Kuwait pledges $300 million in Syria aid at donor meeting

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait's emir pledged on Wednesday to give $300 million to help fund humanitarian efforts for millions of Syrians affected by nearly two years of conflict.

Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah told a meeting targeting potential donors that "horrifying reports" of violence had raised questions over the future of Syria and aid efforts had to be redoubled.

Wednesday's conference will seek pledges of $1 billion of aid for Syria's neighbors, who are sheltering 700,000 registered refugees, and another $500 million to bankroll humanitarian work for 4 million Syrians inside the country.

The aid would fund operations for the first half of this year, but the United Nations has so far received pledges covering just 18 percent of the target, unveiled last month as the scale of Syria's humanitarian crisis escalated sharply.

"We have every reason to be optimistic that there will a very good presence and new pledges that will be coming up at this conference," Robert Watkins, U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, told Reuters.

Lebanon has seen the biggest influx of refugees from the Syrian bloodshed.

U.S. President Barack Obama has announced an additional $155 million in humanitarian aid for Syria, bringing the total U.S. contribution to some $365 million, the State Department said

(Reporting by Sylvia Westall; writing by William Maclean; editing by Patrick Graham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kuwait-pledges-300-million-syria-aid-donor-meeting-080658910.html

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How Worms Survived NASA's Columbia Shuttle Disaster

When the Columbia space shuttle disintegrated upon re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts on board, NASA scientists expected that the 80 science experiments aboard the shuttle were destroyed as well.

But in the days after the tragic?Columbia shuttle disaster?on Feb. 1, 2003, scientists began realizing that wasn't the case. Various salvageable experiments were recovered from the wreckage, including a live group of 1 millimeter-long roundworms, or nematodes, known as?Caenorhabditis elegans.

No one expected that the nematodes could survive the intense heat of re-entry, but the?C. elegans?got lucky, said Nathaniel Szewczyk, a scientist who worked with the nematodes in the aftermath of the crash.

"They sustained some heat damage to exteriors, but that's about it," Szewczyk said.

The thermos-size metal container holding the nematodes was housed inside the locker of a crew compartment that was reinforced specifically to protect the materials inside. Once that compartment ruptured, however, the nematodes still survived the crash to Earth thanks to the locker's build, Szewczyk?said.

The?C. elegans?stayed alive upon impact because by the time that part of the shuttle fell to the ground, it had already decreased in speed, allowing the nematodes to touch down more gently. [Photos: The Columbia Space Shuttle Tragedy]

It took some time for the experiments to be released into the hands of the researchers. All materials from the shuttle were kept under tight watch as the investigation into the cause of the crash was still ongoing, Szewczyk said.

Most of the experiments on board the shuttle involved observing how certain genes were expressed differently when in space versus on the surface of the Earth. Because researchers didn't have access to the worms immediately after the crash, most of the results from those experiments were lost. However, important science still came from the tragedy, Szewczyk said.

"From an astrobiology standpoint, the important thing was that if you had a multicellular organism going through the atmosphere you can have interplanetary transfer of life by natural means, and Columbia demonstrated that," Szewczyk said. "It was a fortunate thing to demonstrate that in the unfortunate circumstances that there were."

After Columbia, populations of?C. elegans?were sent up for experiments?on the space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station that have helped researchers get a more detailed picture of what life in microgravity can do to an organism. Some of the work done on these nematodes even relates directly to how humans experience space travel.

Like astronauts losing muscle mass, while in space, the nematodes show signs of muscle loss. Nematodes as well as humans also appear to have some diabetic symptoms while living in zero-gravity.

Columbia's ill-fated final flight marked NASA's last shuttle mission purely aimed at scientific research in orbit.

The shuttle's STS-107 astronaut crew, which included commander Rick Husband, pilot Willie McCool, and mission specialists Michael Anderson, Laurel Clark, Kalpana Chawla, David Brown and Ilan Ramon, worked in two shifts to perform a host of science experiments inside Columbia's SpaceHab module. The shuttle, meanwhile, remained in its own orbit and did not visit the International Space Station.

Once space shuttle missions resumed in 2005, every flight was destined for the space station in order to complete construction of the orbiting laboratory. NASA's space shuttle fleet retired in July 2011 after the final flight of the shuttle Atlantis during the STS-135 mission.

The offspring of the Columbia nematodes are now housed in the?Caenorhabditis elegans?Genetic Center run by the University of Minnesota. Some of those Columbia roundworm descendants were launched into space in May 2011 during NASA's final flight of the shuttle Endeavour before that orbiter was retired.?

Follow Miriam Kramer on Twitter?@mirikramer?or SPACE.com?@Spacedotcom. We're also on?Facebook?&?Google+.?

Copyright 2013 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/worms-survived-nasas-columbia-shuttle-disaster-161750687.html

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Bollywood star Khan caught in India-Pakistan spat

NEW DELHI (AP) ? Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has been caught in a verbal slugfest between India and Pakistan after he wrote a magazine article that led to heated exchanges between the rival nations.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik suggested that New Delhi beef up the actor's security after Khan wrote an account of how it felt to be a Muslim in India.

New Delhi reacted sharply to Malik's comments with Indian politicians and officials asking him to concentrate on looking after the security of Pakistani citizens.

Khan responded to the exchange late Tuesday by saying he was extremely safe and happy in India.

Khan is popularly known as 'King Khan' in the Indian film industry. He has acted in around 75 Hindi feature films, including many box-office hits.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-01-30-AS-India-Shah-Rukh-Khan/id-f951fd39293f46af824e0a4d8695e464

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Ecommerce Website Design Services And Internet Marketing | SEO ...

There are many methods for obtaining a professional ecommerce website design.? There are free templates, premium templates, and custom designs to choose from for the business owner looking for an online presence.

While some of those methods allow the business owner to not have to pay a single dime, sometimes, they want something a little more professional and unique.? For this to happen, the business owner looks for a company capable of providing superior and reliable web designing.? These developers create, complete, and maintain a site.? In addition, a specialist can be active through all stages of the process and be there to provide any other necessary services.

What makes a developer capable of providing unique and reliable construction of the business?s online site?? How does an online storefront work?? Can it be secure enough to take payments?

Experience and education is the key to a successful specialist.? There are a multitude of choices available just by utilizing a favorite search engine.? Sometimes, knowing which one to choose is not as clear cut as choosing by what they charge for their services.? Skill and experience are easily witnessed by looking at past work.? The portfolio should be filled with exceptional examples of past work that showcase numerous sites.

Building an online storefront often includes a variety of methods for the business owner to sell a product or service.? These online storefronts are secure and safe, which will allow their clientele to make a purchase and receive a product without the fear of identity theft.? Ecommerce website design will allow the business owner to make sales and receive payment without any glitches.

Source: http://www.seo411.com/blog/ecommerce-website-design-012813/

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A Congress That Does Things? Immigration Reform Makes Huge Bipartisan Progress

The new Congress is showing signs that it may finally leave behind its old habit of doing nothing: A gang of eight senators from both parties has outlined a framework for comprehensive immigration reform. While progress could get bogged down in details as the legislation comes together, the bipartisan love fest bodes well for tech companies eager to hire more high-skilled immigrants.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/xjW2-dNxf-Y/

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Investing in Collaborative Consumption: Venture Funding in 2012

Image courtesy of CollaborativeConsumption.com

By Stephanie Brincat

Dubbed the ?Megatrend that swallowed Silicon Valley,??collaborative?consumption ventures will continue to be a hot area for investors in 2013. Investments in startups topped $431M in 2012, up from $400M in 2011. While not a significant increase in overall funding, the collaborative consumption space has received consistent venture capital over the last 12 months from leading investors such as Sequoia, Union Square Ventures and Floodgate.

Here?s our roundup of where the big investments were made across sectors:

Money

The biggest winner in the payment space was Social Finance (SoFi) ? a peer-to-peer student loan network ? raising an outstanding $77.2M. With student debt in the U.S. reaching $1 trillion in 2012, SoFi offers students a lending fund with a better fixed loan rate than unsubsidized government loans.

Marketplace payment platform Stripe picked up $38M in funding over two rounds, with an estimated valuation of $500M. Stripe makes it much easier for businesses to start accepting online payments, a big friction point for collaborative consumption marketplaces. Y-Combinator backed Balanced Payments is another player in the space, securing $1.4M in funding. The platform focuses on making sure sellers get paid quickly and is already being used by TheFancy, Kitchit, CrowdTilt, Copious and Zaarly.

Travel and accommodation

Airbnb?s success after its $117M Series B round in mid-2011 has paved the way for other startups seeking funding in the travel and accommodation space. HouseTrip, a platform that allows people to rent out their homes online, picked up an impressive $40M in Series C funding. Couchsurfing received $15M in Series B funding to help extend its 5-million-strong social travel network. Overall, the travel and accommodation space received over $78M in funding in 2012, making it an ongoing trend to watch for 2013.

Fashion

Online fashion marketplaces were one of the standout trends for 2012, with fashion startups receiving more than $56M in funding. Recently, there has been a move away from swapping or ?swishing? marketplaces towards the buy/sell or consignment model. Poshmark, a peer-to-peer clothing marketplace for new and used clothes, raised $12M in Series B funding. Users can download the app and start taking photos of their closet immediately, giving potential buyers the chance to purchase unwanted items. ThredUP, the children?s clothing exchange platform, moved away from swapping to a consignment model, meaning parents can now send a bag of children?s clothing, which then gets individually sorted and listed online via the thredUP marketplace. ThredUP raised $14.3M in Series C funding to help expand the business.

Ridesharing

Ridesharing experienced explosive growth in 2012, attracting investors to make some big bets. Startups in the space received more than $48M in funding worldwide. European companies BlaBlarCar, Hailo and Carpooling.com (recently expanded into the U.S) secured $37M of this funding pool, demonstrating the immense success of ridesharing in Europe.

It?s all in the niche

Collaborative consumption startups that focus on a niche market opportunity continue to attract interest as people experiment with sharing services in other parts of their lives. Pet-sitting services received just over $10M in funding, with DogVacay securing $7M over two rounds and Rover.com getting $3.4M in Series A. Cherry, an on-demand carwash service launched in San Francisco that enables you to wash your car on the spot, landed $4.5M in Series A.

Our top 3 trends for 2013

While 2012 has been about increased activity and competition in a number of key verticals across the collaborative consumption space, 2013 will see a focus on the market leaders, as well as enthusiasm for a number of emerging sectors. Here are our top three picks for what will make the headlines this year:

• Errand networks go international: After proven success in local markets, errand networks like TaskRabbit will focus investment dollars on scaling up and global expansion.
• Building trust in p2p transactions: If 2012 was the year of p2p payment systems, the rise of identity and reputation tools focused on further reducing friction in p2p marketplaces will be a hot investment area in 2013.
• Shareable office space: The next frontier in space rental, we are seeing progression from bespoke coworking spaces, to tapping into the assets of corporate work environments through the likes of LiquidSpace, which closed a $6M round in January this year.

Where would you place your bets on the hot investment areas for the collaborative consumption space in 2013?

***

Stephanie Brincat is Community Manager for CollaborativeConsumption.com,?the premier online portal for curated news, information and examples related to collaborative consumption worldwide.

Scroll down to see comments.

Source: http://www.triplepundit.com/2013/01/investing-collaborative-consumption-venture-funding-2012/

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Injecting botox into stomach does not promote weight loss

Jan. 28, 2013 ? Gastric injections of botulinum toxin A (BTA) can delay gastric emptying but do not make obese individuals feel more full, alter their eating behaviors, or cause them to lose weight, according to the February issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

In attempts to help people lose weight, researchers have tested ways to slow gastric emptying (movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine) and increase satiation (feeling full). Gastric injections of BTA have been reported to delay gastric emptying, increase satiation, and reduce body weight, but with inconsistent results.

Botulinum toxin -- a protein and neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum -- reduces muscle activity by blocking the release of acetylcholine from neurons.

Mark Topazian et al. compared the effects of injecting different doses of BTA into the stomachs of 60 individuals with mild-to-moderate obesity.

Study participants were each given 1 injection of BTA (100, 300, or 500 U), or placebo, in the gastric antral muscularis propria, guided by endoscopic ultrasound. Gastric emptying of solids was measured by scintigraphy. Topazian et al. also measured participants' body weights every 2 weeks, along with satiation (based on maximum tolerated volume in a caloric liquid drink test), calorie intake (based on a questionnaire), gastrointestinal symptoms, and psychological aspects of eating.

Two weeks after the injections, the mean half-time for gastric emptying of solids increased by 0.8, 14, 24, and 14 minutes among subjects given placebo, 100, 300, or 500 U BTA, respectively.

Sixteen weeks after the injections, mean body weights were reduced by 2.2, 0.2, 2.3, and 3.0 kg in these groups, respectively -- not a statistically significant difference.

Nor were there significant differences among groups in satiation volume, caloric intake, gastrointestinal symptoms, or psychological aspects of eating among groups.

So, although stomach injection of BTA slows gastric emptying, it does not increase the feeling of fullness or lead to loss of body weight. The authors say is unlikely that higher doses of BTA than those tested would induce additional delays in gastric emptying or weight loss.

Previous studies have associated gastrointestinal symptoms with eating behaviors. Topazian et al. did observe that a higher maximum tolerated volume, a physiological measure of satiation, correlated with less control over eating. They propose that educating obese patients about physiological differences in stomach volume might help them improve their ability to control how much they eat.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Gastroenterological Association.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Mark Topazian, Michael Camilleri, Felicity T. Enders, Jonathan E. Clain, Ferga C. Gleeson, Michael J. Levy, Elizabeth Rajan, Vandana Nehra, Ross A. Dierkhising, Maria L. Collazo?Clavell, Nicholas J. Talley, Matthew M. Clark. Gastric Antral Injections of Botulinum Toxin Delay Gastric Emptying but Do Not Reduce Body Weight. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2013; 11 (2): 145 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2012.09.029

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/fN4hrzaVQog/130128163405.htm

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Around the Web?

If you need a break from reading about the SAG Awards, check out Monday’s links: Pediatricians issue first-ever diabetes guidelines for children – TIME.com Mom dislikes daughter who reminds her of ex-husband – BabyCenter.com ESSAY: Why my dog made me worry about being a parent – HuffPost Parents New prenatal test gives parents more information [...]

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/XsvFavc3ifU/

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Deal signed to clear Myanmar debt, allow new loans

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) ? The World Bank announced a long-awaited deal to allow Myanmar to clear part of its huge decades-old foreign debt, opening the door for new much-needed lending to jumpstart its lagging economy.

The bank's Washington headquarters said in a statement Sunday that the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the country's overseas development bank, will provide a bridge loan to Myanmar to cover outstanding debt to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, which totals about $900 million.

Myanmar stopped payments on its old loans about 1987, making it ineligible for new development lending.

The deal is a major breakthrough for Myanmar, with loans likely to go to upgrading its dilapidated infrastructure, including electricity and ports. The knock-on effect would be to bring in more foreign direct investment, already attracted by the country's relatively low-cost economy.

"We have not been allowed financial assistance for more than 20 years and the clearing of foreign debts will help bring fresh new loans for Myanmar," said Maung Aung, a researcher and economist at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry. "We welcome the deal because the country's infrastructure development can be carried out only with the financial assistance from the big financial institutions like the World Bank and ADB."

The debt deal clears the way for Japan to push ahead with plans for a $12.3 billion plan to build a special economic zone near the capital which is being developed by a consortium including Japanese trading firms Mitsubishi Corp., Marubeni Corp. and Sumitomo Corp.

The deal is also likely to draw criticism, because it comes as Myanmar's army is pushing hard against ethnic Kachin rebels in the country's north, in an echo of the notorious counterinsurgency campaigns of previous military regimes.

A former general, Thein Sein, became the country's elected president in 2011 and began reversing almost five decades of military repression by instituting political and economic reforms.

He won the substantial easing of economic and political sanctions imposed against the junta by the United States and other nations. But some pro-democracy activists say his administration has been rewarded too much, too fast, allowing some abuses to continue, such as repression of ethnic minorities.

The World Bank had already made some exceptions to providing new aid.

In November, it approved an $80 million project to provide $25,000 grants to villages in 15 townships across the country, where community councils will identify the kind of help they want, such as roads, bridges, irrigation systems, schools, health clinics or rural markets. The bank reopened its office in Myanmar in August last year.

The bank was able to act because President Barack Obama lifted a long-standing U.S. restriction on international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, lending to Myanmar after Congress passed legislation enabling that step. It was one in a series of steps by Washington to reward the Southeast Asian country for its democratic reforms.

The World Bank statement did not detail the mechanics of the new deal to clear the debt arrears.

It did say the bank's board on Jan. 22 approved a $440 million "Reengagement and Reform Support Credit to Myanmar."

It said the credit would support "critical reforms being implemented by the Government to strengthen macroeconomic stability, improve public financial management and improve the investment climate."

It added that its proceeds would "also help the Government meet its foreign exchange needs, including repaying (the) bridge loan" and that there are currently discussions with the government to identify priority needs.

Separately, the Manila-based Asian Development Bank announced it would extend a $512 million loan to Myanmar under the same sort of arrangement with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation ,

"Myanmar has come a long way in its economic transformation, undertaking unprecedented reforms to improve people's lives, especially the poor and vulnerable," the statement quoted the World Bank's Myanmar Country Director Annette Dixon as saying.

"Much work remains to be done. We are committed to helping the government accelerate poverty reduction and build shared prosperity. The Bank's engagement, together with the ADB, the Government of Japan and other partners, will help attract investment, spur growth and create jobs."

Myanmar ran up $8.4 billion in debt during the socialist regime of the late Gen. Ne Win between 1962 and 1988, and $2.61 billion of debt after a new military junta took over in 1988, making for a total of just more than $11 billion.

The largest creditor before 1988 was Japan, with loans of $6.39 billion, and the biggest post-1988 creditor was China, with $2.13 billion.

According to the Japan External Trade Organization, Myanmar's exports to Japan totaled 1.73 billion kyat ($2 million) in 2011, while its imports from Japan were 2.7 billion kyat ($3.1 million).

___

Associated Press writer Grant Peck in Bangkok and AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach in Tokyo contributed.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-01-27-Myanmar-World%20Bank/id-db45fab5962349f39fdbb7f166cee9c4

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Hostage film "Argo" wins producers award as Oscars loom

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Iran hostage drama "Argo" continued its trophy-winning streak on Saturday, taking the top prize at the Producers Guild Awards in the latest boost to its chances at the Oscars.

Guild picks regularly go on to win at the film industry's most prestigious event - for the last five years, the producers' choice of best-produced film has taken the best picture Oscar.

"I'm really surprised. I'm not even in the PGA (Producers Guild of America)," Argo director, producer and star actor Ben Affleck said as he collected the award for the film that tells the true story of the rescue of U.S. diplomats from Tehran after the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

"I am still acting and available," added a smiling Affleck, joined on stage by co-producer Grant Heslov. George Clooney, also a producer, did not attend the event in Beverly Hills.

The PGA prize is seen as a particularly good indicator of future success as many of the Guild's 5,000 plus members are also members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences who vote for the Oscars.

Argo was nominated earlier this month for a best film Oscar, but Affleck was snubbed in the director's category. Nevertheless, he won a Golden Globe for his direction this month and Argo also won best movie drama at the Golden Globes.

Argo won the PGA prize against nine other films on Saturday, including Steven Spielberg's presidential drama "Lincoln", musical "Les Miserables" and Kathyrn Bigelow's Osama bin Laden thriller "Zero Dark Thirty".

Also contending were Quentin Tarantino's darkly humorous slavery Western "Django Unchained", the James Bond blockbuster "Skyfall", Ang Lee's shipwreck tale "Life of Pi" and the comedy "Silver Linings Playbook".

Many of the PGA-nominated movies are also in the running for the best picture Oscar on February 24.

The PGA handed "Wreck-It Ralph," its honor for best animated movie.

Unlike the Academy Awards, both the Producers Guild Awards and the Golden Globes also give prizes to television dramas and comedies.

The HBO film "Game Change" about Sarah Palin's 2008 vice presidential bid won the outstanding longform TV prize and ABC's "Modern Family" was named best-produced television comedy. "Homeland" was named the best-produced TV drama.

"Searching for Sugar Man," a film about an obscure singer named Rodriguez who is a hit in South Africa, won the prize for best documentary.

J.J. Abrams, who grabbed headlines this week for being named director for the "Star Wars" film received an achievement award for his television work while producers Harvey and Bob Weinstein received a milestone award.

(Reporting By Susan Zeidler; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hostage-film-argo-wins-producers-award-oscars-loom-101603090.html

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Easy Life Changing Tips: Self Improvement & Motivation Tips ...

Easy Life Changing Tips: Self Improvement & Motivation Tips & Advice: Curative Bodywork Kaia Petin, licensed massage therapist, discusses easy tips for making changes and improvements in your life. How can you change your life when you lack self discipline? Do you have a need to change but can?t seem to get motivated? How can you motivate yourself? Are there easy things that you can do to improve your diet, lifestyle, sleep, exercise habits, etc? Find out how simple and easy changes can make a big difference in your lifestyle. Visit Kaia Facebook page at; www.facebook.com This video was produced by Psychetruth www.youtube.com www.twitter.com www.facebook.com www.myspace.com Music by Scotty B ? Copyright 2011 Target Public Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. Life change tips ?self improvement? improvement motivation advice curative bodywork psychetruth holistic lifestyle self discipline diet sleep exercise

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Source: http://selfimprovement.advancedstrategicmarketing.com/?p=1597

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Lots of baby showers predicted nontraditional - 1

Mountain View, CA (PRWEB) 24 October 2012

Beau-coup (http://www.beau-coup.com), an online destination for favors, supplies, decorations and gifts for special events all dead now predicts that non-traditional baby showers the norm in the new year will be. The company has been a trend among its customers many opt to skip baby shower baby showers for traditional festivals, precisely reflect their personal style and beliefs. Here are the ten best alternative baby shower Beau-coup in 2013 are predicted to be large.

1 Layers showers

How it works: The layers are the only thing that all new parents? needs and they have a mountain of diapers in the coming months. Each guest is asked to bring diapers and wrapping supplies such as wipes and ointments instead of gifts. Layers showers are more frequent in mothers who have a second or third child, but they are also a great way to help a new mother.

Make it unique: include Request a brand or type of layer biodegradable diapers environmentally conscious young mothers popular now. Cloth diapers and hire layers are also gaining popularity. To encourage participation, customers in a draw Diaper input packet type layers. A drawing at the end of the shower, and present a prize to the winner.

2 Shower Pan

How it works: It is important to keep mum and dad happy and healthy, while new to the critical months of their first baby?s life. With a shower tray, allows friends and family to ensure that the new parents enough food to hold through the first weeks of sleepless nights spent after breakfast. Between work and baby care, eating too much of Mom and Dad forgot when not caring for friends and family.

Make it unique: request that the guests a meal in the family saved simply designed to bring directly from the freezer to the oven. For customers who do not cook, they can choose to bring a gift card to a local restaurant, or be on call to babysit for mom and dad, if you need a night. If freezer space is a problem (and it probably will!), To sign a few participants to bring their own meals at home on a given day instead.

3 Book showers

How it works: Parents who are bibliophiles hope can share their love of books with their children. In the shower, complete with bookmark favors cute, mom and dad can help a library of books for children to grow their little bookworm, and learn to build.

Make it unique: Encourage your guests to get creative with their books. With a theme Once Upon a Time or Tall Tale or ask people to bring a copy of their favorite childhood books to share.

4 ?Dadchelor? parties

How it works: new fathers celebrate their impending fatherhood in the same way they celebrate their weddings with a last day of freedom before the big day. Dadchelor with something, the father-to-be to spend a day doing well with his buddies what he wants.

Make it unique: These celebrations can be as complicated as the bachelor party, complete with a trip to Las Vegas and night guys. Alternatively, they may one day discrete courses or meeting of guys that come together to grill drinking beer, and sports events before the baby arrives.

5 Girls? Night

How it works: Instead of showering with the new mom gifts, her best gal pals meet with the mom-to-be and spoil her rotten before the baby arrives. Many new moms really enjoy the last day of pampering with close friends before their lives turned around baby.

Make it unique: This kind of party can agree to a number of personalities. Make it a girls night with a homemade meal and soft (non-alcoholic drinks for mom, of course). Or girl can mother-to-be, from manicures, pedicures and shopping.

6 Gender Reveal Party

How it works: Some show equality requires early planning. Parents-to-be should keep baby gender a secret from family and friends, and maybe even work themselves, for this. Ask the ultrasound technician to write the sex on a piece of paper and seal it in an envelope. This envelope is handed over to the baker bakes, a cake of pink or blue either, depending on whether the baby is a girl or a boy. The cake is then covered with white icing to the cake pink or blue will disappear completely. Guests have the party in pink or blue to indicate what gender they believe that the cake will come dressed. The fun and exciting moment comes when all discovered sex at the same time as the new mom and dad the cake to see if they welcome a boy or a girl be!

Make it unique: Get creative with the revelation he did not need to colorful cakes. Fill a large box with pink or blue helium balloons for a dramatic and fairly share the good news. Or custom printed scratch cards. Each client can feel like a winner, as they scratch their cards in order to expose the sex of the baby again.

7th Celebrate Adoption

How it works: Many new parents to adopt or foster, rather than traditional design. Many of these new parents have adoption celebrations called Welcome Home parties, gatherings or meetings baby. Adoption celebrations are a great way to ensure that young parents. Everything they need to raise their adopted child have

Make it unique: Consider baby adoptive parents origin. Consider a festival that. Homage to the country of birth, or with a theme party that celebrates a childs interest

8th ?N? Sip View

How it works: see A sip ?n?, it is a party to meet the baby. This is the perfect opportunity for friends and family to new parents and their little bundle of joy to visit a few weeks after birth. A decrease in the production of a traditional baby shower, a sip n see is a great way to get in some bonding time with quiet light refreshments.

Make it unique. Make it a themed event, it tea time with mom and dad or happy hour with happy family

be,

9th Blessingways

How it works: In a ritual of blessing, mothers make new friends and share their good wishes to the family and positive thoughts for mother and child. Traditionally a ritual of blessing (also called maternal blessing ceremony) performed a ritual with friends mothers and female members of the family. He comes from a Navajo tradition determined to heal and I?ll call the positive blessings. The focus is more on the positive energy and shared links rather than gifts and games.

Make it unique: Plan the ceremony for mother-to-be and to celebrate their interests. If she loves art, making a belly cast or paintings on site for guests to paint. If she likes jewelry, invite, bracelets and necklaces for each other as a reminder of their special bond making.

10th Baby Naming

How it works: A baby naming ceremony is a non-religious parents undertake to make their mental and emotional baby. Traditionally, new parents choose the babys name and show it to friends and family close, while a vow to love and protect the child. It is an increasingly popular event for parents publicly welcome the new addition to their family.

Make it unique: unlike baptisms and christenings are naming more informal and festive and can always occur on any day of the week. Are you planning a naming ceremony topic at home with the family, or having the ceremony in a public space with important people in the lives of new parents. Then send guests home with a beautiful baby shower favors as a special keepsake.

ON BEAU-COUP

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Source: http://hotnews.fantasyleague.cc/lots-of-baby-showers-predicted-nontraditional-the-big-trend-in-2013/

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FDA Approves 3 New Drugs for Type 2 Diabetes - Health News and ...

FRIDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) ? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration late Friday approved three new medications to help people battle type 2 diabetes.

All three drugs contain a new active ingredient, alogliptin, either alone or in combination with other, previously approved medications. The newly approved drugs include Nesina (alogliptin), Kazano (alogliptin plus metformin) and Oseni (alogliptin plus pioglitazone), the FDA said in a news release.

?Controlling blood sugar levels is very important in the overall treatment and care of diabetes,? Dr. Mary Parks, director of the Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products in the FDA?s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in the statement. ?Alogliptin helps stimulate the release of insulin after a meal, which leads to better blood sugar control.?

More than 24 million people in the United States are currently affected by type 2 diabetes, which is closely linked with obesity. In the type 2 form of the disease, people gradually develop resistance to insulin or fail to produce enough of the hormone, resulting in rising blood sugar levels. That can lead to other health problems, such as heart disease, vision problems and neural or kidney dysfunction.

The FDA urges that the new medications be used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise to help bring diabetes under control. All of the drugs underwent study either as stand-alone products or used alongside standard diabetes medications such as sulfonyureas or insulin.

In the case of Nesina, the drug showed safety and effectiveness across 14 clinical trials, involving more than 8,500 patients, according to the FDA. The most common side effects included stuffy or runny nose, headache, and upper respiratory tract infections.

Kazano?s safety and effectiveness were tested in four clinical trials involving more than 2,500 patients. Side effects included those seen with Nesina, as well as diarrhea, high blood pressure and back pain, the FDA said. The agency is also requesting that a ?boxed warning? be included on Kazano?s labeling, highlighting the potential risk of lactic acidosis (lactic acid buildup in the blood), which can occur in products containing metformin.

Oseni was studied in four clinical trials involving more than 1,500 patients, the FDA noted. Side effects were similar to those seen with Nesina, as well as back pain. Oseni?s labeling will also carry a boxed warning, this time cautioning users about the risk for heart failure that accompanies drugs containing pioglitazone.

The drugs will also be subject to what are known as ?post-marketing studies,? aimed at spotting any emerging risks. For example, studies looking at heart and liver issues are mandated for Nesina, while studies focused on potential liver and pancreas problems are mandated for both Kazano and Oseni, the FDA said.

All three drugs are distributed by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America Inc., of Deerfield, Ill.

More information

Find out more about type 2 diabetes at the American Diabetes Association.

Source: http://news.health.com/2013/01/25/fda-approves-3-new-drugs-for-type-2-diabetes/

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Granville in Newport Beach-Newport Beach Golf Course Homes

Golf Course Homes for Sale in Newport Beach | Granville Homes for Sale

Granville? in Newport Beach is a?guard gated golf course community?which is located on the?Newport Beach Country Club?golf course. ?The majority of homes for sale in Granville are condos however there are some detached homes also.

The?Newport Beach Country Club?is a private country club, and has a beautiful golf course. ?The?Toshiba Classic?is a golf tournament which is played at this course.

The?community of Granville?is located right along the golf course, and there are both upper and lower units. The upper units features gorgeous golf course views, and do have partial ocean view as well. The lower units actually open onto the golf course.?Granville in Newport Beach?is a community of approximately 67 homes. Granville also has a community clubhouse, private pool for the use of their residents. Additionally, Granville in Newport Beach is located across from Fashion Island in Newport Beach. It is a lifestyle as you can walk to Fashion Island for upscale shopping and dining.

Currently, there are 2?active listings?in?Granville. There no properties in back up, none in pending and there were no sales in November, 2012. ? The last reported sale in Granville in Newport Beach was on 7/5/2012 for $1,635,000.

3 active listings?compared to 3 in November, 2012 ? the same
0 back up?compared to 0 back up in November, 2012 ? the same
0 pending?compared to 0 pending in November, 2012 ? the same
0 sales?compared to 0 sales in November, 2012 ? the same

The?absorption rate? in Granville has very limited inventory. Additionally, Granville has approximately 67 homes.

Search the MLS for Granville condos for sale?in Newport Beach, and Newport Beach Real Estate.

Search the MLS for Granville homes for sale, and?Newport Beach Real Estate.

Showing properties 1 - 3 of 3. See more Granville Homes for Salein Newport Beach.
(all data current as of 1/25/2013)

1. 2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,860 sq ft

   Year built: 1968

   Parking spots: 4

   Days on market: 10

2. 2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 2,400 sq ft

   Year built: 1970

   Parking spots: 4

   Days on market: 102

3. 2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 2,168 sq ft

   Year built: 1970

   Parking spots: 4

   Days on market: 105

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Other Newport Beach, CA Neighborhoods

For the most-up-to-date information in?Newport Beach,?we urge you to contact us.? We can assist you with all aspects of buying or selling real property in this and other?neighborhoods and communities in Newport Beach.? Also ask to be placed on an instant notification system when any new?Newport Beach MLS listings?come on the market or price reductions in the?Newport Beach?area are posted.

Return to the Newport Beach Real Estate Home Page

We can assist buyers in all forms of?Newport Beach?relocation?needs including new construction houses, condos, for sale by owner homes, residential lots, lofts, and new homes in various subdivisions across the Newport Beach area. If you are interested in foreclosure homes including pre-foreclosures, short sales, REO properties, bank owned properties and other types of foreclosure properties, then we can assist you.??If you?re?searching for Newport Beach, CA foreclosures, then we invite you to view the listings in this or any of the Newport Beach popular communities on our site. ?Search for homes and condos for sale in Orange County by map. ?And if you?re searching for?condos for sale in the Newport Beach,?feel free to browse our updated listings of?Newport Beach condos for sale?on our site.

If you are not able to find the home you are looking for, please fill out the online form below so that we can assist you with your home search.

Information on this page is based on information on real estate for sale in Newport Beach area per the CRMLS and is deemed reliable but, not guaranteed.

Tagged as: granville in newport beach, newport beach golf course homes

Source: http://newportbeachrealestatecafe.com/2013/01/25/granville-homes-for-sale-newport-beach-market-update/

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10 travel tips for getting an upgrade - TODAY Travel

Whether you're looking for a better hotel room, airplane seat or rental car, Nilou Motamed of Travel + Leisure shares her tips to have you traveling in style.

By Travel + Leisure

There are simple things you can do to increase your chances of getting an upgrade on your next flight, hotel stay or even when you rent a car.

1. Choose your frequent-flier program carefully
When picking an airline frequent-flier program, it can pay to choose an airline that isn't headquartered in your city (there will be fewer elite passengers to compete with for an upgrade).

2. Check in later
Check in to your hotel late in the day; they're more likely to give you an upgrade if it looks like a better room will otherwise sit empty.

3. Stay at a new hotel
Staff are more likely to want to woo new guests and spread good word of mouth. You could also think about staying at a large hotel ? large hotels with tons of rooms offer a better chance of getting you upgraded.

Also from Travel + Leisure: The best new hotels

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4.?Take advantage of online resources
Priceline.com has a service called Hotel Freebies that shows a range of perks that hotels are offering, including free upgrades.

5. Give a reason
It helps if you give a hotel a reason to upgrade you. You can tell them that you're there for a special occasion. Also, make sure they know if you are a member of the hotel's loyalty club.

Courtesy Adrian Weinbrecht/cultura/Corbis

Travel + Leisure recommends just asking for an upgrade, providing a reason or just being nice might help, among other tips.

6. Inquire about partnerships
Let the hotel know if you have any memberships such as AAA or AARP. And, ask if they have other partnerships ? they may have some affiliations you might not expect that could work in your favor. Occasionally, hotels partner with airlines in ways that benefit you, too.

7. Just ask
Surprisingly, sometimes you just have to ask, especially with car rentals. They often have more economy rental reservations than they have vehicles and are eager to hand out upgrades.

8. Write a note
Before you arrive, write a note to the hotel?s manager letting the hotel know how excited you are about your upcoming stay ? and why it's important to you. Sharing your enthusiasm about the property via your Twitter and Facebook accounts could help too.

9. Be nice
It doesn't hurt to be nice when flying. Upgrades can be discretionary, so get the gate agent or flight attendant on your side.

10. Track award seats
If you are looking to cash in miles for an upgrade, ExpertFlyer's Flight Alert service will track a given flight for you and let you know when an award seat becomes available. The site's?Seat Alert service tracks flights to let you know when better seats become available in your category ? an aisle, window or even a premium seat.

More From Travel + Leisure:

?

Source: http://todaytravel.today.com/_news/2013/01/25/16698153-10-travel-tips-for-getting-an-upgrade

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Intel Makes Mobile Push Into Africa Via Partner Safaricom, Releases Android-Powered Yolo Smartphone

It?s no secret that Intel is gunning to gain some mobile traction in emerging markets, and the chipmaker doesn?t seem to be wasting any time in 2013. Kenyan wireless operator (and Intel partner) Safaricom has just officially revealed Africa?s first Intel smartphone, the Android-powered Yoloat an event in Nairobi. Yeah, you read that right: the Yolo.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/z7d4d1pame0/

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Instant View: Jobless claims drop to five-year low

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell to its lowest since the early days of the 2007-09 recession, a hopeful sign for the sluggish labor market.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 330,000, the lowest level since January 2008, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

COMMENTS:

MICHAEL STRAUSS, CHIEF ECONOMIST, COMMONFUND, WILTON,

CONNECTICUT:

"A very simple thing, the economy's doing better. So that's the first stage. There are times, and I do think that's the bigger story. Though, that claims can be a little bit distorted at the start of the year.

"So that could make them a little bit lower, but I think the biggest thing is, very simple, it's the economy. The economy is structurally doing a little bit better. Now, it may not show up in the first print of GDP for the fourth quarter.

HUGH JOHNSON, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER OF HUGH JOHNSON ADVISORS LLC IN ALBANY, NY:

"The claims numbers are clearly a big surprise and were very good numbers. Most of us after last week had been expecting some sort of an increase from the 335000 in the prior week. But this was a big surprise, we saw an ongoing decline in claims - a big surprise and a very good surprise.

"Claims are an important component of the index of leading economic indicators and tell us where employment is going and these numbers imply that we may get a good employment number for the month of January when it is released in early February.

You don't know for sure because the statistical correlation is not precise, but they imply we may have a good employment number for the month of January."

JOHN CANALLY, ECONOMIST/INVESTMENT STRATEGIST, LPL FINANCIAL, BOSTON:

"I love to say it's an improvement. Early part of the year you tend get these distortions. You have to take it with a grain of salt. You have to expect a rise in claims in the second half of January. But it's moving in the right direction. This is telling us the labor market is improving slightly."

ANDREW GRANTHAM, ECONOMIST, CIBC WORLD MARKETS, TORONTO:

"The latest figures are a positive indicator that net employment growth could have accelerated in next week's payroll figures, although at this stage hiring rather than firing is the main determinant of payroll growth. The better than expected data should be beneficial to stocks, and weigh on fixed income."

STEPHEN STANLEY, CHIEF ECONOMIST, PIERPONT SECURITIES, STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT:

"This is mostly noise not a signal. The move last week and this week are biased on the low side due to seasonal factors. They will likely pop back up. I don't think the labor market has improved much because other indicators haven't shown hirings picking up. The jobs market is just treading water at this point."

JOSEPH TREVISANI, CHIEF MARKET STRATEGIST, WORLDWIDEMARKETS, WOODCLIFF LAKE, NEW JERSEY:

"The two week improvement in initial claims is not yet a trend but it may reflect a better, less partisian atmosphere in Washington and the lack of drama over the debt limit increase and employers more willing to plan for the future."

MARKET REACTION: BONDS: U.S. bond prices pared gains

FOREX: The dollar extended gains versus yen, climbing to a session peak of 89.80 yen and was last at 89.74, up 1.3 percent on the day.

GRAPHIC: Jobless claims graphic - U.S. jobless claims: New claims for unemployment fell last week to 330,000 - the lowest since January 2008. For the week ended January 12, continuing claims fell to 3.16 million. http://link.reuters.com/xew34t

(Americas Economics and Markets Desk; +1-646 223-6300)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/jobless-claims-drop-five-low-135235931--business.html

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FOR KIDS: Cool Jobs: Delving into dung

Scientists uncover fascinating secrets through he study of animal feces

By Roberta Kwok

Web edition: January 24, 2013

Enlarge

Sam Wasser?s team has trained dogs to search for the poop of rare animals. Here, a dog named Mason finds such droppings in Brazil.

Credit: Matt Baker

Beginning in the late 1970s, Sam Wasser spent years following wild yellow baboons across Tanzania, a country in Africa. Wasser wanted to measure chemicals called hormones in the female monkeys to better understand their reproduction. But the biologist didn?t want to stress the baboons by capturing the animals and sampling their blood.

Then an idea struck Wasser: What if he measured the hormones in baboon droppings? ?One thing I knew about following baboons is they?re pooping a lot,? recalls Wasser, who now directs the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Feces fascinate scientists tackling other topics too. Some scientists search for ancient poop left by animals that have gone extinct. Quite a few even study critters that dine on dung. Sure, feces may not be pleasant. Still, the researchers profiled here believe the knowledge they derive outweighs any drawbacks.

Visit the new?Science News for Kids?website?and read the full story:?Cool Jobs: Delving into dung

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/347771/title/FOR_KIDS_Cool_Jobs_Delving_into_dung

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Multifamily Construction Leading the Recovery | Daily Business News

Home
> Advocacy, Business, Economy > Multifamily Construction Leading the Recovery

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) informs MHProNews multifamily will continue to lead the recovery of the overall housing market in the coming years, now standing at 70 percent of the way back to a sustainable level. NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe says, ?We are forecasting construction of 299,000 new multifamily residences in 2013. While this is an improvement from just a few years ago, it is still well below the 350,000 units that are required to keep supply and demand in balance.? Although tight credit continues to be somewhat of an obstacle, as does the rising cost of building materials, Lance Swank of the Sterling Group in Mishawaka, Ind. says, ?The market continues to improve as new household formations generate demand, especially in the market-rate rental segment. There is also a change in attitude toward renting?people like the flexibility it gives and the option to be able to easily move to another city or state for a job opportunity.?

Categories: Advocacy, Business, Economy Tags: attitude, building materials, chief economist, David Crowe, flexibility, household, Housing Market, job opportunity, mishawaka, multifamily construction, NAHB, National Association of Home Builders, obstacle, segment, sterling group, supply and demand, sustainable level, swank, tight credit

Source: http://www.mhmarketingsalesmanagement.com/blogs/daily-business-news/multifamily-construction-leading-the-recovery/

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I Don?t Drink

Alcohol isn?t just a drink, it?s a rite of passage

JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images

I don't drink alcohol the way other people don't eat oysters, or don?t start the day with a cup of coffee. I don't drink because I don't like it, I never have. But the difference between me and people who don?t eat oysters is that I have to explain my choice?and I've had to for 20 years.

Alcohol isn?t just a drink, it?s a rite of passage. Forget getting your period, or your voice finally breaking?being an adult in North America means being legal. The irony being that alcohol is essentially childhood in a bottle. For a few bucks, you get a trip back to the carefree days of slurred speech, impaired balance and nonexistent inhibitions. Who?d turn down a bargain like that?

"You just don't like it or ..." is generally the response I get when I abstain. The ellipsis, along with the furrowed brow, covers everything from a bad case of alcoholism to a bad case of religious zealotry. A female friend of mine whose uncle owns a bar and who recently stopped drinking, added, "people always ask me if I'm pregnant, which makes me want to have a drink."

It?s not that I haven?t tried alcohol. I have. I've tried it more times than I would ever try anything else I know I don't like. And I still don't like it. My mom recently told me that when I was a toddler she was once in the bath with her eyes closed, and when she opened them she found her glass of Bailey's gone. Apparently, when she asked where it went, I yelled from the hallway, "Chocolate milk!" (Despite that bathtub cocktail, my parents barely drank. ?Neither mom nor dad were particularly big drinkers,? my brother recently reminded me as we both considered why neither of us drink. ?They tended not to keep alcohol in the house, so it's not something we associated with adulthood or anything else.?) In addition to that premature shot of Bailey?s, I?ve given beer, wine, and hard liquor a chance. And I still don?t like to drink.

In high school, I lied about why I never drank. "I don't want to lose control,? I said. The truth?I don?t want to be like you?would no doubt have been less palatable. I remember one kid, eyes filled to the brim with Molson Canadian, asking me, "Don't you want to know what's going on in my head right now?" And, well, the joke kind of wrote itself. According to my best friend at the time, who I consulted for this piece, I spent my teen years looking "uncomfortable and a little bit disgusted" with everyone. "I guess I felt like I was disappointing you," she said. "But I was like, 'Hrm, I'm gonna go get drunk anyway.' "

I grew out of the disappointment but not the disgust. When I finally elbowed my way past the high school meat heads and into university (more meat heads!), I still couldn?t stomach the flavor of fermented what-have-you enough to benefit from the euphoria it afforded. These days, I use that excuse more than any other because it seems to be the one that everyone can understand. In an episode of the U.K. sitcom Peep Show, for instance, socially awkward anti-hero Mark Corrigan, struck with a case of insomnia, bemoans having to suck down fermented grain mash instead of something a little sweeter. "Ahh! Horrible whiskey," he says. "Still, midnight down the bar, can?t exactly have a chocolate milkshake, can I?"

I am the midnight milkshake drinker. According to my boyfriend, I regularly replace alcohol with food. Apparently I ask to see the dessert menu every time I accompany him to the bar. Presumably, the drunker he gets, the fatter I get. When I asked if he ever wished I drank, he emphatically denied it. "I see it as a bonus that I don't have to worry that you are choking on your own vomit down an alleyway when you're not back 'til late," he said. "I just know you've collapsed in a cake shop." (I never said I had self-control?sugar is my drug of choice.)

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=5186b4aff1b9d476c7f336f50ee41ec9

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NRA?s LaPierre criticizes inauguration speech

A day after Barack Obama delivered his inaugural address, National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre criticized the president's message.

"Yesterday in his second inaugural address, President Barack Obama quoted the Declaration of Independence and he talked about inalienable rights," LaPierre said during a speech Tuesday at a hunting and conservation awards ceremony in Reno, Nev. "I believe he made a mockery of both."

During his inaugural speech on Monday, Obama said Americans shouldn't "mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics or treat name-calling as reasoned debate."

"Absolutes do exist, words do have specific meaning in language and in law," LaPierre countered Tuesday.

"We believe we deserve, and have every right to, the same level of freedom that our government leaders keep for themselves, and the same capabilities and same technologies that criminals use to prey upon us and our families," he continued. "That means we believe in our right to defend ourselves and our families with semi-automatic technology."

"No government gave them to us and no government can take them away," the NRA leader added.

LaPierre's comments come on the heels of the last week's unveiling of a set of legislative proposals and executive actions by Obama and Vice President Joe Biden formulated in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., elementary school shooting that left 20 children and six adults dead.

[Related: White House slams NRA ad using Obama's daughters]

The day before the package was unveiled, the NRA released a controversial web ad that used Obama's daughters to criticize the president on gun control, calling Obama an "elitist hypocrite" for allowing Secret Service protection for daughters even as he calls for tighter gun laws.

The White House called the ad ?repugnant and cowardly."

Last month, during a press conference to address the shootings in Newtown, LaPierre suggested that a "good guy with a gun" should be stationed at every school in the country. Two days later on "Meet the Press," LaPierre blasted critics of his plan.

?If it?s crazy to call for putting police in and securing our schools to protect our children, then call me crazy," LaPierre said. ?I think the American people think it?s crazy not to do it."

Meanwhile, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., plans to introduce legislation later this week to reinstate a federal ban on assault weapons.

The "Assault Weapons Ban of 2013," which centers on banning military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition feeding devices?actions backed by President Obama?will be introduced during a press conference on Thursday morning in Washington. Feinstein will be joined by a coalition of Democratic lawmakers, law enforcement officers, and representatives from gun safety and gun violence groups, among others.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/nra-responds-obama-inauguration-speech-174700777--election.html

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My husband and I have been looking for a new home. ... - Zillow ...

Your real estate agent has a fiduciary duty to represent you and not be influenced by outside forces.? It is often difficult when looking at a variety of homes to avoid homes from your own brokerage, especially if it is a large one.? Often the listing agent will be from a different office, and some offices themselves are so big it's hard to know anyone.?

The listing agent isn't likely to share information that will impact their client in a negative way, and neither with the buyer's agent.? In fact, in my experience, agents are even more careful as it pertains to confidentiality of information so as not to cross that line.

Source: http://www.zillow.com/advice-thread/My-husband-and-I-have-been-looking-for-a-new-home-We-decided-on-New-Construction-found-a-realtor/475346/

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World stocks fall ahead of US debt ceiling vote

BANGKOK (AP) ? World stock markets fell Wednesday ahead of a U.S. vote on raising the nation's borrowing limit.

Analysts said, however, that stock markets have room for gains if U.S. lawmakers make progress on raising the debt ceiling. The House is set to vote on a motion to increase the nation's $16.4 trillion borrowing authority for three months.

Without congressional action, the Treasury sometime in late February or early March will not have enough money to pay for all of its obligations, creating the possibility of a first-ever default on the government's debts.

"A vote is expected today, and if it is passed as expected it should clear the very short term obstacles for risk appetite, although battles on automatic spending cuts and the budget itself are not so long away," said analysts at Credit Agricole CIB in a market commentary.

European stock markets were mostly down in early trading. Britain's FTSE 100 fell slightly to 6,179.17. Germany's DAX rose 0.1 percent to 7,702.29. France's CAC-40 lost 0.1 percent at 3,737.44.

Wall Street stocks appeared to be headed lower. Dow Jones industrial futures fell 0.1 percent to 13,680. S&P 500 futures shed 0.2 percent to 1,486.10.

Stocks in Japan reacted negatively for a second day to the central bank's plans for shoring up the economy.

The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo tumbled 2.1 percent to close at 10,486.99, a day after the Bank of Japan set its target inflation rate at 2 percent and said it would undertake open-ended asset purchases starting in 2014. Some analysts said investors were disappointed that the central bank didn't take more aggressive measures.

Francis Lun, managing director of Lyncean Holdings in Hong Kong, said the Bank of Japan's latest efforts won't reverse two decades of stagnant growth without addressing the country's budget deficit and public debt, which ballooned under years of efforts to stimulate the economy.

"They are not doing anything to address the problem. They are just using the same old methods, of printing money to sustain economic growth. If you use that too often, it will lose its efficacy," Lun said.

South Korea's Kospi shed 0.8 percent to 1,980.41. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.1 percent to 23,635.10. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 bucked the trend, rising 0.2 percent to 4,787.80.

Among individual stocks, BHP Billiton rose 1.3 percent in Sydney after the mining giant's half-year iron ore production results exceeded expectations. Japan's Kobe Steel plummeted 6.5 percent while banking giant Nomura Holdings fell 4.5 percent.

Strong earnings reports from big U.S. companies helped push the Dow Jones industrial average to its eighth gain in nine sessions Tuesday. The gains came despite a report showing sales of previously occupied homes dipped in December from November. The news wasn't as bad as it looked, however. Sales rose last year to 4.65 million, a 9.2 percent increase from the previous year and the most in five years.

Benchmark oil for March delivery was down 8 cents to $96.59 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The February contract, which expired Tuesday, rose 68 cents to close at $96.24 a barrel on the Nymex on Tuesday.

In currencies, the euro fell to $1.3298 from $1.3317 in New York on Tuesday. The dollar fell to 88.21 yen from 88.76 yen.

___

Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-01-23-World%20Markets/id-6735266cfcd54528b57905d5be942d38

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