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Monday, December 31, 2012

GLHFCasting ? Taking Care of Your Home's Heating and Cooling ...

duct cleaning salem or If you need to install an updated heating or cooling system in your house, the most important things to think about are purchasing high quality products and trusted service. There are many types of furnaces that all have different advantages and disadvantages. Depending on your home and location, your home temperature and utility bill can improve dramatically if you buy the right furnace. Air conditioning systems are also very different and it is essential to purchase a system that is the most effective. When you meet with a heating and air conditioning specialist, they will evaluate your situation and help select the system that best meets your needs. These specialists can also handle all varieties of repairs on these systems. Experience a large change in your year-round comfort with professional heating and air conditioning technicians by your side.

Source: http://www.glhfcasting.com/taking-care-of-your-homes-heating-and-cooling-systems/

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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Sports venues popular in Instagram

Updated?Dec 29, 2012 2:29 PM ET

Love it or hate it, Instagram is wildly popular. Users upload over 1 billion photos per day on the photo editing and sharing application.

In April, Facebook paid $715 million for the app, which has been criticized for its questionable privacy policy ? allowing anyone to use images with no compensation to the photographer. The company backtracked on that policy after user revolt.

But the app is a lens on world culture, so it should be no surprise that sports sites ranked high among 2012's top 10 most Instagrammed locations.

The top spot is Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, where over 100,000 photos were taken last year.

But three West Coast sports venues also made the list: the San Francisco Giants' AT&T Park, and Dodger Stadium and Staples Center, both in Los Angeles.

AT&T Park is a Wi-Fi hotspot that makes it easy for Instagram users to upload photos When it opened in 2004 it became the first professional sports venue to provide wireless access to fans in all concourses and seating areas.

The full list of Instagram's 2012 most popular locations:

1. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Bangkok, Thailand

2. Siam Paragon shopping mall, Bangkok

3. Disneyland Park, Anaheim, Calif.

4. Times Square, New York City

5. AT&T Park, San Francisco

6. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles

7. Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

8. Eiffel Tower, Paris

9. Staples Center, Los Angeles

10. Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, Calif.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Foxsports/rss/MLB/~3/aro4y0MQ5LY/sports-venues-among-most-instagrammed-sites-staples-center-att-park-dodger-stadium-122912

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Obama keeps up the pressure as Senators Reid and McConnell negotiate 'fiscal cliff'

President Obama appeared on 'Meet the Press' Sunday as Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell tried to work out a last-minute deal to avoid plunging over the 'fiscal cliff.'

By Brad Knickerbocker,?Staff writer / December 30, 2012

President Barack Obama speaks to reporters at the White House after meeting with Congressional leaders regarding the fiscal cliff Friday. He appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday as Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell tried to work out a deal.

Charles Dharapak/AP

Enlarge

The calendar says two days until we all fall off the fiscal cliff, but it?s really down to a few hours.

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Where things stand now: Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D) of Nevada and his Republican counterpart, minority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, are huddled with staff, trying to work out a deal to prevent that $600 billion mix of tax hikes and spending cuts set to kick in on New Year?s Day Tuesday.

Whatever Senators Reid and McConnell are able to negotiate presumably will make it through the Senate, where Democrats are in charge and where most Republicans are less vulnerable than House members to a challenge from the right in the 2014 mid-term elections.

More problematic is the GOP-controlled House, where a group of tea party Republicans stymied and embarrassed Speaker John Boehner by preventing his ?Plan B? attempt to reach a deal with the White House.

2012 enters the record books. Were you paying attention? A news quiz.

Still, there are ways to get to ?yes? ? which include postponing some sticky issues.

As the Monitor?s Gail Russell Chaddock reported Saturday:

?These include $110 billion in mandated spending cuts, known as the ?sequester,? unemployment benefits set to drop back to 26 weeks from a current 99 weeks, the end to a $5 million exemption for the estate tax, and a ?patch? to the alternative minimum tax, set to hit some 40 million families, if Congress does not act. Also on the table: a hike to the debt ceiling, now set to be breached early on Dec. 31, which the Treasury says can be delayed for weeks by?emergency measures.?

When last heard from, all three principals ? Reid, McConnell, and President Obama ? expressed measured (very measured) optimism that the inexorable slide toward cliff?s edge could be halted, before automatic tax hikes kicked in for all Americans as millions of others lose the extended unemployment benefits that have kept them afloat through tough economic times.

But both Senate leaders face potential push-back from their own ranks.

?McConnell is unlikely to back a deal that wouldn?t win favor with House Republican leaders, though he eagerly wants a deal to take the revenue fight off the table so Congress can renew the battle over spending cuts when it comes time to raise the debt ceiling early next year,? Politico reported Sunday morning. ?Reid, in the meantime, faces dueling pressure from some in his party who want a deficit-cutting deal immediately and other Senate Democrats who argue they?ll have a stronger hand in the next Congress if Washington goes over the cliff.?

Ever since he won reelection in November ? running on a platform that included an increased tax rate for households earning more than $250,000 a year ? Obama has had the stronger hand. Polls consistently show strong public support for raising taxes on the ?millionaires and billionaires? Obama kept talking about. And most Americans are more inclined to blame congressional Republicans than they do Obama for the political hang-ups leading to the current fiscal cliff impasse.

Obama's approval rating is at a three-year high; Speaker Boehner's is at an all-time low, and a majority of Americans view the GOP as too extreme, polls show.

In a rare interview on NBC?s ?Meet the Press? ? his first Sunday talk show appearance since the November elections ? Obama kept up the pressure on Republicans.

?They say that their biggest priority is making sure that we deal with the deficit in a serious way, but the way they?re behaving is that their only priority is making sure that tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are protected,? Obama said. ?That seems to be their only overriding, unifying theme.?

And he warned of the impact if we go over the fiscal cliff.

"Obviously I think business and investors are going to feel more negative about the economy next year,? he said. ?If you look at projections of 2013, people generally felt that the economy would continue to grow, unemployment would continue to tick down, housing would continue to improve. But what's been holding us back is the dysfunction here in Washington. And if people start seeing that on January 1st this problem still hasn't been solved, that we haven't seen the kind of deficit reduction that we could have had had the Republicans been willing to take the deal that I gave them, if they say that people's taxes have gone up, which means consumer spending is going to be depressed, then obviously that's going to have an adverse reaction in the markets."

2012 enters the record books. Were you paying attention? A news quiz.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/DWSYx1z9EZc/Obama-keeps-up-the-pressure-as-Senators-Reid-and-McConnell-negotiate-fiscal-cliff

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Will retailers rebound after weak holiday season?

WASHINGTON (AP) ? As signs emerge that holiday sales this year grew at the weakest pace since 2008, investors are dumping retail stocks. Analysts are crowing about the missing "consumer engine" without which the economy may stagnate.

Many fear that the season's weakness will reverberate throughout the economy: Stores will be saddled with excess merchandise, forcing them to slash prices and accept razor-thin profit margins. Demand will soften for goods up and down the supply chain, leading eventually to a decline in orders for factory goods and weaker manufacturing. Growth will slow.

Yet there are plenty of reasons to believe that these fears are overblown, some market-watchers argue. Auto sales are strong, as are some measures of consumer sentiment. Home values are rising, leaving fewer Americans on the brink of foreclosure and helping many feel more financially secure.

Above all, they point out, there is nothing permanent about the "fiscal cliff," a set of tax hikes and spending cuts that will automatically take effect at the beginning of 2013 if lawmakers are unable to reach a deal to avert it.

When the fiscal issue is addressed and demand bounces back, these contrarians argue, beaten-down retail stocks may turn out to be this year's best after-Christmas bargain.

"There may be some caution ahead of the fiscal cliff" because of uncertainty about tax rates, "but it's more of a road bump than any fundamental weakness," says David Kelly, chief global strategist for JP Morgan Funds.

He notes that a daily tracker of consumer sentiment, the Rasmussen Consumer Index, rose Friday to 98.9, the highest level measured since January 2008. Other measures of consumer sentiment appear weaker, but Kelly believes the Rasmussen data is more reliable because it is updated daily. Most other indices rely on monthly surveys.

The fiscal cliff isn't the only reason consumers slowed down in November and December. Americans were buffeted by a series of events that made them more likely to stay home.

Superstorm Sandy caused steep holiday sales declines in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic that made the national picture appear far weaker. The presidential election distracted people in November, the Newtown massacre in December. And the rising din about Washington's current budget impasse left many people unsure what their 2013 household budgets will look like.

The outcome: Holiday sales of electronics, clothing, jewelry and home goods in the two months before Christmas increased just 0.7 percent compared with last year, according to preliminary data released Tuesday by MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, which tracks holiday spending across all payment methods. That's the weakest holiday performance since 2008, when sales dropped several percent as the cresting financial crisis pushed the economy into a deep recession.

For many, the early results were a worrisome sign of things to come. Jeff Sica, president and chief investment officer of SICA Wealth Management in Morristown, N.J., called the retail sales result "onerous" and "a negative overhang on the market."

Still, the nation's largest retail trade group, the National Retail Federation, is sticking to its forecast that total sales for November and December will be up 4.1 percent from last year. A clearer picture will emerge next week as retailers like Macy's and Target report monthly sales.

That didn't keep investors from reacting hastily to the grim early data. Retail stocks in the Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 5.4 percent this month, while the broader index declined only 1 percent. Computer and electronics retailers fared the worst, sinking 10.3 percent.

Not so fast, says Karyn Cavanaugh, market strategist with ING Investment Management in New York. She favors the consumer discretionary sector, represented in the S&P 500 by Home Depot, Amazon.com Inc., Target Corp. and Ford Motor Co., among others.

"The consumer has shown surprising resilience throughout this tepid recovery and we believe will continue to do so," Cavanaugh says. The housing turnaround "will further aid consumer and consumer confidence," she says.

Sales of new homes rose in November to the fastest pace in two and a half years, the government said Thursday. The National Association of Realtors' pending home sales index also rose last month to its highest level in two and a half years, the group said Friday.

Consumer spending, to be sure, is a critical indicator of economic activity. It accounts for about 70 percent of the economy, so a true slowdown could have a painful ripple effect. That's especially true in the final two months of the year, which contribute as much as 40 percent of annual sales for many retailers.

Some analysts are warning that the pain for retailers has only just begun. Brian Sozzi, chief equities analyst at NBG Productions, says revenue results and fourth-quarter earnings forecasts, due out early next month, pose another threat to retail stocks. Sozzi recommends betting against some weaker brands, including teen apparel chain Aeropostale.

Assuming stocks continue to sink because of weak guidance and "general market angst," Sozzi said in a note to clients Friday, "the moment to potentially entertain this sector from a long perspective will be sometime before earnings season begins in mid-February."

According to Kelly and other market bulls, consumers haven't meaningfully slowed their spending. They're merely holding off as they wait for lawmakers to craft a deal that would prevent some of the scheduled tax increases.

"There's a difference between confidence and spending attitudes," Kelly says. "People are generally feeling more confident because home prices are going up."

Kelly and others believe that a deal on the fiscal cliff is all but inevitable ? eventually. He acknowledges that the waiting could be painful for consumers, retailers and most other businesses, but says, "If we don't get a fiscal cliff deal, then we'll wait and get a fiscal cliff deal."

Analysts who doubt that spending will bounce back quite so quickly argue that consumers are still paying down debt and have less interest in shopping sprees, in part because median incomes are falling.

Despite the stronger housing market and other positive signs, "they're going to take the opportunity to retrench, rather than buy stuff," says Derrick Irwin, portfolio manager for Wells Fargo Advantage Funds.

Peter Tchir, manager of the hedge fund TF Market Advisors, says consumers may be shopping less because economic turbulence has helped people reassess the value of what they consume.

"We've overconsumed for so long ... how much do you really need to add?" he says. "To some extent, it's healthy for Americans to live within their means. But clearly, this week, it's not great for retail stocks."

___

AP Business Writer Christina Rexrode and AP Retail Writer Anne D'Innocenzio in New York contributed to this report.

Daniel Wagner can be reached at www.twitter.com/wagnerreports

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/retailers-rebound-weak-holiday-season-172227956--finance.html

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Saturday, December 29, 2012

Selecting a Small Business Email Marketing Server| There are many ...

There are many different methods for promoting your business online but one of the most effective is still the email campaign.

Weighing Your Options

For emails you have three choices of software replica tudor each with distinct benefits and drawbacks. You can install software on your desktop and be your own server. You can install software on the web server youre using. Or you can join an ASP hosted service.

The most obvious benefit of a hosted server is that getting your emails delivered is your hosts concern. Says Dr. Ralph Wilson of Wilson Internet Services With desktop or web server software replica breitling bentley watch michele urban blanc noir fake watch basically youre responsible to get them delivered Whereas if youre paying someone else for that service its their job raymond weil watch and many of them take it very seriously. A hosted server starts with a monthly fee for 500 or 1 000 emails and the price builds as your email database grows.

With desktop server software the biggest advantage is the price. You can pay a one-time fee for a desktop server and run it forever. Leasing a web server is also fairly inexpensive.

Beating the Blockers

If you use desktop or server based software there are some general guidelines you can follow to help your emails make it to your customers inboxes.

1. Avoid signs of spam. There are specific characteristics that trigger spam filters. You can increase your deliverability by avoiding certain pitfalls in your subject lines: Dont use all caps.

Dont use HTML messages that are primarily graphics.

Dont try to trick filters by replacing letters with asterisks or breaking words up with punctuation marks. Filters are getting smarter and you could end up on a black list.

Dont use sloppy HTML.

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2. Consider sender certification

Bonded sender companies as http://Habeas.com and http://BondedSender.com have relationships with internet service providers. Legitimate businesses can go through these companies to get safe passage past spam filters. Theres a cost for this service but its an effective way to ensure your emails are getting delivered.

What to Look for in a Hosted Server

If you choose to use a hosted service fake girard perregaux watch there are a number of things you should ask before joining:

What precautions do they take to prevent spammers from enrolling? A good host company will have measures in place such as confirmed opt-in to make sure that theyre not allowing spammers to join.

Do they offer conversion tracking? Similar to an ad tracking program roger dubuis acqua mare replica watch many hosted servers now let you see how many of your e-mail recipients clicked through to your site how many click-throughs resulted in sales and how much money you made from your campaign.

What kind of customer service do they provide? You can often tell the answer to that question simply by how long it takes them to respond to your inquiries. Ask if they offer full phone support and if they charge extra for the service.

However you choose to promote your business dont overlook the power of email marketing to increase your customer base and improve your sales volume.

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Source: http://acborhowes.wefoundsky.com/2012/12/28/selecting-a-small-business-email-marketing-server-there-are-many-different-methods-for-promoting-your-business-online-but-one-of-the-most-effective-is-still-the-email-campaign/

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Bai Ling: Fashion Fail

OMG – Bai Ling is know for her wacky behavior fashion choices so this really shouldn’t come as a surprise. But girlfriend looks like a freakin bumble bee. I mean I can see where she was going with this – loose the hat and maybe it would be cute,. But he fluffy BRIGHT yellow hat is just too much. She should pack it away and save it for Halloween though. Girlfriend may win a prize. She gets bonus points for stepping out of her car like a lady though – so we won’t rag on her too much. What do you think?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/JO1rOQHbtmc/

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Friday, December 28, 2012

Matt Damon tackles "fracking" issue in the "Promised Land"

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The hot-button topic of "fracking" has finally made its way to Hollywood in the new movie "Promised Land," out in U.S. theaters on Friday, with actors Matt Damon and John Krasinski teaming up to further the debate on the energy drilling technique.

The film explores the social impact of hydraulic fracturing drilling technique, or "fracking," which has sparked nation-wide environmental and political battles over its impact on drinking water, U.S. energy use, seismic activity and other areas.

"Promised Land" will see Damon, 42, reunite with director Gus Van Sant for the third time, following their success with 1997 film "Good Will Hunting and 2002's "Gerry."

In their latest film, Damon plays a corporate salesman who goes to a rural U.S. town to buy or lease land on behalf of a gas company looking to drill for oil. He soon faces opposition from a slick environmentalist, played by Krasinski.

In real life, Damon hasn't shied away from getting involved in political and social issues, working with charities and organizations to eradicate AIDS in developing countries, bringing attention to atrocities in Sudan's Darfur region, providing safe drinking water and stopping trees from being chopped and used for junk mail.

Yet "Promised Land," which Damon also co-wrote and produced, doesn't take a noticeable stance on "fracking." The actor would not publicly state his own views, telling Reuters that he didn't think his opinion had "any bearing" on the film.

"The point is that the movie should start a conversation. It's certainly not a pro-fracking movie, but we didn't want to tell people what to think," Damon said.

The actor said he and Krasinski never set out to make a socially conscious film, and "fracking" was added in later, as a backdrop to the story.

"It wasn't that we said we wanted to make a movie about 'fracking' as much as we wanted to make a movie about American identity, about real people. We wanted to make a movie about the country today, where we came from, where we are and where we are headed," Damon said.

"'Fracking' was perfect because the stakes are so incredibly high and people are so divided. It asks all the questions about short-term thinking versus long-term thinking."

Hydraulic fracturing entails pumping water laced with chemicals and sand at high pressure into shale rock formations to break them up and unleash hydrocarbons. Critics worry that "fracking" fluids or hydrocarbons can still leak into water tables from wells, or above ground.

FROM 'ADJUSTMENT BUREAU' TO 'PROMISED LAND'

At first glance, the pairing of Damon with Krasinski may not come across as the perfect fit, as Damon has primarily been associated with longtime friend and collaborator Ben Affleck, both of whom won Oscars for writing "Good Will Hunting."

Damon later become a colleague and friend to a number of key Hollywood players, including George Clooney and Brad Pitt, with whom he co-starred in the "Ocean's Eleven" franchise.

Krasinski, 33, is best known for playing sardonic Jim Halpert on NBC's long-running television series, "The Office," and has had occasional supporting roles in films such as 2008's "Leatherheads."

Damon and Krasinski came together after meeting through Krasinski's wife, Emily Blunt, who co-starred with Damon in the 2011 film "The Adjustment Bureau." Damon said he and his wife started double-dating with Krasinski and Blunt, through which their collaboration on "Promised Land" came about.

The duo's busy work schedules forced them to moonlight on weekends to make "Promised Land."

"John showed up at my house every Saturday at breakfast and we would write all day until dinner," Damon said. "Then we'd do it again on Sunday. I have four kids so he would come to me."

But Damon's determination to make the film his feature directorial debut fell through when his acting schedule changed, making it impossible to direct "Promised Land," so he turned to Van Sant.

"My first inclination was to send the script to somebody I'd worked with before," he said. "Gus seemed like the most obvious choice and I realized later that I'd never written anything that anyone else had directed, except Gus. I have a real comfort level with him."

Damon said he has not given up on his dream of directing movies and has his eye on a project at movie studio Warner Bros., which has a deal with Damon and Affleck's joint production company, Pearl Street Films.

With Affleck's third directorial effort "Argo" becoming an awards contender, Damon joked that the film's success can only be a good thing for his own budding directing career.

"I now happen to be partnered with the hottest director in Hollywood!" he said, laughing.

(Reporting By Zorianna Kit, Editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Paul Simao)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/matt-damon-tackles-fracking-issue-promised-land-110527766.html

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Health Care - Acne, Fitness, Diabetes Center Advice and Tips ...

Stress occurs in everyone?s lives, but it doesn?t need to control them. If not dealt with properly, stress can lead to anxiety issues. Anxiety stresses the body, and can even cause illness. To learn more about how anxiety and stress can be dealt with effectively, you need only take a look at the handy information provided below.

Try to meditate. Meditation could be a good tool in easing anxiety. Anyone has the ability learn to meditate. Just be sure to use an effective meditation method. If trying to sit still causes you to be anxious, then consider an active type of meditation instead. Keep trying different meditation techniques until your anxiety is relieved.

When it comes to anxiety, think positive! Even though you may be depressed or having other negative thoughts, you need to focus on positive things. Even simply smiling can make you feel better quickly. Avoid stressful areas and keep your mind on happy things.

Getting enough sleep is important if you want to conquer anxiety. Besides subjecting the body to undue physical strain, a lack of sleep can cause mental problems which exacerbate anxiety difficulties. It is important that each adult aims for around seven hours of sleep per evening.

Give yourself some time when you have anxiety course through your body on a daily basis. Lack of relaxation and being over-worked, are direct links to anxiety and stress. All you need is one hour a day to read a book, watch tv or even take a nap.

Have you ever heard the expression ?laughter is the best medicine? Humor has proven to be an effective treatment for some sufferers of anxiety disorders. When you feel out of control, if you can laugh it off you will feel better.

A great method of minimizing your anxiety is keeping yourself constantly busy. If you aren?t doing anything and you just sit there, your mind wanders. Small things like doing housework or washing your car can help greatly.

Try to take heed of what you eat. Certain foods, such as candy bars and caffeine-laden drinks, can make anxiety worse. Eat healthy foods instead, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, yogurts or berries; these foods are easier to digest and will keep you calm. Keeping a food journal might just help you to understand how your eating habits are affecting your anxiety. Make a point of improving your diet.

Stay away from all negative people, since they only contribute to your daily anxiety. Surround yourself with upbeat people so that you?ll become upbeat too, and you?ll soon see your issues from a new perspective.

If the news triggers your anxiety, then stop watching or reading it. Negative reports on everything from crime to natural disasters cause anxiety in many people. News reporters love to focus on fear-based or negative stories, because they grab a lot of attention. News reporters rarely cover positive things that happen every single day.

As you have read in the article above, anxiety and stress are not the best part of life, but they come with life. It is important to understand that the goal is to manage your anxiety because completely eliminating it is unrealistic. By using the tips and advice you?ve learned from this article, you will be able to successfully manage the stress and anxiety in your life.

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Source: http://www.healthcarecenteradvice.com/2012/12/28/anxiety-and-panic-proactive-strategies-for-relief-6/

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It's husband No. 3 for actress Kate Winslet

FILE - In this Tuesday, March, 27, 2012, file photo, British actress Kate Winslet arrives at the World Premiere of Titanic 3D at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Winslet married Ned Rocknrol in New York in December 2012. The private ceremony was attended by Winslet's two children as well as a few friends and family members, her representative said Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. It is the third marriage for the 37-year-old Winslet. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Kate Winslet has tied the knot again.

The Oscar-winning actress wed Ned Rocknroll in New York earlier this month. The private ceremony was attended by Winslet's two children as well as a few friends and family members, her representative said Thursday.

It is the third marriage for the 37-year-old Winslet. She was previously married to film directors Jim Threapleton and Sam Mendes.

The 34-year-old Rocknroll, who was born Abel Smith, is a nephew of billionaire Virgin Group founder Richard Branson.

The couple had been engaged since last summer.

Winslet won a Best Actress Oscar for her performance in the 2008 film "The Reader."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-12-27-People-Kate%20Winslet/id-62db28ab8a014b0ab1155f9a572f8d51

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Thursday, December 27, 2012

Shinzo Abe returns as Japan's prime minister

TOKYO (AP) ? Old-guard veteran Shinzo Abe was voted back into office as prime minister Wednesday and immediately named a new Cabinet, ending three years of liberal administrations and restoring power to his conservative, pro-big-business party that has run Japan for most of the post-World War II era.

Abe, whose nationalist positions have in the past angered Japan's neighbors, is the country's seventh prime minister in just over six years. He was also prime minister in 2006-2007 before resigning for health reasons that he says are no longer an issue.

The outspoken and often hawkish leader has promised to restore growth to an economy that has been struggling for 20 years. His new administration also faces souring relations with China and a complex debate over whether resource-poor Japan should wean itself off nuclear energy after last year's earthquake and tsunami caused a meltdown at an atomic power plant.

On top of that, he will have to win over a public that gave his party a lukewarm mandate in elections on Dec. 16, along with keeping at bay a still-powerful opposition in parliament. Though his party and its Buddhist-backed coalition partner is the biggest bloc in the more influential lower house, Abe actually came up short in the first round of voting in the upper house, then won in a runoff.

Capitalizing on voter discontent with the left-leaning Democratic Party of Japan, Abe has vowed to shore up the economy, deal with a swelling national debt and come up with a fresh recovery plan following last year's tsunami disaster, which set off the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.

"Disaster reconstruction and economic recovery are our first and foremost tasks," new Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in announcing what he called a "crisis breakthrough Cabinet."

In foreign policy, Abe has stressed his desire to make Japan a bigger player on the world stage, a stance that has resonated with many voters who are concerned that their nation is taking a back seat economically and diplomatically to China.

He has said he will support a reinterpretation of Japan's pacifist postwar constitution to loosen the reins on the military, stand up to Beijing over an ongoing territorial dispute and strengthen Tokyo's security alliance with Washington. Beijing has already warned him to tread carefully, and will be watching closely to see if he tones down his positions now that he is in office.

Abe led the Liberal Democratic Party to victory in nationwide elections this month to cement his second term as Japan's leader.

"I feel as fresh as the clear sky today," Abe told reporters before Wednesday's parliamentary vote, adding that he wanted to get right down to business.

His new Cabinet will feature another former prime minister, Taro Aso, as finance minister. Heading the foreign ministry is Fumio Kishida, an expert on the southern island of Okinawa, where many residents angry over crime and overcrowding want a big reduction in the number of U.S. troops they host ? now at about 20,000. The new defense minister is Itsunori Onodera, who was in Abe's previous administration.

Abe has already named a roster of top party executives that includes two women ? more than in previous LDP administrations ? and is younger than earlier ones, with three of the four in their 50s.

The LDP governed Japan for decades after it was founded in 1955. Before it was ousted in 2009, the LDP was hobbled by scandals and problems getting key legislation through a divided parliament.

This time around, Abe has promised to make the economy his top priority and is expected to push for a 2 percent inflation target designed to fight a problem that was until recently relatively unique in the world ? deflation. Continually dropping prices deaden economic activity, and the Japanese economy has been stuck in deflation for two decades.

Besides generous promises to boost public works spending ? by as much as 10 trillion yen ($119 billion), according to party officials ? Abe is pressuring the central bank to work more closely with the government to reach the inflation target.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/shinzo-abe-returns-japans-prime-minister-065626144.html

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Video: Global Markets: Japan the Big Story

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/50302747/

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These Were a Few of Their Favorite Things

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Science Times asked five noted scientists about the toys they remember from childhood.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/science/these-were-a-few-of-their-favorite-things.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Raspberry Pi - Computers, Math, Science, and Technology

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Raspberry Pi

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Tsproggy
Snowy Owl

Joined: Jan 17, 2011
Age: 23
Posts: 155
Location: Carson, Nevada

Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 2:12 pm?? ?Post subject: Raspberry Pi

Anyone else tinkering with this wonderful computer for Christmas? I'm looking forward to using Minecraft's port to R-PI myself What is Raspberry Pi? _________________ I haven't failed 1,000 times, I've just found 1,000 ways not to do something.

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answeraspergersSnowy Owl

Joined: Nov 12, 2012
Posts: 136
Location: uk

Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 2:18 pm?? ?Post subject:

I would like to get one of these.
_________________
www.answeraspergers.com - WIP Smile

Volume 1: Diagnosis or suspicion https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0060ZFQF8

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