one travel: 2012

Friday, December 28, 2012

A wet end to a busy Louisiana weather year | NOLA.com

The end of a busy weather year promises two more chances of rainfall, including on New Year's Eve. It will mark a wet end to 2012, which began with near-drought conditions in New Orleans.

Forecasters with the Slidell office of the National Weather Service are expecting another cold front to usher in showers and thunderstorms to the area Friday and Friday night."A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible during the afternoon and early evening hours," says the service's hazardous weather outlook message. "The main threat will be damaging winds."

Expect highs in the upper 60s on Friday, accompanied by winds of 15 to 20 mph out of the southeast, with an 80-percent chance of precipitation. Temperatures will drop into the upper 40s Friday night, with winds shifting to out of the northwest at 15 to 25 mph after midnight.

Saturday will be cooler under partly cloudy skies, with highs in the 50s, and winds out of the north at 15 to 25 mph. The temperature will drop into the upper 30s in New Orleans and lower 30s on the north shore overnight Saturday, and reach only the lower 50s during the day on Sunday.

By Monday, the chance of rain begins to increase again, as high temperatures rise into the lower 60s. There's a 40 percent chance of showers for New Year's Eve, continuing into New Year's Day and Tuesday night, with highs in the mid-60s and lows in the 40s.

Things get cooler again on Wednesday, with highs only in the 50s, still under mostly cloudy skies with a continuing chance of rain.

While rain has been a significant story during 2012, it's the storm surge delivered by Hurricane Isaac on Aug. 29, exactly seven years after Katrina, that was the top weather story of the year, according to Louisiana State Climatologist Barry Keim.

?"The two areas hardest hit were Braithwaite and LaPlace, where several neighborhoods were inundated," he said. "It occurred amidst a busy 2012 hurricane season that was headlined by Hurricane Sandy."?Although only a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale, Isaac again proved that scale's limitations, as its slow forward speed and direction resulted in surge levels of more than 13 feet at the Lake Borgne barrier on the edge of eastern New Orleans and water heights of 7 feet in Lake Pontchartrain, Keim said.

Sandy had lost its tropical characteristics, but not its storm surge, as it hammered a significant portion of the East Coast, including the New York and New Jersey shorelines, in late October.?

?The second biggest weather story of the year was one that few people in the New Orleans area probably noticed: the unusually low level of the Mississippi River during much of the year.

"Obviously, that had nothing to do with drought conditions in Louisiana, but rather drought that was experienced across the Great Plains and the Midwest," Keim said, resulting in low rates of rainwater runoff entering the river.

Ironically, river water levels were so high in 2011 that the Army Corps of Engineers was forced to open both the Bonnet Carre Spillway west of New Orleans and the Morganza Floodway adjacent to the Old River Control Structure north of Baton Rouge.

But by mid-year 2012, water levels in the river were so low that Plaquemines Parish had to stop drawing drinking water from the river and switch to an alternative water supply, because saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico had traveled upstream to the parish's river water intake structures.

In August, the corps awarded a $5.8 million contract to a dredging company to build an underwater dam in the river channel at mile marker 65, to block the salt water before it reached the drinking water intakes for the city of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish.

Corps officials continue to check the dam at least once every two weeks to assure it hasn't eroded away, although higher water levels in the river during the past two weeks have helped keep the leading edge of salt water farther downstream.

On Thursday, the Mississippi was still at only 3.2 feet at the Carrollton Gauge in New Orleans, and is forecast to rise only to about 5 feet before dropping to 3 feet again by Jan. 18, according to the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center.

The third biggest weather story has been the state's flirtation with drought conditions during the year, Keim said.

"Statewide, rainfall amounts are going to be above normal for the year, but the timing and geographic location of the rain was irregular," he said. "We're still seeing regional drought conditions, with water levels above normal in the south, but not in the north, and vice versa for drought. But the majority of weeks this year had some part of Louisiana listed in drought conditions."

As of Thursday, New Orleans International Airport had measured 67.7 inches of rain, or almost 6 inches above normal, while Shreveport had measured 49.9 inches, almost an inch below normal.

Still, total rainfall amounts statewide were significantly higher this year than last, when more severe drought conditions were experienced throughout the state.

Last year, Shreveport had only 33 inches of rain, or close to 18 inches below normal, while the New Orleans airport saw 54.6 inches, or 7 inches below normal.

Indeed, the recent outbreaks of cold weather may stave off a record for the average statewide temperature for the year, Keim said. According to the National Climate Data Center, the average temperature for 12 months through November was 69.9 degrees, which was 1.9 degrees warmer than the 20th Century average annual temperature, and ranked as the 5th warmest similar 12-month period. The record for the same period was in 1927, when the average temperature was 70.6 degrees.

Source: http://www.nola.com/weather/index.ssf/2012/12/a_wet_end_to_a_busy_louisiana.html

4th of July Andy Griffith joe johnson scientology Wimbledon 2012 TV Schedule anderson cooper fourth of july

Thursday, December 27, 2012

How can a skinny guy build muscle? | Fitness and Health

I am a "skinny guy" and i want to build some arm muscle. i am already athletic and have been running cross country. i have been lifting weights for about 2 months and have been drinking protein powder. i have been doing these exercises

Day 1: dumbbell bench press, pullups. 10 sets 0f ten each

Day 2: ab exercises

Day 3: Incline bicep curls, tricep dips, shoulders.

Day 4: rest

start over

Your routine doesn?t sound too bad but here is what I would change;

Day 1-chest: bench press, flyes, pushups
2-back: chinups, pullups, rows, shrugs
3-legs: squats, extensions, leg curls, lunges
4-shoulders: lateral raises, bent over lateral raises, DB presses
5-arms: curls, tricep ext.
Do abs on days 1, 3, and 5

Also use heavier weight and only do 4-8 reps with about 10 sets for each muscle group. Remember, If you can do 8, add more weight. Feel free to E-mail or IM me.

Source: http://www.chenghongdye.com/dumbbell-bench/how-can-a-skinny-guy-build-muscle

wrestlemania 28 results earl scruggs game of thrones wrestlemania 28 game of thrones season 2 dierks bentley kenny chesney

Choose Some Good Tools For Home Improvement ... - Joe Aldeguer

Home Security Systems and burglar alarms are the most common alarm that every commercial business or individual installs because it?s easy fitting and hassle-free installations. We pride ourselves as being number one suppliers of Home Security Systems. We delight in providing top notch best quality security systems in the world. We are there to protect you in your own house or give you security in a company or any place that that needs to be monitored we are there.

No matter where you reside, whether in a busy district or in a simple and quite village, there is actually a possibility of burglary attacks. You would not look forward to these attacks to happen before consulting a company for an alarm system. For individuals who find it hard to determine, HappyHealth.net Home Security Reviews prepared answers for the common questions. If you?re looking for reasons for the requirement, you can do the assessment yourself. You can perform a little checking in your valuables against the lock systems you?ve installed in your doors. Most of the time, people believe that securing their doors and windows with high-end lock systems means they are surely safe.

You can find about the agency by evaluating their client portfolio, may be giving a visit to that place or resorting to some other method to confirm about security systems. Spending is not a big deal; the idea is to get an impenetrable burglar alarm. Once you get to know a good agency, call them for free assessment of the house. You can ask them to install new or upgrade and run it for few days for trial. This would give a complete knowledge of working and money along with time would be saved. When you want to improve your home, some equipment just like 16 channel dvr or siamese cable is good choice in cameras systems for monitoring. ?

Source: http://joealdegueronline.com/choose-some-good-tools-for-home-improvement/

chk ryan o neal dark knight rises trailer dark knight rises trailer vince young vince young evan longoria

Sunday, December 23, 2012

agakhan: Self Improvement | Grief - Supporting People Who Are ...

candle By Nathalie Himmelrich

Grief is a process that most people have experienced in their lives. It is an interesting fact that even though many of us have gone through it before we seem to forget how it was for us and lack knowledge on how to be with people who are in it.

Experiences with clients have shown that there are really only a few simple guidelines to follow to support people who are grieving. The grief cycle, which was put forward by Dr. Elisabeth K?bler-Ross, contains the stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Depending on where the person in grief is there might be slightly different approaches needed. The best way to find out which of the following suggestions would work, is to ask them.

Being there with them

As simple as it may sound, being there with the grieving person is the first and most important suggestions. It is true that sometimes time alone is needed or desired but more often than not, grieving people are left alone for too long, when in fact they need companionship. This might mean staying with them watching television or having a meal, asking them to join you to go out or just checking whether they wish you to come over and keep them company.

Asking them: How are you doing?

This question is often avoided for various reasons, either because the questioner is uncomfortable with their own unresolved grief that might surface or with the potential reaction of the person in grief. Sometimes days or weeks pass without them ever being asked by people who care for them. Dare to ask. There is no need to change the situation or trying to make them feel better ? simply listen and show them you care.

Wanting them to feel better and get over it

Grief is a process that can take 2 hours, 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years or 20 years. There is no set time limit when people should be over it. Whether they are grieving for a loss that just occurred or for old unresolved hurt ? all is possible and has its place. Your job as a support person is to allow them to be where they are at and not moving them into a stage they are not.

Elisabeth K?bler-Ross proposed the grief cycle and its stages as being sequential. In my experience the stages can appear without any seeming order and be repeated if needed. I see the grief cycle as a spiral on top of a cake and the 5 slices of the cake representing the stages. As we travel along the spiral from the center towards the outer side of the cake we can revisit the stages (different slices) multiple times. Often the experience of ?I?m feel the same way as before, nothing has changed yet? is a sign that the client is revisiting a stage however they are no longer in the center but have travelled further outside.

Want to know more? Have a look at my blog.

Nathalie Himmelrich is the founder of ?Reach for the Sky Therapy? on Sydney?s Northern Beaches and specialises in ?relationship related issues?. She is working with individuals and couples using techniques ranging from Counselling, Neuro Linguistic Programming to Journey Therapy. She supports clients in their personal growth in a supportive and professional environment.

Visit my website: http://www.reachforthesky.com.au or visit my blog: http://reachforthesky.wordpress.com and sign up for our newsletter today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathalie_Himmelrich
http://EzineArticles.com/?Grief?Supporting-People-Who-Are-Grieving&id=3597786

-->

Source: http://theselfimprovementblog.com/self-improvement/self-improvement-tips/grief-supporting-people-who-are-grieving/

garbage pail kids st bonaventure ncaa tournament 2012 peyton manning 49ers andy pettitte tyler clementi kevin kolb

Source: http://agakhan47.blogspot.com/2012/12/self-improvement-grief-supporting.html

benjarvus green ellis shaka smart hungergames bagpipes aspirin aspirin 21 jump street

Source: http://stallonsmlatoyia7.typepad.com/blog/2012/12/agakhan-self-improvement-grief-supporting-people-who-are.html

carmen whitney houston last performance cpac straw poll i will always love you whitney cummings maine caucus whitney houston has died

Source: http://ylegkmifp.posterous.com/agakhan-self-improvement-grief-supporting-peo

whitney houston casket photo match play championship the national enquirer marie colvin cm punk cm punk lint

Source: http://uvugenu.posterous.com/agakhan-self-improvement-grief-supporting-peo

jessica sanchez robert kennedy cardinals san diego weather north korea frances bean cobain north korea missile launch

Source: http://ferilyfgi.posterous.com/agakhan-self-improvement-grief-supporting-peo

heart attack grill madden 13 cover dalai lama tamera mowry slow jam the news madden cover obama slow jams the news

Friday, December 21, 2012

Putin says draft bill banning US adoptions of Russian children is 'appropriate'

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin says a draft bill banning U.S. adoptions of Russian children is a legitimate response to a new U.S. law that calls for sanctions on Russians deemed to be human rights violators. But he has not committed to signing it.

He says the measure, which received overwhelming preliminary approval in parliament, is also a response to an alleged U.S. failure to protect the rights of adopted Russian children.

Speaking at his annual marathon news conference Thursday, Putin said while most Americans who adopt Russian children are "kind and honourable," the protection for abuse victims is insufficient.

The bill faces a few more steps before it can reach Putin.

"I will make a decision depending on what is written there," he said.

The proposed adoption ban was added Wednesday as an amendment to a bill retaliating for the U.S. law. Several top officials, including Russia's foreign minister, spoke out against the proposal.

Putin's noncommittal response on whether he would sign it, along with his assessment of it as appropriate, gives legislators the chance to posture over Russia's wounded national pride but may allow him to avoid actions that would further trouble Moscow-Washington relations.

The Russian president previously had lashed out against the U.S. law.

Many Russians have been angered by cases of adopted children who have died or suffered abuse at the hands of their adopted parents. They also complain that U.S. courts have been lax about punishing abusers.

The Russian measure is named after toddler Dima Yakovlev, who died in 2008 after being left for hours in a car in the broiling heat. His adoptive American father was acquitted of charges of involuntary manslaughter.

"When tragedies happen, the U.S. judicial system doesn't react to that and avoids punishing the perpetrators. And Russian observers are barred from attending those trials," Putin said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/putin-says-draft-bill-banning-us-adoptions-russian-103014783.html

pippa middleton space shuttle discovery spacex tupac hologram tupac back tax deadline death race

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Human history preserved in tree rings of prehistoric wooden wells

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Prehistoric farming communities in Europe constructed water wells out of oak timbers, revealing that these first farmers were skilled carpenters long before metal was discovered or used for tools. The research published December 19 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Willy Tegel and colleagues from the University of Freiburg, Germany, contradicts the common belief that metal tools were required to make complex wooden structures.

The wooden water wells discovered in eastern Germany are over 7000 years old, and suggest that these early farmers had unexpectedly refined carpentry skills. "This early Neolithic craftsmanship now suggests that the first farmers were also the first carpenters", the study reports.

These first Central European farmers migrated from the Great Hungarian Plain approximately 7,500 years ago, and left an archeological trail of settlements, ceramics and stone tools across the fertile regions of the continent, a record named Linear Pottery Culture (LBK). However, much of the lifestyle of these early settlers is still a mystery, including the climate they lived in and technology or strategies they used to cope with their surroundings. According to the study, the oak timbers analyzed in this study are also a new archive of environmental data preserved in the tree rings, which could tell an accurate, year-by-year story of the times these early settlers lived in.

###

Tegel W, Elburg R, Hakelberg D, Stauble H, Buntgen U (2012) Early Neolithic Water Wells Reveal the World's Oldest Wood Architecture. PLOS ONE 7(12): e51374.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051374

Public Library of Science: http://www.plos.org

Thanks to Public Library of Science for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 39 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126031/Human_history_preserved_in_tree_rings_of_prehistoric_wooden_wells_

yom kippur yom kippur avengers soa andy williams andy williams Lady Gaga

The Concept Of Flow In Senior Living Design - Retirement Homes

A seamless flow and optimized space can open up, enhance and reinvent Senior Living communities.

While walking through a skilled nursing building and taking scope notes for a recent project, I started to think about the concept of flow. The dictionary?defines flow as ?movement in or as if in a stream? or something ?issued or proceeded from a source.? And it struck me that this idea of a natural flow is particularly relevant to Senior Living today.

The concept has been on my mind lately because I often see buildings that are 10, 20 or 30 years old. These buildings have evolved into whatever the?communities needed them to be at different points in time. Typically the physical changes have occurred due to staff change, ownership change or even market needs. The change happens, and over time we go with the flow. Unfortunately, the flow of change often means these buildings may no longer be optimally laid out in order to meet the community?s needs and provide its services.

With every renovation project, it is my responsibility as a designer to ask my clients about the flow of their building and come up with logical solutions that meet their needs both operationally and aesthetically. We must look at each project as an opportunity to improve the natural, seamless movement throughout physical spaces in a community with the end goal of enhancing the care provided as well as the lifestyles that the residents value.

My advice to clients is to consider the characteristics and needs of the population their building serves. Do they need more space or less space? What?services would they like to offer their residents that would require different space? What are their community?s storage needs? Do they need additional office and administrative areas in order to provide efficiency and privacy for personnel and also to free up the common spaces in the community? I like to have my clients imagine that their building is a completely blank slate and ask them to create their community?s wish list. I also like to ask clients what they would like guests to see first upon entering the building and consider what type of first impression they want to create.

Once these questions have been answered, a Senior Living professional can look to their interior designer for help developing an effective plan to optimize the building?s space and movement. I recommend having a designer create a diagram of the perfect building as if there were no limitations, and then look at the diagram options to decide what is realistic. If a project has a lower budget it can be implemented in phases, using a one-to three-year plan.

There are many buildings in Senior Living communities today in need of a flow makeover. When such buildings are opened up, enhanced and reinvented, the
entire community will benefit from the order, balance and beauty of seamless flow and optimized space.

Retirement Communities near You Other Locations?

Welcome to Emeritus at Villa de Anza!! A place to call home - many do. Emeritus at Villa de Anza offers a home like setting and cheerful smiles ...
Our community is located in the heart of historic Oak Park, just around the corner from RUSH Oak Park Hospital and is convenient to shops, galleries and ...
Step into a Sunrise Assisted Living community and you can't help but feel at home. We stop at nothing to make your experience warm and inviting, from our ...
Holley Court Terrace provides a full range of choices for today?s seniors. Choosing a senior living community represents a lifestyle choice and we understand ...
Wyndemere is much more than a place to live. It?s a vibrant community that nearly 300 residents are proud to call home. Nestled on 22 charming acres ...
Step into a Sunrise Assisted Living community and you can't help but feel at home. We stop at nothing to make your experience warm and inviting, from our ...
Discover our beautifully landscaped courtyard and gardens, enjoy our fine cuisine or join in an activity or social group. At Brighton Gardens, we have ...
Holley Court Terrace provides a full range of choices for today?s seniors. Choosing a senior living community represents a lifestyle choice and we understand ...
The NEW Admiral at the Lake will bring state-of-the-art retirement living backed by 150 years of experience to Chicago seniors. With a refundable entrance ...
The Moorings of Arlington Heights is a continuing care community for people who believe retirement is a time of endless possibilities. There's a spirit ...
Discover our beautifully landscaped courtyard and gardens, enjoy our fine cuisine or join in an activity or social group. At Brighton Gardens, we have ...
This is one of the premier retirement communities in the nation. Lake Forest Place is situated on 49 wooded acres in a country-like setting, yet it is ...
Our community is located in the heart of historic Oak Park, just around the corner from RUSH Oak Park Hospital and is convenient to shops, galleries and ...
Nestled among 41 acres of lush, wooded landscape, Clare Oaks, Bartlett?s first and only full-service retirement community with continuing care options, ...

Search for a Retirement Community

Source: http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/the-concept-of-flow-in-senior-living-design/

caucus results exton kurt warner kurt warner ricky williams missouri primary minnesota caucus

PFT: Five teams can clinch playoff spots Sunday

Jordan Black, the Redskins offensive tackle who is serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL?s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, has lashed out against the NFL?s process for suspending players. And he has also lashed out at PFT.

Appearing on ESPN 980 on Tuesday, Black said that the NFL treated him unfairly for using a prescription drug for a medical need.

?It is a prescription,? Black said. ?I gave the NFL the prescriptions that I received for it. They?ve known about the diagnosis. They?ve had their own doctors confirm the diagnosis, multiple times. I?ve seen more doctors than you can even imagine about this very case that we are talking about, but in the appeals process, it just doesn?t matter. It is a system that, instead of having someone that can take a look at all the information and make a logical decision based on the information that?s there, they instead have a attack-dog attorney who tries to paint some ? mischaracterize a person and put labels on them like a doper or, you know, whatever in order to find the player guilty. I mean, it was clearly ? I had no chance from the beginning.?

Black then took issue with my post on Monday, which I headlined, ?After gaining 50 pounds this year, Jordan Black busted for PEDs.? Black says he did not gain anywhere near that much weight.

?There?s a guy from Pro Football Talk, his name is Michael David Smith, and he wrote an article, I think either today or yesterday, talking about how I gained 50 pounds in the preseason, and he was trying to paint a picture that I was clearly using steroids,? Black said. ?Well, I took a picture of the scale and my weight, and the scale said 275.2 pounds. So this is why I?m so upset, is people like this, who just make up stories and put it in the news like it?s true. He says I?ve gained 50 pounds. I?ve gained five pounds.?

Black also mentioned me, and that picture of his scale, on Twitter.

To be clear, I didn?t pull the 50-pound weight gain out of the clear blue sky. I got it from a piece published by the Washington Post on October 17, headlined, ?Jordan Black on losing, then gaining, 50 pounds.? That piece was published two months after another piece in the Washington Post, headlined, ?Jordan Black is getting bigger, and he says, better.? That story quoted Black as saying he had already gained 11 pounds in just two weeks after signing with the Redskins at the start of training camp.

Black has a fair point if the Washington Post headline citing his 50-pound weight gain was in error ? which Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post acknowledged was a possibility today. I have no reason to doubt that the picture Black posted on Twitter really is a picture of a scale he?s standing on, and that he really does weigh 275.2 pounds. But for Black to claim that I ?made up? the 50-pound weight gain, when he knows full well that the information I was using came from the Washington Post, and when he had previously told the Washington Post that he was rapidly gaining weight during training camp, is absurd.

When asked on ESPN 980 whether the banned substance he took was the attention deficit disorder medication Adderall, which many NFL players have blamed for PED suspensions, Black declined to answer.

?First of all, my purpose on the show is not to confirm or deny whether or not it was Adderall or anything ADD-related,? Black said. ?What I want people to definitely know is that it has nothing to do with steroids. I mean, I guess it has to do with performance-enhancing drugs, because it?s on the list, but it is not a steroid.?

If Black is telling the truth, then it?s surprising that he won?t name the prescription medication he took. And if he?s telling the truth, he should be unhappy with his own union for agreeing to a PED policy that demands strict confidentiality from the NFL: Because the NFL won?t disclose what substance Black and other suspended players test positive for, there?s no way to know which players were suspended for steroids, which players were suspended for Adderall or which players were suspended for any number of other substances on the banned list.

In many other sports, when an athlete tests positive, the announcement of the positive test also includes information about the banned substance that the athlete took. Everyone would be better off if the NFL would adopt such a policy. Everyone except steroid-using players who want to hide behind the NFL?s confidentiality rules.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/18/colts-bengals-redskins-seahawks-giants-can-clinch-sunday/related/

spacex tupac hologram tupac back tax deadline death race buffet rule carlos santana

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

We were unable to forward you to the advertisement you clicked on.

The likely cause for this is that your browser, feed reader, or email application is configured to not accept cookies, or your reader may launch an external browser to view links without sharing cookies.

If you're using Internet Explorer, make sure your privacy setting is at medium or below.
- Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
- Click the Privacy tab
- Adjust your privacy setting if necessary
  ?
If you're using a reader that embeds Internet Explorer (examples: Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Feed Demon), you'll also need to select Internet Explorer as your default web browser.
- Open Internet Explorer
- Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
- Click the 'Programs' tab and check the box for Internet Explorer to check if it is the default browser and save your change
- Close your browser, re-open it, and when prompted, select Internet Explorer as your default
- You can then click on an ad in your newsletter and visit the site you wish to view

Source: http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=237f53d1197b4b9cf90feb4470966df1&p=4

goldman sachs brandon carr knicks coach encyclopedia britannica pi white lion mike d antoni resigns

Exclusive - India to cut Iran oil imports 2013/14: sources

By Nidhi Verma

NEW DELHI | Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:55pm IST

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India plans to cut oil imports from Iran by 10 to 15 percent in the next fiscal year, and more if Tehran does not lower prices to help cover higher costs resulting from Western sanctions, a government source said.

Iran's top Asian oil buyers - China, India, Japan and South Korea - have all reduced imports after the United States and the European Union imposed sanctions aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

The sanctions have more than halved Iran's oil exports this year, costing Tehran up to $5 billion a month in lost revenue.

"Next year our imports will be 10 percent to 15 percent less than this year," said a government official with direct knowledge of the matter, who declined to be identified because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

"If they don't cut prices, the decline will be substantial. Indian refiners have genuine problems with credit availability."

India, the world's fourth-biggest oil importer and Iran's second-biggest client, relies on outside supplies for 80 percent of its oil needs, or about 3.5 million barrels per day (bpd).

Officials at state refiners said they had yet to receive any directive from the government to cut imports from Iran in the year beginning April 2013, when annual contracts start.

But refiners would probably cut imports anyway because of high costs, the officials said.

The push for cheaper prices is similar to a move by Chinese refiner Sinopec, Iran's biggest buyer, last year. As rising international pressures forced other buyers out of the market for Iranian oil, Sinopec strong-armed Iran into giving it better terms for its annual oil purchases.

The United States wants importing countries to make further cuts in purchases from Iran in 2013 to avoid sanctions, a State Department source said this month.

South Korea has already told the United States it will cut imports by about a fifth from a year earlier in the six months to May, government and industry sources said this month.

On Wednesday, Japan's top refiner said the country's crude oil imports from Iran would be about 15 percent lower next year.

There is no clear indication yet on 2013 imports by China. Daily imports into China in the first 10 months of 2012 were down 22 percent on the 2011 figure.

For the current fiscal - and contract - year, New Delhi had asked refiners to cut purchases from Iran by 15 percent. Refiners have bought more from Saudi Arabia, the top supplier, and Iraq, pushing Iran out of the number two slot.

Banks have refused to issue short-term dollar credit, also known as buyers' credit, for Iranian oil imports because of the sanctions, officials at refiners said.

Indian refiners say Iranian crude has become more expensive because sanctions force them to borrow at high domestic interest rates to finance purchases and face continuing volatility in the rupee against the dollar.

"Economically Iranian oil is not viable. My borrowing cost has gone up," an official at a state-run refiner said.

Starting on February 6, U.S. law will prevent Iran from bringing home its oil export earnings, a measure that will lock up a substantial amount of Tehran's funds, U.S. officials have said.

That could affect the continuation of India's existing payment system with Iran, which settles 55 percent in euros through Turkey's Halkbank HALK.IS. The rest is settled in rupees through a local bank.

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Simon Webb and Jane Baird)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/INbusinessNews/~3/UP_wnBiVn1Y/india-iran-imports-idINDEE8BI07R20121219

Malware Monday First Row Sports American flag Happy 4th of July 4th Of July Desserts fireworks fireworks

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Instagram to share data with Facebook

SAN FRANCISCO - Smartphone photo sharing service Instagram on Monday refined its privacy policy to clear the way for sharing data with Facebook, which bought the company earlier this year.

"Nothing has changed about your photos' ownership or who can see them," Instagram said in a blog post.

"Our updated privacy policy helps Instagram function more easily as part of Facebook by being able to share info between the two groups."

The changes were slated to take effect January 16.

Instagram maintained that the coming updates to its privacy policy and terms of service will help it improve the reliability of the service and fight spam.

Policy tweaks include allowing sharing of user information with "affiliates" in a move that could open the door to targeted advertising.

A social media feud between Twitter and Instagram escalated this month as the popular smartphone photo-sharing service made it impossible for Internet users to view its images in "tweeted" messages.

Instagram, which has some 100 million users, is seeking to route photo viewers to its own website, where it has the potential to make money from ads or other mechanisms, instead of letting Twitter get the benefits.

Previously, Instagram pictures shared in messages tweeted from smartphones could be viewed unaltered at Twitter.

Twitter responded by adding Instagram-style photo sharing features of its own.

Instagram rose to stardom with the help of Twitter, but has distanced itself from the messaging service since Facebook completed its acquisition of Instagram in September.

The original price was pegged at $1 billion but the final value was less because of a decline in the social network's share price.

Instagram last month was given a Facebook spin with the roll-out of online profiles that let people showcase themselves and photos they have taken with the smartphone application.

People can share their profiles with whomever they wish, as well as "follow" other Instagram users, commenting on or expressing "likes" for pictures.

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/gadgets-and-tech/12/18/12/instagram-share-data-facebook

utah jazz lawrence of arabia denver nuggets correspondents dinner i am legend san antonio spurs greta van susteren

Chemical that fends off harm to organs: Purines fend off surgery-related damage

Dec. 17, 2012 ? Anesthesia is quite safe these days. But sometimes putting a patient under to fix one problem, such as heart damage, can harm a different organ, such as a kidney.

Now a group of researchers led by Holger Eltzschig, MD, PhD, a professor of anesthesiology at the University Colorado School of Medicine, has found a group of molecules that fend off damage during anesthesia.

"This is a promising discovery," says Eltzschig, who practices at University of Colorado Hospital. "It suggests a new way to promote healing."

In an article published Dec. 12 in the New England Journal of Medicine, Eltzschig and colleagues at Harvard Medical School and Northeastern University report hopeful findings about a group of molecules called purines. Purines are basic molecular building blocks in the body -- they help produce DNA and RNA and they assist with short-term storage of energy. One variety of purine is called adenosine.

The researchers determined that generating adenosine outside of cells can help protect organs from damage. And they saw that activating adenosine receptors on the lungs, the intestine, or the heart can help protect these organs.

Eltzschig and his fellow researchers looked at adenosine and related chemical processes in cancer, lung injury, bowel inflammation and platelet function, among others.

For patients who might face surgery with anesthesia, the findings are good news.

"Increasing developments in this arena will open up several new avenues for the treatment," the article says.

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 University of Colorado Denver. The original article was written by Dan Meyers.

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

Journal Reference:

Holger K. Eltzschig, Michail V. Sitkovsky, Simon C. Robson. Purinergic Signaling during Inflammation. New England Journal of Medicine, 2012; 367 (24): 2322 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1205750

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/WohRMwolbhE/121218094310.htm

heart transplant the international preppers geraldo obama trayvon martin pietrus cheney

"Hobbit" film sets December record in U.S., Canada debut

(Reuters) - "The Hobbit" brought home a big box office treasure over the weekend, setting a December movie record with $84.77 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales as legions of fans turned out for the long-awaited big-screen return to Middle Earth.

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" also rung up sales of $138.2 million in international markets. Global receipts for the prequel to the smash "Lord of the Rings" trilogy stood at $222.97 million through Sunday, distributor Warner Bros. said.

The current projection for the total box office take in 2012 is $10.8 billion, according to an estimate from Hollywood.com, which would beat the $10.6 billion record in 2009.

The 3D "Hobbit" directed by Oscar-winning "Rings" filmmaker Peter Jackson is the first of three films based on a 1937 classic novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Warner Bros. is aiming to build on the success of the "Rings" series, one of Hollywood's biggest franchises with $2.9 billion in global ticket sales.

"The Hobbit" also set a record with its $15.1 million earnings from IMAX theaters worldwide, according to Warner Bros. It is also the largest opening for any film in the canon of "The Lord of the Rings."

The "Lord of the Rings" movies debuted in theaters from 2001 to 2003. After that, production on "The Hobbit" ran into delays, leaving fans waiting a decade for another look at the fantasy story of dwarves, wizards and elves.

The opening weekend "Hobbit" sales proved interest remained high. North American (U.S. and Canadian) receipts toppled the old record for December set by Will Smith sci-fi flick "I Am Legend," which pulled in $77.2 million when it debuted in 2007.

"The best we were hoping for was to reach or exceed the $77 million set by that movie and we did it by quite a lot. It was all good and we're very happy about it," said Dan Fellman, president of theatrical distribution for Warner Bros.

"You have to assume that by the time this first week is over we are going to have around $110 million in the bank before the holiday even starts," he added.

The new film follows the epic journey of hobbit Bilbo Baggins, played by Martin Freeman, as he travels through the treacherous Middle Earth with a band of dwarves to steal treasures from the dragon, Smaug.

The movie also stars Richard Armitage and Benedict Cumberbatch, while Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett and Elijah Wood reprise their "Rings" roles.

Opening-weekend audiences embraced "The Hobbit," awarding an "A" grade in polling by survey firm CinemaScore. Critics had a mixed response to the nearly three-hour film. Sixty-five percent of reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes website recommended the movie, although some objected to Jackson's decision to shoot it using a 48-frames-per-second format rather than the usual 24.

SOME VIEWERS NAUSEOUS

The faster frame rate delivers clearer pictures, but some critics called the format cartoonish and jarring. Only a fraction of theaters showed the film in the new format. Some fans at early screenings in New Zealand complained it made them feel nauseous and dizzy, according to The New Zealand Herald.

The next two "Hobbit" movies are scheduled to reach theaters in December 2013 and July 2014. The films were financed by MGM and Warner Bros.' New Line Cinema unit for an estimated $500 million.

"The Hobbit" took a bumpy, years-long journey to the big screen that included two directors and a lawsuit. Jackson made the "Rings" trilogy when producers could not get "The Hobbit" rights that were held by MGM's United Artists unit.

Guillermo del Toro was first hired to direct "The Hobbit" but he left the project when financial woes at MGM caused delays. The movie went into production only after Jackson settled a lawsuit against New Line in a dispute over profits from the "Rings" films.

"The Hobbit" was the only new nationwide release over the weekend. The rest of the top five were films that have been playing for weeks.

In second place was the animated family film "Rise of the Guardians" with $7.4 million, followed by historical drama "Lincoln" starring Daniel Day-Lewis as the revered U.S. president, which grabbed $7.2 million from Friday through Sunday, according to studio estimates.

James Bond movie "Skyfall" landed in fourth place with $7 million.

Next on the box office chart was "Life of Pi," which captured $5.4 million. Teen vampire tale "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" earned $5.17 million.

Time Warner Inc's Warner Bros. released "The Hobbit." "Lincoln" was produced by Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Co. Sony Corp's movie studio released "Skyfall." Dreamworks Animation distributed "Rise of the Guardians," which was released by Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures. Summit Entertainment, a unit of Lions Gate Entertainment, released "Breaking Dawn."

(Editing by Mohammad Zargham and Sandra Maler)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hobbit-film-sets-december-record-u-canada-debut-002152400--sector.html

sc primary bill moyers heidi klum and seal divorce craigslist killer extremely loud and incredibly close south carolina primary squirrel appreciation day

Homes For Sale Pleasanton CA Real Estate Weekly Review ...

Homes For Sale Pleasanton CA Real Estate Weekly Review December 16, 2012 | Homes for Sale in San Ramon, Danville CA, Dublin CA, Pleasanton

?2012 Bay East. ?2012 CCAR. ?2012 EBRD. All rights reserved. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This information is provided from three separate sources: Bay East, CCAR and EBRD. The listings presented here may or may not be listed by the Broker/Agent operating this website. Information last updated on 12/17/12 8:50 PM PST.

This IDX solution is (c) Diverse Solutions 2012.

Source: http://vickiesellshomes.com/homes-for-sale-pleasanton-ca-real-estate-weekly-review-december-16-2012/

academy awards 2012 albert nobbs a star is born oscar nominees oscar nominations 2012 kombucha tea separation of church and state

Monday, December 17, 2012

Slickdeals' best in tech for December 17th: Panasonic Viera HDTV and Nikon D600 kit

Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long.

With holiday shipping deadlines looming, there are but mere hours left to complete shopping duties of the online sort. That said, here's a list of the day's best buys that should lend a hand with any last-minute shopping. A Nikon D600 bundle and a 47-inch Panasonic Viera HDTV take top billing, but there's much more that lies just past the break. Jump on down to take a gander at the complete list and watch out for coupon codes and rebate forms should your deal of choice require 'em.

Continue reading Slickdeals' best in tech for December 17th: Panasonic Viera HDTV and Nikon D600 kit

Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Misc, Home Entertainment

Comments

Source: Slickdeals

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/17/slickdeals-best-in-tech-for-december-17th/

dr jekyll and mr hyde edwin jackson punksatony phil 2012 groundhog day groundhog phil pee wee herman ketamine

Syrian vice president says neither side can win war

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian Vice President Farouq al-Sharaa said that neither the forces of President Bashar al-Assad nor rebels seeking to overthrow him can win the war which is now being fought on the outskirts of Assad's powerbase in Damascus.

Sharaa, a Sunni Muslim in a power structure dominated by Assad's Alawite minority, has rarely been seen since the Syrian revolt erupted in March 2011 and is not part of the president's inner circle directing the fight against Sunni rebels.

But he is the most prominent figure to say in public that Assad will not win. He was speaking to Lebanon's al-Akhbar paper in an interview from Damascus, which is now hemmed in by rebel fighters to the south.

Assad's forces have used jets and artillery to try to dislodge the fighters from around Damascus but the violence has crept into the heart of the capital and activists said rebels overran three army stations in a new offensive in the central province of Hama on Monday.

Sharaa said the situation in Syria, where more than 40,000 people have been killed, was deteriorating and a "historic settlement" was needed to end the conflict, involving regional powers and the U.N. Security Council and the formation of a national unity government "with broad powers".

"With every passing day the political and military solutions are becoming more distant. We should be in a position defending the existence of Syria. We are not in a battle for an individual or a regime," Sharaa was quoted as saying.

"The opposition cannot decisively settle the battle and what the security forces and army units are doing will not achieve a decisive settlement," he told the paper, adding that the insurgents fighting to topple Syria's leadership could plunge it into "anarchy and an unending spiral of violence".

Sources close to the Syrian government say Sharaa had pushed for dialogue with the opposition and objected to the military response to an uprising that began peacefully.

In Damascus, clashes raged between Palestinian factions loyal to and opposed to Assad in the Yarmouk district a day after Syrian fighter jets bombed a mosque there, killing at least 25 people.

Activists said troops and tanks were gathered outside the camp on Monday and hundreds of Palestinians refugees living in Syria flooded into Lebanon.

Syria hosts half a million Palestinian refugees, most living in Yarmouk and descendants of those admitted after the creation of Israel in 1948, and has always cast itself as a champion of the Palestinian struggle, sponsoring several guerrilla factions.

Both Assad's government and the mainly Sunni Muslim Syrian rebels have enlisted and armed divided Palestinian factions as the uprising has developed into a civil war.

In a veiled criticism of the crackdown, Sharaa said there was a difference between the state's duty to provide security to its citizens, and "pursuing a security solution to the crisis".

He said even Assad could not be certain where events in Syria were leading, but that anyone who met him would hear that "this is a long struggle...and he does not hide his desire to settle matters militarily to reach a final solution."

CHANGE INEVITABLE

"We realize today that change is inevitable," Sharaa said, but "none of the peaceful or armed opposition groups with their known foreign links can call themselves the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people".

"Likewise the current leadership...cannot achieve change alone after two years of crisis without new partners who contribute to preserving (Syria's) national fabric, territorial unity and regional sovereignty".

Rebels have now brought the war to the capital, without yet delivering a fatal blow to the government. But nor has Assad found the military muscle to oust his opponents from the city.

In Hama province, rebels and the army clashed in a new campaign launched on Sunday by rebels to block off the country's north, activists said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition-linked violence monitor, said fighting raged through the provincial towns of Karnaz, Kafar Weeta, Halfayeh and Mahardeh.

"There is not fighting in these areas often," said Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Observatory, adding that rebels units from Idlib joined the offensive and three army stations had been destroyed.

He said there were no clashes reported in Hama city, which lies on the main north-south highway connecting the capital with Aleppo, Syria's second city.

Qassem Saadeddine, a member of the newly established rebel military command, told Reuters on Sunday fighters had been ordered to surround and attack army positions across the province. He said forces loyal to Assad had been given 48 hours to surrender or be killed.

"When we liberate the countryside of Hama province ... then we will have the area between Aleppo and Hama liberated and open for us," he said.

In 1982 Hafez al-Assad, father of the current ruler, crushed an uprising in Hama city, killing up to 30,000 civilians.

Qatiba al-Naasan, a rebel from Hama, said the offensive would bring retaliatory air strikes from the government but that the situation is "already getting miserable".

"For sure there will be slaughter - if the army wants to shell us many people will die. There are many populated areas and many refugees have fled here."

"(But) we felt it was always inevitable Hama would be shelled and we at least want to be fighting to liberate it," he said from Hama through Skype.

He said rebels would attack areas of strategic significance but not maintain a presence in other areas to allow civilians a safe place to flee.

(Additional reporting by Oliver Holmes and Erika Solomon in Beirut, Noah Browning and Ali Sawafta in Ramallah, and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-vp-says-neither-side-win-war-102809278.html

wanderlust gone tyler perry good deeds pretty in pink nba all star game shark tank john wall

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Bengals beat Eagles 34-13

Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham goes up for the ball as Eagles safety Nate Allen tries to prevent the catch. Philadelphia Eagles fell to the Cincinnati Bengals 34-13 at Lincoln Financial Field Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/The News Journal, Daniel Sato)

Cincinnati Bengals' Jeromy Miles celebrates in the stands after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, in Philadelphia. Cincinnati won 34-13. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

Andy Dalton (14) juguetea con el bal?n luego de anotar un touchdown en la segunda mitad del partido que sus Bengals de Cincinnati ganaron 34-13 a los Eagles el jueves 13 de diciembre de 2012 en Filadelfia. (Foto AP/Mel Evans)

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid walks off the field past TV cameras after an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, in Philadelphia. Cincinnati won 34-13. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

Cincinnati Bengals' Andy Dalton smiles as he walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, in Philadelphia. Cincinnati won 34-13. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? So long, Eagles.

Up ahead for the Cincinnati Bengals, the only Pennsylvania team that truly matters.

Andy Dalton threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score, an opportunistic defense forced five turnovers and Cincinnati beat the Philadelphia Eagles 34-13 on Thursday night.

The Bengals (8-6) took a half-game lead over the Steelers for the last playoff spot in the AFC. But their game at Pittsburgh next week is far more important in the standings than this one.

The Bengals would clinch their second straight playoff berth with a win over the Steelers if Pittsburgh loses at Dallas this Sunday. A loss to the Steelers, though, likely would ruin Cincinnati's chances because it would lose the tiebreaker.

"We control what we can control," coach Marvin Lewis said. "We want to win in December, so we have a chance to win in January."

Can they beat the Steelers? Probably not if they play like they did for most of their 60 minutes at Lincoln Financial Field. They committed 10 of their 11 penalties through the first three quarters. Dalton was sacked six times by one of the worst lines in the league.

Dalton was an unimpressive 13 of 27 for 127 yards and a touchdown. No receiver had more than 63 yards.

Funny how a playoff push can make those stats meaningless as long as the Bengals win.

"We're playing for something now," Dalton said. "That's great and that's what makes it fun this time of year."

The Eagles' season was lost a long time ago. They fell to 4-10, losing double-digit games for the first time since 2005, the year after losing the Super Bowl to New England.

There were plenty of empty seats at the Linc, where fans are hoping this is Andy Reid's final season as coach. Reid led the Eagles to nine playoff appearances, six division titles and five NFC championship games in his first 13 years. But the Eagles will miss the playoffs for the second straight year and owner Jeffrey Lurie already said 8-8 would be "unacceptable."

"I thought the effort was there and guys played hard," Reid said, "but you just can't have those turnovers. That's a problem."

An interception by Leon Hall set up Dalton's go-ahead 11-yard TD run in the third quarter. Then Wallace Gilberry picked up Bryce Brown's fumble and ran it back 25 yards for another score and an 11-point lead.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 106 yards, including a 1-yard TD run in the first quarter for Cincinnati. Dalton tossed a 5-yard scoring pass to A.J. Green in the fourth to cap a 24-point outburst in a span of 3:23.

"Our goal is to win games. Period. We did that. Doesn't matter how we got there," cornerback Adam Jones said. "We can be better. We can be higher. And that's what we take from this game. Listen, we all know we need to play better as a defense next week. Because we have ourselves a big one next week."

The Eagles committed three turnovers on three straight possessions at one point and then fumbled a kickoff when defensive lineman Cedric Thornton let the ball fall through his hands on a short kick.

After beating Tampa Bay on a last-second TD last week to snap an eight-game losing streak, the Eagles tried to make it two in a row. Turnovers got in their way again. They've committed an NFL-high 34 and forced just 12 all season.

The Eagles snapped a drought of 22 quarters without a turnover by recovering two fumbles in the second. Both led to field goals by Alex Henery, helping Philadelphia to a 13-10 halftime lead.

Rookie Nick Foles made his fifth straight start for Michael Vick, who just returned to practice this week after sustaining a concussion on Nov. 11. Foles threw for 182 yards, one TD and one interception. Reid said Foles is still the starter.

Down 13-10, the Bengals started their rally with a turnover.

Hall intercepted Foles' deep pass and returned it 44 yards to the Eagles 40. Foles underthrew Jeremy Maclin, who was a few steps behind Hall.

"I feel really good anytime I have one of our receivers vertical on a guy," Foles said. "I just have to get the ball out there and make a better throw."

Green made an acrobatic catch for an 11-yard gain on third-and-9 a few plays before Dalton ran for the score to put the Bengals up 17-13.

Foles, who threw for 381 yards to lead that comeback against the Bucs, hit Riley Cooper on an 11-yard TD pass to cut it to 10-7. Foles connected with Maclin on a 46-yard pass during the drive.

The Eagles then forced their first turnover since Nov. 5 against New Orleans. Brandon Graham sacked Dalton, the ball popped loose and Trent Cole recovered at the Bengals 29.

Just two plays in, Maclin fumbled after a 6-yard catch. Carlos Dunlap recovered and the Bengals started at the Eagles 44. Green-Ellis ran 29 yards on first down and scored a few plays later for a 7-0 lead.

It got uglier for Philadelphia on the next possession. Mat McBriar punted into his own blocker, Daniel Herron picked it up and ran 3 yards to the Eagles 11. But Graham sacked Dalton and Cincinnati settled for Brown's 24-yard field goal that made it 10-0.

The Bengals would get their act together and put a playoff berth in sight.

"We're in control right now of where we end up," Dalton said. "And that's how you want it to be. We have two tough games ahead of us. But I know we will be ready to go."

NOTES: Green-Ellis surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for second time in his career. He did it with New England in 2010. ... The Eagles had a season-high six sacks. They have eight in two games since defensive line coach Jim Washburn was fired, and had 20 in first 12 games. ... Bowles confirmed he interviewed for the coaching vacancy at Temple, his alma mater. ... Eagles RB LeSean McCoy and TE Brent Celek also sat out. Both players also are recovering from concussions. McCoy missed his fourth straight game, but returned to practice this week with Vick.

___

Follow Dan Gelston on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APGelston

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-14-Bengals-Eagles%20Folo/id-dca0f6785ca145cd8b81b42d3c583557

small business saturday small business saturday best cyber monday deals best cyber monday deals macaulay culkin Larry Hagman macys

Stocks edge lower; Apple sinks 4 percent

FILE- In this Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, file photo, Trader Fred DeMarco, center works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. World stock markets swung higher Friday Dec. 14, 2012 after a survey showed an improvement in China's manufacturing, offsetting gloom from a sharp drop in Japanese business confidence. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Apple, the most valuable company in the U.S., slumped Friday, helping to drag down the stock market. A lack of progress in federal budget talks also discouraged investors.

Apple's stock dropped 4 percent after the launch of the iPhone 5 in Beijing failed to draw the long lines of customers that showed up for previous versions, according to news reports. Analysts at UBS cut their earnings estimates and price target for Apple, which lost $19.90 to close at $509.79.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 5.87 points to close at 1,413.58, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite sank 20.83 points to 2,971.33. Apple is the biggest stock in both indexes.

The Dow, which doesn't include Apple, fell 35.71 points to 13,135.01. All three stock-market measures ended the week with a loss.

President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner met Thursday to discuss a budget deal to avoid the "fiscal cliff," a collection of higher taxes and government spending cuts scheduled to start Jan. 1. There were no signs of progress, however, and Boehner returned home to Ohio on Friday.

Investors remain confident the two sides will reach a deal soon, said Todd Morgan, a founder of Bel Air Investment Advisors in Los Angeles. But the more time it takes, the more anxious they get.

"People want to move ahead and get past this," Morgan said. "The uncertainty around it is what's making people nervous."

The Labor Department said a steep fall in gas prices pushed down a measure of consumer prices last month. The consumer price index edged down 0.3 percent in November from October, as gas prices sank 7.4 percent, the biggest drop in nearly four years. Consumer prices have risen 1.8 percent over the past year.

The report helped nudge up prices for U.S. government debt, pushing yields down. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note slipped to 1.70 percent from 1.73 percent late Thursday. When inflation is weak, it suggests that interest rates are unlikely to jump, and bond prices unlikely to drop, anytime soon.

Asian markets rose after HSBC said manufacturing in China is picking up. Its index for manufacturing December rose to 50.9, a slight increase from the previous month. Anything above 50 is a sign of growth.

Among other companies in the news:

? Adobe jumped 6 percent after the maker of Photoshop editing software and other applications reported results that beat analysts' expectations. More subscribers for its online Creative Cloud service helped drive revenue and earnings higher. Adobe's stock gained $2.03 to $37.56.

? Best Buy sank 15 percent, losing $2.07 to $12.05. The struggling electronics retailer and one of its founders, Richard Schulze, agreed to give Schulze more time to assemble a bid for the company. That erased nearly all of the gain the stock made Thursday following a report that Schulze would make a bid by the end of the week.

? Silver Bay Realty Trust dipped 26 cents to $18.24 in its first day of trading. Silver Bay raised $245.1 million in its initial public offering Thursday. It plans on using the money to buy thousands of single-family homes and rent them out, as the U.S. housing market slowly heals.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-12-14-Wall%20Street/id-fb184b67dc6049eabc927bd12a12af88

us map Electoral Map concede Obama Acceptance Speech Prop 30 Election 2012 Michigan Election Results

Friday, December 14, 2012

ETA News Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION

USDL 12-2428-NAT

Program Contact:	TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS
Scott Gibbons: (202) 693-3008	RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
Tony Sznoluch: (202) 693-3176	8:30 A.M. (EDT), THURSDAY
Media Contact: (202) 693-4676	December 13, 2012

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

??????????SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending December 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 343,000, a decrease of 29,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 372,000. The 4-week moving average was 381,500, a decrease of 27,000 from the previous week's revised average of 408,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent for the week ending December 1, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending December 1 was 3,198,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,221,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,270,750, a decrease of 42,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,313,000.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 428,814 in the week ending December 8, a decrease of 72,117 from the previous week. There were 435,863 initial claims in the comparable week in 2011.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent during the week ending December 1, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,159,199, a decrease of 158,195 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.8 percent and the volume was 3,540,663.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending November 24 was 5,642,678, an increase of 683,477 from the previous week. There were 7,449,508 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2011.

Extended Benefits were only available in New York during the week ending November 24.

Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,017 in the week ending December 1, an increase of 389 from the prior week. There were 2,910 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 1,047 from the preceding week.

There were 20,778 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending November 24, an increase of 1,930 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 41,391, an increase of 4,501 from the prior week.

States reported 2,194,253 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending November 24, an increase of 185,645 from the prior week. There were 3,048,926 persons claiming EUC in the comparable week in 2011. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending November 24 were in Alaska (5.8), New Jersey (4.5), Puerto Rico (4.0), Oregon (3.8), Pennsylvania (3.7), California (3.5), Wisconsin (3.5), Montana (3.4), Connecticut (3.3), Nevada (3.2), and West Virginia (3.2).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending December 1 were in California (+24,411), Pennsylvania (+14,636), North Carolina (+13,961), New York (+11,025), and Texas (+10,435), while the largest decreases were in Kentucky (-615), Idaho (-481), Vermont (-402), Florida (-348) and Wisconsin (-91).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

WEEK ENDING	Advance Dec. 8	Dec. 1	Change	Nov. 24	Prior Year¹

Initial Claims (SA)	343,000	372,000	-29,000	395,000	371,000
Initial Claims (NSA)	428,814	500,931	-72,117	358,869	435,863
4-Wk Moving Average (SA)	381,500	408,500	-27,000	405,750	386,000


WEEK ENDING	Advance Dec. 1	Nov. 24	Change	Nov. 17	Prior Year¹

Ins. Unemployment (SA)	3,198,000	3,221,000	-23,000	3,305,000	3,609,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA)	3,159,199	3,317,394	-158,195	2,835,628	3,540,663
4-Wk Moving Average (SA)	3,270,750	3,313,000	-42,250	3,301,250	3,649,250

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)²	2.5%	2.5%	0.0	2.6%	2.9%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)²	2.5%	2.6%	-0.1	2.2%	2.8%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

Federal Employees	2,017	1,628	+389	2,369
Newly Discharged Veterans	2,910	1,863	+1,047	2,879

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

Regular State	3,309,627	2,829,876	+479,751	3,685,651
Federal Employees (UCFE)	20,778	18,848	+1,930	30,893
Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX)	41,391	36,890	+4,501	44,325
EUC 2008³	2,194,253	2,008,608	+185,645	3,048,926
Extended Benefits⁴	40,523	37,096	+3,427	593,097
State Additional Benefits ⁵	5,974	5,820	+154	4,728
STC / Workshare ⁶	30,132	22,063	+8,069	41,888
TOTAL	5,642,678	4,959,201	+683,477	7,449,508

FOOTNOTES
SA - Seasonally Adjusted Data, NSA - Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
¹ - Prior year is comparable to most recent data.
² - Most recent week used covered employment of 128,066,082 as denominator.
³ - EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity. Tier-specific EUC data can be found here: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/docs/persons.xls
⁴ - Information on the EB program can be found here: http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/extenben.asp
⁵ - Some states maintain additional benefit programs for those claimants who exhaust regular, extended and emergency benefits. Information on states that participate,
????????and the extent of benefits paid, can be found starting on page 4-5 of this link: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf
⁶ - Information on STC/Worksharing can be found starting on page 4-9 of the following link: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 11/24/2012

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State	Change	?	State Supplied Comment
None	?	?	?

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000?

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

CA	+24,411	?	Increase a result of processing claims from prior week when offices were closed due to Thanksgiving holiday. Layoffs in the service, agriculture, forestry, and fishing industries.
PA	+14,636	?	Layoffs in the construction, professional, scientific and technology service, transportation, entertainment, and accommodations and food service industries.
NC	+13,961	?	No Comment .
NY	+11,025	?	Layoffs in the transportation, construction, and food service industries.
TX	+10,435	?	Increase a result of processing claims from prior week when offices were closed due to Thanksgiving holiday.
GA	+8,708	?	Layoffs in the manufacturing, administrative service, construction, trade, healthcare and social assistance, and accommodations and food service industries.
IL	+8,478	?	Layoffs in the construction, manufacturing, and administrative industries.
SC	+5,009	?	Layoffs in the machinery manufacturing, textile, and fabricated metal products industries.
MI	+4,065	?	Layoffs in the administrative service industry.
TN	+3,846	?	Layoffs in the administrative service, manufacturing, trade, food service industries.
VA	+3,326	?	Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
MN	+3,168	?	No comment.
MO	+3,053	?	Layoffs in the construction and administrative service industries
AL	+2,668	?	Layoffs in the construction, administrative service, accommodations and food service, and retail industries.
NJ	+2,191	?	Layoffs in the construction, administrative, and retail industries.
MD	+1,737	?	No comment.
NV	+1,704	?	Increase a result of processing claims from prior week when offices were closed due to Thanksgiving holiday.
PR	+1,699	?	No comment.
MA	+1,654	?	No comment.
WV	+1,477	?	Layoffs in the mining, manufacturing, information, managing, administrative service, waste, and accomadations and food service industries.
AZ	+1,462	?	No comment.
OR	+1,348	?	Increase in initial claims are due layoffs in seasonal industries and occupations and processing claims from prior week when offices were closed due to Thanksgiving holiday.
LA	+1,343	?	No comment.
OH	+1,269	?	Layoffs in the automobile and manufacturing industries.
CT	+1,252	?	No comment.
IN	+1,246	?	Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.

State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-693-4676. TDD Message Phone: 1-800-326-2577. News releases from the U.S. Department of Labor are accessible on the Internet at: http://www.dol.gov/ and http://www.ows.doleta.gov/

Source: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20122428.htm

nba trade rumors 2012 ncaa tournament schedule laurent robinson dantoni gillian anderson leah remini desean jackson

one travel