JML put out to pasture by PR Partners :: StopPress

• PR
• October 31st, 2012
• By StopPress Team

After nearly eight years in business, PR agency JML Communications is shedding its moniker and rebranding as?PR Partners.

Founder Julien Leys says the time was right to adopt a name that more accurately represented the consultancy and its core services (here he is in video form).

'We have had a very successful seven and a half years as JML Communications, building up the business from scratch since 2005.? We have increased the size of our client base, and our team, and picked up a gong or two from PRINZ along the way."

PR Partners? client base (which isn't mentioned on the website) draws heavily from the technology, pharmaceutical, financial services, infrastructure, tourism and sustainability sectors, according to Leys, with a growing corporate practice and particular expertise in media, investor and government relations.

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Source: http://www.stoppress.co.nz/blog/2012/10/jml-put-out-pasture-pr-partners

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Just Married! Evan Rachel Wood & Jamie Bell Tie The Knot!

Just Married! Evan Rachel Wood & Jamie Bell Tie The Knot!

Evan Rachel Wood and Jamie Bell are rumored to have married! The couple, who reportedly became engaged last year but never officially confirmed the happy [...]

Just Married! Evan Rachel Wood & Jamie Bell Tie The Knot! Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2012/10/just-married-evan-rachel-wood-jamie-bell-tie-the-knot/

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Threatwatch: Find the germs, don't sack the messenger

Threatwatch is your early warning system for global dangers, from nuclear peril to deadly viral outbreaks. Debora MacKenzie highlights the threats to civilisation ? and suggests solutions

Governments have a holy horror of being associated with germs ? and this suits the germs just fine. Official denial about BSE, SARS and H5N1 bird flu exacerbated their spread, while India's main concern about a worrying antibiotic resistance gene seems to be that it was named for where it was discovered ? New Delhi.

In all those cases scientists have been intimidated and stopped from working on the microbe the government deems bad PR. Now Saudi Arabia has sacked its top virus-hunter for discovering a virus that hardly threatens anyone.

This is all the more sad because the Saudis know better than most how vital it is to share surveillance on infectious disease. They host the largest annual human gathering on earth: the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca taking place this week that attracts three million Muslims, 1.8 million from abroad.

With crowded, stressed people all carrying different germs, contagion is inevitable ? "Hajj cough" is common ? and a serious outbreak could be dire. So in a military-scale operation, Saudi health authorities screen and treat arriving pilgrims for conditions from food poisoning to plague, and require vaccination for meningitis and other maladies. This year they refused pilgrims from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, for fear they were infected by recent outbreaks of Ebola.

Mystery pneumonia case

Ziad Memish, deputy Saudi minister for public health and head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Mass Gathering Medicine in Riyadh, knows the need for science in all this. He helped found an exemplary international collaboration to study health at the Hajj, and wrote recently that "sharing of information and research findings are critically important elements of the programme".

So you'd think he'd appreciate Ali Zaki, a virologist at the Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital in Jeddah, already the first to identify dengue fever and a new tick-borne flavivirus in Saudi Arabia. In August Zaki sent a sample from a mysterious, fatal case of pneumonia to Ron Fouchier, a virologist in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Fouchier discovered a novel coronavirus in it. Zaki posted this on ProMed, the internet mailing list for emerging disease. Within days, a UK hospital discovered an identical case who had also been in Saudi Arabia.

Also within days, "an investigation team from the Saudi ministry of health arrived at the hospital to investigate me aggressively, threatening me about what I had done," Zaki told New Scientist. Shaken, he took emergency leave in Cairo ? and, he says, was told it was not safe to come back. His employment has been terminated.

Pilgrims assured

You can almost understand officials being upset about news of a novel virus a few weeks before millions of visitors arrive. But because of the prompt action, it was quickly established that the virus probably doesn't transmit among humans. In October Memish could assure pilgrims that it posed little risk.

Memish complains on ProMed that loose talk about viruses does more harm than good, and that internal reporting mechanisms were circumvented. "We only knew about the concerns about the novel coronavirus from ProMed in September," months after the patient died, Memish told New Scientist. "I think this would not be acceptable to any health authority in the world, especially with preparations for the Hajj at their peak."

You can see his point. But if the ministry had been informed would the sample still have been sent out immediately? Without that I doubt there would have been similarly rapid discovery ? few can match Fouchier's team for that. Would it have been better to go slow, only to discover during the Hajj that this lethal new virus could go epidemic? The frantic science Zaki unleashed was just the sort of joined-up international action public health experts plead for.

The situation won't improve until countries really commit to being open about infection. Yet the evidence suggests that at some level, maybe well above the health ministry, Saudi Arabia didn't want to be associated with a new virus. It was initially named, as usual, for its country of origin; that was changed at Saudi insistence. Now a scientist has paid the price for doing work we all need, whether or not we are hajjis.

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How Much House Can You Get for $400,000? | Zillow Blog

Each week we take a look at how much house you can expect to get at a specific price point. This week, we?re looking at homes priced around $400,000.

Albuquerque, NM

640 Bosque Verde Ln NW, Albuquerque NM
For sale: $399,000

Built green with solar panels and radiant heated floors, this Albuquerque model home has a host of other amenities, including a surround sound system powered by an iPod docking station. The 3-bed, 3-bath home measures 2,005 square feet.

Omaha, NE

1227 S 180th Plz, Omaha NE
For sale: $399,000

One of the largest on the list, this Omaha home for sale has 4,097 square feet of living space with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Hardwood floors, carpeted bedrooms and a lush yard in a popular subdivision make it a great family home.

Reno, NV

1865 Sun Shadow Ct, Reno NV
For sale: $399,000

Located on a quiet cul-de-sac lot, this Reno home has spacious and manicured lawns on a little over a third of an acre. Inside, the home has 3,148 square feet of living space and a master bedroom with attached office.

Madison, WI

510 Leroy Rd, Madison WI
For sale: $399,900

This Madison home backs up to a local golf course. Built in 1958, the ranch-style home has 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a breakfast room and lower-level rec room with a wet bar.

Fairfield, CT

321 Reid St, Fairfield CT
For sale: $399,000

This bright and sunny Cape Cod has a host of updates, including fresh paint and carpet. Close to Fairfield University, the 1,075-square-foot home has 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms and a nearly quarter-acre lot with hot tub.

Related:

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2012-10-25/how-much-house-can-you-get-for-400000/

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Teenage brothers charged with killing NJ girl, 12

CLAYTON, N.J. (AP) ? A teenage boy lured a 12-year-old girl into his house under the guise of getting parts for her treasured bicycle and then, with his older brother, killed her, police said Tuesday. The girl's disappearance had sparked a frantic search by residents of her small town until a tip from the boys' mother led police to her body, stuffed into a home recycling bin.

The boys, ages 15 and 17, were charged with murdering Autumn Pasquale, who disappeared while riding her BMX bike Saturday, a little more than a week before what would have been her 13th birthday. She appeared to have been strangled, Gloucester County prosecutor Sean Dalton said at a late-day news conference.

The boys' mother had come forward with information about a posting on a son's Facebook account, Dalton said. He wouldn't say what was on the website or discuss a possible motive for the killing, but said there was no sign of sexual assault.

Autumn was lured to the house, where they apparently lived with their mother and stepfather, for the purpose of getting parts for her treasured BMX bike, which she rode frequently and talked about on her Facebook pages.

Both brothers were charged with counts including first-degree murder, body disposal and tampering with evidence. The 15-year-old was also charged with luring.

The boys' names were not released because they are juveniles, but Dalton said his office is considering trying to have the case transferred to adult court. The boys turned themselves in with their attorneys, public defenders, but it could not be immediately determined who they are. The boys are expected in court for detention hearings Friday.

The girl's body was found around 10 p.m. Monday in a recycling bin on a vacant property next to the home where the boys live, police said. The suspects had attended a community vigil for her shortly before the discovery, several residents said.

Autumn's BMX bike and other belongings were recovered from the boys' home, the prosecutor said. He did not detail all the items, but a backpack matching a description of the girl's was also seen being taken out.

One of the three teenage brothers who friends said live at the house traded BMX bike parts, according to a according to a young man, Corey Hewes, 19, who said he was among those who traded with him.

Neighbors also said the house was a place where teens frequently hung out and had parties.

The home is just blocks from Autumn's house and from the town hall, where thousands of people gathered for the tearful candlelight vigil to pray for her safe return in this town of 8,000 about 25 miles south of Philadelphia.

"The search for Autumn is over," Dalton said Tuesday morning in the first of two news conferences, at which he was asked to assure residents they were safe with an apparent child-killer on the loose.

The girl's great-uncle, Paul Spadofora, thanked the community for its help in the search.

"There's evil everywhere, even in the small town of Clayton," Spadofora said.

Tuesday was trash collection day, and many residents had dragged their trash cans and recycling bins to the curb the night before. The covered recycling bins are collected by an automated truck that picks them up and dumps the contents into the back.

Police barricaded the block Tuesday morning, and friends and neighbors came by. Some mothers said they were keeping their kids out of school for the day. Even before the body was found, students reported that Spirit Week had been canceled because of the sorrow.

One young man rode a bike up, sat on a porch of a home and cried, then biked away.

Clayton Mayor Thomas Bianco walked to the scene, cried, hugged a police officer and gave a brief statement to the gathered reporters.

"You hear about it in other places but never think it would happen in our little town," he said.

Autumn was last seen around 12:30 p.m. Saturday pedaling her bike away from the home where she lives with her father, her two siblings, her father's girlfriend and the girlfriend's children, authorities said.

Relatives said they believed she was heading to see a friend, and they became worried only after she did not return by her 8 p.m. curfew.

Sunday morning, her disappearance became not only a crisis but a town-wide cause in Clayton. Volunteers by the hundred joined the search, scouring malls, nearby towns and passing out fliers.

By Monday evening, officials were thanking the volunteers for their help but asking them to call it a night.

Hundreds of people returned anyway for the vigil. Spadofora, the great-uncle, said he hoped the town could gather again a week later, with Autumn back, with candles to mark her birthday.

Instead, the community awoke Tuesday to news that her body had been recovered.

"I know a lot of you are angry over what has happened, and deservedly you have a right to be angry," Dalton said at day's end. "I hope today there is some measure of closure, and we can all mourn in the loss of this beautiful child."

On Tuesday night, more than 600 tearful people gathered at Clayton Baptist Church for an hour-long healing service. Counselors from a local school and chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association assisted those present.

___

Associated Press photographer Mel C. Evans contributed to this report.

___

Follow Mulvihill at http://www.twitter.com/geoffmulvihill

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/teenage-brothers-charged-killing-nj-girl-12-225003810.html

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Final Presidential Debate: US Debt Positioned As National Security Threat

AP Photo/Pool-Win McNamee

Last night?s final debate on foreign policy oftentimes veered back to domestic issues, particularly the nation?s ailing (but recovering) economy.

?Former chief of the ? Joint Chiefs of Staff said that ? Admiral Mullen said that our debt is the biggest national security threat we face. This ? we have weakened our economy. We need a strong economy,? Mitt Romney said (while answering a question about Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian leader, but OK). He also said that US influence around the world is ?receding? because ?of the failure of the president to deal with our economic challenges at home.?

?But more importantly it is true that in order for us to be competitive, we?re going to have to make some smart choices right now,? President Obama said later. ???Bringing down our deficit by adding $7 trillion of tax cuts and military spending that our military is not asking for, before we even get to the debt that we currently have, that is not going to make us more competitive.?

So what exactly does the national debt have to do with national security? CNN tackled the question.

?The concern: If the debt continues to grow unbridled, the U.S. government will be constrained in its ability to pay for what it wants to do militarily and diplomatically. And it could limit the country?s leverage with foreign powers,? the outlet writes. ?While national security spending is not the primary cause of the country?s debt problem, it accounts for about a fifth of federal spending. And many defense and budget experts think the defense budget is filled with inefficiencies and waste that can be curbed without compromising national security if done smartly.?

Beyond dollars and cents, that?s where strategic spending and budgeting comes into play. Also,?horses and bayonets! That entire response from the President ? from the Battleship reference to the assertion that Romney isn?t entirely clear about how the military works ? was gold.

Getting back to foreign policy ? as Bob Schieffer tried to do last night ? Romney in many ways agreed with the steps that President Obama has taken in his first term, specifically with respect to the Middle East, which is where most of the foreign policy discussion turned to. The one exception was Israel, where both sides tried to outdo the other in showing their fidelity to the country. Twitter lamented the lack of discussion about Europe, which we would have to agree with. The future of the EU and its financial security will have a major impact on how we deal with that important part of the world.

If there was an area where the two did butt heads it was on the auto bailout and what Romney would?ve done had he been president. If you want to know, you can read this op-ed, published in?The New York Times in 2008. He wrote at the time:

A managed bankruptcy may be the only path to the fundamental restructuring the industry needs. It would permit the companies to shed excess labor, pension and real estate costs. The federal government should provide guarantees for post-bankruptcy financing and assure car buyers that their warranties are not at risk.

In a managed bankruptcy, the federal government would propel newly competitive and viable automakers, rather than seal their fate with a bailout check.

So Gov. Romney, anything you say now besides that is a flip flop.

We have two weeks until election day, so make sure you?re all set to vote.

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Source: http://madamenoire.com/227061/final-presidential-debate-us-debt-positioned-as-national-security-threat/

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Weight Loss Surgery Information Session at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

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The Best Bordeaux Fine Wines Tours

With over 10,000 chateaux's in Bordeaux, it can be very difficult to know which ones are the best to visit. But many aren't open to the general public, and others you have to call up beforehand and arrange a private appointment and tour. So which are the best vineyards to visit? Here's our list of favourite Bordeaux fine wines tours, which not only have excellent wines, but also have friendly tours open to all.

Chateau Lafite Rothschild

The most famous of all the vineyards in Bordeaux, Chateau Lafite Rothschild has been around for hundreds of years. Steeped in history and ancient vines, it's a must visit if you can manage to get an appointment. You must contact the Paris office in writing for an appointment, but it is worth the extra effort.

Chateau Rigaud

Close to St Emillion this boutique style vineyard and hotel provides house parties accompanied with teachings from an oenologist on different grapes and how to match wines to different foods. A great way to let your hair down and have some fun after a more formal visit to Chateau Lafite Rothschild.

Chateau d'Agassac

Perfect for families this Chateau is a fairytale castle bound to wow everyone who visits. They offer an audio and video iPod tour of the vineyards, and a quiz to keep children occupied and entertained. While the adults are given a tasting session in the old pigeon tower, children are included in the experience with a glass of grape juice.

Le Relais de Franc Mayne

Working winery and boutique hotel, La Relais de France Mayne is at the top of every oenophile's list, not only can you have a tasting, but you can also have a wander and learn all about what wines are fermenting in the cellar, as well as touring the grounds and vineyard.

Chateau Lanessan

Very easy to access as you don't have to have an appointment, Chateau Lanessan is an excellent vineyard for tastings. A wide variety of wines and an introduction to 'the art of blending' make for a great experience.

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte

As well as the beautiful old building, there are also dramatic cellars, a wine bar and traditional barrel makers, giving you the full wine-making and tasting experience. They also have an excellent restaurant and hotel, so really, there's no need to leave the chateau at all.

Chateau Cablanc

Here you can be a vigneron for a day, and help the workers analysing and topping up the barrels in the cellar, as well as going for a five course lunch with only the best wines to accompany it.

For more information on bordeaux fine wines visit The Perfect Cellar website at http://www.theperfectcellar.com/country-regions/bordeaux

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/the-best-bordeaux-fine-wines-tours-299636

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IndustriALL committed to trade union networks and Global Framework Agreements

Published Date: 23-10-2012
Source: Statement
Source Date: 17-10-2012

Trade unionists - including members of the world's largest mining unions - have committed themselves to "enforce minimum social standards in order to make globalisation more humane".

Uniting under the banner of the new IndustriALL federation, they?place their faith in the negotiation of Global Framework Agreements between individual companies and their workforces.

These are?aimed at "set[ting] out the standards for workers' rights and decent working conditions throughout the companies operations and its supply chains".

Despite the curious nod to "making globlisation more humane", IndustriALL clearly states that "trade union networks are cornerstone structure in confronting global capital".

IndustriALL committed to trade union networks and Global Framework Agreements

IndustriALL press release

17 October 2012

IndustriALL Global Union's commitment to building and establishing trade union networks and Global Framework Agreements (GFAs) was reaffirmed at the thematic conference on these issues held upon invitation of IG Metall on 17-18 October in Frankfurt, with over 120 participants from 30 countries, from all regions and all industrial sectors.

"Everywhere in the world people still work under appalling conditions and are persecuted and oppressed because they organize a union," said Berthold Huber, President of IndustriALL Global Union, new global union force founded in June 2012 when three international union bodies came together to represent 50 million workers in 140 countries across the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors.

"Our central task is to enforce minimum social standards in order to make globalization more humane. We are negotiating with companies on Global Framework Agreements so as to implement minimum conditions in all locations of the company and in their supply chains," said Huber.

For IndustriALL, trade union networks are genuine tools in building global union structures, linking trade unions within a company regardless of whether a global agreement exists. Trade union networks are cornerstone structures in confronting global capital. The conference in Frankfurt is discussing the important functions of trade unions in the monitoring and proper implementation of global framework agreements.

Global Framework Agreements are negotiated at a global level between trade unions and multinational companies and set out the standards for workers' rights and decent working conditions throughout the companies operations and its supply chains.

These global agreements are one of the leading strategies used by trade unions to establish mechanisms of regular social dialogue at global or regional level to enable constructive industrial relations leading to global level negotiations.

"IndustriALL's role as a global union must be to rebalance the distribution of power in the global economy, away from multinational corporations and towards nations, communities and people," said Raina.

The unique feature of GFA's is the ongoing relationship with labour and the possibility for the workers themselves in the companies, through their trade union organizations, to monitor and ensure rights are respected and conditions are improved.

"GFAs remain one of the best ways to secure workers' rights and improve conditions in multinational companies in our globalized economy," said Jyrki Raina, General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union.

"Global agreements can also help us to establish new trade unions and build the strength of working people throughout the world," said Raina. "And we will continue to support GFA's through the building of global trade union networks in global companies to negotiate, monitor compliance and improve conditions," said Raina.

"Global capital is an immense force, its power must be tempered by the power of people acting together," said Raina.

Media Contacts

Tom Grinter, Communications Officer, +41 22 304 1853 or +41 79 693 44 99

--

Notes to editors

Global Framework Agreements are negotiated on a global level between trade unions and a multinational company. They put in place the very best standards of trade union rights, health, safety and environmental practices, and quality of work principles across a company's global operations, regardless of whether those standards exist in an individual country.

IndustriALL and its three founding organizations have signed Global Agreements with the following multinational companies: Aker, AngloGold, BMW, Bosch, Brunel, Daimler, EADS, EDF, Electrolux, Endesa, Eni, Evonik, Ford, Freudenberg, GDF Suez, GEA, Indesit, Inditex, Lafarge, Leoni, Lukoil, MAN, Mizuno, Norsk Hydro, Norske Skog, Petrobras, Prym, PSA Peugeot Citro?n, Renault, Rheinmetall, Rhodia, R?chling, Saab, SCA, Siemens, SKF, Statoil, Umicore, Vallourec, and, Volkswagen.

IndustriALL Global Union represents workers in a wide range of sectors from extraction of oil and gas, mining, generation and distribution of electric power, to manufacturing of metals and metal products, shipbuilding, automotive, aerospace, mechanical engineering, electronics, chemicals, rubber, pulp and paper, building materials, textiles, garments, leather and footwear and environmental services. IndustriALL Global Union was founded in Copenhagen on 19 June 2012. The new organization brings together affiliates of the former global union federations: International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) and International Textiles Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF).

For more go to: www.industriall-union.org

Source: http://www.minesandcommunities.org//article.php?a=11974

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Samsung Galaxy Premium (Superior) features Jelly Bean, PowerVR SGX544

---

The Samsung Galaxy Premier, otherwise known as the GT-i9268, has appeared on GLBenchmark with some more details. It runs on a dual-core system-on-chip clocked at 1.5GHz and is based on the Cortex-A9. There also seems to be a PowerVR SGX544, faster than the SGX543MP4 used by the Apple A5X SoC which powers the new iPad.

None of the recent Exynos system-on-chip, build by Samsung, come with a PowerVR GPU. The last one was the Exynos 3 Single that powered the Galaxy S. All the recent ones, down to the Exynos 5250, used an ARM Mali GPU. This either means Samsung has a new Exynos SoC or that it is using a non-Exynos SoC from a rival semiconductor firm (either ST-Ericsson or Texas Instruments); highly likely though that it is a TI OMAP 4470 SoC.

Other purported rumours about the phone?s specification list include 1GB of RAM a 4.64in 1,280 x 720 display, a rear 8-megapixel camera, a front 2-megapixel one with either 8GB or 16GB onboard storage. That roughly matches that of the Galaxy S3, Samsung?s former flagship smartphone.

It will be interesting to see whether Samsung exploits the S3 moniker again like it did with the disappointing Galaxy S3 mini.

Source: http://www.itproportal.com/2012/10/23/samsung-galaxy-premium-superior-features-jelly-bean-powervr-sgx544/

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NYC's Mayor Bloomberg donates $125K to defeat Minn. constitutional gay marriage ban (Star Tribune)

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Burglars hit Pa. house twice in 2 weeks, nab puppy

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? Burglars have struck a Philadelphia house two weeks in a row, first stealing all the food in the family's refrigerator, then snatching their puppy.

Rachel Schortye tells WCAU-TV (http://bit.ly/TKmNcT ) that the latest theft happened late Saturday or early Sunday. She says the burglars took their 52-inch flat-screen TV, winter clothes and party favors for her 8-year-old son's upcoming birthday party.

Schortye says the thieves also took her 3-month-old puppy Miss Piggy from her cage. She says they entered the home through a screen on her porch.

The burglars first struck Oct. 15. Schortye says they entered through the unlocked front door and emptied the family's fridge.

Police say similar burglaries have been reported in the same neighborhood.

Schortye says she doesn't have the money to replace all that was stolen.

___

Information from: WCAU-TV, http://www.nbc10.com

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-10-21-Food-Puppy%20Snatchers/id-02e40787aa214bafa6c9d52e48dcca59

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Vintage home d?cor | RichNSpect

In recent times, vintage home d?cor has been making a comeback. No longer is retro interior design considered tacky or aged ? in fact, some of the United States? most experienced interior designers have nominated vintage home d?cor as their favorite design style. However, it can be very difficult to pull off a well-decorated vintage interior, and before making any purchasing decisions, it is important to ensure that any furniture, ornaments and other design features are a good fit for your house.

Vintage furniture

Vintage furniture can add an old-style feel to the most modern buildings. Visiting opportunity shops or yard sales can provide the most inexperienced homemaker with inspiration, and one of the most attractive advantages of decorating a home with vintage furniture is that such a style doesn?t have to make a huge dent in one?s wallet.

For a truly vintage look, a homemaker should focus on brown and off-white furniture, while those looking for a more retro look should seek to purchase furniture colored black, red or salmon. These colors are typical of previous decades.

Those considering decorating their house with second hand items should be careful of the quality of the furniture they buy however, as recycled furniture can often be tatty or torn.

Vintage ornaments

A home decorated in vintage style is not truly complete without old-style ornaments to add character to the rooms. Thankfully, as with vintage furniture, buying ornaments and ?bric-a-brac? in vintage style is very unlikely to be costly, and most items can be picked up very cheaply from recycling shops and yard sales.

Before purchasing anything from a charity shop or yard sale, it is important to carefully inspect the quality of the product to ensure that it will last for a long time to come. Although most indicators of quality are in plain sight (e.g. a vase that has been cared for poorly will likely have cracks in it), some are a little subtler. For example, a box made out of untreated wood may have wood rot on the inside, but one may only be able to tell this by knocking on the box at particular points.

Buying vintage

While charity shops and yard sales are fantastic places to score a bargain on vintage products, a great place to shop for vintage decorations is your local auction house. Some cities even have auction houses specializing in goods from certain eras, making these excellent ports of call for anybody looking to decorate their house in a vintage style.

Some auctioneers also have an online presence, although buyers should take care before purchasing from such websites. It is difficult to ascertain the quality of goods bought online, and this can end badly in some cases should the auctioneer?s description of a product be inaccurate.

Ultimately, while vintage d?cor is a difficult interior design concept to master, it can certainly pay for those who invest time in choosing the right decorations for their home.

Bejim Ford is a remarkable writer and has contributed numerous articles on home decoration. Refer the following link to know more about magazine subscription www.magazinesubscriptions.com.

Source: http://www.richnspect.com/vintage-home-dcor

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How to Use Keywords to Drive More Traffic to Your Blog | The ...

Not long ago, Lee Oden wrote a book called Optimize: How to Attract and Engage More Customers by Integrating SEO, Social Media, and Content Marketing (affiliate link). It?s a top-notch book that?s packed with a variety of terrific tips on how to use digital media to grow your sales and revenues.

One of the areas that Lee focuses on is blogging. What follows is an excerpt from his book that provides tips on using keywords to drive more traffic to your blog. Enjoy the excerpt. And if you like this sample, be sure to check out Lee?s book.

Blogs are one of the most powerful publishing platforms that integrate the best of SEO, content marketing, and social media optimization.? Comments, social shares, and integration with offsite social websites create compelling opportunities to engage readers and build a community.

Blog software such as WordPress makes it incredibly easy to organize content in a search- and social media-friendly way.? From the blog name and tagline to categories, posts titles, and tags, there are abundant opportunities to provide readers and search engines with clear signals on what your content is all about.

Effective business blogging requires a commitment and a plan.? After personally blogging for more than eight years, I can tell you it has been both challenging and rewarding, with the benefits far outweighing the costs in time and effort.? Not only has blogging and search visibility of our agency blog resulted in numerous consulting engagements, speaking gigs, media coverage, and new employees, but it has led me to writing this book.? Making it easy to discover your blog content through search and social media can have an incredible impact on your business, just as it did with mine.

Since keywords represent our attempt to empathize with customer interests through stories about our solutions, here?s a hit list for keyword placement with blogging.? You?ll notice some similarities with some of the optimization principles we discussed earlier in the chapter.

• Blog name:? It?s more important to have a memorable blog name than a keyword-rich blog name.? If you can do both, it?s a bonus.
• Blog tagline:? This text may be very similar to your meta description tag and offers a good opportunity to use the most important keyword phrase that is relevant for your?overall blog.
• Logo alt text:? The name of your blog, or the single most important keyword phrase, is appropriate here.
• Post titles:? Blog post title tags should be written for search engines using the most important keyword first.? The on-page title should be written for readers and to inspire social shares.? For example,
  - Title Tag:? Kindle Fire Cases:? 5 Reviews of Leather, Fabric & Plastic Cases for the Kindle Fire
  - On-page Title:? All New Kindle Fire Case Reviews!? Find Out Which One Was Rated the Best
• Categories:? Going by the top-level topics and target keywords in your content plan, create relevantly named categories.
• Body copy:? Going by your content plan, write blog posts intentionally designed to focus on specific topics.? You may want to use a more free-form style for train-of-thought posts, but consider the topics of interest to your target audience.? Use keywords as a guide, not a mandate, for blog writing.? In the end, your blog posts should not look ?optimized,? just clear and easy to understand.? Remember, you?re writing and optimizing for customers first, then search engines.
• Lists:? Sidebar lists of other blogs, popular posts, popular comments, and similar information can be helpful for adding keyword representation to your template.
• Anchor text links:? Use keywords when linking from one blog post to another.? If the post you?re writing links to another web page or a previous blog post, the text used in that link should reflect the topic of the destination.? For example, a blog post about widgets that links to another post about red widgets should use ?red widgets? as the anchor text.? If the page about red widgets is properly optimized, it will use ?red widgets? in the title tag, on-page title, image alt text, and body copy.
• Tags:? Not all blogs use tags.? Some use categories instead of tags and some use tags in addition to categories.? Tags represent a folksonomy of content organization for finding past blog posts.? The usefulness of tags essentially equates to keywords.? If a category of ?widget reviews? is selected, the more specific ?fabric widgets,? ?leather widgets,? and ?plastic widgets? might be the appropriate tags to use.
• Image alt text:? Including images with a blog post is almost always a good idea.? Images are powerful metaphors or complements to the text content and can also provide an opportunity to optimize.? Alt text for an image should be specific to the image or to the most important keyword phrase for the blog post.? Focus on specifics, and do not ?stuff? multiple phrases or you?ll simply dilute the impact.

?

Excerpted from Optimize: How to Attract and Engage More Customers by Integrating SEO, Social Media, and Content Marketing by Lee Odden.? Copyright (c) 2012 by Lee Odden. This book is available at all bookstores and online booksellers.

Source: http://www.thenewsletterlist.com/how-to-use-keywords-to-drive-more-traffic-to-your-blog/

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New! Sunday musings and affirmations 10-21-12 | Martina McGowan

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

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??Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of? delusion.?

~ ?Jim? Rohn

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Over the past few weeks and months, maybe even years, I have been writing increasingly about personal transformation. We have talked about using affirmations?and getting our butts in gear?. Beginning today and running for the next few weeks, rather than our usual affirmation poster or?wallpaper, I will post a weekly affirmation with some specific tips and questions to you dig a little deeper, and help propel yourself forward.?Don?t worry, I?m right here in the mix with you.

Let?s do this!

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Affirmation: Each day, I move closer to my dreams.?

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?My life is filled with almost endless possibilities,?and I can trust that my heart?s deepest longings are on their way. Because of these things, I have the courage to take action. Each day, I move a little closer to my dreams.

Some steps I take are big. I may enroll in a challenging course, begin the loan process for my?new business, or finish paying off an old debt. Whatever the step, however, I am confident that I am moving toward my highest vision of myself and my life.

Some steps are smaller. Just getting through a challenging day with a positive attitude is movement in the right direction. After all, I am happy about where I am heading in life. Therefore, maintaining positivity now is great practice, and is something I can do every day. Because I am in charge of my moods, my emotions and my responses to what is going on around me.

Sometimes, the actions I take may not even seem as though they connected to my goals. They may seem almost too small to be related my biggest? and best dreams. I trust, however, that as I hold my vision in my heart, I am guided. Each action I take moves me closer to my deepest yearnings.

Today, I trust in the fundamental rightness of my goals.?

I know that they, my goals, ?align with what I really want, and in time, they can be mine. Each day, I consciously take note of how I am moving closer to my dreams and give myself credit?for my hard work.?

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Homework: Self-Reflective?Questions

1. What are some of my heart?s deepest longings?

2. If I feel like I am not moving forward towards those desires,?what seems to be in my way?

3. What can I do today to spur me on toward one of those dreams?

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This is a short term?experiment.

My current plan is to do this every Sunday in preparation for our week ahead. But?I need for you to do four things for me.

1. Read the affirmation and statement aloud to yourself.

2. Write out your answers to the self-reflective questions. You don?t have to share them if you don?t want to, but write them down for your own benefit and boost.

3. Subscribe. If we continue this series, the only way you will get it on a regular basis is to subscribe.

4. Comment. I don?t usually ask for comments, but as I consider adding this additional feature to the blog, I am asking for feedback. If you liked it, or didn?t. If you see ways that I can tweak it to make it better. If you found the exercise helpful or not. If you had some kind of breakthrough, epiphany or wake up call. If you?d rather get this as a newsletter on a monthly basis. Anything?

Here?s the bottom line for this experimental feature. Because it will take some extra time to get these ready, no comments or feedback, no musings. Ok?

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photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-turtle/4177301701/sizes/z/in/photostream/

About Martina McGowan

Servant, physician (gynecologist), blogger, businesswoman, seminary student, mother, grandmother, sexual assault survivor's advocate, listener, minister, speaker, teacher, leader, writer, occasional haikuist

About Martina

Servant, physician (gynecologist), blogger, businesswoman, seminary student, mother, grandmother, sexual assault survivor's advocate, listener, minister, speaker, teacher, leader, writer, occasional haikuist

Source: http://martinamcgowan.com/2012/10/musings-and-affirmations-10-21-12/

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Lincoln Businesses Say Less Traffic Due To Bypass Will Boost Sales

LINCOLN (CBS13) ? The Highway 65 Bypass opened a couple weeks ago, taking drivers around rather than through downtown Lincoln; and hundreds came out to celebrate as that stretch of road was renamed Saturday.

Those who live in Lincoln know that traffic was a disaster.

?The traffic through here has been just a nightmare,? said Scott Giller of Dillian?s Bar and Grill.

Residents say they hated being stuck in the shuffle.

?This was such a heavy commute route that no one could stop. They had to keep going. You were in a slow line going through town,? said resident Debbie Shoro.

Say goodbye to the traffic of Highway 65 and hello to Lincoln Boulevard.

?It?s fun to go back into town and see the shops,? said Shoro.

But not everyone is so sure it will help businesses.

?I don?t know how good the businesses are going to be, because there?s not too many cars going through,? a resident said.

Ionically, business owners say fewer cars means more business.

?One business owner along the street says In seven years of owning his shop, only five commuters ever came in,? said Shoro.

Giller says it?s been a boost because residents now want to dine downtown.

?It was always such a problem to get through Lincoln from the opposite side of town; and so having the traffic situation ease up has been wonderful for us,? said Giller.

?We will have lots of parking for customers able to walk to stores nearby,? said Crystal Pierson, Fashion Fo Paws owner.

?So many towns die when a bypass goes around them and takes the commuter traffic away, but Lincoln is poised to do just the opposite,? said Shoro.

This 12-mile bypass between the cities of Lincoln and Sheridan is the most expensive construction project in Placer County history.

Source: http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/10/20/residents-celebrate-renaming-of-highway-65-with-opening-of-new-lincoln-bypass/

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Bahrain says it has identified suspects in police bomb attack

DUBAI (Reuters) - Bahrain's interior minister said on Saturday that the country had identified several suspects in a bomb attack on Thursday that killed one policeman and injured another following clashes between protesters and the security services in the U.S. ally.

The tiny Gulf Arab kingdom has been convulsed by unrest since February last year after mass demonstrations led by majority Shi'ites demanding democratic change in the Sunni-led monarchy.

Thursday's explosion, which the government called a "terrorist attack" and which followed clashes in a village south of the capital, was the latest such bombing this year. Four policemen were injured in a similar incident in May.

"We have identified a number of suspects in the case," said Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa in a statement distributed by the government's Information Affairs Authority.

Bahraini authorities have accused Shi'ite power Iran, which once ruled the Gulf island, of instigating the protests, a charge Tehran has denied, and have promised a tough response to violent demonstrations after talks with the opposition stalled.

"We won't stop at just determining who committed the crime, but we will also determine who orchestrated the explosion and who trained the individuals in their bomb-making skills," Al Khalifa said.

Shi'ites complain of discrimination in the electoral system, jobs, housing and education and say they are mistreated by government departments, the police and the army. Government promises of action to address their concerns have come to nothing, they say.

(Reporting by Angus McDowall in Riyadh; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bahrain-says-identified-suspects-police-bomb-attack-121601011.html

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Kenya tells separatist group: surrender or face arrest

MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) - Kenya on Saturday told members of a separatist group to surrender or face arrest as the east African country intensified a crackdown on the movement ahead of an election next year.

The Mombasa Republican Council's (MRC) campaign for the secession of Kenya's Indian Ocean coastal strip, a tourist hotspot and trade hub, is just one of many concerns ahead of the March election, the first since the 2007 poll after which some 1,200 people were killed and thousands displaced.

"I am asking all MRC officials and members who are still out there to surrender voluntarily and also surrender their weapons this weekend," Coast province commissioner Samuel Kilele said at a gathering for national day celebrations in Mombasa.

"We know them and we will go for them if they don't heed this call. We will go for them and arrest them," he said.

President Mwai Kibaki also said his government would take decisive action against those who "issued threats of secession or those who threaten our security".

Earlier this week, Kenyan police arrested MRC leader Omar Mwamnuadzi and later charged him with possession of firearms and incitement to violence.

A Kenyan court charged a lawmaker and prominent Muslim preacher for inciting violence after he said he would be willing to fund the group.

On Saturday, machete-wielding men attempted to raid a police station in Kaloleni district, 30 km (18 miles) west of Mombasa, before being repelled by police, Erastus Kidor, Kilifi's government commissioner, said.

They then managed to raid a police camp further away, wounding a police officer and escaping with a rifle, he said.

Police recovered "machetes and printed material bearing the MRC logo" from the scene of the first attack.

"So preliminarily we are linking the incident to MRC," Kidor said, adding three people had been arrested for interrogation.

The MRC could not immediately be reached for comment.

INFILTRATED

A Mombasa court issued arrest warrants on Friday for five MRC officials for failing to appear in court to answer charges of being members of an unlawful society.

MRC's grievances stem from what it calls decades of social and economic marginalization of the people in the coastal region of Kenya, east Africa's largest economy.

Earlier this month, MRC spokesman Mohamed Mraja and secretary Randu Nzai Ruwa were charged with inciting members to disobey the law, shortly after a gang of youths brandishing machetes attacked a cabinet minister and killed his bodyguard.

Police linked the attack to the MRC, but the group denied involvement. Kenyan security agents investigating the group, formed in 1999, believe it is backed by wealthy Arabs.

Kenyan officials say MRC is infiltrated by fighters from al-Qaeda-linked Islamist group al Shabaab, which has waged a five-year insurgency against Somalia's government in 2007.

Kenya's troops crossed into Somalia a year ago to crush the militants whom it blamed for attacks and kidnappings on its soil. Three weeks ago, Kenya's defense forces - under the umbrella of African Union troops (AMISOM) - took control of the Somali port city of Kismayu, al Shabaab's last major bastion.

Police have carried out raids in the coastal region against suspected al Shabaab members. Three suspects were killed in a raid on Wednesday in which a police officer also died.

(Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Sophie Hares)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kenya-tells-separatist-group-surrender-face-arrest-175435888.html

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AFRICA MONEY: Africa studies 'made in Korea' model to push growth

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - African leaders have been making pilgrimages to Beijing for years seeking Chinese wisdom on expanding their emerging economies -- but they may do better by dropping in on Seoul.

With a similar population size to a number of African states and tales of damaging wars and colonial exploitation, South Korea's growth as a democratic economic power is arguably better suited to the continent than that of China, a single country with more people than in all of Africa.

In its biggest meeting yet with African leaders this week, South Korea pledged $590 million in aid and loans, but also offered what it said no other advanced economy could provide: its experience of development.

The contrasting fortunes of South Korea and many African countries since the 1950s illustrate why leaders on the resource-rich continent are looking to emulate Asia's fourth largest economy whose heavy investment in education and infrastructure development helped kickstart growth.

But some parts of the South Korean model may be difficult to copy. Africa is reliant on exports of primary commodities, whereas South Korea built its economy on exporting manufactured goods. In Africa, manufacturing accounts for the same proportion of GDP as in the 1970s.

In the 1950s, after the end of the Korean War, South Korea had a weaker economy than many newly independent sub-Saharan African countries, such as Ghana.

Now, it is one of the world's 15 biggest economies and has an estimated GDP per capita of $23,000, nearly 15 times that of the west African cocoa, gold and oil producer.

"Korea has been where we are coming through," said Ugandan finance minister Maria Kiwanuka, who attended the Korea Africa Economic Cooperation Conference, which ended on Thursday.

"Korea is about the only country that has graduated from being a major aid recipient to being a major assistance giver over the last 50 or 60 years ... we feel that they can understand the problems that countries like ours face," she told Reuters.

After the war, South Korea rebuilt its economy starting with labour-intensive heavy industries, such as steel and ship building, and then used its human capital to expand into value-added manufacturing to become a global leader in electronics and computer memory chips.

It takes South Korea just six weeks to produce as many cars as Africa's biggest auto producer, South Africa, makes in a year. Both countries now have populations of about 50 million and up until 1982 South Africa had a larger GDP.

RESOURCE HUNGRY

South Korea has battled its larger Asian neighbours, China and Japan, for access to African resources to power its economic machine while trying to grow sales of its consumer goods among the continent's expanding middle class.

It has been winning some of those battles, with its flagship electronics firm, Samsung, aiming for sales of $3 billion in sub-Saharan Africa this year, from $1 billion last year.

South Korea's trade with Africa, which pales in comparison to China's, has grown by 60 percent in the past five years and direct investments by 80 percent, according to Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan.

Like their Chinese counterparts, resource-hungry companies in South Korea, such as the Korean National Oil Corporation, are looking to increase their footprint on the continent, said Philippe de Pontet, Eurasia Group's director for Africa.

"To the extent that Chinese commercial engagement in Africa has opened a lot of eyes on the potential of Asian engagement I think Korea benefits from riding the coattails of China when it comes to Africa," he said.

At the conference, South Korea said it would invest in 37 projects in Africa worth $590 million in 2013-14, including the construction of roads and hospitals, and education programmes.

The aid package is large for South Korea but smaller than the sums supplied to the continent by China, which in July offered $20 billion in loans to African countries over the next three years.

Bahk said his country had realised the importance of investing in education and establishing social safety nets.

"If Africa is to promote inclusive growth while sustaining the momentum for economic development, it needs to take stock of the experience of Korea and other countries that have traveled along a similar path," he said in a speech to 34 African ministers.

But South Korea's heavy reliance on educating its workforce for a global economy will be hard to replicate in Africa, which has the world's least developed educational infrastructure.

In 2011, sub-Saharan Africa had a gross secondary enrolment rate of 35 percent, compared to 77 percent in east Asia and the Pacific, according to a paper presented at the conference.

South Korea's growth spurt also did not coincide with a lacklustre global economy, said Gabriel Jonsson, associate professor of Korean Studies at Stockholm University.

"At the time Korea expanded, the world economy was growing and there were fewer competitors," said Jonsson. "That's not the case now."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/africa-money-africa-studies-made-korea-model-push-142210260--sector.html

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U.S. Government Has Little Authority to Stop Unsafe Cosmetics

Under federal law, cosmetics companies don't have to disclose chemicals or gain approval for the 2,000 products that go on the market every year. Image: Flickr/J?rg Weingrill

Hair stylist Natalija Josimov combed the straightening solution through her client's hair. She snapped on the blow dryer, and the heated hair sent up a plume of white vapor that wrapped them in a toxic cloud. Next came the 450-degree flat iron, letting loose another sharp stink of embalming fluid that burned her eyes and made her nauseous.

Every day for months, Josimov performed three or four chemical straightening treatments at a New York City salon until she fell so ill she couldn?t even stay in the same room.

Josimov is accustomed to odors of peroxide, nail polish and permanent wave solution.?But this is different: It?s Brazilian Blowout, and its secret ingredient is formaldehyde, a carcinogen linked to nose and throat cancers, leukemia, respiratory problems and other health effects.

Brazilian Blowout is a dramatic example of how little authority federal and state governments have over the estimated $30-billion annual cosmetics industry ? even when there is compelling evidence that ingredients are dangerous.

Under federal law, cosmetics companies don't have to disclose chemicals or gain approval for the 2,000 products that go on the market every year. And removing a cosmetic from sale takes a battle in federal court.

?I thought this wouldn't be on the market if it was dangerous. I really didn't understand there was no protection,? said Josimov, who is among thousands of stylists who are pleading with government regulators to take Brazilian Blowout and similar products out of their salons and off the market.

Brazilian Blowout's Acai and Original hair-smoothing products contain high concentrations of methylene glycol, the liquid form of formaldehyde, according to government testing. The chemical helps alter the protein structure of hair strands so that they remain smooth and straight for months.

Despite a series of federal and state efforts in recent months to get rid of the product, it remains in salons across the country. The Food and Drug Administration has not prohibited it, and, without the federal government's lead, no state can easily get it off the market.

GIB LLC, the North Hollywood, Calif., company that manufactures Brazilian Blowout, was cited?last year by FDA for ?adulteration? and ?misbranding? of its Acai solution.

Another federal agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, issued a health alert about formaldehyde in hair straighteners, and fined some salons where the air violated workplace safety limits. Several states, including California and New York, also have issued health alerts to stylists.

In January, the California Attorney General won a settlement against GIB for deceptive advertising and failure to disclose a known cancer-causing ingredient. And a review panel?of health experts, established by the cosmetics industry, called the hair-smoothing products "unsafe."

Representatives of GIB LLC did not grant interviews for this story despite repeated attempts to contact them. In court documents, the company called California's enforcement action ?baseless litigation? that has not proven irreparable harm to stylists.

The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, enacted in 1938, doesn't require FDA approval before a beauty product is sold to the public or give the agency authority to recall a harmful product, according to Michael Landa, director of the FDA's Food Safety and Applied Nutrition branch, who testified at a congressional subcommittee earlier this year.

Michael DiBartolomeis, chief of the safe cosmetics program at the California Department of Public Health, said Brazilian Blowout is an example of a product that never should have gone on the market.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=b93816a52ea48c4a3d93536fcdc33d7e

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News Summary: Intel sees weak 4Q

SANTA'S DETOUR: Intel expects the usual holiday bounce in PC sales to be cut in half this year, due to a confluence of factors. Tablets are cutting into PC sales, the global economy is sputtering, and Microsoft is launching a radical update to Windows that faces an uncertain reception.

THIRD QUARTER: After cutting its forecast twice, Intel beat expectations. It reported third-quarter net income of $2.97 billion, down 14 percent from a year ago, and revenue of $13.5 billion, down 5.5 percent.

THE OUTLOOK: For the fourth quarter, Intel expects revenue of $13.6 billion, slightly below analyst expectations.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/news-summary-intel-sees-weak-4q-014821387--finance.html

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Genomic hitchhikers in birds shed light on evolution of viruses

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

The genomes of birds are riddled with DNA sequences from viruses, according to a study to be published on October 16 in mBio?, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. Analysis of these viral sequences, known as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), can provide insights into how both hosts and viruses have evolved over the eons.

"We examined the evolution of avian retroviruses on the basis of their fossil remnants in the three avian genomes that have been completely sequenced," write the authors from Johns Hopkins University and Uppsala University, Sweden. The authors go on to say their analyses of ERVs in chicken, turkey, and zebra finch genomes reveal that birds were a hotbed of viral evolution early in their history.

All genomes are cobbled together works-in-progress. Scientists have long known that the human genome, for example, is not all human: like most every other genome studied to date, a good chunk of the DNA we call "human" is actually made up of proviruses, sequences that retroviruses have deposited there to take advantage of the cell's ability to copy DNA and translate that DNA into working proteins. These proviruses can either be inherited in the DNA we get from our parents (endogenous retroviruses), or they can be picked up during our lifetime (exogenous retroviruses).

The study reveals that millions of years ago birds were host to many different kinds of ERVs, serving as a kind of melting pot: a meeting and mingling place where viruses recombined and shared genetic information.

Unlike early studies of ERVs in chickens, which studied selected segments of the genome and uncovered only alpha-retroviruses, this study used complete genome sequences and found a great diversity of viral sequences in bird genomes, representing the same major groups as those of mammals, but exhibiting more diversity. Most of the ERVs in birds were distinct from those found in other animals, probably indicating that the viruses did not move much between different kinds of hosts.

"We conclude that avian retroviral evolution differs from that of other vertebrates," write the researchers. "Avian retroviruses seem to have evolved rather independently from the rest of the retroviruses over the last 150 million years."

Stepher Goff of Columbia University, who was not involved in the research but edited the article for mBio?, says genome-level studies like this are a boon to virologists.

"This paper is filling a big gap in our understanding of these viruses," says Goff. "This is something that needed to be done, and advancing sequencing technology made it easy to do."

###

Article can be found online at http://mBio.asm.org

American Society for Microbiology: http://www.asm.org

Thanks to American Society for Microbiology 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 39 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/124510/Genomic_hitchhikers_in_birds_shed_light_on_evolution_of_viruses

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Colombia, FARC rebels set to start peace talks Wednesday

BOGOTA/OSLO (Reuters) - Colombia's government and Marxist rebels will start peace talks as planned on Wednesday in Oslo in a bid to end nearly half a century of conflict after logistical problems delayed departure of the delegates, Colombia's government said.

President Juan Manuel Santos, facing criticism on security issues, has launched the latest attempt to negotiate a deal with the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas.

"We're leaving now with hope, with moderate optimism. We don't believe in false expectations," said Humberto de la Calle, head of the government's negotiating team, before boarding a plane at a military airport in Bogota with the rest of the team.

"We do believe that there are structural elements that give hope and the idea that we will bring good news to Colombia."

The two sides agreed in August to begin negotiations in Oslo in the first two weeks of October before moving to Cuba for the substantive part of their talks - the latest attempt after several failed peace negotiations since the 1980s.

It was not immediately clear whether the FARC delegation had left for Norway. The parties had been expected to arrive in Oslo last weekend for preliminary meetings, but their departures were delayed by heavy rains in Colombia and other problems.

De la Calle, a former vice president, said the negotiating teams would meet behind closed doors on Wednesday to work out logistics for the official installation and a press conference on Thursday.

The two parties would move to Havana "very soon" after meeting in Oslo, he said without elaborating.

He asked the press for patience and discretion and said information would be provided only through official statements.

FARC leaders have said there were delays in lifting arrest warrants for some delegates. News reports in Colombia indicated a conflict about the composition of the FARC delegation, particularly the inclusion of Dutch national Tanja Nijmeijer.

A spokesman for Interpol said Colombia had asked for the lifting of so-called "red notices," much like arrest warrants, on several FARC members.

Colombia controls only its own notices, and there is a "red notice" filed by the United States for Nijmeijer, alias Alexandra, which has not been lifted, the spokesman said.

In a statement published on Monday, the FARC insisted it had the right to select delegation members, and said Nijmeijer would take part. It is believed she would take part in the Cuban leg of the talks.

While security has improved since a U.S.-backed offensive against FARC rebels and drug barons began a decade ago, the security forces have been unable to land a decisive blow. That has left Santos vulnerable ahead of elections in 2014.

Negotiations in Oslo are expected to focus on laying the groundwork for the later discussions in Cuba, which would focus mainly on land, drugs and political participation issues.

Norway and Cuba have agreed to act as guarantors at the talks while representatives from Venezuela and Chile will also be present.

(Reporting by Balazs Koranyi and Anna Valderrama; Additional reporting by Helen Murphy and Jack Kimball in Bogota; Editing by Alison Williams and Todd Eastham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/colombia-farc-rebels-set-start-peace-talks-wednesday-212031741.html

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Ten Top Tax Planning Tips you can avail of before 15th November ...

With 4 weeks to go before the online deadline of 15th November ?here are some tax tips to consider before you file your tax return for 2011, If you have any questions on any income tax matters click here to contact us directly.

1. File your return on time ? late filing WILL result in an automatic filing surcharge which is based on 5% of the balancing ?tax liability. For proprietary directors it gets worse, as the surcharge is based on their tax liability before credit for any PAYE already paid ?OUCH!

2. Consider top up of personal pension payments ? additional pension payments can still be made up until 15th ?November and tax relief at 41% claimed for the tax year ending 31/12/2011/.Relief is based on your age & a % of your Net Relevant Earnings.

3. Review medical, dental & service charge expenses payments for 2011 as these are often overlooked in the rush to file your taxes.

4. Consider trading through a private limited company as the business taxes 0% OR 12.5% are much lower than self employed tax rates as high as 41% plus PRSI (4%) & USC (7%).

5. Ensure tax credits ?& standard rate 20 % band?s are utilised as these are not transferable to other years.

6. Proprietary Directors should consider paying a salary to their spouse or children to utilise their tax free credits and standard rate band?s

7. Non-domiciled taxpayers should review carefully what proportion of their income was Irish sourced and what was foreign sourced as only the foreign sourced income that was remitted to Ireland during 2011 has to be declared. Any foreign income that is also taxed in Ireland, you ?need to ensure you claim the foreign tax credit against your Irish tax liability on this income.

8. ?Self employed (especially home workers) should ensure they claim for expenses incurred ?wholly and exclusively? for business and apportion any dual purpose expenses.

9. Ensure loss relief claims are made. Trading losses can be offset against other income on a current year basis or carried forward to future trading profits. There is a two year time limit after the end of the tax year involved to make a claim for losses.

10. Review the long list of tax credits and allowances such as one parent allowance, home carers, ?employee tax credit, rental tax credit, film investment, college fees, home loan interest etc for any that may apply to your own circumstances.

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Tags: Non-Domiciled, Self employed, tax credits, Tax Planning

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 16th, 2012 at 10:41 and is filed under Taxation. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.omahonydonnelly.ie/blog/ten-top-tax-planning-tips-you-can-avail-of-before-15th-november-2012/

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