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Cookie Monster G

RollingRepublic — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:00:53 +0000

This G belongs to Cookie Monster. Sitting with a Kumura front bumper and some super flush Work T1S. It has an awesome stance and just enough low to be one of the best G’s I’ve seen in the community.

Repeal: Glass-Steagall/Stiegel Act

frankliningram1983 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:22:40 +0000

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COLUMBIA, Md., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Renewable fuels provider New Generation Biofuels Holdings, Inc. (NasdaqCM: NGBF) (“NGBF” or the “Company”) today announced that it has closed its previously announced registered offering of 1,926,250 shares of its common stock (the “Shares”), par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), and warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase 577,875 shares of Common Stock (the “Offering”). The Shares and the Warrants were sold in units (“Units”) at a price of $0.80 per Unit, with each Unit consisting of one share of Common Stock and a Warrant to purchase 0.30 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.90 per share. The warrants have a term of five years and will not be exercisable for six months. The Units will not be issued or certificated and neither the Units nor the warrants will trade on any exchange or be listed for quotation on any market.

The gross proceeds of the offering were approximately $1.54 million and net proceeds, after deducting the placement agent's fee and estimated offering expenses payable by NGBF, were approximately $1.304 million. The Company expects to use proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures such as the costs associated with the expansion of its production facility in Baltimore, Maryland. Jesup & Lamont Securities Corporation acted as the placement agent in this transaction.

NGBF offered the securities described above pursuant to a registration statement previously filed and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). A prospectus supplement related to the Offering was filed with the SEC on December 11, 2009.

About New Generation Biofuels, Holdings, Inc.

New Generation Biofuels is a renewable fuels provider. New Generation Biofuels holds an exclusive license for North America, Central America and the Caribbean to commercialize proprietary technology to manufacture alternative biofuels from plant oils and animal fats that it markets as a new class of biofuel for power generation, commercial and industrial heating and marine use. The Company believes that its proprietary biofuel can provide a lower cost, renewable alternative energy source with significantly lower emissions than traditional fuels. New Generation Biofuels' business model calls for establishing direct sales from manufacturing plants that it may purchase or build and sublicensing its technology to qualified licensees.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements concern our operations, prospects, plans, economic performance and financial condition and are based largely on our current beliefs and expectations. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements The risks and uncertainties related to our business include all the risks attendant an emerging growth development stage business in the volatile energy industry, including, without limitation, the risks set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Media Contact: Phil Wallis ph: (321) 363-5113
Or pjwallis@newgenerationbiofuels.com

IR Contact: John Baldissera ph: (800) 368-1217

Or:

Rob Schatz ph: (212) 370-4500

Or:Rob@wolfeaxelrod.com

SOURCE New Generation Biofuels Holdings, Inc.

Clarke, who won the Bafta Rising Star Award earlier this year, said it was at
school that he decided he wanted to be an actor – although he couldn't
remember who he played in his own nativity play.

The 34-year-old, who also wrote and starred in films Kidulthood and Adulthood,
was taking part in a project for the Sky Movies Christmas Channel, which
will broadcast the school nativity on Christmas Eve.

He said: ''It's great to be back, although it's quite weird obviously.There
are kids here that I went to school with their mums, dads and uncles, and
there are teaching assistants still here that looked after me when I was
five or six.''

Clarke said he was hoping to inspire children who might already be thinking
about going into the performing arts.

He said: ''It's good to let kids that don't even know that they want to do the
profession get an insight into what it might be like.

''When I was that age I wanted to do it and I didn't even know what it was. I
didn't have anyone to come back and make it fun. Hopefully it will inspire
them even if they don't know how or when.

''Not even just the kids who want to be an actor, maybe there's a power hungry
kid in there that wants to be a director and who was wondering, 'how did he
make everyone shout and jump? I want to do that!' If I can help inspire them
then all good in the hood.''

On his own school days' acting experience, he said: ''I was in a nativity but
I don't remember it at all … I was in Oliver Twist too. I wasn't Artful
Dodger or Oliver or anyone, I was an urchin, but I made sure I stole the
show. I remember thinking I didn't look urchiny enough and tearing my shirt
up to make sure I looked a bit poorer.''

The Sky Movies Nativity will be shown on Christmas Eve at 6pm on Sky Movies
Christmas Channel.

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The Glass Steagall Act (not Glass Stiegel Act, as some misspell) was setup over 70 years ago by the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Glass Steagall/Glass Stiegal Act was repealed 9 years ago in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. Some of the current financial problems in the United States in the mortgage industry could potentially be in part due to the repeal of the Glass Steagall Act. This has caused numerous financial advisors to look into the repeal Glass Stiegel Act.

Stiegel History of the Glass-Steagall Act repeal:

According to Forbes magazine, the formation of the Glass-Steagall Act arose in 1933. It was formed by Congress shortly after the stock market plumetted in 1929 while there was bank collapse across the United States (source). Essentially, the Glass Stiegel Act “separated investment and commercial banking” and may have potentially “hindered the establishment of financial services firms that can equally compete against each other” (source), which led to the repeal of the Glass Steagall Act.

Glass Stiegel Repeal Information: Did the Glass Steagal Repeal Destroy the American Economy?

The Glass Steagall Act helped compartmentize the U.S. financial industry in an effort to prevent future collapses and failures of U.S. banks such as what happened in the '30s. With the repeal of the Glass Stiegel/Glass Steagall act, the door was opened for a repeat of the pre-Glass Steagall Act era.

Stiegel History: Repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act

According to PBS Frontline, it took decades to repeal the Glass Stiegel Act. The Glass Steagall Act was finally repealed in 1999 after what Frontline calls “12 attempts in 25 years,” with “Congress finally repeal Glass-Steagall, rewarding financial companies for more than 20 years and $300 million worth of lobbying efforts. Supporters hail the change as the long-overdue demise of a Depression-era relic” (source).

Steagall Repeal History: Why the Glass Steagall Act Was Necessary:

One of the reasons the Glass-Steagall Act was important for the financial security of the United States was because of bank speculation, much like what is happening in the current subprime mortgage crisis in the U.S. Back in the 1930s, many American banks were said to be dangerously speculative. Many banks, in the hopes of reaping financial rewards, took large risks, thus endangering the entire financial market. The Glass-Steagall Act was created to prevent such speculation on behalf of the banks.

Do we need to undo the Glass Stiegel repeal? Only time will tell as the current Bush administration battles the financial crisis in the United States. A new form of the Glass-Steagall Act may be necessary to revive the U.S. markets.

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Choosing a Name for Your Baby

edgarcummings1972 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:55:29 +0000

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hi MG. after sleeping off the hangover from friday night (in case it’s not obvi, don’t drink that often), i am late to the inglourious party over here. but not shocking as it may be, i had to comment here mr. sielger after seeing your twitter, i downloaded it.

The game is superfun awesome.

The scalps were the funniest, most hilarious, light hearted, and *least* important part of the film. it’s a tactic for the Apache Warrior. Remember, Shoshana Dreyfus never met or heard of the basterds. not once. That said, my friend:

*French Cinema Can Save The World, Part Deux*

1. i downloaded the app, it’s a fun game. i like collecting nazi scalps. i can get more than you. i’ll show you sometime..

1.5 a reason to love Inglourious Basterds is not really about scalping nazis. it’s a film swimming in 4 of the worlds most magically connected languages, separated by war. nazi scalps are a minute small teeny tiny reason why inglourious basterds is a masterpiece

2. The original b-movie has a lot more focus on violence. Tarantino turned it into a classic WWII pic. When inglourious basterds receives accolades most ppl will immediately want to write this it off as jew / nazi porn. Shortly before D-Day (Lt. aldo raine calls it “the armada”) we really did deploy some basterds into french territory to cause chaos. Not Jews, and not what the movie implies, but that’s historical fiction.

3. the historical accuracy (borman, goebbels, all of the film references to riefenstahl, lillian harvey – all accurate etc) blended with complete infusion of all literary rules of historical fiction makes it one of the best WWII pics of the last 30 years. In the real world, hitler would never have been to france. He never went, but once, for one hour. Many of the flaws in the original plot to kill hitler (operation valykrie) were fixed in inglourious basterds – this time hitler was going to die, there were at least 4 different ways it was guaranteed.

4. french cinema can save the world!!!!!!!!!

5. language is more dangerous than your sharpest knife

6. in the script (i own the script – mock me later) the scalping is hilarious, described as “peels off like a banana peel” – it’s the most fun part of the film, for sure. That’s why it’s a friggin great game. But it’s not why the movie is great.

7. and lastly, the reason they are scalped, and their shoes are removed, is to demean the nazi and spread fear. So i hope the app has an update soon, as tossing boots could be fun too.

ok, now i’ll drink my coffee. spending the day with Donnie Donowitz and Hugo Stieglitz. not kidding.

Ben Bernanke named TIME's person of year?
I know that Time magazine is full of progressive's but I had no idea that it's editors were so stupid when it comes to economics? The Federal Reserve is a private corporation that
lends money to our government with an interest rate! Thank God (that's OK, I know the people at Time don't believe in God) that Ron Paul's HR-1207 (a bill to audit the FED) has passed the house. Because the FED (Federal Reserve Bank) is neither federal, nor do they harbor any reserves. It is a private corporationthat "lends" money to our government at an interest rate. Which is where all your income tax money goes…to service the INTEREST on the national debt. Nowhere else. Not for roads or bridges or anything that would benefit We The People. GET IT? Oh. you don't? Read some more. The value of the dollar has declined by over 90 percent since the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913.
Did the Fed really cause this loss of savings, insurance policies, retirement funds, and
purchasing power? The answer, emphatically, is that with the cooperation of government, the
Fed has indeed destroyed the dollar’s value.
In January 1993, National Geographic magazine published an article entitled “The Power of Money.” Written by Associated Editor Peter T. White, it presented a very clear explanation of how the Fed operates. White asked a
Fed official where the organization had obtained $100 million it had just used to purchase some securities. “We created it,” said the Fed employee. “It’s money that didn’t exist before.” He
matter-of-factly admitted that no limit existed on the Fed’s ability to create money out of nothing.
In 2006, China and Hong Kong accounted for more than 50 percent of the increase in the amount of Treasury debt sold to the public.
In 2008, their share had fallen to 22 percent as the U.S. government increased its public debt by a record $1.2 trillion.
In the first half of THIS year, China and Hong Kong acquired only 9 percent of the more than
$800 billion worth of Treasury bonds that were sold.
And in June, China became a net SELLER of U.S. Treasury notes and bonds!

Hope everybody's got their beef jerky and ammo store up!
Oh, great job Ben.

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Choosing a name for your new baby is a very big deal. Names are forever and making sure you pick one that you, and your child, will be happy with, is extremely important. There are a few considerations when choosing your baby's name that should not be overlooked. Here are some tips for choosing the right name for your baby so that you and your child are happy with the decision.

Say it out loud. Always say the names you are considering out loud. Don't just say the first or middle name you are considering, but say all three names together. You might find out the names do not flow well, or sound completely different from what you thought they would when said out loud. For instance, Amanda Lynn looks like a great name on paper. When said out loud, however, many ears actually hear “A Mandolin.” While this may not bother some parents, others might not want the possibility of their daughter being called a stringed instrument. Say the names out loud and carefully consider what they sound like.

Consider the initials. Make sure that you write out the names you are considering in full name form, as well as in initial form. You have to be careful with initials, particularly in the age of text messaging. Frank Alan Grainger becomes “FAG,” and Allison Serenity Smith becomes “ASS.” In regards to text messaging, Oliver Michael Gibson becomes “OMG,” text message speak for “Oh My God.” While you may not be able to avoid all instances of initials spelling something or becoming a text message code, write out the initials just to be sure you are okay with what they create.

Say it to other people. Unless you are dead set on keeping your baby's chosen name a secret, tell other people the names you have picked out. Everyone will have a different opinion, and others' opinions certainly don't have to be the same as yours. If when you tell your brother you plan to name your daughter Ruby, and he immediately laughs and comments about how he and his friends used to call his classmate Ruby, Boobie, thanks to her early physical maturity, you might think twice about your plan. Of course, just about any name can be transformed into a ridiculous nickname by a child's peers, but hearing other perspectives might make you reconsider a choice.

Watch the trends. Be careful when choosing to name your child something trendy. If you are okay with your child being one of seven “Kaitlins” or “Jacobs” in her or his class at school, the go for it! But if you want your child to be unique with his or her name, be careful about using trendy or popular names. Check the most popular name lists before you consider your names if you want a more unique name.

Check the meaning. If the meaning and background of a name is important to you, be sure to do your research on the origins of the name you are considering. In addition to noting the true meaning of the names, you may also consider the “urban legend” meaning. The name “Damian” for instance is oft believed to mean “of the devil,” thanks to popular culture and the power of rumors.

Choosing your baby's name is a big decision. Whether some of the factors above bother you or not, it is a good idea to at least think about a name very carefully before deciding for sure it is right for your baby. After all, your little one has a lifetime to live with whatever name you ultimately choose.

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Dariio - Lifestyle

nuclearfuzion — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 08:44:50 +0000

Dariio – Lifestyle

Western Digital 160GB 2.5-inch Passport USB Hard Drive: Review

edgarcummings1972 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:38:26 +0000

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In a war in which everyone must pick a side, Mohammed regrets his choice.

“I'm stuck,” he said one day last week, huddled beneath a tattered blanket to ward off the winter chill. “I don't know what to do. I don't know where to go.”

Such cases are a major reason the United States and its allies are planning significant investments in programs aimed at using jobs and other incentives to peel Taliban fighters away from their cause.

“This touches every part of McChrystal's plan,” said British Maj. Gen. Richard Barrons, who arrived last month to lead NATO's reintegration efforts. “I am absolutely convinced it can be done, and that the time is right. This is an opportunity the Afghan people aren't going to get again. Most of them realize that, and are keen to take it now.”

Fighters deceived
Mohammed, thin and balding at 36, first picked up a Kalashnikov in the late 1980s when Soviet troops still occupied Afghanistan, and like many of his countrymen he has hardly stopped fighting since. For the past eight years, his enemy has been the Americans.

But this summer he was feeling exhausted by war, and he wanted to return to his native Afghanistan after years of living among insurgents-in-exile in Pakistan. One night in August, he tricked his commanders into believing he was traveling to Afghanistan to attack a U.S. base, and ended up defecting along with five of his brothers and their father. He thought the decision would give his family a fresh start.

“Now my children ask me why we can't go back to the way it was when I was fighting,” he said, saying his family lived better while on the Taliban payroll. “I don't have an answer.”

The men who recruited Mohammed to the government's side said they feel sorry for him, and for the dozens of other insurgents they have persuaded to stop fighting this year through promises they knew to be false.

“We have nothing to offer these people,” said Haji Jan Mohammed, director of the government's reconciliation program for Nangarhar and Laghman provinces, in Afghanistan's volatile east. “We don't get any kind of assistance from the central government, so we promise them jobs but there are no jobs, and we promise them land but there is no land.”

Most of the experts who served on advisory panels in 2007 to evaluate vaccines for flu and cervical cancer had potential conflicts that were never resolved, the report said. Some were legally barred from considering the issues but did so anyway.

In the report, expected to be released Friday, Daniel R. Levinson, the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, found that the centers failed nearly every time to ensure that the experts adequately filled out forms confirming they were not being paid by companies with an interest in their decisions.

The report found that 64 percent of the advisers had potential conflicts of interest that were never identified or were left unresolved by the centers. Thirteen percent failed to have an appropriate conflicts form on file at the agency at all, which should have barred their participation in the meetings entirely, Mr. Levinson found. And 3 percent voted on matters that ethics officers had already barred them from considering.

The inspector general recommended that the centers do a far better job of screening. In a reply, the agency’s new director, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, agreed.

“Since the period covered in this review, C.D.C. has strengthened the financial disclosures and conflict-of-interest process by instituting improved business processes and realigning responsibilities and oversight,” Dr. Frieden wrote.

As numerous medicines have been pulled from the market in recent years, worries have grown that experts may be recommending medical products — even ones they know to be unsafe — in part because manufacturers are paying them.

As a result, government agencies, medical societies and medical journals have become increasingly insistent that experts disclose potential conflicts. And while the experts invariably insist that they have done so, government audits routinely find large gaps between these disclosures and the experts’ actual income from consulting.

Congress tightened the rules on outside consulting after similar conflicts were found among members of advisory panels to the Food and Drug Administration. But little attention has been paid to the potential conflicts of advisers to the C.D.C., even though that agency’s committees have significant influence over what vaccines are sold in the United States, what tests are performed to detect cancer and how coal miners are protected.

Most of the advisers identified by Mr. Levinson had either a job or a grant from a company or other entity whose interests were affected by the committees’ discussions, and a considerable number also owned stock in such companies, the report said.

Representative Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat who said she had long been a supporter of the C.D.C., said: “That is why I am so concerned about this report issued by the inspector general exposing serious ethics violations within the C.D.C. All members of the federal advisory committees, whose recommendations direct federal policy, should be without conflict of interest.”

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If you're like most people, then your digital library is constantly growing. With high speed internet becoming commonplace among all households, it's no surprise that the hard drives of millions of computers are filling up at an astonishingly fast pace. While some may think that they need to delete movies and other digital files once their hard drive becomes full, there is another solution that will allow you to keep all of your files, no matter how large, while still expanding your digital library. The Western Digital 160GB 2.5-inch Passport USB Hard Drive, Model: WDXMS1600 has all of the major features that you will need to safely expand your digital library.

Main Product Features:

Within this portable hard drive, you will be able to enjoy superior storage capabilities, without having to worry about a confusing set-up or lengthy installation processes. One of the best features of this hard drive is its ability to simply plug-in the hard drive to any computer and instantly begin saving your files.

This is a great hard drive for those who need to transfer large files from one computer to the next. With no installation CDs to deal with, you do not have to be a computer genius to use this hard drive. After you have plugged in this hard drive all of the software that is needed for it to work is instantly downloaded onto the computer.

Since this hard drive is powered by a simple USB bus, you will not have to connect it to an external power outlet. This is truly a portable hard drive. Since this hard drive only weighs 0.23 pounds it is easy to carry around with you.

If you have a Windows computer, you are able to utilize the WD Sync Software. How this software works is it allows you to save all of your data and easily transport it with you. If you take files from your home computer and then take them to your work computer to alter, add or view the files you will be able to reconnect this hard drive to your original computer where the software automatically updates the files on your home computer.

The Google Software is a great addition to this hard drive. You are able to easily search and manage your files within this product, as well as simplify web searching. And with 5400 RPM you will be able to sift through your files much faster than traditional 4200 RPM computers.

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This hard drive, which works for both Windows and MAC computers, demands an average price of only $200.

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The Journey of Pearl: Pearl's Love Story: Part 1

frankliningram1983 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:01:55 +0000

1.The Raiders' defense is very poor against the run, ranking 30th in the league and allowing 158.7 yards per game. Washington must get its ground game going. Quinton Ganther, who will start, has shown a good burst but with Marcus Mason and Rock Cartwright helping to carry the load, the team is averaging 82.6 yards per game on the ground.

Get to Gradkowski

2.The Redskins must be able to pressure quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who has been much better running the Raiders' offense than JaMarcus Russell. Gradkowski threw three touchdown passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers in an upset last week, but if the Redskins can get some pressure on him, they may be able to force a mistake.

Finish the game

3.The Redskins have put themselves in position beat Dallas, Philadelphia and New Orleans but have given up late leads and lost. Good teams just don't do that, and if the Redskins hope to snap their losing streak, they'll have to find a way to hold on to a fourth-quarter lead when they have one — especially against a shaky Raiders team.

Take an early lead

4.The Raiders will be feeling some momentum from last week's upset. If the Redskins can take an early lead on the road, they would quiet the crowd and perhaps keep the Raiders from building on recent success. They'd also force Oakland to throw against one of the league's top-ranked pass defenses.

– Paul Tenorio

Because your family often forgets that money doesn't grow on trees, MoneyTree is here for you.

This holiday-shopping season is indeed one for the bargain hunter. Here are four spending tips to help keep you ahead of
the pack.

No. 1: Make a Realistic Budget … and Stick to It

Experts say one of the most common mistakes made when it comes to holiday shopping has to do with your budget. Not only
should you make a budget, but you should also make sure it is realistic.

Make the usual list for the people you need to buy gifts for and how much you are willing to spend per gift, but also remember
to add in the “extras.” For example, budget in hostess gifts for any scheduled holiday parties, and also consider the extra
groceries you’ll need to stock up on ahead of family visits.

And spend within your means. Your family would rather enjoy your company than have you give them something they don’t need
that you’ll be paying for for many holidays to come.

The average family will ring up just under $1,000 this season, according to Mike Peterson, spokesperson for American Credit
Foundation and president of Debtguru.com. At current interest rates,
it would take 22 years to pay off that balance if you are only making the minimum payment each month, Peterson said. That’s
a long time.

“No one wants to accept a gift that puts you in debt,” he said.

Jennifer Jolly, a consumer lifestyle expert, says bloated cell-phone and gas bills are another holiday-budget breaker.

“Cell phone bills tend to catch people off guard, you make more calls and texts during the holiday season than normal and
they can add up if you go over your minutes,” she said.

Save on gas by doing all your price comparison and window shopping online and then make one trip to pick up gifts, Jolly
advised.

And don’t forget your list.

“If you walk into a store without a list, 9 out of 10 times you will spend more than you anticipated,” said Peterson. Impulse
items will become tempting and it’s harder to say no when you don’t have a list to check.

No. 2: Shop Alone

The more the merrier? Not when it comes to shopping. It’s better to fly solo to the mall, said Bill Losey, a certified
financial planner and author of “Retire in a Weekend.”

“When you go with other people, even if it’s a spouse, you get caught up in the experience of shopping and things are no
longer black and white, you don’t want to be influenced by any one else.”

No. 3: Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

Maybe more than ever, this year bargain seekers don’t have to wait until the final days before Christmas to find the biggest
steals.

“It’s an old-fashion thought for this year,” said Jolly. “Retailers had more stock last year, but they smartened up and
have a lot less inventory [this year], they are trying to spark a big buying frenzy right now.”

And waiting until the last hour could actually end up costing you more.

“You can’t assume things are going to go on sale right before the big day, you need to have a back-up plan, because people
are left with little options and spend more money on a gift than allotted,” Peterson said.

No. 4: In Tight Times, Skip Decorations with a Lifespan

In this economic environment, buying a Poinsettia is just silly, according to Jolly.

“Any money you spend on something that is going to die a couple weeks is just like throwing money away,” she said.

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It was a sunny afternoon. The wind was warm and fresh as it flew and touches my bare skin. Students were all at the ball ground busy chatting, playing, jumping, and running as they gathered like busy ants on the field. The wind whispers their little tiny voices into my ears, echoing as they shout and laugh in my ear canal and hitting my three tiny bones as the message was sent into my brain. 'The busy students on the field.'

Students started to experience different kinds of things in their life as they start studying and as they mingled with their fellow ages. Growing up gives them adventures and new wonderful stories to tell. And here is a story about a girl on her going up stage.

While everybody was busy, I, Chloe Quenes was alone sitting on the grass. I was pulling the weeds while reading a book which describe my social boldness;

''Your Social Boldness: Introverted VS Extroverted. You are quite introverted. Socially, you prefer a more relaxed, low-key environment, rather than the hustle and bustle of a wild night in the city. You tend not to talk a lot, but when you do people listen, because when you say something it has meaning. You are not seeking the limelight, usually you prefer to let the attention-mongers do their thing while you observe. In an unfamiliar setting, you tend to be cautious and shy while you evaluate the circumstances. You prefer to avoid conflict, so you do not put yourself into a threatening situation. Your shyness may be perceived as unfriendly, but that could not be further from the truth. People need to be patient with you and take the time to get to know the complex, private you.''

While reading this first part of my personal evaluation, my friend came to tell me a “not- nice-word-to-hear”.

“Chloe, I have to tell you something!” my friend said.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Somebody has a crush on you!” she said again.

“Who is he?!!” I asked angrily.

“Look, there he is! He's a friend of your friend Daniel Dacer!”

I frowned and walked away. I didn't like anybody except my crushes on the 6th grade. They're Harry and Shaggy, the intelligent boys in their class.

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Perrier Sparkling Mineral Water Versus Calistoga Sparkling Mineral Water

frankliningram1983 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:07:10 +0000

Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein , Citigroup chairman Dick Parsons , and Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack all skipped out on a scheduled dressing-down today from Barack Obama because “inclement weather” made it physically impossible for them to travel to Washington. Convenient! Obama met with 10 top banking executives, or “fat cats” as he’s taken to calling them these days , to yell at them for not lending enough money and generally being horrible people. But the worst of them, Goldman Sachs’ Lloyd Blankfein, is among the three that are participating via conference call because fog made it impossible for them to deploy the billions of dollars under their control in service of transporting them bodily to Washington, D.C

Continue reading here:
Wall St. Bankers Snub Obama, Duck D.C. Sit-Down Because of ‘Inclement Weather’

Before Grebeshkov was injured, he was playing the tough minutes for the Oilers, mostly due to injuries to Sheldon Souray. As you can see in the year over year stats, he went from playing third pairing minutes to playing the toughest minutes on the team. Though his traditional stats didn't suffer – .54 PPG in 08-09; .53 PPG in 09-10 – his underlying stats took a significant hit. In other words, early on, he was benefiting from some luck. His even strength +/- was off by nearly .5 per fifteen minutes, his scoring chances differential was off by over one chance per fifteen minutes, and his Corsi was off by over three shots per fifteen minutes.

While Grebeshkov was forced to face stiffer competition, Strudwick has been tackling the same job as he was assigned to do last year, namely, third pairing competitors. Despite getting the same assignment, Strudwick's play has also fallen in all areas except +/-.

With Grebs set to replace Strudwick, the common thinking is that he'll draw in on the third pairing with Steve Staios, settling into the third pairing minutes that he played last year. If that's the case, expect him to significantly outplay Strudwick in that role. Comparing the underlying numbers between Grebeshkov and Strudwick shows that the Oilers should expect a four-and-a-half shot improvement in Corsi per fifteen, nearly a two chance improvement in chances differential per fifteen and a swing back to positive in +/- per fifteen.

Given that the Oilers are just into the negative side of the ledger over the last ten games, Grebeshkov's return could pull the team back to level – something they've not had for a long, long while, especially in chances: -22 in scoring chance differential is -2.2 chances per game, and from above we see that we can expect nearly a two chance improvement from Grebeshkov.

Given the way this year started, and the current makeup of the roster, even is a wonderful thing. The Oilers wouldn't need world-class .938 goaltending like they've received in the last five games. They wouldn't need world-class luck like “the kids run” of two years ago. The Oilers would need to have above-average goaltending and a little bit of luck, and that's not too hard to root for.

Welcome back, Denis.

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Like any true addict, I began searching for the purest sparkling mineral water on the market. Late nights, I would scour the market shelves to discover the exotic names of Perrier, Sanfaustino, Apollinaris, San Pellegrino and the more American sounding brands such as Calistoga and Crystal Geyser. Then I learned that some sparkling mineral water, such as Calistoga and Crystal Geyser, are “artificially” carbonated whereas others, such as Perrier and Sanfaustino are “naturally”carbonated. As any true addict would, I began to fret. I wondered, does the carbonation source matter? So, I commenced a new quest to discover the truth. After assembling a team of family members who didn’t mind enabling my addiction by helping me sample a counter-full of sparkling mineral water, we narrowed down a favorite from the naturally carbonated and one from the CO2 added sparkling mineral waters. The decision came down nearly unanimously for the naturally carbonated, Perrier, versus, the carbonated, Calistoga.

The epitome of French je ne sais quoi, Perrier is a formidable competitor. Since the time of Caesar, people enjoyed soaking in mineral baths in a spring located south of Paris, France. At this spring, limestone mineralizes the water, and a major fault carbonates it. The history of the Perrier spring, as a place to draw the elixir of minerals we delight in today, didn’t get shaking, or should I say bubbling, until 40 years after Napoleon III decreed it to be a mineral spring. At that time, the owner, Dr. Louis Perrier, sold his beloved mineral water estate to a Brit named Harmsworth. In 1908, only five years after his acquisition, Harmsworth was selling nearly 5 million bottles a year. By extolling the unique quality of his product, he marketed nearly 19 million bottles a year by 1933. The mystique of Perrier has never waned. Called “The Champagne of Water” and savored by the wealthy and famous, it has sold for up to $10 a bottle in some New York restaurants. It is hard to beat the charm of the Perrier legacy, and the fact that it only contains 11.5 mg/l of sodium, but I needed to look next at the competitor: the American cowboy, Calistoga.

Long after Caesar’s demise and that of the Roman Empire, the Wappo Indians called the Calistoga spring, formed just below Napa Valley, “the land of health-giving springs.” In 1920, long after the age of gold digging, a soda-shop owner, Giuseppe Musante, accidentally struck “gold” in the form of a hot-water geyser than flung him off his scaffolding and landed him in the hospital for severe burns Not one to fear a near-death experience, the intrepid soda seller soon began marketing his discovery. Today, in the town Musante named his water after, towers a 14-foot, six-ton replica of the truck Musante and his dog, Frankie, would transport his famous sparkling mineral water, Calistoga.

Both Perrier and Calistoga Sparking Mineral Water share local lore infused with the unique histories of their regions. On their histories alone I could not make my choice. I would have to choose by taste. After several bottles – consumed only in the name of research, mind you – this is what I have discovered. Both contain that subtle texture of taste that only mineral water exudes. Both refresh and feel very clean in my mouth. If, however, you like a softer, more refined taste, then Perrier is your water. However, for those who enjoy the kick of more bubble and a bit of a sodium bite then, Calistoga, bursting with bubbles and infused with 40 mg/l of sodium is for you. It appears that the carbonation did add more bubble, which may or may not be a good thing depending on your mood. Calistoga weighs in as the wild west of water while Perrier remains the quintessential Parisian aristocrat.

Here’s what I now do. On a daily basis, I stick to my Calistoga. But, when I need to pamper myself with a little French attention, I turn to my Perrier. Finally, when I hear of a sale, I stock up on either, as any good sparkling mineral water junkie must. In the end, if you’re under some delusion that I'm supporting one company over another, just be aware: they both are bottled under Nestle Water.

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A visit to the LA Auto Show

jdvrbanac — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:13:31 +0000

I was fortunate enough to arrive back in Los Angeles for winter break just before the end of the Los Angeles Auto Show. The LA Auto show is a tradition for me; I can’t remember a time I’ve missed it in the last 20 years. I used to be that obnoxious 5-year-old sitting in the cars, and now, I complain about that 5-year-old…

I went to the show with my Dad, my brother Kevin, and my friend Mike. All 4 of us are “car guys.” Mike’s preference is Japanese imports, my brother loves German precision, my Dad’s an old school muscle car guy who currently loves the simplicity and reliability of his 03 Grand Cherokee, and I’ve dabbled in a bit of everything.

The show this year was considerably smaller than I recall it being in years past. Nissan/Infiniti didn’t even bother to show, surprising considering LA is such a big market for them. Aston Martin didn’t show; but Galpin Aston Martin brought a few cars from their fleet to fill the void. The aftermarket parts expo in Petree hall only took up half the hall; the back half being filled by a kid’s zone with power wheels cars and video games. A majority of the displays from the manufacturers well less grandiose than in years past. Chrysler, in particular was in a sorry state; no new concepts, the only display vehicle being the Lower 40 Wrangler that’s been shown all over the place already. Their display floor was barren as well; only the Ram had multiple configurations shown.

Ford had the best display in my opinion. It was flashy, multiple versions of each car (the Fiesta in particular), and the ability to test drive a few select Ford models on the streets of downtown LA. Being a former Mustang GT owner, I took the liberty of piloting a new Mustang GT… faster than my 03, sounded great, but not enough to seduce me back into one.

As far as GM goes, I had mixed feelings about their displays. Nothing seemed to be garnering much attention from the show-goers, other than the Camaro (which there were at least 6 of).

Arguably, my father is dead in the middle of Buick’s demographic. He’s 59 years old, retired, and wants something comfortable and reliable. As we walked into the Buick display, he asked me why GM hasn’t killed Buick off yet. I told him how well they sell in China, and took him over to take a look at the new LaCrosse. While he was impressed with the features, he said that the Buick styling was still off-putting for him. He was however impressed with the GMC Terrain SUV as a potential replacement for his Grand Cherokee, saying he liked the styling. GM, if you’re listening, bring out a Denali version and he might be sold.

Mike’s dad is a retired police officer, and he’s spent some time around Patrol Cars, so we talked a bit while looking at the Chevy Caprice, which will be a fleet only vehicle. He kept saying that it’s too narrow for a cop car, and the center console ended up far too busy as a result. I mentioned how the fancy light bar looks nice, but were I responsible for purchasing new patrol cars for a department, I’d be looking for the vehicle that I can interchange as many of my existing parts with as possible. No wonder the Crown Vic has been popular for so long.

The Volt was barely being ogled. Why? Because we’ve all seen it before. For too long. News flash GM: reduce the concept to production time. You’ll capture more of the hype of a model being new that way. I’m really curious to see how well the Volt will do. It’s a solid concept, but costly for a Chevrolet, more expensive than the Prius, which may ultimately prevent it from being a Prius-beater.

Nobody seemed to care that the Cruze was there. Which is a shame, because the Kia Forte, which is already on the road, was getting plenty of attention.

With the Detroit show coming quickly on the heels of LA, it’s never been known for big debuts. Here’s hoping that GM is saving its heavy hitters for the next show. They need them.

Superchips Flashpaq Part #4865

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Review of Shelley's 'One Word is Too Often Profaned' and 'Lament'

frankliningram1983 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:20:59 +0000

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A first perusal of Shelley's lyric 'One Word is Too Often Profaned' revealed that it is a unique love poem by the great Romantic poet. In it the poet appeals to his lady-love to respond to his love and not reject it heartlessly as it is generally done. He says that love is seldom true and this word has often been misused.

Shelley wants to substitute the word worship for love. His love is misunderstood in the ordinary sense and is often rejected. In fact, what he has towards her is not love in the ordinary sense, rather he worships her and hence he has devotion to her. Devotion is always accepted and rewarded and hence his love should be accepted.

Shelley says that the word love has been often misused and it has become polluted. Therefore he does want to make it more polluted and hence he prefers to avoid the word. The poet says that many people who profess to be in love are not really in love. They just have a liking for a person that cools down with the passage of time.

In his view, love is something different. This unrealistic and artificial variant of love is often rejected by the beloved. But his is real and he does not want to happen it in his case. He does not want to suppress his love and what he wants from his beloved is just pity because in that situation the question of rejection does not arise at all.

We feel amused when Shelley says his love is worship and like any devotion it will be rewarded in course of time. In course of time, his devotion will melt her heart and he will be rewarded by the realization of his desire.

Shelley's short lyric 'Lament' has given me an insight in to the tormented heart of the poet. The lyric was written in 1821, a year before his death. Quite true to his usual strain, the poem is written in a melancholy vein. The poet had been plagued by multiple problems. He had been unjustly treated by his countrymen and he was suffering from ill-health. The moods of melancholy and self-pity often overpowered him and he gave vent these pent up feelings in poignant terms.

The poem gives a concentrated expression to the deep anguish within the bleeding heart of Shelley, when he had the premonition that the end of his life's journey was coming near.

Shelley was conscious of the decline of his poetic genius. Also, his delightful response to the joyful scenes of life also was declining. At the outset of the poem, the poet feels that he is now standing on the last rung of the ladder of the World, Life and Time. He is shaky whereas he used to be firm and steady. He feels that he has reached his journey's end and his hold on life has become loose. The glory of his youth cannot return now. Also, his poetic power has declined and they will not come back again.

In his utter dejection, Shelley feels that he cannot get happiness either in day or night. The beautiful scenes of nature during the changing seasons of spring, summer and winter can no longer bring him happiness. Instead, they can bring only agony and anguish to his failing heart. There no hope for him to enjoy the beautiful things of life as he used to before.

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Auto Industry $17.4 Billion Bailout Gets More Attention Than Wall Street $700 Billion Bailout

edgarcummings1972 — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:27:41 +0000

I would have been satisfied with just the headline of this article. I have printed it out in various alternates just to give embodiment to what I wish for. I now have one for Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove and the rest of the “gang” that destroyed America in such a short time span. This is now the “American Dream”, since the previous one was taken from us.

“When Napster came on the scene, it felt like a big wave coming at us, and it appeared futile to try and stop it,” says Benji Rogers, founder of London-based Pledge Music. Rogers, who has been working as a musician for more than a decade, has spent much of his time building a company that aims to surpass the fan-funding models of SliceThePie, Sellaband and Bandstocks. “We don't see the fans as venture capitalists, who are investing in our records,” he says. Instead, Rogers wants them to feel part of the process that gets a record into their hands.

Eastblished acts like Marillion, Public Enemy and Tina Dico (one of the first artists to use Pledge Music, raising £60k in just 30 days, have relied on their long-standing fanbase when leaving a major label to pursue their own direction. But can fan funding really work for artists who are just starting out? Rogers thinks so, but it takes time and effort. He says one of the mistakes record labels make is trying to squeeze a year-long development (with regards to marketing, promotion etc) into a couple of weeks. “When I started out, we collected addresses and phone numbers. Then we'd follow up by calling and sending letters to people on our mailing list. It was a lot more time-consuming and expensive than it is now.”

The first question Pledge asks when approached by an artist is how big is their mailing list. Based on that, they calculate how much money they can raise. Once they've worked it out, the Pledge team sits down with the artist to find out what they can add to the fans' experience to raise that money. The higher the amount a fan pledges, the more “extras” they get.

“£8 might seem expensive for an EP download, but when you add to it an eight-week campaign of updates, like video blogs from the studio, people don't mind,” says Rogers. In fact, American fans paid $50-70 for a T-shirt and signed CD, despite the asking price being much less. “We thought the credit card company had made a mistake, so we contacted them asking if they wanted more than one. They replied: “No, but if I have to, sure.” They just wanted to support us and help us reach the pledge amount.”

Rogers understands that some artists see the studio as an inner sanctum and don't want to show the recording process. Instead, he suggests other ideas to add value, such as sending fans handwritten lyric sheets, or letting them choose five songs for the artist to play at a soundcheck and sending them the recordings with a personal shout-out.

Pledge Music isn't interested in owning any of the rights to the music, and makes its money by charging a 15% commission on the amount raised. “It usually works out to be 9-11% in the end, since we cover credit card fees, processing and VAT,” says Rogers.

There are four corners to the Pledge concept: music, fans, recording studios (“if we bring them work, they'll bring us work”) and charities. The artists choose a charity they're passionate about and donate a percentage of the money raised to it.

On Tuesday morning, a pledge was launched for Irish artist Duke Special. That afternoon, he reached 43% of his target, by offering fans the opportunity to write a song with him for £100, and a private sightseeing tour of Belfast for £1,000.

“I believe, in their hearts, the fans want to do the right thing,” says Rogers. “We can't convince teenagers to buy CDs. The quest for me is to give meaning to it, so they don't want to steal it.”

Pledge Music is a fan-funded investment platform with a heart, which makes it a welcome alternative for artists who want to take control of their careers.

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Button-down collar economists are not known for shouting matches, but on CNN, Stephen Leeb and Peter Schiff had at it regarding auto industry bailout loans.

Economist Stephen Leeb insisted that President George W. Bush, not exactly known as a liberal, is doing the right thing by extending $13.4 billion in auto industry bailout loans to General Motors and Chrysler, followed by another $4 billion in the spring.

Economist Peter Schiff insisted that the government “should let market forces play out,” with General Motors and Chrysler entering bankruptcy.

The shouting match between Leeb and Schiff almost entered into commercial time for CNN, but Leeb and Schiff represented a great divide among Americans.

Somehow, the combined $17.4 billion in President Bush's package is creating more attention and more debate than the overall $700 billion bailout for the financial firms on Wall Street, and the nearly equal $650 billion minimum that is estimated for income President-elect Barack Obama's economic stimulus package.

Somehow, the auto industry is getting more attention than the Wall Street industry.

Only half of all Americans can afford to invest directly in the stock market, and many of those do so indirectly through their companies' 401-k and/or Roth IRA retirement plans. Most Americans don't understand Wall Street, even while they are invested in Wall Street. Take witness in the $50 billion scam that is alleged under Bernard Madoff. Even so-called sophisticated investors were ripped off when they gave their money to Bernard Madoff. Everyone is still trying to explain.

On the other hand, virtually all Americans feel that they understand the auto industry. They simply compare General Motors and Chrysler and Ford, the Detroit-based companies, to Toyota and Honda and Nissan, the Japanese imports. A majority of Americans perceive that the imports are of higher quality, which way have been true 20 years ago, but perceptions linger.

Furthermore, the false stories of United Auto Workers members making $75 an hour have gained legs of their own. These stories are embraced by the same crowd that still perceives Barack Obama as the candidate of radical terrorist Muslims. The typical United Auto Workers wage is more like $20 to $25 an hour, but critics have figured in everything from health care coverage to pension benefits to retirees.

Republican senators such as Richard Shelby from Alabama and Bob Corker from Tenessee have supported tax breaks for Toyota and Honda and Nissan to establish non-union shops in their states. At the same time, they have blocked Congress from providing aid to General Motors and Chrysler. This forced President Bush to act on his own.

President Bush stated, “Such a collapse (by GM or Chrysler) would deal an unacceptable blow to all American workers, even beyond the auto industry.” President Bush is focused on the total economy, and he is being realistic. President Bush figures that if Wall Street needs a $700 billion bailout, then protection of auto industry jobs is worth a $17.4 billion share.

SOURCE

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16782.html

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How to Write Poetry

edgarcummings1972 — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:08:52 +0000

The larger the bonus, the greater the proportional haul for the Treasury as
the £25,000 tax-free element becomes largely irrelevant. At £1m, the bonus
would cost the bank £1.62m, leave the banker with £590,000 and net the
taxman £1.03m.

The tax came into force on December 9 and lasts until April 5 to catch the
coming bonus season. By taxing banks at source, it will apply to all staff
regardless of whether they are British citizens or non-domiciles.

To prevent bankers from finding ways around the tax, the Chancellor has
introduced anti-avoidance measures. Firing a warning shot, the Treasury has
also ruled that loans to staff, share-based payments and temporary salary
increases will not escape the tax.

Formal deferred bonus arrangements will also be caught. However, tax experts
said the banks may get round the restrictions by agreeing verbally to defer
bonus payments until after the April 5 catchment period.

The Treasury also warned that the tax could “remain in place [beyond
April 5] until the Financial Services Bill comes into force”.

The incident began about 1:15 p.m., when a woman in the 2300 block of Tacoma Place in Waldorf called 911 to report that two men were breaking into her neighbor's house, said Diane Richardson, a spokeswoman for the Charles County Sheriff's Office. The woman gave dispatchers descriptions of the men and their car, and officers soon spotted and tried to pull over the vehicle, she said.

That's when the men took off, leading police on a chase into Prince George's County, authorities said. In the 16300 block of Gardner Road, just across the county line, their car crashed into a utility truck, authorities said. Firefighters had to cut them from the wreckage, and they were flown to a hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the truck was also taken to a hospital with serious injuries, authorities said.

None of the men's injuries was life threatening, authorities said.

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Okay, so poetry can sometimes be a pain to start. There's always going to be writer's block someway along the road, but there are also some useful tips and tricks that can be used in order to be able to get the train going. Consider these tips and tricks when you write your next poetry, whether it be for an assignment or for your own fun.

1. If you can't think of any rhymes, let rhyme generator do it for you!

Rhyme Zone

This is a fantastic website which has helped get me started in numerous occasions. I'm not a very “rhymy” person, so it can be difficult when I'm trying to follow a specific rhyme scheme in a specific type of poetry, but Rhyme Zone has helped me countless times! Check it out whenever you feel like you are in a dead end and need some new direction, it will give you all the rhymes it can generate, and even bold the ones that are perfect rhymes for you!

2. Syllable Counter

There are numerous syllable counters out there that can be very helpful when it comes to haikus, senryus, limericks, or just meters.

Here is one of the ones I found: Syllable Counter

There are plenty, just use any search engine and search the terms “syllable counter” and you will be on your way to making sure you have 5-7-5, or whatever format you need!

3. Always be writing!

This may sound silly, but no matter what, do not stop your pen/pencil when you are writing poetry. It has been proven through research that if you keep writing (even if it means writing the same word again), it can help you think of things. So always keep writing! No matter what, even if you don't know what to put after the word “fly”, keep writing “fly” until you think of something, but don't concentrate too much on writing “fly”!

4. Make a list beforehand

It is sometimes helpful to make a list of words you are going to make sure you use in your poem beforehand. This gives your mind a straightforward objective and can sometimes make it easier. From my previous experience, I prefer making a list since it helps me know exactly what I want in my poem, and it makes me feel like I'm moving along when I cross the words off the list after I have used them.

5. Go for a walk

Taking a walk in the neighborhood, or anywhere can inspire. It doesn't necessarily have to be a walk, but just doing things and taking your mind off your poetry can give you ideas. Whenever you come across something you find interesting, jot it down so that you know to think about it the next time you are at your desk writing. Walking will also help stimulate your brain to get into action.

6. Analyze other poems

I prefer to analyze famous poems, because even though there are clear-cut analysises out tehre, they can always be taken another way. I've found that by looking at other people's works, I can collect some random thoughts before pulling it all together into one.

7. Think about what you love the most

If you are struggling to think of a topic, sometimes the easiest ones are things that you love the most. How do I know this? Well, think about it, what do you know the most about? The things you love. So think of something you love, and write about it through your poetry!

By using these recomendations, you will be well on your way to being able to write poetry more eloquently and easily without having to go through Writer's Block as often.

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Baby Beat Fetal Monitor, the Best Option to Hear Your Baby's Heartbeat

frankliningram1983 — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:52:01 +0000

It's actually a double feature: “I Am Legend ” starring Kobe Bryant. & “The Professional” starring Derek Fisher

OMFG – Silver Screen and Roll
Kobe Bryant beats Heat at buzzer — latimes.com
Lakers beat Heat at buzzer – The Orange County Register
Bryant’s Buzzer-Beating, Banked 3 Cooks Heat at Lakers.com BasketBlog
Watch the whole game again on ESPN360

MUCH MORE Links after the Jump…

Recaps, Postgames & Chats:

OMFG – Silver Screen and Roll
Kobe Bryant beats Heat at buzzer — latimes.com
Lakers beat Heat at buzzer – The Orange County Register
Kobe, Lakers take it to the bank – LA Daily News
Kobe's desperation shot wins it | PE.com
Bryant’s Buzzer-Beating, Banked 3 Cooks Heat at Lakers.com BasketBlog
TLN’s Postgame Report: Lakers vs. Heat | The Lakers Nation
Game Rewind: Better Lucky Than Good – Lakers 108, Heat 107 | Lakers of Fire
Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers – Recap – December 04, 2009 – ESPN
Kobe’s Improbable Shot Cools the Heat | lakers-EDGE
Forum Blue And Gold ” Preview & Chat: The Miami Heat

The Los Angeles Times:

Lakers 108, Miami 107: Game winning shot strengthens Kobe Bryant's All Star bid
Lakers' Phil Jackson would rather not discuss All-Star game

The Orange County Register:

‘It was my luckiest shot I’ve hit by far’
Gasol’s return has improved Fisher’s game
Artest endears, not angers, his teammates
Can Brown be one of the best dunkers?

The LA Daily News:

Lakers guard Farmar: Bench needs to step up

Others:

Kobe Bryant, making the best of bad situations – TrueHoop Blog – ESPN
Gasol stands tall among NBA's elite – NBA – Yahoo! Sports
The Incredibles | Dime Magazine
Kobe Beats Heat at the Buzzer — NBA FanHouse
Poke in eye scares Gasol | PE.com

Miami Heat Links:

Miami Heat fall to Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant's last-second three-point shot – Basketball – MiamiHerald.com
Kobe Bryant rescues Heat from undeserved road win – Peninsula is Mightier
They call him Black Mamba for a reason…Kobe Bryant rips heart out of Miami Heat, stares at it, 108-107 | Hot Hot Hoops
Miami Heat: Loses to Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center — South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Miami Heat | Sun-Sentinel Blogs: Lakers 108, Heat 107
Dwyane Wade: Miami Heat guard deadling with a series of double teams — South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

Audio/Video:

Heat -at- Lakers – 12/04 – SD Highlights | Flash | JD2K Lakers Video Highlights

Heat -at- Lakers – 12/04 – Kobe Buzzer Beater | Flash | JD2K Lakers Video Highlights

LAKERS: Game Hightlights

Ball Game – Kobe beats the buzzer

LAKERS: Heat vs. Lakers Postgame Interviews

Lakers 108, Miami 107: Game winning shot strengthens Kobe Bryant's All Star bid | Lakers Blog | Los Angeles Times

Game Replay in ESPN360.com

NBA Podcast: Yahoo.com’s Kelly Dwyer at Lakers.com BasketBlog

They Nike puppets are back
MVPuppets: “We're back”
(Hat tip to intuitive)

Renewable technology that uses energy stored in the ground to heat buildings and provide hot water could be installed in hundreds of thousands of homes and offices by the end of the next decade, a report said today.

About 8,000 ground-source heat pump systems were operating in the UK – far fewer than in other European countries, such as Sweden, although the market was expanding rapidly and doubled last year, the Environment Agency report said.

The document concluded that the technology could be installed in 320,000 homes and businesses by 2020 with support from the government.

If enough support was given through the renewable heat incentive, which will be introduced in 2012 and pay homeowners and businesses a guaranteed price for generating renewable heat, more than 1m ground-source heat pumps systems could be put in place.

At the top end of its potential, ground-source heat technology could be installed in more than one in 10 homes and in 40% of commercial buildings, the report said.

Even if growth was limited to 320,000 homes and business – 1% of households and 11% of commercial buildings – it could provide 30% of the renewable heat the UK needed to produce to meet its 2020 target.

“Ground-source heating is a rapidly growing technology that has the potential to produce at least 30% of the country's renewable heat needs – but it needs financial support in order to grow,” Tony Grayling, the head of climate change and sustainable development at the Environment Agency, said.

“We would like to see this technology given adequate financial support through the new renewable heat incentive to meet its full potential in the UK.”

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First, congratulations, if you are reading this it means you probably have a baby on your way. Like most soon-to-be parents, or grandparents, you are sure to be excited and can't wait to hear, feel or see the first signs of your new little one. The Belly Beat fetal monitor is the best way to hear your little one's heartbeat. Usually you can hear the heart beat in as little as ten weeks.

What is a Baby Beat Fetal Monitors and what kind of options are there?

A Fetal Monitor goes beyond just passive listening and uses ultrasound and Doppler shift to allow you to hear a much clearer heartbeat than you could ever hear with even a stethoscope. In fact it is the same equipment your doctor is likely to use.

Each model has a base unit that contains the electronics, batteries, and a speaker. Some models also have a digital readout the displays your baby's beats per minute. Some also include a headset jack so you can attach it to a recording device and others are even able to record themselves..

Your unit will also include a 3MHz probe. This is the part that you actually place against your belly. You can also order a 2 MHz probe but the 3MHz probe is much more common. According to the Belly Beat website 90% of doctors, hospitals, and midwives use the 3MHz probe. The only case that the 2MHz probe seems to work better is for very overweight mothers where the fetus is very deep.

How and where to get a Baby Beat fetal monitor

You have two options as to how you obtain a fetal monitor. You can either purchase one outright or you can even rent one. The decision to rent or buy depends on how long you think you will want to use your fetal monitor.

If you plan on using your Baby Beat fetal monitor for several months and even for multiple pregnancies then you may want to consider a purchase. The basic model starts around $450 with the top models going for almost $600. You can obtain them from several locations including specialized websites like www.babybeat.com or www.bellybeats.com and normal shopping sites like Amazon or Ebay.

Another option that works well for many people is renting a Belly Beats fetal monitor. Rentals run as low as $20 a month for a base unit and up to $45 a month for the top end units. An added benefit of rental is that you can apply your rental payments towards the purchase price if you decide to purchase the unit. Of course keep in mind that if you choose this options it is likely that your unit will be used instead of new.

Using your Baby Beat fetal monitor

The number one rule when using your fetal monitor is be patient. It may take you very long to find your baby's heartbeat and sometimes you may not be able to find it at all. Don't panic, just because you can't find it doesn't mean that it isn't there. Just slow down and take your time, with persistence you will almost always be able to find the heartbeat.

Of course keep in mind that personal use of the fetal monitor is limited by the F.D.A. and is not intended to be used for any diagnostic or treatment activities. If you have any reason to think that you may be having difficulties or problems with your pregnancy contact your healthcare provider.

Listening to your baby's heartbeat can be a great bonding experience for you and your family. In fact it will probably be easier and more comfortable for Dad to be the one using the probe. Your other children will love listening to the heartbeat as it will give them something tangible to connect with.

Safety Concerns

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has expressed some concern over the excessive use of over the counter fetal monitors. You can read more detail on their website here but they do acknowledge that there are no known risks when using ultrasound imaging and heartbeat monitors. The concern is centered around the affects to other parts of the body from excessive and unsupervised use.

Sources

Food and Drug Administration, http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm095508.htm

Belly Beat Website

http://www.bellybeats.com/

Baby Beat Website

http://www.babybeat.com/

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Robzone G35

RollingRepublic — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:00:41 +0000

This awesomeness of a vehicle belongs to Robzone. Saw this while I was browsing my usual forums this morning and I must say over the years I have seen Robzone’s obsidian black G35 go through various different sets of wheels in the familiar names of Junction Produce, VS-XX, T1S, and HRE. All of his wheels have been uber aggressive and have always rocked offsets to drool over. Crazy thing is that he’s dropped on springs, insane! Much props go out to you Robzone.

Long term review of the 2000 Infiniti I30

beyondredline — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:51:37 +0000

I thought for my first review of a vehicle why not start with a long term review of my personal vehicle that I drive daily.

Vehicle: 2000 Infiniti i30
Type: 4dr sedan
Engine: Nissan VQ30DE-K (3.0l V6)
Horsepower: 227

I purchased this vehicle last December(‘08) to replace my Ford Ranger with, I had outgrown the Ranger and since my wife and I were planning on having children I decided something more sensible would be in order. I had $6,000 to spend and didn’t want to add another car payment so I started searching Craigslist and Autotrader.com. I had my eye on another I30 but it got sold before I could get there. I had narrowed my choices down to a Volkswagen Jetta VR6 and a Pontiac Grand Prix GTP along with possibly an SUV. Well before going to look at any of these I called a friend that worked at a large dealership locally and he told me he had a few vehicles in my price range so I stopped by, the only one that struck my intrest was an ‘02 Jeep Grand Cherokee but after looking it over I could tell it was not a good choice. As we’re heading back to the showroom we passed a silver I30 that looked to be in really nice condition, which just happened to have a “For Sale By Owner” sign in the window. We call the owner and find out he was a Nissan Service Tech that worked there at the dealership so I test drove it, came back with the money later that afternoon, and drove it home.

So my first impressions of this car was classy yet sporty which is something I was looking for. It has very impressive power for the 3.0L V6 provided in this vehicle, for 2000-2001 they provided a much more powerful version of the tried and true VQ30DE called the VQ30DE-K which provided 227hp this time around. I had owned a 1995 Nissan Maxima a few years ago with the VQ30DE and it was very reliable, even with having 200,000+ miles on it so I hope that this will prove to be just as reliable. I have heard many stories of these engines going for 400,000+ miles with proper maintenance and care. I have been even more impressed with the fuel economy, I can be lead footed at times and I still maintain 18-20mpg around town and i’ve gotten as good as 30mpg on the highway. Yet I never feel like it is at a loss for power, yes of course i’ve owned muscle cars and turbocharged imports so I am always craving more horsepower but for a daily driven vehicle I have felt no need for a lot of performance upgrades to keep me satisfied unlike some of my previous vehicles. I have driven it on quite a few long trips now and i’m very happy with the comfort on long trips.

Now all vehicles have their downfalls, but it is rare you get a vehicle that doesn’t. The truth in the matter is all cars need repairs at some point at time and some are very costly and some are very inexpensive. I’ve had a few “clunkers” or “lemons” in my past and I have my vehicles I don’t prefer but that’s all from personal opinion and preference. The only problems i’ve had out of this vehicle personally have been oxygen sensor problems and the pre-catalytic converter which both are common problems with the Infiniti I30/I35 and Nissan Maxima. Other than that i’m currently at 133,000 miles and no other problems other than basic maintenance. I would recommend one of these vehicles to anybody in the market for a mid size sedan, the price range is fairly reasonable depending on condition, age, and mileage of course. I plan on putting many miles on this vehicle and I will add to this review and time goes on with problems, repairs, impressions, and anything else I run across as I own this vehicle to hopefully help anyone who is in the market for this type of vehicle.

-Chris Longino

Do ADRs Qualify for the Special Tax Rate on Dividends?

frankliningram1983 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:08:07 +0000

TOP STORY — “Dems to lift debt ceiling by $1.8 trillion, fear 2010 backlash,” by POLITICO’s David Rogers: “In a bold but risky year-end strategy, Democrats are preparing to raise the federal debt ceiling by as much as $1.8 trillion before New Year’s rather than have to face the issue again prior to the 2010 elections. ‘We’ve incurred this debt. We have to pay our bills,’ House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told POLITICO Wednesday. And the Maryland Democrat confirmed that the anticipated increase could be as high as $1.8 trillion — nearly twice what had been assumed in last spring’s budget resolution for the 2010 fiscal year. The leadership is betting that it’s better for the party to take its lumps now rather than risk further votes over the coming year. But the enormity of the number could create its own dynamic, much as another debt ceiling fight in 1985 gave rise to the Gramm-Rudman deficit reduction act mandating across-the-board spending cuts nearly 25 years ago. … ppropriations clerks have been instructed to have a final package ready to go by Monday.”

DEFICIT TASK FORCE MAY BE BE ADDED TO DEBT-INCREASE BILL — David Rogers: “n the Senate, there is growing pressure in both parties for the creation of a novel bipartisan task force empowered to force expedited votes in the next Congress on deficit reduction steps now shunned by lawmakers. As introduced Wednesday, the legislation sets no specific targets for deficit reduction, but its 18-member task force — 16 of whom would come from Congress — is promised immense leverage to force change if they can first come together behind a plan.”

SHHH! THEY WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO SAY THIS! WashPost’s lead editorial contends the Medicare expansion envisioned in the health-reform compromise now being pushed by Senate Dem leadership could be a big step toward a single-payer system — a line of attack that will resonate. The editorial: “The emerging buy-in proposal could have costly unintended consequences … The irony of this late-breaking Medicare proposal is that it could be a bigger step toward a single-payer system than the milquetoast public option plans rejected by Senate moderates as too disruptive of the private market.”

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) also made the single-payer point on TV, thinking it was a GOOD thing. And Senate Dem leaders worried about keeping their moderates were like: Shut. Up!

The compromise IMPROVES changes of passage by Christmas. Sen. Lieberman and Howard Dean provide priceless support/cover.

But Senate leaders are afraid to release details because then the Congressional Budget Office could publish the estimated cost, instead of giving the score in a private letter that allows tinkering and negotiation. SO THE WHOLE TOWN IS TALKING ABOUT A PROPOSAL THAT FEW HAVE SEEN AND NONE UNDERSTAND.

ABC’s Jonathan Karl dons his policy boots to sketch the proposal for “World News” viewers: “The deal would set up a system similar to the one offered to members of Congress and other federal employees. The coverage would be provided by private insurers, but premiums and benefits would be negotiated by the federal government's Office of Personnel Management. The idea: to introduce competition and bring down costs. Americans between the age of 55 and 64 would have another option: buying into Medicare —not at the deeply discounted rate offered to seniors, but at a rate (probably several hundred dollars a month) that reflects the actual costs of the insurance. These options would not be offered to everyone — only to the self-employed, to people who work at companies with fewer than 50 employees, and to those with no insurance at all. The expansion of Medicare was applauded today by liberals … But Republicans said expanding Medicare is a terrible idea because the program is already going bankrupt.”

QUOTE DU JOUR — WashPost’s Ezra Klein, on Keith Olbermann’s “Countdown” (which is still using its cheeky “Public Optional” label for health-reform coverage): “If you want my cynical take, I think the trigger is basically there so Joe Lieberman can take it out.”

WHAT PFEIFFER’S READING — “Dean” DAVID S. BRODER column for Friday: “The New Yorker magazine published a piece in its Dec. 14 edition by Atul Gawande highlighting the potential of [pilot programs testing a wide variety of changes to coordinate care and reduce costs]. Gawande, a Boston-based physician-journalist whose work is often cited by President Obama, has become perhaps the most influential outside voice in the health care debate, especially on the issue of curbing ruinous medical inflation. Gawande argues that the historical example for spreading cost-cutting innovation through government-sponsored pilot projects can be found in the Department of Agriculture extension system. In the first decade of the 20th century, county agents persuaded a handful of farmers to use modern scientific methods of cultivating land and raising crops, and their success quickly spread to thousands of others. We are still reaping the benefits of a transformation that was facilitated — not ordered — by government.” New Yorker link

PAGING NATIONAL-DESK ASSIGNMENT EDITORS — THE VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS AND THE “FRESHMAN AMENDMENTS” — “Sens. Warner, Webb not ready to OK health-care reform” — Newport News (Va.) Daily Press, by Kimball Payne: “Webb pointed out that during a series of recent votes about health care, he sided with Republicans who oppose cuts to Medicare funding. … ‘There needed to be more cost containment in the bill,’ Warner said, referring to a handful of changes he proposed earlier this week. But ‘the cost of doing nothing is just devastating.’” Dean Broder’s column praises “a package of amendments proposed by 11 freshman Democratic senators” and cited Warner as “one of the leaders of the informal group.”

2010 SHOCKER — “Rep. Brian Baird decides he won't seek reelection,” by Seattle Times’ Kyung M. Song: “U.S. Rep. Brian Baird said Wednesday he won't seek re-election next year, ending a six-term congressional career sometimes noted for independent — some say inexplicable — streaks. The Vancouver Democrat's surprise decision had state and national Republicans salivating at the possibility of retaking a swing district they'd lost in 1998. Though Baird's 3rd District voted for President Obama over Sen. John McCain, 52 percent to 46 percent, it also favored President George W. Bush twice. … In an interview, the congressman offered no explicit reason for his planned retirement. But Baird, who is married to an economist and has 4-year-old twin sons, said the grind of lawmaking leaves little time for his family. … Before entering Congress, Baird worked as a clinical psychologist. He said that for now, he does not intend to return to practice. Despite an overall liberal record, he sometimes stirred controversy with his nonconformist tendencies. In November, he was the only Washington Democrat to vote no on the landmark House health-care-overhaul bill.”

GUILT COVERAGE? LEAD STORY of WashPost is 2-col. “For conservatives, a political surge,” by Dan Eggen and Perry Bacon Jr.: “The energized ‘tea party’ movement, which upended this year's political debate with noisy anti-government protests, is preparing to shake up the 2010 elections by channeling money and supporters to conservative candidates set to challenge both Democrats and Republicans. Buoyed by their success in capsizing a moderate Republican candidate this fall in Upstate New York, tea party activists and affiliated groups are unveiling new political action committees and tactics aimed at capitalizing on conservative opposition to health-care reform, financial bailouts and other Obama administration policies. … The strategy poses both an opportunity and a risk for the beleaguered Republican Party, which is seeking to take advantage of conservative discontent while still fielding candidates who appeal to independent voters. Fundraising efforts are just beginning, but tea party activists have already inspired serious challenges to establishment GOP Senate candidates Carly Fiorina in California and Charlie Crist in Florida.”

** A message from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: The CFPA will make a bad economy even worse, cutting access to credit for millions of small businesses and making it harder for struggling companies to weather the financial storm. To learn more, visit www.stopthecfpa.com **

KATIE COURIC interviews Vicki Kennedy and Ted Kennedy Jr. tonight at Manhattan’s 92nd St. Y, their first sit-down interview together since Sen. Kennedy’s passing.

BIRTHDAYS: Doug Badger … Fox’s Mike Emanuel … Mike Shields is 4-0 … Charlie Watkins, son of Dree and Peter, is 1 finger old.

COL. OLLIE NORTH, host of FOX News Channel’s “War Stories,” is temporarily off the air for prostate-cancer treatment. We’re told his prognosis is excellent. He e-mails: “MNY TNX 4 YR KINDNESS & PRAYERS. OF COURSE I'M IN GOOD SPIRITS! I TOLD THE DOCS I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING AND WHY I'M GOING THERE — AND THAT THEIR MISSION IS TO MAKE THE TRIP AS LONG AND PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE. THEY ARE CARRYING OUT THEIR ORDERS. COMPARED TO NEARLY GETTING WHACKED WHILE RUNNING AROUND WITH JENKINS … IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, THIS IS NOTHING. INITIALLY TOLD THE DOCS I COULDN'T GO THRU W/ THIS TREATMENT BECAUSE THE ONLY PERSON I KNOW WHO HAD RADIATION THERAPY FOR CANCER IS ARLEN SPECTER — AND IT TURNED HIM INTO A DEMOCRAT. I WD RATHER DIE OF CANCER THAN DIE A DEMOCRAT. … BEAT ARMY ON SATURDAY. Semper Fidelis, Oliver North.”

SARAH PALIN tweets: “Glad Wash.Post ran my Op-Ed on‘Global Warming’Climategate scandal;amazing 2 see Al Gore's denial of the controversy — its like denying gravity.”

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT GORE, to Variety’s Ted Johnson: “The north polar ice cap has been there for 3 million years, the size of the continental United States, and it is disappearing before our very eyes. What do the skeptics think is causing that? … It is not sun spots … This is physics, it is not politics. Gravity is well understood. The fact that the earth is round is pretty well accepted now. The moon landing was not, as some claimed, staged on a movie lot.”

DRUDGE tweaks Copenhagen with BLUE headline type: “SNOW DRIFTS TO 15FT!” Links to a Chicago-dated AFP dispatch: “Massive storm buries central US in snow.”

COPENHAGEN CONNECTION is our pre-dawn “Playbook for climate” e-mail, with exclusive reporting from POLITICO’s team at COP-15, plus top headlines from global papers. Sign up here.

MICHAEL GERSON on climategate: “he hacked climate e-mails reveal a scandal, not a hoax. … The claim of recent global cooling is deceptive. …But the hacked e-mails are not irrelevant. They reveal another sort of warming — an overheated academic world in which hard science melts into politics. … It is an irony of the first order. Having accused others of a ‘war on science,’ it is climate scientists who are assaulting the authority of science more effectively than anyone else.”

ALSO DRIVING THE CONVERSATION, by Michael Falcone:

THE WARS — NYT A1 — “Poll Finds Slim Majority Back More Troops in Afghan War,” by Adam Nagourney and Dalia Sussman: “A bare majority of Americans support President Obama’s plan to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, but many are skeptical that the United States can count on Afghanistan as a partner in the fight or that the escalation would reduce the chances of a domestic terrorist attack, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll. In the wake of the president’s address last week explaining his decision, the poll found a 10 percentage point increase in public approval of Mr. Obama’s handling of the war in Afghanistan since last month, to 48 percent. But the shift reflects a twist on the political polarization that has marked much of Mr. Obama’s first year in office: Republican and independent voters are rallying behind Mr. Obama as he presses for the troop escalation, while Democrats remain decidedly cool to his war plans. The poll showed a steady slide in support for Mr. Obama as he approaches the end of his first year in office. His job approval rating has now hit 50 percent, the lowest yet in this poll; it was 68 percent at its peak in April.”

— “Petraeus predicts tough 'slog' in Afghan war,” by WashTimes’s Tom LoBianco: “Gen. David H. Petraeus, the architect of the successful troop surge in Iraq, on Wednesday predicted a potentially tougher ‘slog’ in Afghanistan, but praised President Obama's new plan as the route to victory. The chief of U.S. Central Command told lawmakers that violence is likely to worsen, as it did in Iraq in 2007, as the last of 30,000 U.S. troops enter the country over the summer and target enemy strongholds, and as the Afghan government roots out corruption before the July 2011 start of U.S. troop withdrawals. … He said the situation likely will improve by next December, when Mr. Obama is set to review his new strategy.”

BARBARA WALTERS NAMES FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA THE MOST FASCINATING PERSON OF 2009 — ABC’s Lauren Sher: “Almost a year since the Obama family moved to Washington, D.C., the first lady reflected on the transition to the White House. ‘It has been a whirlwind. But it's been amazing,’ she told Walters. ‘I mean, if you think about this year, I had to get these two beautiful girls settled into a new city, into a new home, into a new school. We got a dog. I visited eight countries with my husband. I planted a garden. I've started a mentoring program. It has been everything. And now, here we are at our first Christmas in the White House.’ … The Obamas who have been married for 17 years have had their share of ups and downs. Michelle Obama told Walters that despite her confidence in her husband's natural ability, at a certain point, the grueling demands of politics bothered her. ‘I had always had this dilemma,’ she said. ‘It wasn't that I didn't believe in my husband as a phenomenal leader. I mean, that was always the pull — because I always thought, 'Well, if I wanted somebody as my state senator, or as my U.S. senator, or as my president, I would want Barack Obama.' And the only reason he wouldn't do it is if I said no.’ When asked by Walters if the president would have stopped pursuing politics if she really put her foot down, the first lady said, ‘He would have.’”

THE AGENDA — “NEW HEALTH CARE BENEFITS COME AT A PRICE,” by AP’s Richard Alonso-Zaldivar: “President Barack Obama's health care overhaul — now looking like a real possibility — should give uninsured Americans options they've never had before. But it won't be a free ride. As with the Medicare prescription drug benefit that passed when Republicans ran Washington, consumers will face a complicated lineup of health plan choices — and they'll be costly for some. ‘People who need to buy coverage as individuals and small employers are going to have a lot more in the way of attractive health insurance options, and they won't have to worry about whether their medical condition precludes them from being covered,’ said policy expert Paul Ginsburg, who heads the nonpartisan Center for Studying Health System Change. The downside: ‘Sticker shock is going to come to some.’ And get ready for a whole new set of trade-offs.”

— “Obama, GOP Spar Over Employment Plan,” by WSJ’s Jonathan Weisman: “President Barack Obama's push for new job-creation legislation got off to a rocky start at a closed-door White House meeting Wednesday, when he accused Republicans of rooting against recovery and Republicans shot back that his policies had frozen business hiring. … One heated exchange came at the beginning of the meeting between the president and congressional leaders from both parties. Mr. Obama said the GOP was fixated on the unemployment rate as Congress enters a midterm-election season, saying Republicans ‘seem to be almost rooting against recovery,’ according to two aides briefed on the exchange. When it was his turn to speak, Rep. John Boehner (R., Ohio) bristled. ‘Mr. President, we do a lot of politics in this town,’ the Republican leader said, according to notes from the exchange, ‘but we are committed to working together in areas where we agree to get the American people back to work.’ At one point, the president told Republican leaders to ‘stop trying to frighten the American people,’ displaying a chart showing diminishing job losses over the past four quarters, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said after the meeting.”

— “Democrats in Disarray Over Bank Rules,” by NYT’s Carl Hulse: “The House Democratic effort to overhaul regulation of the nation’s financial system ran into new internal resistance Wednesday, demonstrating the difficult balancing act the party faces in trying to shape rules to prevent a repeat of last year’s financial crisis. As the House took up a sweeping measure that would put new controls on businesses and financial institutions, a bloc of business-oriented Democrats threatened to withhold support because of their concerns about its impact on financial institutions. To address those concerns, Representative Melissa Bean, Democrat of Illinois, a leader of the group called the New Democrat Coalition, offered a proposal to limit a state’s ability to impose tougher rules on national banks already judged to meet federal standards. But liberal lawmakers, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, were not eager to make concessions to banks given their role at the center of the economic crisis. The dispute stalled the beginning of a debate scheduled to run through Friday.”

WASHPOST A1 — “Pakistan arrests 5 N.Va. men, probes possible jihadist ties,” by Jerry Markon: “Five young men from Northern Virginia have been arrested in Pakistan at the home of a man linked to a radical jihadist group, and Pakistani authorities are questioning them about any possible links to terrorism, diplomatic and law enforcement officials said Wednesday. The men, all Muslims from the Alexandria area, were reported missing by their families last week and taken into custody near Lahore on Monday. One of them left behind a video that quoted Koranic verses, cited conflicts between Western and Muslim nations and showed wartime footage. A Muslim leader described it Wednesday as a farewell statement. Law enforcement sources said the video had jihadist overtones but cautioned that they had no evidence it was intended as a farewell. They said they had no information about the men's intentions. Law enforcement officials also said they had no evidence that the men had been trained at terror camps or were planning an attack.”

PRESSWATCH — “Stephanopoulos' latest reinvention,” by POLITICO’s Michael Calderone: “Conservatives are predictably outraged. Liberals feel that he long ago betrayed them. And his Washington friends, though supportive, seem baffled by his decision to take a job that doesn’t seem like a natural fit. Reaction to ABC’s selection of George Stephanopoulos to succeed Diane Sawyer in one of network television’s most coveted positions as co-anchor of ‘Good Morning America’ reflects the fact that as a close and highly visible aide to President Bill Clinton, Stephanopoulos was one of the most successful and identifiable figures of his generation before he ever aspired to television news. … Depending on how you count them, this is at least the fifth career transformation Stephanopoulos has carefully engineered. … Stephanopoulos didn’t petition for the job when it was announced in September that Sawyer was heading to the evening ‘World News’ anchor desk, and the network game of musical chairs began. While ‘This Week’ has more cachet within the Beltway, ‘GMA’ — which brings in far more advertising dollars five days a week — is of greater value to the network.”

TOP TWEETS:

@chucktodd: Interesting POTUS observation during Nobel signing book ceremony: Said when MLK won his prize, it had a "galvanizing effect."

@revkin: At talks in Copenhagen, George Soros pitches using bailout "special drawing rights" for billions for climate:

@mikememoli: At start of the '10 cycle story was GOP Sens retiring (Voinovich/Bond/Martinez). Now it's Dem Reps. What's that say?

@joseiswriting: i love it when truly talented ppl get a shout-out. here's an awesome wapo piece on my dear @helena_andrews:

@RobertBluey: Just signed up for the Capitol Hill Tweet Watch Report, a daily email of key Tweets from Capitol Hill

TECHWATCH — “State of the Art: Not Yet the Season for a Nook,” by NYT’s David Pogue: “ comes the hotly awaited Nook from Barnes & Noble: an electronic book reader in the style of the Amazon Kindle. Actually, not just in the style of; this thing is ripped right out of the Kindle’s master playbook. Same price ($259), same off-white plastic frame around the same six-inch E Ink screen (crisp, black type against a light gray background). … But according to the Nook Web site, there are differences. Oh, what differences. ‘A beautiful color touch screen.’ A catalog of ‘over one million titles.’ (Kindle: only 385,000.) ‘Browse e-books, magazines and newspapers on AT&T’s 3G Wireless Network or on Wi-Fi.’ Cool! The Kindle doesn’t have Wi-Fi. … Unfortunately, we, the salivating public, might be afflicted with a little holiday disease of our own: Sucker Syndrome. Every one of the Nook’s vaunted distinctions comes fraught with buzz kill footnotes.”

DESSERT — “WASHINGTON’S NEWEST VERB: ‘SALAHI,’” by POLITICO’s Michael Falcone: “When Tareq and Michaele Salahi crashed the White House state dinner last month, they gave Washington — and perhaps the English language — a new verb. Just two weeks after their infamous stunt, and at the height of the holiday party season, the name ‘Salahi’ has become synonymous with the naughty habit of sneaking into a soiree uninvited. Urban Dictionary, the online arbiter of new and hip words, is listing three ways of using the last name: ‘Salahi,’ ‘Salahid’ and ‘Salahi’d.’ … In record time, Salahi-the-verb has, you might say, Salahi’d its way into the local vernacular. … Kelley McCormick, a partner at Qorvis Communications and a seasoned event planner, said she’s heard more than a few Washingtonians throw the phrase around in discussions of how to ‘bully or sweet-talk their way into a party they ‘may or may not’ have been invited to.’ ‘Many of us have witnessed highly advanced Salahi-ing over the years,’ McCormick said. ‘The art of party crashing is as old as D.C.’s Green Book; it’s just been given a new name.’”

Questor says HOLD

After moving into new territories over the past few years, the company appears
to be having some success, despite continuing problems in Japan.

According to the company, the near-unprecedented volatility in financial
markets in October 2008 disproportionately impacted its UK business because
of its client base's greater exposure to banking and financial shares.

Although revenue in the UK was flat in the first six months of the year, the
group's Australian business saw revenues grow 64pc to £22m in the first half
and by 74pc in the second quarter to £12m.

In mainland Europe, revenues grew 65pc to 22m in the first half and by 55pc to
£13m in the second quarter. Its office in Singapore saw revenues increase by
22pc in the first half to £5m.

Growth in these new markets is expected to continue into the second half of
the year and comparatives will soften over the rest of the year.

The company, which allows investors to bet on movements in share prices,
indices and commodities, said that it expected to report six-month group
revenues of about £142m, which is 13pc ahead of last year. Adjusted pretax
profit is expected to rise by 32pc.

The group's shares tumbled earlier this year after more stringent credit risk
management caused UK revenues to fall – but this prudence appears to have
paid off. The charge for doubtful debts in the first half is expected to be
less than 0.5pc of revenue, compared with 12pc in the first half of last
year.

The group opened 32,000 new accounts in the first half, excluding its Japanese
business, where the market remains challenging.

The company bought Japanese unit FXOnline in October 2008. However, Japanese
regulators are trying to place limits on the amount of leverage investors
can hold in foreign exchange positions.

Progressive limits will be introduced starting from next year, but the full
details of the new rules have yet to be finalised as a consultation process
continues.

IG is trying to make changes to its business in the country, steering
customers towards contracts for difference (CFDs) rather that foreign
exchange trading.

But revenues in Japan the second quarter of this year fell to £5m from £6m in
preceding three months. However in October, the unit moved to a new fixed
spread model and early signs are said to be encouraging.

Across the whole business costs will be higher in the second half of the year
because to its recent increase in headcount. Brokers are preparing to
upgrade their full-year expectations after the update.

Shares in IG Group were recommended as a buy on January 21 at 254p and are now
up 43pc, compared with a market up 29pc.

They are trading on a May 2010 earnings multiple of 13.9 times falling to 12.9
next year, which is reasonably full.

However, the shares' dividend is a respectable 4.4pc meaning that they are
well worth holding on to.

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What is an ADR?

ADRs are American Depository Receipts, which are certificates that evidence ownership of ADSs – American Depository Shares. The term ADRs and ADSs are often used interchangeably. The ADSs are shares of a foreign company that are held on deposit by a custodian bank in the U.S.

ADRs are U.S. dollar-denominated shares of equity ownership in non-U.S. companies. From the foreign companies’ standpoint, ADRs provide them with the opportunity to raise capital directly on U.S. securities markets. And for U.S. investors, ADRs provide a convenient way to invest in foreign stocks through their U.S. broker, without having to go through a foreign stock exchange in the company’s home country. There may be fewer obstacles and lower transaction costs than there would be if the investor were to purchase shares in the company directly on the foreign stock exchange.

In order for foreign companies to place their ADRs on U.S. securities markets, they also have to comply with Securities and Exchange regulations and reporting requirements, so there is more assurance for the U.S. investor that the shares they are purchasing meet the standards applicable for U.S. companies, and that there will be the same level of transparency in reporting.

ADRs are traded in the same way as U.S. stocks, and are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, or are traded on the NASDAQ or on the over-the-counter market. ADRs are traded according to U.S. market practices, are quoted in U.S. dollars, and dividends are paid in U.S. dollars.

Dividends Taxed at Capital Gain Rates

The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 included provisions that reduced the tax rate on certain dividends to the lower rate applicable on capital gains. This rate is generally 15%, and 5% for taxpayers in the lower tax brackets. The provision applies to dividends from domestic U.S. corporations and qualified foreign corporations (QFCs). Distributions from a foreign corporation only qualify for these preferential tax rates if they are dividends according to U.S. tax rules, and the corporation qualifies as a QFC.

Qualified Foreign Corporation

One of the qualifying tests for a QFC is that it pays a dividend on stock that is “readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States”. Since ADRs meet this criteria, they would qualify as securities of a qualified foreign corporation.

Qualifying Dividends

In order for a distribution from a foreign corporation to be considered a dividend for U.S. income tax purposes, the underlying security must be an equity security and not debt, and the distribution must be made from earnings and profits. The security is considered equity if it is a common or ordinary share of stock, or if there is a public Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, stating that the security will be treated as equity for U.S. income tax purposes. An ADR would meet this test.

Qualifying dividends on an ADR would be reported in box 1b of the Form 1099-DIV that the investment account manager or broker sends you. These qualifying dividends are the ordinary dividends that are subject to the maximum tax rates that apply on net capital gains. If the regular tax rate that would otherwise apply to your ordinary income is 25% or higher, the maximum tax rate on qualifying dividends is 15%. And if your regular tax rate is lower than 25%, the qualified dividends would be subject to tax at 5%.

Holding Period

In order for the dividends to qualify for the special capital gains tax rate, there is a holding period test. For common stock, you must have held the stock for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins 60 days before the ex-dividend date. The ex-dividend date is the first date after the declaration of a dividend on which the buyer will not receive the next dividend payment. In other words, the ex-dividend date is the date on which the stock starts trading without the dividend.

For dividends on preferred stock that correspond to a period or periods that total more than 366 days, you must have held the stock for more than 90 days during the 181-day period that begins 90 days before the ex-dividend date. If the dividends correspond to a period of 366 days or less, the holding period for common stock applies.

In determining whether you meet the holding period test, you include the date you sold or disposed of the stock, or ADR, in your holding period, but not the date you acquired it. And the holding period is based on calendar days, so you need to take into consideration the number of days in each month involved in your holding period.

Your holding period may be affected if you enter into a transaction that diminishes your risk of loss. You cannot include any days on which you reduced your risk of loss on the investment, for example through short sales. You could not count any days on which:
· You had an option to sell, were contractually obligated to sell, or you had made (but not closed) a short sale of substantially identical stock or securities.
· You granted an option to buy substantially identical stock or securities.
· You hedge your loss by holding one or more positions in substantially similar or related property.

If you meet the holding period test, the dividends are qualifying dividends and are taxed at the capital gain rates (15% or 5%, depending on your tax bracket). If you do not meet the holding period test, the dividends would not qualify for these preferential rates and would be subject to tax as ordinary income at your regular tax rate.

Your Form 1099-DIV may show ordinary dividends in box 1a and qualified dividends in box 1b. But if you do not meet the holding period requirement, even though the 1099-DIV shows qualified dividends, you will not be able to take advantage of the lower capital gain rates, and would have to report all the dividends as ordinary income. This may be a factor to take into consideration when deciding when to sell the ADR. Depending on how the market price of the ADR is moving, and how you expect it to move, you may want to extend your selling date in order to meet the holding period requirement and qualify for the lower tax rate. One simple way to look at the holding period is that if you received the dividend and owned the ADR for more than 60 days, you will have met the holding period requirement.

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Brock Lesnar Sick, Health in Jeopardy. Will He Fight in the UFC Again?

frankliningram1983 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:06:17 +0000

Guayaki: elephantjournal.com’s “Walk the Talk” Company of the Year.

by elephantjournal.com on Dec 9, 2009

Guayaki Yerba Mate: elephantjournal.com’s 7th Annual “Walk the Talk” Company of the Year.

Prologue

Once a month, it seems, I get to write about a new wonderful pioneering green-minded company that…after a couple years of investor-fueled growth, ups and sells out to The Man.

Ex-entrepreneurs always condescendingly explain to me, as an editor, as an idealist, that that’s how the business world works: “It’s people like us with vision, elbow grease, boldness and caring who create great companies in new market niches,” they patiently explain to me, “and when big business recognizes that “doing good” or being “eco-responsible” isn’t just idealism—you can actually make money off of it—then they absorb our little company, giving us far greater distribution.”

And then those ex-entrepreneurs go on to found other visionary, pioneering companies. And that’s how the business world works, including the green-minded, fair-trade business sector that, under the appellation of LOHAS, now amounts to some $209 Billion dollars annually in the U.S. of A.

But here’s two problems with the above scenario.

Number one: when Coke buys Odwalla or Pepsi buys Naked Juice, Vitamin Water and Izze, or Kraft buys Kashi and Bear Naked, or Dean buys Silk Soy, or Hershey’s buys Dagoba or Clorox buys Burt’s Bees or whoever bough Tom’s of Maine…here’s a list of other companies that you used to love that sold out to The Man—well, the Man dumbs the product down. It’s no longer quite so quality, quite so green, organic—because The Man is about bottom lines, not triple bottom lines, and bottom lines involve cheap labor, usually in foreign countries (now I hear the Republicans and Mid-Westerners out there listening up, this ain’t just a Whole Foods’ weekend liberal issue). Bottom lines involve cheap ingredients. Bottom lines involve gutting a brand, and protecting only…the brand. The logo. The image. ‘Cause the Organic Cow of Vermont might sound Vermonty, which gives you a cozy warm feeling when you stroll down the grocery aisle, but it long ago was bought up by Dean, the very Darth Vader-like company that’s gutted, and shuttered, organic dairies and small farms across the country—and that recently turned its Silk Soy (born here in Boulder, Colorado back in the day) from the world’s largest organic brand to the world’s largest Gotcha brand, selling under the close-to-meaningless appellation of “Natural” under the same code, and close to the same price, so that it took groceries and shoppers around the US months to even realize they’d been had.

The second problem I have with the above get-green-sell-out-make-green scenario: the natural products, eco, fair-trade marketplace is fundamentally different that other markets: it’s about changing the world for the better. About being responsible for our products from beginning to end, from farm to table. It’s about “the mindful life”—elephant’s mission—the notion that we, as businesspeople and conscious consumers alike can live a good life, make good money, and at the same time do so in a way that’s of benefit to others, not at the expense of others.

There’s plenty of examples of such businesses in these membership lists of two organizations: 1% for the Planet, and B Corporation: Method, Seventh Generation, Patagonia are among the many, many businesses above that inspire me.

The world is in a bad way—in large part of the predatory, insecure, greedy habits of big business. We can fix that—this is a monster we created—and we’re at a time in history when we can give back to the earth and allll the people on it, and customers will go out of their way, and pay more, for companies that do so.

elephantjournal.com’s 7th Annual “Walk the Talk” Company of the Year.

A few months back, I traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with my Congressman, to hang out with ex-military man and green journalista Adam Shake…and to meet with my friends at Guayaki Yerba Mate, who were receiving a commendation from the Ambassador to Paraguay for their service to the land and people of that great little country.

After the Guayaki – Paraguay luncheon and speeches, I sat around a table (with Adam Shake, and also David DiFrenza [of Treehugger, the Green Giant of today's green journalism]), and closely questioned two of the founders: Alex Pryor, and David Karr, whom I had known a little bit for a long time. (Photo slideshow with detailed captions re: that trip here).

In short, Guayaki is healing our earth through business. Not fruity, unprofitable, airy-fairy business that’ll never make it. Rather, Guayaki represents a new paradigm: the better their business does, the more nature heals.

They call it Market Driven Restoration (click for short, touching video).

Here’s how it works: mate (pronounced mah-tay) is shade-grown. That means that, as in Paraguay, where only 7% of the Rainforest remains (called the earth’s lungs, the rainforest absorbs carbon emissions and cools our planet, cleans the air we breathe, and provides habitat for a remarkable diversity of tribes, wildlife, and healing plants)—whenever you buy mate, it’s grown in the forest. Shade-grown products monetize the forest, thust protecting it from the bulldozer and the torch.

When you drink Guayaki, you’re helping to preserve the forest. You’re also helping to create jobs down there, so that natives don’t have to give up their traditional way of life and move to the city, where things often go downhill for them, fast.

Finally, if I told you that there were only seven forms of caffeine known to man (tea, coffee…), and that one of them was mate, and that mate was loaded with healthy nutrients and antioxidants, and didn’t stress you out in the same way coffee can…and that only mate was, as a business niche, unexploited…well if I were an investor I’d buy, buy, buy.

Mate is hugely popular in South America. I like to say that mate is the soccer (football) of the natural products world—popular and well-loved, but unknown in the US.

Guayaki, already a $10 million dollar business, is poised to become a giant (sans hyperbole) in the caffeine world. They’ve got a product that works. They’ve got a product that’s healthy. And they’ve got a product that gives back to the country where it comes—both to humans and to nature.

And in this day and age of conscious consumerism, they’re poised to become everyone’s favorite company.

Other companies, who shall go unnamed here, market themselves as givers. Every time you buy our product, their story goes, you’re benefiting “X”. Some of those companies, unfortunately, don’t deliver on those promises.

Guayaki walks their talk.

Finally, when I questioned Guayaki founders about their business model—would they sell out like all the others when they got big—they said, no, we don’t need to. We’re in this to make money, sure, but we’re in this because this inspires us, mainly, it inspires us to get up in the morning, work hard, and celebrate life. We don’t need to sell out, they said, to live a good, and meaningful life.

I’m choosing to believe them, and to support them, and to put the full weight of my big mouth and elephant’s 86,000 monthly readers and our 20 partner web sites, including my column on Huffington Post, behind Guayaki’s walk-the-talk Market Driven Restoration business model.

Why? If they succeed, we all win: we’ll have a better, cleaner, happier world that will have proven that do-good business can do well. And that will inspire hundreds of entrepreneurs to try and do the same in their own way.

And, perhaps, those new entrepreneurs will also learn that they don’t have to sell out to The Man to be successful. They can remain independent, family-owned, with pride in the values of their business.

And that will be the kind of world I want my children to grow up in.

Click arrow below to toggle through, or just stare at it for awhile and it’ll rotate through.

Vizada Walks The Walk With Gifts Of BGAN Terminals To HumaniNet

They don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk — tis the season, and Vizada announced that it has donated BGAN terminals to HumaniNet, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating humanitarian organizations about the tremendous benefits of using satellite communications to support relief and development efforts. HumaniNet, in turn, has given or loaned the terminals to its network of organizations helping people in need around the world.

”HumaniNet has a very unique and important mission to help humanitarian groups understand the tremendous value satellite communications can bring to their efforts in key hot spots and remote locations around the globe,” said Bob Baker, president and COO, Vizada Americas. “Vizada has been a long-time supporter of HumaniNet, and we know these BGAN terminals will be put to important use for many years.” HumaniNet provided the BGAN terminals to groups conducting a variety of efforts in some of the world’s most remote regions. The Adventist Development Relief Agency (www.adra.org) is using its BGAN terminal in Samoa to aid in tsunami relief efforts.

WorldVision (www.worldvision.org) works to combat poverty among children and families in places like Ecuador, Mali and Ethiopia. Their new BGAN terminals are being used initially by a video production crew filming the people and communities of Cambodia and other countries to publicize World Vision’s True Spirit of Christmas tour and gift catalog that allows people to donate money for cows, education and hope.

Brad, Kris, and Jeff Howe, three brothers from the New Tribes Mission, (www.ntm.org) are developing written languages for indigenous people groups in different locations of the Amazon region of Western Brazil, one of the most remote and inhospitable areas touched by the HumaniNet network. The brothers and their families will use BGAN as their sole communications with the outside world and with each other, as do dozens of New Tribes missionaries worldwide.

HumaniNet (www.humaninet.org) will loan two of the BGAN terminals for short term use by the more than 400 organizations and teams it supports. One of the units has already been allocated to That They May Know (www.thattheymayknow.com), missionaries who manage a small hospital in the remote Gulf Province of Papua New Guinea. They are using the BGAN terminal to replace an older technology whose service had declined greatly over the last several years.

“These BGAN terminals from Vizada will provide a critical lifeline for the groups I work with, which are operating in some of the world’s most remote and dangerous regions,” said Gregg Swanson, executive director of HumaniNet. “Satellite communications provides not just voice communications, but broadband access for reporting scientific data and status updates in real-time along with providing a measure of security in volatile areas. Many of the groups I work with do not realize just how capable and reliable mobile satellite communications has become, nor do they realize how easy and affordable it is to use and maintain even in their unique situations.” With BGAN service, these groups will be able to set up a broadband mobile office in minutes from anywhere in the world. They will have simultaneous voice and high speed data in areas with limited access to fixed-line or GSM networks.

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A few weeks ago, Brock Lesnar opted out of his November 20th UFC 106 fight due to illness. While details of the mixed martial arts star's illness remained murky, it was said to be mono.

However, Brock Lesnar's health has made a turn for the worse. One week ago, Brock Lesnar collapsed while he was in Canada. He was rushed to a North Dakota hospital where he has been hospitalized since. While no one will say what, exactly is wrong with the UFC Heavyweight champion, UFC President Dana White provided a grim outlook to his health. White says Brock Lesnar does not have cancer or AIDS; rather it's some kind of intestinal disorder that requires major survey. Dana White is currently trying to get Brock Lesnar transferred to the nearby Mayo Clinic for treatment.

Dana White told TMZ.com, “There's a possibility Lesnar will never fight again.”

Ouch. If that is true, the mixed martial arts world will never be the same. Since joining the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) in 2007, Brock Lesnar has been a force to be reckoned with and has become one of UFC's biggest draws and most recognizable figures. During his last fight against Frank Mir, Brock Lesnar dominated the fight and in a post-fight conference, trash talked his opponent, causing a stir within the MMA community. Whether or not you like him, he's exciting to watch and MMA world will miss him, should his health force him to cease fighting.

If Lesnar never fights again, what happens to the UFC?
First, UFC will need to find a replacement for Brock Lesnar's next scheduled fight (Jan. 2, 2010) against Shane Carwin. Then, UFC will likely create an interim heavyweight champion, should Lesnar not return to action for a while. If Lesnar never returns to the Octagon, a new heavyweight champion match would be held, crowning a new champion.

Lesnar is one of UFC's biggest names, and without him, UFC will need to do more to keep viewers interested. While there are hundreds of other fighters in the UFC, Brock Lesnar is by far the biggest draw, brings in the most pay-per-view viewers, and sells tickets. UFC's other popular fighters, Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva fight only once or twice per year. If Brock Lesnar never fights again, UFC is going to need some very creative marketing with its future matchups. Perhaps getting Chuck Liddel, fresh off ABC's Dancing with the Stars, back in the Octagon?

Brock Lesnar was scheduled to fight Shane Carwin in UFC 108 on Jan. 2, 2010. This was supposed to be one of the biggest UFC fights in 2010. Due to Lesnar's illness, the new headliners are Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva – an event not worth the $45 pay-per-view price tag.

Here's hoping Brock Lesnar has a full recovery. Although details of his illness are ambiguous at best, if it's an intestinal disease, and he needs surgery, Lesnar could be at a huge disadvantage during a fight, should he come back. Opponents will know to hit him where it hurts—the stomach—and could potentially cause more damage to the area.

Get well, Brock Lesnar.

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