Friday, August 31, 2012

New car standards good for air, reduced oil dependence

The Obama Administration this week finalized new fuel efficiency standards leading to cars and light duty trucks that achieve 54.4 miles per gallon by 2025.

There is much to like about the fuel efficiency standards, which have the support of the 13 major automakers responsible for 90 percent of the vehicles sold in the United States.

Energy efficient vehicles move this country away from dependence on foreign oil. The fuel efficiency programs already in place and improving over the next decade will reduce oil consumption by more than 2 million barrels a day by 2025. That?s the equivalent of about half of the oil we import from OPEC each day.

It?s abundantly clear that oil is a finite resource, but a resource the global economy still leans on heavily. Anything the government and auto industry can do to significantly reduce consumption helps to stretch those supplies out while innovators work on new technologies to transition from the fossil fuel economy.

The fuel efficiency standards also represent one of the few success stories in the bid to reduce carbon pollution that contributes to climate change. The standards should cut emissions from cars and small trucks by 50 percent by 2025. It represents a carbon dioxide emission reduction of 6 billion metric tons over the life of the program. Put another way, the CO2 reductions are more than all of the carbon dioxide emitted by the United States in 2010.

With gas prices once again above the $4 per gallon mark this summer, consumers know just how big of bite fuel for vehicles takes out of a household budget. Federal officials estimate that a family buying a 2025 model car will see a fuel savings of about $8,000 over the life of the vehicle. That?s comparable to lowering the price of gas by about $1.

Consumers are already gravitating to energy efficient vehicles entering the market place. There are gas-powered cars on the market achieving 40 mpg on the freeway without compromising comfort, safety and acceleration. There?s ample reason to believe that the auto industry can and will take advantage of a variety of new technologies as it transitions to the cars of the future.

Some of the technologies already available include: advanced gasoline engines and transmissions, vehicle weight reductions, lower tire rolling resistance, improved aerodynamics and improvements in air conditioning systems.

The federal fuel efficiency program also provides incentives for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicles that utilize fuel cells.

The fuel efficiency standards provide an opportunity for America to lead the way to a new transportation future that other nations can and should emulate.

Source: http://www.theolympian.com/2012/08/31/2232397/new-car-standards-good-for-air.html

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Movie review: McConaughey only bright spot in nasty 'Killer Joe ...

Cop-turned-contract killer Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey, right) meets with Dottie (Juno Temple), the slow-witted daughter of the woman Joe has been hired to kill, in the drama "Killer Joe." Courtesy LD Entertainment

If it weren?t for Matthew McConaughey?s tightly coiled performance, the nasty white-trash drama "Killer Joe" wouldn?t be worth the powder it would take to blow it to hell.

Chris (Emile Hirsch), a lowlife Texas drug dealer, needs to raise cash or get beat up badly. So he concocts a scheme with his dim-bulb dad, Ansel (Thomas Haden Church), and Ansel?s slutty second wife, Sharla (Gina Gershon), to have Ansel?s first wife killed for the insurance, with the money going to Chris? pretty but slow-witted sister, Dottie (Juno Temple).

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HH

?Killer Joe?

Opens Friday, Aug. 31, at the Broadway Centre Cinemas; rated NC-17 for graphic disturbing content involving violence and sexuality, and a scene of brutality; 102 minutes. For more movie reviews, visit nowsaltlake.com/movies.

Alas, the hitman, a moonlighting police detective known as "Killer" Joe Cooper (McConaughey), wants the cash in advance ? until he catches sight of Dottie and says he?ll do the job if he can take her as a "retainer."

What follows in writer Tracy Letts? adaptation of his own play is a series of double-crosses, which ultimately bring Joe to unleash some righteous fury onto Chris? family in a pointlessly ugly finale. Director William Friedkin (who also brought Letts? play "Bug" to the screen) wallows in the story?s nihilism, staging claustrophobic scenes of wincing brutality and lurid sexuality. (When we first see Gershon, it?s a close-up of her naked crotch.)

Only McConaughey, who applies his Texas charm to the lethally seductive character, rises above the slime long enough to make an impression.

movies@sltrib.com; nowsaltlake.com/movies

Copyright 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/54774558-80/joe-killer-mcconaughey-ansel.html.csp

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Redskins S Jackson suspended indefinitely by NFL

Washington Redskins safety Tanard Jackson breaks up a pass intended for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Kris Adams to end the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Redskins safety Tanard Jackson breaks up a pass intended for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Kris Adams to end the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

(AP) ? Washington Redskins safety Tanard Jackson was suspended indefinitely without pay Friday by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy, complicating the team's plans on the day players were cut to establish a 53-man roster for the start of the regular season.

Jackson's suspension began immediately. He will be able to apply for reinstatement in exactly one year.

This is Jackson's third drugs-related suspension, the previous two coming during his five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 2007 fourth-round pick was banished for four games in 2009 and for 12 months starting in September 2010.

The Buccaneers terminated Jackson's contract in April after he failed a physical. He signed a one-year deal with the Redskins a few days later, reuniting him with former Tampa Bay head coach and new Washington defensive backs coach Raheem Morris.

Jackson spent the first part of training camp recovering from knee and shoulder injuries, but he started against the Indianapolis Colts in the third preseason game.

Jackson joined Brandon Meriweather and Madieu Williams as new additions at safety this year as the Redskins attempted to rebuild the position after parting ways with LaRon Landry and Oshiomogho Atogwe.

But Meriweather missed the last two preseason games after hurting his left knee against the Chicago Bears. His injury and Jackson's suspension were expected to influence the number of safeties coach Mike Shanahan planned to carry on the roster.

The Redskins had until 9 p.m. Friday to cut 22 players.

___

Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

___

Online: http://bigstory.ap.org/NFL-Pro32 and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-08-31-FBN-Redskins-Jackson-Suspended/id-d83a03ce5e044aecbbda3395e4fd8cdd

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

mosesjohnsen: Ensuring the safety of your home and family with the ...

A locksmith is a?? handyman that provides a very valuable service to you even though most people might not consider it as such. This is because you don?t always look for a serrurier unless you?re in the process of installing a new system of doors and locks in your home or are involved in the real estate business where such things have to be looked into.

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A serrurier Paris is a well recognized person that offers his services to people in the city and helps them out in various situations that cannot be tackled without a locksmith.? The first thing someone losing his car keys will do is call his usual serrurier who will arrive in no time with his ubiquitous bunch of keys to help his client get his car door opened. ??He will also offer to make a new key in place of the lost one for which he will submit his quotation.

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There?s a normal process that one has to go through with a serrurier unless it?s an emergency, in which case your locksmith will not waste time submitting quotations but arrive forthwith to help his client. That?s mainly when the client is someone well known to him and with whom he has done business before. Most people in Paris have their own serrurier Paris because they are well aware of his worth and would rather pay extra for the services of an honest, efficient and reputed locksmith than be forced to accept the services of an unknown locksmith during an emergency.

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A serrurier Paris is well qualified and is a specialized technician who is able to identify any type of lock or key and get it opened even if the key is tightly jammed inside the lock; and he will do it without damaging the door. His box of tools that he always carries with him will be his only aid and with dexterous fingers and sense of touch he will have your locked door or safe opened without too much of a hassle.

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If you require a major job to be done in your home or office such as changing all the locks in your house because there has been many burglaries in your neighborhood and you wish to secure your home, you can get your serrurier Paris to asses your residence and provide a quotation which you will find is very fair and reasonable when you consider that he will be using only high quality products and do his work according to the specifications.

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It?s not only locks that a locksmith in Paris deals with because he also has a good knowledge about different types of doors which he will undertake to fix for you if necessary. Whether you feel the need for a very strong new steel door or have your present door reinforced with steel plates, your serrurier Paris will advice you on the best course of action to be taken so that you can be sure you?re doing the right thing when it comes to the safety and security of your home and family.

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In order to get your own trusted serrurier, you can do some surfing on the net where you will come across many websites that offer this service. Go through them and read the comments and recommendations left by people and select only the best serrurier Paris Company that will have the most trusted technicians who will be sent to your aid whenever you need it.

Tags: serrurier paris

Source: http://printersandcomputeraccessories.com/ensuring-the-safety-of-your-home-and-family-with-the-help-of-a-serrurier-paris/

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Source: http://mosesjohnsen.blogspot.com/2012/08/ensuring-safety-of-your-home-and-family.html

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Apple's Secret Employee Training Manual Revealed

The secret's out. Apple's confidential employee training manual has been revealed to the masses.

[More from Mashable: Will Samsung Smartphone Sales Be Banned in the U.S.? We Won?t Know Until Dec.]

The latest Genius Training Student Workbook for Apple sales staff landed in the hands of Gizmodo, which shared its spoils on Tuesday. It should be noted, however, that nowhere in the story does Gizmodo mention Apple confirming that the manual is legitimate.

Still, it is compelling reading. The book schools employees on basic human behavior, and helps them relate to customers -- all in the name of a sale. "Everyone in the Apple Store is in the business of selling," the manual states pointedly.

[More from Mashable: How You?re Using Your iPad [INFOGRAPHIC]]

Selling is summed up in the acronym, APPLE, which stands for Approach, Probe, Present, Listen and End. Staff are encouraged to show empathy -- a repeated theme throughout the tome. They even go through empathy exercises that role play possible customer situations. The workbook lays out guiding principles, such as, "We deepen and restore relationships" and "We enrich their lives."

Employees are taught about positive and negative human emotions. For the uninitiated, people show frustration by making "fist-like gestures" and boredom by giving a "blank stare." Conversely, "hand rubbing" shows expectancy and an "unbuttoned coat" demonstrates cooperation.

In Apple's eyes, negativity is a no-no, so the workbook outlines a section that prohibits staff from using words like "bomb" and "crash," and instead replacing them with "unexpectedly quits" or "stops responding." This emphasis on positivity extends to relationships between employees, who are encouraged to give "fearless feedback" rather than openly criticize each other.

Every Apple "Genius" must also attend a 14-day bootcamp that mandates programs as diverse as "Using Diagnostic Services" and "The Power of Empathy."

What do you think of the manual? Tell us in the comments below.

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/apples-secret-employee-training-manual-revealed-115839736.html

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Ovarian Cervical Uterine Cancer ? Health Benifits

pCancer is now modern day many deadly disease. Ladies, Ovarian cancers may be the following difficulty to settle. This is the illness in which cancer cellular material are developed in the actual ovaries. The pace associated with fatalities caused by ovarian cancer malignancy can be worrying. Over 16,400 females die and also Twenty-two,Two hundred eighty brand new ovarian most cancers situations are generally described. This is according to The American Most cancers Culture inside Next year.br /br /There are several types of cancers. Your signs are detectable ahead of time through testing and also other distinctive features similar to unusual protuberances and also nodes. However, ovarian cancers is quite challenging to recognize at the beginning of improvement. It has come to the silent killer brand because it shows up asymptomatic.br /br /There are various explanations why this kind of cancer is actually difficult to detect otherwise utterly impossible to be able to. There isnt any effective testing methods that could precipitate its early diagnosis. In addition, ovaries are usually significantly located in the belly hole. The main element dilemma in order to observing its lifetime will be the combined signs that will existing. Its possible to not necessarily observe any kind of unconventional nodes around the ovaries and so very difficult to realize.br /br /Widespread encounters that will provide a red-colored transmission for you to ovarian cancer malignancy advancement incorporate pelvic discomfort, lumbar pain, trapped wind, difficulties inside having, disappointed abdomen and also soreness with intercourse. It is for that reason a large number of experts along with medical workers are finding this make fun of to get noticable the sickness. Because the signs and symptoms are put together, the actual sufferer might by no means comprehend the circumstance.br /br /On the initial stages, cancer is recognized to start from the surface with the ovaries. This particular develops with an epithelial tumour. Studies show which various tumors may possibly produce with regards to the place the location where the cancers begins. Whether or not this commences within the hormone-producing cells, a stromal cancer arrives along with a germ mobile tumor can type whether or not this begins within the egg-producing tissue.br /br /Cancerous tissues usually do not die. On the other hand, wholesome tissue continue updating the existing and dead tissues. This makes the dangerous cells grow amassing to a cancer. It is for the previously mentioned motives that this ovarian most cancers growths are incredibly strenuous within system destruction. They adult in order to lack of control without warning and so silently harming.br /br /Though the cancer malignancy looks asymptomatic at the beginning, its noticeable in late stages. Most people are identified as having ovarian cancers on the 3 rd in order to Sixth phase with the ailment. This is when next to nothing or weak hands can be achieved to cure the individual.br /br /Frequent conditions reveal that the particular signs and symptoms are usually acclaimed being cancerous through gynecological exams. Sadly, just a few girls undertake these tests often./p
pbynbsp;a href=http://lizzikitaen.com/ target=_selfhttp://www.lizzikitaen.com/anbsp;a href=http://www.hljgetc.com/caneta-espia target=_selfhttp://www.hljgetc.com/caneta-espia/anbsp;a href=http://www.hljgetc.com/http://www.hljgetc.com//abr /br /Because the symptoms are extremely slight, only people are not identified early on. The truth is, 75% of the cancers instances will have distributed before being seen. Cancer is discovered whilst previously inside tummy. This may cause the actual muted killer ailment really unforeseen. Most sufferers expire within five-years associated with illness yet for their shock, they simply comprehend it when they are about to pass away.br /br /Girls that get each year the aforementioned symptoms need to consult with your doctor. Blood vessels test or other pelvic exams may help discover cancer with first stages. Research has proven a new 90% probability of alleviating this when detected earlier./p

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Cease Letting Anxiety Limit Your Life: Some Pointers Which Can ...

Nervousness is beginning to become dilemma for most people. Whether or not you have persistent anxiousness or have panic and anxiety attacks, there are plenty of techniques you can use to lessen your anxiety. If you wish to sense more enjoyable and calm down, look into the suggestions given below.

Should you be an introverted person, interpersonal situations could make you concerned. A great way to conquer societal anxiousness is to look for facts you enjoy performing that could be carried out either alone and with other individuals. Several good examples are working, rock and roll mountaineering, mountaineering, digital photography, chess, as well as enjoying videos inside the theater. When you discuss your selected activities with others, you are able to minimize sociable nervousness although doing something you love.

Use up yoga exercises with pals and reduce continuous nervous emotions. Yoga exercises is the best way to eliminate numerous troubles you happen to be managing, and immediate your power at what you will be carrying out at the present time. You may strengthen your bodily harmony and also your mental clarity with a little time on the yoga exercise pad.

Find an individual that you could have confidence in entirely. Promote your panic problems with this person. It is vital to let your emotions out by speaking with a person you trust. Bottling up your thoughts is likely to make concerns much worse for you.

If your anxiety starts to have an impact on other facets of your overall health, speak to your doctor. The main reason this occurs is because the body demands far more salt and it is suggesting it demands much more of it. Try to find raw, unprocessed sodium, for comfort of digestion and integrating far more minerals for the body.

Sometimes, people who notice the most tension or anxiousness are not making it possible for them selves adequate possibilities to loosen up effectively. It?s essential to take the time out each day to perform items that aid relax you. Just relaxing for several moments every day will decrease your nervousness above the future.

As mentioned earlier, if you suffer from higher panic, your life might be miserable. Fortunately, the shedding-panic info from previously mentioned could be a big advantage to you. Keep the following tips in mind when you feel the results of anxiousness creeping up upon you.

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Source: http://all-articles-directory.com/cease-letting-anxiety-limit-your-life-some-pointers-which-can-help/

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Maximize Your Personal Trainer Salary | celadonroads.com

The salary of a private trainer is generally thought-about the complete remuneration a trainer earns, together with bonuses, tips, insurances and different financial advantages. simply to be clear it?s necessary to outline a private trainer as being a trainer within the health and fitness realm, i.e. an individual who develops exercise routines for shoppers, is additionally to blame for watching the consumer perform the exercise routine, and additionally monitoring the overall health and well-being of a consumer and their dietary habits.

A fitness trainer could realize work during a health and fitness center, gymnasium, or also can perform freelance work. This involves a contract trainer progressing to people?s homes to convey them personalised coaching face-to-face. a private trainer salary could vary greatly primarily based on where one works.

Another issue that may influence the salary of a trainer are the expertise he/she has during this field, i.e. the amount of years one has worked as a fitness trainer. a private trainer?s career path sometimes follows the subsequent pattern:

First of all, the trainer completes a degree in nutrition or physical education or any fitness-related field, so as to induce the required instructional background.

Next, the trainer finds work during a fitness center or gym, where he/she is ready to induce valuable expertise operating with completely different|completely different} people who have different levels of fitness. If the trainer works during a busy fitness center or gym, he/she gets valuable expertise which will facilitate them in future, whether or not it?s in increasing their potential salary or acquiring shoppers.

After obtaining that important expertise as a trainer during a fitness center or gym, one then starts to focus on individual shoppers. One could also be utilized as a trainer within the same fitness center or gym, or will quit their job to line up freelancer work, if they get shoppers outside their workplace.

Several factors will influence a private trainer salary:

- the tutorial background of the fitness trainer.

- the task quality of the private trainer during a gym or health and fitness center.

- The length of your time the private trainer served during a sure gym or health and fitness center also because the salary he or she received there.

- The demand for private trainers within the region where the trainer lives or works.

- Miscellaneous factors embody the flexibility of a trainer to interact in networking so as to induce shoppers and market themselves.

A fitness trainer usually charges a fee for each session they conduct personal coaching. In the US, the typical salary of a private trainer could vary from regarding $15 every hourly session to regarding $90 every hourly session. In massive yankee cities like L.A. and big apple town, the demand for trainers is kind of high, and since residents of those cities place a high priority on their fitness, the typical salary of a private trainer is way higher compared to that of a trainer during a little city. In little cities, you will find that the demand for fitness trainers is way lower since residents don?t place such a high priority on their fitness.

When all is claimed and done, motivation, determination, and superior communication skills are 3 main factors that may facilitate fitness trainers get their desired salary, notwithstanding the factors higher than.

Source: http://celadonroads.com/maximize-your-personal-trainer-salary.html

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Techniques of Search engine marketing iWebdeveloper: Deep ...

Every website needs to be actively promoted in search engines when the target audience involves international clientele. Business revenue is actually generated whenever a world wide web surfer visits your website on the lookout for some object or information. He?ll look in not more than five to six web pages and your web site must be a part of these types of selective few in order to generate traffic. The true secret to success of any business lies in Search Engine Optimization techniques or SEO. You have to hire the services of an professional to achieve quality Search engine optimisation. A competent and esteemed search engine optimization company can on your own display your site among targeted clients professionally. However selecting the right company for this job needs you to consider the pursuing factors:

Research to the many companies offering SEO services before selecting one. This is possible if you go through their respective company websites and read through the service details following that your discussion with the Search engine optimisation provider is a must.
Get information on packages on offer. A reputed brand will follow ethical along with quality techniques that will bear results. Services that these companies today offer include inspecting the website, analyzing key phrases, pre-optimization and social marketing promotions.
Factors for Search engine marketing:
1. Keyword thickness is one of the primary factors in SEO. Therefore the number of times a certain term or group of words is being used in link to the total number of words on that web page. Google for instance searches the content for keywords and phrases and depending on this specific, ranks the web page. Producing informative and key phrase rich content boosts visibility and routinely traffic to your website.
2. Obtaining links towards the site you have developed ensures Search Engine Optimization techniques. Quality one way links can help when other webmasters offer a connect to your site or if you exchange links with webmasters for a charge.
3. The website name chosen must ideally be either a search term or at the least suggestive of what your content relates to and the audience for your niche. It helps if the url of your website is catchy and making it easy to remember.
4. A site map drawn carefully will allow users to navigate efficiently ensuring that they revisit to the website.
5. Heading tags must be ranked according to concern and when you plan the web page contents care should be taken to see that these content articles flows in a way that displays the heading draw structure. Many times search engines like yahoo are seen to extract the meta report making it possible for guests to come to your website if it is linked to their own search query.
6. The URL framework has to correspond to this content on the parallel web page.

For more information about Search Engine Optimization techniques visit our website.

Source: http://iwebdeveloper.co.uk/2012/08/29/techniques-of-search-engine-marketing/

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

A subdued start for GOP convention as Isaac surges

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) ? Republicans staged a remarkably subdued opening to Mitt Romney's national convention Monday in the midst of a turbulent election year, mindful about uncorking a glittery political celebration as Tropical Storm Isaac surged menacingly toward New Orleans and the northern Gulf Coast.

"Our thoughts are with the people that are in the storm's path and hope that they're spared any major destruction," said Romney, the man seeking to defeat Democratic President Barack Obama. "We've got a great convention ahead," declared the candidate, who hopes to turn the campaign's focus back to the nation's sluggish economic growth and high unemployment.

Romney commented briefly at his summer home in New Hampshire, his arrival time uncertain in a convention city left unscathed as Isaac stormed by just to the west.

The convention's first session lasted scarcely a minute, just long enough for the party's chairman, Reince Priebus, to rap a gavel and declare the gathering open for business. As he did, high above the floor, numbers began flashing across an electronic tally board labeled "Debt from Convention Start," meant to show the government steadily borrowing under Obama's leadership throughout the convention.

The week was turning out to be about both meteorology and politics. Romney's top aides and convention planners were juggling their desire for a robust rouse-the-Republicans convention with concern about appearing uncaring as New Orleans faced a threat from Isaac precisely seven years after the city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Opinion polls made the presidential race nearly even as Republicans launched their convention, although it appeared Obama had a slim advantage in battleground states where the election is most likely to be decided. It was anything but certain what the impact would be on the campaign of back-to-back convention weeks, first Romney's and then the president's in Charlotte, N.C.

The economy is the number one issue by far in the polls, and Romney's surrogates are seeking to make sure the campaign focus stays fixed on it.

A blunt view came from Gary Hawkins, a delegate from Brandon, Miss. "We have to nominate a candidate for president. Our mission is to save America from becoming a socialistic state," he said.

In the convention hall, Priebus looked out at thousands of empty seats and a smattering of delegates in his brief turn on stage. Officials decided earlier in the week to scrap nearly all of the opening day's program when it appeared that Isaac might make a direct hit on the convention city.

That put Romney's formal nomination off by a day until Tuesday. Weather permitting, he delivers his acceptance speech on Thursday night, then embarks on a fall campaign that he hopes will propel him to the White House.

Romney's wife, Ann, is on the speaking program for Tuesday evening, and it wasn't known if he intended to be in the hall for her address.

"This week is about convincing the 10 percent of undecided voters that Romney has always been called to come out and fix broken organizations," said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., interviewed on the convention floor.

"We've got to make the case that he is uniquely qualified in this hour" he said, adding that the "country is in bankruptcy."

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, carried a similar message to his state's delegates at a morning meeting.

"It's time to stop blaming others and take responsibility," he said in a reference to the president. "There are families all over Ohio that are suffering as a result. He hasn't measured up to his own standards. "

What passed for vocal dissent within the party came from supporters of Rep. Ron Paul, a Texas Republican who ran for the presidential nomination but failed to win a primary or caucus.

Delegates loyal to him threatened a floor fight later in the week over party rules. And they staged a brief but noisy demonstration at the rear of the convention hall after Priebus completed his brief turn at the podium, holding up placards bearing their man's name. They stood in front of a permanent sign that said "We Can Do Better," appropriating Romney's pledge to fix the economy to express a preference for their man.

More than dissent, there was concern from within the party, though couched in supportive terms, that despite the political opportunity that the weak economy presents, Romney needs to broaden GOP appeal.

"This is Romney's threshold moment. He must demonstrate that he would follow the example of other Republican presidents in addressing issues important to women," Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, wrote in The Washington Post, one of several party leaders to express the view.

Not that Obama and his surrogates were letting up on that subject.

In a tweet on Monday night, Obama circulated a quotation from Women's Health Magazine suggesting that Republicans would take away women's right to contraception. "Crazy as it sounds, the fight to limit or even ban birth control is a key issue in the upcoming presidential election," it said.

That was in addition to a controversy that combined rape and abortion that was triggered when the Republican candidate for a Missouri Senate seat said a woman's body has a way of preventing pregnancy in cases of "legitimate rape." Rep. Todd Akin, who opposes abortions without exception, quickly apologized for his claim, which is unsupported by medical evidence, but refused to get out of the race as Romney and other leading Republicans requested.

Polls testified to the political stakes.

An AP-GfK poll of registered voters conducted from Aug. 16-20 showed Obama leading Romney by 50-44 among women. That represented a narrow closing of the gap by the Republican from a survey in May, when the president led 54-39 among female voters.

Romney trailed badly among another key group. A Gallup poll taken between July 30 and Aug 1 showed Obama winning 60 percent support among Hispanic voters, and the Republican at 27 percent, little different from 64-29 earlier in the year.

Among seniors, the group most affected by a Medicare debate that looms as central to the campaign, Romney led Obama by a margin of 52-42 in the recent AP-GfK poll. That was compared with 53-40 in May.

In Tampa, despite weather worries, Tom Del Beccaro, a California delegate and chair of the state GOP, predicted the one-day delay in full convention events would supercharge the rest of the week's meeting.

"I think there's going to be a lot of bottled up energy, and I think that's going to show," he said.

But Sally Bradshaw, a Florida Republican and longtime senior aide to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, was more cautious. "It's a mess all around and it's fraught with risk," she said. "It's not good for anybody ? particularly the people impacted by the storm."

Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, speaking in his hometown of Janesville, Wis., before heading for the convention on Tuesday, said the stakes were as high as could be.

"We're not just picking the next president for a few years," he said. "We are picking the pathway for America for a generation."

___

Associated Press writers Brian Bakst, Thomas Beaumont, Tamara Lush, Brendan Farrington and Julie Mazziotta in Florida, Steve Peoples in New Hampshire, Philip Elliott in Wisconsin and Steven Ohlemacher and Alicia A. Caldwell in Washington contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/subdued-start-gop-convention-isaac-surges-211328686.html

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TaxProf Blog: Legal Aid Society Seeks to Sponsor ABA Tax Section ...

? Derivatives Markets and Social Welfare: A Theory of Empty Voting and Hidden Ownership | Main | Romney Tax Returns Show Strategy for Moving Money to Kids ?

August 27, 2012

Legal Aid Society Seeks to Sponsor ABA Tax Section Public Service Fellow

ABA Tax Section From the?Legal Aid Society of New York:

The Legal Aid Society is interested in sponsoring an applicant for the ABA Section of Taxation Public Service Fellowship. The fellow would work with our Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) to advocate for low-income taxpayers before the IRS and New York State Department of Taxation and Finance with respect to income tax issues, including but not limited to issues arising in connection with the Affordable Care Act health insurance premium and credit, other refundable credits, collection alternatives, misclassified employees, innocent spouse relief, and identity theft. Individuals who will receive their J.D. or L.L.M. in 2013, or recent graduates with experience in tax law are encouraged to apply. The Legal Aid Society?s LITC has provided assistance to thousands of low-income taxpayers since 2001 and works with other advocates in The Legal Aid Society and throughout New York City to address tax issues which affect low income New Yorkers.?...

Application by email is required and ...?must be submitted by September 10, 2012. ... Email a resume and cover letter, fellowship proposal, law school transcript, list of references and writing sample. ...?In the subject line of the email, please write ?Tax Fellowship?.

August 27, 2012 in ABA Tax Section, Tax, Tax Prof Jobs | Permalink

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How (and why) you should enable two-step verification on your Dropbox account

1 day

After some security woes, the folks at Dropbox have finally made two-step verification available to their users. Here's what that means, why it's important?and how to use it.

Two-step (or two-factor) verification means that logging into an account?requires two proofs of identity ? typically a password and a temporary code sent to a cellphone or generated by an app.?This process keeps?your account safe even if your password is somehow compromised (or if the cellphone which receives the temporary codes is misplaced). Without both items, it's not possible to log into the account.

In order to enable two-step verification on your Dropbox account, you'll need to sign into the Dropbox website and open your account menu (by clicking on your name, in the upper-right corner). Once in there,?open the settings and click on the "security" tab. In the "account sign in" section, you'll find the option to turn on two-step verification.?You'll be asked to enter your Dropbox password and then get the option of receiving your temporary security codes via text message or by using a mobile app. You'll also be prompted to write down a?backup code, which you should keep somewhere safe?? so that you have it in case your phone ever disappears.

And that's it. After you've gone through these steps, you'll use your password and a temporary security code to log into Dropbox. And you'll rest easily, knowing that your account is far more secure.

Want more tech news?or interesting?links? You'll get plenty of both if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her on?Twitter, subscribing to her?Facebook?posts,?or circling her?on?Google+.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/how-why-you-should-enable-two-step-verification-your-dropbox-966413

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Apple promotes Craig Federighi, Dan Riccio to SVP, Executive Team, Bob Mansfield staying on to work on "future products"

Apple promotes Craig Federighi, Dan Riccio to SVP, Executive Team, Bob Mansfield staying on to work on

Apple has just announced that Craig Federighi is being promoted, fully taking the long-departed Betrand Serlet's post as senior vice-president of Mac software engineering, and his place on the Executive Committee. Also, as expected, Dan Riccio has been promoted to SVP of hardware engineering, and will also be joining the Executive Committee. However, Apple also announced that the man Riccio was to replace, Bob Mansfield, will no longer be retiring, but will be staying with Apple to work on "future projects". All three will report to Apple CEO, Tim Cook, and all three now appear on Apple's Leadership page.

Interestingly, both Mansfield and Riccio are listed as SVPs of hardware engineering, while Federighi joins Scott Forstall as an SVP of software engineering, though Forstall is listed as iOS and Federighi as OS X. Apple considers software important enough to have SVPs for both iOS and OS X, but not to have designated SVPs for iOS as opposed to OS X hardware. Likewise, Jony Ive remains listed as SVP of industrial design across all platforms.

Amazing to see how much Apple's leadership has both changed, and remained the same over the course of the last two years.

Complete press release below.

CUPERTINO, California?August 27, 2012?Apple? today announced that Craig Federighi, Apple?s vice president of Mac Software Engineering, and Dan Riccio, Apple?s vice president of Hardware Engineering, have been promoted to senior vice presidents. Federighi and Riccio will report to Apple CEO Tim Cook and serve on Apple?s executive management team.

Apple also announced that Bob Mansfield, who announced his retirement in June, will remain at Apple. Mansfield will work on future products, reporting to Tim Cook.

As senior vice president of Mac Software Engineering, Federighi will continue to be responsible for the development of Mac OS? X and Apple?s common operating system engineering teams. Federighi worked at NeXT, followed by Apple, and then spent a decade at Ariba where he held several roles including vice president of Internet Services and chief technology officer. He returned to Apple in 2009 to lead Mac OS X engineering. Federighi holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Riccio, as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will lead the Mac?, iPhone?, iPad? and iPod? engineering teams. He has been instrumental in all of Apple?s iPad products since the first generation iPad. Riccio joined Apple in 1998 as vice president of Product Design and has been a key contributor to most of Apple?s hardware over his career. Dan earned a bachelor?s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1986.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/Delt5njkUkc/story01.htm

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Tomato, Brie and Herb Pasta ? The Runaway Spoon

I?ve been making this dish for years, decades if I?m honest.?I really thought it was my own unique creation, and?I patted myself on the back for its genius every time I made it.? It?s been my date night dinner, my decadent solo treat and my impressive meal for friends.? I made it in my first apartment kitchen and shared it with my first house roommate.? It dates, for me, to a time when anything with brie seemed sophisticated and gourmet, before I had stretched my culinary wings too far.? But I just realized, when developing it and photographing it for The Spoon, that it?s not my recipe.? It?s from the classic Silver Palate Cookbook, which I have had for years.? My favorite recipes in the book are marked and stained ? but oddly not this one. Oh, I?ve changed it up a little to suit my tastes, but it is definitely from the cookbook.? Recipes do that, they travel and share and move and become part of a family or a personal legend. I love looking through community cookbooks from different eras and different regions and finding the same basic recipe, maybe with a different name or spelling.? That?s one of the many magical aspects of cooking and feeding friends and family, the community built around good food.? And by the way, I also recently realized that I?ve been taking credit for Nigella Lawson?s lemon linguine for some time now too.

This really is the joy of summer in a delicious, creamy pasta dish.? And it?s quick to put together ? just a bit of chopping.? Sweet cherry tomatoes really shine in this dish, with the nice firm bite preserved.? The simple sauce smells wonderfully summery and the brie melts and coats the pasta, making a rich and decadent cream sauce without the work and kitchen heat.

Tomato, Brie and Herb Pasta

Adapted from The Silver Palate Cookbook

1 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed

? cup fresh oregano leaves, loosely packed

2 cloves garlic

1 pound cherry tomatoes

1 pound Brie

? cup olive oil

Salt and pepper

1 pound linguine or spaghetti

Finely chop the basil and oregano and place in a large bowl that will hold all the cooked pasta.? Put the garlic through a press, or finely chop it, sprinkling a little salt over it during the process.? This helps mellow the garlic, you don?t want big chunks.

Cut the tomatoes in quarters, or chop them smaller if you?d like, and add to the bowl.? Scrape the rind off the cheese ? you don?t have to be too precise about this, just do your best.? A serrated knife and cold cheese helps.? Cut the brie into small pieces, or pull it apart with your fingers, and add to the bowl.? Pour in the olive oil, add few good pinches of salt and grind in some fresh pepper.? Stir everything together, cover the bowl and leave at room temperature for a least an hour, but several hours is fine.? The tomatoes will release their juices and the cheese will become meltingly soft.

When you are ready to eat, bring a large pot of well salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente.? Drain quickly, then pour the hot pasta over the sauce in the bowl.? Leave to sit for a few minutes to melt the cheese and heat the tomatoes through.? Toss the pasta and the sauce together until the pasta and tomatoes are well coated.? Salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Serves 4

Source: http://therunawayspoon.com/blog/2012/08/tomato-brie-and-herb-pasta/

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Sunday, August 26, 2012

Grizzly kills hiker in Denali National Park; bear shot

By Miguel Llanos, NBC News

Updated at 11:05 p.m. ET: A backpacker hiking inside Denali National Park was killed by a grizzly bear after a violent struggle, the park said in a statement Saturday. The death was the first fatal bear mauling inside the huge park in Alaska.

Rangers discovered the body after three dayhikers found a backpack, as well as torn clothing and blood, along the Toklat River on Friday afternoon, the park stated.

The rangers arrived at the site Friday night but were unable to immediately recover the remains due to the presence of at least one bear in the area and the approaching darkness.

Reuters reported that?Denali park Superintendent Paul Anderson said the bear suspected of attacking the man on Friday afternoon, a large male grizzly, was found near the body and was shot from a helicopter Saturday afternoon.


Reuters said officials hoped to recover the man's body Saturday evening and were trying to contact his family.

Pete Webster, chief ranger for the park, told Reuters that investigators will try to confirm that the dead grizzly was to blame by examining its stomach contents, analyzing bear scat and conducting a DNA analysis.

There also may be photographic clues. Reuters reports:

A camera found near the backpack showed that the hiker had photographed the bear for more than eight minutes and appeared to have come within 50 yards of the animal before he was attacked, Anderson said.

The photographs do not show the attack, Anderson said. "They show the bear grazing in the willows and not acting aggressive in any form or manner during that period of time," he said.

Park rules require people to stay a quarter-mile away from bears and to immediately back away at a slow pace if they find themselves to be closer.

All hiking in the area was banned until further notice.?

The park estimates that some 12 grizzlies have been residing in the area this summer.

Denali in June saw the tragic deaths of four Japanese climbers swept up by an avalanche on Mount McKinley.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/25/13479502-grizzly-mauls-hiker-to-death-at-denali-national-park?lite

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APNewsBreak: Sandusky victim sues Penn State

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) ? A young man who testified against Jerry Sandusky sued Penn State on Friday for its "deliberate and shameful" handling of complaints that the former assistant football coach behaved inappropriately and sexually toward boys.

The suit filed by the person known as Victim 1 at Sandusky's trial said university officials made deliberate decisions not to report Sandusky to authorities. It described their actions as "a function of (Penn State's) purposeful, deliberate and shameful subordination of the safety of children to its economic self-interests, and to its interest in maintaining and perpetuating its reputation."

The complaint was filed electronically in Philadelphia state court Friday night, Slade McLaughlin, a lawyer for Victim 1, told The Associated Press. The young man's initial accusations sparked the investigation that led to criminal charges against Sandusky and two university officials.

Sandusky, 68, was convicted in June of 45 criminal counts for sexual abuse of boys, both on and off campus. He awaits sentencing that will likely send him to prison for the rest of his life.

Victim 1 and his mother reported Sandusky to the boy's high school and the Clinton County child protective agency in November 2009. Their complaint triggered the state investigation that last year resulted in the criminal charges.

Former Penn State administrator Gary Schultz and athletic director Tim Curley, who is on leave, were charged with perjury and failure to report suspected child abuse. Both deny the allegations and are expected to go on trial in January.

Famed football coach Joe Paterno was fired. He died last January.

The suit draws heavily from court testimony, grand jury investigations and Penn State's own investigative report, conducted by former FBI director Louis Freeh. The report details how university officials handled the claims against Sandusky and Sandusky's behavior. Victim 1 is known as "John Doe C" in the complaint. The suit names no other defendants than the State College university.

University spokesman Dave La Torre said the school has no comment on the pending litigation.

"The university takes these cases very seriously," La Torre said adding that the current president and board "have publicly emphasized that their goal is to find solutions that rest on the principle of justice for the victims."

The suit claimed that a "special relationship" between Penn State and The Second Mile, a Sandusky-founded charity for youth, gave Sandusky a respectable public image and connections that enabled him to perform criminal acts.

It alleged "(Penn State) believed its reputation and economic interests would be adversely impacted if the public learned that a man closely associated with the school's football program was, in fact, a pedophile."

The Second Mile's future remains uncertain, subject to a legal dispute.

According to the lawsuit, Victim 1 met Sandusky about eight years ago, when the boy was 11 and a first-year participant in a camp sponsored by The Second Mile. In his second year, the boy drew Sandusky's attention and accepted invitations to spend nights at the coach's State College home and to attend professional sports events, the suit said.

Over a three-year period ending in 2008, the suit said, Sandusky assaulted the boy more than 100 times, including fondling and oral sex. The lawsuit claims Sandusky attacked "numerous victims over a span of 30 years," but noted that his criminal trial was limited to a 15-year period and 10 victims.

Following Victim 1's testimony, Sandusky was convicted of all six counts that related to him, including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse for instances of oral sex.

The suit alleged negligence, fraudulent concealment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy. It said Victim 1 has suffered physical and emotional injuries and will likely need medical and psychological help well into his future. The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Another Sandusky accuser has filed a federal lawsuit related to the scandal and a second victim has filed a court notice that he will file complaint. Lawyers have suggested others may take legal action.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/apnewsbreak-sandusky-victim-sues-penn-state-034105147--spt.html

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Are You Interested In Muscle Building? Read This Article

Strong, sustainable muscle building takes time. Build your exercise program and meal planning around your goal of increasing your body?s muscle mass. The following article is going to give you effective advice for properly gaining muscle. Remember these tips in order to get the best results.

Skipping breakfast is always a bad idea, and this is particularly true when you are hoping to build up muscle. The meal should contain plenty of healthy proteins, carbohydrates and also fats. This will ensure you are consuming all the necessary nutrients. When you eat breakfast, your body begins to build muscle rather than burning it, plus you have more energy for your day.

Quite often, people will mistakenly emphasize their speed instead of technique. No matter the exercise, a steady pace that focuses on technique will offer the best results over repetitions pushed out too quickly. Stay focused, and be sure that you are properly performing the exercise.

If you are trying to build large muscles, do not attempt it while doing any form of intense cardio training. Although cardio can help improve your general physical health and fitness, it can negate the effects of strength training exercises. The best way to build your muscles effectively is by concentrating on a strength-training routine.

When you reach your last set, train to failure. If you aren?t getting to the point where your muscles can no longer complete the rep, most likely the mechanisms that trigger muscle growth have not kicked in yet. When you get to the place where you can?t go further, stop rather than pushing further and risking injury.

Document your body fat when trying to build muscle. Your weight won?t be an accurate judge; you could be burning fat and building up muscle and your weight can stay they same or even increase. In fact, tracking your weight may make you become discouraged since your weight may be increasing as you build muscle.

Mix up the back grip. To achieve more strength during rack pulls or deadlifts, try using a staged or mixed grip. A staggered grip helps you twist this bar in a single direction while your underhand grip twists this bar in the other direction. That way, you can prevent the bar from moving erratically over the hands.

Many people start upping their protein intake right after they start a bodybuilding program. This can lead to an additional amount of calories than you need, and if you aren?t exercising hard, you might gain fat instead of the muscle that you want. Increase your protein intake slowly, adding a couple hundred calories at a time every few days. Your body will be able to keep up with the increase this way, using the extra protein to grow muscle.

Consume plenty of protein if you wish to increase your muscle mass. Protein synthesis is how your body sets aside excess protein for muscle building. Your muscles grow stronger and larger as a result of protein synthesis. You?ll find protein in many natural sources such as meat, fish, beans and dairy.

Know your body and it?s limits. This is a good place to start for establishing your regimen goals. What are your composition and body weights?

When you are in an exercise routine that is focused on muscle building, you need to eliminate the alcohol from your lifestyle. Even though one glass of wine once in awhile is okay, do not drink more than that. Not only is alcohol unhealthy for your body, but it can also have negative effects on building muscle.

You should have a ton of information at your disposal that you can use for your muscle building exercise. With any luck, you now know how to build your muscles right away. Stay motivated, and you will soon experience results

Source: http://www.online-health-resources.com/muscle-building/are-you-interested-in-muscle-building-read-this-article/

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Saturday, August 25, 2012

Randy Travis Cited After Dust-Up at Church

Travis' mugshot from the August arrest.

Randy Travis has once again been cited by local law enforcement, this time for a dust-up in a church parking lot.

The country superstar apparently shoved?his girlfriend's estranged husband?outside of the Prestonwood Baptist Church at about 11 p.m. Thursday night.

According to Plano police, there was a verbal argument between the woman and her soon-to-be ex-husband, and Travis got involved. ?From there, things apparently escalated.

The?wrangle led Plano police to cite Travis, the woman and her husband?for simple assault, the lowest level and equivalent to a traffic citation.

Other?media?reports have?said Travis was 'extremely intoxicated,' but Plano police said there were no indications of that and that Travis was not cited for public intoxication.

He was released at the scene and refused treatment from medical personnel.

This latest incident wasn't Travis' first, or even second, incident with law enforcement in North Texas this year.

Earlier this month Travis allegedly walked naked into a North Texas convenience store to buy cigarettes, touching off a bizarre series of events that ended with him being charged with threatening to shoot a state trooper after a car crash.? While in the Grayson County Jail, he mugged with fans before posting a $21,500 bond.

In February, he was arrested in Sanger for public intoxication after he was spotted sitting a parked car with an open bottle of wine while in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church.

NBC 5's Shane Allen?and Randy?McIlwain?contributed to this report.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

Source: http://feeds.nbcdfw.com/click.phdo?i=a20f3e444b93db5c10abd9a9a23b5f0f

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Time-Life: Fitness, Health and Nutrition Series (Complete, 20 books ...

Life Fitness ?n eBay:

***LIFE FITNESS***ULTRA DIGITAL PEDOMETER***NIB***

Source: http://fitness.infodron.com/2012/08/24/time-life-fitness-health-and-nutrition-series-complete-20-books-1987-1989/

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Union renews claim NFL?

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ? The NFL Players Association claims league owners have a "never-ending belief that they are above the law" in the latest court filing in a collusion complaint against the NFL.

The NFLPA filed its reply late Thursday to the NFL's motion to throw out the case. U.S. District Judge David Doty will hear oral arguments Sept. 6.

The union wants to reopen a 1993 settlement that Doty oversaw until last year's lockout, claiming owners set a secret $123 million salary cap during the uncapped 2010 season that cost the players at least $1 billion in wages. Washington, Dallas, Oakland and New Orleans were punished by the NFL for overspending in 2010.

The league has denied the accusation, arguing the 2011 collective bargaining agreement contained clauses precluding further court claims.

Source: http://www.wivb.com/dpp/sports/bills_and_nfl/other_nfl/Union-renews-claim-NFL-colluded-hearing-Sept-6_57081443

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Friday, August 24, 2012

Police: Insurgents kidnap, kill 3 Afghan soldiers

(AP) ? Insurgents kidnapped three Afghan soldiers and another man from a bus in eastern Afghanistan and killed all four, authorities said Friday, in another challenge to the government and its security forces.

Militants stopped the bus as it was traveling in Paktia province's Ahmad Khil district and forced the four men off the vehicle Thursday, provincial deputy police chief Mohammad Zaman said. Their bullet-ridden bodies were found lying on a road later in the day.

Three of the men were off-duty soldiers who were traveling to see their families, and the fourth victim's identity was unclear, Zaman said.

The Taliban and their allies frequently kill Afghan police and soldiers to counter the plan to strengthen national security forces. They are due to take over main responsibility for fighting militants after international combat troops leave in 2014.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, six civilians were killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb as they traveled in the southern province of Kandahar, police said.

The civilians were riding on a motorcycle-drawn cart when it hit the bomb Thursday in the town of Spin Boldak, provincial police chief Abdul Razaq said.

Roadside bombs are a favorite Taliban weapon to target international and Afghan forces, but the explosives often kill ordinary Afghans instead.

A U.N. report says 1,145 civilians were killed during the first half of the year, 80 percent of them by militants. Insurgent-placed homemade bombs continued to be the biggest killer of civilians, accounting for 29 percent of all noncombatant deaths during the first six months of 2012.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-08-24-Afghanistan/id-17b08550c7ca4cd1a65597c9fe14853f

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Aaron Kromer makes good first impression as the New Orleans Saints' 'fill-in for the fill-in' head coach

It didn't take Aaron Kromer long to make his first call as Saints head coach. Seconds after pretzeling his 6-4 frame behind the mic stand to meet the press for the first time, Kromer called an audible.?

"We need a bigger table," quipped Kromer, while craning his neck toward his chest.

The coaching staff hasn't managed a real game yet but they've already been forced to make a year's worth of adjustments and audibles this offseason. Press conference ergonomics are only the latest precedent in this crazy, unprecedented campaign.

During his 15-minute briefing, Kromer accorded himself well. He said all the right things and maintained a positive outlook despite the extraordinary challenges ahead.

As first impressions go, Kromer looked and acted the part of an NFL head coach. There were no Jersey Joe Vitt one-liners, or pursed-lip Sean Payton death stares, but that's OK. Kromer knows Rule No. 1 in being head coach is to be yourself.

"I can't be Sean. I can't be Joe Vitt. I am going to be me," he said. "Whatever that is in the time, we'll see."

So what kind of personality will the Saints assume under Kromer? Will his offensive line roots mean a more conservative offensive approach? Will they run the ball more often on third-and-2 than they did under Payton?

Kromer insisted otherwise Thursday. In fact, he believes folks won't see a distinguishable difference between the free-wheeling, go-for-the-jugular outfit they've seen the past six years under Payton and the one that opens the season against the Washington Redskins on Sept. 9.

Moreover, people that know Kromer say he'll be just as aggressive as Payton on the sideline. Indeed, if there's one coach on the staff who could rival Payton's swagger it's Kromer. By and large, he's a mild-mannered guy, but he's shown he's not afraid to get in someone's face when the situation demands it. You might recall Kromer is the guy who dressed down Carl Nicks on the sideline in St. Louis last year.

"We will do the same things that Sean Payton has done over the years," Kromer said.

Circumstances dictate one major difference. Under Payton, the Saints were an autocracy. Under Kromer, the decision-making will be more democratic, a collaborative effort between himself, coordinators Pete Carmichael Jr., Steve Spagnuolo and Greg McMahon. Even the duty of challenging officials' calls will be shared, with Spags handling the defensive challenges in collaboration with him.

But even Kromer knows there will be a time and place when the by-committee approach won't work. NFL teams demand a strong leader. They require a single voice of authority, especially in the heat of battle. At some point, he'll have to make a call or two on his own. After all, he's the man who is going to stand in front of the team and introduce the game plans on Wednesdays. He's the one who'll be required to light a fire under the team after a sub-par performance. It's in those instances when Kromer and the Saints will truly learn if he's cut from head coaching timber.

Kromer's credentials were validated by the Rams and Colts earlier this year when they sought to interview him for their head coaching vacancies. His promotion makes the most sense. It will be the least disruptive to the staff, allowing the coordinators to focus on weekly game plans and making for a smooth transition when Vitt returns from suspension in Week 8.

For continuity's sake, it might have made more sense to promote Kromer as interim head coach for the entire season but there's truly no right answer here.

The good thing for the Saints is their program is somewhat on autopilot at this point. In Year 7 of the Payton tenure, most of the staff and roster know the drill and understand what it takes to be successful in this league. The newcomers fall in line behind them.

"We're not saying that we have all the answers," Drew Brees said. "We're all for making things better, and we continue to evolve and adapt. ... But in the end, ... (Aaron) Kromer having been here for four years, knowing the way we do things, knowing the guys both offensively and defensively, knowing the dynamics and the way we run meetings and schedules, I think it works out perfectly for everybody. Everyone is going to continue to have input, and despite the circumstances this is the best scenario we could have asked for."

We'll see. This is uncharted territory. The Saints can't call on colleagues or mentors to help them with this one. There's no protocol, no chapter in Bill Walsh's "Finding the Winning Edge" on how to be, as Kromer put it, "the fill-in for the fill-in." Nobody knows how this thing is going to turn out. Not Brees. Not Mickey Loomis. Not anyone.

The Saints aren't flying completely by their seat of their paints, but they're navigating by compass rather than GPS.

Source: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/08/aaron_kromer_makes_good_first.html

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Some sense on RTDs | Kiwiblog

John Hartevelt at Stuff reports:

The liquor industry has scored a win over the planned regulation of RTDs in the Government?s alcohol reform package.

I think it is a win for common sense, and actually a win for reduced harm from alcohol.

Justice Minister Judith Collins yesterday revealed she had dumped an earlier plan to ban the sale of ?RTDs? (ready-to-drink) with more than 6 per cent alcohol content from off-license stores.

Alcohol reforms initially announced by former Justice Minister Simon Power originally included a ban on RTDs with 5 per cent alcohol or more from off-licenses.

The proposed ban was effectively a form of prohibition. ?Research (a phone poll, two point of sale surveys and eight focus groups) Curia did for Independent Liquor left me in no doubt that the impact of trying to ban RTDs over 5% would be a significant substitution effect, with many people going from say 8% RTDs to (on average) 13% self-mixes. Note that the research Curia did for ILNZ was over a year ago, and I have no ongoing commercial relationship with them.

The experience in Australia with increasing taxes on RTDs also produced?empirical?evidence of increased substitution to spirits, and this is one of the reasons the Law Commission did not recommend this measure.

Instead, the bill will include a ?regulation-making power? for the Government to restrict the sale of RTDs in future. Until the powers are exercised, however, RTD sales will be left to work under the industry?s own code.

?The Government has decided to give the alcohol industry the opportunity to introduce its own measures to limit the harm to young people caused by RTDs,? Collins said.

?The industry has offered to put in place a voluntary code on RTDs. If the industry measures are ineffective, Government has the ability to take action through a regulation-making power in the bill. This allows restrictions on the sale of RTDs at any time in the future.? ?

The association promised in April to:

- Limit the production and distribution of new RTDs to a maximum of two ?standard drinks? per single container.
- Show clearly the number of ?standard drinks? on each container.
- Ensure no RTDs have ?specific appeal to minors?.
- Comply with the Code for Advertising Liquor, administered by the Advertising Standards Authority.
- ?Invest and support? responsible drinking educational programmes.

There are some RTDs which are, shall we say, a but anti-social. I?m not a fan of the Bigfoot RTD which was a large 6 ? 8 standard drinks in one container. ?There is a certain incentive to finish a container, and people don?t tend to share containers as they might say individual drinks.

So a self-regulatory limit of say 2 standard drinks per container has merit in my opinion. A restriction on the number of drinks per container is much more sensible than trying to ban 6% RTDs, when people would then buy 40% vodka. The reality is that some RTD drinkers do not like the 5% RTDs (they call them lolly water) and prefer the stronger ones.

A limit of two standard drinks per container means they have as much alcohol as a standard double nip in a bar.

There were also two other problems with the proposed prohibition on RTDs over 5%. One is that under CER, the RTDs could be made in Australia, and imported here. We would simply be exporting jobs.

The third is that prohibition does not work as well as self-regulation. If you ban say 8% RTDs, then manufacturers could do inventive stuff like sell a container which has (for example) rum in one part and coke in the other, and you just mix them together to make your own RTD (just as many self-mix from spirits from mixers).

I have no doubt that the proposed prohibition on RTDs over 5% would have not only failed, it would have increased overall harm from alcohol. I am glad the Government is going for something that will work, over something that sounds good, but would be harmful.

Tags: alcohol, RTDs

Source: http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2012/08/some_sense_on_rtds.html

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