceless victim in this unspoken urge to create a pinteresting life: a pinterest users? savings account. Unfortunately, making your own hand soap, laundry detergent, and play dough does not quite make up for the increased spending of these pinterest addicts, therefore they have less money to set aside for a rainy day (but don?t worry- they have a list of 200 free rainy day activities pinned on their ?Ideas? board!!).

*VICTIM #4: REAL PHOTOGRAPHERS

These days, photography tutorials ?are all over pinterest. This has created a flood of?amateur?photographers onto the economic landscape. Everyone now has a friend with a photography habit and a basic level of knowledge regarding concepts like aperture, white balance, & ISO. Many people are now choosing to have these ?wannabes? take their family/baby/event photographs instead of enlisting the talents of actual professionals, thus harming an actual professional photographer?s bottom line.

*VICTIM #5: FONT DESIGNERS

With free fonts galore, no one is paying for their fonts these days. The field of Font Design has seen a 40% decrease in employment (Seriously though, Font Designer?is that a thing?)

OTHER PRODUCT/INDUSTRY VICTIMS (due to the ?make your own? craze): Salad dressing, Febreeze, laundry soap, crayons, play dough, glue, household cleaners, toothpaste, cooking spray, flavored jello, Bisquick, tea bags (OK so perhaps this isn?t true?I mean, has ANYONE that has pinned these make your own ideas actually followed through? Please comment.)

Shame. Shame. Shame.

Don?t you fret for long! The economic news isn?t all bad, it?s time to share the BENEFICIARIES?of the Pinterest effect?

*Embroidery?Hoop Manufacturers everywhere

*Any designer who chooses Chevron?

*Etsy sellers- those?who don?t want to follow the oodles of tutorials on pinterest just head on over to etsy & buy things from people who aren?t such lazy piles (this would describe yours truly)

*Pallet producers-?Who knows where people find all these pallets, but someone somewhere has gotta be pleased with the popularity of all this pallet crapola

*Bloggers- Pinterest brings new readers to blogs like Russian gymnast Aliya Mustafina brings the attitude. Di.Va. ?Bloggers with advertisers see those added numbers and ads get added additionally. Bloggers without advertisers might become bloggers with advertisers if they keep on adding?pin worthy posts. Have you ad it with me?

*IKEA- so many ikea hacks, so little time. Spice racks are flying off the shelves, and sales of the Expedit shelf are up 14.5% alone.

*Thrift Stores/Antique shops/Flea Markets- Hoardes of prudent pinterest users have been flocking to these locations desperately seeking items to sand, spray paint, and refurbish.

*Anyone involved in the production of the following products: vinegar, FELT/felt balls, quinoa, bento boxes, kale, baking soda, nail polish, wreath forms, yarn, chalkboard paint, crock pots, oatmeal, rubber door mats, & mason jars

******

Oh Pinterest, you sly vixen. Thou giveth & thou taketh away.

TD

P.S. I know I?m poking some fun at good ole Pinterest, but I want ya?ll to know I?m definitely a fan. You want proof?? Well?I own a Chevron lamp shade, made a Pinterest recipe for dinner Friday, created one of those growth chart rulers, whipped up a wreath for my mantel, regularly pin funny things I come across (my favorite one), found Caroline?s party decoration ideas there, and I even tried one of the hair tutorials (and failed). I?m not great about pinning, but I look for things on there quite often. Next on the agenda: finally learn how to do my eye makeup at the age of 31.

P.P.S. No time for Sunshine/Raincloud on this post?I?ve gotta whip up a spinach & oatmeal smoothie with flax seed & drink it out of a mason jar.

?

Source: http://herviewfromhome.com/the-pinterest-effect-the-economic-impact-of-pinterest-2/

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Cash structured settlements | Scribbleprint Articles

Scribbleprint Articles ? Business ? Cash structured settlements


But it's currently attainable sure enough non physical injury cases to be structured even supposing the money for damages is taken into account as assessable financial gain. With virtually each structured settlement there's Associate in nursing underlying quality that funds the payment obligation. This quality is sometimes associate in nursing regular payment.

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However, typically it's not a nasty call as a result of the settlement one has would possibly incorporates irregular payments that weren?t designed to fulfill the person?s wants. If you have got a structured regular payment and need to have interaction in an exceedingly money for Annuities group action with a corporation that gives money for annuities then you must remember that the group action has got to be approved by a court. There?s an area within the tax code that enforces this by imposing a large tax on the group action if it's not approved by a court. Some firms would possibly attempt to represent however quickly they will get somebody a payment of cash however it's all dependent on once a court date may be scheduled and if the court approves it. When somebody is that the victim of a private injury at the alleged fault of another person then a suit may refill to resolve any dispute over World Health Organization is answerable for the money damages of the victim.

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Article Source: Scribbleprint Articles

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Author (sovereignfunding12). Submitted on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 Time: 9:26 AM

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Source: http://www.scribbleprint.com/business/cash-structured-settlements.html

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

How Joining Clubs And Teams Can Improve Your Business Sales ...

Posted by?lazaroscho47?in?Wednesday, August 29th 2012???




I never used to be described as a fan of groups and social gatherings but I always believed that to market my services more effectively, I would have to be a part of some sort of business where I can network with business owners like me.On the net this is an easy task to do. Web entrepreneurs use methods such as for example Skype to communicate with fellow business owners hundreds of miles away, but in the offline world, we don?t have happy the technology to form brainstorming groups.Well I assume there is a method to brainstorm in the offline world of marketing. You can hold convention calls, website molds via Cisco application, and live shows. Many of these ways are excellent ways to obtain usage of the latest guidelines and information that can help you to remain together with the marketplace.But exactly what do you do if you don?t have the technology that I stated above? Well it is fairly simple actually. You could decrease to your neighborhood chamber of commerce and network with the business owners there. You won?t ever know very well what kind of information these folks have to supply, and many of the things that they?ve learned could be placed on any business.This may be the quality of advertising. Practices that work for others might work for you also. A lot of the time all it takes is straightforward tune to help make the idea work for you also. For example, I?m pretty sure that you run newspaper ads or yellow pages ads, and might be some of the members at the chamber of commerce run these ads also.But if one business owners is making more cash from their ads than you?re from yours, you should ask this business operator what they?re doing to create their marketing work for you. Once the business manager tells you what they do, you can use the same strategy to see improved results from your ads.So one strategy that works for others can work for you too with the proper method. There are numerous more teams that you could join to link up with other business owners (nationally) and share ideas about how to make a particular method work. One good destination for a find people such as this is at the forums on the internet.I individually post in a forum on the web called the ?Warrior Forum.? This is a forum where like oriented business owners gather and share ideas on how best to make more money within our businesses. And based on your niche, I?m pretty sure you can find forums that will fit you and your business.Joining clubs, communities, and organizations can be considered a good way to promote and earn more money in your business. As it pertains to marketing, 2 minds actually are much better than your brain is put by one.So to think and work about more organizations that one may join to create more money in your business. Be an active participant, and focus on making new friends. It is one of the best things that you can certainly do for your business.Good luck with using the idea of networking to boost your earnings and sales.

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Source: http://www.besthalaltravels.com/how-joining-clubs-and-teams-can-improve-your-business-sales/

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International Entertainment News: CAPS Launches Labor Day TV ...

CAPS Launches Labor Day TV Ad In Conventions Calling On Politicians To Reduce Mass Immigration And Save Jobs For Returning Veterans

Despite 1 in 3 Returning Vets Unable To Find A Job, U.S. Will Admit another Million Immigrant Workers Next Year To Take Jobs

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the Labor Day holiday approaching, Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS) will launch a Jobs TV ad this week on national cable news networks. The ads will air during coverage of the RNC and DNC conventions and call on the nation's leaders to reduce the flow of immigrant workers so America's returning veterans can land jobs.

To date, leaders of both parties have refused to call for reductions in the flow of one million legal immigrant workers a year despite record high young veteran unemployment. In fact, the Obama administration has taken actions to increase the flows of young immigrant workers who will compete for young returning veterans' jobs. The Administration has called for increases in legal immigrant workers, bypassed Congress to give nearly two million illegal aliens under the age of thirty work permits and begun punishing ICE agents who arrest illegal aliens under the age of thirty.

"Our young women and men in uniform put their lives on the line for all of us so that we may remain free. The least President Obama can do is make sure they're at the front of the job line when they return home," commented Marilyn DeYoung, Chairman of the Board of Californians for Population Stabilization.

More veterans settle in California than any other state in the country. And over the next five years, the number of veterans returning home looking for work is projected to increase exponentially, with more than one million veterans flooding the workplace. At the same time, the state continues to experience a flood of another sort as the U.S. government admits one million legal immigrant workers a year to take jobs in places like California, already devastated by some of the highest unemployment rates in the country.

The impact is being felt by all Americans. However, recently returning veterans 18-24 are being disproportionately affected. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2011, young male veterans had an unemployment rate of 29.1%, nearly double the rate of their young non-veteran counterparts. Young African American male veterans had an even higher rate of unemployment, topping 40%.

For more information, visit www.CAPSweb.org.

SOURCE Californians for Population Stabilization

Californians for Population Stabilization

CONTACT: Gretchen Pfaff, +1-805-564-6626

Web Site: http://www.CAPSweb.org

-------
Profile: intent

Source: http://internationalentertainmentnews.blogspot.com/2012/08/caps-launches-labor-day-tv-ad-in.html

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Hurricane Isaac prepares to test New Orleans

With Hurricane Isaac's arrival, New Orleans will get its first glimpse of the effectiveness of $14.5 billion in improved levees, pumps, flood walls and other protections built after Hurricane Katrina.

Although the area will probably see heavy rain and flooding, experts say the improved hurricane protection ? including what's billed as the largest drainage pump in the world, capable of emptying an Olympic-size pool in four seconds ? will prevent the loss of life and widespread damage caused by the storm surge that followed Katrina in 2005.

"There's really no such thing as complete and total flood protection. The best we can do is reduce the risk," said Richard Campanella, a geography professor at the Tulane School of Architecture in New Orleans who stayed in town to ride out the storm.

He cautioned that even if the levees held and were not overtopped by the storm surge, the bowl-shaped New Orleans area would have to cope with flooding because of heavy rain likely to overwhelm drainage systems.

Campanella said that despite contentious negotiations between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local officials concerning levee improvements in recent years, the revamped Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System would probably withstand an expected storm surge of 6 to 12 feet above sea level.

"The Army Corps, like so many agencies around here, learned a painful lesson seven years ago: The levee system was a system in name only," Campanella said, calling the pre-Katrina levee system "shoddy" and disorganized.

After the corps got approval to start work on the levees in 2006, he said, they "fast-tracked about 30 or 40 years of work," completing the new system this year with "massive, Netherlands-style barriers erected on eastern and southern portions of the metropolis," 130 miles of reinforced flood walls and levees.

Aiding the system will be reduced water levels along the lower Mississippi River due to the drought farther north, he said. That will force some of the storm surge to effectively flow uphill, slow down and "swell in place" within the river.

"If there's going to be flooding in the streets, it's going to come from the sky," Campanella said, possibly enough to block streets and engulf cars in this city built "like a series of bathtubs," half below sea level. But any flood was expected to fall short of that from Katrina, which made landfall seven years ago Wednesday. Its rising water enveloped houses and claimed more than 1,800 lives, mostly in Louisiana.

"People don't generally drown in rainwater flooding here," he said. "They drown in surge flooding."

In preparation for Isaac, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, a Democrat, helped corps staff close for the first time what he called the Great Wall: a new $1.1-billion, 1.8-mile-long, 26-foot-high wall protecting New Orleans East and St. Bernard Parish from surrounding waterways.

Elsewhere in New Orleans, Republican Sen. David Vitter embedded himself with the corps while Gov. Bobby Jindal, also a Republican, checked on the 17th Street canal pumps.

Some officials in Jefferson Parish were negotiating late Tuesday to close a floodgate in the Intracoastal Waterway to protect local businesses once waters rose 2 feet above sea level, but corps officials wanted to wait until water rose closer to 3 feet.

It would be the first time the gate was closed since its completion this year, said Susan Maclay, president of the board of directors of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority West. She said closing the gate and managing the flow of water into the Intracoastal Waterway were complicated.

"That's going to require serious choreography," Maclay said.

In the four-parish New Orleans area, 78 water pumps have been upgraded since Katrina. But in New Orleans proper, drainage systems can handle only an inch of water in the first hour of the storm and half an inch each hour thereafter ? probably not enough to avoid flooding, said Landrieu's sister, Sen. Mary L. Landrieu.

"Everybody outside thinks you build a levee and keep the water out. But rain is a big factor in these storms ? water can fill up the bowl," said Mary Landrieu, a Democrat. "It's not just a few poor neighborhoods in New Orleans at the bottom of the bowl. The whole region is at the bottom. We live on a delta."

Mary Landrieu, whose parents' home was flooded during Katrina, said local officials were especially concerned about heavy rain.

"Hurricanes can be Category 1 and 2, but if they drop rain over an area like this for too long, that can turn into a pretty desperate situation," she said.

She praised corps officials as attentive and supportive, but cautioned that "it's the same old corps in terms of not having enough money" to finish much-needed flood protection projects in the area. That includes the Southeastern Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project, started in 1996 and intended to improve pumps and canals in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes ? home to about 1.4 million people. The project is about half done and will probably take years to finish.

"I don't want people to think just because it goes well that the work has been done," Mary Landrieu said. "We still have many more projects to complete."

Corps officials insisted Tuesday that the area was ready for the storm.

"We took a lot of lessons learned from Katrina," said Rene Poche of the corps' New Orleans office. "We believe the system will perform as designed."

Upgrades to pump stations allow operators to remain safely on site; many operators were evacuated during Katrina, leaving pumping stations unstaffed. The stations have also been outfitted with backup generators and other fuel sources.

Some levees that stood only 4 feet high during Katrina have been raised to 16 feet, with some flood walls as high as 30 feet. Because of levee foundation failures and "scouring" ? erosion ? of earthen levees during Katrina, foundations have been strengthened and armored, the corps said.

There was some concern among local officials that levees battered by Isaac may be at risk as hurricane season progresses through November. They have plans and funding from the corps to armor the outside of the levees, but said they didn't have time to get the work done before Isaac, and won't this season.

"If we get another storm in the next few weeks, that could be a problem," said John Barry, a board member of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East, which has worked with the corps on the levees. "You want a system that's capable of weathering several storms in a season."

molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com

david.zucchino@latimes.com

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/nVNRB2mhwsY/la-na-new-orleans-levees-20120829,0,5560265.story

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Gaming Software ? Real Casino Power ? DT Fine Art

Gaming software providers areessentially theheartof any online casino. Gaming software allows operators of online casinos to offer all the games that gamblers know and love. The overall software package provided to operators includes: management tools for the online casino, payment solutions, jackpots, and of course thedevelopmentof the superb games.
Gaming Software

The Microgaming platform is hugely popular and for a good reason. They are the worlds largest provider of online gaming software. Microgaming currently offer over 600 unique branded games and have the largestProgressive Jackpot Network in the world. Players at Microgaming online casinos have won to date over ?320 in prizes! In May 2009 one of historys highest ever payouts of ?6.37 million was won by a single player at a Microgaming casino and in November 2009 the first ever Microgaming Euro millionaire was created in an online slot tournament.

Recommended Microgaming-powered online casinos include: All Slots Casino.

Playtech are another online gaming software provider with considerable credentials. They offer every game conceivable from Table Games, Slots, Roulette and many more. They also have the distinction of boasting the worlds largest Online Poker Network. Millions have been won at Playtech casinos and offer outstanding games that have a cult following. Both Playtech and Microgaming bide by international licensing laws and regulations.

Recommended Playtech-powered online casinos include: Bet365 Casino.
American and Players

Due to the Gambling Enforcement Act, American players are unable to play at casinos powered by either Microgaming or Playtech. The good news is that not every gaming software provider follows this policy. American players are welcomed at Real Time Gaming (RTG) powered casinos. This gaming software provider was one of the first, providing fantastic games since 1998. The decision to accept American players or not is left for the individual online casino operator to decide. Many RTG casinos will advertise the fact that American players are invited to visit their casino.

Recommended RTG-powered online casinos include: Sun Palace Casino.

Source: http://www.dtfineart.com/2012/08/gaming-software-real-casino-power/

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3M Automotive Aftermarket Partners With Chip Foose

ST. PAUL, Minn. (July 2, 2012) ??3M Automotive Aftermarket Division and Foose Design are proud to announce the expansion of a multiyear agreement, whereby Chip Foose, owner and chief designer of Foose Design and star of TLC?s ?Overhaulin?? will represent 3M for their successful line of 3M Automotive Aftermarket product solutions in the U.S. and throughout the world.

?I have been using 3M products since I first started working with my Dad in his shop. The 3M Automotive Aftermarket products are used daily by all of us at Foose Design and are a big part of our success. 3M products are known for quality and innovation and I am thrilled to be associated with this great company, its products and its people. ?

The global agreement, set to activate in the summer of 2012, includes 3M Automotive Collision Repair products and systems.

?Having started my formal relationship with 3M Latin America, I am extremely proud to now represent 3M throughout the U.S. and on a worldwide basis. ?Passion for great automotive design and fabrication is universal. The world has become a smaller place through technology and social media, and I hope to utilize both in helping to communicate 3M?s commitment to quality and innovation.?

The partnership also includes promotions, media outreach and appearances by Foose with 3M customers and at select automotive events in the U.S. and around the world.

?Chip Foose is one of the best known car designers and builders in the world, and we?re honored that he is a loyal believer in 3M Automotive Aftermarket product solutions,? said Dale Ross, U.S. Marketing Operations Manager at 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. ?We?re proud to have him become an ambassador for the 3M brand in the U.S., and look forward to working with him on creative automotive design projects and promotions in the coming year.?

For more information, contact 1-877-MMM-CARS or your local 3M Distributor or 3M Sale Representative for more information or visit our website at http://www.3MCollision.com.

Source: http://redphin.com/archives/2012/08/3m-automotive-aftermarket-partners-with-chip-foose/

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Snooki Has a Baby Boy! See Her Wild Maternity Fashions

The Jersey Shore star welcomed baby Lorenzo on Aug. 26! Look back at her bold, bump-flaunting pregnancy ensembles

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/pregnant-snooki-s-maternity-fashion-photos/1-b-481596?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Apregnant-snooki-s-maternity-fashion-photos-481596

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Bollywood plans biopic of boxing hero Mary Kom

A Bollywood film-maker is working on a movie about Indian boxing star and mother-of-two Mary Kom, whose bronze medal at the London Olympics cemented her status as a national hero.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali said Tuesday he was moved by the story of Kom, a poor farmer's daughter from the remote northeast of India who overcame the odds to become a five-times world champion and Olympic medallist.

"Here's a person so splendid, so inspiring, so wonderful," Bhansali told AFP. "Her story needs to be told to the world. It's a wonderful story of a fighter in life."

Bhansali, who directed the 2002 hit movie Devdas, said biopics were not made frequently in Hindi-language Bollywood, but he was "very, very moved" when he read the script.

He admitted he has not yet found an actor for the lead role.

"We'll be auditioning a lot of people for it. Let's see," he said.

Bhansali will be producing the film, while Omung Kumar, who wrote the script, will direct, with a scheduled release date in the the middle of next year.

Kom, 29, told The Times of India she hoped the film would improve ties between the marginalised northeast region where she comes from and the rest of the country.

Earlier this month, thousands of migrants fled from south and west Indian cities after rumours they would be attacked in retaliation for violence in Assam state, which lies in the volatile northeast.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bollywood-plans-biopic-boxing-hero-mary-kom-103537676.html

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DOG FIGHT

At least one Tampa, Fla., rally's gone to the dogs already.

Amid a protest objecting to the way Mitt Romney transported the family pet on a years-ago vacation ? inside an animal carrier strapped atop the car ? a woman stepped into the crowd and began loudly defending the GOP candidate.

"What Mitt Romney did to his dog, his dog liked and it was safe and enjoyable," said Barbara Seidenberg. As several canine-toting protesters tried to shout her down, she pressed on.

"Barack Obama was a 10-year-old boy when he ate dog," she said, apparently referring to a passage in one of Obama's books in which he writes about eating dog meat as a boy in Indonesia. "But he was a grown man when he decided his whole persona and his life was going to be committed to turning this country into less of a country so that ? "

She was drowned out by a protester yelling "Obama 2012!"

A shouting match ensued, and Seidenberg stormed off.

__ Peter Prengaman ? Twitter ? http://twitter.com/peterprengaman

___

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/dog-fight-230735959.html

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Getting Better With Email Marketing Through Knowing Great Ideas ...

TIP! You must be persistent with your email marketing strategy. While you must be persistent, it needs to be used with the proper consumers or it won?t help your business.

When you decide that you do want to market for your business the biggest concern you might have might be what techniques are going to benefit you the most. Email marketing has been around for a long time. It is still a smart way to reach customers. If you want to market your business through email, you can make the most of your efforts by making use of the tips found below.

TIP! When sending follow-up emails to potential customers, consider including a testimonial or endorsement in the message. It would be helpful to let them know that they can immediately benefit.

Make confirmation on the email opt-in portion of your website. Make it simple for people to change their minds about joining your list. This is the best way to avoid being reported as a spammer by customers who signed up for your email list without understanding what they were doing.

TIP! Always proofread your emails carefully before sending them. Although it sounds obvious, many would be surprised by the number of errors that inexperienced companies often have in their emails.

Although this may seem obvious, making sure that the addresses on your campaign list are accurate is something that is often overlooked, so make sure they are all correct! Having erroneous emails that simply bounce back will just waste your time and effort. It is simply a waste of time.

TIP! Make sure your title is attention grabbing. Be aware that the first thing any subscriber sees is that subject title, so make it clever and completely unforgettable.

Require new subscribers to type their email address twice when signing up for your mailing list. Often people will make typos when entering their email address. These typos won?t happen as much if they enter it twice, which makes sure your emails get to the right spot.

TIP! Wish your subscribers a happy birthday. Add a field to your sign up form that lets subscribers enter their birthday if they want to so that you can send them automated greetings.

From time to time, change up the format of your emails. For example, use plain text if you usually use HTML and vice versa. When written with care, these can charm customers because the design is straightforward and personal and can appeal to their emotions.

TIP! Keep your customers happy by providing them with emails that are personalized. Tell them about special offers and discounts.

When talking with prospects, consider sending follow up emails to remind customers of the products or services you provide. Give them information on why they should shop with you rather than competitors. In your conclusion, you can remind them that you guarantee your service or product for a full 30 days or that you will refund their money.

TIP! To follow up with any of your prospects, you might want to send them an email to remind them about your other services or products. Tell them about discounts or sales, and suggest items that they might be interested in based on their original purchase.

See what the competitors do with email marketing to get ideas. Obtain an email address specifically for this purpose, and sign up for their lists, using it. By knowing what their campaign is all about, you will be able to create a more unique and possibly better campaign. You should always look for areas where they are lacking, and try to fill the void. If they offer promotions, generate ideas that will offer your subscribers something better.

TIP! Your marketing emails should be short and to the point. Try to keep your language direct and to the point.

Only use email marketing to target people who have give you permission to contact them. Emailing random people is considered spam and could get you in trouble with your ISP or web host. This type of random emailing can just cause a person to question whether they know you or your company, and they probably will end up caring less about your company if they run across it in the future. They will just send your email to their spam folder, and it will be a huge waste of your time.

TIP! Remember that you?re working on enhancing your reputation when you?re developing your email marketing campaign. Avoid cutting corners, targeting the wrong audience, or using any other strategies that will lower the success of your email marketing campaign.

When creating an email list, create it organically. It?s possible to purchase pre-made lists, but you should avoid this. Create the list based purely off contacts you?ve collected yourself while attending events, and through daily business. Your list will remain relevant, while your business and profits grow.

TIP! Make sure that all of the content that you?re writing is directly for your customers and no one else. You should limit the amount amount of sales jargon you write into your newsletters, this will help keep your messages out of your customer?s spam filters.

Your subject line should pack a punch and make the reader pay attention. Using an incentive in your subject line will increase the likelihood of your email being opened. This promotion could be any number of things, but the most common such offers are free or discounted products, especially those offered only to list subscribers. If you have a good subject line, it will increase the chance that your customer will read your email.

TIP! Do not send more than 1 email a week to your subscriber base. Your customers are likely busy people who receive several messages every day.

Keep things consistent. Ensure that you?re always utilizing the same colors and logo of the company within your email. Choose a font everyone can read easily. After receiving a couple of emails, individuals will begin to recognize and pay attention to them. Familiarity is a crucial factor to the success of your email marketing campaign, and your overall business.

TIP! Your subject line should pack a punch and make the reader pay attention. Entice readers to open emails by mentioning promotions or incentives in the email?s subject.

Preheader materials should be taken advantage of. The first sentence or line of text at the top of your message is known as the preheader. Many email clients show this text underneath the subject of the email, allowing the reader to get an idea of what the content is.

TIP! If your business has branded previous customer communications, make sure that your email marketing campaign is consistent with that branding. Your logo and color scheme should be consistently used in all of your emails.

Try to only send one email a week. Most of your customers probably receive multiple emails each day, and are too busy to constantly open message after message. Sending more than one a week may make them skip or delete your messages without regarding your work.

TIP! Include lots of useful information in all your messages. Don?t just fill them up with information about your products.

Include the occasional freebie in the emails you send to subscribers. Include a link in your email to your site, complete with instructions on how to access the free product or service. One way to do this is to tell them that the supply of freebies is limited and that they need to act now to get in on the offer.

Email marketing is a cost effective way of promoting your company. The suggestions you have just read should help you in creating interesting and relevant content

PS ? Who else wants to discover how to DOUBLE your income in the next THREE MONTHS? Free Report

Source: http://www.websitebusinesstactics.com/?p=3318

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Father Reportedly Stabs Family, Kills Eight-Month-Old Baby | News ...

An eight-month-old baby died and another child and woman were injured during a domestic dispute at a trailer park early Saturday morning. Just after midnight, Houston police arrived at the Kings Row trailer home park on Telephone Road near Fuqua, addressing an assault in progress.

According to police, there was a shattered window and a male suspect holding a bleeding woman at knifepoint upon their arrival.

Two children, an eight-month-old and a two-year-old, were also on the scene; both were lying on the floor, suffering from stab wounds and bleeding. The suspect reportedly attempted to slit his own throat but was tazered and brought into custody after a struggle with authorities.

The woman and two children were transported to the hospital, where the eight-month old girl died. The woman and the two-year-old boy underwent surgery for their wounds; they are expected to survive.

The motive for the father?s attack on his family is still under investigation.

Source: http://news92fm.com/274706/father-reportedly-stabs-family-kills-eight-month-old-baby/

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Sunday, August 26, 2012

Astronaut Neil Armstrong Dies at 82 (Voice Of America)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/243490678?client_source=feed&format=rss

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TKO Fitness Ball Tendencies ? The Modifying ... - Critical Care 2011

Health in addition to fitness are significant aspects in different persons lifestyle. An auravie physically top fit is more likely to have an enhanced standard of living because of a better ability to work in addition to do much more relevant in addition to fun pursuits in life. Exercising is an effective way to continue to be fit and healthy and the use of weight load are a great way to attaining a healthy way of living. The best adjustable dumbbells are small designs of a weights normally which has a starting weight of 5 pounds or perhaps sometimes less. Although barbells are popular gym equipment, these smaller weights are created to complement a lot of fitness activities since weight lifting is an important aspect in sacrificing weight and establishing muscle in addition to strength devoid of the bulk.

Why don?t you? Because the appropriate habits, while easy to perform, are also simple not to perform. Left to themselves, most people may choose the path of very least resistance, which suggests continuing into their bad habits in lieu of changing. Fortunately, however, is through associating with others in the 90 day obstacle, a person can power the community to support drive his personal adjust. In essence, group is the distinction between good objectives and achievement. Many will quit on themselves, but fewer are willing to quit on others who are counting on these.

Connect with some others. Your brain spreads in a cultural environment. In a Harvard study which monitored 16,638 people age 60 and more mature for 6 a long time, those who volunteered the most in addition to connected with lots of family and friends were least likely to show diminishes on specific memory assessments. A University of Michigan research found that less than 10 minutes every day of discussing to someone enhanced memory in addition to cognitive versatility as much as accomplishing puzzles.

Any PPO can sometimes have a superior deductible before the coverage may kick in. Renters insurance has the overall flexibility to select an doctor or perhaps specialist within their network without having first receiving a referral from other primary medical professional. If one does decide to fall out of their multilevel the co-pays in addition to services been given will be a bit higher.

You?ve got heard your own personal Trainer claim it lots of times ?eat much more protein!Inch And if you are a cardio exercise queen who is focus can be weight loss and sacrificing inches round the waist, or perhaps a hardcore muscle builder who wants to increase inches to his biceps, this can be good advice. Proteins shakes in addition to meal pubs are great speedy fixes for on the go persons but the best nutrition places are real food. No personal trainer or eating routine supplement repetition can not allow that.

The actual Health and Safe practices at Work Work 1974 provides the Executive?s inspectors, which includes those employed in local regulators, wide ranging powers. Whilst their focus goals to be prevention and provide assistance, an inspector may informally advise you of a modest breach in addition to explain how it is possible to comply with what the law states and why the action is essential.

The majority of Free lance health writers usually are not experts inside everything. They are going to write about subject matter they know absolutely nothing about right up until they investigation it. If all most of us wrote regarding auravie subject matter we have encountered then we can be limiting ourself. The first rule of writing is to investigate subject in addition to freelance health writing is just the exact same, auravie free trial must investigation and comprehend the science.

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Source: http://www.criticalcare2011.org/tko-fitness-ball-tendencies-the-modifying-fitness-behind-the-curtain

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A Look at Small Business Consulting Services - Commonwealth Watch

Small Business Consulting Services Can Produce Change

When it comes to opening a small business for the first time or keeping an existing company running smoothly, there are many areas that need to be focused on. A person may feel as if they have everything under control, when, in fact, things are going haywire. A business owner or manager may be looking for a consultant to come in and assist. Here are just a few examples of some of the small business consulting services that can be offered.

As a new company, there are important things that should be addressed before operation begins. All businesses should have a business plan in place. This helps a company identify its strengths and weaknesses, and this is a very important key factor. A consultant can help set goals to keep the strength's firm and improve the weaknesses. It is a known fact that competition grows daily, no matter what the business is. A business plan should also include a comparison of the company and the opportunities for that company. This will ensure that company can stand firm and that there is a place in the market for that type of business. These are some of the small business consulting services that are very crucial.

Financial Analysis is another example of small business consulting services. A company needs to be able to get afloat and stay on top. When a consultant performs a financial analysis, they will look at things such as profitability, solvency, liquidity and stability. A company needs to be able to earn income and sustain growth in both short term and long term situations. Every business has creditors, and they may also have obtained third-party assistance. Reviewing the solvency will ensure that the company has the ability to pay their creditors. Having obligations should not hinder the ability to maintain a positive cash flow while taking care of these obligations. This is considered liquidity and it needs to be focused on as well. The stability of the company is an overall review in making sure that the company can stay in business without suffering great losses.

Marketing is one of the small business consulting services that gets the company recognized. People need to know what the company is and what they offer. There needs to be a plan set into place in making sure the company gets its name out there. This is considered market planning. This plan needs to be clear, concise and simple. Failure to have a marketing plan in place could have a very negative result on the company, possibly even keeping it from operating. One of the things that should be done is a market study. This would inform the business owner or manager if their type of company would survive. If there isn't a market in the area for that type of business, it would almost be pointless to even open it in that area. Competition is another thing to research. Every type of business has competition, but a company needs to make sure they can stand up to them. If two companies are offering the same product, but one offers it at a much higher price, a customer will obviously pick the least expensive. Speaking of customers, they are what keeps the doors open on any business. Without customers, the company would cease to exist.

These are just a few of the small business consulting services that are offered. There are many more that are available. There are many aspects of a company and a consultant can help with all of them. A consultant is someone who has expertise in one or more areas of business. Take an accountant, for example, one who has done it for years. This would be an ideal person to have in your corner when it comes to payroll or even profit and loss.

Consultants are considered to be problem solvers. When a problem occurs within a company, it should be addressed immediately. Problems that are left unattended can wreak havoc on a company. Little problems can turn into big problems virtually overnight. Sometimes the reason a problem is placed on the back burner is because the person responsible doesn't have the time to take care of it. They are trying to focus on so many things, and it is almost impossible to be in two places at once.

Perhaps there is a problem with the management, or even the employees. A consultant can come in and offer solutions such as management or leadership training. The bottom line is that consultants can help address problems that are present, and they can help keep problems from reoccurring. Either way, it is nice to know that there is help available when it is needed.

If you are thinking about starting your own business, or if you are a current business owner, there are small business management consulting services available to you that could get your company off to a great start. If you would like to learn more, you can click the link below.

Small Business Consulting Services are in great demand. With the shape of the current economy more and more people are turning to life of an entrepreneur. Will you be the business consultant to help them get started?

Source: http://commonwealthwatch.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-look-at-small-business-consulting.html

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Saturday, August 25, 2012

Shareholders get $3.2 bln if Heineken offer is approved

Singapore conglomerate Fraser and Neave (F&N) said Friday it plans to distribute Sg$4.0 billion ($3.2 billion) to shareholders if an offer by Dutch firm Heineken to buy its stake in a brewery is approved.

F&N shareholders are due to vote at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on whether they are in favour of Heineken's revised Sg$5.6 billion offer for F&N's stake in Asia Pacific Breweries (APB), the maker of Tiger Beer.

A date for the EGM has yet to be set.

Heineken already owns 42 percent of APB and is seeking full control of the brewery by buying over long-time partner F&N's direct and indirect stake of 40 percent as it moves to expand in the fast-growing Asian beer market.

The Amsterdam-based Dutch beer giant said last week it had inked a definitive agreement with F&N's board to "irrevocably recommend" the proposed deal to shareholders.

In a statement issued late Friday, F&N said that if the deal is approved, "the company intends to distribute approximately Sg$4.0 billion from the cash proceeds of the proposed transaction to shareholders."

The cash distribution, representing 84 percent of the gains after transaction costs, will be done through a capital reduction exercise aimed at achieving a "more efficient capital" structure for the company, F&N said.

The rest of the proceeds, or about Sg$1.6 billion, will be used to repay existing debt and strengthen the balance sheet of the F&N Group.

Heineken has said the deal, if approved, was expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, but no later than December 15.

The Dutch brewer was forced to up its bid to Sg$5.6 billion from Sg$5.1 billion to fend off a rival party headed by Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi.

Charoen's Thai Beverage is a key shareholder in F&N, along with Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/shareholders-3-2-bln-heineken-offer-approved-044000387.html

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Facebook co-founder Moskovitz sold stock post lockup

Sat Aug 25, 2012 2:39am BST

(Reuters) - Facebook Inc co-founder Dustin Moskovitz sold 450,000 Class A shares over the past three days, his second such sale since last Friday, becoming the latest insider to sell shares following the end of the lockup, according to a regulatory filing late on Friday evening.

Moskovitz, who was Facebook's first chief technology officer, sold the shares in three batches of 150,000 shares each beginning on Wednesday, raising more than $8.7 million.

A regulatory filing from Tuesday shows a similar 450,000 share sale in three batches beginning last Friday through Tuesday, raising a little over $8.83 million.

Earlier this week, Facebook director Peter Thiel sold roughly $400 million worth of shares in the company, as investors look to cash out their stake after the end of the first lockup, which barred early investors and insiders from selling shares following the initial public offering.

Moskovitz, a onetime Harvard roommate of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, had been with the company since its earliest days and left in 2008 to form a social-networking company for business called Asana.

Moskovitz still owns 6.6 million Facebook Class A shares and 126.2 million Class B shares, according to the filing.

More than 1.4 billion additional shares held by early investors and Facebook employees are set to become available for trading by year's end, as additional post-IPO lockup restrictions are lifted.

Facebook shares closed at $19.41 on Friday on the Nasdaq, down 3 cents.

(Reporting by Aman Shah in Bangalore; editing by Carol Bishopric)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/UKTechnologyNews/~3/wr08GLvTOHo/us-facebook-moskovitz-idUKBRE87O01W20120825

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Team building | How can you relate productivity to leadership?

How can you relate building to leadership or team productivity? The same way companies measure any other variable in a process. This streamlining, is analyzed for each individual input and output, along with variables and measurement of the edges of a process. Truthfully, a team or a process is palpable ? we can immediately see the effects. The challenge in teaching the decision makers in companies, to equate the work of their teams, the company of Financials.

Vocational training is for most companies given. When I worked a manufacturing company, it was the company and equipment most frequently used part of setting a new employee about to train in General. Whats with the other areas of training ? such as leadership, knowledge sharing or team-building? Known as human capital management, these areas are painted often pretty quickly from the budget in tight economic times. It may seem that HCM are issues only benefits and easily dispensable for short term budget planning. However, this decision may the company more money in the long term costs. The best way for companies to keep training rotation and Center to prove that HCM training the bottom line effect is likely.

Ram Charan ? author of what the CEO wants you to know: how your company really works focuses on the basics of money ? it says are three questions, each leader must answer are: 1. What is the money that model my organization? 2. How my team to contribute money that model? Think of the impact of these issues. Together with the issues, Charan includes five building blocks of money make model: cash, margin, speed, growth, and customers. By educating everyone in society to certain objectives can work guide on the basics of the financial structure of the company.

Written by Jim Mahone and Chuck Bokor paper under the title review of leadership training: economic impact and return on investment the effects of leadership training is analysed quantitatively by two different courses and in two different industries. One showed their results almost 15 per cent return on investment when you compare the cost of the initial training, the overall effect of the Organization, as well as a projected 179-to-1 rate for the cost-benefit ratio. Why, these conditions are so high, can be explained by the fact that leadership training develops the capacity in individuals with all kinds of situations, said the paper. The benefits, the right decision for individuals in senior positions of leadership make enormous, can have while also significantly impact the cost of the wrong decision.

Leadership training is evaluated not only on team members in the business objectives or appealing workers feel. Executives need to influence business knowledge and acumen of the company, as well as constantly better decision making skills to learn, so they can have confidence handle any situation or the choice that results.

Source: http://www.bidaac.org/how-can-you-relate-productivity-to-leadership.html

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Friday, August 24, 2012

Hippo dies in SAfrica rescue op

A hippo is lifted from a swimming pool Friday Aug. 24, 2012, at the Monate Conservation Lodge, near Modimolle, South Africa, after being trapped there for three days. The young hippo had plunged into the deep pool on Tuesday after being chased off from his herd by male members seeking dominance, wandered into the lodge's camp and fell into the pool. The animal died just before the rescue operation got under way. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

A hippo is lifted from a swimming pool Friday Aug. 24, 2012, at the Monate Conservation Lodge, near Modimolle, South Africa, after being trapped there for three days. The young hippo had plunged into the deep pool on Tuesday after being chased off from his herd by male members seeking dominance, wandered into the lodge's camp and fell into the pool. The animal died just before the rescue operation got under way. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

A hippo seen in a swimming pool Friday Aug. 24, 2012, at the Monate Conservation Lodge, near Modimolle, South Africa, after being trapped there for three days. The young hippo had plunged into the deep pool on Tuesday after being chased off from his herd by male members seeking dominance, wandered into the lodge's camp and fell into the pool. The animal died just before a rescue operation got under way. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

A hippo splashes around to keep cool as he is trapped in a swimming pool Friday Aug. 24, 2012, at the Monate Conservation Lodge, near Modimolle, South Africa. The hippo was kicked out of it's herd and wandered into the lodge's camp and fell into the pool. The animal died just before being rescued. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

(AP) ? A hippo who wandered into a swimming pool at a South African game lodge three days ago died Friday before a rescue team could pull him out with a crane.

The high stress may just have been too much for the hippo known as Solly, said the lodge manager.

Wildlife rescue expert Simon Prinsloo had been pouring water on the animal with a bucket and then through a hose to keep the hippo hydrated. The team waited for a veterinarian to come before hoisting out the young hippo but he died as the vet arrived. The young hippo had plunged into the deep pool on Tuesday after being chased away from his herd by male members seeking dominance but the one-ton animal could not get out of the pool, which had no steps, on its own.

The plight of the stranded hippo captured the attention of many in South Africa. Live television coverage showed the hippo spouting water in the pool. But the lighthearted story became somber when the hippo appeared inert Friday morning.

One woman was crying at the scene as a crane lifted the lifeless body of the hippo into an orange animal trailer. Prinsloo, with tears in his eyes, confirmed to journalists the death of the animal.

The hippo showed signs of stress early on Friday morning, said Monate Conservation Lodge manager Ruby Ferreira, according to the South Africa Press Association.

"He was not as perky this morning, more agitated, like he was irritated. I think because he wanted to get out of the pool. That's my personal opinion," said Ferreira. She said there had been plans to get Solly out of the pool earlier, but the veterinarians had not arrived.

"We've been waiting for the vets and I think they were just a bit too late."

Ferreira said hippos are sensitive creatures and Solly was no different. His stress level had probably been rising since being forced from his group, called a pod, resulting in him taking shelter in the pool, said Ferreira. Once in the 2.4 meter (8 foot) deep pool he could not get out, likely adding to his stress.

"It all just added up and added up," Ferreira said.

While the lodge worked to care for the animal, there was no getting away from the fact that the pool was not a natural environment for Solly.

"Although we looked after him, it was an unnatural environment for him. We are really sad at this lodge today," Ferreira said. "It started out as a happy story and now it's a tragic story. It's devastating."

Dr. Alex Lewis, the veterinarian handling the case, arrived at the lodge near Modimolle, a small town north of Johannesburg, late Friday morning. Lewis was expected to help with the rescue the day before, but couldn't make it. When journalists questioned Lewis about not arriving earlier, he said he couldn't have saved the animal because of the aggravated stress it experienced ever since he had been fighting for a position in his herd.

Lewis said he had advised the owners of the lodge to feed the animal in order to make it strong enough for the rescue.

Doreen Cronje, a guest at the lodge taking part in a conference, said during the rescue operation that she had been inquiring about the animal and hoped that the hippo would make it out of the pool safely.

"Especially here in South Africa, we care a lot about our animals," Cronje said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-08-24-South%20Africa-Hippo/id-670b1805e4df44148eeb001a5811f137

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Hogs Basketball Coach, Former Players Raise Money for Boys & Girls Club

Hogs basketball coach Mike Anderson and team legends stopped in Russellville Thursday night to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club.

Former team greats Corliss Williamson and Scotty Thurman joined Anderson, and attendees got a chance to bid on autographed basketballs and other items in the silent auction.

"Anytime one of our kids needs me, he knows I'm going to be there," Coach Anderson says. "And the cause is unbelievable for these kids. When I walk around the facilities it is great what is taking place at the Boys and Girls Club."

All proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club of the Arkansas Valley, which is named after Williamson's grandfather.

Source: http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext?nxd_id=576662

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Thursday, August 23, 2012

AdWatch: New Romney ad criticizes Obamacare

(AP) ? TITLE: "Nothing's Free"

LENGTH: 30 Seconds

AIRING: The Mitt Romney campaign would not disclose where the ad is airing.

KEY IMAGES: "Some think Obamacare is the same as free health care, but nothing is free," a male narrator says as a graphic of two pills forming an "equals" sign between the words "Obamacare" and "Free Health Care" fills the screen.

"Obama is raiding $716 billion from Medicare, changing the program forever, taxing wheelchairs and pacemakers, raising taxes on families making less than $120,000," a narrator says as a shot of an empty wheelchair and an aerial view of a suburban neighborhood appear on the screen.

"Free health care comes at a very high price," says the narrator. "The Romney-Ryan plan will restore Medicare funding and protect and strengthen the program for the next generation."

ANALYSIS: The ad oversimplifies President Barack Obama's health care plan and Medicare, two big government programs that have emerged as key issues in the presidential race. Medicare in particular, a popular program serving nearly 50 million seniors and disabled people, has become a flashpoint since Romney named Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman and chairman of the House Budget Committee, as his running mate.

The ad first asserts that "some" people think Obamacare is the same as free care, but doesn't bother to say who that might be.

It then criticizes Obama for "raiding" money from Medicare to pay for the new expansion of health care coverage that is his signature achievement.

Both Romney and Obama are seeking to stoke fears among older voters about each other's proposed Medicare changes, each charging the other would gut the program.

In swing states that have large elderly populations such as Florida, Iowa and Pennsylvania, Medicare could be a key issue this fall. Retirees have often resisted changing the program.

The GOP ticket has also targeted Obama's health care plan, which includes reductions in Medicare spending of $700 billion over 10 years. What Romney's ad doesn't mention is that those cuts come from payments to health care providers, not from benefits to seniors. The ad also fails to note that the budget plan Ryan wrote included the same cut.

In turn, the Obama campaign has hammered away at Ryan's plan to shift future retirees into a system dominated by private insurance plans.

Democrats and Republicans alike have taken advantage of peculiar federal accounting rules that, on paper, allow Medicare savings spent for another purpose to also be credited to the program's trust fund for inpatient care. Obama's health care law used Medicare cuts to pay for covering the uninsured. The Ryan budgets passed by the House kept those cuts and applied them to reducing the federal deficit.

The ad's claim that Obama's health care law taxes wheelchairs is questionable.

The tax actually applies to medical device makers, not consumers directly. It helps pay for the health care overhaul's expansion of health care coverage to 30 million Americans. The tax is aimed at U.S. sales of medical devices used chiefly by doctors and hospitals, such as pacemakers and CT scan machines. Exempted are consumer items like eyeglasses and kits for many blood tests that people can perform on themselves, as well as other medical devices yet to be specified.

The Obama administration says old-fashioned wheelchairs and the newer powered ones will also be exempt from the tax under proposed regulations being finalized by the IRS.

The ad's claim that Obama's plan raises taxes on families making less than $120,000 lacks important background.

Starting in 2014, Obama's law requires most Americans to carry health insurance either through an employer, a government program or by purchasing their own policy. There are exemptions for financial hardship, religious beliefs or membership in American Indian tribes.

The penalties will be collected by the Internal Revenue Service through tax returns, but the IRS will not have the authority to bring criminal charges or file liens against those who don't pay.

About 3 million of those who could be required to pay fines in 2016 will have incomes below $59,000 for individuals and $120,000 for families of four, according to Congressional Budget Office projections.

The penalties will be phased in starting in 2014. By 2016, those who must get insurance but don't will be fined $695 or 2.5 percent of their household income, whichever is greater.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-08-23-Romney-AdWatch/id-e5654a32bb944b00be8d5ea44e054a0d

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Covington 2012 prep football preview

, August 23, 2012 3 a.m.

Covington will take a team approach to replacing its stars. - (Ellis Lucia / The Times-Picayune)

At tradition-rich Covington, they put great stock on what it means to wear the school?s distinctive ?C.?

But this season, the Lions perhaps should be sporting a ?T? as well.

?T? as in ?Team.?

With the loss of All-State linebacker Otha Peters and do-everything quarterback Jay McDowell and five other college signees, the Lions are emphasizing the importance of everyone contributing instead of counting on just a few to make a difference.

?We don?t have any superstars,? senior fullback Dante Casnave said. ?So we?ve got to trust in each other and in the coaches to put us in the right position.

?We have one goal, and that?s to give it our all and leave everything on the field. We?re all we?ve got.?

It?s not that the Lions are bereft of talent.

While only four starters are back on offense, Casnave, a 5-foot-8, 230-pound bowling ball-type runner is effective at moving the pile behind a large offensive line which averages 248 pounds.

Six starters are back on defense, led by senior end Dylan Perez and junior tackle Garrald McDowell, who is getting recruiting attention on the level Peters, now a freshman at Arkansas, was getting at this stage.

But Lions? Coach Malter Scobel is focusing on the group aspect.

?Every good program is about the group, not the individual,? he said. ?Now individuals like Otha bring attention to the team and most of the time it?s positive, but you have to have every player believing in the importance of working together.?

Of course, Scobel added, it helps to have the tradition of Covington working for you.

?There?s a sense of community here,? he said. ?Football has meant something at Covington for a long time and pretty much every kid has had a relative who played here before him.

?They all want to help get this program known across the state again.?

And even some whose Covington roots don?t go so deep feel that.

Perez, who moved to Covington with his family from St. Bernard Parish after Hurricane Katrina, said it hits home to him every day.

?It?s amazing,? said Perez, whose older brother Devin, also was a defensive end for the Lions. ?You see all the pictures on the wall of the past teams and the players who went to college, and you realize what it means to be part of it.

?We?re all pushing ourselves to be good this year.?

Not that the Lions were awful last season.

They went 7-4, 3-3 in District 6-5A, knocking off eventual playoff semifinalist Mandeville in the regular season finale before a one-point loss to Airline, 28-27, in the opening round of the playoffs.

But in the Little Brown Jug game against rival St. Paul?s in the district opener, a game which Scobel had placed emphasis throughout the preseason, the Lions lost 31-7.

It was Covington?s eighth consecutive loss to the Wolves. And again this season, St. Paul?s will be the district opener.

?We were a little too obsessed about beating them,? Scobel said. ?I felt like we came back pretty strong after that, but we?ve got to make sure it?s just another game. No matter what happens, we just pull our britches back up and go on to the next game.?

But St. Paul?s still looms large.

?St. Paul?s wasn?t better than us, but when we got out on the field, we got too excited and didn?t do our jobs,? Casnave said. ?Getting that jug back is a big thing for me.

?If we get it back, we?d always be remembered as the team that did it and I?d feel happy for the whole school.?

Of course, accomplishing that will take some doing.

First-year starting quarterback Dylan Savarese replaced McDowell in two games last year and did a serviceable job. He?s looked on as a game manager who will be successful if he can read his options and complete a large percentage of his short passes.

Casnave will be the focus on the offense, either as a ball carrier or a blocker for tailback CJ Sims.

?I love blocking,? Casnave said. ?And our coaches say, ?If you don?t block, you don?t get the rock.??

As a ball carrier, Casnave prides himself on getting so low he makes himself a difficult object to stop.

?Whatever we need for a first down, I?m going to try to get it,? he said. ?Even if they hit my legs, I want to have enough speed that I keep on rolling.?

On defense, McDowell, whom Scobel rates the equal of Marlon Favorite whom he coached at West Jefferson as a technician getting off the blocks, should be a disruptive force on the line along with Perez, who gets kudos for his dedication to film study.

Junior Chance Barney is the lone starter back at linebacker but the secondary looks solid with Jacob Sandifer, Andrew Breeland and Lamarco Jacobs all back.

?I like our defense a lot,? Scobel said. ?But we don?t have enough depth on either side of the ball.?

Source: http://highschoolsports.nola.com/news/article/-4454566779162406523

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