Get organised ? the prize is worth the struggle | Progress | News and ...

Joe Hill, the Swedish-American trade unionist, wrote a last letter to his fellow members shortly before he faced the firing squad in Utah in 1915.? What Joe Hill told his supporters contains a truth still relevant for us today when confronting the coalition?s failing deficit strategy, its hollowing out of Britain?s remaining social-democratic settlement and its impact on our economy: ?Don?t mourn; organise.?

That is our choice when it comes to payday loan companies, so called ?legal loan sharks?, and the economic future they promise us ? to mourn or to organise. We could mourn, when legal loan sharks prey upon economically vulnerable households, charging cripplingly high interest rates, sometimes as high as 36,000 per cent APR, with an estimated four million people this year taking out such extortionate loans, part of a pattern where public debt is being transferred to private households.? These are very often people struggling to make ends meet and with nowhere else to turn; one in 10 UK payday customers have incomes of less than ?11,100 per year and 46 per cent have incomes of less than ?15,500 a year.? Moreover, these loans are very often to pay for the most basic of necessities, like food or rent.? We could mourn that although the Olympics showed the best of us as a society, where we briefly shared a truly common life, the FA, custodian of our national game that should unite us, is failing to enforce its own regulations and therefore economically dividing us by enabling legal loan sharks to advertise on football merchandise aimed at children. ?What does that say about what our clubs stand for and our values?

And we could mourn the fact that the only thing that seems to grow faster in Osborne?s Britain than the profits of legal loan sharks (Wonga recently announced a near-quadrupling of its profits this past year) are the queues outside Trussell Trust food banks, the wait for advice at CABs or the record numbers going to debt charities such as Christians against Poverty. One such debt charity in my local area of Brent told me recently that one-third of their clients have stated an intention or thought to attempt suicide because of uncontrollable debt; legal loan sharks are economic predators that exacerbate these problems who should have no place in a reformed, more responsible capitalism.

So there is much to mourn.? But mourning is not enough, and if it leads us to inaction the legal loan sharks win. Instead, we must get organised. We must organise with local councillors, as we?ve started to do in Brent, Camden, Islington, Medway and Birmingham, to push them to tackle the problem by strengthening their local credit union movement and by investigating what powers they have to tackle the spread of legal loan sharking. We must organise with others in power, from MPs and candidates to those who have the power to change official party policy on this issue, pushing for a cap on the total cost of credit to put a basic threshold of decency into the consumer credit market.? Above all, we must get organised ourselves, whether by investing in our local credit unions to help build a fairer financial future, or starting local actions which target these companies on our high streets and show others in our local communities that there are alternatives.

So, don?t mourn; get organised. Because the prize is worth the struggle.? If we refuse just to stand back and let unregulated predatory companies run roughshod over people?s lives, together we can build a better credit market for all based on fair competition and co-operation, not usury and exploitation. In doing so, we will help forge a more responsible social democratic society.

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Mathew Lawrence is a Movement for Change activist and Labour party member, who tweets as @DantonsHead. To find out more about training and actions to tackle legal loan sharking and promote fairer alternatives, visit www.getorganised.org.uk

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Loansharking Training Session with the Cooperative party

Hosted by Labour-Cooperative MP Stella Creasy, join us for an introduction to the principles of Community Organising, with practical advice to equip participants with the skills and confidence to build an effective local legal loanshark campaign.

1 October, 7.30-9pm, Manchester Central Exchange 1

campaigning, debt, equalities, jobs, legal loan sharks, Movement for Change

Source: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2012/09/30/get-organised-the-prize-is-worth-the-struggle/

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'How many people get breast cancer?' and other FAQs

By PAMELA GLINSKI | Highlands Today correspondent
Published: September 30, 2012 Updated: September 30, 2012 - 12:00 AM

In an effort to provide information during breast cancer awareness month, here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

Q: How many people get breast cancer?

A: One in every eight women and one in every 1,000 men will get breast cancer in their lifetimes. This year, there will be approximately 207,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States.

Q: How dangerous is it?

A: Even though mortality rates have declined nationwide, there are close to 40,000 people who die each year because of breast cancer.

Q: Why is early detection important?

A: According to the National Cancer Database, survival rates depend in a large part on the stage at which breast cancer is detected. Women with cancer found in its earliest stages had up to a 93 percent survival rate, while patients with stage four breast cancer had only a 15 percent survival rate.

Q: Should I get annual screenings even if I don't feel a lump?

A: Breast cancer in its earliest stages may not present any symptoms. A mammogram can detect cancer even before you feel a mass.

Q: If I don't have anyone in my family that has had breast cancer, do I still need to get a mammogram?

A: Yes, over 85 percent of women that get breast cancer have no family history. Though having a close family member that has had breast cancer doubles a person's risk, only five to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are genetic mutations that are hereditary.

Q: Does my menstrual history affect my risk of getting breast cancer?

A: Starting your menstrual cycle before turning 12 years old or becoming menopausal after turning 55 years old can add to a woman's risk level, possibly because of a longer lifetime exposure to hormones.

Q: Does having children affect my risk?

A: Women who have no children or didn't give birth until after they were 30 years old are at a higher risk.

Q: How do I know if I have breast cancer?

A: The early signs and symptoms of breast cancer include: a lump or swelling in the breast or armpit, a change in the breast's shape, itching, pain, nipple discharge, skin dimpling, rash or redness.

Q: What are some of the screening tests available?

A: Digital mammograms allow for a precise diagnosis with new digital technology.

Breast ultrasound can be used as a follow-up to mammograms or if a patient has dense breast tissue.

Biopsy is when a tissue sample is taken from the abnormal growth. This can be done as a core, skin or surgical biopsy or with a fine-needle aspiration.

Cyst aspirations is used for problematic polycystic breasts.

Galactography is a low-dose X-ray using mammography and a contrast material to get pictures of the inside of the milk ducts.

MRI uses a powerful magnet linked to a computer to make detailed images that show the difference between normal and diseased tissue.

Q: What are the different types of breast cancer?

A: Breast cancer is categorized according to whether it started in the lobules (milk producing tissue) or the ducts (that carry the flow of the milk to the nipple).

Invasive lobular carcinoma begins in the lobules and spreads. This form of cancer can be hard to find because it doesn't always form a lump or show up on mammograms.

Lobular carcinoma in situ is a precancerous condition that is caused by changes in the lobules' lining. The increased risk of cancer with this condition means getting tested more often.

Ductal carcinoma in situ is an early stage of cancer in the milk ducts.

Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer. It starts in the milk ducts and has spread.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is an aggressive cancer that doesn't appear as a lump. It grows in sheets that resemble a rash.

Q: What are tumor markers?

A: Tumor markers are substances that are usually found in the blood or urine when cancer is present in the body. They give information on how likely the cancer is to grow, spread or reoccur. Estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER/PR) can affect cancer growth. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2 protein) can indicate a faster spreading cancer with a higher likelihood of reoccurrence.

Q: What is the difference between a benign and malignant tumor?

A: A benign tumor can be removed and usually won't come back. They are rarely life-threatening. Malignancies damage surrounding organs and tissues and can spread to other areas of the body.

Q: What types of surgeries are available?

A: Lumpectomy is the surgical removal of the tumor and some of the tissue around it.

Mastectomy is a surgery to remove a breast, performed to treat or prevent breast cancer.

Total mastectomy is the removal of the breast and the nipple.

Modified radical mastectomy removes not only the breast but the lymph nodes and sometimes the lining of the chest muscles.

Prophylactic double mastectomy is a preventative surgery done when there is a high risk of developing breast cancer.

Q: Are there risk factors that can be reduced by making changes in my lifestyle?

A: Since fat increases the body's production of estrogen, which can cause tumors to grow, losing weight and eating a nutritional low-fat diet may help reduce the risks associated with breast cancer.

Exercise also lowers estrogen levels. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, exercising as little as four hours a week can lower a person's breast cancer risk.

While there is no definitive link between breast cancer and smoking, the NBCF has suggested that "quitting can significantly increase survival rates."

Drinking alcohol increases breast cancer risk. The more consumed, the greater the risk.

While some risk factors like aging can't be changed, the best defense against breast cancer is to develop healthy habits, do monthly self-exams, and get regular screenings.

Source: http://www2.highlandstoday.com/news/news/2012/sep/30/l4newso2-how-many-people-get-breast-cancer-and-oth-ar-514339/

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How to Avoid the Stressful Christmas Shopping Rush

The Christmas rush happens when you are so busy creating shopping lists, organizing Christmas dinner, and preparing Christmas cards, in addition to your normal busy schedule, that time slips by too quickly. You are soon left with one week left before Christmas, and your list of things to do is nowhere near complete. Not to mention the fact that you don?t have time to enjoy what the season is really about!

You can avoid the Christmas rush and reap its benefits with some simple tips.

Plan Your Christmas List Early

Start planning your Christmas list as early as spring, if possible. With a planned list, you will know well in advance who you want to purchase gifts for and can add to this list as you remember more names. This also helps to stop you from overspending, as so many of us do each year.

Each year, if you keep track of your gift-giving list, you can just readjust the list if you need to, and have a sure direction of your purchasing plans. There are many applications available on smartphones that can keep track of these lists for you, and remind you of what you bought a particular person last year so you don?t end up buying them the same gift each year.

Shop Early

Once you have your planned Christmas list, the shopping becomes much easier. When you start your list early, your shopping can start early as well. You?ll avoid the Christmas crowds and help to reduce stress as you get everything you need. You?ll also be in a better position to shop around for bargains. And, the closer to Christmas it gets, the more you can sit back and enjoy it, knowing you?ve already gotten the shopping out of the way.

Purchase Meaningful Gifts

When you plan and shop early, you will most likely be able to purchase gifts that have special meaning for your family and friends. You won?t be purchasing gifts for the sake of it just because you?re in a rush. Putting thought into the gifts you buy in this way makes them more meaningful, and brings you closer to the true spirit of the season, rather than just spending money thoughtlessly.

Spend Less

When you take the time to plan, you can adjust your Christmas list according to a budget. With a clear idea of who you will be purchasing gifts for, you can always take advantage of special sales. Many department stores hold sales during other holidays, such as Labor Day, giving you more opportunities to save money.

Many of the sales held during the Christmas season are on the same items, which many have already marked up. The chances of getting a unique gift decreases as more Christmas shoppers are also looking for the sales.

Taking the time to plan and anticipate the season of Christmas before it arrives will allow you more time to spend with family and friends, viewing Christmas lights, and maybe even taking the children to see Santa Clause at the Mall. Why waste time rushing to buy gifts, when you can relax and enjoy this special season and all it has to offer?

Source: http://toddsblogs.com/shoppingandproductreviews/2012/09/28/how-to-avoid-the-stressful-christmas-shopping-rush/

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D-Day for al-Qaida in Somalia? - World News - MSNBC

By NBC News wire services

MOGADISHU, Somalia --?Troops launched an amphibious assault before dawn Friday on the al-Qaida militant group al-Shabab's last stronghold in Somalia.

Other African Union forces were traveling overland to link up with the joint Kenyan-Somali force in the port city of Kismayo.

The commander of the U.N-backed African Union troops, Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti, said the aim was to "liberate the people of Kismayo to enable them to lead their lives in peace, stability and security."

Col. Cyrus Oguna, the Kenyan military's top spokesman, said the attack met minimal resistance, but al-Shabab denied that the city had fallen and said fighting was taking place.

Oguna told The Associated Press that al-Shabab, which formally merged with al-Qaida in February, had incurred "heavy losses" but that Kenyan forces have not yet had any injuries or deaths.

"We came from the beach side and we're moving towards the main city. Our surveillance aircraft are monitoring every event taking place on the ground," he told Reuters.

"For now, we're not everywhere. We've taken a large part of it without resistance, I don't see anything major happening," he said.

Born in the USA, but now among Somalia's Islamist terrorists

Residents in Kismayo, a city of about 193,000 people, contacted by The Associated Press said that Kenyan troops had taken control of the port, but not the whole city.

"Al-Shabab fighters are on the streets and heading toward the front line in speeding cars. Their radio is still on the air and reporting the war," resident Mohamed Haji told The Associated Press. Haji said that helicopters were hitting targets in the town in southeastern Somalia.

At an international one-day summit Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron said the world would "pay a price" if it fails to help Somalia overcome terrorism, piracy and starvation. ITV's Lee Comley reports.?

Another resident, Ismail Suglow, told Reuters that he could hear shelling from the ships and that the rebels were responding with anti-aircraft guns.

"We saw seven ships early in the morning and now their firing looks like lightning and thunder. Al-Shabab have gone towards the beach. The ships poured many AU troops on the beach," he added.

Expert: War on terror at 'critical' point as al-Qaida looks to regroup in Africa

On Thursday, residents said planes had dropped leaflets on Kismayo warning civilians to evacuate within 24 hours, Reuters reported.?More than 10,000 residents fled Kismayo in the last several weeks.

Resident Faduma Abdulle said Friday that she is now leaving too.

She said al-Shabab made an announcement on its radio station Friday to trick residents into moving toward the invading troops.

"They told residents through their radio to loot a Kenyan ship that washed up on the coast, but instead the residents who rushed there were attacked by helicopters," she said. "Some of them have died but I don't know how many. The situation is tense and many are fleeing. It's a dangerous situation."

A U.S. military spokesman, Lt. Cdr. Dave Hecht, said the U.S. Africa Command, known as AFRICOM, is closely monitoring the situation but that "we are not participating in Kenya's military activities in the region."

Militants: Taking city not 'a piece of cake'
Al-Shabab said it would not give up Kismayu easily.

"Going into Kismayo is not a piece of cake. We are still fighting them on the beach where they landed," Sheik Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shabab's spokesman for military operations, told Reuters on Friday. "For us, this is just the beginning, our troops are spread everywhere."

Oguna said the assault is part of a four-prong attack involving Kenyan forces currently in villages outside Kismayo.

The amphibious assault landed between 10:30 p.m. Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday local time (3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday ET)?, he said. Some of the troops had night-vision goggles, he said.

Somali Olympic chief killed in Mogadishu suicide blast

African Union troops pushed al-Shabab out of Mogadishu in August 2011, ending four years of control of the capital by the fighters.

The Ugandan and Burundian troops that make up the bulk of the African Union force in Mogadishu have slowly been taking control of towns outside of Mogadishu.

The expanding control by AU troops sent al-Shabab fighters fleeing south toward Kismayo, north to other regions of Somalia and across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen, according to American and African Union officials.

Kenya police: Imminent attack by suicide bombers thwarted

Al-Shabab still holds sway across many small, poor villages of southern Somalia. The loss of Kismayo would be significant.

The militants taxed goods coming into its port. Al-Shabab lost its major source of financing last year when it was pushed out of Bakara market in Mogadishu, where it also charged taxes.

The march toward Kismayo by the Kenyan forces has been nearly a year in the making.

Masked 'goons' kill at least 17 in attacks on churches in Kenya

Kenyan troops entered Somalia last October after a string of kidnappings inside neighboring Kenya, including of Westerners in and around the beach resort town of Lamu, which is also seeing the construction of a new port and could one day be final point of a new oil pipeline from South Sudan.

Kenyan forces were bogged down by rain and poor roads for months but have making slow and steady progress toward Kismayo in recent weeks.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

More world stories from NBC News:

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/28/14135846-d-day-for-al-qaida-in-somalia-troops-storm-beaches-at-last-stronghold

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Imprisoned Tymoshenko makes video appeal

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) ? Ukraine's jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko urged her country Saturday to defeat President Viktor Yanukovych's party in next month's parliamentary election.

In an emotional video appeal, Tymoshenko accused Yanukovych of turning Ukraine into a "police state."

Her lawyer says the video, filmed Friday, was recorded by him on a cellphone in a hospital where she is receiving treatment for back pain. It was the first such video since the former prime minister was jailed over a year ago on charges of abusing her office during natural gas import negotiations with Russia in 2009.

The West has condemned her imprisonment as politically motivated and the European Union has put on hold a key cooperation deal with Kiev over Tymoshenko's jailing.

Tymoshenko, 51, the country's top opposition leader, denies all the charges against her, and accuses Yanukovych of throwing her in jail to bar her from the contesting the Oct. 28 election.

In the video, Tymoshenko urges Ukrainians to support her party in the vote and end what she called Yanukovych's "criminal" rule.

"Today, unfortunately, the whole country lives under a criminal authority," said a pale-looking Tymoshenko, wearing a white shirt, her hair combed into a long blond braid.

Yanukovych's Party of Regions hopes to maintain its parliamentary majority, but will struggle to do so in the face of an opposition re-energized by Tymoshenko's jailing. The next presidential election is in 2015.

Yanukovych's office declined to comment on the video.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/imprisoned-tymoshenko-makes-video-appeal-103948405.html

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Data suggest US economy growing only modestly

WASHINGTON (AP) ? A spate of data Thursday painted a mixed picture of the U.S. economy: Demand for long-lasting manufactured goods fell, and slightly fewer people signed contracts to buy homes. At the same time, the job market looked only a little better.

Taken together, the reports suggest the economy is growing only modestly and not quickly enough to spur much hiring.

"The economy overall has only weak forward momentum," Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist at IHS Global Insight, said in a note to clients. "The news from housing may be improving, but manufacturing is struggling now."

Most of the data seemed discouraging on the surface. But a closer inspection of the details offered some promise.

? Companies cut orders for long-lasting goods by 13.2 percent in August, the Commerce Department said. That was the biggest drop in more than three years but it was largely influenced by a 102 percent decline in volatile aircraft orders. Excluding transportation equipment, orders fell only 1.6 percent. And in a positive sign, orders in a category that reflect business investment plans rose 1.1 percent, the first increase since May.

? The overall economy grew at a 1.3 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter, much lower than the 1.7 percent the government previously estimated. About half of the downward revision stemmed from the severe drought in the Midwest, which cut overall farm output. But growth also fell because exports and consumer spending expanded at a slower pace.

? The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy previously occupied homes fell in August from a two-year high in July. The National Association of Realtors said its index of sales agreements declined 2.6 percent to 99.2. That's just below the reading of 100 that is considered healthy. Still, the index is 10.7 percent higher than a year ago.

Economists expect growth to hover near or below 2 percent for the rest of the year. That's typically too weak to create enough jobs to lower the unemployment rate.

One report appeared to offer some hope that the job market will improve.

Weekly applications for unemployment benefits plunged 26,000 to a seasonally adjusted 359,000, the lowest level in two months, the Labor Department said. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, fell to 374,000.

Applications are a measure of the pace of layoffs. When they consistently fall below 375,000, it typically indicates that hiring is strong enough to lower the unemployment rate.

The weekly figures can be volatile, causing most economists to focus on the four-week average.

Economists were mildly encouraged by the unemployment applications. Still, many still expect the government's employment report for September to show only modest job gains, perhaps about 100,000. That's about the same as in August. The September jobs report will be released next week.

The September jobs report will be released next Friday.

The past few reports on applications for unemployment benefits "suggest no significant acceleration or deceleration in employment growth," said Jim O'Sullivan, an economist at High Frequency Economics.

A survey of chief executives, released Wednesday, found a sharp drop in the number of large companies that plan to step up hiring or boost investment in the next six months. They cited worries over tax and budget policies in the United States and slower growth in Europe and China for the gloomier outlook.

Some recent indicators have been more optimistic. Consumer confidence jumped to a seven-month high in September, the Conference Board said Tuesday. Home prices are rising steadily nationwide. And sales of new homes remained near a two-year high in August, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/data-suggest-us-economy-growing-only-modestly-162509615--finance.html

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Celebrate Mid Autumn Festival with Gold Kili's Range of Teas ...

The Mid-Autumn festival is once again upon us and it is time to tuck into delicious mooncakes! Sitting under a sky of mesmerising moonlight and enjoying morsels of mooncakes one bite at a time ? for a more memorable experience just add a cup of any Gold Kili?s range of Chinese teas. You have yourself a truly unforgettable experience!

Getting into the spirit of the festival, Gold Kili is holding a promotion and offering discounts on its range of Chinese teas. Select from different flavours: Green Tea, Jasmine Green Tea or Ginger Drinks. For a more exotic flavour without the dreaded calories, drink Gold Kili Natural Ginger Bag (100% sugar free) or Gold Kili Ginger Lemon Bag (100% sugar free). Hold your very own gather of exquisite mooncake and tea pairing!

The green tea and jasmine green tea will go very well with matcha snow-skin mooncakes.

The natural ginger bag and natural ginger lemon bag are perfect for those who have a hankering for traditional mooncake with a baked crust. Mooncakes tend to be cloyingly oily and the teas can help to rid the excess oil.

So be sure to stock up on these traditional teas this Mid-Autumn festival and enjoy your mooncakes the way it was intended!

Promotion is available at NTUC FairPrice, FairPrice Finest, FairPrice Xtra.

Price Promotion:
Gold Kili Green Tea ? Now: $2.05 (UP: $2.45)
Gold Kili Jasmine Green Tea ? Now: $2.05 (UP: $2.45)
Gold Kili Natural Ginger Bag ? Now: $4.20 (UP: $4.80)
Gold Kili Natural Lemon Ginger Bag ? Now: $4.20 (UP: $4.80)

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Source: http://missuschewy.com/2012/09/28/celebrate-mid-autumn-festival-with-gold-kilis-range-of-teas/

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PFT: Winslow wanted to be released, but why?

Getty Images

After Monday night?s Seahawks-Packers game, the last play of which a surprising number of people (of course, ?one? would be a surprising number of people) believe was called correctly, multiple NFL owners were inclined to keep fighting the locked-out officials.

Judy Battista of the New York Times reports that Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and Jets owner Woody Johnson initially wanted to dig in.? Others, like Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Giants co-owner John Mara, were concerned that damage was being done to the NFL.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who along with Mara,?Texans owner Bob McNair, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt helped negotiate the contract, believed it was time.? ?There was a sense of urgency on both sides to get it done,? Blank said.? ?The integrity of the brand is incredibly important.? The officiating was creating more controversy and focus on it than on play, and that?s something you never want to happen.?

Now, both a deal and damage have been done.? While Commissioner Roger Goodell ultimately did what he was paid to do by the men who wanted to pay the officials as little as possible, it?ll be interesting to see who, if anyone, catches the blame for believing that replacement officials wouldn?t create a complete and total clusterfudge that crossed over into mainstream news and late-night TV.

Unless the league office told the owners ?this will be a complete and total clusterfudge that crosses over into mainstream news and late-night TV? and the owners told the league office to proceed despite that warning, someone made a very bad assessment regarding the capability of third-tier-and-worse replacements, and that someone eventually could be pursuing other interests and/or spending more time with his or her family and/or taking a high-paying, big-title gig with one of the 32 teams.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/28/kellen-winslow-asked-to-be-released-but-why/related/

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Thousands demand factcheckers at presidential debates (Washington Bureau)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/251173886?client_source=feed&format=rss

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CSUF to acquire new property

Photo by William Camargo/ Daily Titan

Students may or may not be aware of the Western State University College of Law property on north State College Boulevard located across the street from Cal State Fullerton. The building faces the west side of the CSUF campus and is located next to Troy High School.

Even more students might be unaware that this building could become the property of CSUF as early as this October after the CSU Board of Trustees approved the funds to purchase the college at the Board of Trustees meeting Sept. 19.

The approved purchase would cover the entire 86,000-square-foot property and has a reported purchase price of $18,250,000.

Director of Media Relations and New Media for CSU Chancellor?s Office, Mike Uhlenkamp, said that the majority of the money being used to purchase the Western State University property is coming from a mixture of the CSU systemwide revenue bond program and CSUF?s extended education program.

Uhlenkamp explained that the purpose of the CSU systemwide revenue bond program is meant to ?refinance the acquisition, construction, renovation and improvement of certain facilities of the Cal State University.?

?The purchase of the property is $18,250,000,? said Uhlenkamp. ?Of that amount, $5,000,000 will be contributed by Fullerton?s University extended education. The remaining $13,250,000 will be financed through the bond program.?

Even though CSUF will own the property, both students and faculty will not be able to use the facilities for another three years.

For the next three years, the college will occupy the building, but it will pay rent for the space until CSUF makes the site part of the campus. The rent will offset some of the purchase price over time.

Christopher Bugbee, director of media relations for CSUF, said the process is similar to the purchase and use of the College Park building. This would mean that classes would continue as usual for Western State University students and faculty.

?The debt will be paid with rental income, initially from Western State College of Law for its continued occupancy through the first three years,? said Bugbee. ?In year four and following, the university will rent space as needed, similar to the current arrangement for university use of the College Park building, purchased in 2000.?

As far as Cal State Fullerton?s future plans for the Western State University property is concerned, said Chief Financial Officer Bill Barrett. Occupation of the building would be decided at a later time.

The property could house any department on campus, but a final agreement will be made in the future, based on the needs of that department, Barrett said.

?I guess you would call it a collaborative effort on campus to determine what?s the best fit, whether its student services or part of a college or all of a college or whatever would go over there,? said Barrett. ?The good news is: We should own it soon, so we have some options in front of us.?

Barrett said that even with three years between renting the property and occupying the property, CSUF will form a committee within the next two years to decide the use of the building. After the initial two years of committee planning, Cal State Fullerton will be able to reach a decision as to what will occupy the Western State University property.

Barrett added that the Western State University property has been considered for purchase by CSUF for five or six years, but reconsideration by the property owners stalled the original sale.

After a false start, the current owners have finally decided to sell the property after CSUF investigated and approved the property integrity for future use.

?There are very stringent requirements by the CSU for what they call due diligence in terms of the structural integrity of the building?its seismic status,? Barrett said. ?We went through a significant due diligence, as it?s called in the real estate world, before we made a formal offer to the current owners to buy it. That?s all been done.?

Even after inspecting the building, Barrett said that there would still likely be renovations done to the property, which will include seismic work to ensure safety toward future earthquakes and structural stability.

The addition of the Western State University College of Law building will not only add a new building to CSUF, it will also include classrooms, a library and an additional parking lot with about 300 parking spaces for students and faculty.

?There?s no other land around (CSUF)?we need space,? said President Mildred Garcia about the acquisition.

Source: http://www.dailytitan.com/2012/09/csuf-to-acquire-new-property/

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Consumer Confidence Rises To Highest Level In 7 Months On Job ...

WASHINGTON -- Americans are more confident in the economy than they have been in seven months, an encouraging sign for President Barack Obama with six weeks left in the presidential race.

A new survey of consumer confidence rose Tuesday to its highest level since February on expectations that hiring will soon pick up. And a separate report showed home values rising steadily, signaling sustained improvement in housing.

"This is like an opinion poll on the economy without the political parties attached," said John Ryding, chief economist at RDQ Economics, a consulting firm. The confidence survey "says people are feeling better. If so, they are less likely to vote for change."

The Conference Board's index of consumer confidence shot up in September. The jump surprised many economists because the most recent hiring and retail sales figures have been sluggish.

The increased confidence could help explain recent polls that show Obama with a widening lead over Mitt Romney in some battleground states.

The consumer confidence index is closely watched because consumer spending drives nearly 70 percent of economic activity. The index jumped from 61.3 for August to 70.3 for September. It remains well below 90, the level that is thought to signify a healthy economy.

Among those feeling more optimistic about the economy is Darlene Johnson of Silver Spring, Md., who works for the National Institutes of Health. The value of Johnson's 401(k) account has risen. Home sales in her neighborhood have ticked up, too, and are commanding higher prices.

"I feel like things are stabilizing," she said. "I don't feel as uneasy as I did a few months ago."

But Johnson, who voted for Obama in 2008, remains undecided on which candidate to back. And she's still a bit nervous about the future.

"It will depend on how my pockets are looking," she says. "Everyday circumstances will drive my decision on how I am going to vote."

Economists point to some key reasons why consumers have grown more confident.

Stocks are up: The Standard & Poor's 500 stock index has surged nearly 15 percent this year. Gas prices have leveled off after rising for several months. And the broad increase in home prices is likely giving would-be buyers more confidence. When prices rise, buyers don't worry so much that a home might lose value after they bought it.

National home prices rose 1.2 percent in July compared with a year ago, according to the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index released Tuesday. That was the second straight month in which year-over-year home prices have increased.

Some economists question whether the higher level of confidence is sustainable. They've seen the index spike briefly before since the Great Recession ended more than three years ago. Some say confidence could be affected by negative campaign ads that focus on the economy.

But others note that even a weak economy doesn't feel so bad to many consumers once it begins to make steady improvement.

"The economy is perceived in relative rather than absolute terms," noted St. Louis University political scientist and pollster Ken Warren.

Mark Vitner, a senior economist at Wells Fargo, suggests that former President Bill Clinton might have helped boost confidence with his rousing speech on Obama's behalf at the Democratic National Convention in early September. The Conference Board's consumer confidence survey was conducted Sept. 1-13.

Clinton "rekindled memories of better economic times" and assured voters that the U.S. economy was on the right track, Vitner said.

The consumer confidence survey polled 500 people. The part of the survey that gauges consumers' confidence in the economy now and the part that gauges their outlook for the next six months both rose. Consumers were much more optimistic about the short-term outlook for business conditions, employment and their financial situation.

The rising home prices could also help Obama's prospects. Prices are rising in many large cities in swing states such as Florida, Colorado, Michigan and North Carolina. Prices have risen 3.6 percent in Tampa, Fla., in the past year, for example. And they're up 5.4 percent in Denver, 6.2 percent in Detroit and 2.2 percent in Charlotte, N.C.

A Washington Post poll out Tuesday showed Obama leading Romney among likely voters in Ohio, 52 to 44 percent. The president also had a slight edge in Florida, 51 to 47 percent among those most likely to vote.

Obama is also gaining the upper hand on which candidate is better able to handle the economy. Registered voters in Ohio preferred Obama on the economy by 50 percent to 43 percent, and in Florida by 49 percent to 45 percent.

___

D'Innocenzio contributed from New York. Associated Press Writer Jim Kuhnhenn in Washington contributed to this report.

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/26/consumer-confidence-september-2012_n_1915598.html

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Save some votes for Kimbrel

Reliever having kind of rare season that merits award consideration

Rich Schultz / Getty Images

Through Monday, Braves closer Craig Kimbrel had allowed only 25 hits and struck out 106 batters in 58 2/3 innings.

MLB EXPERT MAILBAG

By Tony DeMarco

NBCSports.com contributor

updated 7:24 p.m. ET Sept. 25, 2012

Tony DeMarco

Baseball Expert Tony DeMarco has been covering the big leagues since 1987, and been casting Hall of Fame ballots for the last 15 years. He answers questions weekly here:

Q: Given his lights-out ninth-inning performances, how realistic is it to say that Craig Kimbrel is a serious Cy Young Award contender?
? Lee Ayres, Atlanta

A: It's very realistic to think that Kimbrel's name will be included on most of the 32 BBWAA ballots ? which incidentally, now include the top five finishers, rather than the long-standing three. But winning the award figures to be a difficult proposition for him.

Since I happen to have an NL Cy Young Award vote this season, I can't go into any detail at this point on how I will fill out my ballot. But I'll present the questions that voters will have to debate in deciding where to put Kimbrel among a list of standout candidates that includes R.A. Dickey, Gio Gonzalez, Clayton Kershaw, Johnny Cueto, Kyle Lohse, Matt Cain, Aroldis Chapman and possibly a few other potential vote-getters.

First of all, relievers just don't win the award very often. Eric Gagne was the last to do it in 2003, and Dennis Eckersley's MVP/Cy Young season was 20 years ago. It's simple ? no matter how dominant a reliever might be, it's hard to have more impact in 60-or-so innings as a starting pitcher does in 200-plus.

But there are exceptions to every rule, and Kimbrel's dominance certainly has been historical and remarkable (as has Chapman's). How about some of these Kimbrel numbers through Monday?:

• 25 hits allowed in 58.2 innings and 214 batters faced. His .126 opponents batting average is the lowest qualifying average since 1900.
• 1.08 ERA
• With only 14 walks allowed, his WHIP is 0.67 ? the lowest by an NL reliever since 1900.
• 106 strikeouts, or 16.4 per nine innings ? the best single-season ratio on record.
• 39 saves in 42 opportunities for a league-best 92.8 percentage.

But the problem is going to be that innings total of only 58.2. Chapman has thrown 10 more despite being shut down for awhile in mid-September, and actually has 13 more strikeouts than Kimbrel.

And are Kimbrel's historically microscopic numbers better in the grand scheme of things than ? just to pick two leading candidates:

• Dickey with a very good shot at a pitching Triple Crown, going 19-6 (with two remaining starts) for a sub-.500 team, pitching seven innings and allowing one or fewer runs in 15 starts, tossing back-to-back one-hitters, and being in the top three in virtually every major statistical category?
• Gonzalez winning 20 games (granted with the league's best run support and no blown saves behind him), leading the NL in opponents' batting average and OPS, and doing all of it for a first-place team?

These are tough calls voters will have to make, and it just may come down to this last week of the regular season for many of them to decide.

Q: Do you think that being pushed by the Orioles will help the Yankees come playoff time? Or does it matter at all?
? Jennifer Chilm, Los Angeles

A: This question arises every late-September for first-place teams, and here's how I see it: I do think it's better for division leaders to be somewhat challenged, and be forced to play at a high level down the stretch. That makes it easier to keep their edge once the playoffs begin ? as opposed to clinching too early and losing intensity.

In almost every postseason, we see a favorite who clinched early and coasted into the playoffs, only to get upset. And most often, it's by a team that had to fight its way into the playoffs, and in effect, had been playing playoff games for the last couple of weeks. Last year's Cardinals are the latest in a long line of teams to fit the latter bill.

But as the first-place team, you don't want to be pushed for too long, or challenged so late that you don't clinch until the last day or two of the regular season. That might not allow you to set your rotation, or rest a regular or two who could use a couple of days off.

So the ideal scenario to me is be pushed a bit, but clinch the division title with a minimum of three games left in the regular season. In the new playoff format, with off days and the wild-card play-in game, that would allow almost a week to adjust and set things just right heading into the LDS round.

In the Yankees' case, the AL race is a bit tighter than they'd like. In fact, it's been so tight for so long that their 1.5-game edge over the Orioles through Monday seems big, doesn't it? I do think they will outlast the Orioles and win the AL East, setting up a first-round series against either the White Sox or Tigers.

And at that point, then it will become more a question of match-ups with either of those two teams, as well as how healthy and effective the Yankees' starting pitchers will be, not to mention Mark Teixeira.

Q: The Padres signed Carlos Quentin and Huston Street to extensions this year, but have not signed Chase Headley, who in my opinion is their best player. Why is that? What do you think will happen in the off-season with him?
? Robert Pyper, Phoenix

A: Oh, there's no doubt about it, Headley is the Padres' best player. Which makes their handling of his situation very interesting and important, to say the least.

In his breakout season, Headley, 28, is making $3.475 million ? easily one of the game's best bargains among arbitration-eligible players. His salary for 2013 will more than double in arbitration, and a long-term deal certainly has become the likeliest option with his monster second half (.300, 21 HR, 66 RBI, .372 OBP, .576 slugging through Monday).

While Headley's second half significantly has upped his value, if I were the Padres, I'd lock him up in a multi-year deal that will take away a year or two of free agency. He doesn't complain about the home ballpark, has proven that you can put up numbers despite its pitcher-friendly conditions, and is a solid defender and team leader.

And as you mention, the team's new ownership already has handed out extensions, so it appears as if there's room to expand the payroll ? certainly in the case of a cornerstone-type player such as Headley, rather than a chronic injury risk such as Quentin.

But the Padres were listening to offers for Headley around the trade deadline, and could do again this winter. And in fact, they owe it to themselves to at least see if there's an offer out there similar to the great package (Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal, Edinson Volquez, Brad Boxberger) they received from the Reds last off-season for Matt Latos. If so, they may decide to go that route.

But absent that, Headley likely will get a long-term deal to stay in San Diego.

? 2012 NBC Sports.com? Reprints

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More newsRich Schultz / Getty Images

Save some votes for Kimbrel

Mailbag: The Braves closer has had the kind of utterly dominant season that should earn him some attention in the NL Cy Young race.

Sabathia strikes out 10 as Yankees top Twins

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - C.C. Sabathia struck out 10 batters over eight innings for New York to help the Yankees stretch their AL East lead to two games over Baltimore by beating the Minnesota Twins 8-2 on Wednesday.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49171454/ns/sports-baseball/

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Celebrity Homes: Dallas Green | Real Estate Talk

Posted by Dani in Real Estate Talk on Sep 25th, 2012

Canadian rockstar, Dallas Green, resides in the uptown Toronto neighbourhood of Lawrence Park with his wife, Leah Miller. These 30 year old celebrities selected to live in a more unobtrusive area in Toronto?s ritzy Cricket Club region, which allows them to live without the bombardment of City and Colour or Alexisonfire fanatics.? Keep an eye out for Dallas driving around the city with his tatt?d up arms hanging out the window!

Source: http://www.realestatetalktoronto.com/real-estate-talk/celebrity-homes-dallas-green/

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FHA to Lenders: Pay Hurricane Isaac Claims Now! | Daily Business ...

Home
> Advocacy, Business, Finance, home buyers, News Item, regulation > FHA to Lenders: Pay Hurricane Isaac Claims Now!

MHProNews has learned the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) issued a reminder to approved FHA lenders to promptly release hazard insurance funds to disaster victims of Hurricane Isaac, as per loan documents. The Mortgagee Letter says in the past some lenders used hazard insurance proceeds to pay off the mortgage, leaving the homeowners no funds to rebuild homes and lives. FHA?s Acting Commissioner Carol Galante says, ?FHA Lenders are always required to follow our guidance and, particularly following a devastating disaster like Hurricane Isaac, it is important that FHA take affirmative steps to ensure that is the case.? The lender must be listed as ?Loss Payee,? which protects the lender, but also ensures proceeds are available once rebuilding of the home begins. For the full HUD press release, click here.

(Photo credit: Huffington Post/Getty)

Categories: Advocacy, Business, Finance, home buyers, News Item, regulation Tags: acting, affirmative steps, commissioner carol, disaster victims, Federal Housing Administration, fha lenders, galante, guidance, hazard insurance, HUD, hurricane isaac, insurance, insurance funds, insurance proceeds, loan documents, loss payee, MHProNews, mortgage, mortgagee letter, press release, reminder

Source: http://www.mhmarketingsalesmanagement.com/blogs/daily-business-news/fha-to-lenders-pay-hurricane-isaac-claims-now/

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Low Mortgage Rates, Ayn Rand & Why 80% Won't Buy or Refinance ...

Mortgage rates have hit record lows and yet a majority of those who potentially could refinance and save money will not do so.

?Four out of five Americans are unwilling to buy homes or refinance their mortgages, despite record-low interest rates,? according to a recent Harris poll. ?Only workers between the ages of 18 and 34 were slightly more likely to invest in housing over the next year.?

Just last week the rate for a 30-year fixed-rate loan sank to 3.49 percent according to Freddie Mac. The that?s the lowest rate Freddie Mac has ever recorded and less than even the 4.09% recorded a year ago, itself a ridiculously-low rate by historic standards.

Despite rates which ought to set off a massive refinancing trend many borrowers refuse to get new loans even though it?s in their best interest. The reason ? according to a poll done by Harris Interactive for?Union Plus, the benefits arm of the AFL-CIO ? is that ?53 percent of respondents have major concerns about the economy ? they fear job loss. ?Eighty three percent of respondents expressed concern that ?closing costs for purchasing or refinancing a home are too high.??

?With only 18 percent of working families willing to invest in buying new homes, what this poll tells us, first and foremost, is that we need to help working Americans feel confident about investing in housing,? said Union Plus President?Leslie Tolf.

The reluctance of the working man and woman to enter the housing market, find a new home or refinance the one they have reflects a plain uncertainty about the marketplace.

Marketplace Stability

While the housing market has clearly shown signs of improvement during the past year there is the problem that unemployment remains high. For working people ? including union members ? marketplace stability is a more valuable commodity than rising home prices.

The reality is that the housing market works very well when everyone is finding success. We want entry-level buyers so they will purchase a first house. We want people who are selling that first house to move up and buy a better property so that the middle class can itself move up and find an even better home.

In other words the middle-class can?t move up unless there are replacement owners for the properties which those in the middle now own. It thus becomes very important if only as a matter of middle-class self-interest to assure that entry-level buyers have both the dollars and the confidence they need to enter the housing market.

That 47 Percent

The current political debate has within it an element which suggests that a large proportion of the American public is simply delighted to obtain housing assistance, public welfare and food stamps. Such an assertion assumes that individuals have no dignity, do not want independence and are positively joyful to receive government assistance.

Indeed, according to the thinking of ?Ayn Rand?we should let such people rot. As she explained,??if any civilization is to survive, it is the morality of altruism that men have to reject.?

But speak to people who are struggling and the first thing they?ll tell you is that they want to better.

No less important many of those who are seen as ?poor? are actually ?working poor.? They go to work every day and they?re not asking for a handout. They want to do better and as a society we should help with education and assistance in tough times. Even those who oppose altruism should favor such help because it?s in their self-interest to do so.

After all, the only way a poor person is going to buy that middle-class house is if they?re poor no more.

?

Technorati Tags: 47 percent, AFL-CIO, altruism, Ayn Rand, finance, Freddie Mac, loan, mortgage, mortgage rates, rates, refinance, Union Plus

Source: http://www.ourbroker.com/news/low-mortgage-rates-ayn-rand-092412/

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Strength Training Exercises | Bodybuilding, Supplements, Diets ...

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Strength training is the use of resistance to muscular contraction to build the strength, anaerobic endurance, and size of skeletal muscles. There are many different methods of strength training, the most common being the use of gravity or elastic/hydraulic forces to oppose muscle contraction. See the resistance training article for information about elastic/hydraulic training, but note that the terms ?strength training? and ?resistance training? are often used interchangeably.
When properly performed, strength training can provide significant functional benefits and improvement in overall health and well-being, including increased bone, muscle, tendon and ligament strength and toughness, improved joint function, reduced potential for injury, increased bone density, a temporary increase in metabolism, improved cardiac function, and elevated HDL (good) cholesterol. Training commonly uses the technique of progressively increasing the force output of the muscle through incremental increases of weight, elastic tension or other resistance, and uses a variety of exercises and types of equipment to target specific muscle groups. Strength training is primarily an anaerobic activity, although some proponents have adapted it to provide the benefits of aerobic exercise through circuit training.
Strength training differs from bodybuilding, weightlifting, powerlifting, and strongman, which are sports rather than forms of exercise, although training for them is inherently interconnected with strength training, as it is for shotput, discus, and Highland games. Many other sports use strength training as part of their training regimen, notably football, wrestling, rugby, rowing, lacrosse, basketball, hockey, and track and field.

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Syrian opposition figures meet in Damascus, call for regime's overthrow

DAMASCUS, Syria - Syrian opposition figures called Sunday for the overthrow of President Bashar Assad at a rare meeting of anti-regime groups held in the government-controlled capital Damascus, a possible attempt by the gathering to position itself as an alternative to the armed rebellion.

Rebels fighting Assad typically dismiss the so-called "internal opposition" as too lenient on the Syrian dictator, so the strong statements from the 16 parties in the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria may be aimed at gaining credibility among Syrians who despise the regime but are weary of an uprising that has since become a bloody civil war. Assad's regime tightly restricts criticism in areas it controls.

But the group would have its work cut out for it to have its peace initiative, centred on a cease-fire, move anywhere. Many rebels look askance at any political plan short of Assad's immediate ouster, seeing it as a play for time.

Ambassadors from Iran and Russia were in attendance. Both countries support Assad, suggesting the regime authorized the conference to bolster its own rhetoric that there should be a peaceful settlement to the Syrian crisis through dialogue.

A statement distributed to journalists said the participants in the conference have agreed on a number of principles, mainly "overthrowing the regime with all its symbols" while emphasizing the need for "peaceful struggle to achieve the goals of the revolution."

"It's our right to meet here in the capital to express our views without being subject to dictates and pressures or to be forced to make concessions," the NCB's head, Hassan Abdul-Azim, told The Associated Press.

The Syrian opposition suffers acute divisions between the largely exiled opposition and those based inside the country. While agreeing on the need to topple Assad, the two differ on the means. Unlike the Free Syrian Army rebel group and Syrian National Council made up largely of Syrian exiles, the NCB is opposed to the militarization of the Syrian uprising and any foreign military intervention, and is more inclined to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the Syrian 18-month-old crisis.

Their statement called for an immediate ceasefire accompanied with the full withdrawal of the Syrian army from towns and cities and the release of all political detainees and kidnapped people. This would be followed by the start of negotiations between the opposition and representatives of the Syrian government on a peaceful transition of power, it added.

The scenario outlined by the participants is similar to a six-point peace plan proposed by former international peace envoy to Syria Kofi Annan. This ended with his resignation from the post last month after his cease-fire failed to take hold.

Rajaa al-Nasser, a member of the NCB, said Damascus authorities have permitted all Syrian political figures to attend the conference "without restrictions."

However, the NCB has said two of its senior leaders disappeared after returning to Damascus International Airport from a trip to China on Thursday, along with a friend who was to pick them up. It has blamed the regime for the disappearance.

The state-run news agency SANA quoted the Interior Ministry as saying "terrorist groups" kidnapped the three.

The Russian ambassador in Damascus seized on the conference, calling it a "direct implementation of the process of reforms launched by the Syrian government, including the freedom of expression."

Azmat Allah Kolmahmedov called for a peaceful political solution to the Syrian crisis.

"The convening of the conference is a clear evidence of the Syrian government's readiness to start a constructive and serious dialogue with all opposition factions that reject violence and foreign intervention and which are ready for an overall dialogue to reach a democratic and free Syria," he said.

___

Karam reported from Beirut.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-opposition-figures-meet-damascus-call-regimes-overthrow-130115005.html

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10: Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens

• Written by admin
• Posted September 23, 2012 at 5:01 pm

Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens by Sony Date first available at Amazon.com: August 20, 2012 Buy new: $9,744.29 (Visit the Hot New Releases in Camcorders list for authoritative information on this product?s current rank.)

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Cancer research yields unexpected new way to produce nylon ...

DURHAM, N.C. ? In their quest for a cancer cure, researchers at the Duke Cancer Institute made a serendipitous discovery -- a molecule necessary for cheaper and greener ways to produce nylon.

The finding, described in the Sept. 23, 2012, issue of the journal Nature Chemical Biology, arose from an intriguing notion that some of the genetic and chemical changes in cancer tumors might be harnessed for beneficial uses.

"In our lab, we study genetic changes that cause healthy tissues to go bad and grow into tumors. The goal of this research is to understand how the tumors develop in order to design better treatments," said Zachary J. Reitman, Ph.D., an associate in research at Duke and lead author of the study. "As it turns out, a bit of information we learned in that process paves the way for a better method to produce nylon."

Nylon is a ubiquitous material, used in carpeting, upholstery, auto parts, apparel and other products. A key component for its production is adipic acid, which is one of the most widely used chemicals in the world. Currently, adipic acid is produced from fossil fuel, and the pollution released from the refinement process is a leading contributor to global warming.

Reitman said he and colleagues delved into the adipic acid problem based on similarities between cancer research techniques and biochemical engineering. Both fields rely on enzymes, which are molecules that convert one small chemical to another. Enzymes play a major role in both healthy tissues and in tumors, but they are also used to convert organic matter into synthetic materials such as adipic acid.

One of the most promising approaches being studied today for environmentally friendly adipic acid production uses a series of enzymes as an assembly line to convert cheap sugars into adipic acid. However, one critical enzyme in the series, called a 2-hydroxyadipate dehydrogenase, has never been produced, leaving a missing link in the assembly line.

This is where the cancer research comes in. In 2008 and 2009, Duke researchers, including Hai Yan, M.D., PhD., identified a genetic mutation in glioblastomas and other brain tumors that alters the function of an enzyme known as an isocitrate dehydrogenase.

Reitman and colleagues had a hunch that the genetic mutation seen in cancer might trigger a similar functional change to a closely related enzyme found in yeast and bacteria (homoisocitrate dehydrogenase), which would create the elusive 2-hydroxyadipate dehydrogenase necessary for "green" adipic acid production.

They were right. The functional mutation observed in cancer could be constructively applied to other closely related enzymes, creating a beneficial outcome ? in this case the missing link that could enable adipic acid production from cheap sugars. The next step will be to scale up the overall adipic acid production process, which remains a considerable undertaking.

"It's exciting that sequencing cancer genomes can help us to discover new enzyme activities," Reitman said. "Even genetic changes that occur in only a few patients could reveal useful new enzyme functions that were not obvious before."

Yan, a professor in the Department of Pathology and senior author of the study, said the research demonstrates how an investment in medical research can be applied broadly to solve other significant issues of the day.

"This is the result of a cancer researcher thinking outside the box to produce a new enzyme and create a precursor for nylon production," Yan said. "Not only is this discovery exciting, it reaffirms the commitment we should be making to science and to encouraging young people to pursue science."

Source: http://www.sciencecodex.com/cancer_research_yields_unexpected_new_way_to_produce_nylon-98875

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Energy Take Classic 5pc Speaker System

This new restaurant sounds great.

5-course, price-fixed menu:

Course 1: Energy Take speaker chips served with spinach and low distortion dip.

Course 2: Cup of cream of Energy Take speaker soup, garnished with keyhole slots, threaded inserts, and rubber bumpers for mounting.

Course 3: Baked Energy Take speaker cake, served on bed of rice, sprinkled with aluminum-dome tweeter aioli.

Course 4: Energy Take Speaker pan seared at dynamic frequency, drizzled with distortion reduction sauce, served with potato.

Course 5: Brandied Energy Take Speaker, served with almonds and ice cream.

Note: All of our food is vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and resonance-free. However, for those allergic to audio equipment and/or choking, it is strongly advised that you dine elsewhere.

Source: http://www.woot.com/blog/post/energy-take-classic-5pc-speaker-system

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School strike first of many challenges for Emanuel

FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2012 file photo, Tennille Evans, a member of the Chicago Teachers Union's House of Delegates, celebrates after the delegates voted to suspend the teachers' seven-day strike against the school district in Chicago. The hard part now comes for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel who must figure out how to pay for it all, and won't rule out school closings and a property tax increase, both of which would be hugely unpopular. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2012 file photo, Tennille Evans, a member of the Chicago Teachers Union's House of Delegates, celebrates after the delegates voted to suspend the teachers' seven-day strike against the school district in Chicago. The hard part now comes for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel who must figure out how to pay for it all, and won't rule out school closings and a property tax increase, both of which would be hugely unpopular. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2012 file photo, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, center, is flanked by Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard, left, and school board president David Vitale during a news conference after the teacher union's House of Delegates voted to suspend their seven-day strike in Chicago. The hard part now comes for Chicago Emanuel who must figure out how to pay for it all, and won't rule out school closings and a property tax increase, both of which would be hugely unpopular. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

CHICAGO (AP) ? The grueling teachers strike is over. Now comes the hard part for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

As he pushes ahead on his promise to reform the city's underperforming classrooms, he faces several daunting tasks: slashing an estimated $1 billion budget deficit, confronting a woefully underfunded employee pension system and finding money for the pay raises that settled the first teacher walkout in a generation. He hasn't ruled out school closings and tax increases, both of which would be hugely unpopular.

Waiting in the wings are other unions, including police and firefighters, whose labor contracts have expired and who no doubt took notes as the teachers stood up to the former White House chief of staff with the fearsome reputation.

The strike, which idled more than 350,000 children for more than a week, was the first time Emanuel was forced to make serious concessions since leaving Washington last year. But the challenges he faces aren't unlike those confronting mayors in New York, Baltimore and elsewhere as they grapple with financial fallout from the Great Recession and urgent demands to improve public education.

"Union concessions won't get him there," said Ralph Martire, executive director of the Chicago-based Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. "And they can't cut their way to a better education system."

As he welcomed children back to school, Emanuel nodded at the difficulties ahead: "We have other tough things to do."

The mayor said he's made a good start by cutting $500 million from the district's central office and crafting a three-year teacher contract that will cost $75 million a year compared with $130 million a year for the last contract. But he would not elaborate on reports that the city may be pressured to raise taxes on cigarettes and amusements, and close dozens of schools and move more rapidly toward cheaper charter schools.

The day after schools reopened, he appeared in a privately funded TV ad emphasizing the achievements in the deal with the union: a longer school day and year, the ability for principals to hire their own teachers and a new teacher-evaluation system based in part on student test scores.

But Martire said the financial troubles are more deeply rooted. Many were inherited from former Mayor Richard M. Daley, who avoided a strike in his more than two decades in office but at a price. When City Hall took control over Chicago's schools in 1995, the pension system was almost fully funded.

"This is a crisis of their own doing," Martire said.

In arguing for better job security provisions, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis warned that the city would close more than 100 of its 600 schools "as soon as the ink is dry" on the new contract. City Hall dismissed the number as a rumor, but acknowledged that closing schools will be under consideration.

Many districts around the country are feeling similarly squeezed because for years they avoided cutting per-pupil spending and ignored pension obligations, said Eric Hanushek, a senior fellow in education at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University.

"A number of states and localities are feeling under the gun. There are real pressures there, and I think it might continue for some time," Hanushek said. "Pensions are certainly going to be the big problem. A large number of districts are trying to ignore them until they get so large, someone has to bail them out."

Just last week in New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg asked the schools and all other agencies to cut their spending to deal with the city's budget deficit after a plan to raise money by selling more taxi permits stalled.

Bloomberg, who gained control of the 1.1 million-student system a decade ago, is implementing a reform program that has closed more than 140 struggling schools and opened scores of new ones, including charter schools.

Meanwhile, districts also are struggling to implement the new teacher-evaluation system Chicago just adopted. Los Angeles schools are under a court order to come up with a plan after an education reform group sued. Baltimore's system has spawned complaints that too many teachers ended up with unfavorable reviews, and test cheating scandals have erupted in some schools.

As he looks forward, Emanuel also faces questions about his aggressive style, which seemed to galvanize the teachers.

Early on in his term, he rescinded a 4 percent teacher raise and said students were getting "the shaft." Then he tried to bypass the union to negotiate directly with individual schools over a longer day ? an approach that may have ultimately fired up unions throughout the city.

"People have to come to the table and treat each other with respect," said Chicago Alderman Bob Fioretti.

Fioretti suggested the teacher strike could portend problems with firefighters and police contract talks, though those unions cannot legally strike. Police and fire contracts expired in June, and union leaders have indicated they intend to keep the talks out of the public eye.

"I believe all negotiations should be done at the negotiation table," said Thomas Ryan, president of Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, who said issues include pay and response times. "We do not want to make this a public forum because I don't think it helps either side."

Don Rose, a veteran City Hall observer and political analyst, said Chicago mayors have a long tradition of "giving away the store to unions," but Emanuel has to be careful not to try to demonize organized labor.

The mayor has to "cool the anti-union stance and make it financial, make it about taxpayers because police have a lot of support and firefighters have lot of support, even though they can't strike."

"Things like this are not forgotten," Rose said. But Emanuel is "not a stupid man. He obviously will know how to recalibrate."

___

Associated Press writers Hugh Dellios in Chicago and Karen Matthews in New York City contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-09-22-Chicago%20Schools-Strike/id-7bea3abd2d594c65a481044668d938ac

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