সোমবার, ৩১ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২

Hackulous Shuts Down, Taking Its iOS Piracy App Installous With It

hackulousHackulous, the company behind the popular (and controversial) app Installous which let people easily download pirated apps on jailbroken iOS devices, has shut down. In what iDownloadBlog's Sebastien Page has called "a small victory against app piracy," the Installous app is also no longer available for use.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/LXqs2C8fbxo/

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Check Out This Great Payday Loan Advice - Best Stock Market ...

A lot of individuals often are wary when it comes to companies that ask for high interest rates when it comes to their loans. Cash advance loans come with a responsibility. You might find yourself making payments for years if you do not select a legitimate lending establishment. The following article will give you advice so you are well-protected when getting a payday loan.

Don?t simply hop in the car and drive over to the closest payday loan lender to acquire a bridge loan. It?s tempting to think you understand cash advances well, but many company have terms that very widely. You want to find the best terms for your situation. Investing only a little bit of time can help you save quite a bit of money.

You?ll need phone references for your payday loan. You will generally need to share your home phone number, cell number and your employer?s number. The vast majority of lenders ask for three personal references along with phone numbers.

Don?t overuse payday advances. Think about seeing a credit counselor to get your finances under control if you?re having financial problems. Payday and cash advance lending has driven many individuals towards bankruptcy. You will only be able to ensure this never happens to you if you stay away from these kind of loans in the first place.

Payday cash advances are usually quick. The downside of this convenience is the cost. If you can?t afford the high interest payments you should try talking to friends and family to see if you can work out a short term loan with them. You may find this better than the high interest rates associated with cash advance loans.

Investigate what the total cost of the loan will be. Payday lenders have notoriously high interest rates and excessive fees. However, this isn?t the only thing that providers can hit you with. They can also charge you with large fees for every single loan that is taken out. Reading the fine print and asking pertinent questions can help you become more knowledgeable about payday cash advances.

It is important to have verification of your identity and employment when applying for a payday loan. You must show this provider you are actually over 18 and you?re getting regular income if you want to have a chance at receiving a payday loan.

If you face hardships, give this information to your provider. Often payday loan providers will use debt collectors if you do not pay your loan back in time. If you cannot pay it back in time on the date it?s due, you need to contact them and talk about an extension.

If your friend wants to get a payday loan and put it in your name, don?t do it. It is important to help people you care about, but this can ruin anyone?s relationships.

Check to make sure your payday loan company is licensed to operate in your state. The rules and regulations regarding payday lending vary by state. Your lender has to be licensed to be able to operate in your home state.

If you?re applying for cash advances, try borrowing the smallest amount you can. Of course, these loans come in handy when emergencies arise. However, the amount of money you will be paying for interest is a lot higher than the interest on a credit card. Keep these rates low by taking out a small loan.

Do not take out multiple payday cash advances. Don?t go to more than one company to get cash advance loans. This will put you in a place where you won?t be able to get the money paid back, no matter what salary you?re making.

Only borrow what you?re positive you can repay down the road. Lenders often try to get you to accept more than you can afford, and this will cost you a lot of money.

Don?t borrow extra money, even if it is offered. Companies may offer you extra to pick up more money with fees and interest. Just borrow what you need and don?t embellish it.

A payday loan is a good solution in certain situations, but do not let this become a habit and always explore other options first. This information can help you when you need some quick cash.

You may find stock market newsletter intimidating, but research goes a long way. Great tips will bring you a long way in your quest for information. There is so much information about stock market newsletter here, you shouldn?t be wanting for more.

Related Posts:

Source: http://www.beststockmarketinvestment.com/2012/12/31/check-out-this-great-payday-loan-advice/

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Chinese fishing boat detained in Japan - Xinhua

BEIJING | Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:17pm GMT

BEIJING (Reuters) - Japan's coastguard detained a Chinese fishing boat within Japanese waters on Sunday evening, China's Xinhua news agency said, citing the Chinese consulate general in Fukuoka, a city in south-western Japan.

The captain of the boat, registered in the south-eastern Chinese province of Fujian, and two crew members have been brought to the southern Japanese city of Kagoshima for questioning, Xinhua said.

It said the captain had admitted he was in Japanese waters.

The incident comes just months after anti-Japanese protests erupted in many Chinese cities over disputed islands near Taiwan, known as the Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese. Those tensions have cooled but could flare up if stoked by nationalists on either side.

A spokesperson for the Japanese embassy in Beijing could not be reached for comment late on Sunday evening.

The Chinese fishing fleet tends to range far into the waters east of China to offset depleted stocks closer to shore.

(Reporting by Lucy Hornby; Editing by Alison Williams)

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/30/uk-china-japan-fishing-idUKBRE8BT06K20121230?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

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রবিবার, ৩০ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২

With lowest vaccination rate in Canada, Quebecers urged to get flu shot

CTV Montreal
Published Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012 2:10PM EST
Last Updated Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012 2:20PM EST

MONTREAL?With cases of influenza spiking during the holidays, health authorities reminded Montrealers on Saturday that it isn?t too late to go get vaccinated against the flu.

Quebec is the province with the lowest level of vaccination in Canada, with only 27 per cent of Quebecers getting the shot.

With numerous handshakes and close greetings exchanged during the holidays between friends and family, the flu virus has a near-perfect way to travel. Vaccinations are still being offered at local CLSCs and people with small children, the elderly or those with chronic diseases are urged to get vaccinated.

The vaccination is free for those in at-risk groups.

?With files from The Canadian Press.

Source: http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/with-lowest-vaccination-rate-in-canada-quebecers-urged-to-get-flu-shot-1.1095282

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Does Every Consultant Need To Write a Book | Marketing and ...

Marketing podcast with Guy Kawasaki

I asked the question contained in the title of this post in a community I moderate on Google+ (Consultant Exchange- join us if you are a coach or consultant)

Somewhat predictably answers fell into two camps ? those with a book said yes it was very helpful and meaningful to their business. Those without a book said no they didn?t think it was necessary and that a well written blog might be more important.

In my business having a book (and now three) made a significant difference in terms of creating more speaking, branding and consulting opportunities. Now, a key measure in the equation is that these books are well regarded and sold well enough to stand on their own ? but there?s no question my books have led to a bigger brand for Duct Tape Marketing.

I posed the same question to my friend Guy Kawasaki and his take was a little more reserved ? ?Writing a book to open other opportunities is the wrong reason to write a book. You should write a book because you have something to say or are passionate about promoting a cause or idea.?

Kawasaki has written twelve books, including the just released APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur ? How to Publish a Book. Kawasaki wrote the book to reveal everything he?s learned along the way as an author and entrepreneur with the added lessons gained from publishing his last two books without the aid of the traditional publishing machine.

APE is meant to introduce the concept of ?artisinal publishing? as a powerful avenue for anyone wishing to get their message heard in the form of a book much like an artist practicing and promoting their craft might do.

As someone that?s written several books I can tell you that if you have a desire to write a book, but have no desire to publish on your own, the section on writing a book is worth the money. If you do plan to write and publish your own work the guidance on the very specific elements of editing, formatting and submitting digital books is a gold mine.

I do believe that we have come to a point where honing and communicating a specific point of view is an essential practice in the worlds of coaching, consulting and marketing and a book is one format to do so.

More importantly perhaps is that you practice your craft in a way that allows you to gain the experience and insight needed to construct a point of view worth sharing ? do that and you?re on your way to writing that book.

Source: http://www.bostonprintingservices.net/does-every-consultant-need-to-write-a-book/

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Source: http://leslielenz3.posterous.com/does-every-consultant-need-to-write-a-book-ma

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Source: http://ooptue.posterous.com/does-every-consultant-need-to-write-a-book-ma

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Source: http://ebariegop.posterous.com/does-every-consultant-need-to-write-a-book-ma

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Cost of Dying: Discovering a better way for final days - Contra Costa ...

Almost a year ago, we started a profoundly personal conversation about the sorry state of dying in America.

The discussion, inspired by my frail 88-year-old father's expensive hospital death, has taught me that too much drama and desperation consume our final days, lending them too little dignity.

Today, I want to build on our conversation and prescribe a cure -- a new way of considering end-of-life medicine -- in the final installment of our yearlong examination of the emotional and financial Cost of Dying.

It is not a drug or a device, a test or therapy. It is a different way of organizing our ending -- so that we live our last days better and pass more gently.

Powerful lessons have emerged from the stories of suffering and triumph we have shared -- not only through the reporting but from dozens and sometimes hundreds of emails and phone calls from readers. Together, we've met Bay Area people like Ray Brown, who showed how agonizing it can be when a loved one's end-of-life wishes are unknown. And doctors like Jessica Zitter, who insists it's the doctor's job to help families decide whether it's time to quit. We admired the resolve of Bill Newman, who wears his end-of-life wishes on a homemade "Do Not Resuscitate" badge, and marveled at caregivers like Susan Meyers who sacrificed her own well-being to allow her beloved husband, John, to die at home.

And we were privileged to share Gayla Caliva's own goodbye, as the retired

hospice nurse from San Jose chose to enjoy stargazing and spicy foods with friends instead of exhausting and painful dialysis.

The real miracle? Places as different as a community in Wisconsin and Oakland's Highland Hospital are showing the way to a death that is kinder and less expensive. Medicare has become the single biggest contributor to the country's long-term budget deficit, according to the Congressional Budget Office. And a quarter or more of Medicare costs are incurred in the last year of life.

"Everyone says they don't want to die in a hospital, with tubes in every orifice," said U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo. She saw the two paths of medicine when her parents died. She lost her 92-year-old mother after an angioplasty meant to improve her life instead led to intensive care and nine months of decline. Her father, in contrast, died after five days in hospice, his pain controlled.

If we want to improve end-of-life care, "there are ways to do it -- but we have to commit to it," she said.

Some of the solutions can start at home tonight, at the dinner table. Others are more formidable, requiring doctors, hospitals and federal health policy to change.

Our conversation has taught us that, yes, there is a cure for the cost of dying in America. It will reduce suffering and expense, and here's how we begin:

Cure 1: Take charge of our deaths by putting wishes in writing

While 82 percent of Californians say it is important to have end-of-life wishes in writing, only 23 percent of us have done so, according to a poll by the California HealthCare Foundation.

And that changes with you.

Newman, an 87-year-old double bypass survivor from Capitola, taught us it's our responsibility to participate in decisions about our care and to delegate someone to represent us. Not only does he wear a DNR badge, he posted the same message on his refrigerator and shared it with his doctor and 10 children. Like him, we have a responsibility to speak up, before our voices weaken and fail.

You -- not doctors, not nurses -- are the expert on your wishes about end-of-life care. First, tell your loved ones. Secondly, appoint someone to act as your bedside advocate. Many new online resources can help you get started, such as The Conversation Project, advance care planning videos by the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California, and advance care directive forms at www.mercurynews.com/cost-of-dying.

If you or your loved one is seriously ill, frail or very elderly, ask your doctor for a POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form. The bright pink form turns your treatment wishes into a medical order.

Cure 2: Involve entire communities in commitment to planning

Doctors who don't know our wishes can't honor them. That's why one entire Wisconsin community set out to make sure its residents' end-of-life decisions were as much a part of their personal medical records as their blood pressure medications and peanut allergies.

The physician-led nonprofit Gundersen Lutheran Health System in La Crosse hired a facilitator whose sole job is to discuss advance planning with every patient -- even young, healthy people -- so that their wishes appear in electronic medical records easily transferred from facility to facility. This system, called "Respecting Choices," required an investment of time, money, training and organization. But the result? A stunning 96 percent of the community's adult residents who died during a seven-month period in 2010 had documented their wishes -- and end-of-life medical costs are low. "Respecting Choices'' has since been replicated in more than 60 organizations in the United States, as well as nationally in Australia and Singapore.

Oregon created a statewide electronic registry for POLST advance care directives in 2009. In 2011, the registry's second full year of operation, there were more than 200 instances when 911 medics racing to an emergency knew a person's medical wishes before they arrived.

Hospitals in California, like those in Wisconsin, could ensure that patient electronic records include an advance directive or POLST order, assuring rapid access to patients' end-of-life choices. Ultimately, a statewide registry, like Oregon's, could be created.

Cure 3: Encourage doctors to talk more frankly about choices

Doctors are adept at describing blood pressure, kidney function or cardiac output. But hospitals and medical schools need to do more to train doctors to answer questions about the effectiveness and necessity of treatment.

"It's scary for doctors to talk about," said Zitter of Oakland's Highland Hospital, who meets with families of ICU patients at least twice a day, often in tense circumstances. "It's much simpler to just keep treating the kidney problem, or the lung problem, without talking about it."

"But if people really understood the truth about their medical situation, they will make educated choices," she said. "They are less likely to get carried along this train ride of intensive care."

UC San Francisco and other schools are starting to train doctors how to break bad news and outline hard choices.

We can help, by asking critical questions: Is a cure still possible? What do you expect in the next few weeks or months? Is there treatment to prolong life? What kind of life will it be?

Cure 4: Pay doctors to help patients decide what's best for them

Doctors are paid to operate and prescribe drugs or radiation, but they aren't paid to talk to families.

Medicare and insurance companies need to reward doctors to guide families through essential medical decisions -- especially because these conversations can help us get the right care when it matters most, with big cost savings.

These are time-consuming dialogues. If another round of chemotherapy is attempted, what are the side effects? Will a feeding tube be temporary -- or permanent?

But the system discourages such engagement.

"Insurers, Medicare and Medi-Cal more readily pay for diagnosis and treatment than anything else that doctors do," said Dr. Ira Byock of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.

Early legislation to reform the nation's health care system tried to pay doctors for these conversations. But remember "death panels"? That partisan label torpedoed the idea by conjuring up images of bureaucrats deciding which patients were worthy of care.

But the idea is back, as U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., plans to reintroduce HR1589, the "Personalize Your Care Act" in the new session.

Cure 5: Avoid costly care that won't prolong or improve life

Medicare stimulates the creation of new tools to combat death -- even where effectiveness is questioned. That's because its reimbursement rules virtually guarantee that drug and device manufacturers have a market for any product aimed at people older than 65. And who profits? U.S. drug companies and device-makers who ring up hundreds of billions of dollars in domestic sales annually and make up a powerful lobby.

Since Medicare was established in 1965, it has precluded consideration of cost in coverage decisions. Changing the law could fix that.

For example, Medicare covers the $80,000 to $100,000 cost of the lung cancer drug bevacizumab, despite uncertain benefits in patients older than 65. It also pays for a $100,000 heart pump -- the ventricular heart assist device -- even though three of four recipients die within two years.

A feeding tube helped sustain Fran Cole's beloved mother when Parkinson's disease took away her ability to swallow. But as the disease progressed, and her mother became unresponsive, the tube's forced feeding became a curse.

Medicare should restrict payment for certain aggressive interventions in some dying patients, said Dr. Muriel Gillick, a geriatrician at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates.

So, if the National Institutes of Health determines that comfort care is the best approach to advanced Alzheimer's disease, Medicare shouldn't pay for ICU, CPR, dialysis or other interventions, according to Gillick.

Doctors, too, should be better gatekeepers. Blind application of rapidly developing medical technologies "to any and every patient is not good practice of medicine," said Dr. Jeffrey Stoneberg of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland.

They have a responsibility to use treatments on patients who will best benefit from them, he said, and to withhold therapies when the risks outweigh the benefits.

Hospitals need to exert their influence, not to create a financial barrier to survival, but to discourage extraordinary expenditures with little human payoff. Daly City's Seton Medical Center averts unnecessary or ineffective care through its "Medically Ineffective Care" policy. If a family insists on such care, the hospital can discharge the patient.

Cure 6: Offer better comfort care to patients in their final days

A lot of hospitals claim to have comfort, or palliative, care for dying patients. But there's no standard; at some places, such care may consist of a chaplain or part-time nurse who makes rounds to people in pain. Sometimes, patients and their families may not even know it exists.

This is a cure that hospitals can pioneer. Each facility needs a team of palliative care doctors and nurses to help us live every minute as richly as possible. The chronically ill need simple measures to control pain, ease anxiety and manage emphysema or heart failure. Give the team its own budget and make sure patients know it is available.

"If you do not know that there are other options to usual aggressive medical care, then you will never be able to choose them," Stoneberg said.

Some hospitals are even moving palliative care into the emergency room, to catch the very frail elderly before they are put on the "tube 'em and move 'em" conveyor belt to the ICU. New York's Montefiore Medical Center and Atlanta's Emory University are leading this effort, and their examples could be replicated nationwide.

Comfort care can even be moved into the community, keeping people like Marilyn Cronin, who at 58 suffers from lung disease and liver failure, in her Soquel home instead of the hospital. The Palo Alto Medical Foundation is successfully testing that approach, with old-fashioned house calls.

Cure 7: Pay families to help at home instead of using hospitals

Medicare will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for us to stay in the hospital, but it's far less generous if we want to take care of our chronically ill loved ones at home. It does not pay for a live-in nurse, homemaker or home health aide. Your family or hired caregivers must provide months of bedside care. It pays for a nurse to visit only if you are receiving comfort care through hospice or have a "skilled nursing" need, such as changing bandages.

Federal policymakers need to expand home care benefits to ease the burden and expense on family caregivers and to support choices that are usually cheaper for taxpayers than hospital care. The National Alliance for Caregiving is appealing to Congress to boost funding for assistance, counseling, respite and other services for caregivers.

Dr. John Meyers, 84, spent his final months at home in San Mateo, only because of the careful financial planning and tireless efforts of his wife, Susan.

One of six Californians know her struggle, as they care for a sick or elderly family member.

"As a family, we had no idea how unprepared we were to go through the process," wrote reader Debbie Gary, who helped care for her mother at home.

Cure 8: Broaden use of comfort care through Medicare, insurance

Medicare's outdated policies limit our access to cost-effective and comforting end-of-life care like hospice -- and federal legislators must change that.

Hospice was still an experiment in the early 1980s, when the Reagan administration allowed it to be covered under Medicare. Now it has been proved to reduce both costs and suffering -- but the tough eligibility requirements haven't changed.

For instance, Medicare pays for the comfort care of hospice only if we quit seeking a cure. It's a diabolical either-or choice.

There's another problem: Medicare won't pay for hospice unless we are diagnosed to die within six months. That often denies it to dementia patients, who tend to live longer than cancer or heart disease patients.

An experiment by the Aetna insurance company shows a better way. Its "Compassionate Care Enhanced Hospice" let members enroll in hospice while continuing treatment. It also accepted members with life expectancies of 12 months. The results: a decrease in costly emergency room and intensive care. In 2010, Aetna added the feature to most of its medical plans.

The new health care reform legislation includes plans for enhanced hospice with Medicare patients, but the projects haven't been funded.

  • n n

    Ultimately, the cure is acknowledging that pointless suffering, not death, is the foe.

    Our medical resources are squandered "when death is not seen as a natural part of life, but rather something that can be prevented or at least postponed as long as possible," said Stoneberg, the Alta Bates doctor.

    After writing about my father's death, I've learned what I can't change: illness, aging and death. They are painfully and inevitably the human condition.

    But our conversation has shown us how we can change: better informed decisions. Wiser use of technology. More judicious spending. Greater sensitivity. Less desperation.

    These lessons could cure the conflict between "do everything" medicine and our desires for a peaceful passing, making it affordable enough, and humane enough, to ease the painfully high cost of dying.

    Contact Lisa M. Krieger at 650-492-4098.

    Workshops
    Join Lisa M. Krieger for a discussion of advance care directives that empower you to appoint someone to make health care decisions for you when you can't. All three workshops run from 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Palo Alto: Jan. 7, Avenidas, 450 Bryant St. RSVP at 650-289-5400 or azacanti@avenidas.com. Parking free at the Bryant Street garage.
  • Lafayette: Jan. 8, library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Space limited, RSVP at www.surveymonkey.com/s/jan8directives. Livestreamed at www.mercurynews.com, www.insidebayarea.com and www.contracostatimes.com. Previous stories on this Website gave the wrong dates for this event and the Palo Alto event.
  • Walnut Creek: Jan. 14, Contra Costa Times, 2640 Shadelands Drive. On-site free parking. RSVP at www.surveymonkey.com/s/jan14directives.

    About the series
    This story is part of a series examining end-of-life issues inspired by the emotional and financial costs of the final days of reporter Lisa M. Krieger's father.
    Online extra
    For information on how to manage your end-of life-care and to see other Cost of Dying stories, go to www.mercurynews.com/cost of dying.

  • Source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_22278024/cost-dying-discovering-better-way-final-days?source=rss

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    শনিবার, ২৯ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২

    Last ditch effort to avoid fiscal cliff under way

    WASHINGTON (AP) ? The end game at hand, the White House and Senate leaders launched a final attempt at compromise Friday night in hopes of preventing a toxic blend of middle-class tax increases and spending cuts from taking effect at the turn of the new year.

    "I am hopeful and optimistic" of reaching an agreement after months of gridlock, the Senate Republican Leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said after a meeting with President Barack Obama and top congressional leaders at the White House.

    He said he hoped for a compromise that could be presented to rank and file lawmakers by Sunday, little more than 24 hours before the year-end deadline.

    Said Majority Leader Harry Reid said, "I'm going to do everything I can" to prevent the tax increases and spending cuts that threaten to send the economy into recession. He cautioned, "Whatever we come up with is going to be imperfect.

    Success was far from guaranteed in an atmosphere of political mistrust ? even on a slimmed-down deal that postponed hard decisions about spending cuts into 2013 ? in a Capitol where lawmakers grumbled about the likelihood of spending the new year holiday in the Capitol.

    "The clock is ticking," Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in remarks on the Senate floor as Obama and congressional leaders were meeting several blocks away at the White House. "My message to them is simple. We can do this. We can get this done, and we must," added the Montana Democrat.

    Congressional Democrats said Obama was ready with a revised offer to present.

    But that drew a denial from a person familiar with the talks, who said the president would review his proposal from a week ago, when he urged lawmakers to preserve tax cuts for most while letting rates rise above incomes of $250,000 a year. At the same time, Obama said lawmakers should extend unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless. The person was unauthorized to discuss the private meeting publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

    The meeting lasted a little over an hour and neither the president nor the four lawmakers spoke with reporters before or immediately after the session.

    The guest list included two Republicans, House Speaker John Boehner, and McConnell; as well as Democrats Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, her party's leader in the House.

    The same group last met more than a month ago and emerged expressing optimism they could strike a deal that avoided the fiscal cliff. At that point, Boehner had already said he was willing to let tax revenues rise as part of an agreement, and the president and his Democratic allies said they were ready to accept spending cuts.

    Since then, though, talks between Obama and Boehner faltered, the speaker struggled to control his rebellious rank and file, and Reid and McConnell sparred almost daily in speeches on the Senate floor. Through it all, Wall Street has paid close attention, and in the moments before the meeting, stocks were trading lower for the fifth day in a row.

    The core issue is the same as it has been for more than a year, Obama's demand for tax rates to rise on upper incomes while remaining at current levels for most Americans. He made the proposal central to his successful campaign for re-election, when he said incomes above $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples should rise to 39.6 percent from the current 35 percent.

    Boehner refused for weeks to accept any rate increases, and simultaneously accused Obama of skimping on the spending cuts he would support as part of a balanced deal to reduce deficits, remove the threat of spending cuts and prevent the across-the-board tax cuts.

    Last week, the Ohio Republican pivoted and presented a Plan B measure that would have let rates rise on million-dollar earners. That was well above Obama's latest offer, which called for a $400,000 threshold, but more than the speaker's rank and file were willing to accept.

    Facing defeat, Boehner scrapped plans for a vote, leaving the economy on track for the cliff that political leaders in both parties had said they could avoid. In the aftermath, Democrats said they doubted any compromise was possible until Boehner has been elected to a second term as speaker when the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3.

    Apart from income tax rates, congressional officials in both parties said a handful of other issues were the subject of private talks in the Capitol. These included the Alternative Minimum Tax, which would effectively raise taxes on millions of upper-middle-class families unless Congress acts; as well as taxes on capital gains, dividends and estates.

    In addition, benefits for the long-term unemployed are due to expire in the next few days, and doctors face the prospect of a deep cut in the fees they receive for treating Medicare patients unless legislation is passed to prevent it.

    Further compounding the year-end maneuvering, there are warnings that the price of milk could virtually double beginning next year.

    Congressional officials said that under current law, the federal government is obligated to maintain prices so that fluid milk sells for about $20 per hundredweight. If the law lapses, the Department of Agriculture would be required to maintain a price closer to $36 of $38 per hundredweight, they said. It is unclear when price increases might be felt by consumers.

    ______

    Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Andrew Taylor contributed to this report.

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/last-ditch-effort-avoid-fiscal-cliff-under-way-224121210--politics.html

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    Video: What's the 'Cliff' Fix?

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    Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/50315646/

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    Lindsay Lohan: London Luxury Lady

    Posted Saturday December 29, 2012 12:40 PM GMT

    Showing off her luxurious lifestyle despite recent financial woes, Lindsay Lohan arrived at the Dorchester hotel in London, England on Saturday (December 29).

    The "Mean Girls" star wore a long, expensive-looking fur coat with black-heeled boots as she smiled at paparazzi before making her way inside the swanky digs.

    As previously reported by GossipCenter, the 26-year-old actress will be featured on an upcoming episode of "Million Dollar Decorators."

    Along with host Kathryn Ireland, the fiery redhead sets out to redecorate her home on a budget of $250,000. A clip of the episode includes Lindsay admitting, "I got bored so I started decorating with Chanel."

    Source: http://gossipcenter.com/lindsay-lohan/lindsay-lohan-london-luxury-lady-783276

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    শুক্রবার, ২৮ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২

    Health and Fitness of Your Pet Horses ? Absolutely No Horsing ...

    Posted on 16 December 2012.

    Petting a horse is not a unique concept and many people these days have amazing facilities for their animal. However, the fact remains that not all can afford to own a horse. The idea of owning a horse is great, but it is indeed challenging and is no where close to adopting a cat or dog. No matter how many pets you have at home, the care and attention that a horse needs is quite different. Starting from the space it needs, grooming, food and training, everything has to be perfect.

    You need to have a big farm, if you wish to pet a horse. Horses are wonderful and should be treated with due respect and care. If you are not able to manage a horse, and yet wish to have one, then it is better to hire a professional to do so. These professionals are well trained and you need no worry at all once you have hired them.

    Important point for feeding the horse

    You should feed the horse depending upon its health, age, activities and season. Some horses may eat more while the others have limited diet. Healthy diet plays a very important role in the growth process of the horse. Food for horses is available easily in the market, which is specifically produced keeping their body requirements in mind.

    It is a pleasure watching a well maintained horse galloping in your farm. Your beautiful animal is sure to attract a number of eyes in the neighborhood. You could blend a few of the food items to ensure a healthy diet for your pet. When purchasing food for horse always look for the best brand. It is better to buy food items, which are of good quality, even if it is a little expensive.

    Where to buy food products for your lovely pet?

    Always choose the right food products made with healthy ingredients, which will ensure that your animal remains fit and disease free. Not all food products that are highly priced are good. There are many producers who sell their merchandizes for cheaper prices with excellent quality.

    Instead of running around from one store to another, you could buy horse food from the online vendors. They not only offer you a variety of merchandizes, but also discounts that you could use. Once you?ve placed an order for what you like, and made the payment for the discounted amount, you can relax and wait for the product to be delivered at your doorstep.

    The biggest advantage of buying these products online is that, you will sometimes get the best quality for same value. There are many brands that sell all the horse related accessories online too. The best way to judge a vendor is to go through reviews about his or her products, which are easily found posted on the online forums. They give you a better idea about its ingredients, effects on animals and others.

    What should you know before buying a horse?

    The first thing is to figure out why you need a horse? It is for your passion or profession? Once you are clear about this, you?ll then need to find out how to maintain it based on your requirements. Horses that are meant to stay in the farm are treated much differently than the ones for the races. Their needs are different and are brought up in a unique manner.

    The horses that are petted for professional needs should ideally be much stronger and active. They are fed different kind of food, which is rich in proteins, carbohydrates and other nutrients to ensure that their health is not compromised under any circumstances. On the other hand, a farm horse has different diet and thus, it needs to be looked into carefully.

    Author?s Bio:

    Devin is a popular contractor, and he mainly provides information on metal building, pole barns, storage sheds, farm machines, and others. His posts on construction lien are quite resourceful to our readers.

    Source: http://www.imuurme.com/pets/health-and-fitness-of-your-pet-horses-absolutely-no-horsing-around-with-it

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    Hypnotherapy - nkigoruma's posterous

    ?

    Hypnotherapy is frequently the 1st option for phobias, confidence, smoking, and fat problems. As a hypnotherapist in the active centre of London, I have noticed two kinds of hypnotherapy enquiries.

    ?

    ?

    ?

    Initial of all, some history. As far back again as civilisation goes, there have been clever adult males and ladies who support us with our emotional difficulties. And just the perception that the clever 1 will assist us is often plenty of to provide about transform. Individuals have been offered trance-inducing medicines, magic spells, mystical chat in other words, hypnosis. Or at minimum, a strong element of hypnosis was involved.

    ?

    ??

    ?

    In the 1900s, some western physicians with an curiosity in the thoughts attained enhancements by putting their clients in a trance and regressing them back to their childhood, uncovering root brings about to current behaviour. This early function was greatly enhanced on by great folks these as Milton Erickson, who also utilised trance, establishing hypnotherapy as it is practised these days. From this, NLP, or Neuro-Linguistic Programming produced.

    ?

    Despite the fact that NLP is now used in the hypnotic trance state by most hypnotherapists, it was to begin with mostly sold as a self-help technique. Today many self-improvement seminars, courses, movies, and textbooks use NLP ideas to encourage positive adjust.

    ?

    A single NLP Grasp, Gary Craig, produced one more self-aid method, EFT, from TFT (Imagined Field Treatment, an acupressure-centered sort of psychotherapy). EFT stands for Psychological Independence Methods and requires the body's electromagnetism to improve the mind's wellbeing. EFT self-assist workshops, how-to guides and DVDs are now mushrooming in popularity. Not like a non-participatory speak or lecture, EFT is bodily experienced and entails energetic participation of the workshop attendee. Due to EFT's simplicity and effectiveness, many therapists are incorporating it into their practice, including hypnotherapists.

    ?

    These modern-day approaches supply up to a total relief from sadness, fear, and anger. Most importantly, they free of charge the individual to are living in a really joyful state of contentment and peace. Obviously, hypnotherapists utilizing them expertly for their clients often have no need to have to utilize the passive hypnosis trance and merely give the customer hypnotic suggestions in an lively way.

    ?

    So hypnotherapy is a technique which started out as a entirely passive treatment and is building into a a lot more energetic method. This has resulted in two various types of requests for hypnotherapy treatment method. I classify these into Historic Shopper and Passive Shopper.

    ?

    The Historic Consumer is aware that hypnosis has been about productively for numerous years. They may possibly have friends, family, or colleagues who accomplished results with hypnotherapy. The Historic Client remembers viewing strong hypnosis on stage or on Tv. This consumer tends to makedecisions primarily based on evidence and asks for hypnotherapy because of purely to conviction by the evidence.

    ?

    The Passive Consumer was conditioned during life to get a back again seat. ??For more about this go to?Hypnotherapy?site.?

    Source: http://knxmnoxxi.devhub.com/blog/1096524-hypnotherapy/

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    Source: http://nkigoruma.posterous.com/hypnotherapy

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    Pets of the Week | Local News | Summerville Journal Scene ...


    Pets of the Week

    Published Thursday, December 27, 2012 9:51 PM

    Summerville Journal Scene ?

    Georgia

    Tiny

    Tiny is one of the many kittens we have at the shelter.? She is a beautiful 4-month-old Domestic Shorthair mix.? Tiny is spayed and microchipped.

    ?

    ?

    Meet Georgia. She is an amazing girl with lots of personality. Georgia was dumped at an elementary school and left to fend for herself. She was a bit timid at first, not wanting to get caught, so it took about two weeks to gain her trust. Georgia lives in a pet-foster home with a 7-year-old child, a 12-year-old dog, and a few cats. She gets along with everyone and is just a pleasure to be around. When Georgia is happy or excited, she will grab the nearest shoe (or toy) laying around and walk with it - she won't chew it - she'll just walk around with it, wagging her tail. Georgia loves to own her territory and refuses to let squirrels in her domain. For this reason, she will require a high fence in order to keep her from chasing the pesky beasts until she catches them. Georgia is housetrained, as well as crate trained - a truly great foster addition to our home. If you would like to meet this special girl, please call her foster mom at 843-821-2973 or 843-901-9634

    The Frances R. Willis SPCA is open Mon, Tue, Thurs 12-5 and Fri-Sun 10-5. We are closed on Wednesdays. You can view all of the adoptable pets online at www.summervillespca.org. We are always looking for foster homes for our animals and we greatly appreciate any and all donations. Feel free to call the shelter with any questions at 843-871-3820. Our mailing address is PO Box 1116 Summerville, SC 29484 and our physical address is 136 Four Paws Lane Summerville, SC.

    Available for Adoption:? (use for both weeks)

    ?

    Cats ? 12

    Kittens ? 8

    Dogs ? 28

    Puppies - 2


    Notice about comments:

    Journalscene.com ? is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Journalscene.com ? does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Journalscene.com ?. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.

    Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by reading our terms and conditions, and then signing up below!

    ?

    Source: http://www.journalscene.com/news/Pets-of-the-Week2012-12-27T18-52-14

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    Democrats Seek the Holy Grail of Gun Control (Powerlineblog)

    Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

    Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273413010?client_source=feed&format=rss

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    বৃহস্পতিবার, ২৭ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২

    Basic Business Communications Tools For Your Company?s Success

    High end business communications systems are essential for your company?s success. They can make it easier for employees to contact your customers, partners and suppliers. How well you communicate plays an important role because the quality of your communication services can affect customer satisfaction levels. If you don?t respond quickly to your customer queries, their satisfaction levels are likely to drop. Effective business communication is the key to ensuring uninterrupted work of your staff and the success of your marketing campaigns because if any element of your business communication system fails, you can miss out on sales. Here are some of the most important business communications tools that can improve reaching out to the customers.

    Business phones

    Virtually every company needs a good office phone system to communicate effectively.

    You can opt for a system which handles switchboard functions externally so you don?t have to install and manage equipment in your company. Some office telephone systems form part of a unified messaging system, combining different methods of business communications so you can have voicemail sent to you in an audio file attached to an email. You can also consider outsourcing your business phones completely and have a virtual reception answer calls for you or you can outsource your call centre to save money, particularly for seasonal sales.

    Business mobile phones

    Mobile phones give you extra flexibility and make your business communication easier.

    Thanks to a wide range of equipment and services available, you can easily find and implement the best mobile phone service for your company. Mobile phones can help your staff stay in touch when they?re out of the office, send and receive email when travelling or even divert all calls to their mobile phone when working from home. Business mobile phones are essential for employees who are on call too. There are a number of different mobile phone networks, offering different tariffs so it?s better to evaluate these tariffs carefully as most deals only look attractive and may have steep hidden charges.

    Business conferencing systems

    With business conferencing systems you can hold meetings between people in different locations. These business communications systems include conference calling, online meeting spaces and video conferencing. Conferencing systems are designed to cut costs as well as make it easier to hold regular meetings and share information. There are lots of low-cost conference call services, where all you need to pay is the cost of the call. These services are suitable for occasional conference calls and usually allow about 20 people to join a meeting. Most conference call providers also offer paid subscriptions so you only pay a charge for cheaper dial-in costs and extra functions like call recording.

    There are plenty of business communications services and equipment offered by a whole range of suppliers. One company may be responsible for the physical infrastructure like your Internet connection and phone lines while another can take care of software and services like collaboration tools and email systems. When planning an investment in your business communication system, establish what you need from it before you buy specific equipment or services.

    Source: http://www.haz-split.org/business-basic/basic-business-communications-tools-for-your-companys-success.html

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    Cloud Computing, More Than Just Hype

    C. J. Mackey is a working mother of three, balancing a full time career while taking an active role in her children's lives. She has an advanced degree in engineering and over twenty years making technology decisions for fortune 500 companies. For further details visit http://cjmackeypress.com/

    View all articles by C. J Mackey \As head of Operations and Technology at my current company, I have personally seen the explosion of the term "Cloud" from every vendor who contacts me. But like any other clever marketing term, you have to look behind the hype to see what exactly is being offered and what value it has to you as a business.

    Cloud Computing refers to the hosted offering of infrastructure and development platforms , made possible by the Internet, or "Cloud." It is not a new concept, as Software as a Service (SaaS) providers like Salesforce, have offered Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software in the cloud for the past decade. But it grew in popularity as virtualization technology improved to the point that vendors could easily spin up, and support virtual servers, at a cost effective model for themselves and their customers.

    Cloud Computing can be divided into three major categories being provided by vendors: Infrastructure , Platform and Software. Infrastructure is the provisioning of virtual servers, firewalls, load balancers and network switches. It is in this area that most executives and business stakeholders have taken notice. Because of the delays and costs associated with getting physical or virtual servers setup internally in the organization, the prospect of be able to create a virtual server from a provider in a manner of minutes is incredibly attractive. Add to that the concept of "pay what you use" where you only pay for server processing time, and which allows you to grow and shrink environments at will, and you've gotten senior leadership's attention. We had a development project where the estimated internal infrastructure costs were around $500,000. Instead we chose to use Amazon Cloud at the cost of $4,500 per month.

    Platform offerings go further to offer application, database and web tiers on top of the infrastructure. Some

    affiliate_link platform offerings like Microsoft Azure are proprietary. Others are open platforms that allow you to develop in the language you are comfortable in. Many providers make the offering especially attractive by providing services like high availability, or deployment tools and processes, so you as the customer don't have to worry about having that internal expertise.

    Software offerings like Salesforce or Zuora allow you to purchase licenses for total solutions that can be customized for you, and integrated to your environment through a documented API. So you don't as a business have to worry about developing commodity software like CRM or Billing platforms, you can instead focus on developing software around your own intellectual property. We migrated from an internal Siebel implementation to a cloud based Salesforce one three years ago and saw our system availability increase tenfold.

    Cloud Computing has certainly sparked the interest of business and technology people alike. But it isn't a magic bullet. Many providers are new to the concept and are still establishing all the costing models, stability and processes needed to be successful. Each provider also has its own constraints that you have to be aware of, such as bandwidth or storage limitations. It is certainly worth it for organizations to evaluate and selectively move components of their environments there. But be cautious before jumping in full tilt.

    C. J. Mackey is a working mother of three, balancing a full time career while taking an active role in her children's lives. She has an advanced degree in engineering and over twenty years making technology decisions for fortune 500 companies. For further details visit http://cjmackeypress.com/

    C. J. Mackey is a working mother of three, balancing a full time career while taking an active role in her children's lives. She has an advanced degree in engineering and over twenty years making technology decisions for fortune 500 companies. For further details visit http://cjmackeypress.com/

    Source: http://www.articlesbd.com/articles/302709/1/Cloud-Computing-More-Than-Just-Hype/Page1.html

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    Sergei Magnitsky Case: Prosecutors Drop Accusations In Death Of Whistleblower

    By Steve Gutterman

    MOSCOW, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Russian prosecutors on Monday dropped their accusations against the only person being tried in connection with the prison death of anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, asking a court to find a former prison official not guilty.

    The surprise move in the trial of Dmitry Kratov came in the midst of a row between Moscow and Washington over U.S. legislation meant to punish Russians seen as linked to the death of Magnitsky and other alleged human rights violations.

    If the court clears Kratov, a former deputy head of a jail where Magnitsky spent part of a year, it will fuel accusations by Kremlin critics that the Russian government has no intention of seeking justice in a case that has blackened Russia's image.

    "We have not determined what happened, and the biggest tragedy here is that ... this may have been our last chance to ask questions" of people who may have been involved, said Dmitry Kharitonov, a lawyer for Magnitsky's widow and family.

    U.S. President Barack Obama on Dec. 14 signed a law known as the Magnitsky Act, which directs his administration to bar accused Russian human rights violators from entering the United States and freeze any assets they have in U.S. banks.

    Russia is retaliating with a bill expected to be approved by the upper house of parliament this week. It would apply similar measures to Americans accused of violating the rights of Russians and also bar Americans from adopting Russian children.

    Magnitsky died in November 2009 after nearly a year in jail - the victim, former colleagues say, of retribution from the same police investigators he had accused of stealing $230 million from the state through fraudulent tax refunds.

    His death caused an international outcry and Kremlin critics said it underscored the dangers risks run by Russians who challenge the authorities. The Kremlin's own human rights council said Magnitsky was probably beaten to death.

    ROLE REVERSAL

    Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's president at the time, fired several senior prison officials and ordered a investigation, but Kratov, charged with negligence, is the only person now on trial or facing trial in connection with his death.

    State prosecutor Konstantin Bokov told the court there was no direct link between the actions of Kratov - who he said followed the rules of his job and had never received a health complaint from Magnitsky - and the lawyer's death.

    The court is expected to rule on Friday on Kratov's guilt or innocence.

    Kharitonov said a guilty verdict was still possible but unlikely, and he accused the prosecutors of avoiding testimony by several witnesses by saying last week that there was enough evidence for a guilty verdict and speeding the trial to an end.

    "The prosecutors essentially defended Kratov, rather than prosecuting him," he said in an interview on cable TV and internet channel Dozhd.

    He said he believed Russian prosecutors want Kratov cleared to avoid any suggestion they themselves are culpable in the death of Magnitsky, which occurred after prosecutors backed efforts to keep him in jail on tax evasion charges.

    Kharitonov said the prosecutors also wanted to ensure they were on the right side in the conflict over the new U.S. law.

    "The easiest thing for the prosecutor's office to do is to say that nobody is guilty - and if nobody is guilty, then why is the Magnitsky Act needed?" the lawyer said.

    He said Magnitsky's family would demand that the state continue investigating his death.

    Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

    Also on HuffPost:

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    Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/25/sergei-magnitsky-case-pro_n_2362988.html

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    Hero dog missing snout seems to have beaten cancer

    File - In this August, 12, 2012 file photo provided by the University of California, Davis, a Bunggal family member plays with Kabang the dog in the Philippines. A veterinarian at the University of California, Davis, has some good news about a dog from the Philippines who became an international hero after sacrificing its snout to save two young girls. Veterinarian Gina Davis says the dog named Kabang appears to have beaten the cancer it was suffering from. (AP Photo/UC Davis, Anton Lim, File)

    File - In this August, 12, 2012 file photo provided by the University of California, Davis, a Bunggal family member plays with Kabang the dog in the Philippines. A veterinarian at the University of California, Davis, has some good news about a dog from the Philippines who became an international hero after sacrificing its snout to save two young girls. Veterinarian Gina Davis says the dog named Kabang appears to have beaten the cancer it was suffering from. (AP Photo/UC Davis, Anton Lim, File)

    (AP) ? A veterinarian at the University of California, Davis, has some good news about a dog from the Philippines who became an international hero after sacrificing her snout to save two young girls.

    After completing six weekly intravenous chemotherapy infusions, Kabang appears to have beaten the cancer she was suffering from, Gina Davis, the primary care veterinarian at the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in Davis, told the San Francisco Chronicle (http://bit.ly/Ti87pl).

    The dog, however, is still facing treatment for heartworms in her arteries before she can have the gaping wound on her face closed. Full treatment of that condition was put on hold during cancer therapy.

    Kabang ? a female mongrel ? had the first of three arsenic-based heartworm shots on Dec. 4 and is expected to receive the other two in the second week of January, Davis said.

    "It will be one to two months for her to recover from that before she goes in and has the surgery," Davis said.

    Kabang had her snout and upper jaw sheared off when she jumped in front of a speeding motorcycle, saving her owner's daughter and niece from serious injury or death, according to newspaper reports in the Philippines.

    The dog ended up in Davis earlier this year after a nurse from Buffalo, N.Y., spearheaded a fundraising campaign to bring her to the U.S. Veterinarians in the Philippines were apparently unable to treat her injuries.

    Surgeons are planning to perform two or three procedures. The first will involve dental work, extractions and covering exposed roots.

    They will then try to close the dog's wound and restore nasal functions. The dog's bony structures are currently exposed to air, increasing the chance of infection, Davis said.

    Kabang may return to the Philippines in May or June. The bill for her treatment is expected to top $10,000.

    Davis said despite Kabang's many conditions, the dog appears to be in good spirits.

    "She has come through everything very well," Davis said. "Her appetite is still good. She's still bright and happy."

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-25-US-Dog-Missing-Snout/id-b94a23c53d08434bb82218f16ee3ba51

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    Firemen's killer left chilling note, deaths at 3

    WEBSTER, N.Y. (AP) ? An ex-con killed two firefighters with the same caliber and make military-style rifle used in the Connecticut school massacre after typing a note pledging to burn down his neighborhood and "do what I like doing best, killing people," police said Tuesday as another body, believed to be the gunman's missing sister, was found.

    William Spengler, 62, who served 17 years in prison for manslaughter in the 1980 hammer slaying of his grandmother, set his house afire before dawn Christmas Eve before taking a revolver, a shotgun and a semiautomatic rifle to a sniper position outside, Police Chief Gerald Pickering said.

    The death toll rose to three as police revealed that a body believed to be the killer's 67-year-old sister, Cheryl Spengler, was found in his fire-ravaged home.

    Authorities say he sprayed bullets at the first responders, killing two firefighters and injuring two others who remained hospitalized Tuesday in stable condition, awake and alert and expected to survive. He then killed himself as seven houses burned on a sliver of land along Lake Ontario.

    Police recovered a military-style .223-caliber semiautomatic Bushmaster rifle with flash suppression, the same make and caliber weapon used in the elementary school massacre in Newtown, Conn., that killed 26, including 20 young children, Pickering said.

    The chief said it was believed the firefighters were hit with shots from the rifle given the distance but the investigation was incomplete.

    "He was equipped to go to war, kill innocent people," the chief said.

    The two- to three-page typewritten rambling note left by Spengler did not reveal what set off the killer or provide a motive for the shootings, Pickering said. He called the attack a "clear ambush on first responders."

    He declined to reveal the note's full content or say where it was found. He read only one chilling line: "I still have to get ready to see how much of the neighborhood I can burn down, and do what I like doing best, killing people."

    Pickering said it was unclear whether the person believed to be Spengler's sister died before or during the fire.

    "It was a raging inferno in there," Pickering said.

    A next-door neighbor said Spengler hated his sister and they lived on opposite sides of the house.

    Roger Vercruysse said Spengler loved his mother, Arline, who died in October after living with her son and daughter in the house in a neighborhood of seasonal and year-round homes across the road from a lakeshore popular with recreational boaters.

    As Pickering described it and as emergency radio communications on the scene showed, the heavily armed Spengler took a position behind a small hill by the house as four firefighters arrived after 5:30 a.m. to extinguish the fire: two on a fire truck; two in their own vehicles.

    They were immediately greeted by bullets from Spengler, who wore dark clothing. Volunteer firefighter and police Lt. Michael Chiapperini, 43, driving the truck, was killed by gunfire as the windshield before him was shattered. Also killed was Tomasz Kaczowka, 19, who worked as a 911 dispatcher.

    Several firefighters went beneath the truck to shield themselves as an off-duty police officer who was passing by pulled his vehicle alongside the truck to try to shield them, authorities said.

    The first police officer who arrived chased and exchanged shots with Spengler, recounting it later over his police radio.

    "I could see the muzzle blasts comin' at me. ... I fired four shots at him. I thought he went down," the officer said.

    At another point, he said: "I don't know if I hit him or not. He's by a tree. ... He was movin' eastbound on the berm when I was firing shots." Pickering portrayed him as a hero who saved many lives.

    The audio posted on the website RadioReference.com also has someone reporting "firefighters are down" and saying "got to be rifle or shotgun ? high-powered ... semi or fully auto."

    Spengler had been charged with murder in his grandmother's death but pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter, apparently to spare his family a trial. After he was freed from prison, Spengler ? a felon who wasn't allowed to possess weapons ? had lived a quiet life on Lake Road on a narrow peninsula where Irondequoit Bay meets Lake Ontario.

    That ended when he left his burning home Monday morning, armed with his three weapons and a lot of ammunition.

    "I'm not sure we'll ever know what was going through his mind," Pickering said.

    ___

    Esch reported from Albany. Associated Press writer Larry Neumeister in New York City also contributed to this report.

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/firemens-killer-left-chilling-note-deaths-3-223847945.html

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    Nurse flees to Zimbabwe after battering UK girlfriend - Nehanda Radio

    SURREY (UK) ? A Zimbabwean born nurse is on the run after being caught on CCTV beating up his girlfriend. Malvern Kurehwa (38) is being sought by Surrey Police for a separate matter and it is believed he has fled to Zimbabwe.

    Police make an arrest in the UK

    Police make an arrest in the UK

    Kurehwa, from Rosehill, had pleaded guilty to battery of his girlfriend at Sutton Magistrates Court on October 20, 2009 and was ordered to pay a fine of ?230. As a result of the sentence, Kurehwa was told by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) his fitness to practice as a mental health nurse was compromised.

    He was due to face the NMC on December 14 to hear the panel determine his future, but he failed to show up. He informed the panel in October this year that he was raising funds for a flight in order to attend the hearing. A panel decided in his absence that he should be struck off the nursing register.

    The panel concluded that ?there is a real, current need for public protection in this case?. At the hearing at the International Dispute Resolutions Centre on Fleet Street, Central London, the panel heard about the incident which gave rise to his conviction.

    On October 18, 2009, Kurehwa had called police from a phonebox in Rosehill claiming he was being attacked by his girlfriend.

    However, CCTV footage in fact showed him punching his girlfriend in the head at least four times whilst holding her around her neck before dragging her to the floor and pushing her across the road.

    A report of the NMC hearing said: ?In considering Kurehwa?s fitness to practise, the panel reminded itself of its duty to protect patients and its wider duty to protect the public interest which includes the declaring and upholding of proper standards of conduct and behaviour.

    ?The panel considered that Kurehwa?s actions are fundamentally incompatible with remaining on the register.?

    Meanwhile, a Zimbabwean woman has admitted having false documentation, which allowed her to work as a nurse with Scotland?s largest health board. Asylum seeker Doreen Mutasa (31), was refused leave to stay in the United Kingdom in 2004 but was granted a temporary stay in 2010 on condition that she did not work.

    The UK Border Agency later discovered that the Zimbabwean national had been using a false UK residence permit. Mustasa worked with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde from 2008 until 2012.?Surrey Comet/BBC

    ?

    To help maintain editorial independence Nehanda Radio relies on donations from readers like you. No donation is too small or too big. Help by donating to fund our operations.

    Source: http://nehandaradio.com/2012/12/24/nurse-flees-to-zimbabwe-after-battering-uk-girlfriend/

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    মঙ্গলবার, ২৫ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২

    Sam Seder on the ?War on Christmas? (vintage video, funny as hell) (Americablog)

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    4 firefighters shot, 2 fatally, in western NY

    WEBSTER, N.Y. (AP) ? Four volunteer firefighters responding to a pre-dawn house fire were shot Monday morning, two fatally, leading to a shootout in suburban Rochester, N.Y., police said.

    "One or more shooters" fired at the firefighters after they arrived shortly after 5:30 a.m. at the blaze near the Lake Ontario shore, just east of Rochester, Town of Webster Police Chief Gerald Pickering said.

    There was no active shooter at the scene later Monday morning, according to Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn. The first Webster police officer who arrived on the scene exchanged gunfire with the shooter, Flynn said, but he had no other information on the shootout.

    The West Webster Fire District received a report of a car and house on fire on Lake Road, on a narrow peninsula where Irondequoit Bay meets Lake Ontario, Flynn said.

    "When they got there, they stated to take on rounds and the initial responders were struck," the sheriff said.

    The fire started in one home and spread to two others and a car, officials said.

    The two wounded firefighters were in critical condition at a Rochester hospital, Flynn said.

    Webster, a middle-class, lakeside suburb, now is the scene of violence linked to house fires for two Decembers in a row.

    Last Dec. 7, authorities say, a 15-year-old boy doused his home with gasoline and set it ablaze, killing his father and two brothers, 16 and 12. His mother and 13-year-old sister escaped with injuries. He is being prosecuted as an adult.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-12-24-Fire-Shooting/id-863b95f3b06f4de8a8a6a2cc34a94b48

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    সোমবার, ২৪ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২

    'Hobbit' extends No. 1 journey with $36.7 million

    From left, Andy Serkis, Peter Jackson, James Nesbitt, Martin Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Richard Armitage and Ian McKellan at the UK premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" at The Odeon Leicester Square,London on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP)

    From left, Andy Serkis, Peter Jackson, James Nesbitt, Martin Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Richard Armitage and Ian McKellan at the UK premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" at The Odeon Leicester Square,London on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP)

    FILE - This publicity film image released by Paramount Pictures shows Tom Cruise in a scene from "Jack Reacher." Cruise plays a former military cop investigating a sniper case. Just turned 50, and just out with his latest action flick, ?Jack Reacher,? Cruise remains one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures, Karen Ballard, File)

    (AP) ? Tiny hobbit Bilbo Baggins is running circles around some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

    Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" took in $36.7 million to remain No. 1 at the box office for the second-straight weekend, easily beating a rush of top-name holiday newcomers.

    Part one of Jackson's prelude to his "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, the Warner Bros. release raised its domestic total to $149.9 million after 10 days. The film added $91 million overseas to bring its international total to $284 million and its worldwide haul to $434 million.

    "The Hobbit" took a steep 57 percent drop from its domestic $84.6 million opening weekend, but business was soft in general as many people skipped movies in favor of last-minute Christmas preparations.

    "The real winner this weekend might be holiday shopping," said Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box-office tracker Hollywood.com.

    Tom Cruise's action thriller "Jack Reacher" debuted in second-place with a modest $15.6 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday. Based on the Lee Child best-seller "One Shot," the Paramount Pictures release stars Cruise as a lone-wolf ex-military investigator tracking a sniper conspiracy.

    Opening at No. 3 with $12 million was Judd Apatow's marital comedy "This Is 40," a Universal Pictures film featuring Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann reprising their roles from the director's 2007 hit "Knocked Up."

    Paramount's road-trip romp "The Guilt Trip," featuring "Knocked Up" star Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand, debuted weakly at No. 6 with $5.4 million over the weekend and $7.4 million since it opened Wednesday. Playing in narrower release, Paramount's acrobatic fantasy "Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away" debuted at No. 11 with $2.1 million.

    A 3-D version of Disney's 2001 animated blockbuster "Monsters, Inc." also had a modest start at No. 7 with $5 million over the weekend and $6.5 million since opening Wednesday.

    Domestic business was off for the first time in nearly two months. Overall revenues totaled $112 million, down 12.6 percent from the same weekend last year, when Cruise's "Mission: Impossible ? Ghost Protocol" debuted with $29.6 million, according to Hollywood.com.

    Cruise's "Jack Reacher" opened at barely half the level as "Ghost Protocol," but with a $60 million budget, the new flick cost about $100 million less to make.

    Starting on Christmas, Hollywood expects a big week of movie-going with schools out through New Year's Day and many adults taking time off. So Paramount and other studios are counting on strong business for films that started slowly this weekend.

    "'Jack Reacher' will end up in a very good place. The movie will be profitable for Paramount," said Don Harris, the studio's head of distribution. "The first time I saw the movie I saw dollar signs. It certainly wasn't intended to be compared to a 'Mission: Impossible,' though."

    Likewise, Warner Bros. is looking for steady crowds for "The Hobbit" over the next week, despite the debut of two huge newcomers ? the musical "Les Miserables" and the action movie "Django Unchained" ? on Christmas Day.

    "We haven't reached the key holiday play time yet," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner. "It explodes on Tuesday and goes right through the end of the year."

    In limited release, Kathryn Bigelow's Osama bin Laden manhunt saga "Zero Dark Thirty" played to packed houses with $410,000 in just five theaters, averaging a huge $82,000 a cinema.

    That compares to a $4,654 average in 3,352 theaters for "Jack Reacher" and a $4,130 average in 2,913 cinemas for "This Is 40." ''The Guilt Trip" averaged $2,217 in 2,431 locations, and "Monsters, Inc." averaged $1,925 in 2,618 cinemas. Playing just one matinee and one evening show a day at 840 theaters, "Cirque du Soleil" averaged $2,542.

    Since opening Wednesday, "Zero Dark Thirty" has taken in $639,000. Distributor Sony plans to expand the acclaimed film to nationwide release Jan. 11, amid film honors and nominations leading up to the Feb. 24 Academy Awards.

    Opening in 15 theaters from Lionsgate banner Summit Entertainment, Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor's tsunami-survival drama "The Impossible" took in $138,750 for an average of $9,250.

    A fourth new release from Paramount, "The Sopranos" creator David Chase's 1960s rock 'n' roll tale "Not Fade Away," debuted with $19,000 in three theaters, averaging $6,333.

    Universal's "Les Miserables" got a head-start on its domestic release with a $4.2 million debut in Japan.

    Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

    1. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," $36.7 million ($91 million international).

    2. "Jack Reacher," $15.6 million ($2.5 million international).

    3. "This Is 40," $12 million.

    4. "Rise of the Guardians," $5.9 million ($13.7 million international).

    5. "Lincoln," $5.6 million.

    6. "The Guilt Trip," $5.4 million.

    7. "Monsters, Inc." in 3-D, $5 million.

    8. "Skyfall," $4.7 million ($9 million international),

    9. "Life of Pi," $3.8 million ($23.2 million international).

    10. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2," $2.6 million ($6.6 million international).

    ___

    Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:

    1. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," $91 million.

    2. "Life of Pi," $23.2 million.

    3. "Rise of the Guardians," $13.7 million.

    4. "Skyfall," $9 million.

    5. "Wreck-It Ralph," $7.3 million.

    6. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2," $6.6 million.

    7. "Pitch Perfect," $6 million.

    8. "Les Miserables," $4.2 million.

    9. "Love 911," $3.2 million.

    10. "De L'autre Cote du Periph," $3.1 million.

    ___

    Online:

    http://www.hollywood.com

    http://www.rentrak.com

    ___

    Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-12-23-Box%20Office/id-4ac2d11c3c2d4239922a7a257e9d137b

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