Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/NnB3Nj42bEE/
bolton muamba crystal cathedral sxsw st. patrick s day brandon lloyd brandon lloyd celtic thunder
Sunday, March 31, 2013
World Backup Day: Now?s the Time to Fortify Your Digital Existence
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Cash shortage stretches to sea bed
29 March 2013
Last updated at 20:00 ET
The government has admitted moving slowly to protect wildlife in the seas because of the cost.
Environment Minister Richard Benyon said that in the current financial squeeze he could not designate as many areas for protection as he would like.
He said he was hoping to confirm the designation of the current tranche of 31 Marine Protected Zones under a consultation that ends on Sunday.
Environmentalists have accused the government of dragging its feet.
This is because 127 zones were originally nominated for protection after a compromise deal agreed with other users of the sea.
Jolyon Chesworth from the Wildlife Trusts said: "We are disappointed at the rate of progress. The government has an international obligation to protect wildlife in the seas.
Continue reading the main story?Start Quote
End Quote Richard Benyon Environment ministerI want to do as many zones as we can for as little as we can?
"The marine environment is not as obvious to people as it is when they see wildlife walking through a woodland or downland but it's just as important and equally worthy of protection.
"The 127 zones were only nominated after very long discussions with anglers, sailors and the fishing industry. We are now being asked to compromise on a compromise."
But Mr Benyon told the BBC that with cuts to the Defra budget, the cost of making scientific assessments and then developing rules for the use of different areas could not be dismissed.
"We are constrained by a hugely expensive process at a time when we have little money in government", he said.
"I want to do as many zones as we can for as little as we can. People have waited many years for this; we will designate the first tranche in September and will announce the next lot for consultation then."
Environmentalists are worried that the UK might slither back from its international commitment to create an ecologically coherent network of sites.
They are angry that several key sites have been left out of the first tranche on the grounds that insufficient evidence was supplied to justify them.
Sailors' fearsMr Chesworth said that in his south of England region there was a cast-iron case for designating, among others, Bembridge Levels on the Isle of Wight - home of the stalked jellyfish and Poole Harbour - a key breeding ground for sea horses.
But both of these zones have been contested by sailors who fear that new rules will prevent them anchoring on sensitive sites. One boat owner on the Isle of Wight told Mr Benyon that the designations were "bonkers".
Boaters are the mainstay of the local economy and have lived in harmony with wildlife for decades, he said.
John Pockett from the Royal Yachting Association told the BBC: "We fear we won't be able to anchor our yachts; we fear we won't be able to train our next Ben Ainslie (the Olympian) because we won't be able to anchor marker boats."
Sailors are not the only ones protesting. In some areas fishing crews object to MPZs, even though they are supposed to provide a breeding ground for fish stocks to recover.
Conservationists warn that recently revealed chalk arches off the North Norfolk coast could be destroyed by one careless pass of a trawl net.
A further complication is the fact that UK jurisdiction ends six nautical miles from the shore, even though its responsibility for wildlife stretches further.
"It would be terrible to stop our own fishermen from exploiting a sensitive areas then allow boats of other nationalities to come in", Mr Benyon said. "We are trying to negotiate this with Brussels."
The proposals stem from the 2009 UK Marine Bill. If all the sites had been approved, just over a quarter of English waters would end up under some kind of protection. Currently, the total is way under 1%.
Globally just 0.6% of the world's oceans have been protected, compared to almost 13% of our planet's land area.
Marine author Callum Roberts told the BBC: "There's no way you'll have an effective network of marine-protected areas the way we are going. It's undermining trust."
But public sector cutbacks are a reality. And the government insists that the state of the economy will inevitably be felt on the sea bed, like everywhere else.
Follow Roger on Twitter
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21967189#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
iOS 6 Release Date Canelo Alvarez Chavez vs Martinez Yunel Escobar Irish Daily Star Black Mesa matt ryan
Former superintendent indicted in Atlanta school cheating scandal
More than three years after a state investigation began into unexplained rises in student test scores, former Atlanta Public Schools superintendent Beverly Hall was indicted along with 34 others on racketeering charges. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
By Kate Brumback, The Associated Press
A grand jury indicted a former superintendent and more than 30 other educators Friday in one of the nation's largest cheating scandals that rocked Atlanta's public schools.
The indictment named the former Superintendent Beverly Hall as well as several high-level administrators, principals and teachers. Hall faces charges including racketeering, false statements and theft. She retired just days before the 2011 probe was released, and has previously denied the allegations.
A state investigation in 2011 found cheating by nearly 180 educators in 44 Atlanta schools. Educators gave answers to students or changed answers on tests after they were turned in, investigators said. Teachers who tried to report it faced retaliation, creating a culture of "fear and intimidation" in the district.
The cheating came to light after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that some scores were statistically improbable.
The criminal investigation lasted 21 months and the allegations dated back to 2005.
Most of the 178 educators named in a special investigators' report resigned, retired, did not have their contracts renewed or appealed their dismissals and lost. Twenty-one educators have been reinstated and three await hearings to appeal their dismissals, said Atlanta Public Schools spokesman Stephen Alford.
The tests were the key measure the state used to determine whether it met the federal No Child Left Behind law. Schools with good test scores get extra federal dollars to spend in the classroom or on teacher bonuses.
Georgia last year was granted a waiver from the federal law, which allowed schools to count a host of measures in addition to standardized tests.
State schools Superintendent John Barge said last year he believes the state's new accountability system will remove the pressure to cheat on standardized tests because it won't be the sole way the state determines student growth. The pressure was part of what some educators in Atlanta Public Schools blamed for their cheating.
Alford, the schools spokesman, said the district was moving on from the scandal.
"This is a legal matter between the individuals implicated and the Fulton County District Attorney's office, and we will allow the legal process to take its course," he said before the indictment was announced. "Our focus is on providing a quality education to all of our students and supporting the 6,000 employees who come to work each day and make sound decisions about educating our students."
The Georgia Professional Standards Commission is responsible for licensing teachers and has been going through the complaints against teachers, said commission executive secretary Kelly Henson.
The commission considers cases as they are released from the district attorney's office. By Wednesday, they had received all but 26, Henson said.
The commission waits for the district attorneys before taking action on those cases because there is likely evidence that will be useful for the commission's own investigation.
"It is very routine for us to work with the DA's office and say we're not going to step on each other's toes and we'll work around their schedule," Henson said.
It's common for educators to receive professional sanctions from the commission but not be charged, Henson said. The commission only requires a finding of guilt based on good evidence of wrongdoing, while criminal prosecutions require guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Of the 159 cases that the commission already reviewed, 44 resulted in license revocations, 100 got two-year suspensions and nine were suspended for less than two years, Henson said. No action was taken against six of the educators.?
? 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
game changer corned beef recipe rpi dst friends with kids pacific standard time northern mariana islands
Q&A: Europe's freezing Easter and global warming
STOCKHOLM (AP) ? Is it Easter or Christmas? Many Europeans would be forgiven for being confused by winter's icy grip on lands that should be thawing in springtime temperatures by now.
Britain is on track for the coldest March since 1962, according to national weather service the Met Office, which also says daily low temperatures in London are going to remain below freezing through the Easter holiday. The mean temperature in Britain from March 1-26 was 2.5 C (36.5 F) ? three degrees below the long-term average.
In Berlin, Good Friday saw a new round of snowfall and temperatures just above freezing. The city's popular lakeside beach opened for the season as planned, though it wasn't exactly beach weather. Some visitors built a snowman and few ventured into the freezing water.
___
What's going on?
As always when you talk about weather, natural variability is a big factor. But an increasing body of research suggests that cold spells like the one that has lingered in northern and central Europe for much of March could become more common as a result of global warming melting the Arctic ice cap.
Q: Why is it so cold in much of Europe right now?
A: Normally, European winters are kept relatively mild by wet, westerly winds from the Atlantic. But in March, the wind has been blowing mostly from the northeast, bringing freezing Arctic air down over much of Europe.
Q: So why are the winds coming from the northeast?
A: The winds are driven by atmospheric circulation patterns which in turn are affected by differences in air pressure between northern and southern latitudes. For much of March this circulation has been in a negative state, meaning the pressure difference is small. That weakens the westerly Atlantic winds and paves the way for cold air to sweep down over Europe from the Arctic and Siberia.
Q: What does that have to do with Arctic sea ice?
A: Global warming is melting the ice cap over the Arctic Ocean. Last September, it reached its lowest extent on record. Climate models show that the loss of sea ice ? which acts as a lid on the ocean, preventing it from giving off heat ? triggers feedback mechanisms that shake up the climate system further. A series of studies in recent years have shown that one such effect could be changes in atmospheric circulation, resulting in more frequent cold snaps in Europe.
Q: How would melting Arctic ice lead to cold snaps?
A: The theory is the loss of sea ice means more heat is released from the open ocean, warming the layer of polar air over the water. That reduces the temperature and air pressure differentials with more southern latitudes, increasing the likelihood of a negative state in the atmospheric circulation. Experts stress that winter weather is affected by many other factors, but several studies have shown the Arctic melt loads the dice in favor of colder and snowier winters in Europe. One study by scientists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany showed European cold snaps could become three times more likely because of shrinking sea ice.
Q: What's the impact on the jet stream?
A: Some studies suggest that the shrinking sea ice also shifts the polar jet stream, a high-altitude air current that flows from west to east. Bigger waves in the meandering jet stream allow frigid air to spill southward from the Arctic, they say. Other climate experts are uncertain about this effect, saying more research is needed.
___
Associated Press writer Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this story.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/q-europes-freezing-easter-global-warming-145948472.html
marilyn monroe Nathan Adrian London 2012 Synchronized Swimming London 2012 hurdles Taylor Kinney Beach Volleyball Olympics 2012 Jessica Ennis
Spring DIY + Pinterest | Cedarglen Homes Blog
By Ashley Simpson, Marketing Coordinator
??As promised, I have a great spring DIY project to do this weekend between all the Easter activities. A while back in winter, I had posted some ideas on making a winter wreath for your front door. So now that spring is here, it?s about time to put away the christmasy wreaths and trade up for something bright and cheerful. I have pinned a number of ideas, from wreath design to decorating tips, onto the Spring DIY pinboard (click here to see it on Pinterest), so feel free to get inspired.
To start, I took a trip to the craft store to get some supplies. You will need the basics such as scissors, a hot glue gun, and a wreath form (Any shape, size, and material is fine). Then you need to decide what you want your wreath to look like and pick up the rest of your supplies. Since I could not decide, I got everything to make two wreaths. Now time to get crafting!
First, you want to cover your wreath form (unless you are using a wicker wreath). Here I used yarn, and wrapped it around the wreath form. Glue the end of the yarn to the back and start wrapping the yarn around. Every few times you want to make sure to squish the yarn towards the beginning so there are no gaps. Heads up: this takes a long time?well longer than I expected, although there was some cake taste-testing in the middle.
Once your wreath is covered, the decorating part begins. I made felt flowers, which are super simple to do. Cut a circle of felt, and cut the circle into a spiral. Wrap the spiral into a rose shape, gluing as you go.? The wavier you make your spiral, the more ?petals? your flower will have. I pinned a bunch of different felt flowers, so use your imagination and get creative. You could also use silk flowers for a realistic look.
I also found a cute ribbon wreath on Pinterest, so I thought I would try this at the same time. Using ribbon is much quicker than the yarn, but they both give very different looks. The yarn is more rustic while the ribbon is a little fancier. You start out the same way by gluing the end of your ribbon to the back of the wreath. Take your time wrapping the ribbon around, and glue every so often to make sure the ribbon stays tight to the wreath.
I decided to try and make paper flowers for this wreath (with the intention of putting it inside, since you never know what the weather will be like here). For these flowers, all you need is some wire, mini and regular size cupcake liners, hot glue gun, and needle nosed pliers (or just improvise if you don?t have any). Since I wanted my flower stems to be white, I also used thin ribbon. Cut a piece of wire and make a little ball at the end with the pliers. This will keep the ?petals? on the stem. One at a time, poke the cupcake liner through the wire and move it to the end. After a few of the mini cupcake liners, move on to the regular sized ones. On the last one, put a bit of glue to keep them all in place. I wrapped my ribbon around the wire then for a finished look.
Once all your decorations are ready, arrange them on your wreath and glue them down when you are happy. I finished my yarn wreath with some ribbon to double as something to hang it from. Craft store and home improvement stores also have decorative metal wreath hangers to put on your door if you like; however a nail or hook will work just as well. Here are the finished products:
I would anticipate spending a couple hours at most on a single wreath, so it makes for a great way to spend the afternoon. Post your thoughts or questions below and make sure to check out the great ideas on Pinterst here.
- Ashley
Like this:
Loading...
Source: http://cedarglenhomes.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/spring-diy-pinterest/
st louis university mario manningham mario manningham williams syndrome hoya casa de mi padre corned beef and cabbage
Edible Book Festival: YUM!
A celebration of culinary talent, word play, and classic literature takes place every year in countries around the world.
French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin would be proud of the Edible Book Festival celebrated worldwide every year on his birthday.
EnlargeFounded in 2000 to celebrate the life of French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, the International Edible Books Festival is held every year around the world on April 1st. Festival participants create cooked dishes and baked goods designed to look like books, share these images online, and then dine on them.
Skip to next paragraph Ben FrederickContributor
Ben Frederick is a contributor to The Christian Science Monitor.
Recent posts
' +
google_ads[0].line2 + '
' +
google_ads[0].line3 + '
Subscribe Today to the Monitor
According to the official website, there are only three rules for participation:
1. The event must be held on April 1st (or close to that date).
2.?All edible books must be "bookish" through the integration of text, literary inspiration or, quite simply, the form.
3.?Organizations or individual participants must register with the festival?s organization and share images on the international festival website (www.books2eat.com).
The sheer range of style in the entries is impressive. Some participants design pastries to look like books; others use a normal cake base, but illuminate a passage, or draw a picture from a favorite book in frosting. Still others use EBF as an opportunity to sculpt flour, eggs, and sugar. The best creations, however, tend to be culinary slapstick efforts that rely heavily on puns.
At some sites, there is voting to determine favorite entries. In 2012, festival winners selected at the University of Texas in Austin included "Tart of Darkness"? and "War and Piece of Cake."
Other fantastically horrible EBF puns have included "Cavity's Rainbow" (Skittles organized by color in a glass case) and an empty blender next to a mint-flavored drink ("The Last of the Mojitos").
Every local festival seems to have its own categories for evaluation of the dishes ? from Best in Show to Punniest to Best Depiction of a Book/TV series ("Game of Scones"). But the highlight at most festivals occurs after the awards are handed out when participants get to eat their creations.
Francis Bacon got it right when he said, "Some books are to be tasted, others swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested."
Ben Frederick is a Monitor contributor.
Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/RpzebRYwzus/Edible-Book-Festival-YUM
acura nsx all star weekend 2012 giada de laurentiis howard hughes nationwide race wanderlust gone
Friday, March 29, 2013
Lawsuit filed in Ohio's child cancer cluster case
CLYDE, Ohio (AP) -- Lawyers in Ohio filed a $750 million class action lawsuit Thursday against Whirlpool Corp. that's related to a child cancer cluster between Toledo and Cleveland.
The lawsuit attempts to link Whirlpool and others to the cancer cluster, though the families of the children who've been diagnosed with cancer aren't involved.
Three families filed the suit, including a man whose wife died at age 23 a year after she was diagnosed with cancer.
The U.S. EPA has said high levels of a chemical believed to increase the risk of certain cancers were found in soil samples from a former park Whirlpool once owned near the town of Clyde. Whirlpool has a washing machine factory in Clyde.
The findings, though, didn't link the contaminants with the cancer cluster that has been under investigation by state and federal agencies for more than six years. Nearly 40 young people have been diagnosed with cancer since the mid-1990s in the area.
Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool hasn't been directly connected to the chemical found in the tests. A statement from the company said that it's reviewing the lawsuit.
"As a member of the community for over 60 years, with more than 3,000 employees in the area, we are also very interested in figuring out the facts behind this ongoing issue," the statement said.
Families whose children have been among the dozens sickened in an Ohio cancer cluster have hired a private company to test several spots around the area in northern Ohio.
Still, the odds are against coming up with an answer because pinpointing the cause of a cancer cluster rarely happens.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lawsuit-filed-ohios-child-cancer-213837381.html
islands 2013 nissan altima masters par 3 contest google augmented reality glasses wonderlic test texas tornado fantasy baseball
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
New study analyzes the risk to endangered whales from ships in southern California
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uHgVsyoHVG6R1IIUABSQWEqeDxT6hoFgB05gn5LHRbkMNHyneUweyxJdOR3ipqIgTLpZEfwbWcMkF-iQHnp-sHIrqcQOhUXnB-FzGPyvk=s0-d){kind=small}
Public release date: 25-Mar-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Jim Milbury
jim.milbury@noaa.gov
562-980-4006
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
Researchers have identified areas off southern California with high numbers of whales and assessed their risk from potentially deadly collisions with commercial ship traffic in a study published in the scientific journal Conservation Biology.
Scientists from NOAA Fisheries, the Marine Mammal Commission and Cascadia Research Collective analyzed data collected over seven years by NOAA on marine mammal and ecosystem research surveys in the Southern California Bight. Maps predicting the density of endangered humpback, fin and blue whales were developed by merging the observed whale sightings with oceanographic conditions to identify the habitat preferred by the different whale species.
"We know several endangered species of whales occur in the waters off southern California," said Jessica Redfern, a NOAA Fisheries marine mammal biologist and lead author of the paper. "What we didn't know, and what this study helps provide, is an understanding of the areas with the highest numbers of whales."
Knowing where whales are more likely to be found in the ocean environment is vitally important to reduce human impacts. Although this information could be used to assess any number of human impacts, the study specifically looked at current and alternative shipping routes to and from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the risk to humpback, fin and blue whales from ship strikes.
Researchers selected four routes to study; the shipping route in the Santa Barbara Channel, which is the current shipping route; a Central route south of the northern Channel Islands; a Central Fan route, or just the eastern part of the Central route; and a Southern route, a course south of the Central route and constrained by the protected areas around Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina, and San Nicolas Islands. (See figure 1)
By overlaying the routes with the predicted whale densities, researchers found the route with the lowest risk for humpback whales (Southern route) had the highest risk for fin whales and vice versa. However, risk may be ameliorated for both species in one of the Central routes.
Blue whales, however, were at approximately equal risk in all routes considered because of their more even distribution throughout the study area. The authors' estimate of the number of blue whales likely killed by ships exceeds levels established by the Marine Mammal Protection Act to ensure sustainable populations. This result suggests that it is important to find ways to reduce the risk of ships striking blue whales.
"The Southern California Bight is an incredibly complex system with a diverse set of users, including the military, shipping industry and fishing industry. All users have specific needs and their input is necessary to plan the best and safest uses of these waters," said Redfern, "This paper helps to incorporate whale habitat use in the planning process so that their needs can be considered as well."
###
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 25-Mar-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Jim Milbury
jim.milbury@noaa.gov
562-980-4006
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
Researchers have identified areas off southern California with high numbers of whales and assessed their risk from potentially deadly collisions with commercial ship traffic in a study published in the scientific journal Conservation Biology.
Scientists from NOAA Fisheries, the Marine Mammal Commission and Cascadia Research Collective analyzed data collected over seven years by NOAA on marine mammal and ecosystem research surveys in the Southern California Bight. Maps predicting the density of endangered humpback, fin and blue whales were developed by merging the observed whale sightings with oceanographic conditions to identify the habitat preferred by the different whale species.
"We know several endangered species of whales occur in the waters off southern California," said Jessica Redfern, a NOAA Fisheries marine mammal biologist and lead author of the paper. "What we didn't know, and what this study helps provide, is an understanding of the areas with the highest numbers of whales."
Knowing where whales are more likely to be found in the ocean environment is vitally important to reduce human impacts. Although this information could be used to assess any number of human impacts, the study specifically looked at current and alternative shipping routes to and from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the risk to humpback, fin and blue whales from ship strikes.
Researchers selected four routes to study; the shipping route in the Santa Barbara Channel, which is the current shipping route; a Central route south of the northern Channel Islands; a Central Fan route, or just the eastern part of the Central route; and a Southern route, a course south of the Central route and constrained by the protected areas around Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina, and San Nicolas Islands. (See figure 1)
By overlaying the routes with the predicted whale densities, researchers found the route with the lowest risk for humpback whales (Southern route) had the highest risk for fin whales and vice versa. However, risk may be ameliorated for both species in one of the Central routes.
Blue whales, however, were at approximately equal risk in all routes considered because of their more even distribution throughout the study area. The authors' estimate of the number of blue whales likely killed by ships exceeds levels established by the Marine Mammal Protection Act to ensure sustainable populations. This result suggests that it is important to find ways to reduce the risk of ships striking blue whales.
"The Southern California Bight is an incredibly complex system with a diverse set of users, including the military, shipping industry and fishing industry. All users have specific needs and their input is necessary to plan the best and safest uses of these waters," said Redfern, "This paper helps to incorporate whale habitat use in the planning process so that their needs can be considered as well."
###
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/nnmf-nsa032513.php
kobe bryant ides of march cnn pi higgs boson reggie bush pope
Monday, March 25, 2013
Angela Merkel 'Very Pleased' With Cyprus Bailout Deal
Cypriots show their palms reading 'No' during a protest against an EU bailout deal outside the parliament in Nicosia on March 18, 2013. Cyprus's parliament has postponed until March 19 a session to vote on the bailout deal that slaps a levy on all Cypriot bank savings, as negotiators scrambled to soften the blow for small deposit holders. AFP PHOTO/PATRICK BAZ (Photo credit should read PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Cypriots protest outside the parliament building in Nicosia, on March 18, 2013. Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades was seeking the backing of MPs for an EU bailout deal that slaps a levy on bank savings under harsh terms that have jolted global markets and raised fears of a new eurozone debt crisis. AFP PHOTO /PATRICK BAZ (Photo credit should read PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Euro coins from Cyprus, center, surrounded by coins from other Euro zone countries, are displayed in a coin collectors' shop window in downtown Lisbon, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. The Cypriot government sought Tuesday to shield small savers from a plan that is intended to raise euro 5.8 billion ($7.5 billion) toward a financial bailout by seizing money from bank accounts. The plan, which is part of a larger bailout package being negotiated with other European countries, has been met with fury in Cyprus and has sent jitters across financial markets. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
A Cypriot man wearing a mask of Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras smokes a cigarette during a protest against an EU bailout deal outside the parliament in Nicosia on March 18, 2013. Cyprus's parliament has postponed until March 19 a session to vote on the bailout deal that slaps a levy on all Cypriot bank savings, as negotiators scrambled to soften the blow for small deposit holders. AFP PHOTO/PATRICK BAZ (Photo credit should read PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Cypriots holding cut-out masks of German Chancellor Angela Merkel (top-R), European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso (C) and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades (top-L) take part in a protest against an EU bailout deal outside the parliament in Nicosia on March 18, 2013. Cyprus's parliament has postponed until March 19 a session to vote on the bailout deal that slaps a levy on all Cypriot bank savings, as negotiators scrambled to soften the blow for small deposit holders. AFP PHOTO/PATRICK BAZ (Photo credit should read PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images)
A Cypriot woman wearing a mask of German Chancellor Angela Merkel stands next to a fellow demonstrator wearing a mask of Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades during a protest against an EU bailout deal outside the parliament in Nicosia on March 18, 2013. Cyprus's parliament has postponed until March 19 a session to vote on the bailout deal that slaps a levy on all Cypriot bank savings, as negotiators scrambled to soften the blow for small deposit holders. AFP PHOTO/PATRICK BAZ (Photo credit should read PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Protesters shout slogans during a protest outside of the parliament in Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, March 18, 2013. A vote on a bailout package for Cyprus that includes an immediate tax on all savings accounts has been postponed until Tuesday evening. Yiannakis Omirou, the speaker of Parliament, said the delay was needed to give the government time to amend the deal reached over the weekend that prompted an outcry from those who thought their money was safe. In order to get euro 10 billion ($13 billion) in bailout loans from international creditors, Cyprus agreed to take a percentage of all deposits ? including ordinary citizens' savings ? an unprecedented step in Europe's 3 ?-year debt crisis. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A protestor with a mask of German Chancellor Angela Merkel shout slogans during a protest outside of the parliament in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, March 18, 2013. A vote on a bailout package for Cyprus that includes an immediate tax on all savings accounts has been postponed until Tuesday evening. Yiannakis Omirou, the speaker of Parliament, said the delay was needed to give the government time to amend the deal reached over the weekend that prompted an outcry from those who thought their money was safe. In order to get euro 10 billion ($13 billion) in bailout loans from international creditors, Cyprus agreed to take a percentage of all deposits ? including ordinary citizens' savings ? an unprecedented step in Europe's over 3 year debt crisis. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A Cypriot couple hang placards from their necks during a protest against an EU bailout deal outside the parliament in the capital, Nicosia, on March 19, 2013. The party of Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades will abstain from taking part in a parliamentary vote on an EU bailout, that slaps a levy on all Cypriot bank savings, a party member said. The banner on the right reads in Greek: 'It's capitalism idiots!' AFP PHOTO/PATRICK BAZ (Photo credit should read PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Two man pass by the people using the ATM machines outside of a Laiki Bank branch in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, March 17, 2013. Cyprus parliament had postponed the debate and vote on the controversial levy on all bank deposits that the cash-strapped countrys creditors demanded in exchange for euro10 billion (US$13 billion) in rescue money, officials said. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A man sits and drink as women use the ATM machine outside of a Bank of Cyprus branch in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, March 17, 2013. Cyprus parliament had postponed the debate and vote on the controversial levy on all bank deposits that the cash-strapped countrys creditors demanded in exchange for euro10 billion (US$13 billion) in rescue money, officials said. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A police officer stands by a protest banner outside of parliament before a meeting in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, March 18, 2013. Cyprus' president is briefing lawmakers ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote on a controversial levy on bank deposits that the cash-strapped country's creditors have demanded in exchange for a euro10 billion (US$13 billion) rescue package.(AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Children are seen by a protest banner held by protestors outside of the parliament during a crucial meeting in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, March 18, 2013. Cyprus' president is briefing lawmakers ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote on a controversial levy on bank deposits that the cash-strapped country's creditors have demanded in exchange for a euro10 billion (US$13 billion) rescue package.(AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A protestor shout slogans outside of parliament during a meeting in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, March 18, 2013. Cyprus' president is briefing lawmakers ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote on a controversial levy on bank deposits that the cash-strapped country's creditors have demanded in exchange for a euro10 billion (US$13 billion) rescue package.(AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A protestor with his child hold a banner outside of parliament during a crucial meeting in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, March 18, 2013. Cyprus' president is briefing lawmakers ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote on a controversial levy on bank deposits that the cash-strapped country's creditors have demanded in exchange for a euro10 billion (US$13 billion) rescue package.(AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A view of the Bank of Cyprus UK in Charlotte Street, central London, Monday, March 18, 2013. The euro 10 billion (US dlrs13 billion) Cyprus bailout agreed by the EU and IMF demands that all bank customers pay a one-off levy on all bank deposits, to save the country from bankruptcy. Cyprus' president Nicos Anastasiades urged lawmakers to approve the tax when they vote Monday, saying he wants to amend the unpopular eurozone bailout plan to reduce its effect on small savers. (AP Photo / Nick Ansell, PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES
A man uses an ATM at a bank, right, in Pamplona northern Spain on Monday, March 18, 2013. A plan to tax depositors in Cypriot banks as a way to partly fund a bailout of the Mediterranean island nation impacted on the euro-zone Monday, as officials in Spain and Italy tried over the weekend to reassure their citizens by saying the situation in Cyprus is unique, and that bank deposits in their countries will remain safe. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Protesters hold up their hands as they protest outside the parliament in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, March 18, 2013. A vote on a bailout package for Cyprus that includes an immediate tax on all savings accounts has been postponed until Tuesday evening. Yiannakis Omirou, the speaker of Parliament, said the delay was needed to give the government time to amend the deal reached over the weekend that prompted an outcry from those who thought their money was safe. In order to get euro 10 billion ($13 billion) in bailout loans from international creditors, Cyprus agreed to take a percentage of all deposits ? including ordinary citizens' savings ? an unprecedented step in Europe's 3 ?-year debt crisis. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Cypriots hold placards during a protest against an EU bailout deal outside the parliament in Nicosia on March 19, 2013. The party of Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades will abstain from taking part in a parliamentary vote on an EU bailout, that slaps a levy on all Cypriot bank savings, a party member said. AFP PHOTO/PATRICK BAZ (Photo credit should read PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images)
A man use his mobile phone as he passes outside of the a Russian commercial bank in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. A high proportion of deposits in Cypriot banks are believed to be held by Russians and Cypriot Finance Minister Michalis Sarris is flying to Moscow Tuesday to meet with his Russian counterpart. Financial markets are reported to be tense Tuesday as investors await a vote in Cyprus on a contentious plan to help fund the country's bailout by a one off charge on bank deposits although there may be a change to the proposed levy to spare small account holders. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Cypriots use the ATM machines outside of a closed Laiki Bank branch in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Cypriot finance officials are revising a planned financial bailout to relieve small account holders from having to pay a charge on their savings in order to secure an international rescue of the country's troubled banks.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A Cypriot man asks for help from a member of bank stuff to get money from an ATM machine outside a closed Laiki Bank branch in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Cypriot finance officials are revising a planned financial bailout to relieve small account holders from having to pay a charge on their savings in order to secure an international rescue of the country's troubled banks.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Pensioner Adreas Tartis 74 years old sits on chair in central Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Tartis said that the situation of Cyprus is difficult. Cypriot finance officials are revising a planned financial bailout to relieve small account holders from having to pay a charge on their savings in order to secure an international rescue of the country's troubled banks.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
An employee of the Stock Exchange walks next to a display showing stock price movements in Athens, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Banks stocks were sharply lower on the Athens Stock Exchange, as trading resumed for the first time in Greece since the details of a bailout in Cyprus and a shock levy on bank deposits were announced. Trading in the shares of Bank of Cyprus and Laiki was suspended for two days on the Athens Stock Exchange. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
A man passes outside of the a Russian commercial bank in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. A high proportion of deposits in Cypriot banks are believed to be held by Russians and Cypriot Finance Minister Michalis Sarris is flying to Moscow Tuesday to meet with his Russian counterpart. Financial markets are reported to be tense Tuesday as investors await a vote in Cyprus on a contentious plan to help fund the country's bailout by a one off charge on bank deposits although there may be a change to the proposed levy to spare small account holders. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/25/angela-merkel-cyprus-bailout_n_2947781.html
Army Navy Game john lennon leann rimes pearl harbor Jacintha Saldanha Butch Jones thursday night football
Skydive instructor, student killed in Fla. jumps
ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. (AP) ? An investigation has opened into the weekend deaths of a skydiving instructor and a student, both from Iceland, who died during jumps with a group in Florida, a law enforcement official said.
The two men took part with 20 other people Saturday in skydiving jumps from a plane in Zephyrhills, about 30 miles northeast of Tampa, said Pasco County sheriff's spokeswoman Melanie Snow. They were reported missing, touching off an hours-long search Saturday.
Snow said the air-and-ground search began when only 20 of the 22 skydivers returned from their jumps late Saturday morning. The bodies were discovered by spotters from the air early Saturday evening in woods south of the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport.
Snow would not comment on whether the parachutes of the skydivers had opened. She said that was part of the investigation.
Snow identified the victims as 41-year-old instructor Orvar Arnarson and 25-year-old student Andrimar Pordarson. No hometowns were given. The men jumped separately, not in tandem, Snow said.
She added that the men were reported missing on their third round of jumps about 10:30 a.m. Saturday and that their bodies were spotted later after search teams scoured a large area, focused mostly south of the municipal airport.
She said the teams were instructed to look for the men and their chutes, one green-and-white and the parachute blue-and gray.
Authorities said the skydivers were part of a jump outing through Skydive City in Zephyrhills.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/skydive-instructor-student-killed-fla-jumps-103931832.html
anna paquin warren buffett 2012 nfl schedule dishonored april 18 delonte west vanessa williams
Friday, March 22, 2013
Google's Schmidt tells Myanmar a free Internet can anchor reform
By Aung Hla Tun
YANGON (Reuters) - The Internet has the power to prevent Myanmar's leaders from backsliding on the country's rapid transformation that has taken place since the military government stepped aside two years ago, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said on Friday.
Speaking to an audience of young entrepreneurs and students in the main city of Yangon, he said the Internet can empower Myanmar's people.
"Your government had made an incredibly important political decision. Open up the country to foreign ideas, to the Internet, to your own communications, to your own newspapers," he said.
Schmidt, who raised eyebrows with a trip to North Korea in January, is visiting the former Burma as part of a trip to Asia that also took in India. He is due to meet Myanmar's president, Thein Sein, later on Friday.
The president has overseen a rapid transformation of the political and economic landscape since he took office in March 2011 after the military stepped aside following almost five decades in power.
"The Internet will make it impossible to go back," Schmidt said.
Asked for his advice on developing the sector, he said, to loud applause: "Well, first, try to keep the government out of regulating the Internet."
Newspapers and the Internet were subject to strict censorship under the military but the state has relaxed its control under Thein Sein and will allow private daily newspapers from next month.
Myanmar is Asia's newest frontier market for foreign investors. Its telecoms sector is untapped with mobile penetration among the 60 million population estimated at a meager 5-10 percent.
A planned modernization of telecoms infrastructure and an expected boom in mobile phone usage will pave the way for the entry of companies such as Google.
Google launched a version of its homepage for Myanmar, www.google.com.mm, on Thursday.
"In the next few years the most profitable business in Myanmar will be the telecommunications industry," Schmidt said.
NEW FRONTIER
A U.S. business delegation, which included Google, visited Myanmar last month to explore opportunities. The delegation, led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), looked into projects to boost access to the Internet, strengthen transparent government and expand digital literacy, USAID said.
Despite Myanmar's liberalization, human rights issues remain a dark spot on its record.
Ethnic and religious conflicts continue to fester. In the latest incident, up to 10 people died and buildings were set ablaze in the town of Meikhtila in sectarian clashes between Buddhists and Muslims.
Schmidt told his youthful audience companies like Google were a force for good. "Technology empowers individuals. One mobile phone in one village can record injustices."
(Writing by Paul Carsten; Editing by Alan Raybould and Neil Fullick)
Ashley Morrison El Chapo Guzman Christmas Abbott clive davis nba trade thomas robinson nba trades
Congolese warlord flown out of Rwanda from U.S. mission
By Jenny Clover
KIGALI (Reuters) - A Congolese warlord accused of war crimes charges was flown out of Rwanda bound for the International Criminal Court in the Hague on Friday, four days after he surrendered to the U.S. Embassy in Kigali, the Rwandan foreign minister said,
"Bosco Ntaganda has just taken off from Kigali in custody of ICC officials following cooperation between Rwanda, US and Dutch governments," Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said on Twitter.
The International Criminal Court confirmed he was on his way to the Netherlands. It would soon set a date for his first appearance in court to confirm his identity, it said in a statement.
A Reuters witness earlier saw a blacked-out U.S. Embassy vehicle under police escort drive along the perimeter of Kigali's international airport. Shortly after, a private jet took off.
Ntaganda, a rebel commander nicknamed "the Terminator", walked off the street and gave himself up to the U.S. Embassy on Monday after a 15-year career that spanned a series of Rwandan-backed rebellions in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
He asked to be moved to the ICC where he faces charges of recruiting child soldiers, murder, ethnic persecution, sexual slavery and rape during the 2002-3 conflict in northeastern Congo's gold mining Ituri district.
"Bosco's arrest won't bring peace to the eastern Congo, but Bosco's arrest does spell a victory in the battle against impunity and the dismantling to one of the barriers to a peace process in the country," Jason Stearns of the Rift Valley Institute wrote on Friday.
(Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/congolese-warlord-flown-rwanda-u-mission-source-115834992.html
ufc jones vs evans watergate mlb pregnant man outside lands 2012 lineup beloved ufc results
Apple ID accounts reportedly vulnerable to password reset hack, forgot password page taken offline for maintenance
Gaping security holes are a pretty terrifying thing, especially when they involve something as sensitive as your Apple ID. Sadly it seems that immediately after making the paranoid happy by instituting two-step authentication a pretty massive flaw in Cupertino's system was discovered and first reported by The Verge. Turns out you can reset any Apple ID password with nothing more than a person's email address and date of birth -- two pieces of information that are pretty easy to come across. There's a little more to the hack, but it's simple enough that even your non-tech savvy aunt or uncle could do it. After entering the target email address in the password reset form you can then select to answer security questions to validate your identity. The first task will be to enter a date of birth. If you enter that correctly then paste a particular URL into the address bar (which we will not be publishing for obvious reasons), press enter, then -- voilà -- instant password reset! Or, at least that's the story. While we were attempting to verify these claims Apple took down the password reset page for "maintenance." Though we've received no official confirmation from Apple, it seems the company is moving swiftly to shut down this particularly troublesome workaround before word of it spreads too far.
Source: The Verge
Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/lgVNHKINtZM/
michael bay zsa zsa gabor illinois primary trayvon martin 911 call kiribati vernal equinox mr rogers
Microsoft insists $100 payouts aren?t the only way to draw developers to Windows 8
By Steve Keating ORLANDO, Florida, March 20 (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy's decision to skip the Arnold Palmer Invitational surprised the tournament host, who expressed his disappointment on Wednesday that the world number one was not at Bay Hill this week. The 83-year-old Palmer said he had jokingly suggested he might break McIlroy's arm if he did not show up but did not try to force the young Northern Irishman into making an appearance. "Frankly, I thought he was going to play, and I was as surprised as a lot of people when he decided he was not going to play," said Palmer. ...
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/microsoft-insists-100-payouts-aren-t-only-way-002517179.html
Lumineers The Lumineers grammys miguel Justin Timberlake Grammys frank ocean adam levine
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Cyprus bailout plan puts eurocrisis back on the front page
The plan to levy a tax on Cypriot deposit holders is sending a chill around the continent, particularly in nations like Spain and Italy that already have troubled banks.
A man walks by graffiti, reading 'troika out' in Greek, in the old city of Nicosia, Cyprus, today. The Cypriot bailout plan, which was backed by the so-called 'troika' of the European Union, the International Monetary Fund, and the European Central Bank, has been met with fury in Cyprus and has sent jitters across financial markets.
Petros Karadjias/AP
EnlargeThe tiny divided sun-dappled Mediterranean island of Cyprus rarely rides above the radar in European thinking ? but is now suddenly raising a five-alarm panic in the European Union, just as financial crisis talk there was starting to abate.
Skip to next paragraph Robert MarquandStaff writer
Over the past three decades, Robert Marquand has reported on a wide variety of subjects for?The Christian Science Monitor, including American education reform,?the wars in the Balkans, the Supreme Court, South Asian politics, and the oft-cited "rise of China." In the past 15 years he has served as the Monitor's bureau chief in Paris, Beijing, and New Delhi.?
Recent posts
' +
google_ads[0].line2 + '
' +
google_ads[0].line3 + '
Subscribe Today to the Monitor
Cyprus desperately needs a 10 billion euro ($13 billion) bailout, and to do so the EU has engineered a plan, now being voted on by the Cypriot parliament, to guarantee an EU loan with ? and here is the kicker ? money secured from the banking accounts of private depositors.
Accounts with more than 100,000 euros ($130,000) would be taxed 9.9 percent; those under that marker would be taxed at 6.7 percent. The idea is to raise 5.8 billion euro ($7.5 billion) to ensure against a catastrophic default.
Since the EU in Brussels must approve the plan, and since Germany is on board, this is a fateful example that is sending a chill around the continent, particularly in nations like Spain and Italy that have troubled banks that have been unable to climb out of the pit of debt and exposure.
Whether one calls this measure a tax, a levy, a ?dip? into bank accounts, or a seizure of funds to avert a national disaster, ordinary Europeans interpret the plan as a major Rubicon that has been crossed: Their private accounts can be invaded by the public sector.
?The damage is done,? Louise Cooper, who heads the financial research firm CooperCity in London, told the Associated Press. ?Europeans now know that their savings could be used to bail out banks.?
Though some dispute that the decision entails a realistic threat to American and European bank accounts. In a statement sent to EU correspondents, Andriy Bodnaruk, an assistant professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business, wrote that ?While Cyprus' proposed tax on deposit holders sets a precedent, there is little reason for depositors in Europe or the US to lose sleep."
"...It is highly unlikely (if not improbable) that such policy could ever be forced on depositors in any other EU country, as it would be politically suicidal. Cyprus is a different animal as it is effectively an off-shore area within Europe," he wrote.
The president of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, told his nation on Sunday that he supported the plan as ?the least painful option,? saying that, ?Cyprus is in a tragic situation ? and I bear the political cost for this, in order to limit as much as possible the consequences for the economy and for our fellow Cypriots.?
Michael Steininger wrote yesterday in The Christian Science Monitor that: ??for the first time, at the insistence of the German government, private account holders were being asked to shoulder a part of that [Cyprus] bailout, around 5.8 billion euros ($7.5 billion), through a special levy on their savings."
?The German taxpayer is willing to help Cyprus,? says Michael Fuchs, a member of Parliament for Chancellor Angela Merkel?s Christian Democrats. ?But the Cypriots have to help themselves and pay a tax on their deposits.?
With large Russian offshore accounts in Cyprus, President Vladimir Putin in Moscow called the new tax ?dangerous.?
Banking columnist Peter Gumbel of Time magazine pointed out that:
At the insistence of both the E.U. and the IMF, Cyprus would only receive a bailout if as much as $6 billion of the money could be recouped from bank depositors. That solution was aimed primarily at the Russians and other wealthy depositors, with more than $130,000 in their accounts. But under the terms of the agreement finalized on Friday night, all depositors will take a hit. A one-time levy of 9.9% will be charged on deposits over $130,000, and accounts with less will be charged 6.75%.
A new plan being voted on today in Cyprus would exempt depositors with less than 20,000 euro ($26,000) in their accounts.
Since the advent of what has been called the ?eurocrisis? several years ago ? which has caused a number of governments to fall and occasionally spun the global economy downward ? Europeans have become adroit at halting panic and crisis just as it seems ready to bring a full-scale meltdown.
The crisis was originally sparked by public debt and bad accounting in Greece. But it spread across Europe ? most prominently in Ireland, Portugal, Italy, and Spain ? as bond markets attacked what appeared to be weakness in those economies, due to their inability to devaluate under the single currency.
But the European Central Bank showed this summer and fall that it would go so far as to sidestep its own rules and charter to protect the euro by lending trillions to troubled banks.
Still, as the Associated Press put it in a report today:
?Down the road, the Cyprus precedent, even if quickly reversed, could come back to haunt eurozone policy makers by making depositors less sure about the safety of their money in case of trouble. It could also complicate creation of an EU-wide system of bank deposit insurance, part of long-term efforts to create a more robust financial system and prevent future crises.
arkansas football blackhawks howard johnson levon helm firelight world peace elbow kevin love
Professional Business Marketing ? Boston Entrepreneurs Gather at ...
More than 60 Entrepreneurs Attended to Learn About ?Green Rush? Business Opportunities in Boston
BOSTON, Mass. (PRWEB) March 20, 2013
More than 60 entrepreneurs gathered at the DispensaryPermits.com medical marijuana ?Green Rush? conference on Saturday, March 2 at the Sheraton Boston to learn about opportunities in the medical marijuana industry.
Hosted by DispensaryPermits.com, a leading medical marijuana dispensary consulting business in the U.S., the conference brought together seven different experts to talk about different parts of the medical marijuana business, including: insurance, cultivation, dispensing, legal, evaluation centers and business operations.
?The conference was extremely valuable for me,? said Jonathan Waxman, a Boston-area interested medical marijuana entrepreneur. ?I was able to speak to entrepreneurs like myself who have successfully entered the billion dollar medical marijuana market. I am even more excited about all of the opportunities that exist.?
Waxman hired DispensaryPermits.com to assist him in writing a business operations plan for his proposed business, New England Kind Care, a cultivation facility, dispensary and potentially a hydroponics store.
?There is so much that goes into successfully developing a medical marijuana business, and it?s a huge relief to have partners who have done it before in other states,? said Waxman.
DispensaryPermits.com helps medical marijuana entrepreneurs accomplish their business objectives. The company is a full service-consulting firm from ?seed to sale? that can help aspiring business owners open medical marijuana dispensaries, cultivation centers, evaluation centers and even hydroponic stores. The company has assembled a team of top medical marijuana experts, including doctors, lawyers, scientists, architects, CPAs, horticulturists and business owners to assist clients in pursuing medical marijuana business opportunities.
DispensaryPermits.com Director, Jig Patel, said that the response to the conference was so great, that the team plans to host another follow-up conference later this spring.
The conference closed with Cheryl Shuman, a celebrity staple in the medical marijuana industry. Shuman shared her moving experience about her very public battle with cancer. Throughout her experience, she relied on cannabis to help ease the pain and suffering.
For more information, visit http://www.dispensarypermits.com.
About DispensaryPermits.com
DispensaryPermits.com offers ?seed to sale? consulting services and hands-on support to medical marijuana entrepreneurs to accomplish their business objectives. With a team of the top medical marijuana experts including doctors, lawyers, scientists, architects, CPAs, horticulturists and business owners, DispensaryPermits.com has successfully helped entrepreneurs obtain dispensary licenses and open medical marijuana related businesses in New Jersey, California, and Arizona with a 100% track record of success. The company?s new Massachusetts office is located in Boston?s Prudential Center.
Melissa DiGianfilippo
Serendipit Consulting
480-250-4315
Email Information
band of brothers presidents george washington russell westbrook horsetail falls ice t president day
PFT: Helmet rule could be tabled until May
Getty ImagesLetting players pick teams isn?t the only big Pro Bowl change being weighed by the NFL.
NFL Network?s Albert Breer reported Tuesday that the location of the Pro Bowl and the way players are compensated?are among the potential changes being discussed by the league. (Earlier Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said that the way teams are comprised was on the table, too, something Breer also noted.)
According to Breer, the league will soon announce its plans regarding the location of future games,?and locations other than Honolulu, where this year?s game was held, could be in the mix. Breer also reported that the game, for now, will continue to be played the weekend before the Super Bowl.
The NFL, per the CBA negotiated with the players, can choose when and where to have the Pro Bowl, ?provided that the (league) will consult with the NFLPA prior to making?any such determination.?
Per Breer, the league could also change how it pays players for the game, with performance incentives tied to the results of game periods ? quarters, halves, etc. ? something being weighed, along bonuses for individual stellar performance.
This is a very interesting issue.
The total amount of compensation for players is also a collectively bargained matter. For next winter?s Pro Bowl, the winner?s share is $53,000, while the loser?s share is $26,000. In short, complete game result is the measuring stick used now.?Pro Bowl payouts are collectively bargained through 2020.
It?s understandable that the league is looking at ways to change the Pro Bowl. But the compensation matter is a compelling one. As the CBA is written right now, I could not see the NFLPA standing for any player making less than $26,000 in the game. After, it?s a bargained issue.
So here?s the question: would the NFL be open to increasing the total amount of money available to players, or will it simply be redistributing the dollars a different way?
The Pro Bowl has lacked some intrigue over the years. But you know what will be very intriguing? The process by which any changes to the NFL?s all-star game come to pass.
Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/20/helmet-rule-could-be-tabled-until-may/related/
acura nsx all star weekend 2012 giada de laurentiis howard hughes nationwide race wanderlust gone
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Renewed nuke sale fear after recent NKorea test
A North Korean soldier looks at the southern side through a pair of binoculars at the border village of the Panmunjom (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. The United States is flying nuclear-capable B-52 bombers on training missions over South Korea to highlight Washington's commitment to defend an ally amid rising tensions with North Korea, Pentagon officials said Monday.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
A North Korean soldier looks at the southern side through a pair of binoculars at the border village of the Panmunjom (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. The United States is flying nuclear-capable B-52 bombers on training missions over South Korea to highlight Washington's commitment to defend an ally amid rising tensions with North Korea, Pentagon officials said Monday.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
A North Korean soldier, right, looks at the southern side as a South Korean soldier stands guard at the border village of the Panmunjom (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. The United States is flying nuclear-capable B-52 bombers on training missions over South Korea to highlight Washington's commitment to defend an ally amid rising tensions with North Korea, Pentagon officials said Monday.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
A North Korean soldier, left, salutes to his senior North Korean soldier as a South Korean soldier stands guard, center bottom, at the border village of the Panmunjom (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. The United States is flying nuclear-capable B-52 bombers on training missions over South Korea to highlight Washington's commitment to defend an ally amid rising tensions with North Korea, Pentagon officials said Monday.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
North Koreans walk past posters reading "Forward to the ultimate victory under the leadership of the great party!" left, "not with words but with arms," center, and "Higher, faster," right, on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, on a street in Phyongchon District in Pyongyang, North Korea. The banner partially shown at right reads in its entirety "Let?s strengthen and enhance our party as the party of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il!" (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
A couple walks past posters reading "not with words but with arms," left, and "Higher, faster," second from left, as well as a banner reading "Let?s strengthen and enhance our party as the party of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il!" on a street in Phyongchon District, Pyongyang, North Korea, on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) ? North Korea's nuclear test last month wasn't just a show of defiance and national pride; it also serves as advertising. The target audience, analysts say, is anyone in the world looking to buy nuclear material.
Though Pyongyang has threatened to launch nuclear strikes on the U.S., the most immediate threat posed by its nuclear technology may be North Korea's willingness to sell it to nations that Washington sees as sponsors of terrorism. The fear of such sales was highlighted this week, when Japan confirmed that cargo seized last year and believed to be from North Korea contained material that could be used to make nuclear centrifuges, which are crucial to enriching uranium into bomb fuel.
The dangerous message North Korea is sending, according to Graham Allison, a nuclear expert at the Harvard Kennedy School: "Nukes are for sale."
North Korea launched a long-range rocket in December, which the U.N. called a cover for a banned test of ballistic missile technology. On Feb. 12, it conducted its third underground nuclear test, which got Pyongyang new U.N. sanctions.
Outside nuclear specialists believe North Korea has enough nuclear material for several crude bombs, but they have yet to see proof that Pyongyang can build a warhead small enough to mount on a missile. The North, however, may be able to help other countries develop nuclear expertise right now, as it is believed to have done in the past.
"There's a growing technical capability and confidence to sell weapons and technology abroad, without fear of reprisal, and that lack of fear comes from (their) growing nuclear capabilities," Joel Wit, a former U.S. State Department official, said at a recent nuclear conference in Seoul.
Pyongyang says it needs nuclear weapons because of what it calls a hostile U.S. policy aimed at invading the North. The U.S., South Korea and others say North Korean brinksmanship meant to win aid and other concessions is the real motive. Even China, North Korea's most important ally, opposes its neighbor's nuclear ambitions.
North Korean nuclear sales earn the impoverished country money that can be pumped back into weapons development, analyst Shin Beomchul at the South Korean-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in Seoul said Tuesday.
Its growing capabilities could make North Korea more attractive to buyers, especially if it is determined that highly enriched uranium was used in last month's test.
Proliferation worries have ramped up since late 2010, when North Korea unveiled a long-suspected uranium enrichment operation. North Korea's first two nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009, were suspected to be fueled by its limited plutonium stockpile. A crude uranium bomb is easier to produce than one made with plutonium, and uranium production is easier to conceal.
Little is known about North Korea's uranium program, but Washington and others are keenly interested in whether it is producing highly enriched uranium for bombs and whether uranium was used in the third test ? two things suspected, but not yet confirmed, by outsiders.
A nuclear test using highly enriched uranium "would announce to the world ? including potential buyers ? that North Korea is now operating a new, undiscovered production line for weapons-usable material," Allison, the Harvard nuclear specialist, wrote in a New York Times op-ed after the North's test.
U.S. officials have hinted that retaliation would follow should Washington discover North Korean cooperation behind any atomic attack on an American city or U.S. ally.
Pyongyang's nuclear transfers and any use of weapons of mass destruction "would be considered a grave threat to the United States and our allies, and we will hold North Korea fully accountable for the consequences," President Barack Obama's national security adviser, Tom Donilon, said last week.
U.S. officials have long tracked North Korean dealings in nuclear and weapons technology. Sanctions have cut down on missile sales, but Iran and Syria, two countries seen by Washington as rogue actors, may continue to be customers.
In November, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization proposed observing North Korea's nuclear test, the Japanese news agency Kyodo reported, citing an unidentified Western diplomatic source privy to Pyongyang-Tehran ties.
North Korea is believed to have helped Syria build what senior U.S. intelligence officials called a secret nuclear reactor meant to produce plutonium. In 2007, Israeli jets bombed the structure in a remote Syrian desert.
Japan's government said Monday that it has determined that a shipment believed to have originated in North Korea violated U.N. sanctions because it contained material that could be used to make nuclear centrifuges.
The shipment of an aluminum alloy was seized from a Singaporean-flagged ship transiting Tokyo last August. The ship was reportedly bound for Myanmar from the Chinese port of Dalian, although Japanese government officials didn't confirm Myanmar as the destination.
Japan's chief government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said officials searched the ship because they believed it carried North Korean cargo. News reports said the United States tipped off Japan. Suga said officials had determined in subsequent analyses that the rods were made of an alloy that suggests they were intended for use in a nuclear centrifuge.
Suga said the seizure was the first to be conducted under a law Japan passed in 2010 to clamp down on the movement of materials that could be used for nuclear weapons development being brought into, or exported from, North Korea.
The murkiness of the clandestine nuclear trade is a major worry. It's difficult to know how a buyer would use atomic material or know-how, or where material could end up after being sold.
"The terrorist threat of an improvised nuclear device delivered anonymously and unconventionally by a boat or a truck across our long and unprotected borders is one against which we have no certain deterrent or defensive response," Robert Gallucci, a former senior U.S. diplomat who negotiated a U.S.-North Korea nuclear deal used to defuse a nuclear crisis in the 1990s, said late last month in Seoul.
"For Americans, this threat is far greater than the unlikely threat that may someday be posed by North Korean nuclear weapons delivered by a ballistic missile," he said.
___
Eric Talmadge in Tokyo and Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul contributed to this report. Follow Foster Klug on Twitter at twitter.com/APKlug
Associated Presssanta Capital STEEZ George Bush After Christmas Sales 2012 Charles Durning Webster Ny Mcdonalds
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)