Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/267354139?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Friday, November 30, 2012
First-ever hyperspectral images of Earth's auroras: New camera provides tantalizing clues of new atmospheric phenomenon
ScienceDaily (Nov. 29, 2012) ? Hoping to expand our understanding of auroras and other fleeting atmospheric events, a team of space-weather researchers designed and built NORUSCA II, a new camera with unprecedented capabilities that can simultaneously image multiple spectral bands, in essence different wavelengths or colors, of light. The camera was tested at the Kjell Henriksen Observatory (KHO) in Svalbard, Norway, where it produced the first-ever hyperspectral images of auroras -- commonly referred to as "the Northern (or Southern) Lights" -- and may already have revealed a previously unknown atmospheric phenomenon.
Details on the camera and the results from its first images were published November 29 in the Optical Society's (OSA) open-access journal Optics Express.
Auroras, nature's celestial fireworks, are created when charged particles from the Sun penetrate Earth's magnetic field. These shimmering displays in the night sky reveal important information about the Earth-Sun system and the way our planet responds to powerful solar storms. Current-generation cameras, however, are simply light buckets -- meaning they collect all the light together into one image -- and lack the ability to separately capture and analyze multiple slivers of the visible spectrum. That means if researchers want to study auroras by looking at specific bands or a small portion of the spectrum they would have to use a series of filters to block out the unwanted wavelengths.
The new NORUSCA II hyperspectral camera achieves the same result without any moving parts, using its advanced optics to switch among all of its 41 separate optical bands in a matter of microseconds, orders of magnitude faster than an ordinary camera. This opens up new possibilities for discovery by combining specific bands of the same ethereal phenomenon into one image, revealing previously hidden details.
"A standard filter wheel camera that typically uses six interference filters will not be able to spin the wheel fast enough compared to the NORUSCA II camera," said Fred Sigernes of the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Norway. "This makes the new hyperspectral capability particularly useful for spectroscopy, because it can detect specific atmospheric constituents by their unique fingerprint, or wavelengths, in the light they emit."
These spectral signatures can then reveal subtle changes in atmospheric behavior, such as the ionization of gases during auroras. This form of multispectral imaging also will enable scientists to better classify auroras from background sky emissions and study the way they cluster in the atmosphere.
A New Phenomenon
On Jan. 24, 2012, during the inaugural research campaign of NORUSCA II, a major solar flare jettisoned a burst of high-energy particles known as a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). The CME eventually slammed into Earth's magnetic field, producing magnificent auroras and a chance to fully test the new camera.
The researchers were able to image the aurora in unprecedented clarity through a layer of low altitude clouds, which would have thwarted earlier-generation instruments (see Image 1). The camera also revealed something unexpected -- a very faint wave pattern of unknown origin in the lower atmosphere (see Image 2). The wave pattern resembles "airglow" -- the natural emission of light by Earth's atmosphere. Airglow can be produced by a variety of known sources, including cosmic rays striking the upper atmosphere and chemical reactions. Its concurrent appearance with the aurora suggests that it may also be caused by a previously unrecognized source.
"After the January CME, we think we saw an auroral-generated wave interaction with airglow," said Sigernes. This would be an entirely new phenomenon and if confirmed, would be the first time airglow has been associated with auroras.
"Our new all-sky camera opens up new frontiers of discovery and will help in the detection of auroras and the understanding of how our Sun impacts the atmosphere here on Earth. Additional development and commissioning will also hopefully verify our intriguing first results," concludes Sigernes.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Optical Society of America, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/NnP1uPSdwfc/121129111839.htm
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Microsoft Xbox 360 Remains Most Popular Game Console in the US
by Anton Shilov
Even despite of the fact that Nintendo has just released its all-new Wii U video game system, Microsoft Corp.?s Xbox 360 remains the No. 1 console in the U.S. According to the software giant, it managed to sell nearly twice the number of Xbox 360 consoles than Nintendo sold Wii U systems in the first week of sales from November 18 to November 23, 2012.
Microsoft?s internal Black Friday sales numbers published by Major Nelson web-site (which belongs to Microsoft) reveal that the company sold 750 thousand of Xbox 360 consoles in the U.S. alone, exceeding internal forecasts. By contrast, Nintendo only supplied 400 thousand of Wii U game systems to the hands of the end users in the first week of sales. Back in October, Microsoft sold 270 thousand of Xbox 360 in the U.S., which was more than any of its rivals.
The Redmond, Washington-based software company also revealed that Xbox Live Gold subscription sales increased more than 50% compared to last year?s Black Friday week. On Sunday alone Microsoft had more than 14 million people on Xbox Live across the world, racking up more than 72 million hours of use in just one day.
First week sales of Nintendo Wii U were 200 thousand lower than the first week sales of Nintendo Wii back in 2006. The manufacturer cited production limitations for slow shipments of Wii U, which may actually be true as online retailer Amazon has no Wii Us in stock.
? 
Starting mid-October, national retailers, including Best Buy, GameStop, Amazon, Target, Toys ?R Us and Walmart, has carried Xbox 360 holiday console bundles, which include Xbox 360 hardware, games as well as one free month of Xbox Live Gold, Hulu Plus and Epix.
Configuration of bundles looks as follows:
- Xbox 360 4GB + Kinect with Kinect Disneyland Adventures, Kinect Adventures and one month of Xbox Live Gold for $299.99.
- Xbox 360 250 GB with Skyrim and Forza 4 Essentials Edition and one month of Xbox Live Gold for $299.99.
- Xbox 360 250GB + Kinect with Dance Central 2, Kinect Sports, Kinect Adventures and one month of Xbox LIVE Gold for $399.99.
For a limited amount of time at select major national retailers, Microsoft offers $50 discounts on such consoles and bundles like Xbox 360 4GB + Kinect, Xbox 360 250GB and Xbox 360 250GB + Kinect.
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Thursday, November 29, 2012
Study points to potential new therapies for cancer and other diseases
ScienceDaily (Nov. 27, 2012) ? Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute (TRSI) are fueling the future of cancer treatment by improving a powerful tool in disease defense: the body's immune system. By revealing a novel but widespread cell signaling process, the scientists may have found a way to manipulate an important component of the immune system into more effectively fighting disease.
The study, recently published online ahead of print by the journal Blood, shows that disabling a particular enzyme, called ItpkB, in mice improves the function of a type of immune cell called Natural Killer cells.
"This is an exciting finding because it could possibly lead to the development of drugs that improve Natural Killer cell function," said TSRI Associate Professor Karsten Sauer, PhD, who led the study. "Natural Killer cells have gained clinical interest as innovative biological therapeutics for certain cancers and also in certain infectious diseases."
The Body's 'SWAT Team'
Natural Killer cells patrol the body and detect characteristic alterations on the surface of cancer cells or virus-infected cells. Through a complicated and little understood signaling machinery -- a domino effect of molecular reactions in a cell that ultimately produces a certain signal -- Natural Killer cells then destroy such "stressed" cells.
Compared to other types of immune cells, Natural Killer cells kill these cells quickly. This makes Natural Killer cells important early responders of the immune system. Not surprisingly, researchers have explored engaging this "SWAT team" of the body therapeutically, particularly in blood cancers.
However, to date, the therapeutic efficacy of Natural Killer cells has been limited. "A key bottleneck is our limited understanding of signaling mechanisms that dampen Natural Killer cell function," Sauer said.
Sauer and colleagues' new research reveals crucial details of this puzzle.
A Way to Prime the Attack
The Sauer group had previously identified ItpkB as a key regulator of immune function. ItpkB acts primarily by producing IP4, a small molecule messenger that controls the functions of various other important signaling molecules. IP4 can improve or inhibit signaling depending on the cell type in which it is produced.
The new research showed that Natural Killer cells from mice lacking ItpkB show elevated signaling and function better than Natural Killer cells that have the enzyme. As a result, mice lacking ItpkB are more effective than mice expressing ItpkB in attacking cells that display characteristic surface changes of cancer cells.
"The enzyme ItpkB has unique features that facilitate its highly specific inhibition by small molecules," said Sauer. "Our findings suggest that such compounds could possibly be used to improve Natural Killer cell function therapeutically. If successful, this could overcome a bottleneck and engage the body's SWAT team to fight cancer."
In addition to Sauer, Eugene Park of Washington University School of Medicine was a co-first author of the study, "Inositol Tetrakisphosphate Limits NK Cell Effector Functions by Controlling Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Signaling." Other authors include Sabine Siegemund, Luise Sternberg and Stephanie Rigaud of TSRI and Anthony R. French, Joseph A. Wahle, A. Helena Jonsson, Wayne M. Yokoyama and co-corresponding author Yina H. Huang of Washington University School of Medicine.
The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (AI070845, GM088647, AI089805 and AI007606), The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Scholar Award 1440-11 and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft fellowship SI 1547/1-1.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Scripps Research Institute.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- K. Sauer, E. Park, S. Siegemund, A. R. French, J. A. Wahle, L. Sternberg, S. Rigaud, A. H. Jonsson, W. M. Yokoyama, Y. H. Huang. Inositol tetrakisphosphate limits NK cell effector functions by controlling phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling. Blood, 2012; DOI: 10.1182/blood-2012-05-429241
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F3PdY5mo6cc/121127191248.htm
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Android smart phone question
internet connection using dial-up via GSM rather than directly via
GPRS?
Reason for the question is that I am totally new to Android smart
phones and have previously configured a Windows Mobile 5 device to do
just this, using a geographic access number , and the inclusive
minutes on my contract. Data via GPRS incurs charges which I wish to
avoid where possible. Speed is not an issue, this is mainly just for
downloading POP3 email and Usenet for offline reading.
I've been looking for an "App" to do this but haven't found one yet -
any pointers greatly appreciated.
Neil
(Reply via group please)
Source: http://www.wirelessforums.org/uk-telecom-mobile/android-smart-phone-question-127830.html
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Why Health Care Is Reshaping Itself - Hospitals & Health Networks
| By Joe Flower | November 27, 2012 |
There's a new math on the balance sheet: Revenue and cost are transforming beyond recognition. | |
Costs and revenue: This is the oxygen of any business, any organization. What are your revenue streams? How much does it cost you to produce them? Life is not just about breathing, but, if you don't get that in-out equation right, there is nothing else life can be about.
Right now this enormous sector is turning itself inside out. It has turned the "transmogrification" setting to "warp." Why? It's all about the in-out. It's all about increasingly desperate attempts to get that right ? and the clear fact that we cannot know if we are getting it right.
Let's do some school on the two sides of this equation. Let's just go over the new weirdness, and the implications for you and your organization. Revenue first.
Hunting for True Revenue
In traditional health care (the way we did business until about five minutes ago) the revenue side was complicated in detail, but simple in concept: You do various procedures and tests and services, and you bill for them. You bill each item according to a code. You bill different payers; each has its own schedule of payments that you negotiate (or just get handed) every year. There are complications, such as people on Medicare with supplemental insurance, dual eligibles on Medicare and Medicaid, and self-pay patients who may or may not pay.
That's the basic job: aggregating enough services that reimburse more than their real cost so that you can cover the costs of services that don't reimburse well. This is cost-shifted, fee-for-service management. Cut back on those low-reimbursement services; pump up the high-reimbursement ones. Corral the docs you need to provide the services, provide the infrastructure and allocate costs across the system.
The incentives all point in the same direction. The revenue streams are all additive. The more you do of the moneymaking items on the list, the more money you make.
Hybrid revenue streams in the Next Health Care. Fast forward to five minutes in the future, and the picture becomes not only complicated, but complex, in some ways irremediably so. Now you're not just thinking about the revenue structure of a hospital; more often you are thinking about a system, with not just multiple revenue streams but multiple types of revenue streams. You may already have had clinics, labs, ambulance services, imaging services, primary care physician groups ? in fact, a whole array of different businesses. What's different now is how you get paid for things.
You may still mostly be working fee-for-service, but maybe now you have an insurance arm, and maybe some percentage of your patients are capitated through it: You have an incentive to provide excellent care, but any unnecessary emergency department visits or surgeries, any preventable heart attacks or diabetic shock episodes are now simple costs, while before they were revenue opportunities as well.
You may have developed a new set of revenue streams in per-patient, per-month prospective payments for "medical home" services but, the more you do that and the better you are at it, the more you keep people out of your ED and your surgical suites. That's what those payments are for ? to lower the overall costs by taking better care of the patient up front. And the costs you are lowering are your revenues.
Similarly, your primary care arm may have an at-risk contract like the Alternative Quality Contract from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, which literally pays primary care providers to keep patients from needing to use EDs or needing surgery or other high-end services, while holding them to quality standards that assure they are getting excellent care. It's a revenue stream, but it's at the cost of other revenue streams. Or it may not be your revenue stream. It may be an independent primary care physician group in town that has the contract, paid extra to deprive you of fee-for-service patients.
Or you may have dedicated clinics servicing specific groups on a per-patient, per-month basis (like, say, a spine and pain clinic for a company's warehouse workers) in which working efficiently and well cuts into what otherwise may have been fee-for-service operations and imaging services.
Unknown factors. These scenarios lie against a background in which it is likely that actual fee-for-service reimbursement rates from Medicare and private payers will be held tightly in check. The future landscape has a number of new opportunities for revenue streams, but most of them make money by cutting into your (or someone else's) more conventional business. But we cannot know by how much, or how the interaction between different revenue streams will play out over time.
In planning for the new environment, this tells us three things:
- These systemic risks are not quantifiable, and so cannot be hedged. They are risks because we are entering new territory. We simply do not know how these different parts of the market will interact. Revenue estimates for most parts of the business have to be treated as "high-variance" projections, which were much harder to pin down in the past.
- If some types of risk contracts make money by cutting into other types of business, you want to own that contract. If some organization is going to make money by costing you money, you want to be that organization. It may be cutting into your ED, surgery and imaging business, but at least you get the revenue stream for doing that. If you don't, someone else will.
- For any business that includes a hospital, bigger is better. At greater size, you can absorb more high-variance risk from a greater variety of revenue streams, and from different contracts serving different populations. You can spread the revenue base and try more alternatives. You have the space and breadth to try, fail forward quickly and try again.
If the revenue side is so hard to pin down, you need to create some space to try different options. The cost side can give you some of that space.
Getting Our Arms around Cost
Compared with revenue, the cost side of things seems relatively straightforward. So why can't we get our arms around it?
When we are talking about the costs of health care, we are talking about two different types of costs. One is the cost of doing things, such as: How much does it cost to do a complex back fusion operation? Think of these as internal costs. The other is the cost of producing an effect, such as: How much does it cost to reduce back pain? Think of these as system costs.
If you are at risk for a population (as in, perhaps you have a spine and pain center with a per-patient, per-month risk contract), then both kinds of costs are true costs to you. If you can satisfy the patient and end his or her back pain through medical management instead of surgery, you have dropped a bunch of money to your bottom line.
On the other hand, if you are in a fee-for-service environment, the back operation is not just a cost, it's also an income opportunity, and only the internal costs are actual costs to you.
More unknowns. In any environment, then, reducing your internal costs improves your bottom line. The problem here is that we typically do not actually know what our internal costs are, or what we could do to reduce them.
Some things obviously reduce internal costs ? better coordination, reduced duplication, more efficiency in moving the patient through the system (not adding the cost of an extra inpatient day just because someone neglected to sign off on the discharge form, for instance), or fewer mistakes and infections.
But beyond these efforts, to truly reduce costs we need to drive our analysis to the individual patient and case level, differentiating between the general system costs imputed to the case, or the average costs that such cases are thought to generate, or the sunk costs of the facility and equipment, and the actual incremental costs that this case generated: How much did it cost us to replace Mr. Herndon's hip? Much of the costs attributed to particular types of operations are averages, or imputed costs representing the whole organization's overhead. These obscure the costs that are particular to Mr. Herndon's case.
Fine-grained cost analysis. Why do we need such fine-grained cost analysis? Because if the team who handled Mr. Herndon's workup, surgery, post-surgery and rehab did something different that actually cost less and worked better ? a different kind of wound dressing, say, or a more aggressive schedule of getting him up and walking afterward ? more general cost analysis would not let us pick up that difference, track it and replicate it.
Further, we need to track the costs by activity (how much did the post-surgical care actually cost, say) and across the entire care cycle.
Similarly, we need to drive the cost analysis to the team level: If a given hip-replacement team is able to find ways of doing things that are better and cheaper, we need cost analysis that can pick up that difference so we can find out what teams are doing differently, try the improvement with other teams, measure the improvement and propagate it.
Two things make this currently impossible in most of health care: Our cost aggregation software is mostly designed for billing purposes, not for discovering actual costs. It doesn't ask the questions to which we need answers. And typically in health care, we do not work in persistent, dedicated clinical teams. We rotate people through various assignments. When there are no persistent teams, it is not possible to notice which variations of practice actually cost less and get better results. Having no teams obliterates the possibility of learning.
Still, though tracking real costs to the patient, case and team levels is difficult, costs are ultimately more discoverable than future revenue streams. With the right strategies, one can drive down costs much more dependably than one can predict revenue.
Cost and Revenue as Change Drivers
The struggle to get the cost-revenue respiration right is the prime driver of the enormous structural changes that we are seeing in health care. Recently, the head of health care for a major Wall Street bank told me that up to just a few years ago, mergers and acquisitions amounted to 5 percent of his practice. Today it is 67 percent.
Big systems, including for-profit systems, are expanding rapidly, acquiring hospitals and other health care services by the bunch. They see these acquisitions not as "revenue plays" largely, but as "cost plays." The big systems believe they can create value and enhance their survival by mitigating the "high-variance" risks of the new environment through size and diversity, while wringing cost out of the services and hospitals they acquire through tighter coordination and more aggressive management.
These same factors make it increasingly difficult for small and rural hospitals to survive as independents. They need the scale, greater coordination, access to clinical excellence, ability to support experiments in driving cost and quality, and ability to rationalize high-variant risk across a larger system that only a partnership of some kind with larger organizations can provide.
The new era of costs and revenues likely spells the end of any notion of the hospital as a cottage industry. It is on the balance sheet and the cash flow sheet that the idea of "coordination across the full cycle of care" stops being a buzzword and becomes a structural reality.
Joe Flower is a health care futurist and CEO of The Change Project Inc., and its health care education arm, Imagine What If. He is also a regular contributor to H&HN Daily and a member of Speakers Express.
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the policy of Health Forum Inc. or the American Hospital Association.
in general. All comments will be reviewed by a moderator before being posted.
Please note: Your browser cookies must be enabled to leave comments and remember your login information. If you are having trouble posting a comment please enable your browser cookies or email us your comment at hhndaily@healthforum.com.
Source: http://www.hhnmag.com/hhnmag/HHNDaily/HHNDailyDisplay.dhtml?id=7180005042
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When Should A Landlord Hire A Property Management Company
One of the biggest decisions you?ll make as a landlord is whether you should hire a property management company. Many landlords manage properties on their own or with the help of an employee, such as a resident manager. But sometimes landlords need more help, and that?s when a property management company might make sense.
Property management companies can be a huge asset to your business. Carefully review the factors discussed below to determine if hiring a property management company is the right move for your business.
What Does a Property Management Company Do?
Management companies deal directly with prospects and tenants, saving you time and worry over marketing your rentals, collecting rent, handling maintenance and repair issues, responding to tenant complaints, and even pursuing evictions. Plus, a good management company brings its know-how and experience to your property, giving you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your investment is in good hands. Finally, a management company is an independent contractor, so you avoid the hassles of being an employer.
When Should You Hire a Property Management Company?
Although hiring a property management company has many advantages, using one can be expensive if going with what we call brand X. Using Go Realty we are able to offer very?competitive rates and our property management staff has 15 years experience. Even apart from the cost, relying on a property management company is not for everyone. Consider the following factors to determine if hiring a property management company would be a good decision for your business.
You should consider hiring a property management company if:
You have lots of properties or rental units.?The more rental properties you own and the more units they contain, the more you?re likely to benefit from a management company.
You don?t live near your rental property.?If your rental property is located far from where you live, hiring a property management company can be invaluable in dealing with the many issues that you will not be able to handle from afar.
You?re not interested in hands-on management.?Many landlords look forward to the challenge of finding good tenants and the rewards of maintaining a safe and attractive property on their own. But if you view rental property ownership strictly as an investment and want little or nothing to do with the day-to-day management of your properties, consider hiring help to manage your property.
Your time is limited.?Even if you enjoy hands-on management, you may not have much time to devote to your business, especially if landlording isn?t your day job. And if you prefer to spend your time growing your business, including searching for new properties, arranging financing for renovations, or changing your business structure, then a management company may be a good way to spend your money.
You can afford the cost.?Hiring a property management company is an attractive option if you can afford the fees. When interviewing companies, expect to hear quotes ranging between 5% and 10% of what you collect in rent revenue. If it?s a down market and you?re able to manage things yourself (or with the help of a resident manager or other employees), you may want to keep doing so until the market turns around.
You?re suddenly inundated with management tasks.?If your business is growing, at some point you may find that you need a substrantial amount of help to manage everything properly. At that point, it might make sense to hire a management company.
You don?t want to be an employer.?If you hire a resident manager or other employees to help with your property, you become an employer. You?ll have to handle payroll and deal with a host of other legal requirements and considerations. But, because a property management company isn?t your employee (it?s an independent contractor), and neither are the people who work for the company, by using one you avoid the hassles of being an employer.
Your property is part of an affordable housing program.?If you participate in an affordable housing program, things can get complicated. Usually, in these programs the landlord receives financial assistance, which may be in the form of a grant, low-interest loan, or tax credits, in return for agreeing to rent at least part of the property to tenants earning below a certain income level. In order to continue receiving the assistance, the landlord must comply with a complicated set of rules. With so much at stake, it?s often worth hiring a property management company that has expertise and experience with the particular housing program in question.
?
How To Contact Us Here At Go Realty
We are always available here at Go Realty to service your needs. To contact us to talk about your properties. Please call us at 360-679-4646 or you can just fill out the inquiry slip?below. We would love to here from you so please feel free to contact us! ?GoWithGo?
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Source: http://www.gowithgo.net/when-should-a-landlord-hire-a-property-management-company/
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Real estate is fastest-growing industry in Q3 - officials
Posted on 11/28/2012 1:42 PM ?|?Updated 11/28/2012 9:12 PM
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BOOMING. Real estate projects, fueled by remittances and the outsourcing industry, contribute to economic growth. Photo by Franz Lopez
MANILA, Philippines - The real estate industry saw a revenue growth rate of 18.8% in the third quarter of the year, making it the fastest growing among all industries, said officials.
?Real estate posted strong expansion as major players including Ayala Land, SM Prime Holdings and Megaworld posted double-digit revenues in terms of real estate and rent of commercial spaces,? said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary, Arseio Balisacan, at a press conference on the Philippines' third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth on Wednesday, November 28.
According to Jose Ramon Albert, Secretary-General of the National Statistical Coordination Board, the country's better-than-expected 7.1% growth in the third quarter was driven largely by services sector growth, which was, in turn, partly fueled by real estate, renting and business activity.
Comprising half of GDP growth, the services sector expanded 7% in the third quarter.
?We have previously noted that a major driver of this growth is the demand for office space due to the strong outlook of the BPO sector. Also favorable economic conditions led more individuals to purchase residential properties,? said Balisacan.
Aside from BPO, real estate growth was also buoyed by higher construction expenditures, said Balisacan.
?Spending for construction of physical capital increased by 24.3% in the third quarter of 2012 a huge turnaround from a negative 8.8% performance in the third quarter of 2011. Both private and public construction registered more than 20% growth rates during the period,? he explained.
Public construction grew 23.7% in the third quarter, reversing its 19% drop in 2011, while private construction expanded 25%, also reversing its 5.9% decline last year.
?Public spending on construction grew back by higher capital outlay of government 38.4% more for roads and irrigation projects. Most of these projects were implemented outside NCR in keeping with our objective of inclusive growth,? said Balisacan
?These figures just confirm that theres a lot of investment going on. While the growth of the economy is primarily consumption driven there are also investmetns coming in.?
Major players and consultants have remained bullish on their real estate forecasts.
?It took 20 years to get the stars aligned but now we?re looking at sustained growth. We are now experiencing the best real estate market in the Philippines in the last 20 years,? Rick Santos, chairman and CEO of property advisory firm CBRE Philippines, previously said. - Rappler.com
Source: http://www.rappler.com/business/16901-real-estate-is-fastest-growing-industry-in-q3-officials
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Johansson: Watching 'Psycho' 'petrified me'
By Randee Dawn, TODAY contributor
It's Scarlett Johansson Tuesday on TODAY! And having tackled the weather (due to Al Roker's laryngitis) and otherwise utterly charmed everyone on the show, the four-time Golden Globe nominee sat down with Matt Lauer to address the real reason she was hanging out -- her new film, "Hitchcock."
In the film, Johansson plays actress Janet Leigh, star of Alfred Hitchcock's movie "Psycho," and said it was a real treat to work alongside Oscar-winning stars Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren (who play Hitchcock and his wife Alma respectively). There was no need for "Sir" or "Dame" on the set, she noted: "They're incredibly casual; it's 'Tony,' of course ... and Helen, we just called her, 'Hey you.'"
Less pleasant was actually seeing "Psycho" at a very young age, she recalled: "I was raised on Hitchcock films," she said. "My mother is a huge film buff and I saw 'Psycho' probably when I was too young, I mean I was like 7 or 8 and it was incredibly traumatizing. ... It petrified me."
Evan Agostini / AP
As an adult, however, she was probably equally traumatized by re-enacting the famous shower scene from the film. In "Hitchcock," the director isn't convinced by Leigh's screams, so he steps in to terrify her properly -- and it worked, on both Leigh and Johansson, who flashed back to another of Hopkins' iconic roles.
"When you have Tony Hopkins there stabbing at you with a completely frenzied psychotic look on his face, you don?t need (the film's classic soundtrack to get in the mood)," said Johansson. "Seeing his ("Silence of the Lambs" character) Hannibal Lecter from also way too young was enough to give me that naturalistic feeling."
Fortunately, ScarJo appears to have recovered nicely, even if she is exploring her options as weather lady.
"Hitchcock" opened in limited U.S. theaters on Nov. 23.
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Baby Shower question
A couple of things:
A] its not anyone's fault you got rid of the stuff and chose sex specific items the first time around. Neither of these things, IMHO, entitle you to another shower. It's up to you to provide for your new addition.
A] its not anyone's fault you got rid of the stuff and chose sex specific items the first time around. Neither of these things, IMHO, entitle you to another shower. It's up to you to provide for your new addition.
B] if someone offers you can accept but throwing one for yourselves is rude and tacky. It looks gift grabby.
C] the only time it is socially acceptable in my social circle is a long time [say, 10 years] between births or a different father/mother.
If you want to "celebrate the baby" you can do so with a Meet The Baby Party after delivery. People who want to bring gifts will, though it won't feel mandatory to bring one like it would be for a shower. Showers are gift giving events.
Good luck!
Source: http://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/70230047.aspx
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Why Dating For Boomers Is Easier Than Ever - mattcoffey79s ...
You have indisputably heard the phrases uttered in radio, on TV and within the media typically ? purple is the brand new black, or how nasty is the brand new great and even higher ? boomers are the brand new seniors. Seems installing in an afternoon and age the place 60 was regarded as vintage, however with other folks residing into their eighty?s and ninety?s what is thought of as senior? Boomers also are no longer prepared to relax, and loosen up ? they're taking the sector through hurricane and reside existence fuller than you or I would possibly ever!There used to be a time, no longer that way back that after you divorced, or your partner or companion passed on to the great beyond you devoted your self to a lifetime of celibacy, or no less than residing on my own Some boomers nonetheless apply the ones sentiments however there's a rising inhabitants of boomers that aren't prepared to relax and permit their children dictate what they may be able to or can?t do and so they indubitably aren't prepared to reside on my own any more.Consider that most of the people reside into their eighty?s and longer ? in case your partner dies of their 50?s or 60?s there may be the likelihood that their spouse might be alongside for 10, 20 and even 30 years. Some other folks would possibly make the adjustment ? however it will likely be tricky.Increasingly an increasing number of boomers are buying and selling of their wheelchairs, and memberships to retirement villas for one thing extra enjoyable.I?ve spoken to sizzling-grandmas (as they prefer to be known as) that experience forgone the rocking chair and being the stereotypical grandma to one who is going on unique holidays, and is going scuba diving, sizzling-air balooning, or even skiing!These boomers additionally reject the speculation of spending the remainder years on my own. They are at the glance out for companions that have compatibility their way of life and need to have a good time. However many aren't prepared to hit the singles bars simply but and like the anonymity that the Internet provides them.In up to date years, there was a marked building up in on-line relationship products and services geared against seniors assembly seniors (or boomers assembly boomers). These products and services boast memberships within the tens of lots, and there are contributors from world wide permitting quite a few other folks to make a choice from.With a bunch of businesses providing products and services to boomers, its transparent to peer that this demographic is prematurely and middle in lots of firms enlargement technique and because of this they're development products and services for you to cater to this rising (or booming ? pun supposed) section of the inhabitants.
Source: http://mattcoffey79.posterous.com/why-dating-for-boomers-is-easier-than-ever
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Source: http://benakphilander.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/why-dating-for-boomers-is-easier-than-ever-mattcoffey79s.html
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Source: http://aymufyr.posterous.com/why-dating-for-boomers-is-easier-than-ever-ma
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Tuesday, November 27, 2012
How to use deliberate practice to improve your writing ? The Thesis ...
November 28, 2012
Last week, as one of my last duties as research fellow at RMIT before I take up my new role at ANU, I hosted two seminars ? one from Prof Anthony Pare from McGill and the other from Prof Helen Sword, the writer of the wonderful ?Stylish Academic Writing?.
Helen and Anthony had many interesting observations about the process of learning to write, but both made the same basic point: very few of us have formal instruction in how to write like an academic.
As Anthony Pare pointed out, when you write essays as an undergraduate you are ?eavesdropping? on expert conversation; as a PhD student you are expected to be a part of that conversation. Writing for a teacher is easier than writing for your peers because the expectations are clearer. This is why many PhD students experience what he calls the ?J curve?: a rapid drop in confidence, but a long term upswing as this new kind of writing practice is mastered.
Helen Sword explained that we pick up most of what we know about academic writing informally, from our supervisors and from reading; this learning process is adhoc, idiosyncratic and individualised. Informal learning has benefits, but generally speaking it?s harder to reach expert level unless you really push yourself. Helen noted that many people don?t even consult writing books or take advantage of the free advice on the web and therefore never reach an expert level.
One of the ways to push yourself to become a better writer is to engage in deliberate practice, a term I encountered in Cal Newport?s recent book ?So good they can?t ignore you? (an excellent read by the way). Deliberate practice is a way of consistently stretching yourself out of your comfort zone and thereby increasing your skill.
I thought I?d expand on some of the concepts of deliberate practice via my own recent experience with exercise. Like many academics I?m not very body conscious, but I do try to be active because I know I?m built to survive famines and easily put on weight. In the past I have been into swimming and lifting weights at the gym; solo exercise sessions where I can be alone with my pain.
The problem with solo exercise routines, as you probably know, is you are accountable to no one but yourself. Recognising we had a mutual problem in this area, my friend Joyce (@catspajamasnz) and I became exercise buddies.
The first thing Joyce suggested we try was a Zumba Fitness class. I?ll admit, I was not super enthusiastic. All I knew about Zumba was dance videos full of impossibly swelte people, wearing 80?s outfits and?fluorescent shoes, swinging their dreadlocks around to Latin dance music. I told Joyce I didn?t like Latin dance music, mostly because of the accordions, but I went along with it.
Colour me surprised when I discovered that I LOVE Zumba. I don?t want you to get the impression I love Zumba because I am good at it, because I?m really not. I am so bad at it it?s laughable.
I laugh when I watch myself do awkward white girl dancing in the mirror and I laugh at the insanely silly accordian music. Laughing helps me stick with it because earning Zumba is not easy. According to the wikipedia entry, Zumba involves a mix of
?hip-hop, soca, samba, salsa, merengue, mambo, martial arts, and some Bollywood and belly dance moves?
In other words, it?s complicated. In case you?ve been under a rock for the last decade, this video gives you an idea of what it looks like:
The hardest part of Zumba, for me, is how unfamiliar the movements feel: I?ve danced before, but not like this. Writing like an academic used to unfamiliar too; both like and unlike any writing I had done before. Anthony Pare shared a quote from a PhD student who compared ?academese? to a foreign language. This is a nice description because part of the PhD process is learning to adopt a new kind of scholarly voice.
It takes time to be comfortable speaking ?academese? because it?s profoundly unnatural. The longer you persist at academic writing however, the more natural it will feel, so don?t wait until you are writing chapters or journal papers to start ?speaking like an academic?. Practice this new academic voice as you take notes.
One way to do this is by paying close attention to the verbs. For example, if you were taking notes from this blog post, instead of writing:
?Learning Zumba is an example of deliberate practice in action?
You could write:
?Inger Mewburn argues that learning Zumba is an example of deliberate practice in action?
Including the verb ?argues? implies what Kamler and Thomson would call a ?hands on hips? stance. By pointing out that I am making an argument, as opposed to, for example, stating a fact, you are taking a position on what I am saying, rather than just copying it down.
If you were to take a deliberate practice approach, you would look to how you could extend this ?positioning? of yourself. For example, you could rewrite the note and include some of your own thoughts, like this:
?Inger (2012) claims that learning to do Zumba is an example of deliberate practice in action. While Zumba is difficult to master, and it may take time to get the basics down right, what Inger fails to realise is that learning Zumba is not at all like learning to write. For one thing, you need a computer, not fluorescent shoes.?
That?s pretty good ? can you see what I just did? I just wrote a bit of a thesis in that note. I took a position on what Inger was saying about Zumba and I pointed out the tenuous, even ridiculous, connection between Zumba and writing.
In academic writing, how you say what you say is as important as what you say. By shifting the verb ?argues? (a neutral kind of verb) to the more aggressive ?claims? (a verb which implies I have not used enough evidence). Using verbs in knowing ways creates what you might call a ?meta text?: signalling to the reader what I think about Inger?s statements about Zumba, without directly saying it.
The verbs I used in the above example lent my writing a negative critical stance. Deliberate practice involves repeating the same activity over and over, but striving to be better each time. So you could try adjusting your stance to see if you can improve on it. For example, I could try again, keeping my note critical, but using my verbs in a kinder way, starting with a positive verb like this:
?Inger (2012) explains how Zumba can be thought of as an example of deliberate practice in action. Her?comparison between writing and Zumba is tenuous, but her main point is clear: both are complicated and take a long time to learn. In addition,?fluorescent shoes look great ? on writers as well as Zumba lovers.?
Shifting backwards and forwards between positive and negative stances in your notes is like working on Zumba step technique: it helps you to move your thinking around and make it more flexible.
Using your notes as a place to deliberately practice academic writing has two main benefits. It?s ?low stakes? writing; since you are the only audience for your notes, you can try out different points of view and play with ideas. Secondly, taking notes with verbs helps you to form ?mini chunks? of text that can be cut and pasted into your thesis, saving you time.
Look for tools to support your deliberate practice. For example, I keep a list of verbs on my wall so that I make sure to use a wide variety of them in my writing and thereby produce more sophisticated metatext. I make a point of regularly looking up the precise meaning of verbs I use, even familiar ones,?in order to keep my writing precise.
Deliberate practice can increase enjoyment along with skill. After months of deliberate Zumba practice I was shocked to discover I had over 2 hours of Zumba music in my iTunes library? many with incredibly silly accordion riffs. Apparently I no longer hate Latin music or accordions! If you find writing painful now, you might find with a bit of deliberate practice you will start enjoying it in a whole new way.
Is there a skill you have learned through deliberate practice, such as playing an instrument? Are there times you have failed to keep up a skill or never really progressed to expert? Why? I?d love to hear your own insights on deliberate practice in the comments.
Related Posts
Developing your inner? Yoda, er ? scholar
Why you might be ?stuck?
Source: http://thesiswhisperer.com/2012/11/28/on-deliberate-practice/
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Monday, November 26, 2012
In show of power, China lands first jet on aircraft carrier
On Sunday, China landed a jet on its aircraft carrier for the first time. The vessel only recently came into service, and is part of a initiative to boost military spending.
A carrier-borne J-15 fighter jet on China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. China has successfully landed a fighter jet on its first aircraft carrier, which entered service two months ago, the country's official news agency confirmed Sunday.
Zha Chunming/Xinhua/AP
EnlargeChina?has carried out its first successful landing of a fighter jet on its first aircraft carrier, state media said on Sunday, a symbolically significant development as Asian neighbours fret about the world's most populous country's military ambitions.
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The home-built J-15 fighter jet took off from and landed on the Liaoning, a reconditioned Soviet-era vessel from?Ukraine?which only came into service in September this year.
China?ushered in a new generation of leaders this month at the 18th?Communist Party Congress?in?Beijing, with outgoing President?Hu Jintao?making a pointed reference to strengthening?China's naval forces, protecting maritime interests and the need to "win local war."
China?is embroiled in disputes with the?Philippines?and?Vietnam?over?South China?Sea islands believed to be surrounded by waters rich in natural gas. It has a similar dispute with?Japan?over islands in the?East China?Sea.
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Property News India and Featured Real Estate Stories - CommonFloor
It is found that many developers in National Capital Region (NCR) and Mumbai have cut down property prices by around 15 percent, as demand and rent more or less remains the same.
However, in a few parts of Mumbai, there was nearly 0. 8% improvement in rent, signifying some demand.
Due to weak demand, a lot of real estate agents have already postponed commercial realty projects and switched to residential projects. Few new projects in the first half of the year were launched at reduced price ranges than some existing stocks in the area by developers who are in dire need of cash.
The commercial properties in New Delhi continues to be under pressure while zero projects have been launched presently. But there is an increased demand for commercial properties in Bangalore and Mumbai.
Read more stories:
Commercial real estate booming!
Commercial real estate demand going down
Commercial real estate growing in Navi Mumbai
Source: http://www.commonfloor.com/stories/commercial-real-estate-sector-remains-stagnant-33761
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Video: Roundtable discusses fiscal cliff, Lincoln film
A Second Take on Meeting the Press: From an up-close look at Rachel Maddow's sneakers to an in-depth look at Jon Krakauer's latest book ? it's all fair game in our "Meet the Press: Take Two" web extra. Log on Sundays to see David Gregory's post-show conversations with leading newsmakers, authors and roundtable guests. Videos are available on-demand by 12 p.m. ET on Sundays.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/vp/49955657#49955657
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Sunday Brunch: Silver Dollar Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe
Entry #1864, November 25, 2012
Are you ready for some holiday brunch ideas? Even though fall is behind you, doesn?t mean you can?t enjoy great pumpkin recipe ideas! Check your fridge if you have the ingredients to make this delicious silver dollar pumpkin pancakes recipe for your breakfast or snacks. You will definitely savor the tasty flavor of pumpkin into your pancakes. This is not your usual pancakes as you will enjoy the taste and gain a lot of nutrients for your body. Thanks Pioneer Woman for this great recipe!
What a yummy Sunday brunch ideas ? pumpkin pancakes!
All images and recipe via
Ingredients
- 3 cups Cake Flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Baking Powder
- 3 Tablespoons Sugar
- 2 cups Canned Pumpkin Puree
- 2 whole Eggs
- 3 teaspoons Vanilla
- 2-? cups Milk
- ? teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
- ? cups Heavy Cream
- 3 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
- Butter, For Serving
- Maple Syrup, Warmed, For Serving
- Finely Chopped Pecans, For Serving
- Caramel Sauce, For Drizzling (optional)
Ingredients for pumpkin pancakes
Directions
- In a large bowl, combine cake flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar. Stir together and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, eggs, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and milk. Slowly drizzle wet ingredients into dry ingredients, stirring gently with a spoon as you go. Once combined, if mixture needs more moisture, splash in a little more milk. Batter should be pourable.
- Heat large skillet or griddle over medium-low to low heat. Smear a little bit of butter over the surface and drop tablespoon-sized amounts of batter onto the pan (more if you want larger pancakes.) Wait a minute or so, and then flip to the other side. Pancakes should be light golden brown and set in the middle.
- Whip cream with maple syrup (optional) until light and fluffy. Set aside.
- Serve silver dollar pancakes in a circular pattern on a large plate, ending with one in the center. Top with butter, sprinkle with chopped nuts, and drizzle with warm syrup. Top the whole thing with the maple whipped cream and serve immediately.
Pumpkin pancakes almost finished!
You can sprinkle bits of caramel sauce on your pancakes to add more flavors. This is best served when hot and you can see the slow meltdown of butter when placed on top. The silver dollar pumpkin pancakes recipe will provide the complete fall season experience you sought after your meal.
For more food recipe ideas on Stagetecture, click here.
Source: http://stagetecture.com/2012/11/sunday-brunch-silver-dollar-pumpkin-pancakes-recipe/
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surajrandiv68: vincentsmit0: Health-and-Fitness:Diseases-STDs
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Source: http://northropsebastian9.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/vincentsmit0-health-and-fitnessdiseases-stds-articles-from-1.html
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Source: http://surajrandiv68.blogspot.com/2012/11/vincentsmit0-health-and-fitnessdiseases.html
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Source: http://affleckhall.blogspot.com/2012/11/surajrandiv68-vincentsmit0-health-and.html
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Source: http://regimentation-starlit.blogspot.com/2012/11/surajrandiv68-vincentsmit0-health-and.html
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Sunday, November 25, 2012
2013 Finalists Announced for the World Spa & Wellness Awards ...
By The Beauty Hub??|??November 25th, 2012??|??Company News,Editors Pick,News
Finalists for the World Spa & Wellness Awards have now been announced. An extensive marketing campaign is underway providing finalists and their business with increased credibility and a fresh stream of customers. Winners of each category will be announced at a lavish awards dinner at the Hilton International, Park Lane, London ? in the heart of one of the world?s favourite cities.
Hosted at the Hilton International, Park Lane London, UK on 24 February 2013, the World Spa and Wellness Awards are designed to raise awareness for the spa industry and ultimately inspire dedicated spa professionals to future Award status.
The Awards cover a number of geographical regions including Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia & Australasia and North & South America. Each geographical region has three awards: Day Spa of the Year, Hotel Spa of the Year, where the main business is that of a hotel and Destination Spa of the Year award where onsite accommodation for spa guests is offered.
Shortlisted finalists in each category will be visited by both an official and a ?mystery? judge. This vigorous process ensures the awards are completely fair and unbiased, making winning a World Spa & Wellness Award an indisputable achievement.
The finalists for each category, of which there are ten in total, are as follows:
Day Spa of the Year ? Europe
Escape Spa & Vanilla Browns, Limerick, Ireland
Urban Spa, Santander, Spain
Victoria Spa, Sofia, Bulgaria
Hotel Spa of the Year ? Europe
Monastero Santa Rosa Spa, Salerno, Italy
Spa La Reserve Ramatuelle, Ramatuelle, France
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, Spain
Destination Spa of the Year ? Europe
Ayurveda Parkschlosschen Bad Wildstein, Traben-Trarbach, Germany
Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda, Gargnano, Italy
Sha Wellness Clinic, Alicante, Spain
Hotel Spa of the Year ? Asia & Australasia
Espa at Phulay Bay Resort, Krabi, Thailand
One & Only Spa by Espa, Reethi Rah, the Maldives
The Oriental Spa at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
The Peninsula Spa at The Peninsula Hong Kong
Destination Spa of the Year ? Asia & Australasia
Bidadari Beauty Sanctuary, Ubud, Bali
Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Hua Hin, Thailand
Como Shambhala Estate, Gianya, Bali
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa Resort, Koh Samui, Thailand
Hotel Spa of the Year ? North & South America
Spa Montage Laguna Beach, California, USA
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Boston, USA
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Miami, USA
Destination Spa of the Year ? North & South America
Banyan Tree Spa Mayakoba, Mayakoba, Mexico
Lapinha Spa, Lapa, Brazil
Sante Spa Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Hotel Spa of the Year ? Middle East
Anantara Spa at Qasr Al Sarab, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Atarmia Spa at Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Shuiqi Spa and Fitness at Atlantis the Palm, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Destination Spa of the Year ? Middle East
Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
Six Senses Zighy Bay, Musandam Peninsula, Oman
Talise Spa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Spa of the Year ? Africa
Angsana Spa Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa
One & Only Spa Cape Town, South Africa
Pezula Spa & Gym, Knysna, South Africa
The Spa at The Oyster Box, Durban, South Africa
?
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Source: http://www.thebeautyhub.com/2012/11/2013-finalists-announced-for-the-world-spa-wellness-awards/
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Most people just barely care about politics (Unqualified Offerings)
Egypt's Mursi must scrap "dictatorial" decree: ElBaradei
CAIRO (Reuters) - Prominent opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei said on Saturday there could be no dialogue with Egypt's president until he scrapped a "dictatorial" decree that he said gave the Islamist leader Mohamed Mursi the powers of a pharaoh.
The presidential decree issued on Thursday by Mursi, elected in June with the Muslim Brotherhood behind him, expanded his powers and caused fury amongst his opponents, prompting violent clashes in central Cairo and other cities on Friday.
Judges, angry at steps seen as undermining the judiciary, threatened to strike if it were not revoked and the opposition has called for more protests, with one planned for Tuesday.
"There is no room for dialogue when a dictator imposes the most oppressive, abhorrent measures and then says 'let us split the difference'," ElBaradei, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said in an interview with Reuters and The Associated Press.
ElBaradei, who had earlier in the day met opposition leaders and said he expected to be coordinator of a new National Salvation Front, said Mursi's decree threatened Egypt's troubled transition and action was needed to stop a "cycle of violence".
"How are we going to do that? I do not see any other way other than through Mr Mursi rescinding his dictatorial declaration," the 70-year-old former U.N. diplomat said, adding the decree created a "new pharaoh".
ElBaradei had met other opposition figures, such as former presidential candidates leftist Hamdeen Sabahy and Amr Moussa, the former Arab League chief. A third presidential candidate, Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh, sent a representative.
"We will have to continue to escalate our level of expressing resistance, peaceful disobedience," ElBaradei said, adding the aim was to show the depth of opposition.
NO WARNING
The former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Mursi's moves had galvanised the liberal and other opposition camps to unite. Till now they have proved disparate forces, overwhelmed by the Brotherhood's organisational skills.
ElBaradei said he had met Mursi last week to discuss Egypt's political process, similar to talks the Islamist leader has held with other political leaders. But ElBaradei said he was given no "whiff" that a major decree was coming.
"You assume that if ... the president is going to take sweeping measures grabbing all powers that he will at least consult before," ElBaradei said. "There was no consultation at all. That doesn't show the best of ... intentions or good will."
In his decree, Mursi put all his decisions beyond legal challenge as long as there is no parliament, sacked the unpopular general prosecutor and opened the door to retrials for the already jailed ousted President Hosni Mubarak and his aides.
"I am waiting to see, I hope soon, a very strong statement of condemnation by the U.S., by Europe and by everybody who really cares about human dignity," ElBaradei said, speaking from his elegant villa on the outskirts of Cairo.
ElBaradei returned home to Egypt in 2010 as one of its best-known Egyptians on the world stage. He was a vocal opponent of Mubarak and then, after his overthrow, of the army council that took charge during a 16-month transition.
But ElBaradei disappointed many Egyptians for backing out of the presidential race. Pinning hopes on him to lead Egypt through its troubles, they said he spent too much time abroad.
"People still believe in the sense of a 'savior,' you know, somebody who is able to single-handedly save them," he said, but added that Egyptians should no longer rely on a "single person" to resolve all their problems.
ElBaradei said he had long argued for a constitution first before elections to prevent the trouble the nation now faced, adding he was right not to take part in a "farcical" election for president when there was no constitution or job description.
Drafting a new constitution has hit gridlock with Islamists and their supporters on one hand and liberals and others on the other at loggerheads over the role of Islam. Liberals have quit and demanded the Islamist-dominated assembly be disbanded.
One of Mursi's measures in his decree was to immunize the assembly against any legal challenge and extend its life by two months, meaning it will not complete its job till February, delaying elections to a new parliament.
The founder of the Dostour (Constitution) Party, popular with many revolutionary youths, said: "We were paying the price of a completely convoluted, completely illogical transition."
(Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Alison Williams and Jon Hemming)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypts-elbaradei-demands-mursi-rescinds-dictatorial-decree-183449773.html
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