Friday, November 30, 2012

Joint Venture Giveaways Are List Building On Steroids | Internet ...

In this article I'm covering Joint Venture giveaways, just another marketing tool to add to your arsenal to grow your reputation online, build loyalty to your list and generally build your overall online presence's what are they & how do I get them? - read on...

Tags: internet marketing booth, internetmarketing booth

Source: http://internetmarketingbooth.com/blog/75787/joint-venture-giveaways-are-list-building-on-steroids/

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

The Social Networking Academy ? Attention Smallbusiness Owners ...

? Aweber Facebook Connect

? ?

If you have something worthwhile that you want the world to know about but don?t know how to promote it, then this could be the most important message you?ll ever read.

And it?s about to blow things wide open to create a new generation of super hero brands and businesses.

You know you?ve got something of value ? a talent or a service that others want. Maybe it?s you. Your business. Your product. Your book. Your cause.

And you sense that social media is a great way to get seen online. But you?re not sure where to start.

Even worse, you see people who are less qualified or less deserving than you using social media to overtake you. Stealing the limelight. Leaving you in the shadows. And all because they have an online publicity plan.

Maybe you?re too busy elsewhere. You?ve too many other things to do to stop and look at marketing. And there?s no-one else to delegate it to ? not yet anyway..

Maybe you don?t know where to start. Social media is a foreign language to you. How to learn one social media platform, let alone all of them. And ? wow ? then you?ve got to link them? No way!

Maybe you can?t find customers. Or know off the top of your head their true value to your business. What it costs to find them or keep them?

Maybe you can get them to your site, but you can?t get them to convert. What?s putting them off? Your price, your offer, how you treat them? You?d ask them, but no-one?s talking to you!

have a daily plan of exactly what to do to launch your super hero brand Up Up And Away. You can even automate some of it ? so you set it, and forget it!

can change direction in a single bound if you have to, thanks to expert advice on what?s new in social media (and there?s ALWAYS something new!)

have customers and fans all over town and enjoy a reputation that means people like you before you even walk in the room (or fly in the window)

are recognized for your ?super powers? and authority (because you know exactly what to claim, and how to tell your story)

develop and grow your brand because you spend less time firefighting IN the business and more time ON the business uncovering its true potential

achieve the freedom to enjoy work and home as you should. To save the world, AND be back home in time for dinner? Awesome!

My name is Jo Barnes. I?m the founder of The Social Networking Academy, a comprehensive online video training Academy for individuals and small to medium sized businesses that want to create and grow successful businesses using the power of Social Media.

The Academy has been voted the No 1 Social Media product online by IM Report Card ? an independent ratings site. And those votes (I?m truly honoured to say) come from regular people, just like you? Read more?

Source: http://kurttasche.com/internet-marketing-articles/the-social-networking-academy-attention-smallbusiness-owners.html

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Forex Trading Tips And Tricks That Work - Search Forex

Welcome to the wide world of Forex! Forex is a large, exciting market that is defined by tricks of the trade and advanced financial techniques. The high levels of energy, stress and competition may make currency trading seem unconquerable to you. The tips is this article will give you suggestions that can shape your forex trading experience.

As a new Foreign Exchange trader, you need to decide in what time frame you want to work. If you want to move trades quickly, use the 15 minute and hourly chart to exit your position in just hours. 10 and 5 minute charts are usually used by scalpers to get through the trading process quickly.

Only choose a Foreign Exchange program that you can customize. You want to be able to make changes to your system and software so that they fit your strategy. Don?t purchase any software unless you?re sure you?ll be able to customize it to suit your needs.

The term ?Forex? means ?foreign exchange.? This type of market is all about currency trading. You can make profits and perhaps make this your career. Buying and trading is definitely not something you want to jump into without a solid foundation of knowledge to work from.

TIP! Developing a plan before making forex trades is essential. There is no short cut to forex trading success.

Although analysis is important, no trade is going to be assured of success. You must evaluate your specific risk profile, and decide how much risk you are comfortable taking. Once you understand the basics of trading, you will be able to create a plan that works for you, and allows you to understand the market.

Don?t let your emotions carry you away when you trade. It is often said that bad trades were being caused by anger, greed or even panic, so don?t make trades when you are feeling emotional. You will massively increase risk and be derailed from your goals if you let emotions control your trading.

Research your broker when using a managed account. Select a broker that, on average, does better than the market. A good broker needs experience, so find someone who has worked in the field for a minimum of five years.

Don?t ever consider going against trends if you?re just a beginner at trading in the market. You should also avoid selecting your highs or lows against the current market. Go with the flow of the market if you are starting to feel overwhelmed. Going against the market trends is stressful and not worth the money you will lose.

TIP! Since forex trading can be complicated, you might not want to dive in right away. Fortunately, you can practice using demo platforms.

Select a trading style based on your priorities. If you aren?t going to be a full-time day trader, then trade asynchronously over a longer span of time, say a week or a month.

Most people think that stop loss marks are visible. This is completely untrue, and trading without a stop loss marker is very dangerous.

Forex trading can be exciting, especially for new traders, who sometimes devote a great deal of energy to it. Many traders can only truly focus for a handful of hours at a time. The market is not going anywhere, so take breaks to clear your head and refocus.

TIP! If you prefer an investment that is relatively safe, consider Canadian currency. It may be hard to tell what is happening in another country?s economy, so this makes things tricky.

Do not chose your foreign exchange trading position based on that of another trader?s. People are more likely to brag about their successes than their failures. Even a pro can be wrong with a trade. Rely on your personal strategies, your signals and your intuition, and let the other traders rely on theirs.

In the world of foreign exchange, there are many techniques that you have at your disposal to make better trades. The world of forex has a little something for everyone, but what works for one person may not for another. Hopefully, these tips have given you a starting point for your own strategy.

Source: http://search-forex.com/forex-trading-tips-and-tricks-that-work/

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Ron Paul Blames the Gaza Conflict on Israel, American Middle East Policy

Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, may be retiring from elected politics, having lost his latest bid for the presidency, but he is still making his views heard. In a recent oped, Paul opened his mind about the causes of the recent Israel-Gaza missile war.

Paul blames Israel, American Middle East policy on the conflict

Paul places the blame in his oped for continued conflict between Israel and the Hamas regime in Gaza in both American Middle Eastern policy and Israel's "imposed inhuman conditions in Gaza" and its "destructive policies." The often-heard complaint that Israel should not have to tolerate hundreds of missiles being fired against it does not impress Paul. The Obama administration, in his view, is undertaking a similar policy through use of drone strikes against terrorist targets in countries such as Yemen and Pakistan. America's tilt toward Israel, in Paul's view, undermines its role as a peacemaker in the Middle East.

Ron Paul: Gaza a 'concentration camp'

Paul has had some controversial things to say about Gaza before. In a 2009 interview with Iranian state television, during the midst of a previous conflict between Israel and the Hamas government, Paul referred Gaza as a "concentration camp" and denied that the Hamas government was the aggressor. He suggested that if the United States were to stop supporting Israel, the Jewish state would be forced to start negotiating with its Arab neighbors, such as the Hamas regime in Gaza.

Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005

As the Washington Post reported at the time, Israel withdrew its forces from Gaza in 2005, dismantling Jewish settlements. While this move was controversial, the expectation was that this move would reduce terrorist attacks on Israel.

Hamas rocket attacks on Israel

According to Global Security, the Hamas regime has conducted periodic rocket bombardments on Israeli territory, the most recent coming this month. The weapons systems are a combination of homemade rockets and more sophisticated missiles smuggled into Gaza from Iran. These weapons tend to be undiscriminating , meant to hit civilian areas, sowing terror and fear. In response, Israel had imposed a partial naval blockade on Gaza, an operation that has proven to be controversial in the international community, but which Israel justifies because of the continued belligerency of the Hamas regime. Israel has also built a system of missile defenses, starting with the Iron Dome, which seems to have worked with great effectiveness in the most recent conflict. Israel has also launched air strikes against missile launchers and other military targets in Gaza and in the most recent conflict, threatened a ground invasion,

Hamas dedicated to the destruction of Israel

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the founding charter Hamas calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and its replacement with an Islamist state that would also include Gaza and the West Bank, the latter currently administered by the Palestinian Authority. This stance may prove to be a complicating factor in Paul's desire for Israel to negotiate with Hamas.

Texas resident Mark Whittington writes about state issues for the Yahoo! Contributor Network.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ron-paul-blames-gaza-conflict-israel-american-middle-200300438.html

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Mexico?s Pe?a Nieto Visits Washington to Refocus Relations

Four days before taking over in Los Pinos, Mexico?s president-elect paid a visit to the White House. Enrique Pe?a Nieto?s November 27 meeting with President Barack Obama comes amid a flurry of attention on how Mexico has changed?over the past six years and?in line with those changes?calls for the United States to refocus on what its neighbor has to offer. Obama commented on the timing of the meeting with the president-elect, saying: "We meet early with the president of Mexico because it represents the close relationship between the U.S. and Mexico."

Ahead of his U.S. visit, Pe?a Nieto penned an opinion piece for The Washington Post?calling to redefine relations and hone in on economic ties, arguing: ?It is a mistake to limit our bilateral relationship to drugs and security concerns.??In fact, U.S.-Mexico trade ties broke new records in recent years, hitting $500 billion in goods and services traded bilaterally last year. U.S. exports to Mexico grew more than 20 percent in 2010, and 375 percent since 1993, before the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Moreover, Pe?a Nieto?s December 1 inauguration takes place at a time of glowing reports about Mexico?s economy. The latest issue of The Economist includes a 14-page special report on Mexico, bearing the optimistic headline ?From darkness, dawn.??The insert notes that Mexico holds free-trade deals with 44 countries, ?more than any other nation.??Soaring labor costs in China along with the transportation savings involved with Mexico?s proximity to the U.S. market could give the Latin American country a leg up in the long run. The Economist calls Mexico a ?Brazil-beater,? becoming the latest in a series?of media?outlets?hyping?Mexico?s economy over?Brazil?s. A recent HSBC report on Mexico?s trade outlook calls it ?the most confident country in Latin America.?

But it appears the American public may not have read the good news. A November 20 Vianovo and GSD&M survey found that half of Americans have an unfavorable view of Mexico, with ?drugs? being the word most frequently associated with it. As many as 59 percent of those surveyed viewed Mexico as a source of problems compared to just 14 percent considering it a good partner. This perception persists, even as signs indicate a turning tide in terms of the drug-related violence that marked the six-year term of outgoing President Felipe Calder?n. An AnimalPolitico analysis?(translated into English by InSight Crime) reports that 20 of Mexico?s 32 states saw fewer homicides between January and October in 2012 compared to the same period last year. Areas associated with high rates of violence saw notable drops, with homicides decreasing by 32 percent in Chihuahua, 25 percent in Nuevo Leon, and 23 percent in Sinaloa. Last month, Ciudad Juarez logged fewer homicides than Chicago. ?[A]re we still in a security crisis?? asks the article?s author, Mexican security expert Alejandro Hope. ?I would say no: crime and violence continue (and will continue for a while) at unacceptable levels, but it can no longer be so easily argued that the situation is escalating out of control.?

Whether Pe?a Nieto?s government oversees a period when U.S. perceptions change remains to be seen. Before his North American tour, the president-elect set economic issues first and security last in his list of priorities?for the White House meeting, reflecting his calls to refocus the nature of bilateral relations. Pe?a Nieto will also meet with U.S. congressional leaders and stop in Ottawa to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and members of Parliament. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will lead Washington?s delegation to Pe?a Nieto?s December 1 inauguration. COA?s Eric Farnsworth points out in an AQ blog post that this is ?an important symbol of respect for the new president,? given that Biden represents the top U.S. official who would travel to the inauguration of a foreign leader.?


In other Mexico news:?

  • In its latest economic outlook report, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development forecast?that Mexico?s GDP growth would slow from 3.8 percent in 2012 to 3.3 percent in 2013, then pick back up to 3.6 percent in 2014.?
  • Mexican President-elect Enrique Pe?a Nieto visits Canada on November 28. In an op-ed for The Globe and Mail, he outlined areas of improvement for Canadian-Mexican relations, including in the areas of energy and the economy. He also described Canada?s 2009 decision to impose visa requirements on Mexicans as a ?disappointment.? ?
  • Financial Times? beyondbrics blog reports that, as Mexico?s president leaves office this week, ?he dropped off yet another house-warming gift to his successor.??On Sunday, Mexico announced a major onshore oil discovery in the state of Tabasco.?This follows two off-shore discoveries made in the past few months.?

Source: http://www.as-coa.org/articles/mexico%E2%80%99s-pe%C3%B1a-nieto-visits-washington-refocus-relations

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Apple has top U.S. smartphone, passes Google: research firm

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Early success for the iPhone 5 smartphone has helped Apple to overtake Google's Android software in the United States, research firm Kantar WorldPanel said on Tuesday.

Apple's U.S. share of smartphone sales in the 12 weeks to October 31 more than doubled from a year ago to 48.1 percent, putting it within reach of the record 49.3 percent it managed in early 2012.

Android's share dropped to 46.7 percent from 63.3 percent, Kantar WorldPanel's data showed, but it continues to dominate in key European markets. The platform claimed 74 percent market share in Germany and 82 percent in Spain.

Android's combined share of the top five European markets rose to 64 percent, from 51 percent a year earlier, while Apple's share edged up by one percentage point to 21 percent.

Research In Motion Ltd saw its share fall in all but one of the surveyed markets, sliding to 1.6 percent from 8.5 percent in the United States, and to 2.7 percent from 8.7 percent in Brazil. In Germany, the BlackBerry maker's share rose 0.9 percentage points to 2.5 percent.

RIM's stock fell 5.9 percent to C$11.20 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. But the shares, which soared last week on rising optimism around RIM's soon-to-be-launched BlackBerry 10 devices, were still up more than 15 percent from last Monday's close.

(Reporting By Tarmo Virki; Additional reporting by Allison Martell in Toronto; Editing by David Goodman and David Gregorio)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/apple-takes-smartphone-top-spot-google-u-research-125036009--finance.html

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Princeton research: Embracing data 'noise' brings Greenland's complex ice melt into focus

Princeton research: Embracing data 'noise' brings Greenland's complex ice melt into focus [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 27-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Morgan Kelly
mgnkelly@princeton.edu
609-258-5729
Princeton University

An enhanced approach to capturing changes on the Earth's surface via satellite could provide a more accurate account of how ice sheets, river basins and other geographic areas are changing as a result of natural and human factors. In a first application, the technique revealed sharper-than-ever details about Greenland's massive ice sheet, including that the rate at which it is melting might be accelerating more slowly than predicted.

Princeton University researchers developed a mathematical framework and a computer code to accurately capture ground-level conditions collected on particular geographic regions by the GRACE satellites (Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment), according to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center, GRACE measures gravity to depict how mass such as ice or water is distributed over the Earth's surface. A change in GRACE data can signify a change in mass, such as a receding glacier.

Typically, GRACE data are recorded for the whole globe and processed to remove large regional differences, said lead author Christopher Harig, a postdoctoral research associate in Princeton's Department of Geosciences. The result is a coarse image that can provide a general sense of mass change, but not details such as various mass fluctuations within an area.

With their method, Harig and co-author Frederik Simons, an assistant professor of geosciences, can clean up data "noise" the signal variations and distortions that can obscure satellite readings and then recover the finer surface details hidden within. From this, they can configure regional information into a high-resolution map that depicts the specific areas where mass change is happening and to what degree.

"We try to do very little processing to the data and stay closer to the real signal," Simons said. "GRACE data contain a lot of signals and a lot of noise. Our technique learns enough about the noise to effectively recover the signal, and at much finer spatial scales than was possible before. We can 'see through' the noise and recover the 'true' geophysical information contained in these data. We can now revisit GRACE data related to areas such as river basins and irrigation and soil moisture, not just ice sheets."

The researchers tested their method on GRACE data for Greenland recorded from 2003 to 2010 and brought the complexities of the island's glaciers into clearer focus. While overall ice loss on Greenland consistently increased between 2003 and 2010, Harig and Simons found that it was in fact very patchy from region to region.

In addition, the enhanced detail of where and how much ice melted allowed the researchers to estimate that the annual acceleration in ice loss is much lower than previous research has suggested, roughly increasing by 8 billion tons every year. Previous estimates were as high as 30 billion tons more per year.

Douglas MacAyeal, a geophysical sciences professor at the University of Chicago, said that the research provides a standardized and accurate method for translating GRACE data, particularly for ice sheets. The sprawling, incomplete nature of the satellite's information has spawned a myriad of approaches to interpreting it, some unique to specific scientists, he said.

"GRACE data is notoriously noisy and spatially spread out, and this has resulted in 'ad hoc' methods for processing mass changes of Earth's ice sheets that have wildly different values," said MacAyeal, who is familiar with the Princeton work but had no role in it.

"In other words, each particular investigator ends up getting a different individual number for the net change in mass," he said. "What this research does is figure out a way to be more thoughtful and purposeful about exactly how to deal with GRACE's notorieties. This method would allow researchers to standardize a bit more and also to understand more precisely where they are, and where they are not, able to resolve ice changes."

Simons compared the noise that previously obscured a precise view of Greenland's glaciers to fog on a window. For a small area such as Greenland, the GRACE signal can be easily overwhelmed by noise, which has numerous causes such as the satellite's orbital position or even the type of mathematics researchers use to interpret data, Simons said.

"Other researchers used less than perfect tools to wipe off the window more or less indiscriminately and quite literally left streaks on the data. They were thus less able to put the continent into the proper focus," he said.

"We effectively modeled then removed noise to get the ice-loss signal out of the data," Simons said. "We then recovered relatively tiny variations in ice mass that to others might have looked like noise, but that to us were shown to be signal."

The Princeton researchers found that Greenland lost roughly 200 billion tons of ice each year during the seven-year period studied, which falls within the range reported by other studies. The amount of ice lost annually could stack up on all of Manhattan to nearly 12,000 feet, or more than eight times taller than the Empire State Building, Harig said.

As expected, ice loss occurred in the lower, warmer coastal areas as opposed to the higher and colder interior, which gained ice mass but the melt was concentrated on the southeast and northwest coasts for most of the period studied. Indeed, many coastal areas showed no ice-mass loss, while the ice sheet on the southwest coast actually thickened slightly from 2003 to 2006.

But these trends were more complex when Harig and Simons got into the details. Surprisingly, the location of the greatest melt activity migrated around the island, shifting from the southeast to the northwest coast in just a few years. Ice loss on the southeast coast built up starting in 2003 and hit a highpoint in 2007. In 2008, loss on this coast began to recede and shift toward the northwest coast; by 2010, the southeast coast displayed only minor ice loss, while nearly the entire western coast exhibited the most severe melt. During this transition, melt also receded then picked up again on the northeastern coast with seemingly little overlap with activity elsewhere.

Details such as these can help scientists better understand the interplay between Greenland's glaciers and factors that influence melt such as ocean temperature, daily sunshine and cloud coverage, Harig said. That understanding can in turn help researchers determine how the Greenland ice sheet responds to climate change and how much more ice loss to expect. At current melt rates, the Greenland ice sheet would take about 13,000 years to melt completely, which would result in a global sea-level rise of more than 21 feet (6.5 meters), Harig said.

"Scientists are not totally sure what the driving force of the melt on Greenland is on short, yearly timescales," Harig said. "There is no certainty about which outside factor is the most important or if all of them contribute. Being able to compare what is happening regionally to field observations from other researchers of what a glacier is doing helps us figure out what is causing all this melt."

Michael Oppenheimer, Princeton's Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs, said that the new level of detail Harig and Simons provide on Greenland's glaciers not only gives insight into what is causing the glaciers to melt, but what could possibly happen if they do.

Unlike water in a bathtub, sea-level rise is not uniform, said Oppenheimer, who is familiar with the research but had no role in it. Higher waters in certain locations may depend on which part of an ice sheet melts, he said. And determining which part of an ice sheet is melting the most requires precise details of ice loss and gain for specific glaciers details that have largely been unavailable, Oppenheimer said.

"Nobody has really been able to take a look at an individual ice sheet and determine the influence that ice loss from different parts of that ice sheet could have on sea levels," Oppenheimer said.

"The details matter. Being able to pinpoint where and how much ice gain and loss there is tells you something about the driving forces behind it, and therefore how much we can expect in the future," he said. "A synoptic view at a high resolution is what GRACE always promised, and now this research has helped realize that potential. It's time to finally milk the data for as much detail as possible."

Harig is adapting the computer code which is available online to study GRACE data on ice loss in Antarctica and water accumulation in the Amazon River basin.

The paper, "Mapping Greenland's mass loss in space and time," was published online Nov. 19 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

###

[Video and images can be seen at http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S35/40/38C46. To obtain high-res images, contact Princeton science writer Morgan Kelly, (609) 258-5729, mgnkelly@princeton.edu]


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Princeton research: Embracing data 'noise' brings Greenland's complex ice melt into focus [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 27-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Morgan Kelly
mgnkelly@princeton.edu
609-258-5729
Princeton University

An enhanced approach to capturing changes on the Earth's surface via satellite could provide a more accurate account of how ice sheets, river basins and other geographic areas are changing as a result of natural and human factors. In a first application, the technique revealed sharper-than-ever details about Greenland's massive ice sheet, including that the rate at which it is melting might be accelerating more slowly than predicted.

Princeton University researchers developed a mathematical framework and a computer code to accurately capture ground-level conditions collected on particular geographic regions by the GRACE satellites (Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment), according to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center, GRACE measures gravity to depict how mass such as ice or water is distributed over the Earth's surface. A change in GRACE data can signify a change in mass, such as a receding glacier.

Typically, GRACE data are recorded for the whole globe and processed to remove large regional differences, said lead author Christopher Harig, a postdoctoral research associate in Princeton's Department of Geosciences. The result is a coarse image that can provide a general sense of mass change, but not details such as various mass fluctuations within an area.

With their method, Harig and co-author Frederik Simons, an assistant professor of geosciences, can clean up data "noise" the signal variations and distortions that can obscure satellite readings and then recover the finer surface details hidden within. From this, they can configure regional information into a high-resolution map that depicts the specific areas where mass change is happening and to what degree.

"We try to do very little processing to the data and stay closer to the real signal," Simons said. "GRACE data contain a lot of signals and a lot of noise. Our technique learns enough about the noise to effectively recover the signal, and at much finer spatial scales than was possible before. We can 'see through' the noise and recover the 'true' geophysical information contained in these data. We can now revisit GRACE data related to areas such as river basins and irrigation and soil moisture, not just ice sheets."

The researchers tested their method on GRACE data for Greenland recorded from 2003 to 2010 and brought the complexities of the island's glaciers into clearer focus. While overall ice loss on Greenland consistently increased between 2003 and 2010, Harig and Simons found that it was in fact very patchy from region to region.

In addition, the enhanced detail of where and how much ice melted allowed the researchers to estimate that the annual acceleration in ice loss is much lower than previous research has suggested, roughly increasing by 8 billion tons every year. Previous estimates were as high as 30 billion tons more per year.

Douglas MacAyeal, a geophysical sciences professor at the University of Chicago, said that the research provides a standardized and accurate method for translating GRACE data, particularly for ice sheets. The sprawling, incomplete nature of the satellite's information has spawned a myriad of approaches to interpreting it, some unique to specific scientists, he said.

"GRACE data is notoriously noisy and spatially spread out, and this has resulted in 'ad hoc' methods for processing mass changes of Earth's ice sheets that have wildly different values," said MacAyeal, who is familiar with the Princeton work but had no role in it.

"In other words, each particular investigator ends up getting a different individual number for the net change in mass," he said. "What this research does is figure out a way to be more thoughtful and purposeful about exactly how to deal with GRACE's notorieties. This method would allow researchers to standardize a bit more and also to understand more precisely where they are, and where they are not, able to resolve ice changes."

Simons compared the noise that previously obscured a precise view of Greenland's glaciers to fog on a window. For a small area such as Greenland, the GRACE signal can be easily overwhelmed by noise, which has numerous causes such as the satellite's orbital position or even the type of mathematics researchers use to interpret data, Simons said.

"Other researchers used less than perfect tools to wipe off the window more or less indiscriminately and quite literally left streaks on the data. They were thus less able to put the continent into the proper focus," he said.

"We effectively modeled then removed noise to get the ice-loss signal out of the data," Simons said. "We then recovered relatively tiny variations in ice mass that to others might have looked like noise, but that to us were shown to be signal."

The Princeton researchers found that Greenland lost roughly 200 billion tons of ice each year during the seven-year period studied, which falls within the range reported by other studies. The amount of ice lost annually could stack up on all of Manhattan to nearly 12,000 feet, or more than eight times taller than the Empire State Building, Harig said.

As expected, ice loss occurred in the lower, warmer coastal areas as opposed to the higher and colder interior, which gained ice mass but the melt was concentrated on the southeast and northwest coasts for most of the period studied. Indeed, many coastal areas showed no ice-mass loss, while the ice sheet on the southwest coast actually thickened slightly from 2003 to 2006.

But these trends were more complex when Harig and Simons got into the details. Surprisingly, the location of the greatest melt activity migrated around the island, shifting from the southeast to the northwest coast in just a few years. Ice loss on the southeast coast built up starting in 2003 and hit a highpoint in 2007. In 2008, loss on this coast began to recede and shift toward the northwest coast; by 2010, the southeast coast displayed only minor ice loss, while nearly the entire western coast exhibited the most severe melt. During this transition, melt also receded then picked up again on the northeastern coast with seemingly little overlap with activity elsewhere.

Details such as these can help scientists better understand the interplay between Greenland's glaciers and factors that influence melt such as ocean temperature, daily sunshine and cloud coverage, Harig said. That understanding can in turn help researchers determine how the Greenland ice sheet responds to climate change and how much more ice loss to expect. At current melt rates, the Greenland ice sheet would take about 13,000 years to melt completely, which would result in a global sea-level rise of more than 21 feet (6.5 meters), Harig said.

"Scientists are not totally sure what the driving force of the melt on Greenland is on short, yearly timescales," Harig said. "There is no certainty about which outside factor is the most important or if all of them contribute. Being able to compare what is happening regionally to field observations from other researchers of what a glacier is doing helps us figure out what is causing all this melt."

Michael Oppenheimer, Princeton's Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs, said that the new level of detail Harig and Simons provide on Greenland's glaciers not only gives insight into what is causing the glaciers to melt, but what could possibly happen if they do.

Unlike water in a bathtub, sea-level rise is not uniform, said Oppenheimer, who is familiar with the research but had no role in it. Higher waters in certain locations may depend on which part of an ice sheet melts, he said. And determining which part of an ice sheet is melting the most requires precise details of ice loss and gain for specific glaciers details that have largely been unavailable, Oppenheimer said.

"Nobody has really been able to take a look at an individual ice sheet and determine the influence that ice loss from different parts of that ice sheet could have on sea levels," Oppenheimer said.

"The details matter. Being able to pinpoint where and how much ice gain and loss there is tells you something about the driving forces behind it, and therefore how much we can expect in the future," he said. "A synoptic view at a high resolution is what GRACE always promised, and now this research has helped realize that potential. It's time to finally milk the data for as much detail as possible."

Harig is adapting the computer code which is available online to study GRACE data on ice loss in Antarctica and water accumulation in the Amazon River basin.

The paper, "Mapping Greenland's mass loss in space and time," was published online Nov. 19 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

###

[Video and images can be seen at http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S35/40/38C46. To obtain high-res images, contact Princeton science writer Morgan Kelly, (609) 258-5729, mgnkelly@princeton.edu]


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Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/pu-pre112712.php

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Monday, November 26, 2012

#5: Sony 300 Watts 5.1 Channel Home Theater Surround Sound ...

Sony 300 Watts 5.1 Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System With DVD Player, USB, HDMI, FM Tuner by Sony Buy new: $199.99 $149.95 (Visit the Hot New Releases in Home Theater Systems list for authoritative information on this product?s current rank.)

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Source: http://www.wiki-products.com/5-sony-300-watts-51-channel-home-theater-surround-sound-system-with-dvd-player-usb-hdmi-fm-tuner/

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Lakad Pilipinas: PASAY CITY | Staycation at Microtel Mall of Asia

The Greece-Inspired Roof Deck of Microtel MOAI have been traveling almost non-stop the past few months and although I really love what I?m doing, being a travel junkie and all, it does get to you after a while. Constantly being on the road can be tiring.

And so when Microtel extended an invite for a mini vacation within the Metro, I didn?t even blink, I immediately grabbed the opportunity.

Microtel MOA FacadeI would be staycationing with a group of travelers; L of Anny?s Chocolate Skies, D of Tracking Treasures, C of Adventurous Feet, E of The Shade of Grey and J of The Backpack Chronicles. Relaxing with like-minded individuals would surely double the fun.

We entered the posh lobby of Microtel at five in the afternoon. Puffy white clouds sailing across Manila Bay were already being lit by the already setting sun. We immediately headed towards the roof deck of the hotel.

Sunset on the Roof Deck of Microtel MOAI was floored the moment we opened the door to the roof, it was as if I entered a warp zone into Santorini. Everything was painted in white; the floor, the trellises, the columns. The whites were offset by posh dark brown outdoor furniture which contrasts nicely with the theme. Potted palm trees and the panoramic view of the bay completed the illusion of Greece.

Microtel's Infinity Pool Looking Over Manila BayAt the center of the roof deck sits an infinity pool that looks out over the glimmering sea and the glittering lights of the city.

A couple lazily swam across the azure pool as the waning sun painted the heavens in contrasting shades of blues and oranges. I was almost tempted to jump in if not for our rooftop dinner (which I?ll tell you about on another post as it deserves its own article).

Mall of Asia's Fireworks Seen from the Roofdeck of MicrotelAfter watching the weekend fireworks lit the night sky, countless stories, non-stop picture taking of the food and being treated to one of the best dinner I?ve ever had. It was time to bed down for the night.

Microtel's Modern and Spacious RoomsWe were given rooms facing the city and the MOA Eye is clearly framed on the window. The room is spacious; two queen-sized beds, a vanity table and a closet leave more than enough space to run around in. And although the bed looks tempting, my favorite spot is the bay window.

Microtel's Clean and Modern Toilet and BathMost guests, especially the ladies, are particular when it comes to the toilet and bath and Microtel?s own wouldn?t disappoint. The fittings are modern, hot water is available and most importantly it is very very clean. The one thing I particularly like about it is their rain-type shower.

Early Evening at Microtel's Roof DeckI was planning on shooting the sunrise the next day but I guess Microtel?s comfort got the best of me. I overslept and got zero sunrise photos from the roof deck. Well, I guess I really got what I came here for, it is a staycation after all.MOA's The Eye from Microtel's Roof Deck

Microtel Mall of Asia
Address: Coral Way Ave. corner Seaside Boulevard
SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
Telephone: (02) 403-3333 | (0917) 5905914
Rates & Reservation: Click Here
Email: sales@microtel.ph
Website: http://www.microtel-manila.com/ppc/
GPS Coordinates: 14.530535,120.980275
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

SPECIAL THANKS TO MICROTEL FOR SPONSORING MY OVERNIGHT STAY AT THEIR MALL OF ASIA BRANCH

Source: http://www.lakadpilipinas.com/2012/11/pasay-city-staycation-at-microtel-mall.html

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Friday, November 23, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving with a Green Bean Casserole! ? Surviving ...

by Kimberly on November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family?.Jennie and I are SO thankful for you, our readers, friends and supporters. :) We hope you have a wonderful day today with your family!

We will be heading over to my parents today to spend the day with family and RELAX. My dad has gotten a smoked turkey this year which is a little different for us so that should be interesting. I also made my mom get a regular turkey to roast because I?m all about tradition (and drive most of my family crazy about it).

Speaking of tradition, I offered to make and bring a green bean casserole today. The only problem is that I HATE the traditional recipe of gbc. I can?t stand the cream of mushroom soup and soggy canned green beans. So this year, I have been on a mission to find a home made recipe that is delicious and will give us the same flavors as the original green bean casserole recipe.

I found The Best Ever Green Bean Casserole recipe and gave it a shot and although I did made a few changes and added Wildtree?s Rancher Steak Rub to it (I add this to everything savory that I cook?literally.) the taste test was so far a success! I also made it with Onion Crunch for the topping and it is SO yummy, definitely a must try recipe! LOEB?S ONION CRUNCH? is a crispy, fried onion topping made from onions that are naturally low in carbs, low in sodium with no cholesterol and 0 grams of trans fat. Made from 100% real onions they are a great addition to your favorite foods and recipes! If you haven?t tried Onion Crunch before, you should definitely give them a try?I am hooked!


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Search Engine Consultants Vs Social Media Marketing

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) promoting a website in Google, Yahoo and other search engines through various methods, such as marketing, organic search, paid placement and contextual advertising. When a product or service web site is searched, organic search marketing allows the site appear on the first page of search engine results for increased visibility. Paid internship allows website sponsored ads normally appear in or adjacent to the organic search results. Paid internship is also known as pay-per-click, because the advertiser will be charged when you click the link. Contextual text ads place on websites that have the same content item that the advertiser.

Social media allows interaction between two or more people who know directly or indirectly through the exchange of views and ideas on a topic of common interest. Social media marketing uses social networks, online communities, blogs, wikis or any other means of online collaboration for marketing, sales, public relations and customer service.

Search Engine Marketing

Customers or search for a product or service on a search engine when they are interested in it. Based on the search term you type into the search engines, a seller may know the intent of the client. This helps to identify relevant keywords. Search Engine Optimization is the process of getting a high ranking position in search engine results pages.

This is done by collecting data on what people are looking for, and what phrases or "keywords" entered its investigation. By including keywords that best reflect your business in your website, you can increase your chances of attracting your target market to your site. When a user searches for a product, service or information, search engines return the most relevant web pages for the search query in the top of search engine results (SERP). Usually, the relevance of the site for the search query down decreases as the latest results.

Therefore, the user focuses on the main pages that come in the results page of search engine. Website owners can promote their products or services by getting listed in the search results through optimization campaign search engine.? In social media, it is very easy to get a negative image. For example, a person who has had a bad experience with a product can express their views on a negative tone. This destroys any positive image of the brand or product that can spread a virus in no time.

The biggest drawback of social media marketing, social media is primarily used for communication and not for shopping or ads, which distracts the user experience. Therefore, influence the customer to buy cannot work in most cases in social media marketing. A study by "Citibank Small Business Segment GFK Roper reveals that small businesses choose search marketing through social media marketing. Over 76% of small business owners do not find social media to be useful for your business to generate leads and grow their businesses.

James Doons is an online retailer with multiple niche sites and turned to successful internet marketing and search engine optimization to promote their own interests online. With an Internet experience eight years younger than he knows what it takes to survive and thrive in today's competitive environment online.

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James Doons is experienced internet marketing consultant and writes articles on Search Engine Consultants, Search Engine Ranking, SEO Web Design Services, SEO London, SEO UK, SEO Services, SEO Company UK, SEO Services UK, SEO Company, SEO Services London etc.

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Source: http://www.bestarticlepost.com/259118/search-engine-consultants-vs-social-media-marketing?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=search-engine-consultants-vs-social-media-marketing

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Basic Guide On How To Succeed In Internet Marketing | Search ...

TIP! Are you searching for an online marketing plan? Try and find ways to get your site visitors to give up their email address so you can come up with an opt-in mailing list. Organize contests and give away free products to keep people interested.

It can be very hard to start out in Internet promotion there are a lot of people doing the same things you are. The key to Website marketing is to choose several ways of marketing and promotion, and then make sure you have them set up as best as you can. The following content will give you an idea of how to drum up business.

TIP! Try making changes to your headlines and switching up your content daily to see how it may affect your sites traffic. When you have determined the appropriate tone, stick to that one and stay consistent in your image.

When considering advertising your site, evaluate the different ways you can go about that. A good way to advertise your page is to give something away, tell people about it in blogs, or put ads out at businesses. There are lots of ways to attract visitors to your site. Get creative!

TIP! If you want to get a large number of visitors at your site, viral videos can accomplish this. It can takes a lot of creativity to create a viral video that can generate so much attention.

If you are trying to sell a product, make a video of it being used. By doing this, your customers will know that you use the products yourself. Demonstrate all the features of your products and test them extensively. Share your videos on YouTube and social networks.

TIP! Always be prepared to cover any questions that your guests may have. Whether their desire is conscious or not, everyone who visits your site wants to learn more.

No matter how small or how large your business is, you need to include every detail about your product on the necessary web pages. Your site?s title and description should be on every page. This will help your visitors understand your site no matter where they end up.

TIP! It is important that you handle all customer service complaints on your own. You may want to get some outside help, but you will do better to handle customer service yourself.

It is important that your customers feel special. To make them feel valued, personalize all correspondence. They are more likely to delete mass emails. Surely you are also tired of receiving all those impersonal emails from people seeking your business too. Create emails that will provide something that people will enjoy or need such as a funny graphic, a freebie or a coupon.

TIP! Just about all cell carriers permit you to have dedicated numbers for each use on the same phone. A dedicated number is a great way to keep your business and personal lives separate.

Be realistic about how special your wares or services really are. Inferior products are still inferior no matter how well you market them. Your sales will increase if you have a better product.

Your website should be coded in a way that links are easily visible. If your website is too difficult to navigate, you risk losing potential visitors to frustration.

TIP! Stick to the things that you advertise. A lot of people will not believe what you say about your products or services until you provide more details.

You need to take this whole endeavor seriously and do your research. Choose someone who knows Online marketing backwards and forwards to teach you the ropes. It?s common for internet promotion experts to help up and coming marketers out for free or a small charge. Choose a system that you are going to want to stick with. It may start out slowly, but your time and effort will all pay off.

TIP! Be sure to include plenty of original content so that people have a reason to visit your website, and also add as much rich content as you can. You will attract search engines better by packing your site with loads of rich content.

Consider how your website appears from the view of the customer. It should be easy to use and fun to navigate. Is it an enjoyable read? Is it user-friendly? You don?t want to bring in business only to lose it because of a poorly designed website.

TIP! HTML tags are crucial for highlighting content on your website. HTML tags will indicate how important your content is, and will show it in different bold gradations based on its importance.

Most products benefit when they appear to work quickly. Talk up how easy it is to buy the product, how fast it ships and how quickly it works. Tout any advantages your site has, whether it?s fast download speeds, an expedited payment processing system or quick order processing.

TIP! Your ordering system must be 100% secure. There are services such as Paypal that provide the customer with assurance of a safe buying experience.

Use a public relation page as part of your marketing strategy. This is where you can include information that online magazines and newspapers can publish. It is relatively simple to do, and is an excellent way of promoting your business.

TIP! As you begin your online marketing, you must also consider advertising. Paid advertising is a necessary investment when you first launch your business.

A good marketing tool is to offer a free gift or some other incentive to your customers after they make a purchase, as a way of saying thanks. It can be well worth the cost of these extras when you consider the return business that these small tokens of your respect will inspire.

TIP! Have you considered making a video to showcase some of your products? Don?t forget to put a link leading to your site in the video?s description. That is going to dramatically affect your site visits.

Finally, remember focus is crucial for Website marketing. As was stated at the start of this article, spending the time to make sure you have everything set up as best you can will make the difference for your business. Make use of the advice you have read here to see an increase in traffic, and more importantly, in sales.

Source: http://dynamicmarketingpartners.com/2012/11/basic-guide-on-how-to-succeed-in-internet-marketing/

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Banks give $22 billion under mortgage relief deal

6 hrs.

Five U.S. banks have provided about $22 billion in mortgage relief to customers under a deal to settle borrowers' accusations over foreclosures, a report by the settlement's monitor said on Monday.

The report said that Bank of America Corp, which owes the most, improved in delivering first-lien mortgage modifications to customers, trailing only JPMorgan Chase & Co through September.

Bank of America provided $889.2 million in first-lien modifications that reduced loan balances for consumers, a turnaround from August when the bank had completed none. JPMorgan Chase & Co's total was $903.1 million in modifications, the most of the five banks.

Monday's report by Joseph Smith, the former North Carolina Banking Commissioner who is serving as the settlement's monitor, said the five banks together have completed about $22 billion in customer relief, up from $10.6 billion in August.

Smith said in an interview that he was "encouraged" and that February's settlement between five banks and federal and state officials had "made significant progress." But he cautioned that no banks have met their obligations until their numbers are reviewed and credited.

Counting $4.2 billion more in active trial modifications, the five banks have provided $26.1 billion in relief through September to 300,000 borrowers, according to the report.

A coalition of national and local consumer, housing and financial reform groups, the Campaign for a Fair Settlement, said it is disappointed that the banks did not show more progress on first-lien mortgages modifications compared to August. For example, it said about 31,000 borrowers were in active trial first-lien modifications at the end of September, a slight increase from 28,047 at the time of the last report.

"There is a big gap there," said campaign representative, Dan Petegorsky.

The settlement, to resolve allegations of faulty foreclosures, requires banks to provide around $20 billion of consumer relief by taking actions such as reducing loan balances for struggling borrowers and refinancing loans for customers whose homes are worth less than the value of their mortgages.

The banks, however, have not necessarily met their obligations yet because the settlement only provides for partial credit for certain kinds of relief. The banks only receive credit for $0.45 of every dollar of a write-down through a short sale, for example.

Short sales - in which borrowers sell their homes for less than the value of the mortgage - accounted for the largest portion of the total relief, about $13.1 billion.

The banks reduced consumers' first-lien mortgage and home-equity debt by $6.3 billion through loan modifications and other actions. They also completed $1.4 billion in refinancings.

Bank of America delivered $11.8 billion in total relief to consumers, the most of any bank, with short sales accounting for $7.4 billion of its total. JPMorgan provided the second most relief - about $6 billion.

The other banks in the settlement are Wells Fargo & Co ($2.5 billion in total relief), Citigroup Inc ($1.1 billion) and Ally Financial Inc ($587.8 million).

Bank of America, which acquired troubled lender Countywide Financial in 2008, owes about $11.8 billion in consumer relief and other payments. The bank has said it will meet its obligations within the first year.

If a lender does not meet its required relief within three years, it will be required to pay a penalty of no less than 125 percent of its unmet commitment, the report said. Smith said he expects the banks will complete their requirements earlier than three years.

Banks are required to meet at least 60 percent of their obligations through modifying first and second loans, so short sales are not expected to eventually be the bulk of the consumer relief, on a credited basis.

Short sales comprise a lion's share of the relief because they can be counted as soon as a sale is completed, Smith said. Modifications aren't considered complete until after the borrower has made three payments.

The coalition's Petegrosky said the group is concerned that banks are not required to report the race and income level of the borrowers receiving modifications. He said lower-income and minority borrowers received the worst loans during the housing boom.

"Our counselors and attorneys on the ground are scratching their heads at these stats because their clients aren't getting" modifications," he said.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/big-u-s-banks-give-22-billion-under-mortgage-relief-1C7155111

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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Cat Fight! Peaches Geldof VS Katie Price On Mothering Skills

Cat Fight! Peaches Geldof VS Katie Price On Mothering Skills

Peaches Geldof has lashed out at model Katie Price for having the audacity to criticize her parenting skills. Price slammed Geldof for allowing her family dog near her six-month-old son Astala. Peaches Geldof was criticized by Katie for letting her dog Parper play so close to her baby boy Astala by the reality star, who ...

Cat Fight! Peaches Geldof VS Katie Price On Mothering Skills Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2012/11/cat-fight-peaches-geldof-vs-katie-price-on-mothering-skills/

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HSBC in talks to sell $9.3 billion China Ping An stake

HONG KONG (Reuters) - HSBC said it was in talks to sell its $9.3 billion stake in China's Ping An Insurance , stepping up a programme by Europe's biggest bank to shed non-core parts of its business to boost profitability.

HSBC spent $1.7 billion to build up a 15.6 percent stake in China's second-largest insurer in 2002 and 2005, but a sale has been widely expected as part of its three-year recovery plan in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and regulatory reforms.

In a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the bank confirmed it was in talks to sell the stake, adding that a sale may not result. The statement followed a Monday report on the sale talks by the Hong Kong Economic Journal, a Chinese language newspaper, naming Thai tycoon Dhanin Chearavanont, Thailand's richest man, as a potential buyer.

HSBC has announced 41 disposals and closures since the start of 2011, and the potential Ping An sale fuelled speculation about other assets that are not core to its day-to-day business operations.

"This makes sense for HSBC because it's been disposing of so many of its non-core businesses," said Ivan Li, an analyst at Maybank-Kim Eng in Hong Kong. "The question that everyone has will be on HSBC's stake in Bank of Communications ."

HSBC owns 19.9 percent of Bank of Communications (BoCom) , China's No.5 lender, worth about HK$79 billion ($10.2 billion), according to Thomson Reuters data.

POTENTIAL BUYERS

HSBC will record a pre-tax profit of up to $6.5 billion if it sells the Ping An stake, according to estimates from Mizuho Securities analyst Jim Antos.

This would help boost its Tier One capital ratio up to 13.6 percent from about 13.1 percent currently, although he cautioned on the size of the deal.

"You can't sell if you can't find a buyer, because it's impossible to dump so many shares onto the market at one time," Antos said.

A sale would require approval from China's insurance and banking regulators, narrowing the list of possible buyers, as Chinese authorities have traditionally allowed only financial groups to take stakes in the country's major banks and insurers.

Another challenge to a HSBC-Ping An sale is the $4 billion IPO of Chinese insurer, Pacific Insurance Company of China Group (PICC), which could steal strategic buyers that may have otherwise acquired HSBC's Ping An stake.

The sheer size of the deal also makes a sale to any single buyer difficult. Bank of America last year sold its remaining $6.6 billion stake in China Construction Bank to Singapore state investors Temasek Holdings and a consortium of Chinese buyers.

Sovereign wealth fund Qatari Investment Authority has also invested in Chinese financial groups, owning a roughly 2 percent stake of Agricultural Bank of China .

The Hong Kong Economic Journal named Thai tycoon Chearavanont, who owns the unlisted Chaoren Pokphand (CP) group that is Thailand's largest food and agricultural business, as a potential buyer of Ping An shares. Dhanin is worth $7.4 billion according to Forbes.

CP Group was not available for comment. Dhanin could not be reached.

PING AN SHARES FALL

Shares of Ping An, the world's second-largest life insurer by market value, fell to near a two-month low on the sale news, while HSBC's stock nudged up 1 percent. Ping An's market capitalization is $52.55 billion, according to Thomson Reuters.

The Chinese government has frowned upon large divestitures by Western institutions from Chinese companies, as it indicates the partnership is no longer fruitful. But HSBC has been exiting non-core businesses since Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver laid out his plans in May 2011 to boost profitability.

Europe's biggest bank has since sold or wound down various businesses including its non-life insurance operations, releasing over $55 billion in risk-weighted assets, according to the bank.

Earlier this year, HSBC sold its general insurance business to French insurer AXA and Australia's QBE Insurance Group Ltd . According to a Reuters report, the bank is also close to selling its 18 percent stake in Vietnamese insurer Bao Viet Holdings .

HSBC bought a 10.1 percent stake in Ping An for about $600 million in 2002. In 2005, it paid another $1.1 billion to raise its stake to 19.9 percent. This was watered down to 15.6 percent when it declined to subscribe to a Ping An rights issue in 2010.

As of 0717 GMT, Ping An shares were down 2.8 percent to HK$57.95, their lowest level since September 27. The benchmark Hang Seng Index <.hsi> was up 0.32 percent.

($1 = 7.7518 Hong Kong dollars)

(Additional reporting by Clare Baldwin and Khettiya Jittapong in Bangkok; Editing by Michael Flaherty and Richard Pullin)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hsbc-talks-sell-9-3-billion-china-ping-083059598--sector.html

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Career & Technical Education Threatened in Missouri | AgWired

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs such as the Missouri FFA strive to teach students valuable skills through leadership opportunities & hands-on learning in high school vocational classes. There is a proposal sent out by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) removing the priority for organizations like the FFA from a students high school education.

CTE is not limited to just the FFA. It also encompasses Family & Consumer Sciences, Health Sciences, Business & Marketing Education, Trade & Technical, Technology & Special Needs. Can you imagine high school without these programs?

Supporters of CTE need to be aware of the changes that have been proposed that may erode the CTE delivery system in Missouri. Interested groups and individuals would include business and industry along with their trade associations, community leaders, legislators, teachers, administrators, staff, parents and STUDENTS, both current and former. Think about whom in your community should be alerted and asked to take action.

DESE has proposed MSIP 5. This will replace MSIP 4, which has effectively been suspended by the DESE. The MSIP 5 proposal appears to remove the weight given to CTE programs in a school evaluation process and no longer specifically requires 4 program areas to be available with a minimum of 12 credit hours and 20 credit hours as the desirable standard for CTE.

Generate letters objecting to the proposed rule in it?s current form and ask for changes. Send your letters to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Attention: Margie Vandeven, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Quality Schools, P.O. Box480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480. Be sure to reference the appropriate code of state regulation citation of 5 CSR 20-100.255. Send a copy of your letter to your legislator and follow up with a conversation regarding what is at stake. Comments must be received by Nov. 30, 2012.

For more information check out these resources:
Missouri ACTE Outreach 2012
Proposed MSIP 5 Information

If you have questions about this issue please contact:
Jon Wilson
Legislative Chair ? MOACTE
Gainesville FFA
417-679-4200 ? jwilson@gainesville.k12.mo.us

Source: http://agwired.com/2012/11/19/career-technical-education-threatened-in-missouri/

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Sidewalk soirees, private fetes pepper parade route

STAMFORD -- While most coming to watch the UBS Parade Spectacular travel light, with small thought to a good vantage point, a smaller group take a more ambitious tack, either establishing small sidewalk enclosures or even taking up private indoor space with bird's eye views of the floating spectacles.

Rather than brave the crowds and the November chill out on the street, some spectators opted for a cozier spot inside the Palace Theater, with food and warm drinks aplenty.

For the past several years, the Stamford Center for the Arts has hosted a private gathering on the top floor of the building, where the wide-paned windows look directly onto Atlantic Street, at just the right height to watch Big Bird or Cookie Monster sail by.

Mike Moran, general manager of SCA, said the space used to be rented by Luxury Mortgage for a private party, but for the past few years, the SCA has opened the top floor to donors, sponsors, employees and their families to view the parade.

"It's a great venue, isn't it?" Moran said. "The kids are having a great time."

The party includes face painting and tables stocked with snacks and hot drinks. Patrick McHugh, who works for Finn, Dixon & Herling LLP, sat with his wife, Megan, at a table while their three children crowded around the windows.

"We've done this for a few years," Megan McHugh said. "It's a different experience from being down on the street. The food is great and we're warm."

"It's a great experience, there's a sense of community," Patrick McHugh added.

Outdoor encampments claim significant parade-watching ground on lower Summer Street, with one or two pressed discreetly pressed into nooks next to buildings, while some more ambitiously demarcated with yellow police tape, plastic mesh fencing, or wooden sawhorses.

On Summer Street, 39-year-old Stamford native James Rockwood and other 30-somethings loudly cheered balloon handlers who passed by their moveable feast of fried chicken, sugar cookies with M&M's, and an eclectic mix of other finger foods in front of a two-story building next to the Dragonfly Cafe.

Rockwood said the tailgating tradition at the parade has been going on for the past few years, but has become more child-centered as some of his friends have had children.

"It's just a really good time," Lockwood said. "With the kids it makes it more fun in some ways. "

For the eleventh year in a row, John Sharkey, 39, of Norwalk has arrived four to five hours early to assure that he grabs his usual space on the south side of the street to accommodate the dozens of relatives and friends who have come to recognize it as a pre-Thanksgiving standby.

Sharkey, a Stamford native, began attending the parade 13 years ago with his son Hunter, now 16, and rose at 5:30 a.m. to cook sausage and peppers for a crowd that grew to more than 60 on Sunday.

"The holidays are a big deal for us and this is a way to mark the beginning of that," Sharkey said. "If a little kid walks by and is looking in, I'll offer them a doughnut because it's a party."

"We just like to get everyone together," his wife, Diana Sharkey said.

Source: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Sidewalk-soirees-private-fetes-pepper-parade-4048544.php

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