Friday, August 31, 2012

Canada's hot condo market set to get even hotter

TORONTO ? A new condo report suggests first-time buyers, retirees and population growth will continue to fuel demand and price growth for the compact living spaces over the next few years.

The study by Genworth Canada found that average condo resale prices are expected to rise next year in seven of the eight metropolitan centres studied.

Prices in Toronto are projected to jump 2.5% to $312,352.

For those seeking to own a home affordably in urban centres, condos remain a good option

The highest increase however, is expected to be in Edmonton where prices could rise 3.2%.

Vancouver is the only city where condo prices are expected to drop, by 2% to $348,152.

The report stands in contrast to warnings from economists and officials that the condo market in some hot markets is reaching bubble territory that could soon burst.

The Bank of Canada and federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty have cautioned Canadians repeatedly to moderate borrowing on real estate, declaring household debt to be the domestic economy?s number one enemy.

The central bank noted certain segments of the housing market that have a persistent oversupply ? such as condos in Toronto ? face a higher risk of a price correction.

Genworth ? which earns revenue from selling mortgage insurance ? notes that rising prices for single-detached homes are driving first-time buyers to condos, but retirees also continue to prop up demand.

It suggests that the population is expected to grow in all eight cities studied over the next few years, while employment growth and low interest rates should also support the market.

?This data corroborates our view that the demand for condos in Canada, particularly at the price-point we insure, is well supported by our economy and our population,? said Brian Hurley, chairman and CEO of Genworth Canada.

?For those seeking to own a home affordably in urban centres, condos remain a good option.?

The Genworth Canada report, produced with the Conference Board of Canada, reviewed trends in
Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria.

Census figures for 2011 released in February show multi-unit dwellings ? a category that includes condominiums ? making up roughly half of all new housing stock, a category traditionally led by detached homes.

The numbers also indicate that Canadians are flocking to urban centres. Toronto?s population jumped more than 17% over the previous census period in 2006.

A recent CMHC report said housing starts and home sales have been strong in 2012 ? particularly when it comes to multiple-dwelling units such as townhouses, condos and apartments ? but will soften moderately in coming months into 2013.

The Canadian Press

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FP_TopStories/~3/IS-D8d0VvOk/

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Microsoft Opens Registration For Imagine Cup 2013

Microsoft Opens Registration For Imagine Cup 2013

On Thursday, Microsoft opened registration for the 11th annual Image Cup open to all students 16 and above. The competition has been revised from strictly software design to three core areas: World Citizenship, Games and Innovation. The prize has also changed this year, doubling to $300k.

In addition to the core competitions, students can also compete in a number of online challenges focused on specific technologies and platforms, including Windows 8, Windows Azure and Windows Phone.

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Source: http://www.hardocp.com/news/2012/08/31/microsoft_opens_registration_for_imagine_cup_2013/

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U.S. guard pleads guilty to trying to pass secrets to China

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former security guard at a U.S. consulate in China pleaded guilty on Thursday to trying to pass details on the new building's security systems to a Chinese spy agency, prosecutors said.

Bryan Underwood, 32, planned to sell information about the consulate being built in Guangzhou to China's Ministry of State Security for $3 million to $5 million, along with access to the site, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.

Underwood, a former contract civilian guard, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Washington to one count of attempting to communicate national defense information to a foreign government.

Sentencing guidelines normally mean a prison sentence of 15 to 20 years. Sentencing is set for November 19.

Among materials Underwood attempted to sell to the Ministry of State Security, China's main counter-intelligence agency, were classified pictures and diagrams of security measures and devices being installed in the new building.

A U.S. official said the materials might have enabled Chinese intelligence to install electronic surveillance gear in the building before U.S. officials moved in.

Underwood also told U.S. investigators he had put together a plan for Chinese agents to get access to a consulate building to install listening and other devices.

He was arrested on the run by FBI agents in Los Angeles in September 2011 after initial charges that he lied about why he was taking photos of the consulate.

Underwood, a former Indiana resident, had worked as a guard at the consulate construction site from November 2009 to August 2011. He planned to sell the information after he was hit by stock market reverses, the statement said.

U.S. prosecutors have brought charges against numerous people over the years for trying to spy for China. They include some who sought money in exchange for economic or national security-related information.

(Reporting by Ian Simpson and Mark Hosenball; Editing by Jackie Frank and Peter Cooney)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-guard-pleads-guilty-trying-pass-secrets-china-211750299.html

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Review: The Upgraded Men's Health iPhone App - Digital Editions ...

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[Editor's Note: This review originally appears on Folio: partner site Minonline. And for more app reviews, visit Min's App Central.]

Rodale?s recast iPhone app edition makes no bones about its intent in squeezing a monthly magazine into a smartphone app. The app?s tagline is ?Tons of Useful Stuff.? Understanding from page one that the charge for most magazines on a phone must be utility, the contents of the monthly books have been massaged and reconfigured to make more sense for the on-the-go user rather than reader. A great deal has been done here to make a full monthly book more palatable on a hand-sized app, but there is no getting around the sheer volume of material and its original print sensibility. There is ?tons of stuff,? but the ?stuff? most relevant to the mobile user needs to surface more automatically from the ?tons.?

To wit: the TOC has been wisely transformed into a wall of tappable visual tiles with short heads. From a design perspective this is lovely. As information architecture it quickly become a blur of one-line indicators ?Health? Fitness? Style that feel random even though they are organized in the magazine?s sections. Likewise the pop-up TOC, which puts the contents into a marginally clearer icon+text scroll still lacks the detail. More tappable detail at the TOC level is needed for the reader to know what he is getting. Because MH repeats some general themes like style, health and fitness across front matter, features and columns, those tags are of nominal help to the drive-by reader. The design addresses the mobile experience with large, easily-seen structures. But in reality, to find what you want, the reader is tossed into a magazine lean-back mode that is not likely suitable to the circumstance.

See Also: Men's Health Upgrades to More Interactive iPhone Edition

But the real problem is simply that the original magazine organization and depth doesn?t translate to an app simply though smart design. This reader feels overwhelmed. Compared to The New Yorker, Men?s Health has many more small editorial elements that need to be managed in a small space.

But when it comes to design, the app excels. Once you do find your way to the article you want, the layout is optimal for smartphone experience. The splash page is lush and scrolls downward into a readable version of the article with page-at-a-time scrolling. Text is not adjustable, but we had no problem with the reading experience. Features that included embedded slideshows were handled adeptly. A feature on color let you scroll downward into successive slides.

Like The New Yorker iPhone app, MH can?t get around the scores of page advances it takes to get through a feature article on a smartphone. But unlike the New Yorker, MH lacks that critical triaging function that share tools provide. I could find no way to email, Tweet or otherwise share an article or an item, to myself for later reading or to others. This pretty much removes from MH for iPhone a natural utility?reading the snackable material on the phone and pushing the long-read material back to yourself for more comfortable consumption elsewhere.

The front matter of the magazine is the most enjoyable material to read and arguably some of the most mobile-friendly in MH?s monthly book. Each subsection is divided into a slideshow-like series of tappable text and images that fit the screen and the snackable milieu. Arguably, front matter in any magazine is the most mobile-friendly content. But kudos to MH for making it even more enjoyable on this platform.

Also great to see (or hear) is the inclusion of audio in at least one feature. Garrison Keillor's reading of his feature on a life of smoking and drinking is not to be missed. Still, good luck bookmarking the feature or the audio so you can come back to finish it in midstream later. The audio track doens't even let you know how long the narration lasts. There are a number of such usability oddities in this app. There doesn't seem to be an easy way to quickly scroll to the top of a long feature. The standard Apple technique of tapping the top of the frame does not work. Adobe's page view mode zooms the issue out into a thumbnail timeline of the layout, but just try using the scroll tool to move incrementally through pages. The scale is just all wrong for such minute navigational moves.

Embodying the entire experience of the MH app are the exercise illustrations?both elegantly designed while maddening to find and use. The simple line art concatenates the original drawings that demonstrate the start and end positions of the exercise into a neat animation. The problem is that the exercises are scattered throughout the editorial and across sections. Speaking as a gym rat who actually brings his devices into the gym with him I can only ask, are these guys nuts? No fitness enthusiast is going to waste time at the gym scrolling to find the exercises he saw in some section somewhere in the magazine three days ago. Without some simple way of saving content (there isn?t even a ?Favorites? function in this app) or collecting all of the exercises into one section, a cool animation became useless to me when I really need it.

There are many, many wonderful design touches in the Men?s Health iPhone edition. There are individual spots in the editorial that are a joy to tap and scroll. In that sense it is a great showpiece for the flexibility of Adobe?s publishing system that makes it easier to move magazines to smartphones. And that is the problem. The app feels like it was built more by Adobe than by Rodale. This is as mixed a bag as we have come across lately in magazine app-land. It is still more magazine than app. The material most usable and relevant to the mobile reader is just buried in with the rest, and the architecture has not been torn down and rebuilt thoroughly enough to make it a pleasant mobile experience. What is needed here is an editor who does what editors do?declare what his or her reader most needs to know and in what order. Smartphones add a new parameter?what readers can use or absorb in the unpredictable mobile context. The app needs to surface and save only the ?stuff? that is contextually ?useful.?

Grade: B-

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FOLIO: Magazine is pleased to provide you an opportunity to share your thoughts, comments & experiences about what is going on in the magazine industry. Some comments may be reprinted elsewhere online or offline. We encourage lively, open discussion and posts, and only ask that you refrain from personal comments and remarks that are off topic. We reserve the right to edit/remove comments. Thanks for being part of the FOLIO: community.

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Oh Baby! Stars' New Summer Arrivals

Kourtney Kardashian! Uma Thurman! Take a look back at the celebs who welcomed new bundles of joy this summer

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/celebrities-summer-babies-2011/1-b-377366?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Acelebrities-summer-babies-2011-377366

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Insight: Does China's next leader have a soft spot for Tibet?

BEIJING/DHARAMSALA | Thu Aug 30, 2012 5:10pm EDT

BEIJING/DHARAMSALA (Reuters) - For decades, Beijing has maintained that the Dalai Lama is a separatist, but Tibet's exiled spiritual leader once had a special relationship with the father of Xi Jinping, the man in line to become China's next president.

Few people know what Xi, whose ascent to the leadership is likely to be approved at a Communist Party congress later this year, thinks of Tibet or the Dalai Lama.

But his late father, Xi Zhongxun, a liberal-minded former vice premier, had a close bond with the Tibetan leader who once gave the elder Xi an expensive watch in the 1950s, a gift that the senior party official was still wearing decades later.

The Dalai Lama, 77, recalls the elder Xi as "very friendly, comparatively more open-minded, very nice" and says he only gave watches back then to those Chinese officials he felt close to.

"We Tibetans, we get these different varieties of watch easily from India. So we take advantage of that, and brought some watches to some people when we feel some sort of close feeling, as a gift like that," the Dalai Lama said in an interview in the Indian town of Dharamsala, a capital for Tibetan exiles in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The Dalai Lama gave the watch to the elder Xi in 1954 during an extended visit to Beijing. Xi was one of the officials who spent time with the young Dalai Lama in the capital where he spent five to six months studying Chinese and Marxism.

The Dalai Lama fled to India five years later, after a failed uprising against Communist rule, but as late as 1979, Xi senior was still wearing the watch, the make and style of which the Dalai Lama can no longer remember.

Xi senior was a dove in the party, championing the rights of Tibetans, Uighurs and other ethnic minorities. He also opposed the army crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen student protests and was alone in criticizing the sacking of liberal party chief Hu Yaobang by the Old Guard in 1987. Xi senior died in 2002.

The Dalai Lama has never met Xi junior but his fondness for the father is, for some, a sign that China's next leader may adopt a more reformist approach to Tibet once he formally succeeds President Hu Jintao next March. Some expect him to be more tolerant of Muslim Uighurs in the western region of Xinjiang, and also of Taiwan, the independently ruled island that China has vowed to take back, by force if necessary.

"To understand what kind of leader Xi Jinping will be, one must study his father's (policies)," said Bao Tong, one-time top aide to purged party chief Zhao Ziyang. Bao was jailed for seven years for sympathizing with student-led demonstrations for democracy centered on Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989.

"No (Chinese) Communist will betray his father," he added.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON?

Xi senior is looked on favorably by China's leaders with plans already made to commemorate his 100th birth anniversary in mid-October next year with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People and editorials and commentaries in state media eulogizing him, sources with ties to the leadership said.

But even if Xi junior wants to pursue a reform agenda, he is likely to bide his time.

"The key is whether Xi Jinping feels confident of his power consolidation," said Lin Chong-Pin, a former Taiwan defense minister and China policy-maker who now teaches at Taipei's Tamkang University.

Lin added, however: "There will be a more tolerant policy not only (towards) Tibet, but also Xinjiang."

Taiwan, the democratic island Beijing claims as its own, may be the model for reconciliation with Tibet.

"Every generation of (Chinese) leaders must resolve problems left over from the previous generation," a source with leadership ties said.

"For Hu, it was Taiwan," the source added, referring to Hu mending fences with the island after his predecessor, Jiang Zemin, threatened it with war games in the run-up to its first direct presidential elections in 1996.

"For Xi, it's Tibet," the source said.

Asked if Xi might take a different tack on Tibet, a retired party official who used to work in Tibet said: "There has to be new thinking ... He (Xi) is surely aware of the problems."

"More and more government spending, more and more security, is not going to buy enduring stability in Tibet," the official said, referring to China pouring billions of yuan to develop Tibet, including opening a railway in 2006 linking it with the rest of China, and a crackdown in the wake of the unrest.

"The high-pressure policies can't continue forever," the official said, asking not to be identified and adding that these were his personal views.

CARDS HELD CLOSE

Xi has played his cards close to his chest and little is publicly known about his policies. Like Hu, he will be no political strongman, and will have to rule by consensus as the first among equals.

If Hu stays on as military chief, Hu may continue to hold sway over major policies, but is unlikely to oppose detente.

"Hu will not be an obstacle to (any) reconciliation" moves, a second source with leadership ties said.

Initially, Hu sought to make up for his decision to crush riots in Tibet in 1989 by issuing a decree to "protect Tibetan culture" in the early 2000s, but was taken aback when the Dalai Lama accused China of "cultural genocide".

China has defended its iron-fisted rule in Tibet, saying the region suffered from dire poverty, brutal exploitation of serfs and economic stagnation until 1950 when Communist troops "peacefully liberated" it and introduced "democratic reforms" in 1959.

Tensions over the issue are at their highest in years after a spate of protests and self-immolations by Tibetan activists, which have led to an intensified security crackdown. Fifty-one Tibetans have set themselves alight since 2009.

In the event the Dalai Lama dies in exile, it could radicalize exiled Tibetan youth who have clamored for independence and are frustrated with his "middle way" approach that advocates autonomy within China.

It could create a rallying point for Tibetans disgruntled with Communist rule and leave a destabilizing leadership vacuum.

"They (Chinese government) hope Tibet's political problem can be basically resolved once the Dalai Lama passes away," said Wang Lixiong, an author and expert on Tibet who has met the Dalai Lama several times.

Instead, Wang added, "the Dalai Lama's death could spark massive protests and even rioting."

"NORMAL HEARTS"

The outbreak of rioting in Tibet in 2008 ahead of the Beijing Olympics and a subsequent crackdown, which in turn sparked the self-immolations, may have prevented Hu from carrying out any reversal of China's hardline policy on Tibet.

At the time of the riots, Xi commented: "We should have normal hearts" - a remark that was in stark contrast to insults rained on the Dalai Lama by the region's then Communist Party boss, Zhang Qingli, who called the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner a "jackal in Buddhist monk's robes" with "the face of a human and the heart of a beast".

Zhang was not alone. Many Chinese party, government and military officials and many ordinary Chinese are convinced the 2008 unrest was a Western plot to demonize Beijing before the Games and try to split Tibet from China.

But tempers appear to have cooled a bit.

Hu is maneuvering to promote one of his closest allies - Inner Mongolia party boss Hu Chunhua who speaks Tibetan, a rarity among Chinese officials - to the party's inner sanctum, two independent sources said, in a bid to retain clout after retiring. The two Hus are not related.

In a sign the party may at times be willing to reverse bad decisions or policies, it backed down recently after liberal intellectuals slammed it for forcing Tibetan Buddhist monasteries to put up portraits of Mao and other leaders. Local officials now say this is voluntary.

Xi may have more to gain than lose from resuming talks with the Dalai Lama's envoys, but this may not happen anytime soon.

"They probably will take very small, incremental steps. They cannot take big steps," said Lin, the Taiwan-based academic.

Many challenges lie ahead.

"The talks process could start again at any point, we don't know. We shouldn't rule it out even though it looks very negative at the moment," Robbie Barnett, a Tibetologist at Columbia University, said in a telephone interview.

"He may have to prove that he's very tough ... so it could make it quite difficult for Xi. He could risk heavy attack from hardliners. It's quite complicated for him."

But Robert Lawrence Kuhn, author of "How China's Leaders Think", was more optimistic.

"He is a very practical, pragmatic, very down-to-earth kind of person," said Kuhn who has met Xi half a dozen times. "I don't think he has an overblown sense of his own person, which to me is very important. People could rally around him."

The Dalai Lama has said he hopes Xi will usher in a "realistic" and more open approach to Tibet, in the same way Deng Xiaoping introduced market reforms in the late 1970s that turned China into an economic powerhouse from a backwater.

After more than 50 years of confrontation with Beijing, the Dalai Lama is cautious but hopeful.

"I can't say for definite, but according to many Chinese friends, they say the new, coming leadership seems more lenient," he said in an interview in his audience room which was decorated with Bhuddist paintings and a bust of Mahatma Gandhi.

He said there had been a stream of visitors to Dharamsala from China, including people who told him they had connections with senior Communist Party leaders. "These are very, very encouraging signs," he said. "No formal talks, but there are sort of signs among the Chinese officials or top leaders."

Tibetan exiles see other small signs that Xi could take a softer line on Tibet - his wife is a Buddhist, and Xi went out of his way in 2006, while party boss of Zhejiang province, to host the first World Buddhist Forum in the provincial capital.

A batch of U.S. diplomatic cables obtained and published by WikiLeaks last year said the Dalai Lama had "great affection" for Xi senior, and that Xi junior was quite taken with Buddhist mysticism at one point early in his career.

In July last year, Xi visited Tibet and pledged to crack down on the separatist "Dalai clique" and "completely smash any plot to destroy stability in Tibet and jeopardize national unity".

But a Western diplomat in Beijing cautioned that this was standard language and should not be construed to be hardline. "No one wins prizes for saying the Dalai is ok," he said.

But many exiles are skeptical.

"I do not expect Xi junior to be like his father because he is facing a completely different situation, but I hope he can be different (from Hu Jintao)," said Khedroob Thondup, a nephew of the Dalai Lama who visited China more than 10 times with his father, Gyalo Thondup, as unofficial envoys of the Dalai Lama.

Another nephew, Tenzin Taklha, who is also a secretary to the Dalai Lama, said: "Even if it does happen it won't be substantial, just to show the world the door is open again."

The Dalai Lama, too, has yet to be convinced that Beijing will soften its stance on Tibet - even if Xi turns out to have the same moderate inclination as his father - and says political reformers sometimes do not last long in the Communist Party.

"These realistic people sometime live a very short life."

(Additional reporting by John Chalmers in DHARAMSALA and Chris Buckley in BEIJING; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Mark Bendeich)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/4JGOodcIz84/us-china-tibet-xi-idUSBRE87T1G320120830

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Fuel efficiency rules to nearly double by '25

By NBC News staff and wire reports

Fuel efficiency of U.S. cars and light trucks will nearly double by 2025 under a standard finalized by the Obama administration Tuesday.

New American vehicles will need to get an average 54.5 miles per gallon under the updated?Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, standards that aim?to save consumers money at the fuel pump and cut dependency on foreign oil imports.

The rule, strongly opposed by Republicans and some automakers, builds on the standard for vehicles for model years 2011-2016, which requires automakers to raise average fuel efficiency to 35.5 mpg. For decades, the standard was about 21 mpg for cars and light trucks combined.

The new standard is the result of over a year of negotiations among the administration, automakers and environmental groups.

"These fuel standards represent the single most important step we've ever taken to reduce our dependence on foreign oil," President Barack Obama said in a statement.

The new fuel efficiency standards will save consumers $1.7 trillion in gasoline costs and reduce U.S. oil consumption by 12 billion barrels over the period, according to the White House.

Obama initially proposed the standard in July 2011 with the support of automakers, including Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, BMW and Honda, as well as the United Auto Workers union.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has opposed the standards, and his campaign Tuesday called them extreme and said they would drive up the price of new cars. Any savings at the pump would be wiped out by rising costs of cars, the campaign said.

"Governor Romney opposes the extreme standards that President Obama has imposed, which will limit the choices available to American families," said Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul in a statement to?NBC?News.

"The president tells voters that his regulations will save them thousands of dollars at the pump, but always forgets to mention that the savings will be wiped out by having to pay thousands of dollars more upfront for unproven technology that they may not even want," she added.

The standard?is based on one set by California, which played an "integral" role in developing the national program, according to the White House.

Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee have been critical of the administration's tactics in developing the rule and of California's role in shaping the standards.

They released a report this month that said the fuel economy standards were based on an "overly optimistic" view that Americans were willing to buy hybrid or electric cars.

The Obama administration has made fuel efficiency a signature environmental and energy priority since cars and trucks account for 20 percent of carbon emissions and more than 40 percent of U.S. oil consumption.

The implementation of the new standard is one of the biggest actions ever taken to reduce U.S. oil use and a huge step on the path toward halving the country?s projected consumption within 20 years, the Union of Concerned Scientists said.

?This is truly a watershed moment. Twenty years from now we?ll be looking back on this as the day we chose innovation over stagnation,? said Michelle Robinson, director of the group's clean vehicles program. ?These standards will protect consumers from high gas prices, curb global warming pollution, cut our oil use, and create new jobs in the American auto industry and around the nation.?

A?recent poll from the Consumer Federation of America found that 74 percent of Americans support the new standards. Most respondents also said they want higher fuel economy in their next vehicle purchase.

?If you are against these common-sense standards, you are against saving consumers money, against consumer choice, and for leaving our economy open to being crippled yet again by our expensive oil use,? said Robinson.?

Automakers are already producing cleaner, more efficient vehicles that meet the standards.?

?Everybody is a winner today," said Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group.

?Motorists win because they will have much more fuel-efficient cars to drive, thus saving thousands of dollars at the gas pump every year," Beinecke said. "The auto industry ? and its workers -- win because these standards will spur the creation of thousands of new jobs as well as state-of-the-art vehicles that go nearly twice as far on the same gallon of gasoline."

Under the complex CAFE regulations, automakers can have get credit for selling natural gas-powered and electric vehicles, changing to more environmentally safe air conditioning fluid and even for placing louvers on car grilles to improve aerodynamics. They won't have to improve pickup truck mileage much for the first few years, but big improvements will be required after 2020.

Automakers have been adding technology to boost gas mileage, mainly because people want to spend less on gasoline, which currently averages about $3.75 per gallon. Research firm J.D. Power and Associates says fuel economy is the top factor people consider when buying a car in the U.S.

CAFE requirements were first imposed in the 1970s in response to foreign oil embargoes, and the administration says this is the first update in decades.??

Reuters and the Associated?Press?contributed to this report.??

More money and business news:

Source: http://bottomline.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/28/13527985-fuel-efficiency-rules-will-nearly-double-by-2025?lite

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This back-to-school season, stock up on college funding advice

This back-to-school season, stock up on college funding advice

(ARA) ? Back-to-school shopping season means big sales for retailers selling pencils, backpacks, clothes and tech gadgets. Young parents know that as children get older, their back-to-school list grows with them. Eventually for many, that list will grow to include dorm necessities, textbooks and yes, college tuition.

Parents, if blunt scissors and crayons are still on your child?s school supply list, now could be the right time to start planning your college funding strategy. Patrick Egan, national retirement spokesperson for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans offers this list of ?school supplies? to help you and your student, prepare for college.

529 plan

529 plans are a tax-deferred way for anyone to invest in a child?s education. These accounts are controlled by your state or by a manager your state has appointed. Anyone can establish a 529 savings plan naming anyone as a beneficiary. Investments may be used at any approved private or public school. Earnings in this account are tax-deferred until withdrawn, and distributions to pay for qualified higher education expenses are exempt from federal and sometimes state income taxes. Check with a financial professional in your area to find out how a 529 plan in your state could be helpful to your college funding strategy.

Custodial account

This type of savings account allows you to build savings for any child. This means grandparents, relatives and friends could also set this up. While the child?s name is on the account, the adult custodian is responsible for overseeing it until the child turns the age of majority, usually 18 or 21. Once the child assumes control of the custodial account it can be used for any reason, meaning that if your savings exceeds the amount needed for tuition, your child could use it for living expenses or save it for something else.

Coverdell accounts

The savings accrued in a Coverdell account can be used for approved expenses before your child goes to college, on K-12 expenses for students in private or public schools, as well as eligible post-secondary education expenses. A child can receive up to $2,000 in annual contributions to a Coverdell account until age 18.

Other types of accounts:

Trusts

Contact an attorney to see if a trust could be right for you. Trusts can be used for education and other purposes and contributions to a trust have no minimum or maximum amount so saving can be done in many different ways.

IRAs

While traditionally used for retirement savings, traditional and Roth IRAs allow you to withdraw funds penalty-free if used for qualified education expenses. Your contributions may be tax-deductible and grow tax-deferred until withdrawal. Contact a financial representative about using IRAs for college funding, as this could affect your retirement strategy and financial aid eligibility.

Permanent life insurance

If something should happen to you, a permanent life insurance contract can help ensure that goals like education can be met, even if the unthinkable happens. In addition, permanent life insurance contracts accumulate cash value that can be used during your lifetime and also provide additional flexibility for other funding avenues as well. Visit Thrivent.com for more information on types of life insurance to help you pay for college.

With so many options for college funding to choose from, selecting the best set of tools for your child can be difficult. A financial representative can help you decide which options are best for you to meet your family?s needs. Visit Thrivent.com to contact a financial representative, learn more about college funding options and even estimate your needs with a College Savings Calculator. College funding strategies, like back-to-school shopping, are all about preparation.

Hop on the bus to financial preparation by starting or building your college funding strategy today.

Source: http://money.rambergmedia.com/this-back-to-school-season-stock-up-on-college-funding-advice/

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Home prices rise for?fifth straight month

Shannon Stapleton / Reuters

A "for sale" sign is seen outside a home in New York in this June 19, 2012 file photo. U.S. home prices have risen for the fifth straight month, according to a new survey.

By Reuters

Home prices rose more than expected in June, the fifth month in a row of gains in a fresh sign of improvement in the housing market, a closely watched survey showed on Tuesday.

The S&P/Case Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas gained 0.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, topping economists' forecasts for 0.5 percent, according to a Reuters poll.

On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, prices were even stronger, up 2.3 percent.

"We seem to be witnessing exactly what we needed for a sustained recovery; monthly increases coupled with improving annual rates of change," David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at Standard & Poor's, said in a statement.

"The market may have finally turned around."

Prices in the 20 cities rose 0.5 percent compared to the year before. Atlanta fared the worst, tumbling 12.1 percent from a year ago. Phoenix continued to bounce back from poor conditions and was up nearly 14 percent.

Although prices in June likely got a boost from the traditionally strong summer buying season, the gains on both a monthly and yearly basis boded well for the housing market, said Blitzer.

The report affirmed "that the overall market is healing, albeit at a frustratingly slow pace," said Stan Humphries, chief economist at Zillow.

Humphries said he expects to see prices weaken in the latter half of the year, though the period of sustained declines are likely in the past.

For the second quarter, seasonally adjusted national prices jumped 2.2 percent compared to the 1.4 percent gain that was seen in the first quarter.

Financial markets saw little reaction to the data as investors had their attention turned to a highly anticipated speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke at the end of the week.

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Source: http://economywatch.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/28/13525685-home-prices-up-for-fifth-straight-month?lite

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Getting The Right Deal On The Right Auto Insurance Package ...

When you are looking to purchase a new auto insurance policy ask each company if they offer a discount to seniors. Some companies offer a discount if you have a good driving record and are above the age of 65 If one company does not give a discount, it may be worth moving on to another who does.

Keep car insurance in mind when buying a new car. Different cars have different premiums. You might have your heart set on an SUV, but you might want to check just how much it is going to cost to insure before you spend money on it. Always do your insurance research before buying a new vehicle.

Find out what kind of discounts are available from your auto insurance company. Some companies offer nice discounts if you have taken a defensive driving course, have certain features on your car, or if you have remained a member of their plan. These little savings can add up and save you a large amount overall.

You already use the internet for paying bills, communicating with friends, and perhaps even in finding your car itself. Why not use it to help you when looking for car insurance as well. You can even find sites that will give you a general comparison of the major insurance companies for different models of car.

If you are in an accident, report it. Even if there aren?t any injuries that are obvious at the time. It doesn?t mean you are necessarily filing a claim, just letting your insurance company know what happened in case a claim is filed by the other party at a later time.

The more claims you file, the more your premium will increase. If you do not need to declare a major accident and can afford the repairs, perhaps it is best if you do not file claim. Do some research before filing a claim about how it will impact your premium.

In general, you should add a teenage driver to your existing auto policy, unless your cars are very expensive to insure. In that case, it might be more cost-effective to purchase an inexpensive car and a separate policy for your teen. Be sure to look at all of your options before insuring your new driver.

When shopping for auto insurance, first do some quote shopping online. Find a site that offers quotes from several companies so that you can compare prices and types of coverage. If you see a company you do not recognize, call the Better Business Bureau to make sure there are no complaints about failure to pay etc.

One of the best things that you can do to get cheaper auto insurance is decrease your annual mileage. Most insurance companies will give you a quote based on 12,000 miles a year. If you can work something out by decreasing this number your insurance premium should go down as well.

Driving less can help you save money on your auto insurance. If you?ve retired or started telecommuting, tell your insurance agent right away. Without those long commutes every day, you?ll probably be able to get a lower premium. The fewer miles you drive, the better rate you?re likely to get.

Call your insurance company before you go to buy a new car. Auto insurance can be a huge expense when you are making payments on a car. Leasing a car often has high insurance rates as well. Know what to expect before you buy, and you will have an easier time budgeting.

If you?re searching for lower rates, you might want to consider driving less. Simply put, if you drive less, your chances of an accident decrease. Most companies have low-mileage discounts for people that have a short commute or drive only a few miles a year. Ask your insurance company and see if you can receive that discount.

A simple way to make sure you are getting all of the auto insurance discounts you are entitled to is to ask you insurance company for a list of every discount they offer. You can work your way through this complete list to find every possible discount that may apply to your situation.

When you purchase a new car, you should keep your insurance rates in mind and look for the best safety features you can get. Safer cars are cheaper to insure. Because insurance companies are responsible for medical liability, they will charge a lower premium for safe cars that minimize injuries in an accident.

Remove towing from your insurance policy. It?s not absolutely necessary and is something easily affordable by many in case you may need to be towed. Most of the time you have to pay out of pocket when you have this coverage anyways and are reimbursed at a later time by your insurance company.

To get the right auto insurance policy these days, you really have to know where and how to look. There are great and very low rates out there to enjoy, and you want to be sure that you are getting the rate that you deserve. Without these tips, you could be paying hundreds more than you should.

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Source: http://lmaureen.com/getting-the-right-deal-on-the-right-auto-insurance-package/

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Industry veteran joins Milwaukee's Wipfli as audit and assurance ...

August 28, 2012 ?|? Staff Writer ?|? Print Article ?|? Email this Article

Scott Riser

Milwaukee-based Wipfli LLP recently announced that Scott Riser has joined the firm as an audit and assurance partner focused on serving construction and real estate companies in the Midwest. Riser brings more than 18 years of audit and assurance experience to his new position.

?Scott is extremely well-versed in the challenges facing construction and real estate organizations in today?s economy, and excels at helping them solve their complex accounting and business issues,? said John Schwab, partner-in-charge of the construction and real estate practice for Wipfli. ?As a seasoned expert, he will provide Wipfli?s clients with value-added services and real-world solutions to help them succeed.?

Before joining Wipfli, Riser was a partner and regional leader for the construction and real estate and commercial services groups at a national public accounting firm.

Tags | company news, Milwaukee, Scott Riser, Wipfli, Wisconsin

? 2012 Real Estate Communications Group. Duplication or reproduction of this article not permitted without authorization from the Real Estate Publishing Group. For information on reprint or electronic pdf of this article contact Mark Menzies at 312-644-4610 or menzies@rejournals.com

Source: http://www.rejournals.com/2012/08/28/industry-veteran-joins-milwaukees-wipfli-as-audit-and-assurance-partner/

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Bathroom Faucets Quot shower heads for kitchen head ? You and ...

Importance bathroom sinks of Safety Covers Swimming pool safety covers are one of the most important types of safety equipments that are being widely used. Safety should be ensured by installing plumbing fixtures faucets safety equipment. They also ensures less expenditure once you install it, you don't have to spend a lot on pricey chemicals for cleaning the pool. plumbing parts Therefore having safety equipment installed bathroom taps in your pool is imperative to avoid any tragic accidents.

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Safety plumbing supplies should be ensured by installing safety equipment.

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Most Recent from moen faucet 7460 the Home Improvement:Swimming shower heads Pools Spas Category. Keeping in mind the different needs and preferences kohler toilets of people different varieties of safety equipments are available in the market. Keeping in mind the different needs and preferences of people different varieties of safety equipments are available in the market. Safety covers provide safety plumbing parts from drowning, falling into the pool to anyone and everyone bathroom faucets who comes to it. A fence, safety bathroom sinks for boats sink boat alarms and covers are some of the equipments that are very popular.

Specially, if you have little kids who are fond of swimming you should make sure that a cover is installed in your pool to ensure their protection. When building a pool you cast iron clawfoot bathtub should faucet put utmost importance on the factor of safety.

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When building a pool bathroom faucets you should put utmost importance on the factor of safety. Safety covers are kitchen taps far more preferable than the other types of safety equipments showers plumbing parts names for they come at a much lower price, hence easily affordable. They have often been the cause of many accidents and have even claimed. They are made of solid substances to keep your pool free from dirt, bugs, leaves and other such unwanted stuffs which is a great respite from extensive cleaning sessions of the swimming pool. A swimming pool can be the ideal place for having fun and for relaxing in the hot summer days but again it can turn to be the most dangerous thing at your home.

They have often been the cause of many accidents and have even claimed many lives.

Source: http://carandenthusiast.com/blog/14387/bathroom-faucets-quot-shower-heads-for-kitchen-head/

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Source: http://chrstyojha.posterous.com/bathroom-faucets-quot-shower-heads-for-kitche

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Dozens die in China bus crash

BEIJING (Reuters) - A bus collided with a methanol tanker in northwest China early on Sunday and burst into flames, killing 36 people, state media said, in the latest incident to highlight China's dangerous roads.

Three of the 39 bus passengers travelling around 2 a.m. on a highway near Yan'an, Shaanxi province, survived the crash and were being treated in hospital, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Traffic accidents are among the leading causes of death in China, according to public health officials, as new and often poorly trained drivers take to roadways in greater numbers.

State media reports citing police figures say about 100,000 people have been killed in traffic accidents annually over the past decade, with the figure dipping to 70,000 last year.

(Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Ron Popeski)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dozens-die-china-bus-crash-040725955.html

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Pakistan PM wins time in legal wrangle over president

Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf Monday won a few more weeks' breathing space in a long-running legal wrangle over the reopening of graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The Supreme Court ordered Ashraf in July to comply with an order to write to authorities in Switzerland asking them to reopen multimillion dollar corruption probes investigating the president.

Ashraf's predecessor, Yousuf Raza Gilani, was thrown out of office for refusing to write to the Swiss and the court has made veiled threats that the new premier could suffer the same fate.

The court had given Ashraf until August 8 to indicate whether he would write to the Swiss before adjourning the case to try to find a way out of the saga, which has dragged on for two and a half years.

On Monday Judge Asif Saeed Khosa adjourned the case again, to September 18, after Ashraf pledged to find a way to resolve the standoff.

The government has resisted judges' demands to reopen investigations into Zardari, arguing he enjoys immunity as head of state.

Earlier this month the Supreme Court struck down a new law passed by parliament that sought to exempt members of the government from contempt trials, clearing the way for legal proceedings against the premier.

The showdown could force elections before February 2013 when the government would otherwise become the first in Pakistan's history to complete an elected, full five-year mandate.

During a 45-minute address to the court, the prime minister said he was determined to find a way to bring an end to a chapter that has caused turmoil in Pakistani politics.

"I will make all out efforts to bring an end to uncertainty that prevailed in the country," he said.

"It is my firm belief that it is not in Pakistan's interest to linger on this issue. I am ready to give a positive commitment to this court that I will resolve this issue."

Government lawyers last month said the court's order to write to the Swiss was "un-implementable" as it ran contrary to the constitution, which grants immunity to Zardari against trial in any court while he is president.

Critics of the judiciary and members of Zardari's main ruling Pakistan People's Party accuse the court of overstepping its reach and waging a personal vendetta against the president.

Experts say that if Ashraf does not satisfy the court, he risks being indicted for contempt, precipitating the second trial against a sitting prime minister in months.

The allegations against Zardari date back to the 1990s, when he and his late wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto, are suspected of laundering $12 million allegedly paid in bribes by companies seeking customs inspection contracts.

In 2009, the court overturned a political amnesty that froze investigations into the president and other politicians, ordering that the cases be reopened.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-pm-arrives-latest-supreme-court-hearing-052557073.html

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Sunday, August 26, 2012

Four Responses to the Challenge of Same-Sex Unions | FREEDOM ...

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Source: http://gaychristianbeliever.blogspot.com/2012/08/four-responses-to-challenge-of-same-sex.html

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The Best Art Schools In America | Visual Graphic Arts

Posted on 26 August 2012.

Of the thousands of art schools in America, a few stand out in the art world as the best schools based on academic value. Some are dedicated art schools and some are colleges of general education with outstanding departments.

Rhode Island School of Design enjoys the highest profile in art and design, and superlative respect among experts in the art world. A student with a degree from RISD will have their resume? moved to the top of the pile. It is, however, not without substantial investment. At an average cost of over 100,000.00 per year, only the very serious artist major need apply. That may, in fact, be a large part of the respect given to graduates of this school.

Yale University, already one of the most respected centers of education in America, also enjoys the status of having one of the best art schools in America for undergraduate work. Yale offers courses for several areas of visual art and techniques, as well as art history ? a firm foundation for more intense graduate work.

The Art Institute of Chicago offers one of the most unique opportunities for interpolation of art education and history to be found. AIC is actually located INSIDE one of America?s finest museums offering an outstanding experience for those who relish saturation in their passion and discipline.

Cranbrook Academy of Art, located in southeast Michigan north of Detroit, has developed its reputation for modernism in architecture as well as many other genres in the field.

At Maryland Institute College of Art the primary focus (no pun intended), is on visual arts such as graphic design, illustration, animation, and video film. A graduate from MICA applying at Pixar or Disney would be well positioned for serious consideration.

Virginia Commonwealth University, a public college, offers some eighteen undergraduate majors from fine arts to many of the modern forms of digital and design. This is a quality education at a more affordable price. But, it?s not a shoe-in. Entrance is moderately difficult, so this is not for the student tenuous about a career in this field.

California Institute of the Arts is well-known as the first academy to offer programs in both visual and performing arts. This only makes sense since Hollywood is the entertainment industry?s capital. Majors are offered in fine arts, theater, dance and music.

Carnegie Melon University College of Art offers a well-rounded choice in schools of Art, Architecture, Design, Drama, and Music commensurate with CMU?s overall reputation.

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) offers possibly the most interesting variety in majors at their School of Arts and Architecture. Majors in World Arts and Cultures, Ethnomusicology, and Urban Design are definitely for out-of-the-box thinkers looking for highly specialized careers.

Source: http://awwinpink.org/53-the-best-art-schools-in-america.html

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Stylish Cell Phone Covers | Big Board

Mobile phone is not only the device for communication but it is the part of your lifestyle. That is why adding some accessories there is required to do.

There are some cool?cell phone covers?you can add to your mobile phone. They are phone covers with various great designs that you can choose based on your interest. You can pick girly theme or cartoon theme for your cell phone covers.

It is not difficult to meet those cell phone covers. Both of online and offline stores provide those products for you. Those cell phone covers are going to make your mobile phone looks more stylish.

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.access-jobs.us/stylish-cell-phone-covers.html

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Saturday, August 25, 2012

Video: Coates: Tradition of questioning race is embedded in our history

Old-fashioned roller coasters still offer thrills

With the summer theme park season winding down, many park operators are turning their attention to the future, laying the groundwork for new thrill rides that promise to climb higher, drop faster and stimulate even more adrenaline.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/vp/48783669#48783669

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Romney Open To Sending Troops To Syria, Says Iran Nuclear Weapons Unacceptable

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Friday that he would send U.S. troops to Syria if needed to prevent the spread of chemical weapons.

"I think we have to also be ready to take whatever action is necessary to ensure that we do not have any kind of weapon of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorists and whether that requires troops, or whether that requires other actions by our friends and allies," Romney said in an interview with CBS News.

Romney specifically noted that Turkey and Saudi Arabia have been involved in the region.

The former Massachusetts governor has limited foreign policy experience, but has so far outlined bullish positions on potential threats in the Middle East. He also told CBS News that he'd be willing to go to war to stop Iran from "becoming nuclear."

"No question in my view that we can put all manner of pressure on the regime that's there, but they have to also know that a military option is one which we'd be willing to consider if they do not take action to dissuade a course towards nuclearization," Romney said of Iran.

President Barack Obama has left open the possibility of military action on Iran should aggressive sanctions and international pressure fail. On Syria, the president said Monday that the U.S. would reconsider its opposition to military involvement in Syria if President Bashar Assad's regime uses chemical or biological weapons. He called such action a "red line" for the U.S.

"We have communicated in no uncertain terms with every player in the region, that that's a red line for us, and that there would be enormous consequences if we start seeing movement on the chemical weapons front, or the use of chemical weapons," Obama said. "That would change my calculations significantly."

Associated Press writer Julie Pace in Ohio contributed to this report.

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/24/romney-syria-troops_n_1829417.html

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Court: Gov't can fund embryonic stem cell research

WASHINGTON (AP) ? A federal appeals court on Friday refused to order the Obama administration to stop funding embryonic stem cell research, despite complaints the work relies on destroyed human embryos.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld a lower court decision throwing out a lawsuit that challenged federal funding for the research, which is used in pursuit of cures to deadly diseases. Opponents claimed the National Institutes of Health was violating the 1996 Dickey-Wicker law that prohibits taxpayer financing for work that harms an embryo.

But a three-judge appeals court panel unanimously agreed with a lower court judge's dismissal of the case. This is the second time the appeals court has said that the challenged federal funding of embryonic stem cell research was permissible.

"Dickey-Wicker permits federal funding of research projects that utilize already-derived ESCs ? which are not themselves embryos ? because no 'human embryo or embryos are destroyed' in such projects," Chief Judge David B. Sentelle said in the ruling, adding that the plaintiffs made the same argument the last the time the court reviewed the issue. "Therefore, unless they have established some 'extraordinary circumstance,' the law of the case is established and we will not revisit the issue."

Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said in a statement after the decision, "NIH will continue to move forward, conducting and funding research in this very promising area of science. The ruling affirms our commitment to the patients afflicted by diseases that may one day be treatable using the results of this research."

Researchers hope one day to use stem cells in ways that cure spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's disease and other ailments. Opponents of the research object because the cells were obtained from destroyed human embryos. Though current research is using cells culled long ago, opponents say they also fear research success would spur new embryo destruction. Proponents say the research cells come mostly from extra embryos that fertility clinics would have discarded anyway.

The lawsuit was filed in 2009 by two scientists who argued that Obama's expansion jeopardized their ability to win government funding for research using adult stem cells ? ones that have already matured to create specific types of tissues ? because it will mean extra competition.

President George W. Bush also permitted stem cell research, but limited the availability of taxpayer funds to embryonic stem cell lines that were already in existence and "where the life and death decision has already been made." Obama's order removed that limitation, allowing projects that involve stem cells from already destroyed embryos or embryos to be destroyed in the future. To qualify, parents who donate the original embryo must be told of other options, such as donating to another infertile woman.

Sentelle also rejected the opponent's two other arguments: that the same federal law prohibits funding for projects where embryos are "knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death," and that NIH issued guidelines on the funding without responding to complaints about the research.

"Because the executive order's entire thrust was aimed at expanding support of stem-cell research, it was not arbitrary or capricious for NIH to disregard comments that instead called for termination of all ESC research," including research the White House has permitted since 2001," said Sentelle, who wrote the majority opinion for Judges Karen Henderson and Janice Rogers Brown.

Sentelle was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, Henderson by President George H.W. Bush and Brown by President George W. Bush.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/court-govt-fund-embryonic-stem-cell-research-220512035.html

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Friday, August 24, 2012

Dalkia and Fengate push biomass debt to 2013

Take a free website trial to read this article. It?s easy to get a trial ? just?follow this link?or email info@projectfinancemagazine.com.

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Source: http://www.projectfinancemagazine.com/Article/3079949/Dalkia-and-Fengate-push-biomass-debt-to-2013.html

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Education technology task force recommends personal learning ...

Educators should think of smart phones, not as barriers, but as learning tools to help prepare students to enter the modern workforce, according to a new report by a task force of technology education advisers to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.

The 48-member Task Force, assembled by Torlakson earlier this year, submitted recommendations last week on challenges and opportunities schools are facing as they strive toward modern education technology. The Superintendent created the Education Technology Task Force under his No Child Left Offline initiative in order to start building a modern California Education Technology Blueprint.

?Computer technology is changing the face of education?and rightfully so. It can be a powerful tool for preparing kids for the economy they will become a part of once they leave school,? said Torlakson in a press release.

The report?s first recommendation is for students to have access to at least one Internet learning device, any time any place. ?Possibly the biggest challenge facing public education is the demand for personalized learning using technology. The increasing demand for customized and personal education to meet students? unique needs is driving the development of new technologies, specifically personal devices and online content capable of immediately addressing learner choice and control, while allowing for differentiated instruction,? says the report.

From the announcement, the Task Force?s initial recommendations include:

? Promote expanded use of online instructional materials and student access to technology for standards-based curricula.
? Every student has access to at least one Internet device for learning anytime and anywhere, often called 1:1, which the Task Force calls ?possibly the biggest challenge facing public education? in this context.
? Form public-private partnerships for the funding and use of technology in the classroom.
? Develop guidance documents for students and their schools on safety and appropriate use, as well as existing laws and regulations.
? Create modern, personalized assessments for students that can help tailor their instruction?even within one class period.
? Encourage and reward teachers? and administrators? use of technology, including offering professional development to prepare them for its use across the education spectrum.
? Continue pursuing minimum bandwidth standards across the state.

The full report can be found here.

About Elise Armitage

Elise can be reached at elise@techwire.net.

Source: http://techwire.net/education-technology-task-force-recommends-personal-learning-devices-connected-to-internet/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=education-technology-task-force-recommends-personal-learning-devices-connected-to-internet

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Ecuador: Recent international events pave way to China banana trade

Alisa Sunrise:
Ecuador: Recent international events pave way to China banana trade

Alisa Sunrise has been running its operations in Ecuador for three years now. New branches have also been opened up in the Mersin Free Trade Zone, in Turkey, to allow for smoother export trade.

Giselle Gomez, from Alisa Sunrise explains a little about the company. "Our main product is Cavendish banana, but we are also planning to market pineapples from both Ecuador and Costa Rica."

She explains that the company has a very international portfolio. "Our main markets are Albania, Egypt, Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece and we are reaching new markets in Libya, Iran and China."

Giselle says that 2012 has been an unusual year for the banana trade. The weather has not always been kind for one thing, there have been floods in some areas. Add to this the fact that black sigatoka has been affecting the production and things begin to look a little gloomy.

"Black sigatoka, combined with the weather has meant a lower supply of fruit this year. this is in spite of government assistance. Basically, only the larger growers were fumigated and over 50% of the production takes place on smaller farms," she explains.

However, there have also been opportunities she says, for example, that the problems earlier this year, with Philippines bananas and entry into China, provided the company with the opportunity to open up a lucrative new market. it's just a shame it came at a time when the supply was so lowered.

For more information:
Giselle Gomez
Alisa Sunrise
Tel: +593 4 215 80 40
Mob: +593 8 411 68 04
giselle@alisa-sunrise.ec
www.alisa-sunrise.ec

Publication date: 8/22/2012
Author: Ben Littler
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com


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Source: http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=99841

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