Monday, January 7, 2013

96% Argo

All Critics (249) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (238) | Rotten (11)

Affleck himself turns in a quietly impressive movie star performance. Tony Mendez is a kind of anti-Bourne, comfortable with his anonymity, living off his wits, not his fists.

'Argo' is one of the best movies of the year.

Argo has that solid, kick-the-tires feel of those studio films from the 70s that were about something but also entertained. Only it's as laugh outright amusing as it is sobering.

The movieland satire is laid on thick, but it's also deadly accurate. Schlock has never seemed so patriotic, and Arkin and Goodman have rarely been so good.

Argo is a rollicking yarn, easily the most cohesive and technically accomplished of Affleck's three films so far, but a part of me wishes the director hadn't cast himself in the lead role.

If nothing else, it proves that every so often, the CIA can pull something off - and that yes, Canadians are just about the nicest people on the planet.

Affleck inserts such thoughtful commentary and ideas unobtrusively into his film; there's no ideological ball-peen hammer from the filmmaker to drive his beliefs into the audience.

Argo expertly builds tension and makes you wonder whether the mission will succeed.

There are many heroes in Ben Affleck's spunky, polished political thriller. But the biggest hero is Hollywood itself.

A strong yet uneven effort...

We are invested in this rescue mission not simply because these are fellow Americans in peril, but also because Argo takes the time to make each person behind enemy lines unique and authentic.

An edge-of-your-seat thriller not to be forgotten at Oscar time!

'Argo' only clocks in at a two-hour running time and tells a much better story than the films that over-stuffed audiences with nearly three-hours.

Second billing to unabashed jingoism

This may be the most geek-friendly movie that never did the rounds at Comic-Con.

When Tony (Ben Affleck) lands in Tehran and trains the frightened Americans to play their parts as a Canadian film crew, Argo compares the ruses run by governments and movie studios.

The whole thing is paced like a whip, and the third act may literally be the most suspenseful piece of film I've ever seen - and yes, I have seen Rear Window. Recommended without any reservation for every and any cinemagoer.

A terrific supporting cast, especially the non A-list actors, make the dramatic license taken justified and redeem Affleck for miscasting himself in the hero's role.

A brilliant thriller that's based on a historical incident, 'Argo' is one of the best films of 2012.

A wonderfully lively and engrossing movie ...

An enthralling and deliciously entertaining movie -- and a deserved triumph for its star and director.

The details make for a rip-roaring story, which Affleck invests with old-school directorial ?lan.

Ben Affleck leaps on to the A-list of directors with this relentlessly entertaining thriller, combining comedy and nerve-jangling suspense to maximum effect.

If you're a nailbiter, bring gloves, because the suspense will see you reach your knuckles.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/argo_2012/

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Flu fatalities spreading in nursing homes | Health X Pert Articles ...

Instead of focusing on a list of hard-and-fast eating rules, psychologist, author, and speaker Dr. Susan Albers offers a welcomed concept: mindful eating. Rather than placing the emphasis on what to eat, she prefers to draw attention and awareness to how to eat. For anyone who has struggled with the tough cycle of fad dieting in the past, each of these tips from Dr. Albers can help rebuild a healthier relationship with mealtime. Eating equals enjoyment: ?We?ve really lost the art of savoring food. We just often kind of shovel it in without really thinking about it . . . but it doesn?t have to be painfully slow. Sometimes people get that misconception that [mindful eating] is really slow eating, and sure, maybe it?s at a slower pace, but it?s really about paying attention, noticing what it tastes like. Is it salty? Is it sweet? We eat a lot of mediocre food. But when you start eating mindfully, often times people become pickier. You don?t want to just eat any little food; you really want to experience it.? Keep reading for two more of Dr. Albers?s tips toward mindful eating.

Source: http://healthxpert.org/flu-fatalities-spreading-in-nursing-homes/

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Newspaper: Introduce to car audio/video system | Autocardvdgps ...

Car audio/video system which is named car AV, 12-volt,mobile audio and other terms are used to describe the video or?sound system fitted in an automobile. While 12-volt audio/video systems are also marketed, used or manufactured for marine,?buses and aviation.?We will introduce?on cars as the most common application.

From the earliest days of radio, enthusiasts had adapted domestic equipment to use in their cars. In the 1960s, tape players using reel to reel equipment, Compact Cassettes, and then 8-track cartridges were introduced for in-car use.

A stock car audio system refers to the OEM application that the vehicle?s manufacturer specified to be installed when the car was built. A large after market industry exists where the consumer can at their desire replace many or all components of the stock system.

In modern cars, the primary control device for an audio system is commonly referred to as a head unit, and is installed in the center of the dash panel between the driver and the passenger. In older vehicles that had audio components as an option, such devices were mounted externally to the top of or underneath the dash. Car speakers often use space-saving designs such as mounting a tweeter directly over a woofer or using non-circular cone shapes. Subwoofers are a specific type of loudspeaker for low frequency reproduction. Extremely loud sound systems in automobiles, which have been nicknamed ?boom cars?, may violate the noise ordinance of some municipalities.

Stock unit
A stock car audio system refers to the OEM application that the vehicle?s manufacturer specified to be installed when the car was built. A large after market industry exists where the consumer can at their desire replace many or all components of the stock system.

Speakers

A set of speaker drivers removed from a passenger vehicle.Car speakers are largely functionally identical to any other loudspeaker design with key components specialized for use in mobile environments, and generally serve an identical purpose. One major key design difference is mult-axial mounting of different types of loudspeakers in the same footprint, such as a tweeter directly mounted over a woofer. Another key difference is non-circular cone shapes, such as square, oval, or even triangular. Both of these features reflect a significant reduction in space and size that a speaker may occupy in a vehicle cabin.

Material construction may also include more exotic and hearty components more suitable to mobile use. Marine speakers may have plating for corrosion resistance. Cones may be coated with a substance to resist expansion and contraction under high vehicle cabin temperatures, known to reach 140 ?F (60 ?C) in the sun. Subwoofers may also be found in mobile audio applications where a cabin speaker may lack the desired low frequency response on its own.

Before stereo radio was introduced, the most common speaker location was in the middle of the dashboard pointing through perforations towards the front windshield. In most modern applications, speakers are mounted certain common locations including the front deck (or dash), the rear deck (or parcel shelf), the kick panel (located in the footwell below the A-pillar,) or the doors. In the case of subwoofers, mountings are usually under the seat or in the trunk. Each position has certain strengths and limitations from both a quality of sound, and a vehicle manufacturing perspective.

5.1 and even 7.1 channel surround sound systems, as well as THX II Certified, are now being integrated into some cars by both aftermarket enthusiasts and car manufacturers themselves. These systems include the full complement of front left, right and center speakers along with rear right and left surround speakers.

Amplifiers

A car audio amplifier.
Blaupunkt Class T amplifierBasically a mobile audio amplifier, a car ?amp? is a term used to refer to a dedicated electronic amplifier separated from the other components of the system. Though most head units have an amplifier, some do not, or lack the desired power or additional features (e.g., equalization controls or crossover systems). External amplification is available and most often used when existing amplification is insufficient. External amplifiers can be mounted in a different part of the car than the ?head unit?; in many cases, an additional amp is mounted in the trunk. This is usually the case when powering a subwoofer, where desired wattage may be several multiples more compared to other cabin speakers.

Though less common, OEM external amplification can be found in ?premium? audio packages, or in luxury cars. More common is aftermarket amplification installed later to satisfy the expansion of an existing system in some way. During operation, it is common for a vehicle?s charging system to fluctuate, so a regulated amplifier will maintain its power output regardless of voltage fluctuation. Amplifiers rated at 100 watts at 14.4 volts can not be regarded equal as to an amplifier that can maintain 100 watts at 12 volts. Outside of certain standards, it is not uncommon for manufacturers to list a 14.4 rating and not post a 12 volt value.

Head unit

A Panasonic single DIN head unit, combining radio, CD and MP3In modern cars, the primary control device for an audio system is commonly referred to as a head unit, and is installed in the center of the dash panel between the driver and the passenger. In older vehicles that had audio components as an option, such devices were mounted externally to the top of or underneath the dash.

The headunit itself is usually a multi-purpose device that houses multiple types of components in its housing. The most common components are a radio receiver/tuner usually with AM and FM bands, and a small amplifier for driving an audio signal to speakers. Other possible components include various media devices, such as (in older vehicles) a tape player (either 8-track or cassette), CD player, DVD player, Minidisc, USB flash memory, and even a hard disk drive typically used in notebook computing. Many head units also feature a DSP component, and equalization component (such as bass and treble controls), or a control interface for another feature on the car (such as a back-up/parking camera, navigation system, trip odometer, etc).

Due to auto manufacturing differences over the years, aftermarket headunit products are manufactured in multiple form factors. The primarily used size is mostly referred to by its legacy name of DIN, which refers to ISO 7736. DIN headunits come as single DIN or double DIN. A third less common standard is used mostly by Chrysler group and for a time Mitsubishi in their OEM devices.

Dampening

Sound deadening material is often used in the door cavities and boot/trunk area to dampen excess vibration of the panels in the car in response to loud subwoofer bass tones, especially the boot/trunk. The most common type of deadening is either butyl or rubberized asphalt, a product which has an adhesive quality and can be applied by simply pressing it into place with a roller and using a heat gun (or hair dryer). Other types of deadening can be sprayed on, but they are less common because of the additional installation difficulties.

Capacitors

A powerful after-market audio system installation in a ToyotaCapacitors are used to store energy for the amplifier to draw on demand. They come in many different sizes ranging from 0.5 farad to well over 100 farads and their intended function is to temporarily cover the short-burst electrical demands of a car audio system that have exceeded the general electrical capabilities of the vehicle. There is little evidence to suggest they impart any benefit to the system, however, due to their low energy storage (compared with the battery) and exponential nature of capacitor voltage decay.

Subwoofers

Subwoofers are a specific type of loudspeaker for low frequency reproduction. Mobile ?subs? are not very different from any other application of sub in terms of construction. However it is more common in aftermarket that visual aesthetics take on a more significant role in design than other types of sub drivers, including high contrast paint schemes, grill covers, translucent or refractive materials. Typical subwoofer drivers range in size from an 8? diameter to 10? or 12?; more rarely, some car audio system s may have 15?, 18?, 21?, 22?, 24? or even 32? subwoofers.

A subwoofer is used when existing low frequency production is unsatisfactory, either in frequency range or in volume. Design goals have led to subwoofer, both driver?s alone and whole packages, with some extreme difference from one another. Space conscious design has reduced some driver depth to 2? or less, or enclosure depth to 3?. Pure loudness through increasing sound pressure has led to some drivers with excursions as great as 4? and vented components to cool the ?motor? of the speaker. Quality and clarity has led to driver enclosures being tuned by construction to resonate or neutralize certain frequencies.

Source: http://www.autocardvdgps.com/blog/2013/01/introduce-to-car-audiovideo-system/

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Source: http://wilsonstewsart.blogspot.com/2013/01/introduce-to-car-audiovideo-system.html

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Source: http://suhanasharma524.blogspot.com/2013/01/newspaper-introduce-to-car-audiovideo.html

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Source: http://kyfygfdt.posterous.com/newspaper-introduce-to-car-audiovideo-system

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Trakdot Luggage hands-on: find your lost bags

Trakdot Luggage handson find your lost bags

Lost luggage is a seemingly unavoidable inevitability for the frequent traveller. Millions of bags either get left behind, sent to the wrong city or simply disappear completely every year. GlobaTrac has created Trakdot Luggage to give the constant flyer a little more of a sense of security. The palm-sized plastic device slips discreetly into your duffle or suitcase and updates the owner on its location via an app, SMS, email or the Trakdot website. Sadly the apps are not live in Play or the iTunes app store, so we can't tell you much about their functionality, outside of some specialized alerts that are promised, like a notification when your bag hits the claim carrosel. On the site you can set up customized text and email notifications or view location pins via Google Maps.

The preproduction box we handled was stunningly light, though we wouldn't be surprised if the device packed on a little weight when the final version hits shelves in March. Rather than rely on battery draining GPS, the Trakdot Luggage relies on a quad-band GSM chip and triangulation, which allows it to last up to two weeks on a fresh pair of AAs, which are generously included in the packaging. The Trakdot luggage will $49.95, though a one time activation fee of $8.99 and an annual service fee of $12.99 will be required to keep it functional. Check out the gallery below and the PR after the break for more.

Continue reading Trakdot Luggage hands-on: find your lost bags

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/06/trakdot-luggage-hands-on/

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Sunday, January 6, 2013

Gun legislation faces uphill battle (CNN)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/275076351?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts unveil new ... - NOLA.com

Kelly Fouchi and Gary Rucker at Rivertown Theater for the Performing Arts.jpg

Kelly Fouchi and Gary Rucker, co-artistic directors of Rivertown Theater for the Performing Arts, announced the company's 2013-14 season on Jan. 4 at the Kenner venue. (Photo by Rusty Costanza / The Times-Picayune Archive)

Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts added new management, new programming, and began renovations at its long-time Kenner home in 2012. On Friday, the community theater followed that same innovative course by unveiling its upcoming season at a celebratory fundraising party for friends and theater patrons -- a first for the organization.

The 2013-2014 main stage season was announced by Rivertown artistic directors Gary Rucker and Kelly Fouchi in a presentation that also featured musical selections from four of the planned shows.

One measure of Rivertown?s ambition is its decision to program original, commissioned works alongside well-known Broadway hits. In January 2014, the company will stage ?Under the Boardwalk,? a musical revue inspired by the music of The Four Seasons, the Beach Boys, and Motown. It is being developed by four actors from the cast. Rivertown expects to present the show with a live, big band orchestra.

The season also includes four popular Broadway shows -- ?42nd St.? (September 13-28, 2013); ?Harvey? (November 1-16); Annie (December 6-22); and Young Frankenstein (May 9-24, 2014) -- and an oft-produced slapstick farce, ?Ladies of the Camellias? (March 14-29, 2014).

Full details will be available on January 7 from Rivertown's website and box office (504.461.9475 or 504.468.7221). Initially, Rivertown will only offer season ticket packages: a five-show season for $161, or a six-show season that includes ?Annie? ( a holiday add-on), for $199.

Source: http://www.nola.com/arts/index.ssf/2013/01/rivertown_theaters_for_the_per_1.html

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High School Basketball Star Must Tan to Treat Rare Disease

When the Shawnee High School basketball team is down on the scoreboard, players know to throw the ball to Josh Borelli. Borelli is not only the team's star player, but also the player most adept at overcoming adversity.

Borrelli, a senior at the Medford, N.J., school, has a condition called Mucha-Habermann, an extremely rare skin disorder that causes lesions to develop all over the body.

Borrelli developed the autoimmune disease out-of-the-blue in eighth grade.

"One day I woke up in the eighth grade and I had red lesions all over my body so I went to the doctors," he told ABC News. "It was the first or second case he's seen in his 40 year practice."

According to the NIH, Mucha-Habermann strikes males more often than females and occurs more frequently in children, specifically between the ages of five to 10. Borrelli's father told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he was believed to be the only person in the country to have the disease at the time he was diagnosed.

"This disease is so rare that most dermatologists don't see it in their entire practice," Dr. Doris Day, clinical associate professor of dermatology at New York University Medical, who does not treat Borrelli, told ABC News. "It's something that we read about but don't see."

Borrelli's own case went into remission as he entered high school, only to return at the start of his senior season. This time, his doctor ordered a new treatment in addition to his prescribed medication: daily visits to the tanning salon.

"My dad went with me the first couple of times to the tanning salon because I was a bit nervous," he said of the first of his now-routine eight minutes per day in the tanning booth.

The treatment worked and Borrelli's skin is now smooth, although enhanced with a Coppertone complexion. Doctors say the ultraviolet technique is so effective that Borrelli cannot miss a single day of tanning, especially since the disease can resurface at any time and cause life-threatening complications in adults.

The treatment has not hurt his basketball game. He continues to average nearly 20 points per game and is just two points shy of scoring 1,000 points in his career.

"If anything it's probably helped," Borrelli said. "There's people out there worse off than I am so I'm real lucky."

Borrelli's year-round tan has even inspired his fans to create a tagline of their own, donning "Fear the Tan" t-shirts at the school's basketball games.

"It's a tough situation and it's been very challenging for him but I've seen him rise to the occasion," Borrelli's father, David Borrelli, told ABC News.

Also Read

Source: http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/high-school-basketball-star-must-tan-treat-rare-142443730--abc-news-health.html

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Saturday, January 5, 2013

Is Dr. McDreamy a coffee mogul? Not quite yet

TV doctor and actor, Patrick Dempsey, has apparently beat out Starbucks to buy Seattle-based Tully's Coffee, a bid Dempsey says will retain the company's jobs. Cnbc's Jane Wells reports.

By Martha C. White

Too much coffee can make anybody a little giddy.

Patrick Dempsey, best known as Dr. Derek ?McDreamy? Shepherd on medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," sent out a celebratory Tweet late last night after his investment group made the highest single bid for Tully?s Coffee in a Seattle bankruptcy auction. ?We met the green monster, looked her in the eye, and...SHE BLINKED! We got it! Thank you Seattle!? he wrote.

The ?green monster? is Starbucks, and either it or the bankruptcy judge who still has to approve the deal at a hearing next week could throw a wrench into Dempsey?s white knighthood.

The investment group of which Dempsey is a member, Global Baristas LLC, beat out the other six bidders, including the coffee giant, with an offer of $9.15 million for the 47-store chain. In a statement, Scott Pearson, CEO and president of Tully?s parent company TC Global, Inc., called the auction outcome ?a big win for Seattle.?

Tully?s, which filed for bankruptcy in October and closed 19 stores, has more than 500 employees. Dempsey said preserving those jobs was a top priority.??I?m thrilled that we won and I?m even more excited about saving Tully?s Coffee and its hundreds of jobs,? he said in a statement. ?I am honored to have the privilege to own Tully?s.?

But his grand plans and talk of ownership are a little premature. ?On its face, Dempsey won because he outbid everybody else, but they haven?t won yet,? said Anthony Michael Sabino, a bankruptcy attorney who specializes in corporate restructuring.

Global Baristas still has to get through a hearing on Jan. 11 and have a bankruptcy judge verify that its bid is the highest and best. ?The reasonable expectation is very high that the Dempsey group will be the new owner of Tully?s, but it?s not an absolute certainty yet,? Sabino said.

One roadblock could be Starbucks. ?We?ve made an offer for 25 locations and another bidder made an offer for all of the remaining assets and the combined amount of our bids is $10.56 million,? said spokesman Zack Hutson, who added that even though the auction is over, the judge hasn?t made her decision yet.?

With a bid nearly $1.5 million higher than Global Baristas, Starbucks or the unnamed second bidder could challenge the results of the auction in next week's hearing. "We're evaluating our options," Hutson said.

Sabino said price isn?t everything in bankruptcy sales, though. ?The quality of the bid can sometimes overcome higher [ ones],? Sabino said. The bankruptcy court has to weigh a variety of factors besides the dollar amount, such as how much of an offer is cash or assumption of debt versus equity, how quickly the deal is likely to close, whether or not there is likely to be any regulatory review that could delay the sale and which buyer?s plan for the company?s future will benefit stakeholders the most.

A Global Baristas spokesperson said via email it was confident it would prevail at the hearing ?because of the loss of jobs and breakup of company if others were chosen.?

Hutson countered by saying Starbucks also would keep jobs. ?If our bid is accepted along with the companion bid, we intend to invite Tully?s employees at the locations we acquire to apply for positions with us,? he said, adding that current Tully?s employees would get preference as long as they met Starbucks? job requirements.

Despite his onscreen ability to resuscitate the ailing, Dempsey doesn?t have a background in corporate turnarounds, and he began making plans to buy Tully?s only about a week before Christmas. He seemed eager to get involved, sending out Tweets throughout the day on Friday chronicling his visits to different Tully?s shops. ?Heading to Clyde Hill Tully's now to meet employees and our customers. Very exciting,? he wrote.

?I will be making Seattle my home away from home and spending a significant amount of time in the community,? he pledged.

Source: http://lifeinc.today.com/_news/2013/01/04/16354012-is-dr-mcdreamy-a-coffee-mogul-not-quite-yet?lite

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Photo of teen princess-to-be Diana set for auction

This image provided by RR Auction shows a photograph marked "not to be published" of a teenage Diana Spencer before she became Princess of Wales, with a young friend seated beside her. The print will be featured in a January 2013 auction in New Hampshire. Stamped February 1981 on the back, the photo was taken around the time Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer ended months of speculation and announced they were to be married. (AP Photo/RR Auction)

This image provided by RR Auction shows a photograph marked "not to be published" of a teenage Diana Spencer before she became Princess of Wales, with a young friend seated beside her. The print will be featured in a January 2013 auction in New Hampshire. Stamped February 1981 on the back, the photo was taken around the time Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer ended months of speculation and announced they were to be married. (AP Photo/RR Auction)

AMHERST, N.H. (AP) ? A photo marked "not to be published" that shows a teenage Diana Spencer before she became Princess of Wales, with a young friend seated beside her, will be featured in an auction this month in New Hampshire.

The photograph might never have been seen publicly until now, RR Auction said.

Stamped February 1981 on the back, the photo was taken around the time Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer ended months of speculation and announced they were to be married.

The photo came from the Caren Archive, a major private collection of rare newspapers and other publications, and was purchased seven years ago from the Daily Mirror newspaper.

In 1981, Diana first told news of her engagement to her friends, then moved out of her apartment Feb. 23 and into Buckingham Palace. What was widely labeled the wedding of the century took place on July 29, 1981, at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1996, and Diana died in a Paris car crash in 1997.

Another Diana photo to be included in the auction is an original 1988 news photo of the princess observing a marriage conflict resolution seminar.

The auction is scheduled for Jan. 17-24 in Amherst.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-01-05-Diana%20Photo/id-63795c4e5ec248dc946741aa71247ea1

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Friday, January 4, 2013

Sandy Victims Blast Delays In Flood Insurance Aid ? CBS DC

LAVALLETTE, N.J. (AP) ? Even as Congress headed toward passage Friday of an aid package for victims of Superstorm Sandy, many victims seethed, wondering why it took so long.

The House overwhelmingly approved a $9.7 billion measure to fund the National Flood Insurance program, and the Senate was set to follow suit. Some of those still lugging waterlogged debris from homes or shoveling sand from lawns and walkways after the late October storm weren?t impressed.

?I think it?s horrible it took this long,? said Susan VanVeen, of Randolph, N.J., who was part of a volunteer group that drove to Lavallette to help clean up strangers? homes. ?This area is completely devastated. It?s still probably going to be weeks before people get this money. This should have happened a long time ago.?

John Condit, of Seaside Heights, N.J., which lost the boardwalk upon which much of the ?Jersey Shore? reality series was filmed, also said the delay in approving aid after the storm was disgraceful.

?It?s just criminal,? he said. ?We do all this work for other countries, but when it comes to us, it takes like 60 days. You pay taxes, and your government is supposed to be there for you. That?s part of the deal.?

Mike Furrey, part of the volunteer group in Lavallette, said he was angry about the delay in approving aid.

?They turned their backs on New Jersey and New York, but when Katrina happened, or things in other parts of the country, they act right away. I?m not going to vote for anyone who is in Congress right now, no matter what party, no matter if it?s the House or the Senate.?

Barbara Kirchoff, of Keansburg, N.J., said that her parents? home was devastated by the storm, and that politicians in Washington don?t seem to care.

?My parents have nothing,? she said. ?They need this money. A good portion of my town is a ghost town. They need help, now.?

Nigel Jawad, who works at the Amazing Deli in the Ocean Breeze section of New York City?s Staten Island, said most customers complain about a lack of financial assistance.

?Everybody keeps saying, ?Where is the money?? That?s all I hear from people,? he said. ?People have no confidence in the government anymore.?

The storm severely damaged parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and caused more than $60 billion in damage.

House Speaker John Boehner had delayed a vote on the aid package earlier this week but under pressure, scheduled a vote on the flood insurance portion to Friday. Without the money, the flood program could have run out of money next week. A vote to put an additional $51 billion toward Sandy relief will take place Jan. 15.

New York and New Jersey?s congressional delegation blasted him on Wednesday, saying the states most affected by Sandy were being ignored.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie showed he was willing to aim barbs at the highest reaches of his party, saying the overall $60 billion bill could ?could not overcome the toxic internal politics of the House majority.?

Some in the delegation reiterated their displeasure on the House floor Friday. Rep. Frank Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat, said Friday?s action is ?too little, too late,? and only delays rebuilding.

?I have to say I?m still very upset and I think it?s deplorable that the Speaker did not bring this bill up and the whole package that addresses Hurricane Sandy relief in the lame duck session in the last days of Congress,? Pallone said. ?It would have been passed, we had the votes.?

Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican whose district was affected by the storm, said Friday?s measure is ?critically important? to help the state recover and rebuild.

?The devastation unleashed by Sandy is without precedent and the impacted communities are in dire need of comprehensive assistance,? Smith said in a statement. ?Nowhere is this more evident than in the sheer magnitude of the housing damage and the subsequent housing need.?

Rep. Frank LoBiondo agreed the money is crucial.

?Today?s vote is a key step in getting critical federal assistance to the residents, businesses and communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy,? LoBiondo, a Republican, said in a statement. ?This week?s events make it clear that the need for help is real and that any additional delays in providing federal aid will be met with fierce resistance from myself, members of the delegation, and Governor Christie.?

(? Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Source: http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/01/04/sandy-victims-blast-delays-in-flood-insurance-aid/

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Durso: Return retail workers to the middle class | Long Island ...

by John R. Durso
Long Island Business News Published: January 3, 2013
Tags: Demos, Disney, Economy, middle class, precautions, regulations, Retail, safety, Sears, Wal-Mart

9:28 am Thu, January 3, 2013 The economy is intimately tied to retail jobs.

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Source: http://libn.com/2013/01/03/durso-return-retail-workers-to-middle-class/

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Transocean agrees to pay $1.4 billion fine for Gulf oil spill

Transocean was a contractor to BP and owned the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that was at the center of the Gulf oil spill. BP has already agreed to $4.5 billion in fines.

By Warren Richey,?Staff writer / January 3, 2013

Crews conduct controlled burns of the Gulf oil spill on May 19, 2010. Transocean Thursday to pay $1.4 billion to settle US government charges arising from the spill.

Chief Petty Officer John Kepsimelis/U.S. Coast Guard/REUTERS/File

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An offshore drilling company agreed to plead guilty on Thursday to a single Clean Water Act charge and pay $1.4 billion in fines for its role in the April 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

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The company, Transocean Deepwater Inc. signed a plea and cooperation agreement with the Justice Department that includes payment of both civil and criminal penalties.

The company admitted that members of its crew aboard its Deepwater Horizon rig were negligent in failing to investigate indications that the offshore well was not secure, according a government statement. It noted that Transocean crew members were acting at the direction of BP officials in charge of the drilling operation.

The company is agreeing to cooperate with the Justice Department in its continuing investigation of a disaster that killed 11 rig workers and caused the largest offshore oil spill in US history.

Transocean was a contractor to BP and provided the deep water rig for the drilling operation. BP has agreed to pay $4.5 billion in fines and has pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges related to the 11 deaths.

In November, federal prosecutors indicted two BP drilling supervisors on manslaughter charges for allegedly disregarding indications that the offshore well was about to fail.

?This resolution of criminal allegations and civil claims against Transocean brings us one significant step closer to justice for the human, environmental, and economic devastation wrought by the Deepwater Horizon disaster,? Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement.

?This agreement holds Transocean criminally accountable for its conduct and provides nearly a billion dollars in criminal and civil penalties for the benefit of the Gulf states,? he said.

The plea agreement is subject to the approval of US District Judge Carl Barbier in New Orleans. It is pending a 21-day period for the Justice Department to receive public comments on the proposed agreement.

The arrangement requires Transocean to pay $400 million in criminal fines and an additional $1 billion in Clean Water Act civil penalties accrued during the three months it took to cap the well.

The company is also required to implement improved operational safety and emergency response procedures at all the company?s drilling rigs in US waters.

?The development and exploration of a domestic source of energy is vitally important, and it can and must be done in a responsible and sound manner,? Ignacia Moreno, assistant attorney general for environment and natural resources, said in a statement.

?This unprecedented settlement under the Clean Water Act demonstrates that companies will be held fully accountable for their conduct and share responsibility for compliance with the laws that protect the public and the environment from harm,? Ms. Moreno said.

Under a proposal presented to Judge Barbier, the government seeks to direct $150 million of the $400 million criminal fine to restoring and preserving the marine and coastal environment in the Gulf region.

An additional $150 million will be directed toward research and training aimed at improving oil spill prevention and emergency response efforts in the Gulf.

The $1 billion in civil payments under the Clean Water Act establishes a new record. Last year, MOEX Offshore, a 10 percent partner with BP in the offshore well, agreed to pay a $70 million civil penalty.

Under a 2012 law, some 80 percent of the $1 billion payment must be used to fund projects to preserve the Gulf environment and boost the region?s economic prospects.

Officials said the government?s criminal investigation of the 2010 oil spill is ongoing. In addition, civil litigation against BP and other companies is continuing, they said.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/2dqVGbHU07g/Transocean-agrees-to-pay-1.4-billion-fine-for-Gulf-oil-spill

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Australian SME Business News and Accounting Articles: Why you ...

Payroll is one aspect that should never be overlooked by any business owner. This is because if a workforce is not compensated for their efforts, they would become ineffective which will be felt ultimately by the business.

So here are the reasons why online payroll software is imperative for every business.

  1. It facilitates a speedier transaction. When doing it manually, you will spend hours and hours computing what is due to each of your employees. But with online accounting programs, you will be able to do it in minutes simply by entering the number of hours spent, overtime, vacation, and bonuses.
  2. Your staff can do other things. Since time is cut short for spending on payroll work, your staff may already dwell on other equally important matters.
  3. Accuracy. Since you don?t have to do manual computations as the software will take care of that, your computations will all be accurate.
  4. Back up files. Since it is online accounting software, you can rest assured that no matter what happens, you have back up files. In the event a calamity occurs or if your system crashes, you have a back up.
  5. Mobility. Since the online payroll software is accessible online, you may work on it even if you are not in the office. By just having a laptop, internet connection, and username and password, you can already work on your payroll.

Shoebooks is highly recommended for your accounting software for small business. It has programs that can be suited to the individual and unique needs of your business. It has online timesheet submission, offline timesheet submission, employer sending hours, and it also has a bureau style.

Log on to www.shoebooks.com.au to avail of the online payroll software it offers.

You may also Like Us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter and Follow us on Google+ for more Updates.

Source: http://online-accounting-bookkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/01/why-you-should-use-online-payroll.html

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Beat Debt, Manage Money, Get Discplined | YMCA of Greater Erie, PA

Beginning on January 29, the County Y will offer Financial Peace University, a personal money-management class led by Dave Ramsey.? Through a 13-week series of DVDs and small group discussion, class participants will work together to beat debt, learn basic money-management skills and how to apply principles they are learning.? ?Get to Know You Sessions? will be held on Jan. 15 and Jan. 22 at 6 p.m.

The course is offered to County Y and community members beginning Jan. 29 at 6 p.m.? Cost for the 13-week course, which meets one time per week, is $99 and financial assistance is available.? Registration is required at www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home. ?If you?d like information about financial assistance, call the County Y at (814) 734-5700 and ask to speak to Mike Kern.

For more information about Financial Peace University, visit www.daveramsey.com or call the County Y at (814) 734-5700.

Download a complete press release.

Download event flyer.

Source: http://www.ymcaerie.org/2013/01/beat-debt-manage-money-get-discplined/

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Dow Gold and Gold Silver Ratio Charts Remain Bullish

Silver is trading at $30.92/oz, ?23.70/oz and ?19.20/oz.?Platinum is trading at $1,571.00/oz, palladium at $701.00/oz and rhodium at $1,150/oz.

precious metal trading

Cross Currency Table ? (Bloomberg)

Gold climbed $11.60 or 0.69% in New York yesterday and closed at $1,684.70/oz. Silver surged to a high of $31.48 and finished with a gain of 1.98%.

Gold edged up today and hit its highest range in two weeks in the prior trading session on the heels of the deal forged that avoided the U.S. fiscal cliff disaster.

The far more substantial risk from the pending budget negotiations remains as does the appalling US national debt and unfunded liability situation ? both of which offer long term support to gold and silver.

The market lustily greeted the deal that U.S. Congress passed to raise taxes on the wealthy and spare the middle and lower income earners.

However, the very necessary cutting of budgets in various sectors, military and domestic, will no doubt fuel many more political battles as the nation?s finances continue to deteriorate.

In India, the central bank has required restrictions be placed on gold imports by banks and agencies, while the finance minister said he was evaluating further tax increases on gold imports to help rein in a current account gap that touched an all-time high in the Q3 2012.

U.S. weekly jobless claims for 12/20 are released at 1330 and expected at 365,000 and at 1900 GMT the FOMC Minutes from the fed?s December 12th meeting are released.

precious metals forecast

Dow/XAU Index ? (Bloomberg)

We continue to favour the Dow Gold Ratio chart as a good indicator as to when the gold bull market might end. It is likely to reach the levels seen in 1980, close to ?1:1 or the Dow at 5,000 or 10,000 and gold at between $5,000/oz and $10,000/oz.

This will be an indication that the gold bull market will be in its final innings. Provided of course we do not return to some form of gold standard whereby gold bull markets and bear markets will again become confined to history.

investing in precious metals

Gold Silver Ratio Index? (Bloomberg)

We continue to be more bullish on silver in the long term and believe the gold silver ratio should fall back to the geological 15:1 level as was last seen in 1980. This means that silver continues to be more attractive from a return point of view.

Source: GoldCore

Related Articles:

Source: http://www.tradepreciousmetals.com/dow-gold-and-gold-silver-ratio-charts-remain-bullish/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dow-gold-and-gold-silver-ratio-charts-remain-bullish

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