For an honorary consul in America: deal or no deal?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When Jill Kelley was appointed honorary consul for South Korea in Tampa, Florida in September she became one of more than 1,200 people recruited by countries around the world to represent their interests in towns and cities across the United States.

For the Tampa socialite it was a short-lived honor. Within months she had become a prominent player in a national scandal that led to the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus. South Korea quickly rescinded her appointment.

The incident, and a subsequent allegation that Kelley had tried to gain financially from the post, drew unwonted attention to honorary consuls and raised questions about just what they do and whether they might exploit their privileges.

The positions are usually unpaid, although South Korea says it offers its honorary consuls a nominal sum of about $1,500 a year. But they bring the appointee status and perks -- like speeding through airport immigration lines and the right to fly the nation's flag on their car.

What honorary consuls do in return varies widely. Some notarize documents, promote trade and tourism, and issue emergency passports to foreign visitors. Others perform almost no official duties.

There is no written rule against honorary consuls engaging in commercial deals that might benefit both the country they represent and their own interests.

The State Department issues pink-rimmed ID cards to all honorary consuls but relies on other nations to vet the appointees and monitor their activities, said Lawrence Dunham, former assistant chief of protocol for the State Department.

"The U.S. government doesn't conduct a separate background check," said Dunham, who retired in 2005.

The State Department did not respond to queries seeking information about the honorary consul corps in the United States. Several people interviewed said the United States itself does not appoint its own honorary consuls overseas.

KELLEY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

South Korean Foreign Ministry officials said Kelley's appointment was signed by Han Duk-soo, who was prime minister in 2007 and 2008 and is now the chairman of the Korea International Trade Association.

No other details were available about how Kelley secured the position. By all accounts she approached her responsibilities with zeal but within months her life was thrown in turmoil.

An FBI investigation she initiated into threatening emails she had received unexpectedly revealed an affair between Petraeus, who Kelley had known when he was stationed in Tampa, and his biographer, Paula Broadwell. The general announced his resignation on November 9.

In the weeks that followed, her life and business contacts were closely scrutinized in the media.

Adam Victor, an energy entrepreneur and president of New York-based TransGas Development Systems Llc, said in an interview with Reuters that Kelley told him she got her honorary consul status with Petraeus' help. Kelley's attorney denied Petraeus was involved.

Victor also quoted Kelley as saying she could use Petraeus' influence to set up a meeting with the South Korean president on Victor's behalf to facilitate what Victor described as a $4 billion "mega-deal."

In an email dated September 13, Kelley wrote to Victor: "My fee to bring this to fruition will be 2 percent."

A spokesperson for Kelley told Reuters by email that Kelley "was not doing a potential deal as consul."

But emails she exchanged with an official at the University of South Florida around the time she was dealing with Victor suggested otherwise.

"I was nominated for this diplomatic appointment, for the purpose to facilitate new agreements in the USA with my contacts," she wrote in a September 7 email to Stephen Klasko, dean of the University of South Florida's Morsani School of Medicine and chief executive officer of a company called USF Health.

"In this position, I have a unique opportunity to propose bids because, of my relationship with the top executive branch of Korea...," she said in the email, seen by Reuters.

She asked Klasko if he had any interest in "a medical, pharmaceutical or research exchange between USF and Korea." Nowhere did Kelley suggest a fee for herself and officials at the university said no deal resulted from the exchange.

PROFITS ARE "QUESTIONABLE"

Honorary consuls contacted around the United States said it was not unusual for people in these posts to cut themselves in on deals.

Jonathan Warren, the honorary consul for the Monaco in Las Vegas, said: "Is it prohibited by virtue of being an honorary consul? No, of course not," he said. "In fact just the opposite is true in practice because a lot of times people are appointed because they've brought business" to the country they represent.

This wasn't true in his case, he added, saying he sought to be the honorary consul of Monaco because of his frequent visits to the Mediterranean coast principality.

The dozen honorary consuls interviewed for this article had varying views about the permissibility of profiting from deals they helped broker. The former assistant U.S. chief of protocol Dunham said it was "not prohibited, but questionable."

Article 57 of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations bars career consuls from engaging in commercial activity but is silent on that point when it comes to honorary consuls.

Arnold Foote, president of the World Federation of Consuls, told Reuters the organization makes a distinction between routine consular duties -- notarizing documents and handing out passports -- and separate business activities.

The organization, which was formed in 1982 and provides guidelines for consuls around the world, "is concerned only with their role as Honorary Consul, not with other roles where questions of 'deals' or 'profits' might arise," he said.

Many consuls interviewed said the practice of brokering deals and taking a fee is rare and distasteful.

"There's certainly nothing that says you can't make money from doing this, but it's not why the people I know do it," said Josh Hanfling, honorary consul for Morocco in Denver.

Denver lawyer Frank Schuchat said his appointment as an honorary consul for Belgium in his city might have helped his legal business, but "if that were my motivation, the whole project would have been a failure."

CARICATURE OF A CONSUL

Most honorary consuls are unpaid and do not get reimbursed for expenses. Most seek the post because of an ancestral tie to the country, several said.

Several scoffed at the caricature of them emerging from media coverage of Kelley as wealthy, well-connected party-goers drawn to the role for its social cache, although some hobnobbing is involved, they said.

Toby Unwin, a native of England, became Austria's honorary consul in Orlando, Florida, in 2006.

"Wheeling and dealing and schmoozing somewhat comes with the territory," said Unwin. "Countries usually look for people who are well connected in the local country. They don't want people nobody knows."

British author Graham Greene presented a scathing view of the honorary consul role in his 1973 novel, "The Honorary Consul," which was later made into a film. The main character is a British expatriate serving as an honorary consul in northern Argentina, where he lives a debased life as a besotted, lecherous low-life who abuses his title.

"It put us in an even less attractive light than Ms. Kelley did," said Schuchat, the Belgium honorary consul in Denver. "Ms. Kelley is probably more known than any other honorary consul in the country and that's just not fair."

(Additional reporting by Jack Kim, Arshad Mohammed and Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Warren Strobel, Karey Wutkowski and David Storey)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/honorary-consul-america-deal-no-deal-153427765.html

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French men not producing as much sperm

(Reuters Health) - When it comes to sperm counts, French men aren't what they used to be, according to a new study.

Researchers found that between 1989 and 2005, the number of sperm in one milliliter of the average 35-year-old Frenchman's semen fell from about 74 million to about 50 million - a decrease of roughly 32 percent.

"That's certainly within the normal range, but if you think about it, if there continues to be a decrease, we would expect that we'll get into that infertile range," said Grace Centola, president of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology in Birmingham, Alabama.

And the French aren't the only ones who should be concerned, the researchers said.

"A decline in male reproduction endpoints has been suspected for several decades and is still debated all around the world. Geographical differences have been observed between countries, and between areas inside countries," said Jo?lle Le Moal from the Institut de Veille Sanitaire in France, who led the study.

Writing in the journal Human Reproduction, Le Moal's team said global analyses have found decreases in sperm counts, as did recent studies in Israel, India, New Zealand and Tunisia.

Centola, who wasn't involved with the new research, told Reuters Health she had also found similar results in a group of young sperm donors from Boston in the United States.

For the new study, Le Moal's team used a database of France's 126 fertility clinics that recorded men's semen samples from 1989 through 2005. They then narrowed their study to 26,600 samples provided by men whose female partners were later found to be infertile. That, they say, minimizes the risk the men had a fertility problem.

Over the 16-year period, the researchers found there was about a 2 percent annual decrease in the number of sperm in one milliliter of the average man's semen.

"One would look at that and say it's not all that much. It isn't, but if it's occurring on a yearly basis it can add up," said Centola. "Clearly if this type of decrease continues, we're going to find that we're going to have young men that have low sperm counts," she said.

The World Health Organisation defines anything over 15 million per milliliter of semen as normal. However, the study's authors suggest that it may take longer for men with counts in the lower range of normal to conceive.

The researchers also found that there was an increase in the number of abnormally shaped sperm over the study period, which can also influence fertility.

Part of that finding, however, can be explained by scientists getting better at recognizing misshapen swimmers, but not all of it. "So both results are important," said Le Moal.

(Editing by Ivan Oransky and Kate Kelland)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/french-men-not-producing-much-sperm-123220620.html

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Small-business borrowing surges in October

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Borrowing by small businesses rose in October, a report on Monday showed, as the central bank launched its latest round of monetary stimulus to encourage borrowing and spending.

The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index, which measures the overall volume of financing to small U.S. companies, rose to 107.5 from an upwardly revised 96.4 in September, PayNet said.

PayNet had initially reported the September figure as 94.1.

Borrowing was up 11 percent in October from a year earlier.

PayNet founder Bill Phelan said the rise was likely less a reaction to the Fed's low-rate policy, which has been in place since December 2008, than a sense of growing optimism among smaller firms.

"They are seeing some profit-producing opportunities, and are wading in," Phelan said in an interview. "The odds have shifted toward some optimism for next year."

Small businesses are often responsible for the bulk of new job creation after recessions. The recent recession ended in 2009, but sluggish growth has meant weak job growth, and unemployment in October registered 7.9 percent, well above the 5.5 percent to 6 percent that many economists view as normal.

PayNet's lending index typically correlates to economic growth one or two quarters in the future.

The Federal Reserve in mid-September unleashed a new round of bond buying to lower borrowing costs and spur businesses to spend and, eventually, to hire.

Separate PayNet data showed financial stress at near-record-low levels. Accounts overdue by 30 days fell to 1.2 percent of the total from 1.21 percent the previous month, and were near the 1.17 percent record reached earlier this year. Phelan said a "normal" rate of delinquency is 1.5 percent to 1.6 percent.

Longer-term delinquency rates also eased. Accounts behind 180 days or more, which are considered in default and unlikely to be paid, fell to 0.29 percent from 0.32 percent.

Accounts behind 90 days or more, or in severe delinquency, were unchanged at 0.24 percent.

PayNet collects real-time loan information, such as originations and delinquencies, from more than 250 leading U.S. lenders.

(Reporting by Ann Saphir in Chicago; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/small-business-borrowing-surges-october-103655203--sector.html

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Kipling Seoul Laptop Large Backpack True Blue ? Travel & Leisure

The Seoul Large Backpack from Kipling has laptop protection and padded shoulder straps making it great for travel or school. Main zipped compartment contains laptop pocket with Velcro closure, and a padded back and bottom panel. Zip-front pocket contains 2 pen sleeves, cell phone pocket, iPod/PDA pocket and large internal zippered pocket. Additional large zippered front pocket for more storage. Padded straps that are adjustable to a maximum length of 32 inches and top grip handle. Zippered pockets at the top and left hand side of bag are perfect for quick access to small items.

More information

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Source: http://boyajianmarc.com/travel/2012/11/19/kipling-seoul-laptop-large-backpack-true-blue/

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Spanish PMI - Business Insider

UPDATE:

Spain's PMI has risen to 45.3 from 43.5 last month.
more to come in a moment.

This is still economic deterioration (as the number was sub-50) and New Orders was weak again, but basically the pace of decline has improved modestly.

The full report from Markit is here.

?

EARLIER: The European wave of PMIs is about to begin.

At 3:15 AM ET we get Spanish PMI.

This is basically Europe's #1 worry spot these days, and it will be notable to see how much more pain it is experiencing.

Last month came in at 43.5

We'll have the number here, and we have our full PMI rundown here.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/spanish-pmi-2012-12

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philanthropy charitable giving

Posted on Dec 2nd 2012. Tags: philanthropy, charitable, giving

Make your charitable giving go further - CNN
Make your charitable giving go furtherCNN"Not knowing how their money will be spent sometimes holds people back from supporting a charity," says Jason Franklin, who teaches nonprofit management and philanthropy at New York University and is executive director of Bolder Giving, a nonprofit.and more??

www.airproducts.com/./charitable-giving-and-philanthropy.aspx - CachedThe Air Products Foundation provides philanthropic contributions that improve philanthropy.com/article/America-s-Generosity-Divide/133775/ - CachedAug 19, 2012. Altogether, they provided $135-billion to charity, nearly two-thirds of the $214- www.fidelitycharitable.org/giving.philanthropy/growing-family-philanthropy-tree.shtml - CachedLearn why cultivating a passion for in your children and online.wsj.com/public/page/philanthropy.html - Cached - SimilarIt's hard to overstate the crisis facing today.. More www.potlatchcorp.com/CharitableGiving.aspx - CachedPotlatch has a long tradition of philanthropic through www.ldsphilanthropies.org/ - Cached - SimilarOfficial site for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. LDS www.gene.com/gene/about/community/philanthropic-support.html - CachedCorporate and Grants Home. Philanthropic Support is nvs.sagepub.com/content/40/5/924.abstractA Literature Review of Empirical Studies of Eight Mechanisms That www.amgen.com/citizenship/corporate_philanthropy.html - SimilarAmgen's corporate initiatives are very diverse: research grants and www.nptrust.org/philanthropic-resources/ - CachedThis reflects a 3.9% increase from 2010.2; Corporate held steady in 2011 thesaurus.com/browse/philanthropic - Cached - SimilarIn general, a high proportion of supposedly philanthropic goes to. big, www.charitywatch.org/ - Cached - SimilarCharityWatch is a nationally prominent charity rating and evaluation service www.schwabcharitable.org/ - CachedFollow our guidelines to help ensure your year-end contributions meet the IRS. philanthropy.com/blogs/prospecting/giving-by-the./34700 - CachedAug 29, 2012. The Chronicle of. by people with incomes of $200,000 or www.howstuffworks.com/philanthropy.htm - Cached - SimilarLearn about how to find a legitimate charity and receive tax.

( www.bnymellon.com/about/./charitablegiving.html - Cached - SimilarCharitable Program. Powering Potential. Caring about our communities is ezinearticles.com/?cat=Finance:Philanthropy-Charitable-Giving - Cached - SimilarThe prosperity is never decided by spendid cities but those developing poor www.pppnet.org/ - Cached - SimilarAs you can imagine, any cap or limitation on deductions undermines about.van.fedex.com/philanthropy - CachedAbout FedEx Citizenship . Our corporate resources include philanthropy.com/article/FaithGiving/133611/ - CachedAug 19, 2012. Faith and Religion plays a major role in how much money Americans give en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philanthropy - Cached - SimilarIn organizational studies, by corporations (i.e., corporate philanthropy.com/section/How-America-Gives/621/ - CachedExplore in Your State, City, and Neighborhood. An exclusive https://www.vanguardcharitable.org/giving/charitable_giving_blog.html - CachedThe purpose of Vanguard Charitable's blog is to discuss www.theamericancollege.edu/financial-planning/cap-philanthropy - Cached - SimilarThe Chartered Advisor in (CAP) provides you with the www.americangirl.com/corp/corporate.php?section=about&id=5 - Cached - SimilarLearn more about Shine On Now, American Girl's effort that. www.tdbank.com/community/corporate_giving.html - Cached - SimilarThrough the TD Charitable Foundation, we focus our grant-making to help books.google.com/books/about/Giving.html?id=eg2AujPfnqkC"According to Greek mythology mankind's first benefactor was the Titan, catdir.loc.gov/catdir/samples/cam033/2002025655.pdf - Similar1 in America: From Charity to 29 robert a. gross. 2 Protestant www.philanthropydaily.com/ - Cached - SimilarNFL's Larry Fitzgerald Jr. devotes time, money, & resources to dozens of philanthropy.com/article/The-Politics-of-Giving/133609/ - CachedAug 19, 2012.

Now That to Endowment Is a Tough Sell, Nonprofits Get Creative ? www.nytimes.com/./if-raising-top-tax-rates-encourage-charitable-giving.htmlJul 28, 2012. income tax rate, it should also offer strong incentives for charitable www.npr.org/2012/08/./study-reveals-the-geography-of-charitable-givingAug 20, 2012. That's according to a new study by the Chronicle of which breaks www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/news - CachedRead the latest Center on news and connect with. www.forbes.com/./with-charity-for-all-big-philanthropy-and-the-challenge-of-democracy/ - CachedSep 23, 2012. Untying The Philanthropic Knot Of Gates And Buffett ? Samantha. form of www.charitablegift.org/ - Cached - SimilarFidelity has helped donors support more than 150000 nonprofit. philanthropy.com/article/Sharing-the-Wealth-How-the/133605/ - CachedAug 19, 2012. The typical household claimed contributions totaling 10.6. his www.pointsoflight.org/./charitable-giving-strategic-philanthropy--advisory-board-makes-impact - CachedOct 9, 2012. From to Strategic The Advisory Board Makes An philanthropy.com/article/Interactive-How-America-Gives/133709/ - CachedAug 20, 2012. Exploring in your state, city, and neighborhood. Use this tool to find www.toysrusinc.com/charitable-giving/ - Cached - Similarabout us ? our brands ? careers ? safety ? ? press room ? investor blog.socialventuregroup.com/svg/charitable-giving/ - Cached - Similar4 days ago. This past July, the first China Charity Fair entitled Development, Integration and www.radiatelocal.com/./Orange-County-Register-Philanthropy-Giving-Non-Profit-Charity - CachedCan any one us really change the world? Yes, at least a little.

We believe that, www.grantspace.org/Tools/Knowledge-Base/./American-giving - CachedCharitable statistics have been published annually since 1955 in www.commentarymagazine.com/article/the-war-on-philanthropy/ - Cachedif it's really a charitable contribution, I'm assuming that [the tax exemption]. The www.bloomberg.com/about/philanthropy/ - Cached - SimilarLast year alone our philanthropic efforts extended to more than 50 cities www.drpeppersnapplegroup.com/values/philanthropy/ - CachedOur Philanthropic Focus Areas ACTION Nation is designed to focus our www.nps.gov/partnerships/fundraising_individuals_statistics.htm - Cached - SimilarCorporate which is tied to corporate profits, held steady in 2011 compared www.philanthropyjournal.org/./fundraisinggiving/candidates-propose-caps-charitable-giving - CachedNov 5, 2012. National Community Foundation Week was established by presidential www.washingtonpost.com/.giving/philanthropy.charitable-giving./4d20557c-fc1d-11e1-8adc-499661afe377_story.htmlSep 11, 2012. The first ever in Asia Summit concludes as reports show www.effectivephilanthropy.org/blog/tag/charitable-giving/ - Cached - SimilarGeorgia Levenson Keohane will be a CEP guest blogger from January 25 philanthropy.com/article/Paying-TaxesGiving-to/134124/ - CachedSep 4, 2012. Mitt Romney epitomized this thinking last January when he tacked

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EverydayFamily.com Helps ?Get Out the Give? On #GivingTuesday

EverydayFamily.com Celebrates Inaugural National Day of Giving by Hosting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society I CARE Pledge

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 30, 2012

On November 27, 2012, EverydayFamily.com participated in the inaugural #GivingTuesday, a nationwide movement harnessing the power of a unique blend of partners?charities, families, businesses and individuals?to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.

?During the Holidays, many people find themselves wanting to be a part of something bigger,? says Noah Anderson, owner and CEO of EverydayFamily.com. ?Our ongoing Facebook ?Like? campaign is an easy way for our everyone to be a part of the cause. If we all get involved, work together to donate our time and efforts, we can give back and truly make a difference.?

#GivingTuesday has already inspired over 1,400 organizations and people in all 50 U.S. states and around the world to take collaborative action. Each aims to improve their local communities and give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they support and help create a better world.

Through EverydayFamily.com?s Facebook ?Like? campaign, up to $20,000 will be donated to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) during the holiday season. For each new Facebook ?Like? it receives between now and December 31, 2012, EverydayFamily.com will donate $1 to LLS, to help fund the fight against pediatric cancer.

To learn more about #GivingTuesday participants and activities or to join the celebration of giving, please visit:

Website: http://www.givingtuesday.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday

Twitter: twitter.com/GivingTues

About #GivingTuesday

#GivingTuesday is a movement to celebrate and provide incentives to give. It will culminate with a national day of giving on November 27, 2012. This first-of-its-kind effort harnesses the collective power of a unique blend of partners? charities, families, businesses and individuals?to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season. #GivingTuesday will inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they celebrate and help create a better world. #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a national moment around the holidays that is dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are synonymous with holiday shopping.

A team of recognized experts and influencers, initially convened by leaders of 92nd Street Y and supported by a core group of founding partners, are spearheading this effort. Founding partners include United Nations Foundation, DonorsChoose.org, Mashable, Blackbaud, charity: water, GlobalGiving, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Kiva, Darden Restaurant Group, Groupon, Unilever, United Way, The Case Foundation and VentureThree Capital. Leaders in philanthropy, social media, innovative giving, grassroots organizing, marketing and communications are providing counsel and resources to help build this movement.

About EverydayFamily.com

EverydayFamily.com (EF) is a family driven website ? in every sense ? featuring a growing community of over three million members who share their everyday parenting experiences. EF is an online home and established resource for experts and parents who have advice and information to share, as well as those who are seeking guidance and support as they move through their family?s journey, from preconception, to preschool, and beyond. EF invites everyone to get comfortable and share stories, thoughts, advice, and opinions with other families. The editors at EF, as well as the entire EF community, are dedicated to providing daily content for families seeking advice, information, and support? and to giving back to the communities supporting us.

Contact: MediaRelations(at)EverydayFamily(dot)com

Tony Golden
EverydayFamily, Inc.
(949) 608-0524 521
Email Information

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/everydayfamily-com-helps-givingtuesday-123236552.html

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Scrapbooking Memories Blog Hop... - Our Little Family...

This will be one of the very last challenges as my term as a Scrapbooking Memories Master comes to an end.? It has been both a challenging and very, very rewarding year.? I can only hope that the new Masters will have the same amount of joy.

Anyway... Back to the blog hop!!? Each of the ten contributors in this hop, will post their projects over the course of the week and we will be?keeping you guessing!? Make sure you pop back to the Scrapbooking Memories blog for handy hints and you can always have a guess while you?re at it!? Leave a comment here?on this post,?if you think you might know what the theme is!
Hopefully you have already visited Jasmine's blog earlier this morning and now I get to share a layout of mine...

"Wanderlust"?

products used: cs - Kaisercraft; pp - Echo Park (For the Record?2), October Afternoon; alpha - Echo Park (For the Record2) alpha sheet; other - Echo Park decorative brads & alpha sheet stickers, vellum, sequins, Bella BLVD designer tape (Orange Stripe), washi tape (grey), Tattered Angels glimmermist, Shimmerz mist, washi tape (yellow); tools - sewing machine, typewriter.

This layout was created using my DT Kit from The Scrapbook Store.? I just adore Echo Park and this collection is gorgeous!

My littlest boy loves to travel.? Even if it is just off to the shops to buy some milk!? So can you imagine his delight when the school bus driver let?us travel with the kids for one short?stop!? LOL!??The driver?would of happily have taken us all the way to the school, but then I'm sure my little?traveller wouldn't be so happy on the walk home!!? (..between 10 and 15 kms!) *grin*

And now after visiting my blog you have another clue as to what the blog hop theme is all about.? Have you guessed it yet?? Or is it still early days?? Remember to stay with us on the hop this week to discover more clues as you visit some friendly bloggers!? :)? Check in with the team over at the Scrapbooking Memories blog tomorrow morning to see where to journey to next.

?

Happy hopping!? And thanks for visiting..x

ps - I was completely and utterly inspire to create this layout after seeing some beautiful creations by Maggie Holmes.? She is amazing and I thank her for sharing her beautiful work..x

?

Source: http://leanneallinson.blogspot.com/2012/12/scrapbooking-memories-blog-hop.html

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News Corp?s iPad-Only Newspaper The Daily Shutting Down, Brand And Some Staff Folded Into New York Post

News Corp today announced that The Daily, it's iPad-only digital newspaper publication, would be stopping its standalone publication effective December 15, 2012. The Daily will continue as a brand as part of "other channels," according to a News Corp press release, including The New York Post, which will adopt its technology section and other components, as well as take on some of its staff.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/_Y1A_zD_DXI/

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Clashes over Internet rules to mark Dubai meeting

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? A major U.S. delegation is leading the opposition to possible new U.N. regulations on Internet commerce and controls that are part of wide-ranging talks that open Monday in Dubai.

The U.N. conference is seeking to update telecommunications codes last reviewed when the Web was virtually unknown.

Officials from the U.N. International Telecommunications Union have tried to counter concerns that the 11-day meeting could impose measures that will restrict the Web, saying the primary goal is addressing issues such as cyber-security and ways to expand the Internet's reach in developing countries.

The group also notes that updating global communications cooperation is long overdue ? with the last significant changes made in 1988, well before the Internet age.

But others at the Dubai conference ? including a 123-member U.S. delegation with envoys from tech giants such as Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. ? worry that any new U.N. oversight on the Internet security could be used by nations such as China and Russia to justify further tightening of Web blocks and monitoring.

"Love the free and open Internet? Tell the world's governments to keep it that way," said a message on the main search page of Google.com with a link for comments directed to the Dubai conference.

The outcome of the Dubai gathering is far from certain. The 193 nations at the meeting have put forward more than 900 proposed regulatory changes covering the Internet, mobile roaming fees and satellite and fixed-line communications. Broad consensus is needed for any item to be adopted.

The group also is powerless to force nations to change their Internet policies, such as China's notorious "Great Firewall" and widespread blackouts of political opposition sites in places including Iran and the Gulf Arab states. Last week, Syria's Internet and telephone services disappeared for two days during some of the worst fighting in months to hit the capital, Damascus.

Last week in Washington, the head of the U.S. delegation in Dubai, Ambassador Terry Kramer, told reporters that all efforts should be made to avoid a "Balkanization" of the Internet in which each country would impose its own rules and standards that could disrupt the flow of commerce and information.

"That opens the door ... to content censorship," he said.

Another likely battle is over European-backed suggestions to change the pay structure of the Web to force content providers ? such as Google, Facebook Inc. and others ? to kick in an extra fee to reach users across borders. Advocates of the changes say the money raised could pay to expand broadband infrastructures in developing countries.

The U.N. telecommunications agency dates back to 1865 when the telegraph revolutionized the speed of information. Over the decades, it has expanded to include telephone, satellite and other advances in communications.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/clashes-over-internet-rules-mark-dubai-meeting-065052192--finance.html

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Billiard supplies and distribution - Kasa De Kriz

Nov 03

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Source: http://kasadekriz.com/billiard-supplies-and-distribution/

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Unilever swaps earnings rat race for sustainability

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Around the time of the 2008 global financial meltdown, consumer products giant Unilever decided to make a dramatic shift in strategy, away from meeting investors' quarterly expectations to a long-range plan that treads lightly on the environment and supports social goals.

Confident in profiting through doing good, the Anglo-Dutch maker of Dove soap, Ragu sauces and Lipton tea is working with the United Nations to save children's lives through handwashing and joining other corporations to stem illegal logging, among other things.

"We're not going into the three-month rat-races," Chief Executive Paul Polman said in a telephone interview last month. "We're not working for our shareholders. We're working for the consumer, we are focused and the shareholder gets rewarded."

Unilever's philosophical shift reflects increased awareness among corporations that long-range planning and future competitiveness depend on sustainability -- doing business without damaging or depleting natural resources.

A report this year by MIT Sloan Management Review and the Boston Consulting Group surveyed thousands of managers in 113 countries. Seventy percent of the companies have built sustainability into their management agendas; two-thirds said sustainability is necessary to being competitive, up from 55 percent in a 2010 survey.

Unilever is hardly alone in taking on the sustainability mantle: General Electric , Nike , Levi's, Pepsi , Kraft Foods and Wal-Mart have all moved in this direction.

Caroline Flammer, a lecturer at MIT's Sloan School of Management, said that sustainability - also known as corporate social responsibility - used to be seen as a drain on profits, but that is changing.

"Recent surveys suggest that actually more and more CEOs believe that sustainability will be critical, a key factor for their competitiveness and business success in the future," Flammer said in a telephone interview.

This focus can improve corporate performance, she said, whether through more efficient use of materials, higher employee motivation or access to new market segments, such as consumers who care about sustainability.

At Unilever, the company's share price has doubled over the four years since its Sustainable Living Plan was implemented in November, 2010.

Unilever's quarterly sales growth, reported October 25, beat forecasts as demand for cleaning and personal care products in China helped it outshine rival Nestle .

'NOT ALTRUISTIC ... JUST COMMON SENSE'

Polman denied being purely idealistic.

"Business cannot survive in a society that fails, so it is stupid to think that a business can just be standing on the sidelines of a system that gives them life in the first place. So this is not idealistic at all. All of the actions that we do are hard-wired to our business purposes, hard-wired to our brands."

For Unilever, the Lifebuoy soap brand has been a leader in the push for sustainability, corporate responsibility - and sales.

Launched in Britain in 1894 as the "Royal Disinfectant Soap" by one of the original Lever Brothers, Lifebuoy was originally promoted for washing hands to ward off disease.

By 2012, the soap ranked as one of Unilever's fastest-growing brands, and the company partnered with the United Nations to promote Global Hand-Washing Day, an event embraced by 250 million people around the globe.

The hope, Polman said, was to save the lives of 600 million children under the age of five by curbing diseases like pneumonia and diarrhea - a "noble cause" that also happens to be good for business.

"Because we sell more Lifebuoy, we can do more hand-washing days, we can reach more people," he said. "And because we reach more people, we sell more Lifebuoy."

Another product Polman sees as a potential billion-dollar brand is Pureit, a home water purifying system that requires no gas or electricity.

"It's the mobile phone of drinking water," he said. "So yeah, we advocate clean drinking water, we advocate sanitation, but we do that with our brand. That's not altruistic, that's just common sense."

CORPORATE GROUPS CAN LEAD

Like its competitors, Unilever has made inroads in emerging markets, but Polman said his company's strategy aims to lift up the 2.5 billion people on Earth who lack access to clean water and the 1 billion who go to bed hungry. Unilever's sustainability plan also looks to mid-century, when world population is expected to rise to 9 billion.

Polman said companies must embrace sustainability because "the political environment is breaking down," evidenced by the weak sustainability agreement reached at the United Nations Summit in Brazil and the inability to conclude pacts on curbing climate change or global trade.

"The need for companies to play a more active role is very transparent to me," he said. "It's too late for business to say, government should give me this or the government should give me that."

Instead of governmental agreements, he sees coalitions of corporations and sometimes non-governmental organizations as the way forward.

Polman said Unilever had cut carbon emissions by 50 percent over three years, and developed detergents with lower washing temperatures, which use less energy, and sustainable and alternative farming techniques, which also can decrease the emission of climate-warming carbon.

To combat illegal deforestation, which he said is estimated to be responsible for 17 percent of global warming, Unilever joined an industry consortium that agreed not to sell any products made as a result of this illegal practice by 2020.

"You focus on the right things, you put the consumer in the middle of all you do, and ultimately your shareholder will benefit as well, as a result, but not as an objective in itself," Polman said.

(Reporting By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent, additional reporting by Sarah Young in London; Editing by Marilyn W. Thompson and Tim Dobbyn)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/unilever-swaps-earnings-rat-race-sustainability-221907534--sector.html

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Patrick Dempsey, Amanda Seyfried to Co-Star in 'Wonderful Tonight'

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Economist's Notebook: October jobs report exceeds expectations ...

In his latest commentary, the National Restaurant Association's Chief Economist Bruce Grindy breaks down the key October economic indicators released this week.? The private sector added jobs at its strongest rate in eight months, while consumer confidence hit its highest level in more than four years.? Both are indications that the economy continues to improve, albeit slowly.

After limping through the last few months, the economy showed new signs of life in October.? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics? establishment survey, the private sector added a net 184,000 jobs in October, its strongest gain in eight months.? While it?s still not at the levels needed to significantly bring down unemployment, October?s job growth is certainly a step in the right direction.?

Job growth was broad-based in October, with professional-and-business services (51,000), retail trade (36,000), health care and social assistance (33,000), restaurants and bars (23,000), construction (17,000) and manufacturing (13,000) all posting solid gains.

The household survey backed up the positive reporting by employers. The unemployment rate edged up to 7.9 percent in October, but that was due in part to an increase in the labor force participation rate, which is good news after so many discouraged workers stopped looking for jobs. The household survey reported a net increase of 410,000 jobs in October, after a gain of 873,000 jobs in September. The household survey typically shows stronger job growth earlier in a recovery, because it picks up self-employed individuals and workers at new businesses that are not part of the establishment survey.

A byproduct of the improving labor market was an uptick in consumer confidence in October. The Conference Board?s Consumer Confidence Index rose to 72.2 in October, the second consecutive monthly gain and highest level in more than four years.

Overall, the October indicators offer some positive momentum going into 2013. While considerable risks remain ? highlighted by the impending federal fiscal cliff ? the economy is expected to continue its gradual recovery. If policymakers can successfully avoid the fiscal cliff and agree on a plan for longer-term fiscal sustainability instead of short-term fixes, economic growth is likely to improve during the second half of 2013.

U.S. Private Sector Job Growth
?
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Establishment Survey; figures are seasonally-adjusted

For additional analysis of restaurant industry trends, log on to Restaurant TrendMapper (subscription required).

?

Source: http://www.restaurant.org/nra_news_blog/2012/11/economists-notebook-october-jobs-report-exceeds-expectations.cfm

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Apex Arts League To Host Choral Festival | MySouthlakeNews

Friday, October 26, 2012 By City of Southlake

Apex Arts League announces its 3^rd Annual Choral Festival. The event will take place Monday November 5 at the First United Methodist Church in Grapevine. Performing will be choirs from?Carroll High School,?Haltom?High School,?Timber Creek High School,?Grapevine High School and?J. Byron Nelson?High School. Students will have the joy and excitement of hearing each other?s talents outside of a typical competition format. The evening will conclude with the featured performance by?Texas Christian University Chorale. The community is welcome to attend. Donations are $10 adults, $5 Students, Seniors and Apex Members.

Northeast Tarrant County?s Apex Arts League sponsors a variety of performing and visual arts programs in the local area. For more information, visit www.apexartsleague.org.

Source: http://www.mysouthlakenews.com/2012/10/arts-entertainment/apex-arts-league-to-host-choral-festival

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A land value tax should be at the heart of London's economic ...

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By Jenny Jones AM, leader of the Green Party on the London Assembly

Fairer, smarter taxes are needed for London to recover from the double-dip recession. Therefore I fully support the Mayor of London?s move to have another look at them with his London Finance Commission.

Earlier this week?I asked its chair, Professor Tony Travers, whether he will look at putting a tax on rising land values as one way to promote useful economic activity in a more fair way.

You can watch our exchange below:

Land value taxation can get complicated to explain, but could potentially keep down house prices, finance major transport infrastructure projects and switch more of the burden of taxation onto unearned wealth.

The basic idea is very easily explained with an example.

The ?15 billion Crossrail project is expected to benefit many businesses in London, so they were required to contribute to the cost. A Business Rate Supplement has been levied on businesses with a rateable value greater than ?50,000, raising ?4.1bn towards the cost.

But building this new railway line will also benefit land owners along its route, estimated at a minimum to be a ?5.5bn windfall gain by property consultants GVA. Their land becomes more valuable when the line is built without their lifting a finger but, unlike businesses paying rates, these landowners get their windfall gain tax-free.

The Jubilee line extension to Stratford is an even more stark example. The ?3.5bn cost to the public purse was dwarfed by the estimated ?10bn plus in windfall gains to land owners in the area.

A land value tax would enable the Mayor and government to reinvest a proportion of these windfall gains into new infrastructure, ensuring everyone who benefits pays their fair share.

The Metropolitan Line was built in the 1930s using a similar principle. The company who built the line bought up land along its length for housing, and used the uplift in land values to pay for the line.

London desperately needs investment in its transport, energy and waste infrastructure. Fairness also demands we do something about these huge, unearned private gains to already-wealthy individuals and companies resulting from public investment.

There are many other strong economic arguments for land value taxation?- putting a dampener on the housing market by making it a less attractive option for investors; giving developers with land banks and other owners of brownfield sites a strong incentive to develop; and possibly using the revenue to reduce business rates are just three that were raised in the debate with?Professor Travers by myself and other London Assembly Members.

Land value taxation could reshape London?s economy to promote useful economic activity, generate revenue for investment and fairly distribute the benefits. It?s popular with economists of all colours and stripes, and was endorsed by the Institute for Fiscal Studies? Mirlees Review.

So it?s a shame Travers thinks the proposal is unlikely to make it into the London Finance Commission?s final recommendations. While he ?definitely won?t not look at it?, he suggested it wouldn?t get buy-in from all political parties and so would be a non-starter. I hope this week?s debate will have helped convince more Assembly Members it?s a viable option and I urge them to raise it with their parties.

Source: http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/10/a-land-value-tax-should-be-at-the-heart-of-londons-economic-recovery/

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Video: Lolo Jones trying out for US bobsled team?

>>> after failing to medal at the u.s. olympics hurdler lolo jones is making another attempt for gold. she's trying out for the u.s. bobsled team, eventually hoping for a spot at the 2014 winter olympics in sochi. already off to a great start at the team selection races coming in second in her competitive bobsled debut. wish her lots of luck there. 7:14 right now. let's go back to savannah, matt and al. hope she makes it.

>> never give up.

>> hope she'll do better than we did.

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/49531737/

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Syrian rebels warily accept foreign fighters' help

ALEPPO, Syria (AP) ? The presence of foreign Islamic militants battling Syria's regime is raising concerns over the possible injection of al-Qaida's influence into the country's civil war.

Syria's rebels share some of those misgivings. But they also see in the foreign extremists a welcome boost: experienced, disciplined fighters whose battlefield valor against the better-armed troops of President Bashar Assad is legendary.

Nothing typifies the dilemma more than Jabhat al-Nusra, a shadowy group with an al-Qaida-style ideology whose fighters come from Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the Balkans and elsewhere. Many are veterans of previous wars who came to Syria for what they consider a new "jihad" against Assad.

The group has become notorious for numerous suicide bombings during the 19-month-old conflict targeting regime and military facilities. Syria's rebels have tried to disassociate themselves from the bombings for fear their uprising will be tainted with the al-Qaida brand.

But several hundred fighters from Jabhat al-Nusra ? Arabic for "the Support Front" ? have also been a valued addition to rebel ranks in the grueling, three-month battle for control of Aleppo, Syria's largest city.

Their reputation in battle circulates among Aleppo's rebels like an urban legend. Soon after opposition forces launched their assault on the city in July, government troops almost drove them out of the key district of Salaheddin ? until 40 Jabhat al-Nusra fighters rushed to the front and fended them off, according to a story told by many rebels.

The group's fighters have played a similar role along the multitude of front lines that divide this city of 3 million people, where regime forces and rebels have been at a standstill, fighting street to street but unable to score a decisive victory. Many rebels talk of the al-Nusra fighters' prowess as snipers.

"They rush to the rescue of rebel lines that come under pressure and hold them," one rebel said. "They know what they are doing and are very disciplined. They are like the special forces of Aleppo."

But he added: "The only thing is that they are too radical." He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals by both Jabhat al-Nusra and the Assad regime.

In a statement posted on militant websites Wednesday, Jabhat al-Nusra rejected a proposed cease-fire during the four-day Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which starts Friday. International envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has been trying to cobble together such a truce, saying the government in Damascus and some rebels have agreed to the idea.

But Jabhat al-Nusra called a truce a "filthy game," saying it has no faith that Assad's regime would respect one. Some Syrian rebel leaders have also expressed skepticism, since previous cease-fire attempts have gone nowhere.

Jabhat al-Nusra is the largest grouping of foreign jihadis in Syria, and the rebels say they number about 300 fighters in Aleppo, as well as branches in neighboring Idlib province, the city of Homs and the capital Damascus. Any direct links to al-Qaida are unclear, although U.S. and Iraqi officials have said they believe members of al-Qaida's branch in Iraq have crossed the border to join the fight against Assad.

There are no reliable figures for the number of foreign fighters in Syria, although available estimates put the number in the hundreds, rather than the thousands.

Many al-Nusra fighters wear long tunics and baggy pants in the style of mujahedeen or "holy warriors" in Afghanistan, and nearly all have beards, a hallmark of religious piety. A few smear kohl on their eyes and have long hair, emulating what they believe is a style favored by Islam's Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century.

The fighters keep a low profile. They have turned a government building in Aleppo into their headquarters, but it is barely noticeable since it contains no banners or flags to give it away. Only occasional graffiti announces their presence in the city: "Jabhat al-Nusra is coming." Rebels who spoke with The Associated Press about the group had no clear idea about its leadership.

The fighters shun the media, but information gleaned from Syrians in contact with them paints a picture of militant Muslims motivated by a jihadi ideology not unlike that of al-Qaida. Their members include propagandists, trainers, surgeons and other medical doctors.

Many Syrian rebels are themselves pious Muslims who frame the fight against Assad's regime in a religious context. But some see the jihadis' brand of Islam as too starkly black-and-white and intolerant, dividing the world between the faithful and the infidels. Their presence, some fear, casts doubts on whether a post-Assad Syria will embrace democratic values or come under the sway of Islamists.

A staffer at a field hospital in a rebel-held part of Aleppo, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals for talking about the group, said the al-Nusra fighters "are fine now, because they are fighting alongside the rebels."

An AP team witnessed some of the frictions at the field hospital in mid-October. Several al-Nusra fighters entered, and one of them ? a tall, lanky non-Arab dressed in black with a black headband ? was enraged by the presence of foreign journalists at the facility.

"They are all spies who are here to collect information," he said in English, shaking the automatic rifle that was slung over his shoulder.

Another fighter, who appeared to be of North African origin, tried to force a female photographer to leave the hospital after she attempted to photograph the X-ray of a wounded fighter's head.

A Syrian rebel commander confronted the two men.

"There is nothing in Islam that permits you to treat guests like this. Furthermore, it is a woman," he said. The fighters left and the commander offered tea and dates to the photographer and several other journalists.

Opposition members also worry that the presence of foreign jihadis in Syria lends credibility to the regime's repeated assertions that the rebellion is the work of terrorist groups carrying out a "foreign conspiracy."

Jabhat al-Nusra has claimed responsibility for a string of suicide bombings, including several in Damascus. It unleashed an Oct. 3 suicide blast in Aleppo that killed more than 30 people, targeting a square where pro-regime fighters congregated. After each blast, the rebels' Free Syrian Army umbrella group underlines that it does not approve of suicide bombings as a tactic.

"Their presence is reducing the popular support that we desperately need in areas where we operate," a senior political official of the Free Syrian Army, said in neighboring Turkey. "I appreciate their motives for coming to Syria. We cannot deny Muslims their right to jihad, but we want them to leave." He spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss concerns over the group.

Still, in Aleppo, the image of pious Islamic warriors coming to help in the fight against Assad is an attractive one. Though Jabhat al-Nusra is predominantly made up of foreigners, a few Syrians have joined, mostly ultraconservative Muslims.

Syrians can join only if they are backed by two full members who must swear on the Quran to tell the truth about the applicant. The fighters run training programs for their Syrian members as well as others who want to learn fighting skills but don't want to join the group.

The high esteem in which the Jabhat al-Nusra fighters are held has a great deal to do with the unruly behavior and lack of discipline of many rebels.

One recent night, al-Nusra fighters brought the bodies of four Syrian rebels who were killed when a fellow rebel they were interrogating over suspicion that he was stealing grabbed an assault rifle and shot them. A fifth rebel was wounded.

Later, when comrades of the four dead heard the news they gathered outside the hospital and, enraged, fired their entire bullet magazines into the air. Another group of fighters reacted similarly when struck by grief over the death of a comrade.

Residents of Aleppo also complain that some rebels take unfair advantage of their position.

Fighters go straight to the front of the line at bakeries to buy bread when residents have to wait hours for their turn. Some demand that wounded comrades be treated ahead of civilians at the field hospital.

"I don't have time to wait in line," said a 19-year-old army deserter who joined the rebels in Aleppo and gave only his first name, Hani.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-rebels-warily-accept-foreign-fighters-help-013959431.html

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Rara.com expands to iOS, Windows 8 and more countries

Rara.com has been mighty busy since its luddite-friendly music streaming service launched at the end of last year, and now it's reporting the outcome of those 10 months of toil. In addition to an improved web experience and new Android widget, an AirPlay-compatible app for iOS is now available, with software for Windows 8 arriving alongside its launch. Rara's 18 million tracks haven't only invaded other platforms, but other countries, too -- residents of Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Africa and Portugal have joined the party, bringing the total number of compatible countries to 27. Lenovo is also getting a piece of the action, as a worldwide agreement means Rara software will now come pre-installed on the manufacturer's Android tablets and Windows 8 gear. Want to hear more about Rara's recent accomplishments? Then head for the PR after the break.

Continue reading Rara.com expands to iOS, Windows 8 and more countries

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Internet, Software, Lenovo

Rara.com expands to iOS, Windows 8 and more countries originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 01:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/24/rara-new-platforms-and-countries/

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GOP Senate Candidate Likens Pregnancies from Rape to 'a Gift from God'

It's not a secret that Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock believes abortion should only be allowed in the case of when the mother's life is in danger. But tonight he made the mistake of implying that pregnancies resulting from rape a "gift from god." Oof.

His full statement from the debate was:

I believe life begins at conception. The only exception I have for to have an abortion is in the case of the life of the mother. I struggled with myself for a long time but I came to realize life is that gift from God, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape. It is something that God intended to happen.

After the debate, Mourdock clarified his remarks to say that he didn't exactly mean what he said. He stood strong on his positions of having no abortions in the cases of rape and incest, but added, "Are you trying to suggest that somehow I think that God pre-ordained rape? No, I don't think that. That's sick. Twisted. That's not even close to what I said. What I said is that God creates life."

Mourdock is the first senator that Mitt Romney has starred in an ad for. The ad below premiered this week:

This sends a pretty far right and contradictory message to the middling Mitt that we saw in last night's debate. The Romney camp has already let press know that their candidate does not align himself with Mourdock's views:

This gaffe adds Mourdock to the long list of Republicans from this election season who probably wish they'd never been asked about rape.

[Think Progress]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gawker/full/~3/70up3r7nf38/gop-senate-candidate-likens-pregnancies-from-rape-to-a-gift-from-god

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Hopkins 'bitterly disappointed' after CL T20 exit ? Cricket News - Bettor

Hopkins ?bitterly disappointed? after CL T20 exit ? Cricket News Update

Auckland Aces? skipper, Gareth Hopkins, has conceded that the team is bitterly disappointed at not making the semi-stage of the Champions League T20 following their failures against Perth Scorchers last night. ?

The skipper nonetheless, praised the efforts of his team after making the tournament proper for the first time following an unlucky run last season where a defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders cut short their progression to the main draw. "If we look back in a few years we'd probably say that making the main draw was good," Hopkins said. "But given our position and the belief in the team at the moment, we believed we could make the semis and then the final. We're bitterly disappointed."

The Aces entered the event fully prepared to make most of their outings after lifting the New Zealand T20 championship back home. They breezed past the three-team qualifying group, where strong contributions from the likes of Kyle Mills, Martin Guptill and Azhar Mahmood ensured that they defeated Pakistan and England T20 holders, Sialkot Stallions and Hampshire respectively, to book their place in Group A.

After starting in fine fashion, where they beat old-nemesis KKR in the opening game, they struggled to make an impact in their remaining matches. They were defeated by Titans by a handsome margin of 59, before a washed out game meant that they needed a win in their last outing against the Scorchers, who had not won a single game so far.

However, their hopes of qualifying to the semi-final stage were dashed after they fell 16 runs short of the 141-run target. Despite being disappointed, Hopkins was keen to talk about the positives the team will take back home, and praised the performances of their overseas player Mahmood, who remained the side?s leading run-getter and wicket-taker. ?

?"Winning was definitely a highlight," he said. "I enjoyed seeing my mates' successes on the park - things like Azhar Mahmood's innings against Hampshire and the team performance against Kolkata. That was one particularly sweet because they beat us off the last ball in the qualifiers last year so we got our own back this time. We were really happy with that."

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Hopkins-bitterly-disappointed-after-CL-T20-exit-Cricket-News-Update-a197250

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Market waits for election; earnings disappoint

NEW YORK (AP) ? The stock market is waiting for the presidential election as much as anyone.

The U.S. stock market struggled for direction Monday. Stocks waffled between small gains and losses, but by mid-afternoon it seemed they would finish solidly lower. The Dow Jones industrial average fell as much as 108 points before rallying in the late afternoon to finish two points higher. There wasn't any obvious catalyst for the turnaround, other than general indecision on the part of investors.

Earnings reports from toymaker Hasbro, clothing maker VF Corp., regional bank SunTrust and other companies were underwhelming. The overhang of the presidential election in two weeks didn't help either. Investors are wary of making big moves before they know who's going to be the next president.

"They need to know the playing field before they get out there and play," said Jeff Savage, regional chief investment officer for Wells Fargo Private Bank in Portland, Oregon.

David Katz, principal and senior portfolio strategist at WeiserMazars Wealth Advisors in New York, said it matters more that the election is wrapped up than who is elected.

"One could say the markets will rally stronger if the Republican candidate becomes president," Katz said. "But one way or another, the markets will have direction, and the markets like direction."

The Dow Jones industrial average ended virtually flat. It inched up 2.38 points, or 0.02 percent, to close at 13,345.89.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index was also little changed, edging up 0.62 point to 1,433.81. The Nasdaq composite index rose 11.34 to 3,016.96.

Besides the election, an economic report due Friday also has the markets in a holding pattern. That's when the government is supposed to report how much the U.S. economy grew in the third quarter. But already, company reports are signaling that consumers, who drive the bulk of economic growth, are far from healed.

Hasbro, the toymaker behind brands like My Little Pony and Transformers, said that sales for boys' products and preschool toys weakened. The stock slipped 66 cents to $38.39.

Clothing maker VF Corp., whose brands include Timberland and Wrangler, missed analysts' revenue estimates. The stock slid $7.31, hitting $159.46.

SunTrust Banks also slipped. Its third-quarter earnings jumped, but that was largely because the bank sold shares it owned in Coca-Cola. The Atlanta-based bank wrestled with higher expenses as well as low interest rates, which can crimp the profit banks make from lending out money. The stock lost 96 cents to $27.67.

Shares for Caterpillar, the world's largest construction and mining equipment company, gained $1.22 to $85.08. But the company warned that it expects lower profit and revenue for the rest of the year.

Last week, Microsoft, General Electric and McDonald's also reported third-quarter results that disappointed the market.

To be fair, most companies are reporting better-than-expected profits. But investors want to know how companies are faring on revenue. Revenue can give a more accurate picture of how a company is performing, because profits can vary widely on items like accounting charges and cost-cutting.

Katz described companies' third-quarter revenue results as "fair" and said the U.S. economy is "slow and steady."

"It is at a snail's pace," he said. "But it's certainly better than what we had."

Of the roughly 100 companies in the S&P 500 that had reported third-quarter results as of last week, 70 percent have beat analysts' estimates for profits, according to John Butters, senior earnings analyst at FactSet. But only 42 percent have beat estimates for revenue. That's the lowest since the first quarter of 2009, when the stock market hit its Great Recession lows.

Company profits so far this quarter are down 2.3 percent compared to a year ago. Revenue is down an average of 0.6 percent.

One stock that jumped was Ancestry.com, the genealogy website, which announced it will be bought by European private equity buyers. The stock popped $2.26 to $31.44. The buyers had offered $32 per share.

Apple also jumped, rising $24.19 to $634.03. The company is expected to release a smaller iPad on Tuesday, to compete with Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle Fire and Google Inc.'s Nexus 7.

In other trading, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.81 percent from 1.76 percent late Friday. The euro was worth $1.3045, up slightly from Friday. Energy prices fell. Crude oil lost $1.32 to $88.73 a barrel.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/market-waits-election-earnings-disappoint-203713988--finance.html

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