Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Iraqi officials: Car bombs, shootings kill 4

BAGHDAD (AP) ? A string of insurgent attacks including a pair of car bombs in an ethnically divided northern city killed four people across Iraq on Tuesday, police said.

Brig. Gen. Sarhad Qadir, police commander of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, said back-to-back detonations of a parked car bomb and a roadside bomb in a parking lot near the provincial council building killed one civilian and injured 15.

Another parked car bomb went off in a residential area in the same city and wounded five civilians, he added.

Kirkuk, 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of Baghdad, is home to a combustible mix of Kurds, Sunni Arabs and Turkomen who all claim rights to the city.

Earlier, gunmen in a speeding car attacked an Iraqi army check point in the city of Tuz Khormato outside Kirkuk, killing two soldiers and injuring two others, Qadir said. Tuz Khormato is located 130 miles (210 kilometers) north of Baghdad.

In Baghdad, gunmen staged a drive-by shooting against a civilian car in a southern suburb, killing an army officer and wounding three others, according to police. A medical official confirmed the causalities.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information.

The attacks came as U.N. envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, arrived in Baghdad for talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other officials to discuss the neighboring country's worsening civil war. Brahimi is touring the region in an attempt to help resolve the Syrian crisis.

Violence is down from 2006-2008 when Iraq seemed close to civil war, but deadly attacks still take place almost daily.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iraqi-officials-car-bombs-shootings-kill-4-102511244.html

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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Don't Eidolons Have Anything Better to Do? | Video Games ...

Today, a steadfast bastion of the Final Fantasy realm is pilloried, tarred, feathered and mocked by the merry mocking mockster of mock that I am. We speak of summon monsters, Eidolons, Guardian Forces, or any other lofty moniker these abominations have been granted over the prolific past of the series.

These formidable entities include the quintessential firey stylings of Ifrit, a large Minotaur-esque gentleman (clad only in minute underpants that bulge disconcertingly and make us fervently wish to punch our own eyes in the face), Shiva the ice spirit, and Odin, God of stabbing crotches with humongous swords (and closet collector of My Little Pony dolls. Oh, the egregious harm that revelation would cause his masculine image! Were it not, naturellement, an outrageous falsehood).

Eidolons- Shiva

The primary utility of these celestial beings is to aid your party in battle. They are summoned, discharge a mass-ravaging attack of their element du jour, and sidle off again in a clandestine manner, leaving your opponents languishing in a blood-bleeding eviscerated mess (and, presumably, expansive urine puddle) on the pavement. They are also acclaimed for giving the White Mages of the cosmos some form of offensive ability. Bereft of these guys, the mages? piteous staff-flailing is about as physically imposing as a puppy with no legs.

Why, prithee, do they do so? These quasi-deities are largely content to watch our impotent, feeble mortal flesh-bag protagonists battle alone. They lounge in the opulence of Mount Eidolon, fed grapes by dusky maidens. Sixty-foot-tall ones too, I?d wager. One can envisage Ifrit up there in his tiny wrestler Y-fronts, Shiva clad in that raunch-tastic ice bikini of hers, pointing and laughing:
?Lo! Those paltry humans are attempting to murderize a really rather large dragon! Shall we alight to their aid with all due haste, like the almighty Gods we are??
?Nuts to that. I?m watching the game, whilst intermittently scratching my ass.?
?For shame, Ifrit! For shame! Fie upon you!?
?Very well. If you insist, I shall propel an ACTUAL MASSIVE METEORITE -which is on fire, mark you, I feel I must stress that fact- into that horrific beast?s delicate facial region.?

Able to convene such forces on a mere whim, why does the party so frequently resort to poking their foes with daggers and suchlike? It?s akin to jabbing a rhino in the posterior with a toothpick. Most pertinently, though, why can?t Eidolons serve as the harbingers of glory and hope for the planet, in lieu of meagre manfolk?
Won?t somebody think of the children?

Source: http://www.gamingsurvival.com/2012/10/14/dont-eidolons-have-anything-better-to-do/

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Domestic Short Hair - Tricia - Medium - Baby - Female - Cat | Hugo ...

Domestic Short Hair - Tricia - Medium - Baby - Female - Cat

Please join us at our next adoption day:

Sunday, July 1, 2012: 12:00-3:00

Coon Rapids PetSmart
3589 River Rapids Dr
Coon Rapids, MN 55448
763-421-0179

Please call ahead (651)407-0072 or email [email removed] to see if the animal you are interested in seeing will be at the adoption day.

Hey there, I'm Tommy! I am about 14 weeks old (as of the end of July 2012) and have 3 siblings, Taz, Timmy, and Tommy. I am just a little shy but can be held and am getting more outgoing every day. I have tested negative for FIV/FELV, have been neutered, microchipped, dewormed and have had my first two distemper combo vaccines. I love to jump and run and play and my favorite toy is a feathery boa tail. Please come meet me and my brothers too! You can see my brother, Taz, in the 3rd picture. We are a lot cuter than this picture--just a little camery shy! Come meet me! I am currently hanging out at the Adopt-a-Pet Shop in Plymouth:
1115 Vicksburg Ln N Ste 8
Plymouth, MN 55447
(763) 432-3640
Hours: Sat/Sun Noon-3pm, Mon/Tues CLOSED, Wed/Thur/Fri 4-7pm

If you are interested in meeting me or learning more about me, please call (651) 407-0072 or email [email removed]

CHARACTERISTICS:
Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Size: Medium
Petfinder ID: 24307554

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Pet has been spayed/neutered

CONTACT:
Pleading Paws Pet Rescue | Hugo, MN | 651-407-0072

For additional information, reply to this ad or see: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=24307554

Brought to you by Petfinder.com

Source: http://minneapolisstpaul.ebayclassifieds.com/cats-kittens/hugo/domestic-short-hair-tricia-medium-baby-female-cat/?ad=23942821

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Follow These Excellent Tips For Making The Most Of Your Personal ...

You do not want to waste the money you?ve worked hard for by throwing it away. You may not know the best thing to do in order to save money. You may feel embarrassed to talk to friends or family about this, though chances are they are dealing with the same thing. In this article, you will find the answers you need to properly manage your finances.

It is a wise idea to always have a small amount of cash in your wallet for incidental purchases. Merchants are allowed to establish a minimum account for credit cards.

Establish a monthly cash allowance for yourself can keep you from spending too much money on incidentals. This allowance might be used for extras like books, eating out or new shoes, and when it is gone, it is gone. This way you can still allow yourself to enjoy little treats without destroying your monthly budget.

Sometimes your score will actually drop for no good reason. A drop in your credit score does not mean you have done something wrong. Your credit score will rise as time goes on if you continue to add quality information.

It is vital that you use a safe method for disposing of old financial documents. You can buy a shredder to help with this. You could risk fraud and identity theft if you don?t properly dispose of old files you no longer need. You can protect your financial future by being very thorough in your document disposable process.

Letting your profits run is one key to success in Forex trading. Use this strategy moderately and don?t let greed cloud your decision making ability. It is imperative that you know when to quit; once you have become prosperous on a trade, keep a close eye on it and cash out before things take a turn.

TIP! If you really don?t need a credit card or to borrow money, don?t use these options at all. Sometimes credit is necessary, but debt free is the way to be, so save your funds for big-ticket expenses in the future.

Utility bills are an expense that you must stay on top of to improve your credit rating. If you pay late or miss payments, you may hurt your credit score. Not only this, but a lot of places will make you pay more. Paying your bills in a timely manner is the best way to use your money wisely and avoid costly fees and complications.

Always review your bank and credit card statements for accuracy. Make sure the banking fees and scheduled payments still remain the same. Sometimes people do not review their statement and they might be paying more in fees that they know about. Because of this, you should look over each statement with care.

Rewards credit cards can serve many different benefits. Select a card you can afford to pay off every month. Just for doing you regular daily shopping, a credit card with rewards will offer points redeemable for airplane flights, cash or other premiums. Figure out which rewards appeal to you the most, and compare the different offers.

Find ways to pay off your debts and vow not to accrue any new debt. It sounds relatively simple, however, most of us have difficulty with it. Shave off debt little by little, and do not accept any new debt! You will be debt-free and gain more financial flexibility by making consistent payments.

TIP! You must gain an education to be especially successful with your personal finances. Those who have earned college degrees tend double the income of those with high school diplomas or less.

Understanding the value of a certain item can prevent a person from selling that same item for a cheap price when it is actually valuable. People stand to receive a nice surprise when they discover they own something valuable and it?s worth a lot of money.

You should now have more ideas on managing your money the right way. If there were any tips that did not seem to make sense, spend a couple of minutes researching them more to make sure you fully grasp the concept

Source: http://www.projectpb.net/blog/index.php/personal_finance/follow-these-excellent-tips-for-making-the-most-of-your-personal-finance-2/

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Saturday, October 13, 2012

SAfrica: Deal close for striking truckers

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Gold And Silver Capped Until After U.S. Election? by Mark O'Byrne


Today?s AM fix was USD 1,767.00, EUR 1,362.80, and GBP 1,101.35 per ounce.
Yesterday?s AM fix was USD 1,767.25, EUR 1,371.45 and GBP 1,103.29 per ounce.

?

Silver is trading at $33.96/oz, ?26.27/oz and ?21.21/oz. Platinum is trading at $1,679.50/oz, palladium at $648.80/oz and rhodium at $1,205/oz.

?

Gold edged up $4.60 or 0.26% in New York yesterday which saw gold close at $1,767.50. Silver climbed to a high of $34.33 and then fell off and finished with a marginal loss of 0.12%.

?

Gold has seen volatile and choppy trading overnight in Asia and in Europe this morning with the price being capped at $1,772/oz and in a tight range between $1,767 and $1,772/oz.

?


Cross Currency Table ? (Bloomberg)

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Gold remains robust in euro terms at ?1,364.50/oz and remains less than only 1% away from new record highs in the single currency (see chart).

?

India and China are embarking on their peak consumption season which may create a boost to the physical market.

?

The far from resolved debt crisis in Greece, Spain and most countries in the western world means that this is another correction and investors and store of wealth buyers should continue to accumulate on the dip.

?

Prices may remain contained until after the U.S. election but we expect that soon after the election (we expect Obama to be re-elected), precious metal prices will again surge. Indeed, from November into the early months of 2013, we could see one of the largest upward price movements in gold and silver so far in their bull markets.

?

U.S. election years tend to see gold underperform vis-?-vis other years and this was seen in 2004 (+4.7%) and 2008 (+5%) when gold saw only marginal gains compared to the 17% annualised dollar returns seen in that decade.

?

Post election years saw stronger gains ? with a 22% in 2005 and a 25% return in 2009.

?

This is likely due to the governing administration, often in conjunction with the Federal Reserve, doing all it can in order to artificially boost the economy and maintain power.

?


Gold in Euros ? 1 Year (Bloomberg)

?

Indeed, given the degree of intervention in markets today, it is possible that the Working Group on Financial Markets has been intervening in order to maintain orderly markets and ?investor confidence? - as is their function. This can often artificially boost stock markets and often see a bout of dollar strength.

?

We believe that macroeconomic and monetary conditions are far worse than is being acknowledged by the White House, the Washington elites and Ben Bernanke and that once the election is over there will be significant revisions to data and the economic data will decline considerably.

?


Gold in Euros ? 30 Day (Bloomberg)

?

There are historical parallels with the 1933 election when Roosevelt was re-elected and there was subsequently an admission that economic conditions were far worse than people had been previously led to believe.

?

This creates the real possibility of significant volatility and dislocations in markets in the coming months.

?

Buyers should use this price dip and any further dips in October to accumulate physical gold and silver in the safest way possible.

?

UBS have lifted their full-year 2012 forecast to $1700, from $1680 previously. For 2013 UBS now has price targets on the average gold price of $1900, raised from $1725 previously.

?

Smart money internationally continues to diversify into gold. Some of the wealthiest and most astute managers of money in the world today remain bullish on gold due to the very favourable macroeconomic, geopolitical and monetary fundamentals.

?


?

The Financial Review (Australian) points out how Soros, Paulson and now Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world?s biggest hedge fund are all diversifying into gold (see commentary).

?

Warren Buffett is one of the few wealthy individuals in the world to have absolutely rejected the idea of owning gold as a hedge or safe haven asset and has indeed criticised those who own gold.

?


?

Indeed, the recently made bizarre comments regarding gold saying he would rather buy caves than gold. He suggested that owning caves would be better than owning gold in the event of currency devaluations.

?

Buffett is massively exposed to man US dollar denominated stocks and to the U.S. banking sector and appears to be either talking about his book or is simply very misguided.

?

His reputation as the most successful investor of all time will be questioned in the coming years.

?


Gold in USD ? 30 Day (Bloomberg)

?

As the Financial Review states:

?

?Financial planners and super fund managers have come around to holding bullion, previously viewed as too speculative with no investment return, because it diversifies a portfolio and moves independently of shares and other markets.?

?

There is also academic research showing how gold is a proven hedging instrument and safe haven asset.

?

In 2013 we are all going to need to own safe haven assets and the safe haven money that is gold.

?

NEWSWIRE
(Bloomberg) -- Gold Gains on Renewed Europe Debt Concern After Spain Downgrade
Gold rose for the first time in five days, snapping the worst losing run in more than two months, on speculation Europe?s debt crisis will boost demand for a protection of wealth.

?

Standard & Poor?s cut Spain?s debt rating yesterday to one grade above junk on mounting economic and political risks in the region. The U.S. Dollar Index, a gauge against six counterparts, rose today to the highest level since Sept. 11. Investment holdings of the metal rose to a record as buyers sought to safeguard their wealth.

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?Gold is being supported by the risk of the eurozone debt crisis intensifying with the focus again on Spain,? said Mark O?Byrne, executive director of Dublin-based GoldCore Ltd., a brokerage that sells and stores everything from quarter-ounce British Sovereigns to 400-ounce bars.

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Gold for immediate delivery rose 0.4 percent to $1,770 an ounce by 9:14 a.m. in London. Gold for December delivery rose 0.4 percent to $1,771.40 an ounce on the Comex in New York.

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London-traded bullion declined 1.6 percent in the past four days and touched $1,757.10 yesterday, the lowest price since Sept. 27.

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Holdings in gold-backed exchange-traded products rose for a 10th day to 2,582.97 metric tons yesterday. Investors looking to store wealth should buy on dips, Euro Pacific Capital Inc. Chief

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Executive Officer Peter Schiff said in a speech at a conference in Chicago. ETP holdings have risen 9.6 percent this year as central banks boosted stimulus to revive economic growth.

?

Silver for immediate delivery rose 0.8 percent to $34.255 an ounce. Platinum gained 0.4 percent to $1,679.75 an ounce. palladium advanced 0.7 percent to $654.50 an ounce.

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(Bloomberg) -- Miners Reject South Africa Gold Producers? Wage Plan, Union Says
Members of South Africa?s biggest union rejected a proposal by the nation?s largest gold companies to raise wages and end strikes that have crippled the industry.

?

Employees who belong to the National Union of Mineworkers didn?t accept the offer, spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said in a text message in response to a query today.

?

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd., Gold Fields Ltd. and Harmony Gold Mining Co. had offered an additional 2 percent raise and Harmony 1.5 percent in categories four through eight this year, Elize Strydom, the chief negotiator at the Chamber of Mines, an industry body that represents the companies in wage talks, said yesterday. Category three, the entry level, would be eliminated in the proposal, meaning the lowest-paid workers would get a wage at the higher category.

?

About 41 percent of South Africa?s gold output is idled, including all of AngloGold?s mines. Two Gold Fields sites were halted after workers walked out without heeding resolution procedures set out by labor laws, while miners have been absent from Harmony?s Kusasalethu operation since at least Oct. 3.

?

AngloGold erased earlier gains, retreating as much as 0.8 percent to 295.37 rand and trading at 297.61 rand by 11:12 a.m. in Johannesburg. Harmony lost 0.2 percent to 69.36 rand.

?

Gold advanced 0.4 percent to $1,768.50 an ounce in London.

?

(Bloomberg) -- Gold Imports by China From Hong Kong Drop as Price Deters Buyers
Gold imports by China from Hong Kong fell 29 percent in August from a month earlier amid a seasonal slowdown and as higher prices deterred buyers.

?

Mainland China bought 53,508 kilograms (53.51 metric tons), including scrap and coins, compared with 75,842 kilograms in July. Shipments were 23 percent more than the 43,660 kilograms a year earlier, data from the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong government show.

?

Gold is in the 12th year of a bull run, 13 percent higher this year, as investors seek to hedge against weaker currencies and the threat of rising consumer prices. Holdings in gold- backed exchange-traded products expanded to an all-time high and Bank of America Corp. and Deutsche Bank AG are among banks forecasting that the price will rally to a record. The metal climbed 4.8 percent in August, the most since January.

?

?The slowdown was mainly seasonal and because the jump in prices in the latter part of the month put off buyers,? said Liu Xu, analyst at Capital Futures Co.

?

Shipments more than tripled to 512,136.5 kilograms in the first eight months from 146,750 kilograms a year earlier, Bloomberg calculations show. China doesn?t publish such data.

?

?China?s demand for the metal may increase over the rest of the year as central banks in the U.S., Europe and Japan have, more or less, demonstrated their penchant for the monetary easing,? said Liu. Gold for immediate delivery was little changed at $1,762.35 an ounce at 7:13 p.m. in Singapore.

?

Exports of gold to Hong Kong from China were 26,497 kilograms in August, down from 30,038 kilograms in July, according to a separate statistics department statement. The exports were more than the 7,118 kilograms a year ago. They were 200,391.5 kilograms in the first eight months from 61,541 kilograms a year earlier, according to Bloomberg calculations.

?

(Bloomberg) -- South African Miners Trapped in Web of Debt, Watchdog Says
South African miners were the victims of predatory lending that eroded their earnings in the run-up to violent strikes in recent months, the country?s credit watchdog said.

?

Seven out of eight credit providers raided at the Marikana mining complex, where a strike began in August, appear to have been acting unlawfully, said Zweli Zakwe, head of investigations at the National Credit Regulator.

?

?Our impression is that the credit providers have not done affordability assessments, so miners are trapped in an extensive web of debt,? Zakwe said in a phone interview today from Buffelspoort, west of Johannesburg. ?The primary purpose of the raids is to look at three main issues: the cost of credit, affordability assessments and the unlawful retention of bank cards and identity documents.?

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The first illegal strike began at Lonmin Plc?s Marikana operations on Aug. 10 and labor action has spread to other platinum and gold mines. As many as 46 people died before Lonmin agreed to wage increases of up to 22 percent.

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With more than 16 credit providers operating in Marikana, many miners took on loans with interest charges of as much as 30 percent that they struggled to repay, resulting in the lenders making deductions directly from miners? salaries, according to the regulator.

?

Reckless Lending
?Definitely the debt was on their shoulders, and it?s one of the elements that may have led to the strikes,? Zakwe said. ?For now we are focusing on the small micro-lenders, but we will expand and we have been looking at the Capitecs and African Banks of this world. There are retailers as well.?

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The National Credit Act, introduced in 2006, aimed to reduce so-called reckless lending and protect borrowers. In the past three years credit providers have increasingly offered unsecured loans to low-income earners to maintain and boost profit margins. Interest charges on these loans can reach 60 percent, with Capitec Bank Holdings Ltd. offering customers unsecured loans of as much as 230,000 rand ($26,000).

?

?Many have interest charges of 30 percent,? Zakwe said of the credit providers in Marikana.

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(Bloomberg) -- China August Exports of Gold to Hong Kong 26,497 Kilograms
Hong Kong government announced August gold imports data on its website today.

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(Bloomberg) -- IShares Silver Trust Holdings Unchanged at 9,920 Metric Tons
Silver holdings in the IShares Silver Trust, the biggest exchange-traded fund backed by silver, were unchanged at 9,920.18 metric tons as of Oct. 9, according to figures on the company?s website.

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Oct. 9 Oct. 8 Oct. 5 Oct. 4 Oct. 3 Oct. 2

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2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012

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Million Ounces 318.941 318.941 318.941 318.941 318.941 318.941

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Daily change 0 0 0 0 0 -610,059

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Metric tons 9,920.18 9,920.18 9,920.18 9,920.18 9,920.18 9,920.18

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Daily change 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -18.98

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(Bloomberg) -- ETF Securities Gold ETP Inflows Were $260 Million in Week
ETF Securities Ltd.?s gold exchange- traded products had inflows of $260 million last week, the company said in a report e-mailed today.

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For breaking news and commentary on financial markets and gold, follow us on Twitter.

?

NEWS
Gold Gains as Investor Demand Increases ETP Holdings to Record - Bloomberg

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Gold futures rise as dollar pulls back ? Market Watch

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Gold flat, but on course for biggest weekly loss in two months - Reuters

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Gold Best of Biggest ETFs as Traders Seek Haven: Riskless Return - Bloomberg

COMMENTARY
IMF Fears 'Credit Shock' in Spain If Rajoy Blocks Rescue ? The Telegraph

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UBS' Cashin Offers A Huge Lesson On Weimar Hyperinflation, And The Roots Of Today's Crisis ? Business Insider

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The Case For A 40% Drop In The Markets ? Market Watch

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Gold Short Squeeze ... May Lead To "Move In Gold That Will Leave Breathless? ? King World News

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Did COMEX Gold Futures 'Glitch' Hint At The Future Awaiting Us? ? Zero Hedge

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Video: Global Debasement to Boost Gold Prices ? Bloomberg

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The Currency Collapse That?s Happening Right Now ? Uncommon Wisdom

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Three of the World?s Four Richest Investors Are Buying Gold ? Financial Review

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Source: http://www.24hgold.com/english/news-gold-silver-gold-and-silver-capped-until-after-u-s-election-.aspx?article=4086069116G10020&redirect=false&contributor=Mark+O'Byrne

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The Hop! Self-Rolling Suitcase ? These Are Not the Droids You?re Looking For

Sick of lugging your bags around airports or bus stations? The Hop!?from Cargo Collective is a suitcase that takes away some of the load. As the name might suggest, the suitcase is named for hotel bellhops. ?Using three receivers, ?the Hop! triangulates its position relative to your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, and using an air-based caterpillar traction [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/10/12/the-hop-self-rolling-suitcase-these-are-not-the-droids-youre-looking-for/

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Friday, October 12, 2012

Dems lead GOP in battleground voter registration (The Arizona Republic)

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/254825989?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Japan's silent killer | Majirox News

Despite laws and regulations, asbestos drifts through the Japanese air

TOKYO (majirox news) ? Many buildings in Japan were built in the past using asbestos, the use was banned in Japan only in 2004, many years after bans imposed in other developed nations. When such buildings are demolished, there is a risk of carcinogenic asbestos dust drifting through the air.

Reports from the Central Environmental Council of Japan, affiliated with the Ministry of the Environment, show a long history of fraud and falsification by contractors engaged in the demolition of asbestos-equipped buildings, including reuse of respirators, lack of proper anti-dust precautions, falsification of workers? names, and other shortcuts.

Analyses from independent laboratories sampling the air around such demolition sites almost invariably contradict the reports from laboratories approved by the Ministry of Labour, Health and Welfare (MHLW), which tag the air as ?safe.?

This is not the only time that the MHLW has come under fire for its asbestos-related policies. The guidelines set by the Ministry have been ruled as ?inappropriate? by the Kobe District Court. And though the number of deaths in Japan from a specific type of lung cancer associated with asbestos ? mesothelioma ? appears to have risen (over 1,200 in 2011), the number of cases recognized as being eligible for aid has fallen. The total number of lung cancer deaths caused by asbestos is unavailable. This figure is guessed to be about twice that of the number of deaths caused by mesothelioma.

But even if you live nowhere near an older building being demolished, asbestos may still be floating in the air you breathe. Chimneys and ducts lined with asbestos all over Japan may have their linings breaking apart, according to a survey conducted by a researcher at the Building Research Institute and another at the Tokyo Occupational Safety & Health Center. Up to 50,000 chimneys across Japan may have been lined with the ?kapostack? material which was largely comprised of amosite asbestos ? a highly toxic form of the mineral.

And for those in the Tohoku disaster, the debris left by the quake and tsunami appears, according to a Web site dedicated to mesothelomia (mesothelomia.net), to be causing air pollution from asbestos at levels above those considered safe by the World Health Organization. This may have been exacerbated by the employment of ?quick and dirty? contractors who removed the debris quickly without any concern for safety regulations. This hazard was even mentioned in a largely unremarked portion of a speech made by the Emperor of Japan when he visited Tohoku last year.

Of course, this is not the only issue that Japan faces, but the MHLW?s current ?solution? for this particular problem ? sweeping unpleasant facts under the carpet ? is yet another symptom of the all-too-familiar attitude that the Japanese have come to expect from the faceless bureaucrats who have held the reins of power for so long, and makes a mockery of the English catchphrase proudly displayed on the Ministry Web site: ?For people, for life, for the future?.

Tags: abestos, Central Environmental Council of Japan, Japan lung cancer, Japan Ministry of Environment, Japan Tokyo, Tohoku, World Health Organization

Source: http://www.majiroxnews.com/2012/10/13/japans-silent-killer/

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Finally, a Way To Make Virtual Reality Even Lamer [Video]

Standing around in an awkward set of motion tracking video goggles while tethered a computer makes virtual reality feel anything but real. You need to be able to move around to really get the virtual experience, which this bizarre sliding platform lets you do—kind of. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/CrSyiY7Cldw/finally-a-way-to-make-virtual-reality-even-lamer

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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Why Syria's regional spillovers could prompt intervention

The international debate over military intervention in Syria has, understandably, been couched largely in terms of the ?responsibility to protect? Syrians from a brutal regime. But there is also a growing risk of spillovers into other countries that could further destabilize an already troubled region ? including the Eastern Mediterranean. Taken together, these cascading risks may ultimately emerge as the leading rationale for international action.

First, despite incentives for caution on both sides, the risk of a more serious conventional military clash between Turkey and Syria is real. Turkey, a key US and European partner and NATO ally, is highly exposed to the consequences of protracted conflict and chaos in Syria. To date, some 90,000 refugees have fled across the border to Turkey. Continuing incidents of direct Syrian attacks and loss of life on Turkish territory, and Turkish retaliation, raise the specter of escalating conflict between Ankara and Damascus.

An incident this week illustrates the wide reach of the Syria crisis. On Wednesday, Turkish military jets forced a Syrian passenger jet from Moscow to land in Ankara. Turkish state-run television reports the jet was carrying military communications equipment. Syria is furious, calling the interception "piracy." Russia, meanwhile, says the cargo was not of Russian origin and is angered by the treatment of the passengers, including Russian nationals.

Given the animosity between both Ankara and Damascus, and the substantial military forces arrayed on either side of the border ? Turkey has NATO?s second largest military after the United States ? a Turkish-Syrian conflict would represent a dramatic development. At that point, NATO could hardly avoid becoming involved in a key test of alliance commitment to collective defense.

OPINION: Five things international community must give Syria after Bashar al-Assad

Second, the wider Syrian crisis is leading to a series of proxy wars ? Iran supporting its Syrian ally, President Bashar al-Assad; and Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and others backing the Free Syrian Army and other armed rebel groups. Syrian opposition forces, operating from Turkish territory, are now leading actors in the anti-Assad insurgency.

But the presence of these armed groups is contributing to insecurity in Turkey. Previously prosperous and stable areas in Turkey?s south are experiencing economic crisis and chaotic conditions. Syria appears to have revived its active support for violent operations by the separatist PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) in Turkey. Many Turks are convinced that Iran is also playing a part in this strategy.

The likelihood of a protracted conflict in Syria (a decade or more of chaos is not inconceivable) suggests that these sponsored, irregular wars may define the strategic map of the region for some time to come.

Third, the Syrian crisis is spilling across the border as refugees also pour into neighboring Lebanon and Jordan, and skirmishes occur in both countries. The US has had a small group of military planners in Jordan since early summer, to help that country with refugees and its own military, and to keep an eye on Syria?s chemical weapons.

The crisis, though, could well reach Europe?s doorstep in the Eastern Mediterranean ? casting a harsh light on unresolved disputes hobbling European and American strategy there. The porous nature of the land and sea borders in the region means that large numbers of Syrian refugees may soon appear in Cyprus and Greece, where anti-immigrant sentiment runs high. In this sense, Europe already shares a border with a chaotic Syria.

Dealing with any violent and nonviolent spillovers will be difficult in the absence of cooperation among Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, and their European and transatlantic partners. In theory, the rotating presidency of the European Union ? currently held by Cyprus ? should facilitate preparation for an eastward spread of the Syrian crisis. But the unresolved dispute over divided Cyprus makes any sort of Cypriot-Turkish coordination impossible, and also hampers Turkish-EU and EU-NATO cooperation on security in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Once again, the Cyprus divide has acquired a regional security dimension. Even Russia, hardly enthusiastic about action in Syria, but with strong interests in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean, might eventually see the logic of action to contain these regional risks.

The debate over intervention in Syria is anything but straightforward. In the wake of Afghanistan and Iraq, the sheer complexity of the ethnic and sectarian cleavages in Syria deters Western policymakers.

Public opinion is ambivalent at best. The 2012 Transatlantic Trends survey, conducted by the German Marshall Fund of the United States with the Compagnia di San Paolo, shows that majorities on both sides of the Atlantic, including Turkey, support the UN ?right to protect? in international crises. But when asked about the Syrian case, majorities reject intervention.

OPINION: Time to end the 'cold war' between Israel and Turkey

As the crisis in Syria worsens, and the regional consequences mount, Syria?s dangerous spillovers may well compel a strategy of simply containing the war within Syria?s borders, even as the debate on intervention for ?regime change? leaves the international community divided.

Ian O. Lesser is executive director of the Transatlantic Center, the Brussels office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/why-syrias-regional-spillovers-could-prompt-intervention-150904102--politics.html

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Hot Off the Press: Spa Week Buzz | Spa Week Daily

If the internet were filled with gleeful newspaper boys sporting cute caps and 1950?s style bicycles with bells, we just know they?d be riding around right now shouting ?Extra, extra read all about it ? Spa Week is Back!? For the past few weeks the online world has been abuzz with Spa Week excitement that we just couldn?t wait to share with you!

Check out these mentions in some of your favorite magazines and websites to find out everything you ever wanted to know and more about Spa Week?s Fall 2012 Event:

?

When Oprah?s talking about you, you know you?ve made it. All hail the Queen, and check out our spot in OMag Online!

Your favorite celebrity gossip beat (InTouch of course!) is helping you celebrate Spa Week by giving away $50 Spa & Wellness Gift Cards!

About.com gave readers the complete lowdown on Spa Week.

Spa Week made Time Out NY?s Top 101 Things to do in NYC this Fall ? that?s a hefty list, New Yorkers! Getting stressed about it already? Then Spa Week is the perfect place to start ;).

South Florida Luxury Guide helped us make sure that South Floridians know the swankiest places to get their spa on (for just $50).

Woman?s World is always one step ahead of the game when it comes to women?s needs?that?s why they?re hooking one winner up with $1,000 in Spa & Wellness Gift Cards?yes, that?s a whole lotta spa!

SpaReviewMag.com shined a spotlight on one of our gorgeous resort spas participating ? in Idaho no less!

WHERE Blog certainly knows where it?s at ? and is letting the nation know where they can find the best of the best spa deals.

Discover SD described Spa Week as more sacred than Restaurant Week (woah) ? and as much as we love a hearty meal, we?d have to agree!

New Beauty, The Beauty Authority, wants you to book a Spa Week treatment. It?s kind of hard to disobey authority?

Shape.com always aims to keep readers in the know about anything health and fitness related ? no wonder they?re helping us spread the wellness with a Spa & Wellness Gift Card giveaway.

Examiner.com did their detective work to make sure consumers know of the most unique treatments being offered nationwide. What do you think of the findings?

OceanDrive.com made sure that Southern spa-worshipers knew to take advantage of the ?mind-boggling? $50 deals.

H Texas gave Houstonians all the important info on where to head for mind-numbing relaxation this fall.

On that note, we?ll see you next week! It?s not too late to book a Spa Week appointment: Browse here!

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Source: http://www.spaweekblog.com/2012/10/11/hot-off-the-press-spa-week-buzz/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hot-off-the-press-spa-week-buzz

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Faculty denounce patent law | Student Life

If it were up to Michele Boldrin and David Levine, Chancellor Mark Wrighton would not have any patents.

Boldrin and Levine, chair of the Department of Economics and professor of economics at Washington University, respectively, make their claims in the book ?The Case Against Intellectual Monopoly? and more recently in ?The Case Against Patents,? a working paper for the St. Louis Federal Reserve.

Their arguments center on the fact that patents have cluttered the legal system to the extent that they actively inhibit the progression of innovations they are intended to facilitate.

In recent years, patent trials have risen in number as well as prominence across the United States. According to Levine, cases such as the highly-publicized legal battle between Apple and Samsung, in which Apple won over $1 billion across 86 infringements, demonstrate that patents aren?t critical to spur innovation.

?The money that [Apple] made, they made without patents. Now that they can?t stay ahead anymore, now they?re suing everybody,? Levine said.

Levine also highlighted that patents are primarily used defensively in the technology industry.

?That?s why Google bought Motorola. Not for its telephones, but for its patents. And it bought it for its patents not because it wanted to sue Apple and to try to get Apple out of the market,? Levine said. ?They bought its patents so as to try to create a credible threat to prevent Apple from suing them. There?s no mystery in this. This defensive purpose of patents is well understood by everyone in the industry.?

The legal gridlock reached as a result of opportunistic patent wars even sparked U.S. Court of Appeals judge Richard Posner to write, ?Why there are too many patents in America? in The Atlantic Monthly earlier this year. In the article, he argues that industries have different needs for patents, but patent law is uniform across industries.

Like Posner, Levine emphasized that in industries like technology, the cost to innovate is quite low, but the patent system is set up to be zero-sum.

?If all the patents were enforced, nobody would be able to write a computer program. It?s complete madness. Any piece is relatively inexpensive to develop. The big reward is not in the patent,? Levine said.

Keith Sawyer, professor of psychology and education at Washington University and author of ?Explaining Creativity: The Science of Human Innovation,? also takes issue with the patent system.

?There?s literally thousands of patents and each one is on a tiny thing. And then what happens is it becomes impossible to generate a successful product without infringing on someone?s patents. There?s no way one company could have them all,? Sawyer said.

Sawyer suggested that the current patent system is incoherent considering how people maximize innovation.

?What makes innovation most effective is when small ideas beget other ideas. The ideas build on each other, they kind of grow and become bigger to be greater than the sum of the parts,? Sawyer said.

However, the elimination of intellectual property protection that Levine suggested is too extreme for Sawyer.

?I believe you?ll get more innovation if people who come up with ideas get some money for them. I think it?s good to have intellectual property protection,? Sawyer said.

On the other hand, Wrighton sees the benefit of intellectual property as enabling the sale of ideas to companies or start-ups so that they can quickly reach more people.

?It?s often the case that a potential investor?[is] going to want to know that if they access the intellectual property that they will have a degree of exclusivity in terms of being able to realize the financial benefit that comes from developing and commercializing the product,? Wrighton said.

Wrighton noted the relatively small size of patent income relative to the University?s operating budget.

?We don?t plan for big financial success, but we need to have the environment where that becomes possible if the right thing comes along,? Wrighton said. ?We?ve had significant patents, but in the year that just concluded, the total revenue, including what goes to the inventors, was something like $6 million.?

Source: http://www.studlife.com/news/faculty-news/2012/10/11/faculty-denounce-patent-law/

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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

How Business Owners Can Build Their Online ... - Ninja SEO Methods

Most businesses realize that online marketing is extremely important in this day and age. With more than 90 percent of consumers searching for local businesses online, it is very important to make sure that a business is visible online if it wants to compete in the industry. While most business owners know just how important it is to take advantage of web advertising, implementing an online marketing campaign can be extremely difficult for those without experience. Not only do these professionals have to learn how to design their online branding, they also need to learn how to target niches online and optimize their business website. If businesses want to get the most from their marketing budget, hiring an online marketing agency with experience in web advertising might be the answer. But not all marketing agencies are created equally. Learn what to look for when you select an agency and to generate more clients and earn more sales revenue.

How Does the Advertising Company Rank for Popular Keywords?

If a marketing firm that specializes in online marketing does not rank well for relevant keywords like ?online marketing firm? or ?web advertising?, businesses might want to look elsewhere. If the marketing agency is not able to rank on the first page of search results in their own industry, it is not likely that they will be able to do this in other industries either. After all, online marketing firms are experts in search engine optimization and this expertise will show through the search engines.

Interview More Than One Marketing Firm

Marketing firms market to businesses who are seeking out their services. If they are good marketers, they will have a large book-of-business and a great advertising campaign. Just because a firm has a good advertising message and a memorable brand does not make them the best choice in terms of money. Most business owners have a marketing budget they must stick to when hiring firms. This is why all business owners should interview several companies before making a final commitment.

Ask for Case Studies

Business owners know just how important case studies and metrics are. After all, these owners run reports about sales and expenses on a regular basis to monitor the financial health of their company. When business owners are interviewing an online marketing agency, they need to ask the important questions. They will need to know how the agency will help the owner meet their goals, and how much the owner should expect to spend. The business owner should also ask for case studies that demonstrate the success of other businesses in their industry. This is tangible proof that can be used to make a sound and informed decision when comparing agencies.

Look For An Agency Who Will Ask the Right Questions

Not all businesses can take the same approach when they are advertising online. Each industry is unique and each business has its own defined goals. The best online marketing agencies will ask important questions about the brand, the products, and the overall goals. Only after the firm asks these questions can they determine which strategies will be most effective.

The best agencies specializing in online marketing have unique and fresh ideas. They should be willing to make suggestions to business owners and explain why these strategies will be effective. Business owners who take time to find the right agency will earn a Return on Investment and build their online presence.

Source: http://ninjaseomethods.com/how-business-owners-can-build-their-online-presence-with-the-right-online-marketing-agency/

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