Demi Lovato and Britney Spears Talk ?X-Factor?

Jul 30, 2013

By: Lynn Barker

Recently, pop singers Demi Lovato and Britney Spears told TV critics and reporters about plans for the Fall season of the show now shooting the final ?boot camp? rounds in Florida.

?X-Factor? is aiming for a younger feel and these girls seem a fun choice. Whether you are fans or not, the Demi/Britney team will be spicy and outspoken for sure and L.A. Reid will bring the maturity. This could result in a feisty show this coming season.

Simon Cowell says that Britney and Demi bring different things to the show. ?I always said the number one person I always wanted on one of these shows was Britney because I was fascinated with her as a person and a pop star. You see another side of her and she?s a really, really good judge. Demi is a brat but there is something really likeable about her as well. We needed someone a bit younger for the people who watch the show. That?s what they both bring?.

Q: Britney, what made you want to be a judge on ?X-Factor??

• Britney: ?Well, actually, I?ve seen the show a couple of times, and I was such a fan of the show. My makeup artist was the makeup artist for Simon (Cowell). We talked about it a couple of times when I was on tour, but I really never took it seriously until she went back and started working for him, and then we just all met up, and it made sense. I adore Simon, and it was something I really wanted to do.

Q: Why do this at this time in your career?

• Britney: Well, as I?ve done eight tours, and I?ve been in the music industry for a while, I just really feel like being able to be on a show where you can give back and help people achieve their dream is just really interesting to me. It?s different from anything I?ve ever done. And I love the show.

Q: What other reality shows, competition shows have you guys watched and enjoyed?

• Britney: I agree ?American Idol?

Q: What has your experience been with the show so far?

• Britney: I fell like being with Simon and L.A. and Demi, just the package of us together makes it so fun to do the show.

Q: Simon says you are ?quite mean?.

• Demi: I think she?s tough. She?s not mean. She?s a sweetheart who is very honest.

Q: Britney, so you are both tough and fair. What is that based on?

• Britney: I think it?s kind of just based on who I am and my personality, and in everyday life, I?m just a very honest person. ?I?m actually a huge fan of hip hop. I like hip hop music. I love rap. I don?t know the proper way to rap. I don?t rap but I appreciate it, and I like it. I like cabaret music as well. I love live music. I love bands, and so?

Q: Demi, you are young and you are a judge. What kind of experience do you bring to the table?

• Demi: You know, I think that the expertise that I?m able to contribute is I?m listening to the radio right now, and I know a lot of what my friends like. We?re in our early 20s and late teens, and it?s a really interesting thing when you bring a much younger demographic into the competition. We?re all really great judges. But I think we know what is needed in this industry, what it?s missing.

?

Q: Good point. Britney, let?s go really retro. You are now in Miami for ?X-Factor? boot camp. How does that compare to your young days at Mouseketeer boot camp?

• Britney: It?s quite similar in the fact that we did have a big call for all of us together. We got in line, and we each auditioned. I actually didn?t get to see the other auditions, but we went in individually, and it was a lot of fun. But I think this is a little bit more upscale.

Q: These shows let the audience get to know the judges quite well. Britney how has the show been good for you and affected you?

• Britney: Well, I think this show has been really good for me to do because I?ve been able to help this talent come in and achieve their dream, and I can relate to them on such a level because I started out at such a young age. I know the foundation and the depth of what you go through toward achieving your dream and doing this. So being able to do this has been, if anything, a great, great experience for me.

Q: Last season a contestant sang one of Demi?s songs and L.A. Reid wasn?t familiar with it. Demi, have you gotten even with him or made sure he knows your music? He said it was an ?old person?s? song.?

• Demi: I definitely haven?t let him live that down. I remember being on my tour bus watching ?The X-Factor? when that happened, and I was like, ?Oh, no, he did not.? And then I was like, ?okay, suddenly I?m 40?? It was pretty amazing. There were two songwriters on it, and one was in her 20s so?.

Q: Demi, you took a career break. Fame can be a pretty crushing experience. Do you worry a bit about these contestants and the fame ride that they might take?

• Demi: My little sister is in the industry, and I worry about her all the time, but she?s doing great. And I think that you can?t prevent anyone from going down the wrong road. If they?re going to have an eating disorder, they?re going to have an eating disorder. I don?t really think fame has a lot to do with it. I think it adds some pressure and sometimes it makes the problem a little bit worse. But for me, I had been struggling with those issues beforehand, and unless you?re in a good place when you start working, I think that it?s kind of inevitable for these things to happen.

?

Q: When you guys were coming up, you went through lots of auditions, lots of people critiquing you. What was the most piercing or harsh criticism that you guys ever received? Did it help you at the time, or did it just hurt you?

• Demi: I think that any bit of criticism when you?re growing up hurts you, especially when I was entering the industry. I was very young, and I was auditioning for things, and when I wouldn?t book them, of course it would hurt me. ?I don?t really remember specific criticism because I just wanted to take it and learn from it and go. So I think anytime that you?re rejected in an audition, it definitely hurts you a little bit, but that?s what the industry is like. You?ve just got to keep going and persevering.

• Britney: I?d have to agree with Demi. I think in this industry, there?s so many auditions that you go on, and there?s so many that you don?t get, and there?s some that you do get. It?s just the way of the industry, and you just have to learn from it.?

Source: http://www.kidzworld.com/article/27183-demi-lovato-and-britney-spears-talk-x-factor

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Solid Health and fitness Tips For A Busy Mom ?

The topic of exercise addresses many areas. Workout plans, eating properly and getting the correct amount of sleeping are common elements of an exercise software. You are able to build your very own system to get a lean body, your lifestyle or your appearance. This article aspires to offer for your place to start to hitting your fitness goals.

Give any bench you?re planning to exercise on an examination prior to using it. Use your thumb to click downward and test the bench support. If you are wooden or steel that may be underneath the table, get yet another chair.

The fundamentals of weight training: Create muscular mass by at the same time undertaking less repetitions and picking up more weight. Begin with choosing a muscle group. Do a warm-up established by strength training that are super easy to elevate. Decide on weight load you can do around 15 to 20 reps with. The second established must entail weight loads for which you are only able to perform 6-8 reps. Add a minimum of 5 kilos of additional excess weight, then recurring your third set up.

Do you wish to boost your energy as well as your rate? Begin education like they actually do in Kenya. Kenyans coach by starting slow to the initially 3rd of the operate. You may then gradually enhance your speed through the run. By the center of your operate, you will end up operating at your regular pace. Manage in a quicker pace during the last 3rd. By regularly accomplishing this, you?ll practical experience substantial enhancements in your energy and velocity immediately.

Drive-ups are an oldie-but-goodie to get the jiggle away from your triceps. An excellent angle at close to 45 degrees together with your palms is much better process. When you do pushups this way, you?ll hold the triceps focused and increased more efficiently.

If you want to boost your persistence for health and fitness, purchase a multiple-30 days gym commitment. The shame you may sense by not utilizing the membership will with a little luck get you to visit more frequently than you usually would. This should be carried out as a final holiday resort, mainly in case you have a challenging time pushing you to ultimately go to.

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If you wind up spraining a muscle, it is essential that you place ice-cubes on the region right away. That may continue to keep any inflammation and redness down. Elevating the sprain to ensure suitable circulation of blood is likewise crucial. Don?t put the an ice pack on the skin directly. Try wrapping it within a cloth very first.

Get the entire family associated with your exercise strategy. To help keep your household motivated, permit every single member to decide on an exercise action that you can do collectively. Have a sign of everyone?s daily health and fitness activities to trace who is accomplishing what. Hopefully, everybody will see an issue that works for them.

An exercise journal can really help inspire you to stick with your exercise program, particularly in the essential early days. Your exercise journal songs your final results so it helps determine your successes. Deal with physical fitness as being a daily life-transforming aim.

Start with the lesser weight equipment and work your path approximately the important kinds. Your smaller muscles will get tired before your greater kinds, and it likewise can make a great deal of feeling to use small dumbbells well before utilizing big kinds. It is because if you are working out large ones the smaller types might strain.

Fitness is difficult or generally exciting, however if you create a program that matches your likes and dislikes and find a way to keep encouraged, you will absolutely appreciate training. No person will be able to handle fitness without having finding out how to properly get it done initially. All that you should do is commence and you may get the help you require.

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Source: http://all-articles-directory.com/solid-health-and-fitness-tips-for-a-busy-mom/

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Another hiccup? Romney's foreign trip not smooth

GDANSK, Poland (AP) ? It wasn't supposed to be this way.

Mitt Romney outraged Palestinians on Monday, stirring fresh controversy on his visit to Israel just days after insulting the British on what was intended as a feel-good visit to the Olympics in London.

Whether or not the trip changes votes back home, the effect hasn't seemed to be what Romney's presidential campaign had in mind.

His first steps onto the world stage as President Barack Obama's Republican challenger were carefully crafted to avoid political risk. He visited countries that are staunch U.S. allies, limited questions from the media and arranged made-for-TV appearances at symbolic venues in London and Jerusalem. It was all intended to demonstrate he was ready to handle foreign affairs smoothly and lead during dangerous times.

Instead, as he made his final stop of a three-nation tour in Poland late Monday, Republicans and Democrats alike were shaking their heads in the U.S. Though Republicans said they saw no lasting harm, Democrats raised questions about Romney's ability to handle delicate topics with sensitivity on foreign soil, even under the friendliest conditions.

Romney's latest trouble stemmed from a speech he gave to Jewish donors in which he suggested that their culture was part of what has allowed them to be more economically successful than the Palestinians. Kind words for Israel are standard for many American politicians, but Palestinian leaders suggested his specific comments were racist and out of touch with the realities of the Middle East.

Romney's campaign later said his remarks were mischaracterized.

"Because it's billed as a layup ? it's billed as something that should be simple ? perhaps he let his guard down," said Hogan Gidley, a senior aide under former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. "You say, 'Gosh, this guy is so scripted, the campaign is so disciplined, so smart, how could this happen?'" Still, he doubted that Romney would suffer any long-term effects among voters who are still undecided three months before the election.

Predictably, Obama's campaign was more critical, with senior strategist David Axelrod saying on Twitter: "Is there anything about Romney's Rolling Ruckus that would inspire confidence in his ability to lead US foreign policy?"

It's unclear whether voters in the U.S. are paying attention to Romney's stumbles, especially as concerns about the nation's economy dominate most Americans' concerns.

"I'd say it has the same impact as a stubbed toe," said Iowa Republican John Stineman, a marketing consultant in Des Moines. "People are still focused on the economy."

And Debra Hayes, a Republican-leaning independent from Denver, said Romney's overseas comments have no impact on how she'll vote.

"I'm interested only in the economy - jobs, and the prices of things," said Hayes, who is undecided. "We need to stand with Israel. And our president needs to show leadership overseas. But things are going downhill at home, and that's what matters."

And Romney drew his share of favorable media coverage back home. A speech on Israel policy, delivered at dusk against the scenic backdrop of Jerusalem's Old City, drew praise for its setting and delivery. He and his wife, Ann, appeared relaxed and engaged in an interview on CNN, where Ann Romney described her husband as loving and emotionally engaged.

Still, missteps in the past week have fueled opponents' contentions that the former businessman and Massachusetts governor is out of touch with the nation and the world he hopes to lead.

As the trip got under way, Romney caused a stir in Britain by questioning whether officials there were fully prepared to host the Olympic Games. The dispute overshadowed his efforts to highlight his personal experience leading the Salt Lake City Games a decade ago. Instead, Romney was widely assailed by the London media and criticized by British leaders.

Then on his first day in Israel, Romney distanced himself from an adviser's suggestion that he would "respect" a decision by Israel to launch military action to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capability.

On Monday at a fundraiser, opened to the media after the campaign first said it would be closed, Romney shared a sentiment he sometimes talks about on the campaign trail in the United States and repeats in his book, "No Apology." But his decision to highlight cultural differences in a region where such differences have helped fuel violence for generations prompted new questions about his diplomatic skills ? and enraged Palestinian leaders.

Comparing economic output per capita in Israel and "just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority," he declared that "you notice such a dramatically stark difference in economic vitality." He was speaking to about 40 wealthy donors at the King David Hotel, which is within sight of the Palestinian territory on the West Bank.

He said some economic histories have theorized that "culture makes all the difference."

"And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things," Romney said, citing an innovative business climate, the Jewish history of thriving in difficult circumstances and the "hand of providence." He said similar disparity exists between other neighboring countries, including Mexico and the United States.

Palestinian leaders quickly objected.

"It seems to me this man lacks information, knowledge, vision and understanding of this region and its people," said Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "It is a racist statement, and this man doesn't realize that the Palestinian economy cannot reach its potential because there is an Israeli occupation."

"This will cause a lot of damage to American interests," he said.

Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul said the comments "were grossly mischaracterized."

The campaign added that Romney's comparison of countries that are close to each other and have wide income disparities ? the U.S. and Mexico, Chile and Ecuador ? shows his comments were broader than just the comparison between Israel and the Palestinians.

At the White House, spokesman Josh Earnest said, "One of the challenges of being an actor on the international stage, particularly when you're traveling to such a sensitive part of the world, is that your comments are very closely scrutinized for meaning, for nuance, for motivation."

Earnest sidestepped questions about whether Obama agreed with Romney's comments about culture, saying only that Obama believed economic issues are among the matters that would need to be addressed by the Israelis and Palestinians during any peace talks.

Romney flew on to Poland for two days of visits with leaders.

He met with the Cold War-era Solidarity leader Lech Walesa in Gdansk, earning his endorsement: "I wish you to be successful because the success is needed to the United States, of course, but to Europe as well and to the rest of the world, too. So, Governor Romney, get your success, be successful," Walesa said through a translator.

Walesa suggested Romney's leadership was needed to restore America's position in the world.

Romney is to meet with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on Tuesday before delivering his final foreign policy speech of the trip.

The Romney campaign hopes Walesa's backing will influence Catholics and labor union members in the U.S. But Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, told reporters Monday that the Polish visit "is nothing more than a superficial diversion and a desperate attempt to pander to Polish Americans and Catholics across our country."

Romney's visit to Poland was not without controversy.

Campaign officials said the visit with Walesa came at his invitation, but the current leadership of Solidarity distanced itself from the event and issued a statement critical of Romney. Solidarity characterized Romney as being hostile to unions and against labor rights. It emphasized that it had no role in organizing Romney's visit and expressed support for American labor organizations.

___

Steve Peoples reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland, Karin Laub in Jerusalem, Thomas Beaumont in Iowa, Beth Fouhy in New York and Julie Pace in Washington contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/another-hiccup-romneys-foreign-trip-not-smooth-213107888.html

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Mrs. Wysiwyg: Healthy Dieting & Holiday Baking

Healthy Dieting & Holiday Baking

Ever since I met my husband, I have been gaining weight..and for a good cause, because me being plump is a result of my happiness. Yet, another reason is because I am on a medication that has a side effect of weight gain. Therefore, knowing that I am healthier because of joy than I have ever been, but wanting to shed some weight, I am cutting down on carbs and processed sugar. Meats, cheese, nuts & nut butter, and fruit are my main foods. I drink tea with lemon and sweet & low as my main beverage. The main difference is not eating breads (although I allow low calorie saltine crackers), pastas, rice, potatoes, and desserts.


I am glad because so often when I diet, I go to the extreme and can't stick to it. But I have been faithful for a week and a half so far. And this diet is a lifestyle change I want to continue.


I have decided to allow 2 weeks at Christmas time, 1 week at Valentines, and 1 week at Easter to go all out in baking and cooking savory and sweet treats and let myself indulge during these 4 weeks each year. Otherwise, I plan to stay on my low-carb diet.

image from here

Source: http://mrswysiwyg.blogspot.com/2012/07/healthy-dieting-holiday-baking.html

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Desperation on the Left (Powerlineblog)

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Emotional Health: Health problems | Revista Women's Health

Today and because of the pace of life we lead, means that increasingly more people suffering from diseases related to emotional health. Then talk about the most common.

Stress emotional health problems, are increasingly united people, the pace of life we have made it increasingly more common illnesses and as stress. Stress goes hand in hand with a range of symptoms very uncomfortable for the sufferer.

Work or daily tasks, stress can make it appear at any time in our lives. There are a number of remedies for stress that can help. Psychologists specializing in clinical hypnosis, can help combat stress in a totally natural.

Anxiety when the pathology is more severe, leads to anxiety symptoms of which are much stronger and periods ranging from days up to years.

Anxiety is an emotional condition that has a number of unpleasant symptoms, tightness in chest, difficulty breathing etc ?. there are many soothing teas that can help overcome anxiety.

There are also a number of remedies for anxiety that are very useful. Like stress, hypnosis can be good therapy to consider to cure anxiety.

Depression often have other pathology that may be accompanied by anxiety, we talk about depression. The sufferer believes that nothing makes sense in his life and is very important to seek remedies for depression before they become serious.

Antidepressant medications are recommended by psychiatrists, but this is not the solution to cure the problem but only a patch for the duration of drug effect.

Insomnia (trouble sleeping) insomnia is a common disorder when we suffer any of the above conditions. Sufferer, you can pass up all night without sleep and without sleep.

There are also medicines that help cure insomnia and as yet we talked before, is just a patch that lasts for the duration of the effect. The best way to combat insomnia, is to boot the root problem with natural therapies, psychology, hypnosis or other.

Thus our emotional health is optimal and we can finally sleep well. In addition to these therapies are a number of remedies useful for insomnia.

Phobias: Phobias are usually also a condition that can be linked to these processes of emotional health. Anxiety can end up causing many types of phobias and irrational fears that are meaningless.

Eg claustrophobia is a fear of entering small, enclosed spaces. Who suffers from claustrophobia usually unexplained panic when in small, confined as elevators, tunnels, subway cars or small rooms. To cure the claustrophobia, psychological therapies exist that can help a lot.

Source: http://revistawomenshealth.com/mental-health/emotional-health-health-problems.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=emotional-health-health-problems

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Murder Your Darlings: Interview with poet and activist Jo Ross

Jo Ross recently published a magnificent debut poetry collection, Meeting Bone Man,?from Main Street Rag Publishing. I've read with Ross a couple times, and I think he's one of the best around. He graciously agreed to answer a few questions for me:

Me:?How did you come to writing poetry?

Jo Ross: I started writing poetry in high school and boy, was it bad poetry. It was sentimental, predictable stuff. I continued in college but got more into songwriting. The lyrical work tried to be poetry but it really wasn?t. As I studied, read, and wrote more, I gave myself more and more to poetry. When I was in graduate school, in my mid-to-late 20s I began to take it more seriously.

Me:?What was your inspiration for the image of the archetypal character of ?Bone Man??

Ross: The death of my mother was the genesis for Bone Man. Her death struck me very hard and I felt I was ?seeing death? everywhere. So I went with that image. I wanted to explore what it would look like to see Bone Man, the personification of death, at a party, on the beach, driving in the car next to me? After all, I felt I was seeing him everywhere, so why not describe him in these places. It became a way to resist him, a way at least to say ?I see you!?

Originally, the Bone Man poems were not part of the manuscript that became this book. But thankfully, my friend David Keplinger, director of the Creative Writing program at American University, suggested I use the Bone Man poems as the book?s organizing principle. I?m glad he suggested it. That suggestion helped the book fall into place.

Me:?You often write poetry about other people when so many poets are much more focused on writing about themselves as windows to the world; was there an event that got you started in this direction, or have you always written the poetry of witness?

Ross: In some ways, writing poetry of witness can mask writing about myself. In writing about forgotten people in Darfur, I was, on another level, writing about abandoned parts of myself. Coming to know myself as a Gay man in America, I found myself writing about people or groups that were hated. I didn?t always write explicitly about Gay and Lesbian people but I saw my own experiences of exclusion present in the exclusions of others. So writing poetry of witness, on a deeper level, is sometimes about my own life.

I also think poetry of witness, poetry which some might call political, is very important in our time. We sometimes do terrible things to each other and poetry can be an effective voice to speak about those things. Perhaps we can make the world more beautiful and more kind with poetry about the ugly and cruel ways we sometimes treat one another.

Me:?Tell me about Cool Disco Dan; what appeals to you about his work?

Ross: Cool Disco Dan is a graffiti artist in Washington, D.C. He?s been around, off and on, since the 1980s in the Red Line corridor of Washington, D.C.?s Metro system. My friend, Jefferson Pinder, first pointed out Cool Disco Dan?s work to me. Two elements of graffit art fascinate me. First, the announcement of self. Why would someone, especially a young person, feel the need to shout his or her name in huge, painted letters? Do these artists feel unseen or unheard? I think that?s a fascinating element of graffiti art. Also, I love graffiti art that seeks to memorialize someone who has died. Often, in D.C. at least, a local murder victim will be memorialized by a graffiti artist. The victim?s name might never be known to most people if the artist did not paint his name and birth and death dates. In this way, graffiti art is a modern elegy. It brings the dead back to life.

Me:?Will you share the impetus for the Darfur poems from the collection? What inspired them?

Ross: One summer evening, a few years ago, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum held a slide show on one of the museum?s outside walls, titled ?Faces of Darfur.? I went to this event and sat there on a hot August night, watching the faces of people suffering in Darfur flash over and over before me. I knew I wanted to write something about Darfur?poetry of witness again. So I read everything I could find about the crisis in Darfur and then began to write. I found myself writing persona poems, which I?d never written before. As a result, the Darfur poems are written in the voice of a worker in a refugee camp who washes and prepares the dead bodies. I hope these poems invite the readers to feel and see and hear what was happening in Darfur, because most of us will never go there.

Me:?The thing that surprised me most about this collection was seeing that many of the poems either hadn?t been previously published. Have you encountered resistance in publishing your work, maybe because of the possibly graphic subject matter?

Ross: I always feel very fortunate that many of my poems have been published in various journals and anthologies. I don?t know that I?ve experienced resistance to my sometimes-graphic subject matter. I do choose carefully the journals where I send my work.

Me:?Which writers inspire you and why?

Ross: There are so many poets and writers whose work inspires me. For years, I have loved William Butler Yeats, Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, Pablo Neruda, and Lucille Clifton. Among living poets today I have great respect for Naomi Shihab Nye, E. Ethelbert Miller, Martin Espada, Randall Horton, Aracelis Girmay, Niki Herd, Jericho Brown?to name a few!

Me:?Who are you reading now?

Ross: Right now I?m reading lots of fiction by Junot Diaz. His work is magnificent.

Me: ?You?ve been doing a lot of readings to support the book. Any favorite venues or interesting stories you?d like to share?

Ross: I?m really grateful I?ve been able to do so many readings around the country. I thought it would be harder than it was. I had a terrific experience at a reading at DG Wills Bookstore in La Jolla, California. That bookstore has hosted lots of amazing poets and writers over the years so it was an honor to be there. I also had a wonderful experience in a reading at Saint Mary?s College in Indiana. Many friends were able to come so that was an especially terrific evening for me. The launch reading at Busboys & Poets in Washington, D.C. was also wonderful. The D.C. poetry community is a real family and it was great to launch the book here.

Me:?You?re a teacher as well as poet; how do you balance the workload and still find time to write? Do you find that teaching adds to or takes away from your writing?

Ross: Thankfully, I?m not one of those writers who experiences long writing deserts. I find a way, both when I?m busy and when I?m not, to write at least a little everyday. The school calendar actually gives you a lot of time off?the summer! That?s a real gift to a writer.

I love teaching and I think it certainly adds to my writing. I get to spend my day working with young people on their own writing and discussing great literature with them. There?s a great dialogue in teaching. The teacher presents information-- or the text we?re all reading is presented-- and then we all respond. Teaching provides an opportunity to discuss some of life?s most important realities. What could be better for a writer?

Source: http://clbledsoe.blogspot.com/2012/07/interview-with-poet-and-activist-jo-ross.html

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Shift Health And Fitness Fitness, Fitness And Attractiveness | e ...

You are here: Home ? Health and Fitness ? Shift Health And Fitness Fitness, Fitness And Attractiveness

Swim Spa Fitness, Health insurance and splendor

Swim Spa
Fitness without the Pain
health and wellness beauty
Pounding the streets will seek to you fit but have you ever keep in mind the cartilage as part of your knees?

A swim spa combines the benefits of a swimming pool, spa and health and fitness in a package. It provides opportunities for exercise, relaxation and therapy.

Check out the sports injury statistics below then inform me water doesn?t seem sensible.

* 65% of runners suffer at least one injury a year and miss ten percent of coaching through injury.
* 85% of badminton players are injured every growing season
* Squash players suffer 14 injuries for every single thousand hours of exercise.*
fitness and beauty
It is a nice profit around the operating table for surgeons across America.

Swimming would be the kind of exercise that is least likely to give you mobility problems in later life. Water supports the body and takes the pressure off joints and bones. Warm water eases stiffness. Water is really a cushion in case you fall.
health and elegance
And your fun!

*Injuries in Recreational Adult Fitness Activities,? The American Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 21 (3), pp. 461-467, 1993
The area Saving and Cost Effective Replacement for Swimming Pools

Swim spas are getting more and more common as cost and space efficent ways of getting safe and effective exercise, it does not matter suit your hand positioning ranging from fitness-wise.

A top of those range, above ground swim spa, is approximately 16 feet long, 9 feet wide and up to six feet deep and costs between $30,000 and $40,000. The cheaper models are smaller but still usable and weigh in at around half that figure.

Special lightweight portable pumps are there for turn existing spas into swim spas- providing these are appropriately big sturdy to let swimming set up. These cost around $3,000 to $4,000.

To you needing to boost fitness, swim spas supply an substitute for jogging or gym training. They allow for serious workout sessions without the hazards of traffic or maybe inconveniences of crowded gyms. There will be no sweating, showering, travelling or queuing to take out coming from the pleasure of a workout. They even outperform conventional swimming pools with regards to endurance training as there can?t be a way will need to spin in the end of each lap.

After what you do out, many swim spas offer the best aspects of a promising tub for pure relaxation
Aquatic Gyms

Injuries from water based training are much rarer than those suffered during land based activities where joints are routinely damaged by high workload exercises and muscles can be torn or skin blistered.

Swimming spa systems are versatile and easily adjustable to suit the demands of a typical individual. They usually are used for anything from triathlon training or aerobics to very gentle water walking on that underwater treadmill.The addition of weights, webbed gloves, ankle tethers and rowing machines can turn a spa into an aquatic gym.
Swim spas in chicago Therapy and Rehabilitation
Advantages
health and beauty
The good selling point of exercising in water the fact that joints and muscles suffer far less stress and damage than is really suffered during jogging or running. They are often excellent therapy if anyone is recovering from sports injuries and might provide complete rehab programs including treadmill and graduated walking programs. Take into consideration, though, to achieve the full benefits of hydrotherapy you would like input from a trained therapist.

For many people, especially arthritis suffers, the obese and the very elderly, aquatic exercise will be the only exercise option. A great plus for older people is the idea that falls in water are rarely serious which is is known as a confidence booster for anyone with fragile bones. For anyone with very limited mobility, lifts are available to help them backward and forward of your water.
Reward
Various reports have figured out that even gentle swimming spa and pool workout sessions help with cardiovascular fitness, weight management, mobility, stiffness reduction, diabetes, depression, lumbago, prenatal health and wellness sleep problems- and that is an impressive list.
Paddle-wheels, Propellers and Jets

If you would like a very good swimming-in-place experience, the way the current is generated is vital.

* Swim jets provide current by pumping water at fast through nozzles. The nozzles can be adjusted to give a swimmer buoyancy and a more leisurely swim but jets often generate a large amount of turbulence.
* Propellers generate a steadier current leaving the edges of the pool clear of turbulence.
* Paddle wheels give you a steady, turbulence-free current that is both broad and deep.

Whichever system you decide on, be certain current speed is all it takes for your needs. Very strong swimmers can require up to eight miles a couple of hours for only a good join boot camp.

Technorati Tags:: Fitness, health

Source: http://www.e-prescribe.biz/health-and-fitness/shift-health-and-fitness-fitness-fitness-and-attractiveness

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Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Joins 'The Voice' As Mentor

Armstrong will be a mentor on Christina Aguilera's team.
By Gil Kaufman

Billie Joe Armstrong performs with the cast of "American Idiot" on September 28, 2010 in New York City.
Photo: Slaven Vlasic/ Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1690645/green-day-billie-joe-armstrong-the-voice.jhtml

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On The Experience Towards Personal Development? Try These Tips!

Previous Post: Interesting Tips And Tips For Achieving Physical FItness &nbsp Next Post: Great Personal Development Assistance Everyone Can Use

Self-help is really an activity which includes produced a lot in latest time. Although self improvement is a commendable goal, the entire process of personal development can be achieved with many roadblocks with an individual who lacks the proper understanding. This article contains several tips on personal development and the ways to become successful within your self help quest.

Decide what you wish to do on your own. This doesn?t suggest that you have to map out your whole daily life upfront. Consider the next five years. Exactly where do you need to be? Exactly what does your lifestyle look like? When you analyze this eyesight it is possible to move separate the levels and figure out the best plan of action to acquire where you need to be.

Keep your humorousness in all scenarios. If you find that there is far too very much pressure and negativity in your life, do what you can to obtain the sense of humor within the circumstance. Comedy is actually a fast and effective way to lessen tension and dislodge anxiety. Laugh your issues out.

Keep a diary of your ideas and moods and finally you will see a routine emerge. Maybe you get painfully shy at parties or be sorry for saying of course to so many pursuits. When you know what your designs are you can mindfully commence to alter them to squeeze into a more healthy way of life of ideas and actions.

When studying from the group personal advancement, it is essential to keep good and maintain on your own esteem up quite high. When taking care of yourself, you may occasionally run into challenges that try and knock you down. This is the reason you should always remember to stay solid and maintain your mind up.

Develop strong and wholesome partnerships with excellent men and women. The people that you just share your way of life with are going to assist you in your journey to a happy lifestyle. In case you are all around unfavorable folks, it is not necessarily proceeding to assist you to change your methods and look for the lifespan you want to live.

Switching your sleep routine can boost your daily life in fantastic methods. Often times we are getting excessive sleeping and many the time is squandered. If we can easily go to sleep earlier we can usually awaken earlier. Once we get up previously that allows us to get more time for you to do the issues we enjoy doing.

To be able to gain correct personal development you should make confident you take in and process the bulk of the info you just discovered. You not only want to make sure you remember anything you just discovered but you wish to also be sure you utilize your expertise appropriately, only then can you see real self improvement.

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Posted in Health 3 hours, 25 minutes ago at 6:10 pm. Add a comment

Source: http://blog.dwarkadelhi.com/?p=42169

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Bowling Results - The Sports Desk

AMF FREDERICKSBURG
Happy rollers (seniors)

Bob McGann 191, 226, 277, 694; Marc Hubbard 217, 235, 191, 643; Jim Beach 259, 630; John Yankoviak 200, 236, 624; Bobby Phillips 203, 231, 621; John Bailey 263, 614; Bob Resio 206, 223, 609; Joe Dungan 237, 192, 597; Bob Epp 236, 192, 597; Wiley Coon 190, 213, 584; Kenny Brooks 213, 583; Bill Allshouse 190, 567; Bill Tinsley 210, 560; Dick Jaco 212, 549; John Rourke 545; Louis Achille 212; Morris Antwine 206; Ed Horn 201; Tom Weetman 193; Tom Bondurant 192; John Arnold 191; Rich Strickland 191; Bruce Baldwin 190.

Billie Mitchem 176, 232, 546; Julie Bowman 170, 196, 176, 542; Terrie Yarrington 183, 506; Nancy Yeatts 180.

Model T?s (seniors)

Bill Allshouse 213, 221, 228, 662; Joe Dungan 191, 220, 226, 637; Bobby Phillips 194, 206, 582; Rino Biello 193, 195, 560; Jay Bowling 191, 202, 554; Jerry Wade 206.
Anne Keller 200, 524; Nancy Yeatts 188, 496; Terrie Yarrington 195, 474; Jean Criss 177, 470; Lee Phillips 466; Linda Jones 453; Marlene Butler 172.

Steve?s trios

Rick Marvin 246, 258, 718; Les Williams 256, 679; Sam Pitner 259, 667; Ron Daniels 256, 665; Justin Story 233, 642; Tommy Trevino 638; Jimmie Durante 232, 632; Aaron Lewis 239, 631; Paul Trevino 244.
Kim Wallace 235, 206.

LIBERTY LANES
Tuesday summer mixed league

Brent Raine 244, 680; Mark Jones 242, 656; Don McElheny 231, 646; Richard Hailstalk 245, 627; Chris Boulware 231, 625; Barry Robinson 245; Albert Parnell 234. Carolyn Reynolds 203; Kahla Adams 202; Samantha Iversen 202; Terry Ryan 202.

Green pin
July 25 scores

Sean Dickerson 265, 654; Chuck Allen 641; Tony Nelson 243, 627.

July 18 scores

Sean Dickerson 245, 653; Jacob Capra 247.

Source: http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/sports/2012/07/26/bowling-results-2/

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Health Care's New Rules: If You Don't Buy Insurance, Will You ...

By Joseph Antos and Michael R. Strain

Generally speaking, if you owe the IRS, it will get the money from you?with the possible exception of the ObamaCare tax.

Now that the Supreme Court has decided that ObamaCare?s mandate to buy health insurance is a tax, will the IRS be able to collect it?

Generally speaking, if you owe the IRS, it will get the money from you?with the possible exception of the ObamaCare tax. Though ObamaCare?s individual mandate imposes a tax on people who do not purchase government-approved health insurance, the law explicitly neuters the IRS?s ability to collect the tax.

Bizarre? Yes. And it matters. If policymakers expect uninsured young people to buy health insurance when it is even more expensive than it is today, the threat of serious consequences for not doing so must be real. Yes, the threat that the IRS might come after you if you do not do what you are told looks real at first glance. But Democratic politicians, fearing public backlash for making the mandate too intrusive, pulled its teeth.

First, the tax (nee penalty) is too small to matter to the people who are its target. In 2014, the tax will be the larger of $95 or 1 percent of taxable income for an individual. By 2016 it rises to $695 or 2.5 percent of income. Young people would not want to pay a dollar if they could avoid it, but avoiding the tax means signing up for insurance that many do not think they need. That insurance is not free. Even with subsidies, they will pay at least 3 percent of their incomes for premiums and up to 6 percent of the cost of the insurance in deductibles and copayments. That adds up to a lot more than 95 bucks.

Second, the law counts on most of the scofflaws turning themselves in. If you do not have insurance and think you owe the tax, then you will be asked to check a box to that effect on your tax return. If you choose to ignore the mandate, you might also choose not to check the box. But even those who do confess that they do not have insurance may not be liable for the new tax. Illegal aliens, Native Americans, prisoners, those who are without insurance for less than 3 months, those who do not have to file an income tax return, anyone who faces a hardship or cannot find affordable coverage, and others are all exempt.

Third, the law requires the IRS to sift through 140 million income tax returns to track down the few scofflaws who are actually liable. This requires collecting information from both the insurance companies and the individual filers in an expensive feat of bureaucratic detective work. What are the specifics? The details of any plan other than taking your word for it have not been worked out yet, but the likely scenario finds insurance companies sending documentation to the IRS and to the taxpayer, which the taxpayer would then include with his return. That means even more bureaucracy and regulatory burden than the healthcare industry and the IRS currently have. And more bureaucracy and regulation mean greater expense, both to insurers (who will pass those costs to consumers in higher premiums) and to the government.

Taking all parts of ObamaCare together, the IRS is expected to spend $881 million from 2010 through 2013 on thousands of new workers and upgrades to computer systems?amazing, since the bulk of ObamaCare does not even go into effect until later years.

Finally, even if the IRS has determined that you owe the new tax, it has very limited ability to force you to pay it. Basically, the IRS has two options: To ask you for the money and to reduce the size of your tax refund. But the IRS cannot reduce your refund unless you overpay. Since taxpayers have great control over their withholding, a savvy taxpayer who does not want to buy insurance could easily work the system to ensure that the IRS could not hold back his refund to enforce the mandate tax. And half of American households do not owe any income tax to begin with, so good luck getting the money from them. In addition, with electronic filing, the IRS may have already sent you the full refund before they?ve figured out that you owe the ObamaCare tax. All in all, it could take years for the IRS to collect its money.

This contrasts sharply with the way the IRS collects other taxes. To put it simply, the IRS gets the money it is owed because it has broad powers to enforce compliance. After all, there?s a reason we?re all scared of the IRS.

To enforce tax compliance, the government can bring a lawsuit against you, but that option is generally reserved for the most serious tax evaders?not individuals who owe a $695 penalty. In contrast, the ObamaCare law says that anyone who does not have health insurance and fails to pay the tax cannot be criminally prosecuted or criminally penalized. There goes the government?s strongest weapon.

What happens most of the time is very simple: If you refuse to pay your taxes, then the government takes your stuff. The government can take all the assets you currently have and assets you expect to receive in the future. For example, the money you have in your checking and savings accounts, your car, your boat, your retirement account, any rental income, and wages that have not been paid to you can be taken by the IRS in order to collect the money you owe. The IRS?s power is so strong that it holds third parties liable if they choose not to surrender property that the IRS demands. So your bank has to comply with the IRS.

Not so if the tax you refuse to pay is the ObamaCare tax. Under ObamaCare, the IRS cannot seize any of your property to enforce the mandate penalty. The IRS cannot go after the money in your bank accounts, and it can?t sell your car. It can?t send you to jail, and it can?t touch your stuff.

Congress has enacted a law that cannot be enforced. Congress purposely limited the enforcement powers of the IRS to avoid the public outcry that a strong mandate to buy government-approved insurance would evoke. The mandate may be constitutional, but as Chief Justice Roberts pointed out, a constitutional law is not automatically good policy.

The government?s inability to enforce the individual mandate is just one of many problems with ObamaCare. Mandate or not, laws should be enforceable, and they should be reasonable. This law has to go. The American public should turn the tables on the government and enforce a mandate of its own: Create and execute reasonable health policy.

Joseph Antos is the Wilson H. Taylor Scholar in Healthcare and Retirement Policy at the American Enterprise Institute, where Michael R. Strain is a research fellow. This post first appeared at The American.

Filed Under: THCB

Jul 27, 2012

Source: http://thehealthcareblog.com/blog/2012/07/27/health-cares-new-rules-if-you-dont-buy-insurance-will-you-really-pay-the-tax/

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The ISESCO Dismisses Abusively a Moroccan Researcher for ...

By Loubna Flah

Morocco World News

Casablanca, July 27, 2012

Ms. FA C., a brilliant and young Moroccan researcher could not imagine that the mere fact of demanding her legitimate rights would cost her position as an administrative assistant in the department of culture and communication in the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization( ISESCO). She preferred to keep her anonymity for personal reasons.

The Moroccan researcher had addressed earlier a letter to the ISESCO director general Mr. Abdelaziz Touijri claiming the right to be affiliated to the National Fund for Social Security commonly known as the CNSS. Ms. FA.C advocated also the right to have the status and the salary of a program specialist in equivalence with her MA degree as stipulated in the ISESCO internal charter. She also expressed her right to have a permanent job after six month of work in addition to the right to social security coverage after retirement.

Faced with the director general lethargy, Ms. F.C delegated the matter to her lawyer who sent a letter to the ISESCO president Mr. Touijri urging him to grant Ms. FA.C her rights in compliance with the ISESCO internal charter.

In an interview with Morocco World News, Ms. FA.C said that ?the ISESCO received a letter with my demands via my lawyer on July 17th. The following day and with no further delay I was handed the dismissal letter and asked to leave my office in a very rude way. I was not even allowed to log out form my mailbox and to switch off my computer?

The head of administrative affairs who signed the dismissal decision states that Ms. FA.C was fired because she committed a serious mistake without stating explicitly the kind of mistake that owed her position inside the Islamic organization. He adds that she had breached the ISESCO organic law.

Ms. FA.C earned a BA in Islamic theology and a BA in political science from Mohammed V University in Rabat. She graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in UK where she obtained an MA degree in cultural policy and management. She also obtained a fellowship position in Women, Religion and Globalization project at Yale University in the USA. She is currently conducting her PHD research in religion and politics. Ms. FA.C signed a contract with the ISESCO on March 21, 2011.

Ms. FA.C pinpoints that there are similar antecedent cases of abusive dismissal where one of her former colleagues was fired who has resorted to justice to recover his rights. It is noteworthy that the ministry of foreign affairs and solidarity has already requested the ISESCO to register all its employees including the contractors like Ms. FA.C to social security.

The ISESCO is an Islamic organization that aims at promoting and the consolidating cooperation opportunities among the members of the OIC (the Organization of Islamic Conference) in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. The ISESCO seeks also to promote tolerance, world peace and security through its various programs.

The ISESCO current director general Mr. Touijri has been at the head of the Islamic for organization since 1991 though the ISESCO charter stipulates in the Article 13th that the president can be elected by the General Conference for a three-year term, renewable only twice, upon a proposal by the Executive Council. This incident raises serious questions regarding the ISESCO obligations towards its employees as well as the transparency in its management.

Source: http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2012/07/49535/the-isesco-dismisses-abusively-a-moroccan-researcher-for-claiming-her-right-to-social-security-coverage/

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The Benefits of Software for Attorneys

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.articlesbd.com/articles/217988/1/The-Benefits-of-Software-for-Attorneys/Page1.html

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Drug War bill cuts judges from wiretap process - Capitol Fax.com

* Oh, no, our civil liberties will be fine while the government conducts its endless war on drugs?

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn sparked frustration among civil rights advocates by signing a new police wiretap law Tuesday.

Illinois police currently need a court order to secretly record conversations of drug criminals, but under the new law that goes into effect Jan. 1, a state?s attorney could give that go ahead.

Quinn said the change will allow faster arrests. [?]

But Ed Yohnka, director of communications and public policy with the American Civil Liberties Union, wished Quinn and the legislature would have left things alone. Yohnka said judges act as a neutral third party and they can already act fast enough.

* From the synopsis?

Provides that it is an exception to an eavesdropping violation, with prior request to and verbal approval of the State?s Attorney of the county in which the conversation is anticipated to occur, recording or listening with the aid of an eavesdropping device to a conversation in which a law enforcement officer, or any person acting at the direction of a law enforcement officer, is a party to the conversation and has consented to the conversation being intercepted or recorded in the course of an investigation of a drug offense.

* From a Quinn press release?

This legislation will strengthen the justice system by allowing more credible evidence into criminal proceedings. Judges and juries will be able to hear the actual conversations of those suspected of committing drug crimes, rather than relying on witness testimony that can be unreliable. Prosecutors and defense attorneys will also have more evidence to consider while negotiating plea agreements, which reduce the burden upon the criminal justice system. This new process allows Illinois law enforcement the same flexibility in crime situations as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and law enforcement in surrounding states.

And, yet, the police still oppose a bill that would allow citizens to record their public comments without facing a felony and years behind bars.

Discuss.

Source: http://capitolfax.com/2012/07/25/drug-war-bill-cuts-judges-from-wiretap-process/

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Penn State, And How Nonprofit Boards Will Shape ... - Fast Company

This article is written by a member of our expert contributor community.

To begin with, many of you did plenty. If you?re reading this post, then it?s likely that you?re active in social media. Public attention to recent nonprofit board scandals, as well as robust participation via Twitter, Facebook, and other social media has been influential in the cases of Penn State, University of Virginia, and the Komen Foundation. There were financial and reputational consequences for organizations led by people who made bad decisions.

Beyond these three cases, you are having an exponential impact because two messages are loud and clear: 1) Boards of nonprofit organizations can no longer be secretive about the ways in which they are handling their responsibilities; there will be transparency, and 2) Boards are being held responsible to act with integrity, for the purpose of the mission, in the best interests of the people whom they serve; boards will be held accountable.

For many of us who have served on and worked with boards for over two decades, we eagerly welcome these newly heightened levels of transparency and accountability. For too long, ?old school? funders and board members have shuttered themselves behind closed doors and been complacent about board apathy and dysfunctional practices.

Here?s what you?ve done to alert nonprofit boards that it?s no longer business as usual:

1. Raised public awareness that the boards of directors of nonprofits--global, national, and regional organizations, including universities and healthcare institutions--have the authority, power, and responsibility to ensure the integrity of the organization in achieving its mission.
2. Held organizations accountable by asking tough questions, and expressing your dissatisfaction upon learning that board members have neglected their duties, even potentially sitting idly by while children were being abused.
3. Shifted your financial contributions from one organization to another when you disagreed with a shift in board policies, or even the reckless way in which the board might have made key decisions.

Here?s why it matters that you?ve engaged in this public discussion about boards:

1. Boards are on notice that if they neglect their duties in putting the mission and integrity of the organization above all, they are likely to be exposed. As a result, boards will no longer be able to stifle dissent and discussion; board members will be more emboldened to ask the questions that need to be asked; and boards will be more conscientious, deliberate, and thoughtful about fulfilling their responsibilities.
2. More funders and donors will ask questions about how the boards function at their grantee organizations.
3. Board members, funders, donors, and board consultants will improve boards by focusing on: board composition, leadership, governance practices, structure, process, and most importantly, ethics and fiduciary responsibilities.

Here?s what you can do to further advance the momentum for better boards:

1. Continue to be attentive to what happens in nonprofit board rooms in the news, among the organizations that your company funds, and where you make contributions.
2. Continue to engage in the discussions via social media.
3. Consider joining a nonprofit board yourself. It?s likely that you have professional skills and expertise, as well as perspectives from your personal experience that will be valuable in helping to advance a nonprofit in achieving its mission. Here are factors to consider in terms of your being ready to join a board, choose a board, find a board that fits, and benefit from the experience.

NGOs and nonprofits address issues of poverty, education, renewable natural resources, healthcare, housing, social justice, human rights, jobs, economic development, and arts and culture, among other things. Boards have the ultimate authority to ensure that these organizations use their resources as intended by donors, governments, and other funders to achieve their missions for a better world.

With your attention to governance and nonprofits, you are helping to ensure that boards fulfill their responsibilities in helping to build a better world.

[Image: Flickr user Mengjie Jo]

Source: http://www.fastcompany.com/1843511/penn-state-and-other-nonprofit-board-scandals-here-s-what-you-can-do

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Would you want a robotic pet cat or dog? - Straight Dope Message ...

My premise is that some time in the future, we have perfected the science of robotics, and we can now make a robotic cat or dog that is virtually indistinguishable from a flesh cat or dog, except it is programmable and it never dies.

Some parameters:
- The pet animal is programmable - you can program all unwanted behaviours out of your pet (such as scratching furniture or barking), or leave these behaviours in at whatever level you find acceptable.
- There would be an on/off switch or stand-by mode - you can just turn your pet off when you go on vacation if you don't want to take it with you.
- The power pack would be a lifetime supply.

Would that interest you - to have a cat or dog that wouldn't do the things you don't like, but would still seem to be a pet cat or dog?

(I've focused on cats and dogs as the most common pets, but if you'd prefer a pet robotic bunny or parrot or whatever, please feel free to join in the discussion.)

__________________
"To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection."
- H. Poincar?

Source: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=659675

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Agency Branding in 2012 & Beyond ? Inbound or Something Else ...

Many Internet marketing focused agencies are trying to figure out the best way to position their brand for optimal exposure while adequately communicating what they do. Currently, the agency marketplace is rather fragmented regarding semantic brand recognition. Some of the phrases used to brand agencies and describe services include inbound marketing, earned media, demand generation, social media marketing, search engine optimization, content marketing and Internet optimization.

The Tactical Overlap is Apparent

These semantics are also at the heart of a fiery debate happening right now in the SEO industry. The fact of the matter is that any high-performing agency that brands its services as any of the above is essentially providing the same service as the agencies branded using the other terms. Their primary focus, priorities and KPIs may be a little different or weighted more toward a specific discipline, but the overlap in services is apparent.

Why the Overlap?

It is generally accepted that inbound marketing is the culmination of content marketing, social media marketing, SEO and online public relations. Each discipline, individually, requires the others in order to be optimally successful. For example, in order to do content marketing well, it requires distribution via social media and search engines, among others.

To do social media marketing well requires lots of good content, which should naturally do well in search engines by virtue of Google?s Caffeine update Freshness, while simultaneously serving many PR functions.

Agencies that position themselves as SEO service providers must use content marketing, social media marketing and PR in order to provide good results. Google?s algorithm changes over the last three years or so has solidified this.

Phrases like earned media, demand generation and Internet optimization are all umbrella terms that essentially mean the same thing as inbound marketing. All of which are derived from Seth Godin?s permission marketing,?also known as pull marketing.

Other Internet Marketing Disciplines

The other Internet marketing disciplines surrounding paid advertising, like pay per click, retargeting or banner advertising, are not included because they are considered interruption-based, outbound or push marketing. Affiliate marketing is also a separate discipline.

What the Customer Wants

An agency?s customers, from the SMB to the Enterprise, may tell a service provider they want SEO, social media or content marketing, but what they really want is to capture and convert more customers than their competitors, build a positive brand image online and do these things as cost effectively as possible. That?s why they?re asking for the service in the first place.

Since there?s so much overlap in the disciplines today, agencies can?t do one discipline well without accounting for and leveraging the others. Agencies that focus on one discipline are working in a silo and are forced to rely on others to make its discipline optimally successful. This can be problematic when trying to deliver results because, if content or distribution isn?t deployed by the other silo or silos, it drags down the whole campaign.

Specialization as a Marketing Tool

There will always be companies that request specific specialized services, such as email marketing, social media marketing and SEO. Agencies can easily position themselves to go after a specific market. However, by doing so, the agency can be typecast, have limited opportunity and less-than-optimal results.

Decision Time

Assuming an agency doesn?t want to be typecast or limit its opportunity, phrases like search engine optimization, social media marketing and content marketing should be eliminated as branding phrases. This leaves phrases like inbound marketing, earned media, demand generation and Internet optimization.

Any of the above phrases would do a good job at adequately describing the breadth of services provided by an agency. Now the question is, which one is the most popular, will be adopted by the industry and recognized by prospects? According to Google, inbound marketing is the most popular, and with thought leaders like Rand Fishkin of SEOmoz and Dharmesh Shah of Hubspot using the term regularly, it?s just a matter of time until it?s adopted by the entire online marketing industry and recognized by all prospects and customers.

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Allocate Your Marketing Resources Accurately

Source: http://www.business2community.com/branding/agency-branding-in-2012-beyond-inbound-or-something-else-0223900

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USDA says drought will push up food prices in 2013

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ? The federal government is projecting the record drought gripping half the U.S. will help push food prices up by 3 percent to 4 percent next year.

Figures released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday show that beef prices are expected to see the biggest jump at 4 percent to 5 percent. Dairy product prices are expected to climb 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent. And poultry prices are expected to rise 3 percent to 4 percent.

USDA economist Richard Volpe says these are the agency's first food price projections to factor in the drought. Corn, soybean and other commodity prices are soaring.

Meat and poultry are the most affected because feed prices represent the biggest part of their cost of production. Processed food prices are less affected.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/usda-says-drought-push-food-prices-2013-172759596--finance.html

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Casino Giant Genting's Political Strategy: Big Checks And Many Bets

Miami Herald:

Genting Group, the Malaysian casino giant, is seeding its bets across Florida's political spectrum this election year as it continues to secure the foothold it needs to build a Miami casino empire.

Read the whole story at Miami Herald

Contribute to this Story:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/casino-giant-gentings-pol_n_1695688.html

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Syria could use chemical weapons if attacked

BEIRUT (AP) ? Syria threatened Monday to unleash its chemical and biological weapons if the country faces a foreign attack, a desperate warning from a regime that has failed to crush a powerful and strengthening rebellion.

The statement ? Syria's first-ever acknowledgement that the country possesses weapons of mass destruction ? suggests President Bashar Assad will continue the fight to stay in power, regardless of the cost.

"It would be reprehensible if anybody in Syria is contemplating use of such weapons of mass destruction like chemical weapons," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said during a trip to Belgrade, Serbia. "I sincerely hope the international community will keep an eye on this so that there will be no such things happening."

Syria is believed to have nerve agents as well as mustard gas, Scud missiles capable of delivering these lethal chemicals and a variety of advanced conventional arms, including anti-tank rockets and late-model portable anti-aircraft missiles.

During a televised news conference Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi stressed that the weapons are secure and would only be used in the case of an external attack.

"No chemical or biological weapons will ever be used, and I repeat, will never be used, during the crisis in Syria no matter what the developments inside Syria," he said. "All of these types of weapons are in storage and under security and the direct supervision of the Syrian armed forces and will never be used unless Syria is exposed to external aggression."

The Syrian government later tried to back off from the announcement, sending journalists an amendment to the prepared statement read out by Makdissi. The amendment said "all of these types of weapons ? IF ANY ? are in storage and under security." It was an attempt to return to Damascus' position of neither confirming nor denying the existence of non-conventional weapons.

In his comments to reporters, Makdissi also repeated the regime's assertion that the country's 17-month-old conflict, which activists say has killed at least 19,000 people, is not the result of a popular uprising, casting it instead as the work of foreign extremists looking to destroy the nation.

Israel and the U.S. are concerned that Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons could fall into the hands of Islamist militants should the regime in Damascus collapse. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Sunday that his country would "have to act" if necessary to safeguard the arsenal from rogue elements.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Monday that "any possible use of these kinds of weapons would be completely unacceptable."

"The Syrian regime has a responsibility to the world, has a responsibility first and foremost to its own citizens to protect and safeguard those weapons," she said, adding that Washington was working with allies to monitor the situation and send the message to both Syria's government and opposition about the importance of protecting non-conventional weapons.

A senior U.S. intelligence official said Friday the Syrians have moved chemical weapons material from the country's north, where the fighting was fiercest, apparently to both secure and consolidate it, which U.S. officials considered a responsible step.

But there has also been a disturbing rise in activity at the installations, so the U.S. intelligence community is intensifying its monitoring efforts to track the weapons and try to figure out whether the Syrians are trying to use them, the official said on condition of anonymity to discuss the still-evolving investigation.

Concerns over Syria's long-suspected chemical weapons stockpiles have skyrocketed in recent days as the rebels gain serious momentum in their fight to oust the Assad regime.

Since last week, the anti-Assad fighters have claimed a stunning bomb attack that killed four high-level security officials in Damascus, captured several border crossings and launched sustained offensives in Damascus and Aleppo, the two largest cities and both regime strongholds.

Makdissi tried to assure Syrians that the situation was under control, despite reports of clashes throughout the country.

"Yes, there were clashes on certain streets in certain neighborhoods, but the security situation is now much better. Everyone is feeling reassured," he said. "We are not happy about this, but this is an emergency situation and it will not last more than a day or two and the situation will return to normal."

Security forces appeared to show more government control in videos posted online by activists Monday. Some of the clips show Syrian militia sweeping through Damascus neighborhoods once held by rebels, kicking down doors and searching houses in mop up operations against the fighters that had managed to hold parts of the capital for much of last week.

It was a different story in Aleppo, however, where the Britain-based Syria Observatory reported fierce fighting in a string of neighborhoods, including Sakhour and Hanano, in the northeast of Syria's largest city.

Several videos posted by activists showed rebels battling regime tanks in Sakhour's narrow streets. In one clip, a tank on fire rumbles along a road after being hit by rebels as a man jumps out of the flaming turret. Other videos showed cheering rebels celebrating around destroyed tanks, even driving around one they had captured.

The rebel advance has been a swift turnaround in the momentum of the uprising, which began in March 2011. Still, the opposition remains hobbled by divisions within their ranks and the fact that they are outgunned by the well-armed regime. The violence, meanwhile, has become far more unstable than many had ever imagined, with al-Qaida and other extremists exploiting the chaos.

Still, the opposition fighters have kept up their battle for 17 months, chipping away at government power and penetrating the aura of invincibility that the Assad family dynasty has built up over four decades in power.

Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar have pledged funds to aid Syria's rebels, but there is no clear trail showing how much is reaching the fighters.

U.S. officials are debating whether to step up aid to the rebels, including sending in heavy weaponry, but officials are worried the aid may end up in the hands of Islamic militants who have infiltrated the rebel Free Syrian Army, the American official said.

Former CIA officer Reuel Marc Gerecht, who is now a scholar at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, said Friday that the agency has only a handful of operatives working on the Turkish side of the Syrian border, helping allies who want to give the rebels aid identify which groups are legitimate.

The agency has distributed encrypted radios to the rebels to help them coordinate their attacks. Gerecht has called for the White House to initiate a covert CIA operation inside Syria, to help arm the rebels with weaponry able to take down the helicopter gunships menacing Syrian towns.

Even as the government appeared to be reasserting control in the capital after the weeklong rebel assault, the Arab League offered Assad and his family a "safe exit" if he steps down.

Assad, 46, is married with three young children under the age of 13.

"This request comes from all the ... Arab states: Step aside," said Qatari Prime Minister Hamid bin Jassim Al Thani at an Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Doha, Qatar, that concluded at dawn Monday. He urged Syria to form a temporary transitional government to plan for a possible post-Assad era. Makdissi dismissed the offer as "flagrant interventionism."

The Arab League has already suspended Syria's membership and it is doubtful that Assad will pay much attention to their calls.

___

Associated Press writers Ben Hubbard in Beirut, Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, Jovanna Gec in Belgrade, Serbia, and Bradley Klapper and AP security writer Kimberly Dozier in Washington contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-could-chemical-weapons-attacked-185511673.html

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