By meeting privacy board, Obama seeks to reassure public on spying

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - By meeting a privacy oversight board on Friday, President Barack Obama sought to reassure Americans worried about losing their privacy after revelations that the U.S. government engaged in a vast monitoring of phone and Internet data.

In the White House Situation Room, Obama met with members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board for about an hour.

"He committed to providing them with access to all the materials they would need to fulfill their oversight and advisory functions," said a White House official.

The meeting was described by the official as a candid conversation about the dual imperatives of safeguarding U.S. national security and protecting the privacy and civil liberties of American citizens.

The five-person independent agency that has been largely dormant since 2008 and held its first full-fledged meeting on Wednesday after the Senate confirmed David Medine as its chairman last month.

Obama is scrambling to show Americans he has credibility on the issue after coming under fire for the scope of surveillance conducted by the National Security Agency, which was revealed in a series of disclosures by former government contractor Edward Snowden.

The watchdog board's purpose is to review actions the government takes to protect national security, while balancing those steps with the need to protect privacy and civil liberties.

Obama, in an interview with PBS anchor Charlie Rose broadcast on Monday, strongly defended the surveillance program as necessary to protect against the possibility of attacks, but said he wanted to ensure Americans retained their right to privacy.

His approval rating has dropped in some opinion polls, with the fallout over the surveillance program cited as a reason.

Privacy advocates have argued the surveillance activities infringe on Americans' civil liberties, and say the oversight is insufficient.

The Obama administration and high-profile lawmakers have defended the program as a vital national security tool that is vigorously overseen by the administration, Congress and a special court.

'FURTHER QUESTIONS WARRANTED'

Medine told Reuters on Wednesday the board was aiming to hold a public event around July 9 to get legal insight from experts, academics and advocates.

"Based on what we've learned so far, the board believes further questions are warranted," said Medine, who previously was a partner at the law firm WilmerHale and served as an associate director at the Federal Trade Commission.

The White House announced steps to try to reveal more information about steps taken by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the secretive court that oversees requests for surveillance warrants against suspected foreign threats inside the United States.

At Obama's direction, his homeland security adviser, Lisa Monaco, asked the director of national intelligence on Thursday to review FISA court opinions and filings relevant to the NSA programs and determine what additional information the government could reveal about them.

The effort "builds on the administration's ongoing effort to declassify a significant amount of information regarding these programs," the White House said in a statement.

(Additional reporting by Alina Selyukh; Editing by Peter Cooney and Eric Walsh)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-meet-privacy-oversight-board-try-reassure-public-100155723.html

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Life after Kinect: PrimeSense's plans for a post-Microsoft future

When PrimeSense founder Aviad Maizels put a prototype of a 3D sensor on a chip in front of Microsoft in 2006, he had no idea it would lead to the biggest turning point in the Israeli startup's history. Four years later, its partnership with the Redmond giant resulted in Kinect, the motion-sensing camera that made headlines around the world. In 2013, however, Microsoft unveiled an all-new Kinect, the result of years of entirely in-house development -- without PrimeSense's assistance. As fate would have it, the company returned to its chip-making origins a year ago, creating a new product called Capri, a cheaper, lower-power and tinier version of its 3D system-on-a-chip; so tiny, in fact, that it's designed to be embedded inside tablets, laptops, thin displays and smartphones. With 3D use cases that go far beyond Dance Central, the Capri is the latest sign that PrimeSense is ready to break free from its video game roots.

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Tablets, Wireless, Microsoft, ASUS, Nintendo

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Source: Wikipedia, Wikipedia, Openni, Wired UK, PrimeSense, Calcalist (Google Translate)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/21/life-after-kinect-primesense-post-microsoft/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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NTSB: 787 probe far from complete

1 hr.

Andrea Shalal-Esa and Jim Wolf , Reuters

U.S. safety regulators are nowhere near finishing an investigation into a battery fire on the Boeing Co 787 Dreamliner, a top official said on Thursday, raising the prospect of a prolonged grounding for the plane.?

Deborah Hersman, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, made clear that investigators have found a series of "symptoms" in the battery damaged in a Jan.?7 fire in Boston, but not the underlying cause of the problem.?

"We are early in our investigation, we have a lot of activities to undertake," Hersman told a news conference.?

"This is an unprecedented event. We are very concerned. We do not expect to see fire events on board aircraft. This is a very serious air safety concern."?

She rebuffed multiple questions on how long the investigation would take, making clear it could be weeks or more. She also would not say when the 787 would fly again, which is in the hands of the Federal Aviation Administration.?

Boeing and its regulators have said they do not know when the 787 will fly again. It has been grounded worldwide since a plane by All Nippon Airways made an emergency landing in Japan on Jan. 16 after a battery incident, which Hersman said may or may not have been a fire.?

That emergency landing came after a fire occurred on a Japan Airlines Co Ltd 787 on the tarmac in Boston.?

Boeing was not immediately available to comment on the latest NTSB statement. France's Thales, which makes the 787 battery system, declined to comment.?

The NTSB and its Japanese equivalent are working together on their probes, though Hersman again insisted the work was still in the early stages.?

"It is really very hard to tell at this point how long this investigation will take. We have all hands on deck," Hersman said. "We're working as hard as we can to identify what the failure mode is here and what corrective actions need to be taken."?

Series of delays
The 787 program was already years behind schedule before last week's grounding, which means Boeing cannot deliver newly manufactured planes to customers.?

That means customers like United Continental Holdings Inc.?may have to wait even longer for planes on order. The company's United Airlines already flies six Dreamliners.?

"History teaches us that all new aircraft types have issues and the 787 is no different," United Continental Chairman and Chief Executive Jeff Smisek said during the carrier's earnings conference call. "We continue to have confidence in the aircraft and in Boeing's ability to fix the issues, just as they have done on every other new aircraft model they've produced."?

Smisek said Thursday the carrier still expects to take delivery of two more 787s in the second half of the year.?

Boeing has already delivered 50 of the 787s. Around half have been in operation in Japan, but airlines in India, South America, Poland, Qatar and Ethiopia are also flying the planes, as is U.S. carrier United.?

The grounding of the Dreamliner, an advanced carbon-composite plane with a list price of $207 million, has already forced hundreds of flight cancellations worldwide.?

Competition from Airbus
The head of Boeing's European rival Airbus said it would study the 787 Dreamliner design review and make any changes to its future A350 jetliner that may be needed as a result of the U.S. findings.?

"We believe so far we have a robust design, however we will draw the lessons from the 787," Airbus Chief Executive Fabrice Bregier told Reuters Television at the World Economic Forum in Davos.?

"We will look at the recommendations and guidelines of the FAA and if by chance we need to change it we have plenty of time because this aircraft, the 350, will be delivered to our first customers not before the second half of 2014 ? so it is not a challenge and it is not a burden for us."?

Billed as Europe's response to the Dreamliner, the A350 is due to enter service next year using lithium-ion batteries but without the same reliance on electrical systems as the 787, something Airbus says will put less burden on the batteries.?

However, Airbus has so far declined to comment on how it would tackle a battery fire if one did break out on board.?

Additional reporting by Karen Jacobs in Atlanta, Tim Hepher in Paris and Axel Threlfall in Davos.

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/ntsb-787-probe-far-complete-1C8104258

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U.S. to lift ban on women in front-line combat jobs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military will formally end its ban on women serving in front-line combat roles, officials said on Wednesday, in a move that could open thousands of fighting jobs to female service members for the first time.

The move knocks down another societal barrier in the U.S. armed forces, after the Pentagon in 2011 scrapped its "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.

U.S. defense officials said the decision to end the ban had been taken by outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and individual military services would have until 2016 to seek exemptions if they believed any combat roles should remain closed to women.

Panetta is expected to announce the decision formally on Thursday. It will come after 11 years of non-stop war that has seen 84 women killed as a result of hostile action in the unpopular, costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The military services will have until May 15 to submit a plan on how they will comply by 2016.

Women have represented around 2 percent of the U.S. casualties of in Iraq and Afghanistan and some 12 percent - or 300,000 - of those deployed in the war efforts in the past 11 years, in which there were often no clearly defined front lines, and where deadly guerrilla tactics have included roadside bombs that kill and maim indiscriminately.

Women serve in combat roles for the armed forces of a few developed nations, including Canada and Israel, but officials say demand from women for such jobs in NATO nations is very low. In 2010, Britain decided after a review that it would not change rules excluding women from infantry or combat teams.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which filed a suit in November seeking to force the Pentagon to end the ban on women in combat, applauded the planned move, which will overturn a 1994 policy preventing women from serving in small front-line combat units.

The outgoing head of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Democratic Senator Patty Murray from Washington, and Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, the head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also voiced approval.

"This is an historic step for equality and for recognizing the role women have, and will continue to play, in the defense of our nation," Murray said. Levin said it reflected the "reality of 21st century military operations."

'HISTORIC MOMENT'

A plan for implementing the decision will have to be approved by the defense secretary and notified to Congress. The plan will guide how quickly the new combat jobs open up and whether the services will seek exemptions to keep some closed.

Senator Jim Inhofe, a Republican from Oklahoma, questioned the extent to which women would ultimately gain access to front-line combat, saying he doubted there would be a "broad opening."

Michael O'Hanlon, a defense analyst at the Brookings Institution in Washington, noted that integrating women was "a very delicate matter." He called for the Pentagon to take a gradual approach, perhaps starting with special forces.

Former female service members cheered the move.

Anu Bhagwati, a former Marine captain and head of the Service Women's Action Network, said her decision to leave the Marine Corps in 2004 was partly due to the combat exclusion policy.

"I know countless women whose careers have been stunted by combat exclusion in all the branches," said Bhagwati, who called the decision an "historic moment."

"I didn't expect it to come so soon," she said.

The move comes nearly a year after the Pentagon unveiled a policy that opened 14,000 new jobs to women but still prohibited them from serving in infantry, armor and special operations units whose main function was to engage in frontline combat.

For Panetta, it will add to his legacy as a secretary who oversaw the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and pushed the process to end discrimination against women.

Asked last year why women who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan conducting security details and house-to-house searches were still being formally barred from combat positions, Pentagon officials said the services wanted to see how they performed in the new positions before opening up further.

(Additional reporting by Eric Johnson in Chicago, Marty Graham in San Diego and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler and David Brunnstrom)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-lift-ban-women-front-line-combat-jobs-003720946.html

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Apple?s Mac Problem

News came today that Apple's Mac sales are down 21% year-over-year and 16% for the quarter. While 4.1 million Macs sold in Q1 2013 is nothing to sneeze at, it's still nearly a quarter year-over-year loss, which makes investors nervous.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/4ob8K00-7uo/

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Bulls Defeat Heat, 96-89: Carlos Boozer Leads Chicago To Rebound Edge Over Miami (VIDEO/PHOTOS)

LeBron James,Nate Robinson

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) is unable to stop Chicago Bulls' Nate Robinson (2) from scoring two points during the second half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. The Bulls won 96-89. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Carlos Boozer,Chris Bosh, Shane Battier

Miami Heat players Chris Bosh and Shane Battier (31) chases the ball after they blocked a shot by Chicago Bulls Carlos Boozer (5) during the second half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. The Bulls won 96-89. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Carlos Boozer,Chris Bosh

Miami Heat player Chris Bosh (1) tries to defend as Chicago Bulls' Carlos Boozer (5) drives to the basketball during the second half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. The Bulls won 96-89. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

LeBron James

Miami Heat player LeBron James reacts after officials ruled he step out of bounds while stealing a Chicago Bulls' ball during the second half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. The Bulls won 96-89. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

CARLOS BOOZER

Chicago Bulls player Carlos Boozer reacts after the Miami Heat were charged with an offensive foul during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. The Bulls won 96-89. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Taj Gibson

MiamI Heat player LeBron James (6) watches as Chris Bosh (1) blocks a shot by Chicago Bulls' Taj Gibson (22) during the second half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. The Bulls won 96-89. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

CARLOS BOOZER

Chicago Bulls' Carlos Boozer looks for a ball during the second half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 against the Miami Heat. The Bulls won 96-89. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Taj Gibson

Miami Heat player LeBron James (6) watches as Chris Bosh (1) blocks a shot by Chicago Bulls' Taj Gibson (22) during the second half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. The Bulls won 96-89. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Dwayne Wade, Luoi Deng

Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade (3) falls backwards as Chicago Bulls' Luol Deng (9) goes up for two points during the second half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. The Bulls won 96-89. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Carlos Boozer,Chris Bosh

Chicago Bulls player Carlos and Miami Heat player Chris Bosh battle for a ball during the second half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. The Bulls won 96-89. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

LeBron James

MiamI Heat's LeBron James reacts after the Heat fouled a Chicago Bulls player during the second half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. The Bulls won 96-89. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Nate Robinson

Chicago Bulls player Nate Robinson (2) celebrates as the Bulls defeat the Miami Heat 96-89 during a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Nate Robinson

Chicago Bulls player Nate Robinson (2) celebrates as the Bulls defeat the Miami Heat 96-89 during a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

CARLOS BOOZER, LEBRON JAMES

Chicago Bulls' Carlos Booze (5) blocks Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) during the first half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Tom Thibodeau

Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau during the first half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 against the Chicago Bulls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade

Chicago Bulls Jimmy Butler (21) forces Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade (3) to pass the ball during the first half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Dwayne Wade

Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade (3) slams the ball into the basket for two points during the first half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 against the Chicago Bulls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Udonis Haslem, LeBron James Richard Hamilton

MiamI Heat players Udonis Haslem ((40) and LeBron James (6) block Chicago Bulls' Richard Hamilton (32) during the first half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

LeBron James, Luoi Deng, Carlos Boozer

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) along with Chicago Bulls players Carlos Boozer (5) and Luoi Deng (9) watch as James scores two points during the first half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Carlos Boozer, LeBron James, Jimmy Butler

Chicago Bulls players Jimmy Butler (21) and Carlos Boozer (5) try to block Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) during the first half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Erik Spoelstra

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra yells instructions to his team during the first half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 against the Chicago Bulls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

LeBron James, Luoi Deng, Carlos Boozer

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) slides in between Chicago Bulls players Carlos Boozer (5) and Luoi Deng (9) for a two point shot during the first half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Joakim Noah, Chris Bosh

Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah (13) applies pressure as Miami Heat's Chris Bosh (1) looks to pass the ball during the first half of a NBA basketball game in Miami, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat shoots a free throw during a game against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Norris Cole #30 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket during a game against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Nate Robinson #2 of the Chicago Bulls shoots over Shane Battier #31 of the Miami Heat during a game at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat drives past Nate Robinson #2 of the Chicago Bulls during a game at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Nate Robinson #2 and Kirk Hinrich #12 of the Chicago Bulls celebrate during a game against the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat dunks during a game against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Nate Robinson #2 of the Chicago Bulls and Ray Allen #34 of the Miami Heat react to a play during a game at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat dunks during a game against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat guards Luol Deng #9 of the Chicago Bulls during a game at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat drives past Nate Robinson #2 of the Chicago Bulls during a game at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Dwyane Wade #3 and LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat high five during a game against the Chicago Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Carlos Boozer #5 of the Chicago Bulls yells during a game against the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Carlos Boozer #5 and Jimmy Butler #21 of the Chicago Bulls celebrate during a game against the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat looks on during a game against the Chicago Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: ( Editors Note: This images has been converted to black and white) LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat looks on during a game against the Chicago Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Taj Gibson #22 of the Chicago Bulls is fouled by Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat during a game at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Joakim Noah #13 of the Chicago Bulls reacts to a play during a game against the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Carlos Boozer #5 of the Chicago Bulls reacts to a three point play during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Carlos Boozer #5 of the Chicago Bulls reacts to a three point play during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat passes over Luol Deng #9 of the Chicago Bulls during a game at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Dwyane Wade #3 and LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat warm up during a game against the Chicago Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat posts up Richard Hamilton #32 of the Chicago Bulls during a game at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat looks on during a game against the Chicago Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat and Joakim Noah #13 of the Chicago Bulls fight for position during a game at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 04: Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat and Joakim Noah #13 of the Chicago Bulls fight for a jump ball during a game at AmericanAirlines Arena on January 4, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/05/bulls-heat-carlos-boozer-rebounds_n_2413618.html

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Unloved Congress unfazed by public's disapproval

Roger L. Wollenberg / Getty Images

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker of the House John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speak to the media at the White House on Nov. 16, 2012.

By Carrie Dann, NBC News

Four months ago, the United States Congress had a gloomy approval rating of just 12 percent.?And that was before most Americans had ever heard of a "fiscal cliff."?

The last NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll to measure congressional approval (August), showed that a whopping 82 percent of Americans disapproved of the job Congress was doing, an all-time record for the history of the survey.

By some estimates, Congress' approval rating could now -- after an ugly fiscal cliff fight and the brewing storm over aid to Hurricane Sandy victims -- be nearly within the margin of, well, zilch.?

Big policy losers in tax deal: deficit reduction and 'certainty'

So is Congress doomed to forever be the branch of government eating alone in the proverbial cafeteria of public opinion? And can it go any lower?

For the last four years, no more than one-in-three adults has given Congress a thumbs up, according to the poll. And it's been longer than a decade since more?than half of Americans approved of their representative government on Capitol Hill.

After intense pressure, the House vote on some emergency aid for areas hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy will be held on Friday. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.

Experts say that because the ratings have been so poor for so long, members are no longer fazed by the public's overall disapproval. They note that the lambasting of Congress as a whole has minimal effects on individual races, especially when candidates run against the status quo of the very body they're trying to join.

Some 90 percent of lawmakers who ran for re-election in 2012 will be coming right back to Capitol Hill for the 113th Congress.?

"Nobody ever votes on Congress as a whole, they vote on individual members," says Jack Pitney, professor at Claremont McKenna College in California. "The message that most lawmakers give their constituents is 'I'm great, it's these other bozos who are the problem.'"

For the most part, that pitch works.

'Everybody has something to hate'
In the August NBC/WSJ poll, even though only about one-in-ten Americans approved of Congress, four times as many said that their own representatives deserved re-election.

Apart from keeping the same lawmakers they seem bent on throwing out, the public has also sent mixed signals on whether or not it wants a government divided between two parties.

For more than 20 of the last 30 years, the White House has been controlled by a different party than one or both houses of Congress.

Boehner likely to be reelected speaker, but there could be drama

With Congress frequently butting heads with the president -- particularly on budgetary matters that could have real and unpleasant consequences for American taxpayers -- it's not easy for lawmakers to compete for a "Miss Congeniality" trophy.

"These fights, combined with difficult economic times, leave the public to understandably think very poorly of the Congress," says Thomas Mann, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and the co-author of a recent book on political dysfunction.

"I don't think it's destined to always be that way, but when you have a war going on between the two major parties, not just during campaign season but throughout the governing season, then it's not surprising for Congress to get these kind of ratings," Mann said.?

House Republicans are under the public microscope after apparently delaying action on a Hurricane Sandy relief package.

Making matters worse for Congress:?the issues at stake often involve spending cuts and federal program changes likely to affect voters directly -- many of them negatively.

"We have an enormous deficit and the only steps that we can take to reduce the deficit are painful and unpopular," says Pitney. "Plus, you have split party control, so everybody has something to hate."

Public wants unity
In a model divided government, the Congress would serve -- at least in principle -- to cancel the most partisan priorities from the executive branch in favor of centrist ideals.

But with that rosy idea of balance often replaced by inaction and gridlock, polling suggests that the country may be shifting toward a preference for unity.

A recent Gallup survey showed that the number of Americans who said they want to see divided government is at record lows, with just 23 percent favoring a president and a Congress from different parties.

What the fiscal deal means for you

That's a finding that Brock McCleary, the former deputy executive director of the National Republican Congressional Committee and founder of the survey firm Harper Polling, has seen replicated in polls throughout various House districts.

"Our assumption was voters would want one branch of government as a nice check and balance on the other one and think that as long as everyone's tapping the brakes on one another it's probably better for the country," he said. "But we would go and look at polling and find that wasn't actually the case. Very few people were telling pollsters that's what they wanted."

But, McCleary added, that sentiment didn't translate into change in the two most recent elections in 2010 and 2012, which resulted in a Republican House despite a fairly decisive re-election for a Democratic president.

Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., joins Chris Cillizza to talk about Tuesday night's fiscal cliff negotiations and how the House closed session on a sour note.

"There's a disconnect there," he said.

With divided government in place for at least the next two years, and with the vast majority up for re-election likely to return each year -- Congress's best hope may ultimately depend on the economy that each party aims to improve. But in the immediate future, those prospects look bleak.

"People generally need to feel as though the country is back on the right track," said McCleary. "Until that turns around it, sliding approval numbers are a fact of life for American politicians."

Source: http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/03/16309992-unloved-for-so-long-congress-not-fazed-by-publics-disapproval?lite

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Wounded ex-Rep. Giffords meets with Conn. families

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) ? Nearly two years after being critically wounded in a mass shooting, former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords on Friday met with families of victims in last month's shooting that left 26 people dead inside a Connecticut elementary school.

Giffords was accompanied by her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, at the private meeting in Newtown that was also attended by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

"As always, I was deeply impressed by the strength and courage and resolve of the families and the extraordinary caring and generosity of Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly in visiting with them," Blumenthal said.

Giffords, a Democrat, met earlier in the day with officials including Connecticut's lieutenant governor and Newtown's first selectman.

Giffords was left partially blind, with a paralyzed right arm and brain injury, when a gunman opened fire at a constituent meet-and-greet outside a Tucson grocery store on Jan. 8, 2011. Arizona's chief federal judge and five others were killed and 13 people, including Giffords, were injured.

The gunman, Jared Lee Loughner, pleaded guilty to 19 federal charges and was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences, plus 140 years.

Kelly has become a vocal advocate for gun control in recent months, most notably at Loughner's sentencing in November. He lashed out at politicians for avoiding a "meaningful debate" about gun laws and called out Arizona Republicans, including the governor, for taking a pro-gun stance in the months after the shooting.

"As a nation we have repeatedly passed up the opportunity to address the issue. After Columbine, after Virginia Tech, after Tucson and after Aurora, we have done nothing," he told the court.

He has issued strongly worded statements many times since the massacre in Connecticut, including a harsh response to the National Rifle Association's reaction to the shooting. He often begins statements with "Gabby and I" as he makes pointed comments about the direction of the gun debate in America.

Kelly said on the day of the Newtown shooting that it should lead to better gun control.

"This time our response must consist of more than regret, sorrow, and condolence," Kelly said on his Facebook page, calling for "a meaningful discussion about our gun laws and how they can be reformed and better enforced to prevent gun violence and death in America."

Blumenthal said he is eager to find allies as he pursues tougher gun control laws.

"I'm hopeful that everyone who cares about this issue or has a stake in it will be active in supporting our effort in gun violence prevention legislatively," he said.

Giffords' visit came one day after Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced the creation of an advisory commission that will review and recommend changes to state laws and policies on issues including gun control in the wake of the Dec. 14 rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The gunman, Adam Lanza, shot and killed his mother, then drove to the school and slaughtered 20 first-graders and six educators before committing suicide as police arrived.

Giffords has appeared in public a few times since the shooting. She came face-to-face with Loughner when he was sentenced and attended ceremonies for the anniversary of the shooting.

She received tributes and ovations when she returned to the House in January 2012 to say goodbye as she resigned her seat and she delivered the Pledge of Allegiance at the Democratic National Convention in September.

On Wednesday, two days before she visited the Newtown families, she and Kelly met for an hour with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a longtime and vociferous gun control advocate. Bloomberg's office tweeted a photo of the meeting but wouldn't elaborate Friday on the discussion.

President Barack Obama invoked the Tucson and Newtown elementary school shootings when he spoke at Newtown shortly after the attack. He said four shootings, including those two plus the attacks at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin and at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., marked his first term in office.

A recent Pew Research Center report says gun policy accounted for almost 30 percent of discussions examined on blogs and Twitter in the three days after the school massacre. It compares the response to the Newtown rampage with the Arizona shooting, saying that in the three days after that, just 3 percent of social media conversation was about gun laws.

___

Associated Press writer Susan Haigh contributed to this report from Hartford, Conn.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wounded-ex-rep-giffords-meets-conn-families-231306569.html

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BLOG: Introducing 'A Matter of Fact?Fitness' ? The Oakland Post

By Michael Caravaggio
Posted: Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013 at 6:15 pm | Last Updated: Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013 at 6:46 pm Comments Print This Email This Tweet This Delicious

As a Matter of Fact?Fitness is an interactive health and fitness blog that provides you with helpful tips and information to guide you through a progressive and safe workout regimen. Written and created by Oakland University?s own, Mike Caravaggio, who is working hard to dismantle the myths and clich?s of exercise and nutrition, presents you with legitimate, research-based information to lead an efficient, active lifestyle.

A bit about Mike?

Education: Currently engaged in the Master of Science in Exercise Science program at OU, specializing in Cardiac Rehabilitation; Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at OU (2008); Certified Fitness Trainer since 2006 (currently certified through ISSA)

Health & Fitness Experience: Personally involved in exercise for over 13 years; professional trainer at Fitness 19 of Rochester Hills since 2009; Emergency Medical Technician since 2010; three years experience as a Physical Therapist Aide with HealthQuest Physical Therapy; avid runner participating in numerous distance running and endurance events with personal favorites being the annual Mackinac Island race and Swampfoot challenge held in St. Clair, Mich.

Specializations: Strength & endurance training, weight-loss, nutrition and post-rehab training

Favorite Quote: ?People may not always remember what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.?

Mike is always looking for motivated clients who are ready to make a positive change in their lives, and to exceed their physical abilities they never knew existed. You can contact Mike at macarava@oakland.edu or at Fitness 19 at 248-601-0019.

Source: http://oaklandpostonline.com/2013/01/02/blogs/blog-introducing-a-matter-of-fact-fitness/

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kikelia proportionals: best internet businesses online: Blog ...

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

Source: http://kikelia-proportionals.blogspot.com/2013/01/best-internet-businesses-online-blog.html

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New blood for Heart of Gold International Film Festival | Gympie Times

Topics:? film festival, filmmaking, heart of gold film festival

Heart of Gold?s new art directors Stephen Kanaris and Tahnee McGuire of Hatch Film have taken on the role to present the 2013 international film festival. Contributed

HEART of Gold will not only go ahead in 2013, it will get an injection of fresh blood.

New art directors Stephen Kanaris and Tahnee McGuire of Hatch Film have taken on the role to present the international film festival to a global audience.

Based in Brisbane, the partners in life and business are filmmakers with more than 25 years combined experience in advertising and film and television.

They have won multiple awards for their outstanding creative work and their business is described as a "birthing suite for beautiful ideas" that develop "stylish and effective" productions and brand communications.

Their relationship with the Heart of Gold International Film Festival began several years ago when they entered their work in the film awards.

Stephen and Tahnee were invited back the following year to judge festival entries and were selected by the outgoing art director as ideal candidates to take the festival forward.

They were keen and jumped at the chance when approached by the new HOGIFF board recently.

"The Heart of Gold was a great opportunity to network with other filmmakers," Stephen said, of his experience at the festival.

"The short films were good if not better than the ones presented at the Brisbane festival.

"Of course we said yes at the opportunity to bring the vision of Heart of Gold to life.

"We have a lot of good ideas to put to the board to make the festival fresh and broaden the demographic of audience."

Stephen said the aim was to maintain the high standard of films while broadening the selection.

Their industry knowledge is expected to give them an edge when sourcing films and first on the agenda is a trip to Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival in France.

"If (we) can afford to go to only one festival it should be one with a big film market," Stephen said.

"We'll go there for a week and view thousands of short films. At Clermont-Ferrand you can view a database of all films entered, not just the ones screened."

The HOGIFF festival is planned for July 2013.

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Source: http://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/new-blood-heart-gold-international-film-festival/1695023/

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New storm could disrupt holiday travel

The storm out of California could bring snow on Christmas to parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma, places that haven't seen that happen in more than 80 years. The Weather Channel's Julie Martin reports.

A major winter storm that on Sunday was dumping steady rain and snow on Northern California could strengthen as it makes its way east, promising a White Christmas ? and travel headaches ? for a wide swath of the country.

The storm will deposit snow from California?s Sierra mountains to New England through Friday morning, forecasters said. ?Unfortunately, this occurs not only during the Christmas holiday, but also in the peak travel period after Christmas Day in the South, Midwest and East,? weather.com said.

---

Forecasters warned that roads would become treacherous Christmas Day and Christmas night from the High Plains of western Kansas and the Texas Panhandle eastward into Oklahoma, extreme north Texas, Arkansas and into the mid-Mississippi Valley.

There was also the potential for severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, hail and tornadoes in parts of the South on Christmas Day, said Greg Forbes, The Weather Channel?s severe weather expert.

The storm was expected to reach the Northeast Wednesday, bringing gusty winds and widespread precipitation. Whether that precipitation will be snow or rain remains to be seen.

Millions are on the move the Sunday before Christmas, and while the holiday outlook has improved from recent days, weather might continue to disrupt travel plans in some parts of the country. NBC's Gabe Gutierrez reports.

?For now, snow seems most likely in the interior Northeast, with the potential for rain or perhaps a wintry mix to start in the major metros,? weather.com said.

The new storm comes on the heels of another storm that buried parts of Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin in more than a foot of snow last week and led to thousands of flight delays or cancellations.

More content from NBCNews.com:

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/23/16106937-new-storm-could-pose-holiday-travel-headaches-across-nation?lite

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Honoring Loved Ones during the Holidays ? ADAO ? Asbestos ...

|?2013 Conference Info?|?Register?|??Agenda?|??Family?Tributes?|

Posted on?December?23, 2012

It?s holiday time and, as 2012 draws to a close, we think about the loved ones who are no longer here to celebrate the New Year with us. ADAO is dedicated to keeping their stories alive and fighting for a ban of the deadly asbestos that took them from us far too soon. ?Debra and Tiffany?s beautiful?2012 ADAO?Asbestos Awareness Conference?program?tribute to Jeff is a tender?example of the timelessness of family?tributes.

You are not alone.

• ?Share Your Story? with ADAO?s community and tell us about how you or your loved one has been affected by an asbestos-caused disease such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

Join us, as ADAO?continues our work to prevent exposure and eliminate?asbestos-caused diseases through education,?advocacy, and?community?support?efforts.

Together, change is possible.

Linda

Linda Reinstein?Social Networks

ADAO?Social Networks

Source: http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/archives/17652

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Ryan Lanza: ?I am a victim? of Newtown, too

(Facebook/NYP)

Adam Lanza's brother has apparently taken to Facebook to mourn the 27 people--including his mother and 20 schoolchildren--killed by Adam in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, before the younger Lanza turned the gun on himself.

"I am a victim," Ryan Lanza told the New York Post via Facebook on Saturday. "I [lost] my mom and brother."

The 24-year-old, who lives in Hoboken, N.J., was initially misidentified by several media outlets as a suspect on the day of the shootings. He was questioned by police and later released.

According to the New York Post, Ryan Lanza posted a photo of Adam on Facebook under the message:

R.I.P
Adam Peter Lanza
April 22, 1992- Dec. 14, 2012(20 years old)
"I will miss you bro. I will always love you as long as I live"
-Ryan

When another Facebook user wrote that Adam deserved to "rot in hell," Ryan responded: ?You have no right to call my brother names when he isn?t here no more. Just let my brother rest in peace. Please. Respect that."

Ryan also posted a photo of his mother, Nancy, who was shot and killed by Adam in their Newtown home before the troubled 20-year-old fired his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School, killing 20 children and 6 adults.

?You all will be truly be missed,? Ryan wrote on Facebook. ?God Bless.?

Ryan Lanza's Facebook profile is private, though at least dozen pages have been launched supporting him in the wake of the massacre.

"The real shooter was his brother," a message on one of them reads. "Please stop blaming him for the shooting. He had nothing to do with it."

UPDATE, 6:00 p.m.: A spokesman for the Lanza family tells the New York Post that "an imposter is behind Ryan Lanza's Facebook page and that Ryan did not post the messages" published in its original story.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/ryan-lanza-facebook-181924426.html

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Run Faster, Jump Higher: A Guide To Losing Weight | Bump This ...

TIP! You should find alternative ways of transporting yourself rather than driving in order to lose weight. Calorie burning is guaranteed by walking, cycling, running and various other types of movements.

If you follow the right advice, losing weight does not have to be difficult. Like everything in life, if you have the proper knowledge, you can find success. Here you will learn many helpful tips to help you reach your weight loss goals.

TIP! For some extra encouragement, remind yourself daily of a piece of clothing that?s too small for you. If a diet breaking temptation arises, the clothing will help you remember that you want to be slim enough to wear it.

Fad diets can often appear to be useful ways to start losing weight. Avoid these diets because many of them can be nutritionally harmful and a majority of users gain the weight right back after stopping. Following a fad diet, such as simply eating pineapples or bananas and nothing else, becomes tiring to follow after a certain period of time. Even worse, you will not learn how to eat better when going on these diets. The most effective diets are those that focus on teaching you how to eat a balanced diet.

TIP! Would you like to drop five pounds really fast? If so, drink lots and lots of water. If you cut down on the amount of food you eat and drink at least half a gallon of water a day for a week, you will lose water weight.

Don?t quit your weight loss regimen. You may feel like giving up when things are not going the way you want them to. Don?t let this discourage you. If you need, you can simply adjust your goals. There is no shame is starting over when you make a mistake.

TIP! Don?t forget to include exercise in any weight loss plan. To lose weight you have to take in less calories then you burn.

Stick with foods that are not high in calories and fill you up. If you eat a salad, or even just a few veggies prior to a meal, they will somewhat fill you up before you get stuck in to that calorie-laden main course. Drinking water prior to eating does the same thing.

Grocery Shopping

TIP! Diet pills that make outrageous claims about their results, should be avoided. You may become addicted to something that doesn?t even work.

Before doing any grocery shopping, list the healthy foods you wish to purchase, and only purchase the items listed. Also, limit the time you spend grocery shopping to the bare minimum. This will prevent you from browsing the processed food aisle.

TIP! Drinking coffee is also a great way to start your weight loss. Many people drink coffee every day, but most of them do not realize that coffee has many excellent ingredients that make working out easier.

It is important to eat throughout the day while on a diet. You will more than likely make bad choices when eating because you will be starving and tempted. Skipping meals is not the way to achieve your dieting goals, and may actually lead to weight gain.

TIP! Take time off the phone and use it for some slimming exercises. Move around and talk instead of sitting.

A good tip while dieting is to serve your food on smaller plates. It is common for folks to want to totally fill their plates when they eat. If you lower your portion size, you won?t feel deprived if you simultaneously use a smaller dish. Using a smaller plate can help you to eat less without you even realizing it.

TIP! If you want to start losing weight without turning your life upside down, just add some exercise to your normal daily routine. For instance, while you are watching television or while you are seated at your desk, you can squeeze a muscle set.

You may expect many sacrifices during your weight loss program; however, taste does not have to be one. In years past, weight-loss foods tasted awful. Now, higher-quality sweeteners and preservatives let you enjoy great-tasting food without all the fat and carbohydrates. Go this route if you want to continue eating what enjoy while still losing weight.

Weight Loss

TIP! Water is very beneficial if you want to maintain weight loss. Pretty much everyone should strive to consume eight glasses every day so that they can be hydrated.

The introduction to this article stressed that education is the most important component of a successful weight loss strategy. By knowing the proper way to shed weight, you could easily achieve it. Apply what you?ve learned from this article to help you get started on your weight loss journey.

Source: http://bumpthis.asia/run-faster-jump-higher-a-guide-to-losing-weight/

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Former SC Gov. Sanford eyes US House bid

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2012, file photo, former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford leaves a talk on federal fiscal policy at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. Sanford a former two-term governor who was a rising GOP star before he vanished from South Carolina for five days in 2009 says he is considering a campaign for his former seat in Congress. (AP Photo/Bruce Smith, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2012, file photo, former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford leaves a talk on federal fiscal policy at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. Sanford a former two-term governor who was a rising GOP star before he vanished from South Carolina for five days in 2009 says he is considering a campaign for his former seat in Congress. (AP Photo/Bruce Smith, File)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) ? Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who left public life two years ago after mysteriously disappearing to visit his then-mistress in Argentina, is poised to re-enter the political arena.

Acknowledging reports that he is seriously weighing a congressional bid for the seat he once held, Sanford wrote in an email to The Associated Press late Saturday: "To answer your question, yes the accounts are accurate." Sanford promised "further conversation on all this" later.

The two-term governor was a rising Republican political star before he vanished from South Carolina for five days in 2009. Reporters were told he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, but he later tearfully acknowledged he was visiting Maria Belen Chapur, which he told everyone at news conference announcing his affair. He later called her his soul mate in an interview with AP and the two were engaged earlier this year.

The opening for Sanford comes after Rep. Tim Scott was appointed to fill the remaining two years of Sen. Jim DeMint's seat. DeMint announced earlier this month he was resigning.

News that Sanford, 52, may be interested in the seat comes days after his ex-wife, Jenny, appeared to be dipping her toe into the state's political waters.

She was reportedly on Gov. Nikki Haley's short list of candidates to fill the seat that went to Scott. Jenny Sanford later said she would think about a run for Scott's seat representing the coastal 1st Congressional District, the seat her ex-husband is now considering.

"I'd be crazy not to look at the race a little bit," she said Tuesday, before reports about Mark Sanford surfaced.

State Republicans said Scott plans to submit his letter of resignation from the House on Jan. 2, triggering a process of candidate filing and primaries leading up to a special election in May.

Scott, in a taped interview airing Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation," said he thinks there may be 25 or 30 candidates running for the seat.

"This is going to be a very active primary," he told Bob Schieffer when asked about Sanford's run. "The citizens of the 1st District will have an opportunity to have their voice heard through the vote and then two weeks later there will obviously be a runoff because with that many candidates we'll have a lot to say grace over."

Mark Sanford knows the 1st District well. Elected to the seat in 1994 ? Jenny Sanford managed his first campaign and was a close adviser for most of his career ? he served three terms before voters elected him governor in 2002.

The former governor would bring name recognition and money to the race ? two things especially important due to the short campaign season and wide-open field.

Whether voters are ready to welcome Sanford back to politics is another issue.

"It's absolutely absurd. He just has so much baggage. He was such an embarrassment to the state, we don't need that," said Gloria Day, a retired attorney in Charleston.

He avoided impeachment but was censured by the Legislature. He also had to pay more than $70,000 in ethics fines ? still the largest in state history ? after AP investigations raised questions about his use of state, private and commercial aircraft.

Others said Sanford's fiscal record is what's important, and Sanford is known as a libertarian-leaning ideologue who railed against spending and bucked Republican Party leaders before anyone even coined the tea party movement.

"Mark Sanford is a reliable fiscal conservative so I, like many conservatives, would be delighted to see him in the race," said Joanne Jones, vice chairman of the Charleston Tea Party, though she noted she'll wait to see the entire field before throwing her support behind a candidate.

Scott will be sworn in Jan. 3 to replace DeMint, who announced his resignation earlier this month to lead The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Scott, who would have to seek election in 2014, will become the state's first black U.S. senator and the first black Republican U.S. senator from the South since Reconstruction.

Candidates for Scott's seat must file by the end of January. Primaries will be held in March, with the general election in May.

State GOP Chairman Chad Connelly said as of Friday, 14 Republicans had expressed interest.

"Gov. Sanford getting in would certainly alter the dynamics. That list would go down significantly," he said.

Sanford has $1.2 million left in his state campaign coffers.

John Dietz of Daniel Island said the affair wouldn't affect his vote.

"He said he found his soul mate, and at one point in my life that's exactly how I felt. I empathized," said Dietz, a retiree who characterizes himself as a moderate.

Dietz said he was disappointed that Sanford could not work with his fellow Republicans in the Legislature.

"I did not necessarily agree with a lot of things he did politically," he said. "I'm very much neutral at this point."

Retired Presbyterian minister Dick Giffen of Mount Pleasant said he wouldn't support Sanford, but added that it was unrelated to the affair.

"He wasn't able to bring people together and get action done," Giffen said. "He didn't produce anything. ... I really wasn't impressed with him."

Longtime Republican activist and donor John Rainey, who convinced Sanford to run for governor after leaving Congress, said Sanford's last six months in office, following his tearful press conference, were his most effective.

Rainey said he hopes Sanford re-enters politics.

"He's finally learned how to do it. Mark now understands the necessity of and art of compromise. It's not my way or the highway," said Rainey, who was chairman of the Board of Economic Advisors during Sanford's tenure.

Sanford's engagement to Chapur may improve his standing with voters.

"Think of all that's happened since 2009. That's old news," said Rainey, rattling off a list of political scandals. "Especially in the South, we're about redemption. I don't think he's got a problem."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-12-23-Sanford-Congress/id-3eac4935d6c742dc9dc9c1fcb8b9c8a7

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Guide to Establishing Your Business Consulting ... - Blog in Harmony

A lot of work is highly recommended as soon as you begin your

own business consulting business. In the event that you will spend a

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consider is the visiting experience because this is

Ab muscles core of your business. Entering a visiting

franchise and sometimes even joining others franchise can

Demand a large amount of learning and study. Youll

experience a lot of work. However when your team is

Very detailed, youll see how fun the

Company is.

Anyone can own a firm through franchising.

Similar to other business businesses, consulting businesses

Create methods on what they can offer franchises of these

own consultant. If you will acquire a visiting

business through franchising, you should make sure that it

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development professionals. They must provide

operation instructions, income support and marketing

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After acquiring a franchise, your following step would be to

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own. I?ve listed here things to consider when

putting up your personal business consulting

Operation.

You will spend a large amount of money when

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Have sufficient capital it is possible to still raise funds through

business loans. Remember that business license is

a requirement to create your business appropriate and

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business, therefore better have a good background about this.

Learn from your trustworthy business partners, they might

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be well versed together with your company consulting

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Then, you need to advertise your business consulting

Business. Advertising could be the most critical part in just about any

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do it, it will be difficult to draw customers. Often

Think about your target market and you have to basically

convince them why they have to go to your firm and not

to others. Often highlight the factors that

set your organization apart from other visiting

Companies. If you know clients already, you

May deliver them mails to share with them of one?s visiting

Companies.

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internet. Find potential clients and send your to them

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market your organization. Marketing a consulting team

is a never ending process. Even though you have clients

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They are the approaches to start your company consulting uscg approved training

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Your path to the most truly effective.

This entry was posted on 23. December 2012 at 09:57 and is filed under Blogroll. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Source: http://bloginharmony.eglobalinsight.com/2012/12/23/guide-to-establishing-your-business-consulting-franchise/

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Obama nominates Kerry for secretary of state

President Barack Obama, left, shakes hands with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., as he announces his nomination of Kerry as next secretary of state in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Barack Obama, left, shakes hands with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., as he announces his nomination of Kerry as next secretary of state in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Barack Obama enters the Roosevelt Room with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., his choice to be the next Secretary of State, before he makes his announcement at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., leaves a closed-door briefing on the investigation of the deadly Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. An Accountability Review Board report indicates serious bureaucratic mismanagement was responsible for the inadequate security at the mission in Benghazi where the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Vice President Joe Biden looks on as President Barack Obama looks to Teresa Heinz Kerry, left, as he announces his nomination of her husband Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., right, as next secretary of state in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama on Friday nominated Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, one of Washington's most respected voices on foreign policy, as his next secretary of state.

The move is the first in an expected overhaul of Obama's national security team heading into his second term.

As the nation's top diplomat, Kerry will not only be tasked with executing the president's foreign policy objectives, but will also have a hand in shaping them. The longtime lawmaker has been in lockstep with Obama on issues like nuclear non-proliferation, but ahead of the White House in advocating aggressive policies in Libya, Egypt and elsewhere that the president later embraced.

"He is not going to need a lot of on-the-job training," Obama said, standing alongside Kerry in a Roosevelt Room ceremony. "Few individuals know as many presidents and prime ministers or grasp our foreign policies as firmly as John Kerry."

He is expected to win confirmation easily in the Senate, where he has served since 1985, the last six years as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Kerry would take the helm at the State Department from Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has long planned to leave the administration early next year. Clinton is recovering from a concussion sustained in a fall and did not attend the White House event.

In a statement, Clinton said, "John Kerry has been tested ? in war, in government, and in diplomacy. Time and again, he has proven his mettle."

Obama settled on Kerry for the job even though it could cause a political problem for Democrats in Massachusetts. Kerry's move to State would open the Senate seat he has held for five terms, giving Republicans an opportunity to take advantage. Recently defeated GOP Sen. Scott Brown would be his party's clear favorite in a special election.

Kerry would join a national security team in flux, with Obama expected to choose a new defense secretary and director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the coming weeks.

The 69-year-old Kerry already has deep relationships with many world leaders, formed both during his Senate travels and as an unofficial envoy for Obama. The president has called upon Kerry in particular to diffuse diplomatic disputes in Afghanistan and Pakistan, two countries that will be at the forefront of Obama's foreign policy agenda early in his second term.

At times, Kerry has been more forward-leaning than Obama on foreign policy issues. He was an early advocate of an international "no-fly zone" over Libya in 2011 and among the first U.S. lawmakers to call for Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak to leave power as pro-democracy protests grew. Obama later backed both positions.

Kerry would take over at a State Department grappling with the deaths of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans during a September attack on the consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Kerry, during a hearing on the attacks Thursday, hinted at how he would manage U.S. diplomatic personnel working in unstable regions.

"There will always be a tension between the diplomatic imperative to get 'outside the wire' and the security standards that require our diplomats to work behind high walls," he said. "Our challenge is to strike a balance between the necessity of the mission, available resources and tolerance for risk."

His only other rival for the job, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, faced harsh criticism from congressional Republicans for her initial accounting of the consulate attack. Obama vigorously defended Rice, a close friend and longtime adviser, but GOP senators dug in, threatening to hold up her nomination if the president tapped her for the post.

Rice withdrew her name from consideration last week, making Kerry all but certain to become the nominee. People familiar with the White House's decision-making said support within the administration was moving toward Kerry even before Rice pulled out.

The son of a diplomat, Kerry was first elected to the Senate in 1984. He is also a decorated Vietnam veteran who was critical of the war effort when he returned to the U.S. He ran for president in 2004, losing a close race to incumbent Republican President George W. Bush.

Obama and Kerry have developed close ties in recent years. It was Kerry, during his 2004 presidential run, who tapped Obama as the party's convention keynote speaker, a role that thrust the little-known Illinois politician into national prominence.

Kerry served on Obama's debate preparation team during the 2012 election, playing Republican challenger Mitt Romney in mock debates.

"Nothing brings two people closer together than two weeks of debate prep," Obama joked on Friday. "John, I'm looking forward to working with you rather than debating you."

Kerry is Obama's first Cabinet appointee following the November election. The president is also mulling replacements for retiring Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and former CIA director David Petraeus, who resigned last month after admitting to an affair with his biographer.

Former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska is a front-runner for the Pentagon post, but has been dogged by questions about his support for Israel and where he stands on gay rights, with critics calling on him to repudiate a comment in 1998 that a former ambassadorial nominee was "openly, aggressively gay."

Hagel apologized for that comment Friday.

Former Pentagon official Michele Flournoy and current Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter are also under consideration to replace Panetta. Obama is also considering promoting acting CIA Director Michael Morell or naming White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan as the nation's spy chief.

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Associated Press writers Donna Cassata in Washington and Steve LeBlanc in Boston contributed to this report.

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Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-12-21-Obama-Cabinet/id-aacd4e23d92d4926ba6d7f92f6ea239e

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