The Paperwork Mountain at Veterans Affairs | Michigan Elder Law ...

?No veteran should have to wait months or years for the benefits that you?ve earned,? President Obama said in a Veterans Day speech, ?so we will continue to attack the claims backlog. We won?t let up. We will not let up.?

Through July of this year, 66 percent of claims for disability compensation and pensions were still pending more than 125 days after being filed, failing to comply with the department?s own timeliness goals. That deficiency is up from 60 percent in 2011.

Veterans who appeal a rejected claim form another quagmire, with the average time between the filing of an appeal and its resolution being almost two and half years. A losing appeal may be fought in the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims ? Veterans? advocates call that ?the hamster wheel.?

In the Department of Veterans Affairs defense, in the last decade its workload exponentially increased. In 2011 veterans filed more than 1.3 million claims, double the number of 2001. According to the department, 45 percent of recent veterans are requesting benefits, each with between 11 to 15 medical issues, vastly higher than the historical rate after World War II and Vietnam. The health of the population of Vietnam-era veterans is rapidly deteriorating, while the list of ailments for which the department is giving compensation ? like heart disease, leukemia and Parkinson?s, from exposure to Agent Orange ? is growing.

With increased staffing, better training and technology, the Veterans Affairs Department claims that it is becoming better at organizational efficiency and that its paper-bound benefits bureaucracy will be overhauled by the end of 2013, when all 56 regional offices will have digitized systems.

A veteran?s widow is hoping that the Supreme Court next year will take a case to empower the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to close cases on its own rather than remanding so many back to the departmental maze.

Contact Michigan Elder Law Attorney Christopher Berry to help ensure you receive your full benefit, in a timely fashion.

Read more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/24/opinion/the-paperwork-mountain-at-veterans-affairs.html?_r=0

?

Attorney Christopher J. Berry is a Metro Detroit estate planning and elder law lawyer who helps families, seniors, veterans and business owners with their important legal needs. Oakland County estate planning lawyer, Christopher Berry is a partner in the Bloomfield Hills law firm of Witzke Berry PLLC. Mr. Berry practices in the areas ofestate planning, business, probate, veterans benefits & Medicaid planning. Follow Christopher on Twitter@chrisberryesq.

Source: http://michiganelderlawcenter.com/paperwork-mountain-at-veterans-affairs/

bachmann bachmann iowa caucus results sickle cell trait sugar bowl mild kidney failure presidential candidates

Microsoft Touch Cover (for Surface)

The Microsoft Touch Cover, as the name implies, is all about touch. In one instance it's a soft cover for the Microsoft Surface RT tablet ($699.00 direct) touch screen, putting the Surface RT to sleep when closed and waking it back up when opened. But it's also a touch device in its own right, offering a new look at the basic keyboard, with 77 pressure sensitive "keys" and a capacitive touchpad with pressure-sensitive right- and left-click buttons. And finally, when folded around behind the Surface, the Surface switches to touch-only input, disabling the keyboard functions so that the Touch Cover is just a cover again. That's a lot of functionality to fit into a 3-millimeter-thick flap, but the Touch Cover handles it with well-designed aplomb.

Design and Features
The Touch Cover is, first and foremost, a cover for the various Surface tablets. The Touch Cover attaches to the Surface tablet via the magnetic docking connector, snapping into place with a satisfying thunk and seating properly without problems. And because the connection is magnetic, the cover stays securely attached, even when you pick up the tablet and let the cover dangle freely.

Measuring only 0.13 by 10.98 by 7.36 inches (HWD), the slim Touch Cover adds less than half a pound of weight (7.4 ounces) to the Surface, but expands the tablet's productive capability immensely. It also protects the screen while being easy to clean itself. The Touch Cover is spill resistant, and with none of the nooks and crannies of a regular keyboard, it can be wiped down for easy cleaning. The Touch Cover is also something of a fashion statement, available in five eye-popping colors (Black, White, Cyan, Magenta, and Red). This also makes the Touch Cover the prime choice for techie fashionistas, as the similar Microsoft Type Cover is only available in black.

The keyboard itself has no regular keys?no moving parts at all, really?relying instead on a pressure-sensitive layer sandwiched inside. This pressure-sensitive function not only allows you to type on the Touch Cover, but also to rest your hands on the keys as you normally would; the cover can distinguish the difference in pressure between a resting finger and a key press. Because the Touch Cover is so thin, the actual typing feel is a bit like typing on a thin mouse pad, but the responsiveness of the keys makes for a far more usable experience than we anticipated.

Because there is no tactile feedback when typing on the Touch Cover, the Surface adds a small audio cue that sounds quietly whenever a key is pressed. It's a small touch, but it's the sort of detail that makes a difference while using the Touch Cover, provided you don't mute the volume. The Touch Cover may not appeal to touch typists, however, as the flat, unmoving keys of the Touch Cover make it much easier to drift out of position on the keyboard. In an attempt to mitigate this, the usual F and J keys have an added printed accent on each key to indicate the home row, but it's so low profile that it doesn't quite do the trick.

Given that the Touch Cover is made exclusively for Microsoft's Surface tablets, it should be no surprise that Windows 8 (and Windows RT) functionality is built in, with functions from the Charms Bar found in the F1-F12 buttons. These include volume controls, and Charms for Search, Connect, Devices, and Settings. You've also got function keys for Home, End, PgUp, PgDn, and the usual Esc and Del keys. These same Windows 8-specific features can be found on the Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard , so don't think that they're exclusive to the Touch Cover.

The Touch Cover also features a small capacitive touchpad, for those who want a regular mousing experience rather than the pure touch-centric navigation of the Surface RT tablet. If there's a flaw with the Touch Cover, it's the size of the touchpad?a tiny 2.7 by 1.3 inches. The trackpad on the Touch Cover also has the same texture as the rest of the keyboard, which may be uncomfortable for some when trying to scroll or to click and drag. That said, the trackpad on the Touch Cover still provides simple functionality, like left- and right-clicking, two finger scrolling, click and drag, and a two-finger tap brings up the command bar.

Performance
In terms of actual typing speeds, you likely won't be typing at top speed the way you would on a springy mechanical keyboard, but you will be able to do considerably better than you would using the on-screen keyboard alone. Microsoft estimates that typists who type 25 words per minute using an onscreen keyboard will be able to roughly double that with the Touch Cover, but won't be flying at 80 or 90 WPM like they would on a normal keyboard. Our own testing seems to confirms this.

The other issue that came up when testing the Touch Cover was typing fatigue. Your fingers and wrists will tire sooner when using the Touch Cover, and we imagine that the ergonomics of it are far from ideal. For anyone intending to do a lot of typing using their Surface tablet, we'd suggest switching to one of the Windows 8 Bluetooth keyboards.

Typing on the touch cover feels a little bit like typing on a thin mouse pad. The texture is soft and reminiscent of fabric, and the thickness of the cover provides a little bit of cushioning, but not a lot. The repeated impact of typing on a flat, largely ungiving surface isn't always comfortable. The repeated impact on the fingers is far more noticeable than on any standard keyboard, and the Touch Cover is one of the first times I've ever felt anything that could be described as typing fatigue. I can only imagine what the ergonomic implications of using the Touch Cover extensively might be.

I can't seem to get used to the fact that the Touch Cover just feels weird. It's more responsive, yes, but it doesn't provide any tactile feedback, meaning that you'll need to either listen for the audio cues that sound with each keystroke, or closely watch the screen to be sure that every keystroke is registering. Alternately, because you're just tapping on a largely undifferentiated surface, there is a tendency to drift as you type, so you'll need to also watch your keyboard, even if you're normally a touch typist. The result is a keyboard that requires extra attention for what should be one of the most unobtrusive aspects of PC use, typing.

Additionally, as mentioned earlier, typing fatigue is a real issue on the Touch Cover. I regularly spend my days at the keyboard without issue, but I got tired of banging my fingertips in only a few minutes. The bottom line here? The Touch Cover isn't for serious typing, it's for the occasional bit of text entry, like a URL, a search term, or a tweet. It's certainly more comfortable and usable than an onscreen keyboard, but it's no replacement for a regular keyboard. Surface users who expect to get a lot of productive use out of their tablet may be better served by getting the Microsoft Type Cover, or by using the Touch Cover primarily as a cover and buying a mobile keyboard like the Microsoft Sculpt Mobile Keyboard when typing for long periods of time.

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Microsoft Touch Cover (for Surface) with several other keyboards side by side.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/E-6tvdhBUJ0/0,2817,2412308,00.asp

bobby valentine nicki minaj miguel cabrera Karrueche Tran dodd frank Lark Voorhies Jennifer Livingston

Puerto Rico a backdoor into US mainland for drug cartels

A vicious drug war has come to the island home of 4 million Americans, which is being used as a transshipment point to the East Coast. NBC's Gabe Gutierrez reports.

By Gabe Gutierrez, NBC News

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico ? The raids begin before dawn. Fierce knocks followed by shouts of ?Polic?a!? rattle neighborhoods while a helicopter hovers overhead.

On this day in late September, heavily armed agents swarm otherwise peaceful-looking homes throughout the island.

In Toa Alta, outside of San Juan, one suspected drug trafficker surrenders without incident. Amazingly, no neighbors wander outside to see what?s going on. They must already know ? or would prefer not to.

By 8 a.m., 16 people are in handcuffs, facing charges that include drug trafficking and money laundering.

---

The arrests are part of "Operation Overtime." U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations special agents, working with officers from the Puerto Rico Police Department and San Juan Police Department, launched the initiative to combat drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

This is a war on American soil.

The murder rate in Puerto Rico is higher than in any U.S. state ? and it?s roughly six times the national average. The island ? best known for its stunning beaches and rich history ? is home to roughly 4 million American citizens.

The island?s police superintendent, Hector Pesquera, told NBC News that more than two-thirds of the homicides are tied to the drug trade.

Luis Romero Font, 60, and his wife Marie Jane Rodriguez, 57, know the pain that comes with the incessant violence. Their son, Julian, was murdered during a robbery in April 2011.

He had just celebrated his 20th birthday.

Luis Romero Font and Marie Jane Rodriguez remember their son, who was killed last year in San Juan. Puerto Rico's murder rate is now roughly six times the U.S. national average.

"I try to focus my thoughts away from the negative, away from what I don?t have, and I try to remember what I did have,? his mother told NBC News. "That?s what sustains me."

'A hero had died'
Julian was stabbed to death as he walked down the street with his girlfriend. The robber cut him three times as Julian lunged to protect her.

"A hero had died," his father said, choking back tears. "I am very proud of him. I am very saddened ? [by] this huge weight I have to continue bearing."

The teenager who killed Julian made off with his cell phone ? a valuable tool that is often stolen for drug traffickers to communicate with each other.

In memory of his son, Romero Font, a telecommunications company CEO, has become an activist, starting his own group called "?Basta Ya!" meaning, "Enough is Enough!"

"Puerto Rico cannot survive with this horrendous crime wave," he said.

Violent crime has been a part of life on the island for decades ? ever since the 1980s when Colombian cartels began to thrive here.

But the last several years have seen a dramatic spike.

According to the Puerto Rico Police Department, there were 1,016 murders in 2010. That number rose to 1,136 in 2011.

Outgoing Gov. Luis Fortuno credits a police crackdown for reducing homicides in certain parts of the island by 22 percent so far this year. But he stresses it?s not enough.

He told NBC News that he feels ignored by the federal government and that he?s "banging on Washington?s door" for more help.

Federal agents and local police are cracking down on drug trafficking in Puerto Rico. NBC News speaks with an ICE agent and the island's recently appointed police superintendent, and tags along on a raid.

"We are American citizens," Fortuno said. "And we deserve to be protected."

Puerto Rico?s governor-elect, Alejandro Javier Garcia Padilla, was not immediately available for comment.

Earlier this summer, federal agents arrested dozens of workers at Puerto Rico?s main airport who had allegedly helped smugglers move cocaine to the mainland.

Drug seizures rising
According to ICE, agents have seized 22,000 pounds of illegal drugs so far this year. That?s up from 13,961 pounds in 2011 and 9,275 in 2010.

The street value of the recovered cocaine alone totals $250 million, ICE said.

Since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, once illegal drugs reach the island, they?re unlikely to face further U.S. customs inspections on their way to the mainland.

"I think the cartels are smart," said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas. "They realize we're putting all of our efforts on the Southwest border (with Mexico) and we're not paying attention to the 'third border' ? the Caribbean ? so now they're exploiting that."

In June, McCaul chaired a hearing on Capitol Hill that focused on the increased drug smuggling in Puerto Rico.

"We have no strategy for the Caribbean," McCaul told NBC News. "There is no comprehensive plan."

He said that hopefully would change quickly as Washington learns more about the problem. In July, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano visited the island and promised to study the issue, adding that an increase in aid to Mexico did not come at the expense of the Caribbean.

A senior homeland security official told NBC News that since then, the department had conducted a comprehensive review of the situation in Puerto Rico and planned to focus on "quality over quantity."

The official, who asked not to be identified, said any future manpower surge would likely be "modest" and the department?s priority would be to increase efficiency among the officers already on the ground as well as resources outside the island ? instead of simply pouring more money into the operations.

The increased cooperation would help prevent the flow of illegal weapons to the island as well as illegal drugs from the island, the official said.

Police department 'broken'
The drug-trafficking crackdown comes as Puerto Rican police fight to reclaim the trust of residents.

The 17,000-member force is the second largest in the United States. In a report last year, the Justice Department accused officers of engaging "in a pattern and practice of misconduct that violates the Constitution and federal law."

According to the DOJ?s findings, the department was "broken in a number of critical ways," including repeated instances of civil rights violations and illegal searches and seizures.

In 2010, the FBI arrested dozens of law enforcement officers on the island for allegedly providing protection to drug dealers.

Earlier this year, Hector Pesquera, the former head of the FBI's Miami division, was named superintendent of the Puerto Rico police. He told NBC News that weeding out corruption within his department has been a priority ? and he?s seen progress.

"We have streamlined our procedures to work on the internal affairs cases,? Pesquera said. "We're getting rid of the backlog that existed. The word out there is clear: 'If you commit a transgression, you're going to be terminated.'"

For now, Pesquera said he and other Puerto Rican leaders are simply asking for a shift in federal resources. He said he realizes the difficult fiscal position the U.S. is in, but "we should not be begging for assistance."

Luis Romero Font, the activist who lost his son, agrees. He?s pushing the U.S. government to help stop the violence.

"When you lose a son, it?s like losing a huge part of yourself," he said. "Either [the U.S.] stops this now, or this crime wave will become something that infects Florida and the rest of the U.S. down the line."

So away from the tourists, the raids continue. America?s "third border" ? the place known as the "island of enchantment" ? remains at war.

More content from NBCNews.com:

Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/23/15392453-the-third-border-puerto-rico-a-backdoor-into-us-mainland-for-drug-cartels?lite

Fox News Live Obama 2016 Who Is Winning The Election 2012 Election Coverage 2012 cnbc the blaze Linda McMahon

yahsat gears up to launch ka-band satellite broadband ... - iBotswana

Thursday, 22 November 2012 Staff Author | Published in: World News JUBA, South Sudan, November 22, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Yahsat (http://www.yahsat.ae), the Abu Dhabi, UAE, based satellite operator, is gearing up to launch its innovative YahClick ?broadband everyone? satellite service in South Sudan over the coming months. The hotly anticipated service is set to provide wide reaching, high performance, satellite broadband Internet to unserved and underserved locations and communities across the country.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/yahsat.jpg

Yahsat selected local based Internet Service Provider RCS-Communication as their Service Partner for South Sudan based on RCS-Communication's in-country experience, proven track record of delivering new and innovative services and a common focus to bring faster and more affordable Internet connectivity to a wide range of users.

Commenting on the upcoming launch, Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, Yahsat CEO, stated,

?As the world's youngest country, South Sudan is facing multiple infrastructure building priorities. YahClick brings internet connectivity instantly to the population, irrespective of the state of the local telecommunications infrastructure that is within their reach. YahClick therefore fast tracks connectivity to this young country beyond what is humanly possible with the time and expense it takes to expand fixed or wireless internet solutions.

?Providing much needed internet connectivity to a new nation presents YahClick with tremendous opportunity as well as pride in helping address at least one of the many requirements of this young country. Having affordable, reliable and instantly available high performance internet will be a fundamental tool to help new and established businesses and individuals in South Sudan achieve their full potential.?

Flippie Odendal, RCS-Communication, Republic of South Sudan, Managing Director stated, ?YahClick is the first Ka-band satellite internet service in Africa that offers true broadband speeds at affordable prices. We are proud to bring the service to South Sudan and anticipate a wide interest across the country.?

?Based on anticipated growth we will be adding and training VSAT technicians and support staff (with a focus on South Sudanese candidates) to our existing team. Parallel to this process we will be running extensive tests of the new service and processes over the next months to ensure all aspects are working well before the service is made available to clients.?

Yahsat believes in providing individuals with a platform to access information no matter their geographical location, thus enabling them, through the power of information to enhance and help change their world in order for them to have a positive economic and societal impact on the world around them.

Al Hosani added, ?Our YahClick service aims to bring broadband to everyone and deliver the power of Internet collaboration to individuals and global communities across three continents. We believe it is the right of every individual to have high speed and reliable Internet. Our team is excited about the prospect of helping connect a portion of the world's un-served communities in the Republic of South Sudan and providing them with the tools to aid their own success.?

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJSC ?Yahsat?.

For more information on the YahClick service log onto http://www.yahsat.ae/YahClick or write to [email?protected]

About Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJSC ?Yahsat?

Yahsat (http://www.yahsat.ae) provides multipurpose satellite solutions (commercial and government) for broadband, broadcast, military, and communications use across the Middle East, Africa and South West Asia. Based in Abu Dhabi, UAE and wholly owned by Mubadala Development Company PJSC (http://www.mubadala.ae), the investment vehicle of the Government of Abu Dhabi, Yahsat is the first company in the Middle East and Africa to offer multi-purpose satellite services:

? YahClick - the satellite broadband service

? YahSecure - the government satellite service

? YahLink - the satellite connectivity service

? YahService - end to end managed satellite solutions

? YahCarrier ? satellite solutions for telecommunications carriers

Yahsat's first satellite Y1A was successfully launched in April 2011 and its second satellite Y1B was successfully launched in April 2012. YahClick began roll out in July 2012, serving 28 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Central and South West Asia with reliable and cost effective satellite broadband connectivity in urban, rural and remote areas.

About RCS-Radio & Satellite Communication Ltd ?RCS-Communication?

The RCS business group consists of different legal entities operating in a number of African countries. The first business entity was established in Uganda in 1996.

RCS-Communication (http://www.rcs-communication.com) is a professional ICT (Information Communication Technologies) company that offers a wide range of Internet connectivity, mobile satellite and other ICT solutions in partnership with selected suppliers and service partners across East and Central Africa.

RCS-Communication's focus is on businesses and organisations looking for a service provider that understands the terrain, accepts responsibility for performance and ensures future relevance for clients in a fast-changing world.

Press contacts

Yahsat:

Sarah Mheidly

Hill + Knowlton Strategies, Abu Dhabi

Phone: 971 55 217 7011

Email: [email?protected]

World

Minister for Africa comments after meeting with Rwanda's?...

LONDON, United-Kingdom, November 23, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, arrived in Kigali today for meetings following the joint communiqu? agreed by Presidents Museveni, Kagame and Kabila yesterday in Uganda. Following his meeting with His Excellency President Paul Kagame, Mr Simmonds said: "I welcome the leadership?

Source: http://www.ibotswana.co.bw/news/world/item/23959-yahsat-gears-up-to-launch-ka-band-satellite-broadband-in-south-sudan.html

looper eagles nfl schedule 2012 Fox News Suicide Google Ryder Cup Standings Dexter Season 7

Gaza war offers boost to Hamas leader Meshaal

CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) - Khaled Meshaal narrowly survived an assassination attempt ordered by Benjamin Netanyahu in 1997 the first time he was Israeli prime minister. Fifteen years on, the Hamas leader claims to have defeated Netanyahu once again.

1. Only on NBCNews.com

   1. Teen lifts Thanksgiving spirits in Sandy-hit hometown
   2. China's latest supermodel? A 72-year-old farmer
   3. Thanking out loud: Why you're grateful this year
   4. Social conservatives say they deserve seat at table in retooled GOP
   5. Black Friday psychology: Inside the minds of shoppers
   6. Despite US woes, Twinkies reign on the Nile

The eight-day war between Israel and Palestinians in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip - a Hamas victory in Meshaal's eyes - has breathed new life into his political career just he seemed poised to leave his post. Meshaal indicated earlier this year he did not want to continue as Hamas leader.

Meshaal, 56, took over as Hamas leader following the 2004 assassinations of Abdel-Aziz Al-Rantissi and Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the movement's founder. With both of them killed in the Gaza Strip, Meshaal has led Hamas from the relative safety of exile.

This week, his political stock climbed sharply as he led the Palestinian team negotiating a ceasefire under Egyptian mediation. The deal unveiled on Wednesday was viewed as a success by the Palestinians.

"It is a tactical defeat - one stage along the road of defeats," an upbeat Meshaal said during a news conference on Wednesday, summing up the outcome of the war. "We have come out of this battle with our heads up high."

Israel's failure was proof, he said, that armed "resistance" was the way forward, dressed in a suit and open neck shirt as he displayed the calm confidence that has characterized his public addresses from Cairo this week.

"The stature he has gained in the last few days will allow him to continue to play a political role," said George Giacaman, a professor of political science at Birzeit University in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. "If he is not in a specific office, he will occupy the role of a senior statesman."

On Meshaal's watch, Hamas has emerged as an ever more important player in the Middle East conflict. It weakened the U.S.-backed Palestinian Authority by seizing control of Gaza in 2007, challenging its strategy of negotiating peace with Israel and promoting an alternative approach based on armed struggle.

Meshaal does not accept the idea of a permanent peace deal with Israel but has said Hamas could accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem as a temporary solution in return for a long-term truce.

Born in Silwad near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Meshaal has steered Hamas through the upheaval unleashed by the Arab Spring uprisings, deploying what associates describe as deft diplomatic skills to navigate the turbulence.

Meshaal survived a 1997 Israeli attempt to kill him when two agents injected him with poison in broad daylight on a street outside his office in the Jordanian capital.

The attack so enraged Jordan's late King Hussein that he talked of hanging the captured Israeli would-be-assassins unless the antidote was handed over. An embarrassed Israeli government complied.

"A REAL POLITICIAN"

While the crisis in Syria forced the exiled Hamas leadership to give up its Damascus base, Hamas appears to have emerged with new friends, including an Islamist-led Egypt more in tune with its way of thinking. "His flexible approach made him a real politician," said one Hamas official.

Meshaal's associates say is an old friend of President Mohamed Mursi, the new Egyptian head of state propelled to power by the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group aligned with Hamas.

Even as ties with Syria have been cut, Meshaal has gone out of his way to preserve relations with Iran, one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's main allies. Meshaal thanked Iran for supplying arms and cash during his Wednesday remarks.

"There is big faith in Meshaal and he has led the negotiations in an impressive and brave way," said Mustafa Asawaf, a senior Hamas government official in Gaza.

"I expect there will be pressure on him to change his mind and to stay on as leader of the movement, at least for the coming stage. But I doubt he will," he said. "He will remain a top leader, a member of the political office," he added.

The group has been holding a leadership ballot for several months to decide who will succeed Meshaal.

According to sources familiar with the movement's internal politics, Meshaal has been irritated with policy challenges from the Gaza-based leadership, though Hamas formally denies that.

Friction between Meshaal and the Gaza-based leadership surfaced over his attempts to promote reconciliation with President Mahmoud Abbas, who heads the Palestinian Authority.

Irritating Hamas leaders in Gaza, Meshaal agreed that Abbas could lead any future unity government designed to bring together the rival Palestinian administrations.

Abbas is also head of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which was founded in 1964 to group Palestinian factions. Hamas, which was founded in 1987, has never joined the PLO, saying it must be overhauled.

Meshaal has used his public addresses through the Gaza conflict to call once again urged moves towards reconciliation, including reform of the PLO and moves towards forging a shared strategy for pursuing the Palestinian cause.

Meshaal's goal is to turn Hamas into the leading force in the entire Palestinian national movement, not just Gaza, said Mouin Rabbani, an expert on Palestinian affairs.

"His focus is much more on him or one of his successors becoming the eventual leader of the PLO executive committee rather than being prime minister of Gaza," he said.

(Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Giles Elgood)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49931346/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

some like it hot whale shark whale shark duke university platypus platypus overboard

US troops in Afghanistan celebrate Thanksgiving

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? American troops are celebrating Thanksgiving Day with food and football at a U.S.-led coalition base in the Afghan capital.

Huge hunks of beef greeted the estimated 2,500 diners on Thursday as soldiers lined up at the base in Kabul. Red-white-and-blue decorations filled the room while brochures about combat stress served as table centerpieces.

There was turkey, ham and rib-eye steaks with sides of dressing, corn and collard greens. Some soldiers lapped up mashed potatoes and gravy with their spoons.

And for desert, there was a massive cake with a turkey etched in icing and scores of pies.

Army Sgt. Keith Wells says he is thankful for the good food, but was craving his wife's macaroni and cheese back home in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-troops-afghanistan-celebrate-thanksgiving-114243171.html

tornado in dallas texas the island president the maldives harper lee mega millions numbers the fray seahawks new uniforms 2012

You?re Dividing the Chores Wrong

One person is better at every chore, including laundry, but does that mean he or she should have to do everything?

Illustration by Robert Neubecker.

No one likes doing chores. In happiness surveys, housework is ranked down there with commuting as ?activities that people enjoy the least. Maybe that?s why figuring out who does which chores usually prompts, at best, tense discussion in a household and, at worst, outright fighting. ??

If everyone is good at something different, assigning chores is easy. If your partner is great at grocery shopping and you are great at the laundry, you?re set. But this isn?t always?or even usually?the case. Often one person is better at everything. (And let?s be honest, often that person is the woman.) Better at the laundry, the grocery shopping, the cleaning, the cooking. But does that mean she should have to do everything?

Before my daughter was born, I both cooked and did the dishes. It wasn?t a big deal, it didn?t take too much time, and honestly I was a lot better at both than my husband. His cooking repertoire extended only to eggs and chili, and when I left him in charge of the dishwasher, I?d often find he had run it ?full? with one pot and eight forks.

After we had a kid, we had more to do and less time to do it in. It seemed like it was time for some reassignments. But, of course, I was still better at doing both things. Did that mean I should do them both?

I could have appealed the principle of fairness: We should each do half. I could have appealed to feminism?surveys show that women more often than not get the short end of the chore stick. In time-use data, women do about 44 minutes more housework than men (2 hours and 11 minutes versus 1 hour and 27 minutes). Men outwork women only in the areas of ?lawn? and ??exterior maintenance.? I could have suggested he do more chores to rectify this imbalance, to show our daughter, in the Free To Be You and Me style, that Mom and Dad are equal and that housework is fun if we do it together! I could have simply smashed around the pans in the dishwasher while sighing loudly in the hopes he would notice and offer to do it himself.

But luckily for me and my husband, I?m an economist, so I have more effective tools than passive aggression. And some basic economic principles provided the answer. We needed to divide the chores because it is simply not efficient for the best cook and dishwasher to do all the cooking and dishwashing. The economic principle at play here is increasing marginal cost. Basically, people get worse when they are tired. When I teach my students at the University of Chicago this principle, I explain it in the context of managing their employees. Imagine you have a good employee and a not-so-good one. Should you make the good employee do literally everything??

Usually, the answer is no. Why not? It?s likely that the not-so-good employee is better at 9 a.m. after a full night of sleep than the good employee is at 2 a.m. after a 17-hour workday. So you want to give at least a few tasks to your worse guy. The same principle applies in your household. Yes, you (or your spouse) might be better at everything. But anyone doing the laundry at 4 a.m. is likely to put the red towels in with the white T-shirts. Some task splitting is a good idea. How much depends on how fast people?s skills decay.?

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=d9c384bea0a054a2ff616be1e5cd6b38

shabazz muhammad angela corey zimmerman charged bonobos charles manson al sharpton actuary

Official: Man killed zoo monkey during theft try

This booking photo provided by Boise Police Department shows Michael J. Watkins on Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. Police in Idaho say Watkins, 22, is facing felony burglary and grand theft charges after the death of a monkey at the Boise zoo. The patas monkey was found dead of blunt force trauma to the head and neck early Saturday morning, shortly after a zoo security guard frightened away two male intruders. (AP Photo/Boise Police Department)

This booking photo provided by Boise Police Department shows Michael J. Watkins on Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. Police in Idaho say Watkins, 22, is facing felony burglary and grand theft charges after the death of a monkey at the Boise zoo. The patas monkey was found dead of blunt force trauma to the head and neck early Saturday morning, shortly after a zoo security guard frightened away two male intruders. (AP Photo/Boise Police Department)

A Patas monkey looks out of his cage at Zoo Boise after his cage mate was severely injured and died in Boise, Idaho on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. Police are investing an early monring break-in at at the zoo. The injured monkey was found shortly after suspects were spotted and ran off. (AP Photo/The Idaho Statesman, Katherine Jones)

Boise Police Chief Michael Masterson, with Zoo Boise Director Steve Burns, announces the arrest of Michael J. Watkins, 22, Weiser, who investigators suspect killed a Patas monkey at Zoo Boise after breaking into the zoo early Nov. 17, at a news conference Monday Nov. 19, 2012 at the police headquarters in West Boise, Idaho. Chief Masterson said a tip provided by the community lead to the arrest. (AP Photo/The Idaho Statesman, Darin Oswald)

BOISE, Idaho (AP) ? A 22-year-old man clubbed a monkey to death with a tree branch, after he was bitten by the animal while trying to steal it from a Boise zoo, prosecutors allege.

Michael J. Watkins entered Zoo Boise on Saturday morning, manipulated a lock to get into the primate enclosure and removed the patas monkey by wrapping it in his jacket, Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Fafa Alidjani told reporters after Watkins was arraigned in Boise's 4th District Court.

"He told police he was going to throw the monkey outside the fence," Alidjani said Wednesday. When he failed, the monkey bit him, prompting Watkins to use a tree branch to bash the monkey in the head and neck, she said.

A security guard spotted the intruder, who ran, and the animal died a short time after it was found by zoo officials.

Watkins isn't scheduled to enter a plea on his felony burglary and grand theft charges until a preliminary hearing Dec. 5.

If he's convicted, Watkins faces up to 10 years in prison for the burglary charge and 14 years in prison for the grand theft charge. Idaho law allows prosecutors to bring a grand theft charge against someone accused of killing livestock or other animals valued at more than $150 dollars.

Judge Henry Boomer refused a bid by Watkins' public defender, Gary Reedy, to reduce bail from $150,000 to $10,000.

Alidjani had argued that the bail shouldn't be reduced because Watkins has a history of drug and drunken driving arrests and probation violations.

"Say no more," Boomer told her. "I'm denying the request."

Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson has said he doesn't expect others to be charged in the case, but Watkins' lawyer suggested to the judge that at least one other individual entered the zoo with Watkins.

"They opened a door and the monkey was released," Reedy said, using "they" repeatedly. "There was a scuffle. The monkey was injured."

Watkins broke into the zoo after a night of grief-fueled drinking, Reedy said: An aunt had recently died, and Watkins' grandmother had been diagnosed with cancer only days before. So he went into Boise for a night out with friends and family.

"He was taking it very hard," Reedy said. "He became intoxicated."

Watkins, who over the grainy courthouse video system used for arraignments appeared to have a bandage on his right hand, spoke clearly when Boomer questioned him about his ability to pay for an attorney.

He told the judge he didn't own property or a car and had left a job working at a Progresso Soup factory in the region about a month ago, though he was due to begin work at another factory job two days after the zoo incident.

"I was a general laborer," he said, describing his work at the soup factory. "I bagged onions."

Watkins' girlfriend gave birth to his son about four weeks ago.

Watkins' stepmother, Susan Watkins, told the Idaho Statesman on Tuesday that he did well at Fruitland High School before graduating in 2008, even volunteering to help children in the summer.

"He was a good kid. He's my baby. I love him," she said.

His father, Jerry Watkins, said he can't believe his son entered the zoo wanting to do the monkey harm.

"He's not a malicious monkey murderer," Watkins said. "I'm thinking the monkey attacked him and he just tried to defend himself. I don't think he ever intended to kill it; he's just not that kind of guy."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-11-22-Monkey%20Killed-Zoo/id-a7c04e3c7395416c8a0eeed8389d529b

anthony shadid gary carter this means war bobby brown suzanne somers colbert colbert report

That didn?t take long ? Obama reverses himself on Israel (Powerlineblog)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/265234047?client_source=feed&format=rss

barcelona vs real madrid Johnny Depp Dead college football rankings Steel Magnolias Niels Bohr the Rumble 2012 Columbus Day 2012

AHAM's Blog: Holiday Cooking Safety Tips

The holidays are fast approaching and many of us will be cooking dinner for family and friends. With all of the stress that comes with preparing large meals, even the most experienced cook can become distracted and within a blink of an eye a fire can spark. That?s what happened recently in Indianapolis when a 32-year-old man left his stove unattended.

To ensure your holiday dinner is successful and safe, follow these simple and important tips:

• Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking. ?Most fires in the kitchen occur because food is left unattended while cooking. If you must leave the kitchen briefly, carry an oven mitt with you as a reminder that something is cooking.

• Do not try to hold your child in one arm while cooking with the other. Holding a child while cooking is an invitation for a burn. Keep the cooking area clear of clutter and keep your child out of the kitchen while you?re cooking.

• Keep your range top free of clutter. Don?t overload a range top with too many pots and pans. Trying to cook all dishes at once could cause grease to accidentally spill onto a range top and cause a fire. Only cook with as many pots and pans as there are burners.? Also, never use the oven cavity for storage.

For more cooking safety tips, download AHAM?s Recipe for Safer Cooking brochure or order several to distribute within your community by clicking here or sending an email to info@aham.org. There is no charge for the brochures, but AHAM does charge a nominal shipping fee if you order more than 250 brochures. AHAM also has brochures on other safety topics, including portable heater safety, clothes dryer safety, and range tipping.

Source: http://aham.typepad.com/ahams_blog/2012/11/holiday-cooking-safety-tips.html

kansas state last house on the left last house on the left rich forever mixtape blow the unit bob weston

Raising Richmond: Ain't no party like a preschool party? - RVANews

by Valerie Catrow

Our son JR turned four on Saturday.

Four.¹

I?m sorry. I need a minute.

?

Ok, whew.

Anyway, yes! He turned four, an occasion so auspicious that my husband and I bit the bullet and hosted a birthday party for our child?his first ?real? birthday party.

In previous years, we shamelessly took advantage of JR?s lack of cognizance and long-term memory; we knew he?d never remember whether he had birthday parties or not, so why make a big to-do about it? His first birthday was a very quiet, intimate affair spent at my in-laws? house. For his second and third, we emailed immediate family members to let them know when and where cake would be served should they be able to join us.²

Easy peasy lemon squeezy, as they say.

But four? Four is when things start to stick with you. Four is also a pretty magical window in time when your kid is old enough to appreciate your enthusiasm yet still young enough to not be embarrassed by it. With that in mind, we decided JR?s fourth birthday warranted a little fuss. Not a ton?but enough for him to hopefully look back on fondly some day.

So this past Saturday we welcomed our family and about 20 children (and their parents) into our home for some superhero-themed revelry.

When I see that typed out it seems crazier than it felt. Sure, when you do the math you?ll figure out that we had about 45 people (give or take) in our house at one time?the very picture of ?a ton of fuss? for some?but it wasn?t significantly less ?easy peasy lemon squeezy? than our prior birthday efforts. And, if I do say so myself,³ it was a lot more fun.

I?d love to chalk up the success of JR?s fuss-without-much-fuss party to my stellar creativity and organizational skills, but that wouldn?t be totally accurate. As we worked through the party preparation process,⁴ I managed to sort out a handful of notions that helped rein things in and keep us all from going bonkers. Hopefully they?ll do the same for you, should you soon find yourself in the position of planning a fete for the preschool set.⁵

The Internet is your friend (except when it?s not)

When it comes to anything lifestyle-related, the Internet is equal parts magical and terrible. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and that wonderful monster-of-monsters, Pinterest, somehow manage to inspire and intimidate us AT THE SAME TIME. Dear friends, don?t fall prey to this. Let those ones and zeros be your guide NOT your gospel. You don?t have to pass out hand-etched mason jars filled with homemade M&Ms to your wee partygoers just because you saw it on a blog one time. You know your kid (who, let?s be honest, would probably prefer store-bought M&Ms anyway), you know your talents, and you know your limits. Go from there. This also brings me to my next point?

You don?t have to do everything

I?m a big believer in finding what you?re good at and running with it?and then unapologetically outsourcing absolutely everything else. For example, over these last four years of parenthood I?ve discovered that I am definitely awesome at creating costumes and decorations with minimal materials (I attribute this to my stint as an 5th grade teacher in a low income school). However, I?ve also discovered that I am definitely not awesome at things involving food?planning it, preparing it, or just caring about it in general. So when it came time to sort out the particulars of JR?s party, I chose to focus the majority of my energy on creating superhero-themed signs and party favors. Meanwhile, I let my friends at Little Caesars⁶ and the Kroger Bakery Department handle the spread.

Maybe the opposite is true for you. Perhaps the thought of spending an evening crafting with foam board and fishing line gives you the sweats, and you?d much rather be up to your elbows in cake batter. Whatever your ?thing? is, own it?just don?t hesitate to punt your less-desirable tasks to a more ready-and-willing helper. (And don?t you dare feel guilty about it.)

Shorter is better

Two hours. That?s all the partying kids this age need. Anything longer than that and you?ll find yourself surrounded by a throng of over-stimulated, overtired preschoolers on the verge of a mass meltdown. Get the kids in the door, let them play, feed them cake and ice cream, and send them on their respective ways.

Plans, shlans (also: save your receipts)

To be honest, I had no idea what we were going to do with JR?s friends once they arrived at our house. Would they want to play games? Were the parents expecting some sort entertainment? What if we spend a ton of time and money setting up special activities and the kids just want to run around the backyard like a band of tiny maniacs for the entire two hours?

After much fretting (because it?s what I do), I decided to operate under the assumption that the party was basically going to be a preschooler free-for-all. However, I did make sure to have a few activities on hand in case someone got bored or we found ourselves with a guest with an attention span longer than three minutes?specifically a superhero photo booth, a craft table where kids could decorate their own masks, and a stockpile of bubbles. The key here, though, was rationing. Supplies for each activity were replenished v-e-r-y gradually and only if and when we could see that they were going to be put to good use. Otherwise they stayed tucked away in their original packaging, along with their receipts, waiting for us to take them back for a full refund should they go unused. After all, dolla-dolla bills don?t grow on trees, y?all.

Chaos is to be expected (and embraced)

Once that last cupcake is besprinkled⁷ and once the final streamer is strung, eventually you?re going to have to open the front door to your gaggle of guests and see what happens. It will be loud. It will be hot. Something will probably get broken. Someone will certainly cry and/or pee in his/her pants. In fact, it?s likely that very little will go according to ?plan.? You can?t sweat it; it?s just how it goes. So soak it up and try to enjoy yourself. Besides, your kid is much more likely to remember what happened during the party, not everything that went into getting ready for it. Let those memories include you getting in on the action?ridiculousness and all.

? ??? ?

Obviously with just one birthday party under my belt, I can?t exactly be considered an expert on the matter. I?d love to hear whatever additional tips you parenting veterans have for making the most of birthday celebrations?for preschoolers and beyond. Leave them in the comments!

? ??? ?

Report an error or correction for this article using the form below. Thank you!

Valerie Catrow

Valerie Catrow is the former editor of RVANews who now spends her days raising her son, reading young adult fiction, and watching really bad television.

November 20, 2012

Source: http://rvanews.com/features/raising-richmond-aint-no-party-like-a-preschool-party/75169

zurich classic selena lamichael james lamichael james derrick rose acl earthquake los angeles

Fashion Police: Lindsay Lohan at the Premiere of Liz & Dick

Source:

obama care miss universe canada don draper gallagher madmen james cameron liam hemsworth

Tasty Career prospects in Food and Drinks sector for students ...

Pupils from Regent House Grammar School in Newtownards help Geoff Lamb, NI Operations Manager for the Improve to launch this year?s Tasty Careers campaign, designed to educate young people about the wide variety of excellent careers opportunities available within the food and drink manufacturing sector

Improve, the Food and Drink Sector Skills Council has launched the third year of ?Tasty Careers,? a campaign designed to educate young people about the wide variety of excellent careers opportunities available within the food and drink manufacturing sector.

Following the success of last year?s initiative, ?Tasty Careers,? which is supported by the Department for Employment and Learning, is providing talks from ambassadors in schools across Northern Ireland, highlighting the 6,000 jobs available for skilled workers. To be recruited by 2017, these job opportunities equate to approximately one third of the current employment levels.

Employing over 19,000 full time employees, the food and drink sector is the biggest single manufacturing industry in Northern Ireland. During school visits, ?Tasty Careers? ambassadors will give presentations to pupils, bringing to life examples of case studies of those employed across a range of job types and levels within the sector.

Students will receive an insight into the ambassadors? day-to-day activities and long-term career prospects as well as advice on the best qualifications and educational path to their current position within the sector.

Commenting on this year?s campaign launch, Geoff Lamb, NI Operations Manager, Improve, said: ??Tasty Careers? continues to be a very popular initiative in schools across Northern Ireland and we are delighted to be launching it again this year. In the current economic climate, we want to educate students about the significant career opportunities available in the food and drink sector ? a pivotal and stable industry in Northern Ireland contributing in excess of ?3 billion a year to the local economy.

?Supported by government bodies and key players within the industry, we want the ?Tasty Careers? campaign to make pupils consider their careers options and educate them in an industry that has an impressive average starting salary of up to ?22,000 and has impending skills shortages and gaps within the market.?

For more information or to book an ambassador, schools can visit
www.tastycareers.org.uk

Share this story with friends

Category: Other Articles

Source: http://www.businessfirstonline.co.uk/?p=10431&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tasty-career-prospects-in-food-and-drinks-sector-for-students-hungry-to-learn

marco rubio farrah abraham Paul Ryan Speech chris cooley chris cooley condoleezza rice Perry Hall High School

Moody's strips France of triple-A rating

3 hrs.

Reuters

Moody's Investors Service downgraded France's sovereign rating by one notch to Aa1 from triple-A, the agency said on Monday, citing the country's uncertain fiscal outlook as a result of "deteriorating economic prospects."

Moody's said it is maintaining a negative outlook on the country due to structural challenges and a "sustained loss of competitiveness" in the country.

Standard & Poor's has a AA+ rating on France, which it downgraded by one notch in January from AAA.?

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/moodys-strips-france-triple-rating-1C7155110

pujols watchmen hitch justin beiber lamar odom perfect game jon jones vs rashad evans results

American Music Awards Goes Paperless, Uses Galaxy Note II to Announce Winners

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are coming to the end of their whirlwind international promotional tour for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2," and while the on-screen couple have yet to confirm they've reunited off-screen, they appear to be enjoying each other's company. Following the final "Twilight" film's Germany premiere in Berlin on Friday, Robert, 26, and Kristen, 22, were photographed heading to the Berolina Bowling Lounge to relax after their completing their red carpet duties.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/american-music-awards-goes-paperless-uses-galaxy-note-231625094.html

bachelorette penn state Ernie Els Teen Choice Awards 2012 Aurora victims usher James Holmes

Carey Mulligan And Marcus Mumford Land In Los Angeles (PHOTOS)

Just Jared:

Carey Mulligan and her husband Marcus Mumford wait for their luggage after landing at LAX Airport on Saturday (November 17) in Los Angeles, Calif. The 27-year-old actress led the way when they walked out of the airport while the 25-year-old Mumford & Sons frontman pushed their bags on a cart.

Read the whole story at Just Jared

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/18/carey-mulligan-and-marcus-mumford-land-in-los-angeles_n_2154724.html

new york giants hot wings recipe 7 layer dip recipe chris carter superbowl 2012 kickoff time what time is the super bowl 2012 nfl mvp

Nick Wright: Summarizing NFL Week 11 With Best Tweets

(credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

I thought the ?Cassel v Quinn? QB controversy was bad, but nothing might ever compare to the ?Skelton v Lindley? matchup we had in Atlanta?

The Falcons were MINUS 5 in turnovers, but somehow still won! Partly because the Falcons are good, but mostly because the Cardinals are just hilariously dreadful.

Romo and Dez Bryant carry the Cowboys and have a comeback in the final minute to force OT. Don?t look now, but Dallas just a game back of the Giants.

On the Browns side of things, Pat Shurmur?s in game decision making is as bad as anyone?s in the league, and it might actually be the very worst.

Another one of those ?sleepy? games by the Packers, but it ends up being enough? The Lions, on the other hand, are eliminated from playoff contention.

14-15, 200 yards, 4TDs, 0 INTs and a perfect 158.3 QB rating for RGIII. The Redskins aren?t going to the playoffs, but with RGIII, they sure can dream. Only 2 games back of the Giants?

Philly meanwhile can?t even dream that Foles is going to take them on some magical run. He was dreadful. Vick will be back next week.

Poor Cam Newton? He has a great 2^nd?half, and once again his defense just murders him. Up 11 with 4 minutes left, somehow the Panthers lost.

On the other hand, Doug Martin, Josh Freeman and Vincent Jackson have Greg Schiano?s Bucs at 6-4 and in the thick of the NFC playoff race.

Does anyone want to play the Saints right now? Winners of 5 of 6. Does anyone not want to play the Raiders right now? Losers of 3 in a row and giving up 45 a game in that stretch.

The Broncos have now won 5 in a row, and 4 of their final 6 games are against the Chiefs, Browns and Raiders. It?ll be a dogfight between them, the Ravens and the Patriots for the 2 seed.

Also, at this point Peyton Manning has to be the favorite for league MVP and Von Miller might be neck and neck with JJ Watt for Defensive Player of the Year.

The Patriots went on one of those ?Patriot runs? today, outscoring the Colts 38-3 over a 32 minute stretch after falling behind 14-7. Really unbelievable when they?re on. BUT?

Late word out of New England is that Rob Gronkowski has a broken forearm, which would be a devastating blow for their quest for homefield and a bye.

Andrew Luck is a nice story, but the Colts defense is just dreadful and he will turn it over. This is not a team that can win a road playoff game, which they?ll have to in the 1^st?round.

Source: http://houston.cbslocal.com/2012/11/18/nick-wright-summarizing-nfl-week-11-with-best-tweets/

komen chrome for android hatchet leah messer freedom riders 9th circuit court of appeals gisele bundchen tom brady

Microsoft Serves Up SkyDrive SDKs for Windows Phone 8, .NET

Microsoft has a bunch of new developer tools related to its SkyDrive file-sharing and cloud storage service, including new software development kits for .NET and Windows Phone 8.

The new SDKs for the .NET software framework for Windows and the recently released Windows Phone 8 mobile operating system are available for download at Microsoft's own developer portal or via NuGet for Visual Studio projects, the company said in a blog post announcing their availability.

The .NET SDK comes in both a client and server version, providing a .NET library for client desktop apps as well as for ASP.NET applications, Microsoft said, adding that "[w]ith this release you can now create applications that target traditional desktop scenarios and as well as server side scenarios."

Along with the Windows Phone 8 SDK, the devkit for .NET allows developers to build SkyDrive functionality into their apps and programs. For example, with the client version of the .NET SDK, developers can now "create WPF, Windows Form or console applications that let your users use their SkyDrive data," the software giant said.

With the server version of the SDK, .NET developers are now able to build ASP.NET websites and Web server components "that talk to SkyDrive," Microsoft said, while also making it "easier for you to incorporate Microsoft account into your identity system or even just use Microsoft account as your primary identity system."

Microsoft noted that there are already "a ton of Windows Phone applications that ... leverage SkyDrive in their applications." The new SDK basically adds support for the latest version of the OS to the mix but also builds on several new features in Windows Phone 8, the first such release by Microsoft to share the kernel of the flagship Windows operating system for desktops, laptops, and tablets.

One advantage of that shared foundation is that developers can now "easily move [their] code between [their] Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 application" via the new Task async pattern and dynamic keyword protocols.

Microsoft also drew attention to several representative SkyDrive tie-ins developed by its ecosystem, including IFTTT ("if this, then that"), the cross-platform "Recipe" tool that allows users to connect their channels across different social media services; the electronic signature service DocuSign; and SoundGecko, a text-to-audio transcribing service that uses SkyDrive to offer users anywhere access to files.

For more, see SkyDrive Gets Selective Sync, Easier Sharing and New SkyDrive 3.0 Now Available for Windows Phone 8, as well as our full reviews of SkyDrive and Windows Phone 8.

For more from Damon, follow him on Twitter @dpoeter.

Source: http://feeds.ziffdavis.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/breakingnews/~3/HjjMcELfs1k/0,2817,2412268,00.asp

hcg drops reason rally mad hatter azerbaijan ryan howard ps i love you ray charles

Fire forces evacuation of high-rise in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? Rescue crews in Dubai have evacuated a 34-story residential tower after a fire gutted portions of the building. There was no immediate word on casualties.

The blaze Sunday charred the outside of the structure and send gray smoke drifting over a major development known as Jumeirah Lakes Towers, a cluster of high-rise apartment buildings and shops on the southern edge of Dubai.

Civil defense officials did not give immediate details on possible casualties or the cause of the predawn fire.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fire-forces-evacuation-high-rise-dubai-053656736.html

colts colts big ten tournament 2012 dennis quaid bruce weber fired notorious big biggie smalls lyrics

Video: After Sandy, aid still sorely needed

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

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/49878581/

nigel barker 420 secret service fenway park coachella philadelphia flyers 4/20

Gartner says cloud services market in Middle East and Northern Africa region to surpass $378m in 2012

Business process services (also known as business process as a service, or BPaaS) is on pace to be the largest segment, accounting for about 52% of the total Middle East and Northern Africa market in 2012, while cloud management and security services represents the fastest-growing segment of the public cloud services market and is expected to grow 41.4% in 2012.

"The cloud services market is clearly a high-growth sector within the overall IT marketplace," said Ed Anderson, research director at Gartner. "The key to taking advantage of this growth will be understanding the nuances of the opportunity within service segments and geographic regions, and then prioritizing investments in line with the opportunities."

BPaaS is the largest segment primarily because of the inclusion of cloud advertising as a subsegment. BPaaS is forecast to grow to $195.1m in 2012, up from $191.7m in 2011. In 2011, human resources BPaaS services represented about 19% of the total public cloud services market, making it the biggest identifiable subsegment in the forecast. By 2016, cloud advertising will become the largest segment accounting for about 22% of total public cloud services spending in the Middle East and Northern Africa region.

Software as a service (SaaS) is the next-largest segment and is forecast to grow to $74.6m in 2012, while IaaS is forecast to grow from $35m in 2011 to $47.5m in 2012. Growth in application infrastructure services (also known as platform as a service, or PaaS) will also be high, although it is a smaller market relative to the other segments. PaaS is strategic and considered to be a critical growth driver for other segments, including BPaaS and SaaS. The PaaS segment in the Middle East and Northern Africa region is forecast to grow to $15.8m in 2012.

Cloud management and security services constitute a new forecast segment comprising cloud security services, IT operations management (ITOM) and storage management (including backup and recovery services). The cloud management and security services segment is forecast to grow to $45.5m in 2012.

Gartner analysts will examine key industry topics and provide additional insights at Gartner Symposium/ITxpo, which will take place in Dubai March 5-7, 2013.

Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/gartner-cloud-services-market-middle-east-319213

MBTA Cnn Live Garcinia Cambogia Little Things One Direction Bob Ross Hurricane Categories Hurricane Sandy

Wachowskis to Enter 3D Realm with Jupiter Ascending

Cloud Atlas (which was co-directed by Tom Tykwer and the Wachowski siblings) is everything the filmmakers behind it had promised ? big, brash, beautiful, and daunting in scope ? but it?s for similar reasons that critical reactions have been all over the board, while the U.S. box office turnout has proven to be disappointing. Fortunately, those poor financial results are not going to prevent Andy and Lana Wachowski from venturing forward with more original (and innovative) projects ? including, their new mysterious sci-fi film?Jupiter Ascending?(starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum).

Warner Bros. (which is the studio behind Jupiter Ascending) and IMAX struck a deal this week to release some 20 titles over the next three years, beginning with such post-converted 3D films as Jack the Giant Slayer?and Man of Steel. However, Film Stage has noted that the Wachowski film is also listed as a 3D project, which suggests it could be natively shot in that format (or, at the least, will be designed with the intention of taking advantage of what the extra dimension has to offer).

The Wachowskis? traditional approach to photographing action seems a natural fit for 3D; just imagine had the bullet-time sequences in The Matrix been filmed in the format ? or, if you dare, how much more of an unhinged sensory-assault Speed Racer?could?ve been. Moreover, directors such as Martin Scorsese (Hugo), Ang Lee (next week?s?Life of Pi), and Michael Bay (Transformers: Dark of the Moon ? yes, we are serious)?have shown that 3D filmmaking can thrive as a unique form of visual storytelling ? rather than just a gimmick for upping the ticket cost. So don?t be surprised if the Wachowskis cook up some crazy cinematography in order to bring?Jupiter Ascending to life.

Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum are onboard for ?Jupiter Ascending?

Here is a short synopsis for Jupiter Ascending (for more, check out our full plot breakdown):

A recent Russian immigrant?? played by?actual?Ukrainian immigrant Mila Kunis?? who is busily scrubbing toilets for a living. Unbeknownst to her, she actually possesses the same perfect genetic makeup as the Queen of the Universe and is therefore a threat to her otherwise immortal rule??Pretty soon, a bounty hunter [Tatum] of the evolved-being type is dispatched to dispose of [her] but, as you?d expect with a Matrix re-dux, they fall in love.

Many of our readers have already pointed out that there are traces of Snow White (and even Prometheus) in?Jupiter Ascending?s DNA, but by now it should be clear that is the Wachowski siblings? modus operandi ? namely, they tend to draw direct inspiration from older pop culture, but remix and tweak those elements enough to make the final result their own. It?s hard to not appreciate them for it, in an age where straight-up rebooting and remaking previous titles is the more popular route to take?

Principal photography on Jupiter Ascending is slated to begin early next year. We will keep you up-to-date on pre-production progress in the meantime.

-

Source: Movieline [via The Film Stage]

"Follow us if you want to live."

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1926288/news/1926288/

kevin systrom fibonacci sequence maryland lottery grand jury ozzie guillen fidel castro darvish george zimmerman website

Optimum Fertility?Into Your Forties - Keeper of the Home

By Natalie, Klejwa, Contributing Writer

Because we live in a sin-wrecked world, not everyone will be able to have as many children as they would like. For various reasons that range from unwilling spouses to physical limitations, our families will all be of varying sizes.

One thing we can all say with resounding conviction is that children ARE a blessing. And I know that every one of us is grateful for every blessing that we have been enabled, by God's grace, to birth and raise.

When I was younger, I hoped for five children. I thought that would make a nice, large family, and that is what I planned for. I'm not really a "kid-lover" by nature. I adore babies and enjoy teens. But children 2-10? Not my comfort zone.

Over the course of the years, through loss, physical issues regarding my pregnancies, almost two years of bed rest, times of severe, debilitating back pain and vascular problems, God opened my eyes to see children from His perspective. Not as personal trophies or pets for my own gratification, but as future God-worshipers, leaders, and Kingdom-builders.

Once I caught that breathtaking vision, He was able to bring me to the place where I could surrender?to Him all the troubles that came with raising children. I abandoned myself to His mercy, to give...or take away...as He saw fit. This was a hard and emotional surrendering; but with the end in view, God also gave the faith and hope that I needed to move forward.

One of my greatest fears in letting go was that I would get to my forties and go through loss after loss, suffering "unnecessary," ongoing, emotional pain. I was also afraid of my own body, which had let me down so many times in my younger years. I couldn't imagine how it would hold out as I aged.

I didn't really see anyone discussing this online--perhaps because it is such a private thing, perhaps because most women in their forties are not interested in having children. Or maybe there really isn't much anyone wants to share. Or maybe I wasn't looking hard enough.

But I was afraid to walk through it alone.

I decided the only way through it was to forge ahead and take it one year, one month, one week, and sometimes, one day at a time, knowing that God gives grace for today...not for tomorrow.

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matt. 6:34)

Everyone's experience will be different. God has each of us on His own specialized plan to sanctify us, making us more like His Son. It's best not to compare our own journey to that of our friend at church. God is tender toward His lambs.

Whatever happens, though it may shock and surprise us...never shocks or surprises Him.

We can rest in His guidance and love, whether we suffer multiple losses, secondary infertility, the heart breaking disappointment of a spouse who would like to avoid future pregnancies, a vasectomy reversal that produces no results, horrific pregnancy symptoms that can seem unbearable at times, or more children than we had thought we could "handle."

While I had one loss in my 20s and one in my 30s, I've had three miscarriages since I turned 40.? I believe they are typical, age-related miscarriages, and there is a likelihood that I will have more before that fertility window closes.

But the vast majority of my fears have not been realized, and God has brought to my attention some scientific, medical information that has been practical and hopeful for women who desire to have children into their forties.

A Resource to Help

I'd like to introduce you to a resource you may find helpful for a variety of reasons: Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition by Marilyn M. Shannon. I recommend the updated, fourth edition as it has important information on newer medical breakthroughs and discoveries.

This book comprehensively covers everything from good nutrition, overcoming reproductive problems such as PMS, cycle irregularities, polycystic ovary syndrome, and menstrual pain, pregnancy and postpartum nutrition, repeated miscarriage and birth defects, premenopause, perimenopause, and menopause, increasing energy and more. It is a handbook that I've owned for well over a year and have referred to often.

No matter what your current age, the information in this post should be helpful for you if you are desiring to have more children. If you are in your forties, it could be critical!

Understanding Fertility

As we age, the quality of our ova (eggs) declines. This can contribute not only to infertility, but to the recurrence of miscarriage. Before an ovum can be fertilized, it must complete a cell division phase called "meiosis I" during the two days just before ovulation.

As the ova age, their ability to do this properly declines, contributing to infertility, early miscarriage without proper development of the newly conceived child, and even Down syndrome. In addition, the reproductive hormones, FSH and LH decline in the early years of premenopause, so that their hormonal "push" of the ovum to complete meiosis I may be insufficient. (Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition, pg. 135)

Do you know that your level of nutrition before you conceive is just as critical as it is after you conceive? You maybe do. But do you know why?

One of the reasons I love this book is because she explains a lot of unknown "whys," making it more motivating to implement those important changes that could be the difference between a healthy pregnancy and a miscarriage.

What your body needs to make that meiosis I cell division happen properly is adequate progesterone levels as well as nutrients that are known to be important for proper cell division.

If progesterone levels during the second half of the cycle are normal, it is likely that FSH and LH in the first half of the cycle are also normal. Studies cited in Chapters 5 and 7 show that vitamin B6 and vitamin C can raise progesterone levels. Other B vitamins and the mineral magnesium support the activities of vitamin B6. (pg. 135)

The nutrients needed for proper cell division include folic acid, B12, zinc, and the essential fatty acids, especially the omega-3 alpha linolenic acid. According to Shannon, you should be taking in 5-10 grams (5-10 capsules) of flax oil OR fish liver oil from a pure source (1 teaspoon) per day.

You need to take 400 IU of vitamin E as well to prevent the flax or fish oil from oxidizing in your system, rendering the benefits useless. THAT was something I never knew...I took flax supplements...but not with vitamin E. See what a waste we run into when we don't have the knowledge we need?

Shannon's daily recommendations for age-related infertility include the following:

• Vitamin B6 300 mg
• Folic Acid 4,000 mcg
• Vitamin B12 1,000 mcg
• Vitamin C 1000-1500 mg
• Vitamin E 400-800 IU
• Zinc 25-50 mg
• Flax oil 5-10 g OR Fish liver oil 1 teaspoon (cod liver oil is a healthy choice)
• Probiotics such as acidophilus

You can buy these kinds of supplements individually or in a combination supplement. Just make sure that the daily overall total is at the levels above.

The author of?Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition had her last child two months before she turned 48.

Now let's touch on age-related miscarriage:

In counseling women in their 40s who would like to have more children despite having had a recent miscarriage, I encourage more than just nutrition. There is a kind of internal courage, an emotional resolve, that is required. That is, if you are hoping to have more children, you need to hold the hope for another child firmly against the pain and fear of another loss. (pg. 168)

This is just the point I was referring to earlier. If you avoid pregnancy, you will not have to suffer a loss. But then you also forgo the? privilege of having another child.

There has been breakthrough research that has shown how the B vitamin folic acid plays a huge role in not only reducing the incidence of neural tube defects, but also of congenital heart defects, oral clefts, limb formation defects, Down syndrome, and even cancers and leukemia.

Here's what researchers have found:

It is known that folic acid works together with two other B vitamins--vitamin B6 and B12--to reduce the production of the amino acid homocysteine. It is beyond the scope of this book to explain the biochemical details, but in low concentrations homocysteine is normal to the cells. If folic acid especially, or the other two B vitamins are deficient, homocysteine builds up and creates havoc within cells.

For example, it causes problems within the linings of the blood vessels, making it a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This also explains why it is harmful to the placenta, which is a vascular organ. When it comes to pregnancy, homocysteine may be the actual culprit involved with the birth defects listed above, as well as with problems such as abruption of the placenta.

In addition to vitamin B12 and vitamin B6, the mineral zinc works along with folic acid. Vitamin C is necessary for the absorption of folic acid. It may be that several nutrients found in multivitamins together make a difference in preventing birth defects. (pg. 170)

If this is a topic that interests you, I highly recommend that you access a copy of this book.? It is rich with information that is critical for good health whether you are wanting more children or are already in your menopause years.? In addition, I'd love to introduce you to a book I'm putting together for spring of 2013 on this topic AND get your input in a brief survey.

Disclaimer: Although all Keeper of the Home contributors are passionate about nutrition, natural living and alternative health issues, we are not certified nutritionists, medical doctors, or practitioners of any kind. We are not licensed to counsel anyone in medical matters, nor may we be held responsible for any course of action that you choose in regards to your own health or that of your family. Please remember that what we are sharing is the result of our own experiences and years of study, but may not necessarily be the right course of action for you. We are advocates of becoming informed, knowledgeable and responsible for one's own health, but our desire is not to be an authority on any matters of health for you, nor would we presume to have sufficient knowledge to do so. Our hope is that what we share may encourage you and start you on the road to doing your own research, and seeking out the opinions of professionals or others that you trust.

Source: http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/11/optimum-fertility-into-your-forties.html

last house on the left last house on the left rich forever mixtape blow the unit bob weston bill obrien