Syrian rebels fully capture town near Turkey

BEIRUT (AP) ? Syrian rebels fully captured a northern town near the Turkish border on Tuesday after weeks of siege and heavy fighting, activists said.

The takeover of Harem, a town of 20,000 in northern Idlib province, was the latest in a string of recent rebel successes that include the capture of wide areas along the border with Turkey. Most of those areas have been in northern Aleppo province, where anti-government forces have captured at least three large military bases.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rebels captured Harem in the early hours of Tuesday. Mohammed Kanaan, an Idlib-based activist, said the last post to be taken was the historic citadel, which overlooked the town. The army had turned the citadel into a military post.

"Harem is fully liberated now," Kanaan he said via Skype. He added that as the rebels pounded army posts and checkpoints in Harem, the troops withdrew to the citadel that later fell in the hands of rebels.

Rami-Abdul-Rahman, who heads to Observatory, said nearly 30 soldiers and pro-government gunmen surrendered late Monday. He added that rebels set free all gunmen at the age of 16 or less and referred others to local tribunals.

"Harem was very important because it is one of the towns that was loyal to the regime," Abdul-Rahman said by telephone about the town that is nearly a mile from the Turkish border.

In his traditional Christmas address, Pope Benedict XVI decried the slaughter of the "defenseless" in Syria, where anti-regime activists estimate more than 40,000 have died in fighting since the uprising began in March 2011.

The pope encouraged Arab spring nations, where long-serving dictators were forced to step down.

In Aleppo province, which neighbors Idlib, local activist Mohammed Saeed said rebels attacked a military base in the town of Mannagh near the border with Turkey. He said it is one of four air bases in the province.

Regime forces have been using helicopters to carry supplies to besieged areas and to attack rebel positions.

The regime has had increasing difficulty sending supplies by land to Aleppo province after rebels captured in October the strategic town Maaret al-Numan. The town is on the highway that links Damascus with Aleppo, Syria's largest city and commercial center and a major battleground in the civil war since July.

"Airplanes and helicopters are the only way to send supplies since the Free Syrian Army controls the land," Saeed said. He added that rebels are also laying a siege to Aleppo's international airport known as Nairab and threatening to shoot down military or civilians planes using it.

In the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, opposition gunmen ambushed the head of military intelligence in the area and seriously wounded him. He later died of his wounds, the Observatory said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-rebels-fully-capture-town-near-turkey-111114834.html

china gdp dont trust the b in apartment 23 johnny damon kirk cameron news 10 hillary rosen j.k. rowling

Firefighters ambushed by gunman while responding to house fire

Residence near shooting and fire in Webster evacuated. (Max Schulte/Rochester Democrat&Chronicle via Twitter)

A gunman set a trap and shot and killed two firefighters responding to an early morning blaze in Webster, N.Y., police officials said. Two other firefighters were also shot and are both listed in guarded condition at a local hospital.

"It does appear that it was a trap that was set for first responders, but the cause or reasons we don't have at this time," said Webster Police Chief Gerald Pickering as he described? the scene where shots were fired at West Webster firefighters when they arrived at 5:35 a.m. to battle the blaze along Lake Road. Webster is about 10 miles east of Rochester.

The apparent gunman was found dead at the scene, but it?s unclear if he was killed by? a self-inflicted gunshot or if it was from a weapon from police officers who were chasing him.

The victims were Mike Chiapperini, also a lieutenant and public information officer with the local police department, and Tomasz Kaczowka, Pickering said.

Chiapperini was described by Pickering as a lifelong firefighter who started with the department's explorer program and had about 20 years of experience. Kaczowka was a younger firefighter and was also a 911 dispatcher, he said.

West Webster firefighters Joseph Hofsetter and Theodore Scardino were seriously injured and are at Strong Memorial Hospital with gunshot wounds, a hospital spokeswoman said.? Scardino? has? injuries to his chest and lungs. Hofsetter was injured in the pelvis, the spokeswoman said at a media briefing.

An off-duty police officer from nearby Greece, N.Y.? John Ritter was also injured by shrapnel during the shooting, Pickering said.

Pickering said that one of the firefighters who survived made his way across a bridge to get to safety. The other three did not make it across, Pickering said. Police arrived and rescued the other three firefighters, but two were fatally shot, Pickering said.

"These are volunteers who get up in the middle of the night to fight fires. They don't expect to be shot and killed," a tearful Pickering said at the press conference.

The morning scene was described as chaotic as police and firefighters dealt with an immense blaze as well as gunshots,? local news station WHAM-TV? reports.

?I?m not aware of anything like this happening in Webster, obviously not a firefighter being fired upon,? Webster Fire Marshal Rob Boutillier told the Democrat and Chronicle.? Pickering described Webster as resort lakeside community that is quiet and usually peaceful.

There at least four houses that have been damaged by the fire along Lake Road, WHAM-TV reported. Firefighters had to leave the scene and stop battling the blazes while police secured the scene. They continue to battle the blaze.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/two-firefighters-shot-killed-while-responding-webster-n-163105823.html

justified season 3 custer scott walker restaurant week type 2 diabetes occupy congress juan williams

Frank Schubert, NOM Political Director, Calls Newt Gingrich's New Gay Marriage Stance 'Stupid'

Frank Schubert, the National Political Director for the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), is the mastermind who ran the campaign that persuaded voters to vote in favor of Proposition 8 in California in 2008, thereby outlawing gay marriage in the state.

As HuffPost Gay Voices Editor-at-Large Michelangelo Signorile noted in a recent interview with Schubert, he moved on from California to other states and helped in the campaign that got three judges who had ruled in favor of marriage equality removed from the Iowa Supreme Court in retention elections in 2010. And according to the New York Times, he was also on retainer for up to $20,000 a month from each of the anti-marriage equality campaigns in Maine, Maryland, Washington and Minnesota this past fall (though all four campaigns failed and gay marriage passed in the first three states and an anti-marriage equality amendment was thwarted in Minnesota).

Now Schubert is back in the news with a blog post on the NOM website responding to Newt Gingrich's recent -- and surprising -- statements to the Huffington Post in which he said he now supports marriage equality (to a point):

While he continued to profess a belief that marriage is defined as being between a man and a woman, he suggested that the party (and he himself) could accept a distinction between a "marriage in a church from a legal document issued by the state" -- the latter being acceptable.

Schubert writes on the NOM blog:

Newt Gingrich has provided valuable public service to America. As a candidate he signed NOM?s pledge to take action as president to preserve marriage.

But sometimes good men say stupid things, and this is one of those times.

Gingrich?s conclusion that gay ?marriage? is inevitable is ridiculous. His comments suggest the results of marriage races in Maine, Maryland and Washington, which allowed three deep-blue states to endorse redefining marriage means that it is inevitable.

Schubert also claims that though NOM is disappointed with the results of the election, they believe that "by an overwhelming 60% margin (according to a national survey conducted by Gingrich?s own pollster, Kellyanne Conway), the American people continue to believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman."

While recent surveys have differed in their exact findings regarding America's opinion on marriage equality, it's clear there is more and more support for the movement to legalize same-sex marriage. An ABC News-Washington Post poll in November found that 51 percent of Americans support marriage equality and in December a poll released by POLITICO and George Washington University found that 63 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds backed same-sex marriage.

Also on HuffPost:

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/24/frank-schubert-newt-gingrich-gay-marriage_n_2360420.html

ron white ron white buckyballs buckyballs awake mario batali lone ranger

Tradesmen give hardpressed family a Christmas present - Ottawa Sun

Front row, Daniel, M?lissa, their mother Suzanne Denis and sister Sara have a freshly renovated home thanks to the crew recruited by Kevin Williamson, middle, who volunteered their time and money to renovate Denis' Orl?ans house Saturday. (Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun)

Report an error

We?ll begin this story by introducing the two main characters.

Suzanne Daleman is a single mother of three, living in Orl?ans, where she operates a home-based daycare centre ? Suzi?s Learning Centre.

Being a single parent is challenging enough. Being a small business owner is challenging enough. For Daleman, though, the challenges don?t stop there.

Two of her children have Leber?s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, an eye disease that causes acute vision loss. Leber?s normally attacks young men in their early 20s but for Daleman?s children the disease came early ? her son, Daniel, was diagnosed at the age of four ? and in unexpected ways ? her daughter, Melissa, also has the disease.

(Daleman?s youngest child, Sara, does not have Leber?s) Our second protagonist is Kevin Williamson, a service representative with Richcraft Homes, who has seven children of his own, and used to have a drinking problem.

Actually, that?s being charitable. Williamson was a bad-assed drunk ? ?a prick? ? who kicked his addiction by going to Meadow Creek Treatment Centre at the Royal Ottawa Hospital and then rebuilding his life.

So these are our players. And this is what happened when Kevin met Suzanne, two weeks before Christmas.

It started at playgroup at St. Peter?s High School in Orl?ans. It was there that Kevin Williamson?s wife, Lise, met Suzanne Daleman.

?My wife came home and told me about this woman she had just met at playgroup,? remembers Williamson. ?She couldn?t stop talking about her.? Williamson listened, almost in disbelief, as he was told about Dalemen and how she has raised her children to be active members of the community. How her son skies and her daughters volunteer at their school.

He listened to how Daleman refused to buckle from the burdens life had given her, instead getting up at five every morning to train for marathon runs, canvassing for St. Vincent de Paul every Christmas, raising money for what she had told Lise were ?the less fortunate.? And sometime during that conversation at St. Peter?s the two women started talking about their homes, and Christmas, and getting their homes ready for Christmas, and it was then that Daleman mentioned she had hardwood flooring she was hoping to lay one day -- had in fact already purchased the flooring, and was now close to having the money to pay for the actual work.

Kevin Williamson listened and when his wife finished talking he asked:

?Did you happen to get a phone number for her??

?

---

Daleman remembers the first phone call as something ?strange,? something she did not understand.

?Here was this man I had never met, phoning and offering to help put down my hardwood flooring,? she says.

And yet there was something about the man?s voice, something about his manner, that made her trust him. It was as though ? she couldn?t quite explain it, and this was strange too ? it was as though, somehow, this was important to him.

She agreed to meet him and that Sunday Williamson came to Daleman?s home, bringing two other men with him.

Daleman?s house is in Fallingbrook, it was built 25 years ago, and as Williamson tells it: ?everything in the house was 25 years old. Nothing had been replaced. It was getting really run down.? The men walked through the kitchen, the living room, the children?s bedrooms and sometime during the visit it occurred to Daleman they were looking at a lot more than the small main-floor room where she had wanted to lay hardwood flooring ? a lot more -- although she didn?t have much time to think about it.

The men were asking too many questions. Jotting down too many notes.

At the end of the house tour Williamson said he would get back in touch. Daleman waved goodbye, wondering what had just happened.

---

The two other men with Williamson that day were Mike O?Connor, from Potvin construction, and Ivan Ting, one of the city?s best tile installers, and what was happening was the beginning of what has now become one of my favourite Christmas stories.

That very afternoon the men came up with a plan. Forget the hardwood flooring. That whole house needed work.

They only had five days to pull it off. Five work days, in fact, which meant they needed to make arrangements early in the morning, during their lunch breaks, after they put their kids to bed.

But that Friday morning the three men, along with Williamson?s brother-in-law, Terry Connolly, had line up the following:

Westboro Carpet and Flooring donated laminate flooring for all the bedrooms.

The Paint Centre in Rockland donated paint for the entire house.

Potvin Construction donated wood trim and a kitchen countertop.

Rona sold them material at cost.

Home Depot sold them material at cost.

Athens Rugs donated carpets.

John Mesquita bought the ceramic tiles.

Other tradesmen made cash donations and a new hot water tank and furnace were purchased.

The men also made calls and rounded up 15 tradesmen to help with the work, men who, when asked if they could help, had asked only one question:

?What time would you like us there??

---

We?ll tell the next part of the story the way Suzanne Daleman experienced it.

She received a phone call from Kevin Williamson on Friday morning. She was told to pack some bags. The family needed to be out of the house for the weekend.

Williamson told her to go to the Courtyard Marriott in Orleans. Don?t worry about the cost. The hotel would be covering her stay.

When they arrived, the Daleman family was checked into the largest room in the hotel. Two large bedrooms. A sitting area.

There was a pool, where the family swam for hours. And a restaurant, where someone else made the meals and there were no dishes to clean, or errands to run afterwards.

?Suddenly, there were no problems for me to solve,? remembers Daleman. ?It was just a magical weekend. Nothing to do but relax and spend time together as a family.? On Sunday afternoon Daleman received a phone call from Williamson, telling her she should come home. A new home, and 20 sleep-deprived tradesmen, were waiting for her.

---

This Christmas, Daniel, Melissa and Sara Daleman have new bedrooms. There is fresh paint, gleaming wooden floors and wainscoting on the walls. Suzanne Daleman also has a new bedroom. Along with an en suite bathroom.

The kitchen has been completely remodeled, with new countertops, sink and flooring. The playroom has an ash hardwood floor, perhaps one of the most beautiful floors in the city.

All the trim has been replaced. All the wallpaper removed. There is a new hot water tank and furnace.

?I will never be able to thank Kevin for what he has done,? says Daleman, her voice cracking as she speaks. ?I am so proud of my home now.

?You should see my children?s bedrooms. They. Are. Perfect.?

---

?So why did you do it, Kevin?? It?s four days before Christmas and I?m speaking to Kevin Williamson, a man with a blended family, seven children in total, ages one to 18, and I?m asking the only question I have left.

Why, with everything on your plate ? seven children brother -- why in the world did you spend so much time helping a complete stranger?

Williamson takes his time answering. He has become a thoughtful man in his middle years, quite different, he is quick to tell me, from the man he was in his drinking years.

He doesn?t miss those years much. Some people, after it?s over, will look back and say parts of it were fun, will treat the craziness with nostalgia, but not him. He doesn?t miss a single moment.

And he guesses that might be part of it. A recovering alcoholic making amends. The whole step thing, although he never practiced that stuff much. You move on. You rebuild. What?s left to say?

?I certainly feel like I?ve wasted time in my life,? he told me earlier in the week. ?I don?t want to waste anymore.? So, productivity is in play. You just have to look at Suzanne Daleman?s house to see that.

But there is something more. Something Suzanne Daleman detected in his voice that first time he called.

Why was this so important to you Kevin?

Finally, he says:

?That old saying about a man with no shoes feeling sorry for himself until he met a man with no feet; the older I get the more that makes sense to me. It?s brilliant. It?s how you should lead you life.? Anyway, a little story for you. About what happened earlier this month, when Kevin met Suzanne.

Merry Christmas.

?

Source: http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/12/23/tradesmen-give-hardpressed-family-a-christmas-present

Expendables 2 Pussy Riot National Hurricane Center Zeek Rewards elvis presley elvis presley vanessa bryant

Self Improvement Times: Fighting Addiction: Will Ibogaine For ...

Substance dependence transpires in various ways for different people. Many people are genetically pre-disposed to dependency and some just spiral downward, becoming caught by the affliction. You can also find those who get into the habit as a result of a mishap or a health issue that has led them to become addicted to drugs. Oxycontin is an effective as well as potent medicine that is recommended to people experiencing excruciating discomfort. A lot of people, nevertheless, develop an addiction to the medicine. Sufferers can grind it, suck in it, or utilize it like heroin. How would you woo a battle against a dependency to the opioid?

Lab investigation and also other numerous studies may have identified the answer: ibogaine for Oxycontin addiction. Ibogaine, a naturally available compound found on the roots of a plant in Africa known as Tabernanthe iboga, has got a long record in treating drug abuse. It is usually utilized in rehabilitation facilities worldwide to offer easy cleansing and also block cravings for a variety of medicines including heroin, meth, opioids like Oxycontin (oxycodone), along with other substances.

Ibogaine remains banned in the United States since the Food and Drug Administration categorized it to be a Schedule 1 substance along with weed and heroin in 1970, mainly because of its varied past as a hallucinogenic. In fact, Howard Lotsof, that found out ibogaine's anti-addiction attributes, started using it in 1962 for recreational use as it was proven to cause a psychedelic sensation. Experts of Bwiti religion actually utilize the iboga root to stimulate visions in the rituals.

This is the reason why advocates of ibogaine, like Lotsof, have founded rehab facilities as well as treatment clinics outside of the US. Dr. Deborah Mash who actually formerly joined with Lotsof on an FDA-approved human trial of ibogaine, establish her very own clinic in St. Kitts, in which she cures 300 patients by utilizing the miracle remedy.

While it is regarded as hallucinogenic once taken in high quantities, ibogaine is believed to be non-addictive. The concept for this plant compound is it enables sufferers or perhaps addicts to handle emotional issues. A study in the '60s by one Dr. Caludio Naranjo learned that addicts that used ibogaine could actually relive past events having a greater awareness, allowing them to handle seriously rooted issues. The possibility that patients are able to stop their drug addiction without worrying about the problem related to withdrawal is an additional advantage of ibogaine.

Manufacturers of Oxycontin are currently concentrating on aiding addicts not develop a dependence on the drug through releasing an abuse-resistant ingredient. When abuse of the medication did decreased, research revealed that addicts simply switched to other opioids just like hydromorphone to fill the need. When you've fallen on the similar condition, ibogaine for Oxycontin addiction could be the remedy leading you to finally quitting the dependency. Discover what you can learn about ibogaine and obtain the help that you need today.

----------------------------------------------------
Creators of Oxycontin are presently working on aiding addicts not build an addiction to the substance through releasing an abuse-resistant formula. When misuse of the prescription drug did decreased, studies show that patients merely switched to other opioids like hydromorphone to meet the necessity. For more info about Oxycontin check out http://ibogainedrugtreatment.com/

EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=304321

Source: http://selfimprovementtimes.blogspot.com/2012/12/fighting-addiction-will-ibogaine-for.html

shel silverstein niki minaj grammy performance grammys 2012 deadmau5 phoebe snow jennifer hudson tribute to whitney houston nicki minaj grammy

Source: http://escuipac.posterous.com/self-improvement-times-fighting-addiction-wil

michigan primary school shooting daytona 500 winner cleveland plain dealer barry sanders barry sanders john scott

Obama condemns deadly violence in Kenya (The Arizona Republic)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/272603731?client_source=feed&format=rss

the line us soccer bobby brown arrested the happening black panthers mauritania obama open mic

Netflix ranks ISP's video streaming capabilities in the UK and Ireland

As it does in North America and the Nordic region, Netflix now publishes internet service provider (ISP) rankings for the United Kingdom and Ireland, effectively scoring each provider?s relative ability to offer bandwidth-intensive services.

Netflix launched in the UK and Ireland in January of this year and since then has garnered one million plus users.

The UK and Ireland have been ranked separately, with the average speed of a Netflix stream in November largely comparing between the two countries ? although the UK does edge a very slight lead.

The average speeds are noticeably lower than those found in the United States and Canada, and also in the Nordic countries that Netflix serves ? Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Netflix speeds in the UK

Netflix speeds in Ireland

The speeds are also noticeably lower than those advertised by the service providers themselves, but a number of factors are at play here explains Grey Peters, Vice President of Product Development at Netflix;

?The average performance is well below the peak performance due to a variety of factors including home Wi-Fi, a wide variety of devices with different capabilities, and a variety of encodes that Netflix uses for streaming TV shows and movies. The relative ranking, however, is an accurate indicator of the quality and consistency of internet access typically experienced across all users, homes, and applications.?

In the UK, Virgin, O2 and BT rank the highest respectively. Considering mobile only, Vodafone, O2 and EE are ranked highest. In Ireland, UPC, Magnet and Imagine offer the greatest streaming speeds respectively. Restrict the table to mobile only and Vodafone, Meteor and O2 are ranked highest respectively.

The providers that do rank the highest are the ones that largely restrict their services to urbanised areas.

Source: http://sociable.co/web/netflix-ranks-isps-video-streaming-capabilities-in-the-uk-and-ireland/

Aly Raisman Marvin Hamlisch Megan Rossee grenada grenada Sikh andy reid

Experiences Better Than Stuff: Why We Love To Do More Than We Love To Have

The research is in: It's better to do than to have.

As many families across the country gather to unwrap the presents under the tree, they may find the gathering more valuable than the items. That doesn't sound like a grand revelation -- how many times have you heard a parent, sibling or spouse say some variation of: "All I want for Christmas is you?"

As HuffPost Parents blogger Devon Corneal wrote:

Now that I'm a parent, there aren't many "things" I want. Most of what I need I can buy for myself and I get more pleasure out of giving gifts to my kids than I do in opening my own presents. I'm happy on Christmas morning wearing comfy pajamas, drinking hot cocoa and watching the boys rip through ribbons and bows.

But research confirms that objects are only capable of making us happy for up to three months. By contrast, the memories generated by an experience far outlast a few months.

"One of the reasons that people get more value out of experiences is that experiences are more connected to their identities. Even if we really like our material goods, they remain at some remove from the self. They aren't a part of you," explains Tom Gilovich, who is a professor of psychology at Cornell University. "If you apply that to Christmas, when you think about Christmas and connections to family and friends -- your social network is who you are, things you get are nice, but ancillary."

What's more, our perspective shifts with time, explains Gilovich, causing us to gloss over the details and remember the overarching feeling, which often means less room for disappointment.

"With experiences, we relate at more abstract level and that makes them more enduringly enjoyable. We buy material goods for things like the number of pixels and the details really matter. The details really don't matter as much if you go to Hawaii -- even if the hotel isn't as nice as you expected, you get over details and surprises and enjoy."

Similarly, the yoga pants might not be the Lululemon ones you were coveting, but chances are the experience of sitting around together isn't defined by the quality of the chocolate in your cocoa of the softness of the couch.

That doesn't mean you can't give each other gifts -- or that gift-giving is inherently inferior to experiences. For example, experiential presents still require effort, thought and generosity. But the good news is that those who buy experiences -- say cooking classes, weekend spa trips or tickets to museums or ballet -- are also happier than those who buy objects. And, for receivers of experiential gifts, there's good news for you as well: those who prefer activities to objects are seen as more attractive by their peers.

How are you and your family celebrating the day? Tell us in the comments!

Related on HuffPost:

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/22/experiences-better-than-stuff_n_2346504.html

san jose sharks humber perfect game ufc 145 fight card ufc145 chimpanzee chimpanzee the lucky one

Michelle Obama Tells Newtown the Nation Is With Them

As the country watches the town of Newtown, Conn., bury 26 children and adults who lost their lives in last Friday's unimaginable tragedy, the First Lady Michelle Obama has words of comfort for the grieving community.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/michelle-obama-tells-newtown-country-holding-you-our-hearts/1-a-510444?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Amichelle-obama-tells-newtown-country-holding-you-our-hearts-510444

Breaking Amish Indianapolis explosion mike brown bcs rankings jay cutler applebees jeff gordon

Leading a nonprofit 14: working with outside communities and ...

This is my fourteenth installment in a series on leading a nonprofit (see my Guide to Effective Job Search and Career Development ? 2, postings 267-279 for Parts 1-13.)

When someone sits down to write about business practices and best practices approaches, there is always a measure of leeway as to what they would see as most important and most pertinent to address. There is also a significant amount of leeway available in selecting and presenting advice as to the issues and processes chosen for discussion. That definitely applies for my writing and for this blog, and I add for professional talks I have given. My own hands-on experience and an awareness of context guide my selection process and determine what I focus on and prioritize too. And I simply add to round this out, that how we decide and what we decide on for this this is largely shaped by what we have seen work, or not. That same filtering and selecting process, I contend, applies to every business writer. And this series fits that pattern too.

Nevertheless, I would argue that the topic of this posting is, or at least should be crucial for inclusion by anyone who would address leadership in the nonprofit sector. And I begin explaining that and writing this posting by referring to the absolute essentials as to what a nonprofit is as a legally defined business entity, and in its operational practices in fulfilling those requirements.

? Nonprofits as a matter of statutory requirement are business organizations that devote at least a large mandated minimum percentage of their incoming revenue towards their mission and vision, and with only the fraction left over after that allowed to go toward administrative and operation expenses, marketing and so on.
? Benefits created by the nonprofit and its activities rarely directly go back to those who provide this incoming revenue stream. Value comes in from one group and goes out to benefit the needs of others.
? And this incoming revenue stream is derived essentially entirely from the discretionary income of its donors.

This all adds up to a single, crucial point: nonprofits depend entirely upon outside communities that they bring together as support structures and enablers. And one of the core responsibilities of the leader of a nonprofit is to help organize and involve this outside supportive community and its members to get them actively involved, and to help keep them so involved too. Most of what I have been writing in this series has involved working within the organization as an executive officer, and with the board of directors. Here, I turn outward and look to the role of the nonprofit CEO as they reach out to the world as a whole.

? This means connecting with and working with members of the donating community and certainly with higher level donors and with those who could help them network to potential high-level donors.
? This means reaching out to the press and to reporters and others who would convey the nonprofit?s story.
? This means setting a positive example as a high visibility spokesperson of the nonprofit and its mission and vision.
? And ultimately, this is what makes leading a nonprofit a 24/7 job. As a nonprofit?s leader you can never really be off-duty and certainly where ever and whenever you are facing any members of the public.

Nonprofit leaders represent their organizations as public speakers and at conferences and meetings, through formal and informal interviews, on social media sites and in text and through visually oriented channels such as YouTube and more. And in this, selecting where and how to reach out and connect cannot entirely be limited to the nonprofit leader?s own personal preferences. As a leader you have to reach out through the channels that the people you seek to connect with prefer. Eloquence shared in an empty room is not eloquent.

There is a lot to this posting and to the points raised in it, and certainly when it is fleshed out in the real-world, day-to-day details of executive performance and follow-through. It is imperative that the nonprofit leader not simply seek to do all of this as a solo effort and as if in a vacuum. They should work on this community-facing activity in close collaboration with members of their in-house team and in Marketing and Communications and Fundraising and other services, and with their Board:

? In setting goals and priorities and deciding what channels and messages to focus on,
? In capturing unexpected opportunities to reach out and communicate and connect,
? And for offering a more effective, consistent message that will really resonate with the audiences reached.
? And this has to be viewed as an ongoing and continually evolving responsibility, and whether or not pursuing it is considered a challenge or a source of joy. I add it is a lot easier to sustain this if you enjoy it though.

I am going to turn to consider change in my next series installment, and the role of a nonprofit?s leadership in preparing for and responding to it, and in leading effective change. Meanwhile, you can find this and related postings at my Guide to Effective Job Search and Career Development ? 2. I have also posted extensively on jobs and careers-related topics in my first Guide directory page on Job Search and Career Development. You can also find this and related postings at Nonprofits and Social Networking.

Like this:

Be the first to like this.

Source: http://plattperspective.wordpress.com/2012/12/22/leading-a-nonprofit-14-working-with-outside-communities-and-building-community-support/

Pa Lottery finish line ups Ebates

Why Home Equity Bank Loans Can Put You Out in the Street ...

David Shankbone / flickr source

You may have substantial equity in your home and be thinking about the different things you should be doing to improve your financial situation. A home equity loan can be a way to have access to cash for home improvements, debt consolidation, or for other necessities.

No matter how much you could use the extra cash for situations or emergencies, you should think twice before considering a home equity loan.?

What Is a Home Equity Loan?

A home equity loan enables homeowners to borrow cash while using their residence as collateral on the loan. Home equity loans are essentially a second mortgage. Banks usually consider these types of loans as low-risk. If the borrower defaults on the loan repayment, the home will go to the bank.

There are a few advantages to home equity loans. Typically, borrowers can access a large amount of cash at one time. The interest rates on home equity loans are generally lower than other loan types. Borrowers who have some credit mistakes in their record can still qualify for home equity loans. Home improvement, repairs, school tuition, and consolidation of existing debts are the main reasons homeowners will seek home equity loans.

The Downside and Dangers

While home equity loans do have advantages other loans may not, the risks associated with these loans can be devastating to the entire family. Defaulting on this loan puts your home at risk. Since your home is used as the collateral on the loan, not keeping up with payments can cause you to lose your home for good. The bank will need a way to recoup their money, and selling your home will be the way to do it.

For the borrower, that means you and your family can be out on the street. It will be essential that you do the math on the loan to ensure repayment will not be an issue. If you have spent years building up the equity in your home, you can jeopardize all of that hard work should your financial situation take a turn for the worse.

A lesser discussed danger of home equity loans concerns situations where borrowers go outside of their bank to get a loan. A lot of home equity loan scams have come to light in recent years, but by no means does that make things safer. There are still individuals and companies looking to make a buck off of you in a less-than-scrupulous?manner. Many homeowners have been in a hurry to get access to money only to be taken advantage of with a loan that costs more than they can afford.

How to Find the Right Loan Package

You can avoid scams and find the best loan terms by doing some research before you take a loan. While money issues can be pressing, it is vital to take the time and make the effort to consider your options.

Start at your current bank where you have your mortgage or maintain your accounts. See what they are offering and then go online and compare your options. You want reasonable terms for repayment, a low interest rate, and assurance that the loan is on the up and up. If you look outside of traditional banks, make sure you do not fall victim to the pressures of salespeople pushing loans on you. Get everything in writing and make sure the terms are legitimate.

Before going for a loan, make sure your credit history is correct and in good standing. Order a copy of your credit report prior to applying for a loan to make sure your history is accurate. Correct any mistakes noted on the credit reports so your credit status will be as good as possible when reviewed by a lender.

Home equity loans are not inherently bad. You can successfully utilize a home equity loans for things you need and to pay off your debts, but proceed with caution. Remember that you are putting your home on the line and financial mistakes can be incredibly costly in the long run. If you are in need of upcoming home repairs or other expenses, work on setting aside cash in an emergency fund for future incidents. This can help you prevent having to seek out loans for things you need moving forward.

Source: http://www.mybanktracker.com/news/2012/12/20/home-equity-bank-loans-put-street/

tupelo honey limp bizkit stations of the cross nike foamposite galaxy bill maher seabiscuit dingo

Angst over video games rises in wake of shootings

4 hrs.

Winda Benedetti , NBC News

As police struggle to piece together the nightmare that unfolded in Newtown, Conn., last week, some?lawmakers and pundits believe they've found a possible co-conspirator in the crime: video games.

The perpetrator's name is not a new one, but it is a common?one in moments like these. As they have after past shootings, those?searching for answers to the unfathomable have been quick to implicate video games in the?deadly events at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Nevertheless, it remains unclear which games the 20-year-old?shooter?played ? and what role they played in his life.

Though law enforcement officials have not, as of yet, made any connection between the Newtown massacre and video games, Senator Jay?Rockefeller?(D-W.Va.)?on Wednesday announced in a press release that he was introducing legislation calling for an investigation into the impact of violent video games and other content on children?s well-being.

"Major corporations, including the video game industry, make billions on marketing and selling violent content to children,? he said. ?They have a responsibility to protect our children. If they do not, you can count on the Congress to take a more aggressive role.?

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) ??admitting?that he didn?t know which games Lanza played ??cited ?rumors? that the withdrawn and troubled young man had enjoyed violent video games as he insisted that a passion for gaming can be the precursor to violence.

?Very often these young men have an almost hypnotic involvement in some form of violence in our entertainment culture, particularly violent video games,? Lieberman said, as he discussed the events in Newtown. ?And then they obtain guns and become not just troubled young men but mass murderers.?

Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado (home to a mass shooting of its own in July) also suggested, "there might well be some direct connection between people who have some mental instability and when they go over the edge ? they transport themselves, they become part of one of those video games."

And even the firearms industry ? taking heavy criticism in the wake of this most recent shooting ? appears to be shifting the blame from real guns to digital ones. "If we're going to talk about the Second Amendment, then let's also talk about the First Amendment, and Hollywood, and the video games that teach young kids how to shoot heads," one unnamed "industry source"?told Fox News in a report on the NRA's "push back" against a resurgent gun-control lobby.

A large chunk of the American people seems to share that viewpoint.?According to a fresh Gallup poll, while 42 percent of respondents said that a ban on assault rifles and semi-automatic weapons would be "very effective" in preventing mass shootings at schools, even more ? 47 percent ? said decreasing the depiction of gun violence in movies, TV and video games would be "very effective."

Despite this, experts argue that blaming games has been far easier than finding a true cause-and-effect relationship between gaming and gun violence.?

Dr. Matthew Chow, a psychiatrist who works extensively with children and adolescents dealing with issues?ranging from drug abuse to psychotic disorders at the BC Children?s Hospital in Vancouver, believes there is little evidence to suggest that real-world violence has a significant relationship to video game playing.

Instead, he said, video games and the people who play them, make for an especially easy target in moments like these.

?It is natural for people to search for something to blame in the aftermath of a tragedy,? he said in an interview with NBC News. (More on that here.) ?It gives people a target for all their emotions, whether it is anger, sadness or even confusion.?

And he points out, ?(Gamers) are often young, they hang out with each?other and sometimes they even dress differently. They are something that you can see, touch, and feel. You can shout angry words at a video gamer, but you cannot shout at abstract concepts about society.?

The games Adam Lanza played
This much we do know: Adam Lanza played video games. After all, how could he not have? He was 20 years old. And by all accounts?he was a technology?enthusiast.

Family friends told NBC News that Lanza was one heck of a dancer ? at least when it came to rhythm games. They described a young man obsessed with ?Dance Dance Revolution? ??a game in which not a drop of blood is spilled as players try to move their feet to the beat.

Meanwhile, a Reuters story cited an unnamed classmate of Lanza?s who said that he had enjoyed playing ?Dynasty Warriors,? a Teen-rated fighting game series set in ancient China that features?weapons such as spears and swords.

Other games have also been named.?The?Connecticut Post reported?that evidence seized from Lanza's home included unspecified ?video and Internet gaming material,? while the L.A. Times said Lanza would attend gaming parties, where he played titles such as?"World of Warcraft" and "Mario Party" along with fellow gamers. (These reports have not been confirmed by NBC News.)

What seems to have inspired pundits and politicians to conclude that Lanza was in the thrall of violent video games is a plumber who told a British tabloid that, while working at the home where Lanza and his mother lived, he saw the young man playing an?immensely popular and undeniably?violent shooting game from the ?Call of Duty? series.

But concluding?that the Newtown shooter enjoyed video games doesn't require much sleuthing. A?study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in 2008 found that 81 percent of Americans between the ages of 19 and 29 play games. And with the proliferation of smartphones and tablets, that percentage is?surely?even higher in 2012.

?Video gaming is so prevalent, that saying someone 'plays video games' is akin to saying they 'breathe oxygen,'" said Dr. Tyler Black, Clinical Director?for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Emergency Unit at BC Children?s Hospital.

The blame game
One thing is certain:?With one mass shooting after another, video games have become a go-to bad guy.?Columbine, Virginia Tech,?Northern Illinois University ? on those occasions when a disturbed and angry young man has gunned?down people in droves, shooting?games such as ??Doom,? ?Counter-Strike? and ?Call of Duty? have quickly been implicated.

Many began blaming violent video games mere hours after a young man named Seung-Hui Cho massacred 32 students and faculty at Virginia Tech in April of 2007 ? on record as?the worst shooting in U.S. history. But later, a governor-ordered review of that horrific incident found no connection whatsoever with games. Instead, the review panel found a young man with a history of mental illness (and a passion for books) who was never seen playing anything more aggressive than the kid-friendly game "Sonic the Hedgehog."

In the case of Anders Behring Breivik ? the 33-year-old ultranationalist who killed 77 people in a shooting rampage and bomb blast in Norway in July 2011 ? he did testify at his trial that he enjoyed playing the fantasy game ?World of Warcraft,? though he insisted it was merely a hobby and had nothing to do with the shooting. And while?he also testified that he used ?Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2? to prepare himself for the attacks, he said he had been meticulously preparing for and plotting the mass murders years before those games existed.

In the hours after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, as investigators were still trying to figure out who the killer was, the name Ryan Lanza surfaced. Amateur Internet sleuths quickly uncovered the accused killer?s Facebook page, where they discovered that he "liked" the epic, adventure-filled science-fiction game ?Mass Effect.?

The anti-game reaction was swift and vicious.?Angry people took to the ?Mass Effect? Facebook page to express their outrage at a game they believed had inspired the shooting.

?Your game may now be responsible for the deaths of 18 5 year olds,? wrote one person. ?Is that blood I see on your hands? Should be,? wrote another. And yet another: ?Innocent lives were lost because of this game!?

The problem: Ryan Lanza was not the shooter. His brother was.

Studies: Gaming is bad. Gaming is good.
But what about the scientific link between playing violent video games and violence in the real world??Sen. Lieberman said this week that the social sciences have shown ?a very clear pattern? in which young people who are involved in violent video games and other violent entertainment are more aggressive. Yet a look at the studies on the subject suggest the pattern is less than clear.

One recent study of 1,492 high schoolers?? conducted by?Brock University in Canada and?published in the journal Developmental Psychology ? does suggest that prolonged exposure to violent video games causes heightened aggressiveness in both boys and girls.?The questionnaire asked about frequency of violent behavior such as kicking, shoving and punching. The study found no similar?increase in aggression among the?kids who regularly?played non-violent games (such as "Dance Dance Revolution"), however.

In the paper's abstract, the authors, Teena?Willoughby, Paul J. C. Adachi and Marie Good, say there's a?"need for a greater understanding of the long-term relation between violent video games and aggression."

Meanwhile, a 2010 meta-study by Texas A&M's?Christopher J. Ferguson and John Kilburn ? published by the American Psychological Association's?Psychological?Bulletin ? makes an equally clear argument to the contrary: "The influence of violent video games on serious acts?of aggression or violence is minimal."

Those like Ferguson and Kilburn?who claim there's no demonstrative?link between games and real-world violence argue that there's a publishing bias ? studies that show no?relationship between the two just don't get published, while studies that do link them do.

Black and Chow cite FBI statistics to point out that if there's a relationship between violent games and violent crime in America, "it looks like it is very small."

That is, despite the proliferation of violent video games in recent years,?violent crime in the United States is at a nearly historic low.

?The reality is before our eyes every year, video games become more realistic, and the violence in them can increase, but every year, violence in youth diminishes in the United States,? Black said. ?Children, at a very early age, are able to separate reality from non-reality, and it appears that the real-world effect of video games is not making violence worse.?

Gamers mourn,?decry violence?too
Gamers themselves have not been unaffected by the violence in Newtown.?The Electronic Consumer?s Association ? a non-profit organization dedicated to gamer advocacy?? is located in Wilton, Conn., ?20 miles away from Newtown.

Hal Halpin, the president of the ECA, tweeted about trying to explain to his own daughter why helicopters were?circling overhead and why?her school had been in lockdown, and he?told NBC News that this?has been especially difficult?time for everyone in the close-knit community.

?Getting calls or messages throughout the day about story after story, heartbreak after heartbreak is tough enough, but then having to defend gaming as the root of that evil ? when it's absurd on its face ? is absolutely more difficult.?

He issued a statement?on behalf of the ECA?calling upon people to remember that "until there are any details that point to media-related blame, it?s premature to make any such assumptions."

Meanwhile, others have?called for gamers to avoid their knee-jerk reactions to the blaming, and instead take time to reflect on the violence that is depicted?in their games.

?We have to stop being instantly defensive about our hobby, and begin to open ourselves up to conversations about the violence in games, why it?s there, what it means, and why we?re so attracted to it,??wrote Ben Kuchera, editor of the gaming news site Penny Arcade Report.

?Obviously there is no causal relationship between Newtown and video games,? wrote game journalist Leigh Alexander. ?But I have played the damn things since I was a very small child and only in the last few years have I, as an adult woman, begun to feel profoundly uncomfortable with their unapologetic celebration of gun violence.?

In light of the Newtown tragedy,?Antwand Pearman???editor of the website GamerFitNationcom ? has called on his fellow gamers to put down their controllers Friday and join in a "Day of Cease?Fire for Online Shooters."

He said in his heartfelt YouTube plea?that?this?show of support and solidarity is not meant to suggest that games caused the shooting. "We are simply making a statement that we as gamers are not going to sit back and ignore the lives that were lost. Instead we will?embrace?the families with our love and support.?

Back in Newtown, a 12-year-old boy gamer named?Max Goldstein is leading a movement to get kids to "choose not to play" violent games. He came up with the idea when attending the funeral of his friend's little?brother. He told the Hartford Courant that?though he had spent years shooting virtual bad guys with automatic weapons, this week it dawned on him?"how real this was."

Winda Benedetti?writes about video?games for NBC?News. You can follow her tweets about games and other things?on Twitter?here?@WindaBenedetti?and you can?follow her?on?Google+.?Meanwhile, be sure to check?out the?IN-GAME?FACEBOOK PAGE?to discuss the day's?gaming news and reviews.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/angst-over-video-games-rises-wake-shootings-1C7660198

matterhorn chris harrison girl scouts printable bracket game change own stacy francis

Once-conjoined twins make first public debut

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? More than nine months after they were born joined at the lower chest and abdomen, twin girls made their public debut Thursday at the hospital where they were separated.

Allison June and Amelia Lee Tucker, clad in animal-striped shirts and flowered headbands, were introduced during a news conference at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Both girls still have nasal tubes but appeared rosy-cheeked and alert as they were held by their parents, Shellie and Greg Tucker, of Adams, N.Y., about 300 miles north of Philadelphia near Lake Ontario.

Allison, described by doctors and her parents as the smaller but feistier twin, was discharged from the hospital Monday. Her sister Amelia, who's larger and more reserved, needs a little more recovery time and will remain in the hospital into the new year.

"We totally expect them to have full, independent lives," said pediatric surgeon Dr. Holly Hedrick, who led a 40-person medical team in the complex seven-hour operation on Nov. 7.

The twins shared a chest wall, diaphragm, liver and pericardium, the membrane around the heart.

Shellie Tucker was about 20 weeks into her pregnancy when she learned she was carrying conjoined twins. Prenatal screening tests at Children's Hospital, including ultrasound imaging and MRI, determined that they would be good candidates for separation.

Planning for the separation surgery began months before the twins were delivered by cesarean section on March 1. Shortly after they were born, plastic surgeons inserted expanders under the girls' skin to increase the skin surface available to cover exposed organs after their separation.

Shellie Tucker described the past year as a "roller coaster ride" but said she was relieved now that her daughters are doing so well.

"The burden is completely gone, and I am very, very happy," she said.

The surgery was the 21st successful separation of conjoined twins performed at the hospital. The first was in 1957.

According to statistics provided by the hospital, conjoined twins occur once in every 50,000 to 60,000 births and about 70 percent are female. Most conjoined twins are stillborn.

___

Online:

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: http://www.chop.edu

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/once-conjoined-ny-twins-debut-pa-hospital-180158059.html

Sandy Hook justin bieber taylor swift taylor swift kanye west cbs Univision

Iraq finance minister says staff members kidnapped

Iraqi people deliver flowers to the hospital where Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is receiving treatment at the Medical City in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. Talabani's doctors have not formally said that the 79-year-old statesman suffered a stroke, though several other government officials have confirmed that is the case. Foreign medical experts began arriving in Baghdad on Wednesday to assist Iraqi doctors treating ailing President Jalal Talabani, who remains in a Baghdad intensive care unit after suffering a stroke. (AP Photo/ Karim Kadim)

Iraqi people deliver flowers to the hospital where Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is receiving treatment at the Medical City in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. Talabani's doctors have not formally said that the 79-year-old statesman suffered a stroke, though several other government officials have confirmed that is the case. Foreign medical experts began arriving in Baghdad on Wednesday to assist Iraqi doctors treating ailing President Jalal Talabani, who remains in a Baghdad intensive care unit after suffering a stroke. (AP Photo/ Karim Kadim)

People enter the main entrance of the Charite Virchow hospital in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani arrived in Germany on Thursday for further medical treatment after suffering a stroke. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

A man leaves the Charite Virchow hospital in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani arrived in Germany on Thursday for further medical treatment in this hospital after suffering a stroke. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Iraqi Presidential security stand guard next to the Presidential ambulance outside the hospital where Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is receiving treatment at the Medical City in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. Talabani's doctors have not formally said that the 79-year-old statesman suffered a stroke, though several other government officials have confirmed that is the case. Foreign medical experts began arriving in Baghdad on Wednesday to assist Iraqi doctors treating ailing President Jalal Talabani, who remains in a Baghdad intensive care unit after suffering a stroke. (AP Photo/ Karim Kadim)

BAGHDAD (AP) ? Iraq's finance minister on Thursday accused a "militia force" of kidnapping members of his staff and said he holds the prime minister personally responsible for their safety.

Finance Minister Rafia al-Issawi leveled the charges just hours after Iraq's ailing president was flown to Germany for medical treatment following a stroke. The 79-year-old president, Jalal Talabani, is widely seen as a unifying figure who is able to rise above Iraq's often bitter politics and mediate among the country's ethnic and sectarian groups.

Al-Issawi made the accusations in a late night press conference, where he called on parliament to hold a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shiite-led government.

The move is certain to inflame Iraq's simmering political tensions, which have been heightened since an arrest warrant was issued against one of al-Issawi's political allies a year ago. Political rhetoric is heating up ahead of provincial elections scheduled for April.

Al-Issawi is a member of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc, al-Maliki's main political rival. He was flanked during the televised address by senior members of the bloc, including the parliament speaker, Osama al-Nujaifi, and Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq, who last year branded al-Maliki a dictator in a TV interview.

Al-Issawi blasted al-Maliki's government as one "that does not respect its institutions and sovereignty and that cannot live without crisis."

While he emphasized that he believes the detentions were carried out by militia members rather than state security forces, he suggested that the prime minister had knowledge of the move against his staff.

"Does al-Maliki want me to believe he had no idea about this? This was a deliberate and pre-mediated act," he charged.

A senior government security official said interior ministry forces carried out arrests of al-Issawi's bodyguards Thursday as part of a counterterrorism investigation, and that some of them have already been released. The official agreed to speak only on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release details of the operation to reporters.

Repeated attempts to reach al-Maliki's spokesman for comment were unsuccessful.

A year ago, bodyguards assigned to another senior member of Iraqiya, Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, were arrested. Shortly afterwards, an arrest warrant was issued against al-Hashemi himself accusing him of orchestrating death squads ? a charge he dismisses as politically motivated.

Al-Hashemi initially stayed at a guest house belonging to Talabani, but later fled the country and is now living in neighboring Turkey. Iraqi courts have since found him guilty in absentia and handed down multiple death sentences against him.

Earlier Thursday, Iraq's stricken president was flown to Germany for further medical treatment following a stroke.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told The Associated Press that doctors have determined the president had a "very serious stroke," but that he is showing signs of improvement.

"He is starting to regain his senses. He is able to feel pain, and this is a sign of progress," Zebari said.

Talabani's spokesman, Nasser al-Ani, said the president is able to move some of his limbs and communicate with simple signals, but is unable to speak.

The decision to move Talabani to Germany was made after his condition was stabilized and he began to show signs of improvement, according to Iraqi officials.

Vice President Khudier al-Khuzaie, an Arab Shiite, will temporarily assume Talabani's duties during his absence, Zebari said.

Iraq's parliament has the authority to choose a new president should Talabani's office become vacant. The Kurds would likely insist on retaining the presidency to maintain the government's power-sharing balance.

Berlin's Charite hospital, the German capital's largest, confirmed Thursday that Talabani had been admitted to its Virchow Clinic but wouldn't give any details on his condition nor what he was being treated for, citing patient confidentiality.

In a statement on its official website, Talabani's office said the treatment he underwent in Baghdad "provided the right conditions for the transfer of (Talabani) out of the country for follow-up treatment in Germany." It gave no further details on his condition.

The presidency of Iraq is largely a ceremonial role. Al-Maliki is the head of government.

Talabani is overweight and has undergone several medical procedures in recent years, including heart surgery in 2008 and knee replacement surgery this year. He has previously received treatment in Germany.

Before he fell ill, Talabani was actively involved in trying to mediate in a crisis between Baghdad and the Kurds, who have their own fighters and considerable autonomy in their enclave in northern Iraq. The two sides last month moved additional troops into disputed areas along the Kurds' self-rule region, prompting fears that fighting could break out.

Last week, Talabani brokered a deal that calls on both sides to eventually withdraw troops from the contested areas, though there was no timetable for how soon the drawdown might take place.

___

Associated Press writers Sinan Salaheddin, Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Sameer N. Yacoub in Baghdad, and David Rising in Berlin contributed to this report.

___

Follow Adam Schreck on Twitter at http://twitter.com/adamschreck

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-20-Iraq/id-ca5a2e711a0b4db9a295bc51ced47398

wwe royal rumble trisomy leon panetta luck sag awards 2012 nominees sag awards pro bowl 2012 roster

Biological concrete for constructing 'living' building materials with lichens, mosses

Dec. 20, 2012 ? The Structural Technology Group has developed and patented a type of biological concrete that supports the natural, accelerated growth of pigmented organisms. The material, which has been designed for the fa?ades of buildings or other constructions in Mediterranean climates, offers environmental, thermal and aesthetic advantages over other similar construction solutions. The material improves thermal comfort in buildings and helps to reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels.

In studying this concrete, the researchers at the Structural Technology Group of the Universitat Polit?cnica de Catalunya ? BarcelonaTech (UPC) have focused on two cement-based materials. The first of these is conventional carbonated concrete (based on Portland cement), with which they can obtain a material with a pH of around 8. The second material is manufactured with a magnesium phosphate cement (MPC), a hydraulic conglomerate that does not require any treatment to reduce its pH, since it is slightly acidic.

On account of its quick setting properties, magnesium phosphate cement has been used in the past as a repair material. It has also been employed as a biocement in the field of medicine and dentistry, indicating that it does not have an additional environmental impact.

The innovative feature of this new (vertical multilayer) concrete is that it acts as a natural biological support for the growth and development of certain biological organisms, to be specific, certain families of microalgae, fungi, lichens and mosses.

Having patented the idea, the team is investigating the best way to promote the accelerated growth of these types of organisms on the concrete. The goal of the research is to succeed in accelerating the natural colonisation process so that the surface acquires an attractive appearance in less than a year. A further aim is that the appearance of the fa?ades constructed with the new material should evolve over time, showing changes of colour according to the time of year and the predominant families of organisms. On these kinds of buildings, other types of vegetation are prevented from appearing, lest their roots damage construction elements.

Three layers of material

In order to obtain the biological concrete, besides the pH, other parameters that influence the bioreceptivity of the material have been modified, such as porosity and surface roughness. The result obtained is a multilayer element in the form of a panel which, in addition to a structural layer, consists of three other layers: the first of these is a waterproofing layer situated on top of the structural layer, protecting the latter from possible damage caused by water seeping through.

The next layer is the biological layer, which supports colonisation and allows water to accumulate inside it. It acts as an internal microstructure, aiding retention and expelling moisture; since it has the capacity to capture and store rainwater, this layer facilitates the development of biological organisms.

The final layer is a discontinuous coating layer with a reverse waterproofing function. This layer permits the entry of rainwater and prevents it from escaping; in this way, the outflow of water is redirected to where it is aimed to obtain biological growth.

CO₂ reduction

The new material, which has various applications, offers environmental, thermal and aesthetic advantages, according to the research team led by Antonio Aguado and supported by Ignacio Segura and Sandra Manso. From an environmental perspective, the new concrete absorbs and therefore reduces atmospheric CO₂, thanks to its biological coating.

At the same time, it has the capacity to capture solar radiation, making it possible to regulate thermal conductivity inside the buildings depending on the temperature reached. The biological concrete acts not only as an insulating material and a thermal regulator, but also as an ornamental alternative, since it can be used to decorate the fa?ade of buildings or the surface of constructions with different finishes and shades of colour; it has been designed for the colonisation of certain areas with a variety of colours, without the need to cover an entire surface. The idea is to create a patina in the form of a biological covering or a "living" painting.

There are also possibilities for its use in garden areas as a decorative element and as a sustainable means of blending buildings and constructions into the landscape.

Architectural renovation

The material lends itself to a new concept of vertical garden, not only for newly built constructions, but also for the renovation of existing buildings. Unlike the current vegetated fa?ade and vertical garden systems, the new material supports biological growth on its own surface; therefore, complex supporting structures are not required, and it is possible to choose the area of the fa?ade to which the biological growth is to be applied.

Vegetated fa?ades and vertical gardens depend on a plant substrate in some type of container, or they use cultures that are totally substrate-independent, such as hydroponic cultures. However, they require complex systems attached to the construction itself (layers of material) and even adjacent structures made of metal or plastic. This can lead to complications associated with additional loads, the reduction of light, or the reduction of space around the building. With the new "green" concrete, the organisms can grow directly on the multi-layered material.

Patent and commercialisation The research has led to a doctoral thesis, which Sandra Manso is writing. At present, the experimental campaign corresponding to the phase of biological growth is being conducted, and this will be completed at the UPC and the University of Ghent (Belgium). This research has received support from Antonio G?mez Bolea, a lecturer in the Faculty of Biology at the University of Barcelona, who has made contributions in the field of biological growth on construction materials.

At present, a patent is in the process of being obtained for this innovative product, and the Catalan company ESCOFET 1886 S.A., a manufacturer of concrete panels for architectural and urban furniture purposes, has already shown an interest in commercialising the material.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Universitat Polit?cnica de Catalunya (UPC).

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/pquKw5YVIkQ/121220080310.htm

japan earthquake nhl Star Trek Into Darkness redskins Heisman watch John McAfee Jenny Rivera

Making the Most of Social Media to Promote Your Real Estate Portal ...

Doesn?t matter if you are a real estate agent, an interior designer, or providing any other kind of home improvement or construction services like loft conversion or floorings, you must consider launching a website and making the most of internet marketing, especially when an increasing number of your targeted customers are turning towards internet to find the right guy for buying, selling, or renovating their properties.

It?s a good thing that more and more real estate agents or home improvement experts are realizing the importance of having some online presence, and launching a website for their businesses.

Up till now, optimizing your websites for the search engines was the one and only option for people looking to promote their businesses online. However, social media is also becoming a force to reckon with. If you are looking to promote your real estate business at tight budgets, you must take advantage of the inexpensive yet highly effective social media platforms. Here?s how you can use the power of social media to find leads and new customers for your real estate business, be it a real estate agency, construction, remodeling services, maintenance, or loft conversions.

Be Social in the Truest Sense

It?s not enough to create a profile at twitter or Facebook and post some special offers or brag about your real estate services every now and then. You can never realize the true potential of social media without getting social in the truest sense of the word, and mixing up with your target customers. For some unknown reasons, businesses are often reluctant while interacting with their customers. If you are looking to succeed at any of these social networks, you must act as an individual instead of a business entity. That?s the only way to make relations and build trust that will help you attract new customers. Ideally, you should be a part of real estate forums or message boards as well, whenever someone comes up with a question that relates to your services, you should try your best to guide them in the best possible way. Giving out free yet honest advice will help you catch attention and win trust of your target customers.

Videos:

Video tutorials for people looking to do some minor repairing or remodeling in their homes can work wonders. Not only it will get you some back links from relevant blogs, but it will also result in a lot of credibility and trust for your business. Remember, videos are often ranked on top for relevant keywords, and the competition is much lower as far as videos are concerned, and you can take advantage by producing some quality videos on relevant topics every once in a while.

Integrate Social Media on your Website:

Almost all social networks offer some buttons that you can use on your real estate website, for example FB like, Google Plus one, and Twitter ?Tweet? buttons. Remember, there?s no point of using these buttons at a static website, because nobody is going to tweet or like your homepage with your business history or the services description. If you are looking for real likes and tweets, you need to add a blog and write informative posts on topics like real estate buying and selling, home staging, interior design, home improvement, and the likes.

Track The Results:

There?s a plethora of social networks and social media websites on the Internet, and the dynamics will differ from one platform to another. Trying to be active on all of these platforms is next to impossible, so you need to focus on just a couple of forums or social networks. You can try different options while keeping tabs on the results. Once you see some forum or a social network with good enough results, you need to invest your time and resources on that community.

Misheal Rome is a contributing writer for Abbey Lofts Conversions, which is a loft conversion company based in London.

Article source: http://www.trafficplusseo.com/making-the-most-of-social-media-to-promote-your-real-estate-portal.html

Tags: business, customers, real estate, Social Media

Source: http://askmikehenry.com/making-the-most-of-social-media-to-promote-your-real-estate-portal

shooting at chardon high school sasha baron cohen stacy keibler stacy keibler all star game oscar red carpet daytona 500 start time

A Year's Worth Of Stupidly Realistic Military Simulator Action

Forget all these DayZ blow-ins. Before there were zombies, BI's ArmA II was a game known for its brutal adherence to military strategy, an uncompromising sandbox in which people could get close?but not too close?to actual combat conditions.

Nothing shows this more elegantly than ShackTac's 2012 Year in Review video, which compiles the year's best footage from the group's exploits in the game. If you need to know what's special, know that every person you see is being controlled by a human player, and that a single bullet can, and often will, kill.

ShackTac 2012 Year in Review [YouTube, via PC Gamer]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/excerpts/~3/4wI2aSI66tM/a-years-worth-of-stupidly-realistic-military-simulator-action

unclaimed money godspell media matters hana taylor momsen xbox live update joan rivers

Childhood Obesity Increases Kids' Risk for Heart Disease Later ...

(PCM) As if you needed another reason to keep your kids healthy and active, a new study suggests that obese children develop risk factors for heart disease that usually aren?t seen until adulthood. That?s pretty scary. The risk factors ? including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels and even thickening of the heart muscle ? can boost a child?s risk of heart disease by up to 40 percent, say British researchers.

Lead researcher Claire Friedemann, of the department of primary care health sciences at Oxford University reported:

?We really need to take action on childhood obesity from as young an age as possible. We have shown that obesity is not just about appearance but could have a long-term effect on the health of the child. By not fully tackling the problem, we could lose the progress that has been made in treating heart disease in recent years.?

Researchers found that, compared to normal-weight children, obese children had significantly higher blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well as thicker heart muscles, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke by 30 to 40 percent when they reach adulthood. (Source)

Being obese in childhood may significantly worsen the risk factors and health consequences associated with adult obesity, including the risk of diabetes, premature cardiovascular disease, and death.

?Although the size of the effect that obesity has on the health of children?s hearts is worrying, the good news is that they can all be improved with a healthy diet and exercise,? Friedemann said. ?These habits are much easier to begin in childhood and carry through to adulthood.?

Kids are never too young to learn proper nutrition and how to make healthy lifestyle choices!

More:
Predicted Obesity Rates in 2030: 39 States to Pass 50 Percent, Many to Triple
Top Concern for Parents This Upcoming School Year? Lack of Exercise

Did you like this? Share it:

'); hgs.type = 'text/javascript'; hgs.async = true; hgs.src = 'http://p.hgcdn.net?placement_id=21872&t=BkrN&appendTo='+encodeURIComponent('#'+id)+'&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href) ; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(hgs, s); })();

Source: http://pcmlifestyle.com/2012/12/childhood-obesity-increases-kids-risk-for-heart-disease-later/

times square survivor dallas cowboys 49ers steelers snl