Monday, December 31, 2012

Harshad Bhagwat trounces Abhishek Sadanand in final round - Bettor

Harshad Bhagwat trounces Abhishek Sadanand in final round of 2012 Amanora Cup

Men?s Singles campaigner Harshad Bhagwat of India made best out of his top forma and remained invincible in the final round of Amanora Cup on Sunday, December 30, 2012.

He thrashed a compatriot shuttler Abhishek Sadanand Kulkarni in this brief meeting which took place in local badminton complex of Pune.

Harshad, who was top seeded player in this tournament, employed all of his brilliance and experience in the game and sealed a splendid straight-set victory with 21-8 and 21-10 margin.

He played flawless badminton in both segments of the showdown and did not give his rival even a single counterattack opportunity.

On the other hand, Abhishek looked completely off colour as he could not capitalise his unbeatable run in this national tournament.

The battle heated up straight away in the beginning of first set when Harshad prevailed in couple of uninterrupted rallies and established an unassailable lead.

He did not drop this pace and doubled the lead in no time. This initial advantage helped him to keep the opposing shuttler under control.

Before the announcement of break, Harshad managed to pile up an indomitable figure of 11 and started second half of the set with a psychological edge.

He played with great control and placed his strokes so well that his challenger did not have a chance to retaliate.

He maintained a significant difference of 13 points and wrapped this segment of the showdown with an impressive result of 21-8.

The second set was also a dead contest as it proved a one-sided affair after the mid-game break. Men?s Singles expert Harshad struggled a bit in the beginning and his fluctuated performance allowed his opponent to proceed.

Abhishek played positive badminton and gathered some valuable points at steady pace. He was in strong position after couple of establishing rallies but then few back-to-back mistakes triggered the collapse.

At this stage, Harshad showed maturity in his craft and reinstated his authority. He finished first half of the set with a respectable margin and then carried this flow in latter part of the game.

The young Indian campaigner swept the table with 21-10 score and raised Men?s Singles trophy in 2012 Amanora Cup.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Harshad-Bhagwat-trounces-Abhishek-Sadanand-in-final-round-of-2012-Amanora-Cup-a212156

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montezuma centurion: labor day recipes ? desserts | crafts hobbies ...

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I will think This Interesting ,and you can see Labor Day Recipes ? Desserts Feature Details . The end of summer is here and you want to enjoy a last blow out picnic with your friends and family. These desserts will have you in and out of the kitchen in no time and all them pack well for your picnic at the park.

Make these desserts a day or so ahead of time and sit back and enjoy the time you will save with your friends and family on this holiday.

This book also includes the History of Labor Day.

The Recipes
? Torie?s Pecan Cookies
? Danielle?s Zucchini
? Lisa?s Banana Cake
? Carmita?s Crunchy Cereal Brownies
? Katie?s Buttermilk Sheet Cake
? Josh?s Chocolate Apricot Cake
? Gloria?s Swirl Cookies
? Judy?s Chocolate Pepper Cake
? Melissa?s Lemon Pumpkin Cheesecake
? Martha?s Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Reading Guideline?

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Source: http://craftshobbieshome.bestseller4u.x10.mx/labor-day-recipes-desserts

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Source: http://montezuma-centurion.blogspot.com/2012/12/labor-day-recipes-desserts-crafts.html

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LIR: Secrets of Georgia Traffic Law and Legal Update. | Overlasting ...

LIR: Secrets of Georgia Traffic Law and Legal Update.
Legal  Law
Image by Old Shoe Woman
Members learned about recent legislation related to driving issues which came into effect this past July. In addition, they also learned about some of Georgia?s best kept traffic law secrets. Judge John K. Edwards, Jr., Instructor

LIR: Secrets of Georgia Traffic Law and Legal Update.
Legal  Law
Image by Old Shoe Woman
Members learned about recent legislation related to driving issues which came into effect this past July. In addition, they also learned about some of Georgia?s best kept traffic law secrets. Judge John K. Edwards, Jr., Instructor

LIR: Secrets of Georgia Traffic Law and Legal Update.
Legal  Law
Image by Old Shoe Woman
Members learned about recent legislation related to driving issues which came into effect this past July. In addition, they also learned about some of Georgia?s best kept traffic law secrets. Judge John K. Edwards, Jr., Instructor

LIR: Secrets of Georgia Traffic Law and Legal Update.
Legal  Law
Image by Old Shoe Woman
Members learned about recent legislation related to driving issues which came into effect this past July. In addition, they also learned about some of Georgia?s best kept traffic law secrets. Judge John K. Edwards, Jr., Instructor

Source: http://overlasting.dyndns.org/lir-secrets-of-georgia-traffic-law-and-legal-update/

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Source: http://bhaidada.posterous.com/lir-secrets-of-georgia-traffic-law-and-legal

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Sunday, December 30, 2012

iphone app for cydia market .deb - by guillermonotes

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eg. VAT, GST ? Registration no.

Source: http://www.freelancer.sg/projects/Mobile-Phone-iPhone/iphone-app-for-cydia-market.html

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Writing Compelling Business Blogs | Business 2 Community

Business 2 Community is an independent online community focused on sharing the latest news surrounding Social Media, Marketing, Branding, Public Relations & much more. Every day we feature the thought leadership of our open community of bloggers and aim to provide a balanced view of the business landscape based on industry news, trends and real-life experiences.

Source: http://www.business2community.com/blogging/writing-compelling-business-blogs-0365837

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Saturday, December 29, 2012

Food fight! Eggs, flour fly in Spain for charity

David Ramos / Getty Images

Revelers take part in the battle of 'Enfarinats', a flour fight in celebration of the Els Enfarinats festival on December 28, in Ibi, Spain.

Citizens of Ibi, Spain annually celebrate the Els Enfarinats festival with a battle using flour, eggs and firecrackers. The battle takes place between two groups, a group of married men called 'Els Enfarinats' which take the control of the village for one day, pronouncing ridiculous laws and fining the citizens that infringe them, and a group called 'La Oposicio' which try to restore order. At the end of the day the money collected from the fines is donated to charitable causes in the village. The festival has been celebrated since 1981 after the town of Ibi recovered the 200-year-old tradition.

-- Getty Images

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Alberto Saiz / AP

Revelers take part in festival of Els Enfarinats, in the town of Ibi near Alicante, Spain, on Dec. 28.

David Ramos / Getty Images

Revelers walk toward the battle of 'Enfarinats', a flour fight in celebration of the Els Enfarinats festival, on Dec. 28, in Ibi, Spain.

Alberto Saiz / AP

A reveler takes part in festival of Els Enfarinats, in the town of Ibi near Alicante, Spain, on Dec. 28.

Morell / EPA

People enjoy the traditional 'Els Enfarinats' battle at Ibi in Alicante, eastern Spain, on Dec. 28.

David Ramos / Getty Images

A reveler smokes during the battle of 'Enfarinats', a flour fight in celebration of the Els Enfarinats festival on Dec. 28, in Ibi, Spain.

Alberto Saiz / AP

Revelers take part in festival of Els Enfarinats, in the town of Ibi near Alicante, Spain, on Dec. 28.

David Ramos / Getty Images

Revelers take part in the battle of 'Enfarinats', a flour fight in celebration of the Els Enfarinats festival on Dec. 28, in Ibi, Spain.

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Source: http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/28/16215166-food-fight-spanish-town-arms-itself-with-eggs-flour-for-charity?lite

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In The Long Run ? Blog Archive ? The World Wide Web Is An ...

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Source: http://solateusta.blogspot.com/2012/12/in-long-run-blog-archive-world-wide-web.html

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Aliens! Gangsters! Superheroes! 10 video games for 2013

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13 hrs.

The holiday shopping season is officially over?and that means the spasm of big game launches is over as well,?right? Well, no. In some ways, the rush of video?game releases?is just getting started.

For a variety of?reasons, some of the games we were most looking forward to getting our thumbsticks on in 2012?had launch dates pushed back into early 2013. Quite a few hotly?anticipated games are stacked up for a debut in?the new year?... and?some are just weeks away from arriving on shelves.

And while the spring game line-up is crowded, the rest of the ?year is looking pretty packed?as well. Quite a few?best-selling game franchises will make a big return in 2013 while some brand new titles are getting ready to tempt players with original stories and?intriguing new?gameplay.

Below you'll find 10 of the games we're most looking forward in 2013. Stop by the discussion section?to let us know which titles you're saving your?hard earned?gold coins for.

"Dead Space 3," ?Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC?-?Feb. 5
The?space-faring fright?fest that is the "Dead Space" series gets a new entry in the next few weeks. But while the?previous games dropped players?into terrifying solo mission filled with grotesque?creatures known as Necromorphs, this newest game?encourages players to?experience these monstrosities (and the fear they inspire)?with a friend.

Two-player, drop-in/drop-out co-operative play is the name of the?game as?you and buddy head to the icy planet of?Tau Volantis to discover the source of the Necromorph plague. Sure, you can go it all alone, but you'll get more out of the?survival horror?story if you partner up. Also, you'll have someone to hug when the undead leap at you from the dark.?

"Aliens:?Colonial Marines," Wii?U,?Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation?3?-?Feb. 12
Speaking of a good space-faring scare, the "Alien" franchise is about to get another installment, in the form of a?video?game.?Not only has?Gearbox Software billed?"Aliens: Colonial Marines" as the spiritual sequel to Jim Cameron's?"Aliens"?? the second "Alien"?movie ??but the game?is even considered part of the canon by 20th Century Fox.

InGame editor Todd Kenreck got an advance look at "Aliens: Colonial Marines." Check out his video?above.

As the name suggests, you get to play a U.S.?Colonial Marine on a mission to investigate the U.S.S. Sulaco spaceship, and?find out what happened to Ellen Ripley and?her crew.?As you play, you'll get to visit some of the most famous?locations from the films and wield some of their?most iconic weapons and equipment. And?we're hoping that, at some point in the game, we'll also get to utter the phrase, "Game over man, game over!"

"Rayman Legends," Wii U?-?Feb. 26
The bright, colorful, zany platforming game "Rayman Origins" was one of my very?favorite games of 2011. And "Rayman Legends"???a direct sequel to that game???looks like it will offer even more?music-filled, action-packed, wacky fun???but with a new twist.?That is, "Rayman Legends"???originally scheduled to arrive in November???will launch exclusively for Nintendo's new Wii U game machine in February instead. And since it's a Wii U exclusive, that?means it will be putting the machine's unique tablet-style GamePad?controller to use.

I gave?"Legends" a try at the Penny Arcade Expo earlier this year and loved the way?one player could use?the GamePad controller ??and?its touchscreen ??to assist up to four other players using standard?Wii Remote controllers. You can use the GamePad to do?things like grab and pull creatures out of the ground, open secret paths and knock enemies out of the way. I dare say "Rayman Legends" is a very good reason to pick up a Wii U if you haven't already.

"Tomb Raider,"?Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC?-?March 5
The forthcoming "Tomb Raider" game is another title?that found itself?delayed from 2012 to 2013. But hopefully that extra time will mean extra polish for?this reboot of one of the most famous series?in video?game history.?

The action-adventure/platforming?game is set to?re-imagine leading lady Lara Croft's early, formative years. And while it has already inspired its fair share of controversy?due to an alleged sexual assault scene, we can't wait to see the new places the?developers take this storied franchise. From what we've seen so far, Croft has been given a darker, grittier backstory (a la the?character reboot we've seen in?the new Batman/Dark Knight?films). It's a backstory that makes her more human and less of a (top-heavy)?caricature. And to that we say: It's about time.

"Bioshock Infinite," PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC?-?March 26
Earlier this year, the team at Irrational Games told?us we'd have to wait until next year?to get our hands on "BioShock Infinite" because they wanted more time to make it "even more extraordinary."?Needless to say, after all this waiting, our expectation for this game???the third in the critically acclaimed?BioShock franchise???are very high.

And, indeed, "Infinite"?will take us back in time and?high up into the sky, as we play?agent Booker DeWitt, a man sent on a mission?to the airborne city of Columbia. His mission: to find a young woman named Elizabeth (recently?modeled by Russian gamer/costumer?Anna Moleva). This first-person shooter promises to?drop players into a intrigue-and-adventure-filled?alternate vision?of America during the Age of Steam, while bestowing upon?us?some unique powers.

The waiting isn't over yet, but in the meantime you can check out the new?video above, which offers a preview of the first few minutes of "Bioshock Infinite."

"Injustice: Gods Among Us," Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U - April
There is an age-old question asked by geeks of all ages: Who would win in a fight ... ?Batman or Superman? Flash or the Green Lantern? Catwoman or Wonder Woman? The forthcoming fighting game "Injustice: Gods Among Us" will, at last, provide us with the answers we seek.

The game drops many of your favorite heroes and villains from the DC Comics universe into "a world where the lines between good and evil are blurred." And it's here that the developers at NetherRealm promise "Injustice" will give us "heroes and villains engaging in epic battles on a massive scale." A look at the trailer above shows they aren't kidding. When superheroes collide, mere mortals better run and hide.

"The Last of Us," PlayStation 3?-?May 7
Brought to us by the developers behind the critically acclaimed?Uncharted games, "The Last of Us" not only promises to?blend survival and action gaming?elements in unique ways, but to take us on a story-driven journey with deep, well-crafted characters.

The game takes place 20 years after a plague decimated the population, leaving civilization in ruins and the survivors?not only fighting off?infected humans but fighting with?their own fellow survivors as well. It's in this setting that we meet the grizzled survivor?Joel and the?14 year-old girl, Ellie, that he's charged with protecting. "The Last of Us" is the kind of game aimed at?grown-up players looking for thoughtfully?crafted,?grown-up gaming. Fans of "The Walking Dead" should definitely be?lining up for this one.

"Grand Theft Auto V,"?PlayStation 3, Xbox 360?-?Spring 2013
At long last, Grand Theft Auto?is hitting the road again. The?GTA games have pioneered open-world gaming, giving players the freedom to roam immense digital landscapes filled with crime,?adventure and?some very colorful characters. And Rockstar says that "GTAV" ??which takes place in and around?the fictional Southern California city of Los Santos???will be its?biggest game?yet.

"Grand Theft Auto V"?will allow players to switch between three friends/partners in crime and will?center around performing heists.?We'll get to play?Michael, a wealthy ex-gangster; Trevor, a wise-cracking crazy man with a short fuse; and?Franklin, a professional repo man. Sounds like a recipe for?trouble?... and lots of crime-filled?fun. Meanwhile,?"GTAV" developer Rockstar Games?recently revealed that the game will head underwater as well. And as the new?screenshot above indicates, that means we better get ready?for ...?sharks!

"Pikmin 3," Wii U?-?Spring/Summer 2013
Nintendo recently announced that it was delaying its?highly anticipated real-time?strategy game until the second quarter of 2013. And while waiting is a bummer, we're used to it when it comes to this delightful series.

It's been?eight long?years since "Pikmin 2" let us control swarms of the?adorable?little ant-like creatures?as they try to survive in the big BIG world. With "Pikmin 3,"?we'll be able to control these delightful Pikmin using either the GamePad or Wii Remote controller as we?set them to various tasks such as breaking down barriers, harvesting food and?taking out enemies. And?for the first time ever, we'll?get to see these creatures and their strange, wonderful?world in gorgeous HD.

"Beyond: Two Souls,"?PlayStation 3?- Late?2013
"'Beyond' will be unlike anything else you've experienced before," David Cage, the director for this forthcoming PlayStation 3?game has promised. And we have good reason to believe him. "Beyond: Two Souls" is being made by the team at?Quantic Dream, the development company that brought us the surprisingly compelling and emotionally mature cinematic game "Heavy Rain."?

"Beyond: Two Souls" is described as?a "psychological action thriller;" and it will star the excellent Academy Award-nominated actress?Ellen Page?as Jodie Holmes,?a young woman who possesses strange, supernatural powers thanks to a?psychic link to an invisible entity.?Cage says the?game will take players on a journey through?15 years of Holmes'?life as it explore themes of?death and the afterlife.?Your decisions will?determine her fate. Very intriguing indeed.

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

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/ingame/aliens-gangsters-superheroes-10-video-games-look-forward-2013-1C7661431

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Friday, December 28, 2012

Over the fiscal cliff: Soft or hard landing?

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Efforts to save the nation from going over a year-end "fiscal cliff" were still in disarray as lawmakers returned to the Capitol to confront the tax-and-spend crisis. A tone-setting quotation was Democratic Sen. Harry Reid's assertion that the House under Republican Speaker John Boehner had been "operating with a dictatorship."

President Barack Obama flew back to Washington from Hawaii after telephoning congressional leaders from his Christmas vacation perch. Once back, he set up a meeting with leaders of both parties at the White House late Friday to make a fresh attempt to find a solution before Monday night's deadline.

A look at why it's so hard for Republicans and Democrats to compromise on urgent matters of taxes and spending, and what happens if they fail to meet their deadline:

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NEW YEAR'S HEADACHE

Partly by fate, partly by design, some scary fiscal forces come together at the start of 2013 unless Congress and Obama act to stop them. They include:

? Some $536 billion in tax increases, touching nearly all Americans, because various federal tax cuts and breaks expire at year's end.

? About $110 billion in spending cuts divided equally between the military and most other federal departments. That's about 8 percent of their annual budgets, 9 percent for the Pentagon.

Hitting the national economy with that double whammy of tax increases and spending cuts is what's called going over the "fiscal cliff." If allowed to unfold over 2013, it would lead to recession, a big jump in unemployment and financial market turmoil, economists predict.

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WHAT IF THEY MISS THE DEADLINE?

If New Year's Day arrives without a deal, the nation shouldn't plunge onto the shoals of recession immediately. There still might be time to engineer a soft landing.

So long as lawmakers and the president appear to be working toward agreement, the tax hikes and spending cuts could mostly be held at bay for a few weeks. Then they could be repealed retroactively once a deal was reached.

The big wild card is the stock market and the nation's financial confidence: Would traders start to panic if Washington appeared unable to reach accord? Would worried consumers and businesses sharply reduce their spending? In what could be a preview, stock prices around the world dropped Friday after House Republican leaders' plan for addressing the fiscal cliff collapsed.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has warned lawmakers that the economy is already suffering from the uncertainty and they shouldn't risk making it worse by blowing past their deadline.

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WHAT IF THEY NEVER AGREE?

If negotiations between Obama and Congress collapse completely, 2013 looks like a rocky year.

Taxes would jump $2,400 on average for families with incomes of $50,000 to $75,000, according to a study by the non-partisan Tax Policy Center. Because consumers would get less of their paychecks to spend, businesses and jobs would suffer.

At the same time, Americans would feel cuts in government services; some federal workers would be furloughed or laid off, and companies would lose government business. The nation would lose up to 3.4 million jobs, the Congressional Budget Office predicts.

"The consequences of that would be felt by everybody," Bernanke says.

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THE TAXES

Much of the disagreement surrounds the George W. Bush-era income tax cuts, and whether those rates should be allowed to rise for the nation's wealthiest taxpayers. Both political parties say they want to protect the middle class from tax increases.

Several tax breaks begun in 2009 to stimulate the economy by aiding low- and middle-income families are also set to expire Jan. 1. The alternative minimum tax would expand to catch 28 million more taxpayers, with an average increase of $3,700 a year. Taxes on investments would rise, too. More deaths would be covered by the federal estate tax, and the rate climbs from 35 percent to 55 percent. Some corporate tax breaks would end.

The temporary Social Security payroll tax cut also is due to expire. That tax break for most Americans seems likely to end even if a fiscal cliff deal is reached, now that Obama has backed down from his call to prolong it as an economic stimulus.

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THE SPENDING

If the nation goes over the fiscal cliff, budget cuts of 8 percent or 9 percent would hit most of the federal government, touching all sorts of things from agriculture to law enforcement and the military to weather forecasting. A few areas, such as Social Security benefits, Veterans Affairs and some programs for the poor, are exempt.

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THERE'S MORE AT STAKE

All sorts of stuff could get wrapped up in the fiscal cliff deal-making. A sampling:

? Some 2 million jobless Americans may lose their federal unemployment aid. Obama wants to continue the benefits extension as part of the deal; Republicans say it's too costly.

? Social Security recipients might see their checks grow more slowly. As part of a possible deal, Obama and Republican leaders want to change the way cost-of-living adjustments are calculated, which would mean smaller checks over the years for retirees who get Social Security, veterans' benefits or government pensions.

? The price of milk could double. If Congress doesn't provide a fix for expiring dairy price supports before Jan. 1, milk-drinking families could feel the pinch. One scenario is to attach a farm bill extension to the fiscal cliff legislation ? if a compromise is reached in time.

? Millions of taxpayers who want to file their 2012 returns before mid-March will be held up while they wait to see if Congress comes through with a deal to stop the alternative minimum tax from hitting more people.

___

CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF?

In theory, Congress and Obama could just say no to the fiscal cliff, by extending all the tax cuts and overturning the automatic spending reductions in current law. But both Republicans and Democrats agree it's time to take steps to put the nation on a path away from a future of crippling debt.

Indeed, the automatic spending cuts set for January were created as a last-ditch effort to force Congress to deal with the debt problem.

If Washington bypassed the fiscal cliff, the next crisis would be just around the corner, in late February or early March, when the government reaches a $16.4 trillion ceiling on the amount of money it can borrow.

Boehner says Republicans won't go along with raising the limit on government borrowing unless the increase is matched by spending cuts to help attack the long-term debt problem. Failing to raise the debt ceiling could lead to a first-ever U.S. default that would roil the financial markets and shake worldwide confidence in the United States.

To avoid that scenario, Obama and Boehner are trying to wrap a debt limit agreement into the fiscal cliff negotiations.

___

SO WHAT'S THE HOLDUP?

They're at loggerheads over some big questions.

Obama says any deal must include higher taxes for the wealthiest Americans. Many House Republicans oppose raising anyone's tax rates. Boehner tried to get the House to vote for higher taxes only on incomes above $1 million but dropped the effort when it became clear he didn't have the votes.

Republicans also insist on deeper spending cuts than Democrats want to make. And they want to bring the nation's long-term debt under control by significantly curtailing the growth of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security ? changes that many Democrats oppose.

Obama, meanwhile, wants more temporary economic "stimulus" spending to help speed up a sluggish recovery. Republicans say the nation can't afford it.

___

IT'S NOT JUST WASHINGTON

Seems like they could just make nice, shake hands and split their differences, right?

But there's a reason neither side wants to give ground. The two parties represent a divided and inconsistent America. True, Obama just won re-election. But voters also chose a Republican majority in the House.

Republican and Democrats alike say they are doing what the voters back home want.

Neither side has a clear advantage in public opinion. In an Associated Press-GfK poll, 43 percent said they trust the Democrats more to manage the federal budget deficit and 40 percent preferred the Republicans. There's a similar split on who's more trusted with taxes.

About half of Americans support higher taxes for the wealthy, the poll says, and about 10 percent want tax increases all around. Still, almost half say cutting government services, not raising taxes, should be the main focus of lawmakers as they try to balance the budget.

When asked about specific budget cuts being discussed in Washington, few Americans express support for them.

___

THE COUNTDOWN

Time for deal-making is short, thanks to the holiday and congressional calendars. Some key dates for averting the fiscal cliff:

? Lawmakers didn't begin returning to the Capitol until Thursday, leaving less than a week to vote on a compromise before year's end.

? Obama returned Thursday from his Christmas vacation in Hawaii. The president asked congressional leaders to the White House Friday to try to resolve the fiscal cliff.

? If lawmakers reach Dec. 31 without a deal, some economists worry that the financial markets might swoon.

? The current Congress is in session only through noon Eastern time on Jan. 3. After that, a newly elected Congress with 13 new senators and 82 new House members would inherit the problem.

___

Associated Press writers Jim Kuhnhenn, Alan Fram and Andrew Taylor and Director of Polling Jennifer Agiesta contributed to this report.

___

Follow Connie Cass on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ConnieCass

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/over-fiscal-cliff-soft-hard-landing-082737436.html

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3 Home Improvement Ideas & Trends from the Seattle Home Show ...

LED lighting, covered outdoor patios & updating master bathrooms are 3 hot Home Improvement trends that we learned about at the Seattle Home Show. Read the full article: www.realestate.com Thanks to all the people we talked to at the home show and a special thanks to Malones Landscape and Ferguson photos and ideas.

Source: http://sangbayang.info/37-3-home-improvement-ideas-trends-from-the-seattle-home-show

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Health and Fitness: Back Pain - Some Clues to Discovering the Cause

Many people suffer from back pain which can be induced by many different factors. A single incident in a persons life can actually lead to long-lasting back pain. Oftentimes, this can also be a symptom related to being sick. More frequently, however, it comes about as the result of your daily habits, many of which you might not even be aware of. In fact, the way that we exercise, walk, and even sleep, can actually cause enough strain on our backs to cause everyday discomfort.

People that have back pain sometimes overlook the fact that their mobile device could be the source of the problem. These problems are actually affecting younger people. This is because older adults typically do not use tablets and smart phones as much as the younger generation. We are not talking about directly harming your back. It's the way we use them, which is often in uncomfortable positions. You can actually cause a great deal of strain on your back by simply bending over your device when using it or holding it in a prolonged position for too long. Although most people will not understand that their use of electronic devices is causing their back problems, over time, it is easy to see that our habitual use of certain devices is causing our difficulties.

When your posture is affected by wearing the wrong type of shoes, you may experience back pain. Women that wear high heeled shoes are most likely going to suffer from back issues because the shoes do not offer adequate support. Wearing cowboy boots can cause the same type of discomfort. You will be putting several parts of your body at risk for strain or injury if you opt for inappropriate footwear. Posture and walking in a balanced way is important for the health of your back, and this requires the right footwear. Any type of back injury is probably why you have back pain now. Many times the injury occurs to your spine which can cause a misalignment which may lead to the pain you feel. Car accidents are notorious for giving people back injuries, even if it is a small one. Spinal injuries are also prominent in contact sports like football and wrestling. If you do workouts on a regular basis that strengthen your back muscles, this can help prevent injuries from occurring. Certain exercises must be done carefully or else you may injure your spine while working out. Never read too much weight! Alway work out using the right amount in the proper style for each exercise.

Even though old age is not actually the reason for back pain, there are quite a few folks that will have had previous issues that seem more prevalent as they age. Osteoporosis is a disease primarily in women and will lessen the strength of your bones, which will make them more susceptible to fractures and breaks. Osteoarthritis can result in pain over the entire body, with the spine being the most susceptible.

On a more serious note, if you develop kidney problems you may experience back pain. This condition is not to be taken lightly. Since the kidneys are located in the region of your lower back - right about waist level - a kidney infection or kidney stones you will normally result in pain in this region. Typically, you will also have pain when you urinate and additional pains in your lower abdomen, as well as your lower back. If you're having any symptoms of this nature, it's important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Your medical provider can give you a urinalysis test and other tests, such as an ultrasound. These can help him or her determine if you have a kidney problem. Don't jump to the conclusion that, if you have lower back pain, it is caused by a kidney condition. However, if you have even the tiniest suspicion that you might have a kidney infection or other kidney problems, don't hesitate to have it checked out.

Unfortunately, even your doctor may not be able to accurately diagnose why you are having back pain. In a lot of cases, the problem is easy to ascertain. If you improperly lifted a heavy box you may pull a muscle and end up with back pain. However, in other instances, the cause isn't so obvious. In this report, we've only mentioned some of the many reasons that someone might get a backache, or more serious back pain.

Source: http://healthfitness0.blogspot.com/2012/12/back-pain-some-clues-to-discovering.html

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Thursday, December 27, 2012

Your 2013 Guide to Investing in Gold ? Money Morning - Only the ...

Insights on Investing in Gold

His answer: Physical bullion remains a top play; the physical metal is a vehicle for profit, and will serve as an excellent hedge against inflation and the many problems that remain in both the global and domestic U.S. economies.

But gold miners are so cheap that they, too, deserve a look.

Well, at least some of them do.

"Bill, you'll see statements from some of Wall Street's big guns that gold miners are cheap right now," Peter told me during a telephone chat last week. "And that's true. They are cheap on a numerical [fundamental] basis, especially compared with historical valuations. But gold miners are cheap in another way, too - a way that Wall Street's either not telling us about, or just doesn't understand."

Needless to say, that last statement grabbed my attention. And I told him so.

Peter laughed, and then went on with his commentary.

"Over the last decade or so, the best of these companies have aggressively expanded their reserves. They've done so organically - that is, developed properties themselves. And they've done so by purchasing small development-stage, or production-stage players," Peter said. "Investors don't realize just how much it costs to add reserves - especially if a company is doing so by itself. That's particularly true today, with all the regulations and public protests boosting environmental and compliance costs."

Statistics Peter provided bear this out. In 1991, there were 11 gold discoveries. Twenty years later - in 2011 - there were three. And companies spent $8 billion looking for new strikes that same year.

"So you see, Bill, that the miners that already added reserves had tremendous foresight," Peter said. "Having spent a number of years just growing their reserves, all it will take to reap the payoff will be some event that kicks off a mania in gold prices. And we're not talking about longshot odds for that to happen. All you need is the "right' set of events, either domestically or globally, to cause gold prices to rise. When that happens, gold-mining stocks will be off to the races."

Gold prices have suffered of late because of a strong U.S. dollar. That surprising strength (in the face of the whole "fiscal-cliff" mess) stems from the fact that worries about Europe have transformed the dollar into a "safe-haven" investment.

Gold and the dollar are negatively correlated because gold is priced in dollars, but most of the buyers aren't in dollar-based economies. (Because these buyers are Swiss, Indian or Chinese, just to name a few, they look at the price of gold in Swiss francs, Indian rupees or Chinese renminbi. And if the U.S. dollar is strong, the price of gold in dollars is weak - even if the native currency price remains the same.)

So the rise we've seen in the dollar has been accompanied by a sell-off in gold.

Investing in Gold Stocks

Naturally, that sell-off in gold has affected gold stocks.

Over the past three months Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE: NEM) is down about 21% and Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE: ABX) is down about 20%, but the SPDR Gold Shares ETF is down only about 5%.

Looking ahead, the U.S. Federal Reserve's plan to continue printing money (and that of the European Central Bank (ECB), or the new stimulus plan we're likely to get from the Bank of Japan (BOJ) should be very good for gold.

And a jump in gold prices will be even better for gold miners.
The reason for that is called "leverage."

When gold prices jump, a gold-producer sees its earnings accelerate at a faster pace than the price of the actual metal.

I saw a hypothetical in a recent edition of USA Today that explains this perfectly.

For example, if you own a mine that can produce gold for $1,100 an ounce, but gold is trading at $1,200, you're making a profit of $100 an ounce.

But what if gold jumps from that $1,200 price level to, say, $1,500? That's a price increase of $300, or 25%. For the gold miner, however, profits have jumped from $100 to $300 - a 200% gain.

Two miners to consider are Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE: NEM) and Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE: ABX).

"One of the ones that I like is Newmont," Peter told me. "It has a very good dividend yield of nearly 3.2%. It's well-diversified geographically. The stock has gone sideways for a very long time and now the company is making a very concerted effort to keep its costs down."

Then there's the Toronto-based Barrick, the world's biggest gold producer.

"Barrick, like other miners, has seen that investors are not exactly thrilled with the performance of their shares," Peter said. "The reason for that is that the company spent a number of years just growing its reserves. But it did so by using its own stock as currency to buy the smaller companies that we talked about earlier. That was very dilutive."

But Barrick has suddenly gotten religion - of the shareholder variety. In June, it fired CEO Aaron Regent after less than four years on the job: Board members were apparently peeved that the company's share price didn't move during that period, despite the huge run-up in gold prices.

"Going forward, just from the signs or evidence that I've seen, the company has adopted a much more investor-attentive attitude - and the ouster of the CEO is just one bit of that evidence," Peter said. "The company is trying to focus on keeping its costs in line. And it's trying to produce the hell out of what it already has in the ground. The odds are high that we'll have a pretty good six to 12 months to come."

Barrick's 2.4% dividend isn't bad either - especially because of the current "zero-interest-rate-policy" (ZIRP) environment.

If you want the full lowdown on what's to come in the natural-resources sector - which we believe will have a big year in 2013 - take some time to see everything that Peter is looking at by clicking here.

Related Articles and News:

Source: http://moneymorning.com/2012/12/27/your-2013-guide-to-investing-in-gold/

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Janet Jackson Engaged To Billionaire Wissam Al Mana!

Janet Jackson Engaged To Billionaire Wissam Al Mana!

Janet Jackson getting married!Singer Janet Jackson has announced that she is getting married to billionaire businessman, Wissam Al Mana after accepting his marriage proposal earlier this year. Jackson will have a huge wedding, sparing no expense. A source close the Janet Jackson and Wissam reveal she has a huge sparkler, but keeps it under lock and key. The ...

Janet Jackson Engaged To Billionaire Wissam Al Mana! Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2012/12/janet-jackson-engaged-to-billionaire-wissam-al-mana/

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Insert Coin: 2012's top 10 crowd-funded projects

Insert Coin: 2012's top 10 crowd-funded projects

This trip around the sun has been a monumental one for crowdfunding, marked by big projects and astronomical numbers. Take Kickstarter wunderkind OUYA, for example, which raised more than $8.5 million in funding from 63,416 backers. Kickstarter itself has even grown and matured, expanding to the UK and putting its foot down when it comes to pitching hardware by requiring working prototypes and assessments of risks and challenges. Out of the 60 crowdfunding efforts that crossed our desks as Insert Coins in 2012, 47 were successfully funded, four still have time to rake in funds and nine fell short of their goals or were otherwise stymied. We've handpicked and placed the top 10 projects that won our hearts and, on occasion, our hard-earned scratch after the break.

Continue reading Insert Coin: 2012's top 10 crowd-funded projects

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/j_svFCVqdwQ/

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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Christopher Lee: A Heavy Metal Christmas

Apparently Christopher Lee, the guy what played Saruman in LoTR, is a fan of metal. He's also a fan of Christmas. So, he did the only logical thing that someone who likes both metal and Christmas would do—he recorded a metal Christmas album. No, seriously. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/9glZ-px9iLM/christopher-lee-a-heavy-metal-christmas

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NASA's Recon Orbiter Is the Most Important Thing We've Ever Thrown at Mars

The Opportunity, Spirit, and Curiosity rovers may get the headlines for their craters clamoring exploits but it's NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, quietly observing the planet turn from 178 miles up, that's most critical to our exploration of the Red Planet. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/thkId8O1dGI/nasas-recon-orbiter-is-the-most-important-thing-weve-ever-thrown-at-mars

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Try Practicing These Great Self Improvement Tips Today! | Mind and ...

The concept of self improvement is based on a person improving themselves in all ways on a regular basis. You?ll have to build self-awareness, learn new things, and develop spiritually, all leading to the fulfillment of your personal goals. The aim of this article is to assist you with some ways to enhance your self improvement goals. Taking steps can help you find a better understanding of yourself.

Many people often have goals that are too broad, when they are trying to grow through personal development. Make sure to come up with a target goal for yourself. When you have specific goals set, you will find that you get results.

TIP! Getting out and living your life can really enhance your quest for personal development. You need to chose to actively participate in your life instead of being a spectator.

To achieve success, list personal development goals that are broken down into specifics. The more specific your goals, the easier it will be to chart a course from where you are now to where you want to be in the future. You can face each challenge and move on to the success you desire.

Read some good books about self improvement. The best personal development books can give you new ideas and advice that could change your life forever. Books on the topic of self improvement can be poorly written. To avoid this, make sure you read books that have been reviewed well.

TIP! You should try to become the best at what you do. The passions you have should always make you want to achieve greatness.

Go to the movies with a friend. You will be out and about but not have to socialize as much. You will also begin to get comfortable being around large groups of people.

Remove the disorder and chaos from your life. Bringing structure to your life will give you a great sense of accomplishment, and living a more organized life will boost your confidence. Additionally, it will remove the stress caused by living a disorganized life. Having everything in its own place instills a calming energy.

TIP! In order to have a lifestyle that you love, set goals that you are sure that you can accomplish. When you determine what your weaknesses are, you can address them properly and become a better you.

Perhaps you have set high goals for yourself and keep failing to attain them. If this is the case, it is a good idea to stop and think why. Compare your goals with the goals of others that you can research online. You may find that you are setting the bar too high, forgetting a critical step, or not allocating enough of your resources to solving the problem.

Are you having a hard time finding that special someone? Perhaps you should try the Internet. Four out of ten couples meet online these days. You never know, the person you are looking for could also be looking for someone! Free sites have advantages and disadvantages, but so do paid dating sites.

TIP! Start giving other people compliments. Resist the urge to focus on the negative and instead speak out in kindness to others and you will find yourself being kinder to yourself, as well.

You must monitor your progress whenever you undertake a personal development project. Take heed of the advice provided here so that you can determine how this should occur. When you monitor your progress with any task, you will surely begin to notice improvement.

Now you have some more information about development to use to your advantage. This is an excellent start, but don?t neglect additional research. Use your time wisely so you?re able to get the success you desire. Do more research and adapt the tips and strategies you come across so they are relevant to your projects.

Categories: Personal Development | Tags: Personal Development | Permalink

Author: manpro

European Marketing Professional Online- and Networkmarketer Online Afiliate Marketer

Source: http://www.mindandbodymagic.com/try-practicing-these-great-self-improvement-tips-today/

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Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Video: After a long night, Santa pays a visit to Studio 1A

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Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50271431/

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The Adoration of the Shepherds, Andrea Mantegna - Lines and Colors

The Adoration of the Shepherds, Andrea Mantegna
The Adoration of the Shepherds, Andrea Mantegna.

In the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Click ?Fullscreen? under the image and use zoom controls or download arrow.

Painted in the mid 15th century, this astonishingly sculptural Nativity scene is a marvel of details and textures, from the craggy face of a weary Joseph and the grotesque face of the foreground shepherd, to the wonderfully geometrical rocks, banks and cliffs that form the setting.

The deep and richly detailed background is filled with marvelous landscape elements; multiple scenes unfold on the roads, hills, waterway and cliffside.

Even the multitude of pebbles throughout the image are rendered with loving detail.

Wonderful.

Source: http://www.linesandcolors.com/2012/12/25/the-adoration-of-the-shepherds-andrea-mantegna/

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Use This Advice To Market Your Business Online - Empower Network

You can expand your audience and greatly increase your profits by Internet promotion. If so, internet promotion might be just what you are looking for. Web marketing can produce fast results, depending on how you approach it, and it?s as simple as generating ads that people will view along with other content on their computer screens. Continue reading for tips on how to optimize your experience with internet marketing.

Customers will be more likely to purchase if they know that you offer a money back guarantee. Such policies will put your customers at ease and give you a respectable and trusted persona. Assuming the risks and giving your costumers a level of security will build your trust level with them.

It?s important that you appear to be a user-friendly business to your customers, and this means that you should think about getting the right type of error page (500 page). Visitors will see this page when something goes haywire with your site?s automated database code. A boring page that gives this message may annoy your potential customer. You can inform your customers that you know about the problem and are working on resolving it in by better methods than resorting to the generic error page.

TIP! Make any emails you send out personalized. Your customers and subscribers will appreciate a personal email.

Think about your customers when making your site and promoting it. Is it truly user-friendly? Does it engage your customers? Can your orders be placed quickly and clearly? All the SEO in the world will be pointless if your potential customers have trouble navigating your site once they get there.

People tend to show respect for authority in business. When you establish your online business website, make sure that your customers understand that you are in charge. The first thing you want to do is name yourself as president or as the CEO of the business you?re running.

If you are going to create a web page, you should plan it thoroughly before you begin. You should also investigate various directories and decide on the types of articles you will include. Find out the requirements for the particular directories you prefer. Bear these requirements in mind as you craft your articles.

TIP! In order to increase ad revenue, customize your site?s banners and make them look less like advertisements. Make them look as if they are links that can be clicked in order to get to more content.

Usually you want to avoid mixing your business into your personal life. However, this is one of the few exceptions. This is because there generally isn?t a lot of pressure to succeed, and you can spend as much or as little time on it as you want. Working alongside your spouse makes this even more fun.

Give your customers incentives to get referrals. Transform a single sale into many by offering rewards to customers for bringing family and friends to your website. Everybody likes something for nothing, so when you offer freebies, your website traffic will increase and so will your sales.

Observe what words were used in conversations so you can use them in other Internet marketing campaigns. If you use familiar vocabulary, people will be more likely to reach out to you and feel comfortable about it. By using vernacular that your customers are already using in regards to your brand, you become more related to.

TIP! Offer subscription services for your most popular products. If they buy ink tanks regularly, reward them with a discount if they buy at leat one each month.

Entice your customers with discounts for shopping with you. For instance, you could offer ten percent discounts on orders over 200 dollars. Such discount arrangements motivate your existing customers to come back and place larger orders with you.

Doing business on the internet is often an impersonal, anonymous affair. Small businesses tend to get more sales because of personal selling as well as relationship marketing. You do not want to cut that off from your website.

Make sure your Web marketing contains updated content on a consistent basis to help create more interest for customers. When you have determined the appropriate tone, stick to that one and stay consistent in your image. Give your customers the opportunity to leave feedback so you can improve your website and service.

TIP! You should give your customer an option of either buying in bulk or retail. You should always be making money on wholesale items you?re selling and it great for increasing the amount you sell.

When trying to get people to advertise your site or have them link to it, make it simple for them to do so by including a link to us button. An advertising badge or a linking badge lets people know that it?s fairly easy to work with you or to link with you. This is something that?s mutually beneficial for you and anyone else out there with a website.

Your business will gain profit and be more productive with the help of these tips. Website marketing can really help you to target a larger customer base. Use these Website marketing tips to gain customers.

TIP! Find other businesses that would be interested in your products, and offer them promotional discounts of product or service bundles. This method is very efficient at linking many different markets, which will increase your sales.

P.S.-If you love to make money in internet marketing and would love to make an extra $1000/day blogging with it, find out how my 2 friends are helping thousands of people make money about their passions ===> Discover why this game-changer is the most bad-ass make money internet marketing deal in the industry!

Source: http://www.empowernetwork.com/valentinocrawford/blog/use-this-advice-to-market-your-business-online/

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Cats and song tributes dominate viral videos

By Randee Dawn, TODAY contributor

This year, we discovered it was possible to mash up wildly divergent parts of pop culture (Cookie Monster and The Dark Knight), or pretend we were riding horses ("Gangnam Style" tributes) or just watch a cat spin on a turntable. And then we sent those videos around. Everywhere. To everyone.

In case you missed some of the year's great viral videos, we've compiled?a list of our favorites.

(Note: Some of the videos may have adult language, or situations.)

Movies

Darth Vader visits Disneyland, rides teacups

Okay, so it was part of a big ad campaign following Disney?s acquisition of George Lucas? space opera epic -- but that didn?t make the mashup of Lord Vader with the Happiest Place on Earth any less hilarious. Thanks to cheap editing software and a prevailing geek ethic, virals featuring comic book characters/movie franchise heroes (Batman Gets Lost Thanks to Apple Maps) and straight-up Pixar favorites (?Toy Story? toys burn up in family prank on Mom) were among the most popular this year. And let?s not forget the mashups: Prepare for your holiday travel with the Scariest Flights from Films in One Supercut and then calm your nerves by watching 250 Movies in 2 Minutes.

TV

Downton Tabby

Popular TV shows were ripe for parody. PBS?s ?Downton Abbey? offered the most fertile ground for hilarity, from the use of cats (see above) to subbing in a former Will Smith character (The Fresh Prince of ?Downton Abbey?). ?Breaking Bad? also was popular for mixologists, who blended the meth-making characters with a pop tune (Taylor Swift Takes ?Breaking Bad? Turn). Sometimes multiple shows got mashed together, as in Don Draper Eats Brains on ?Walking Dead Mad Men.? And wouldn?t ?Game of Thrones? be even more interesting if, instead of swords, they borrowed from "Star Wars"? (?Game of Thrones? with Lightsabers.)

PBS

Happy Little Trees Grow Again in Bob Ross video

If ?Downton Abbey? held a warm place in many readers? hearts, nostalgia for PBS and Muppet-related programming was white-hot. Gentle painter Bob Ross was able to paint again, while singing, thanks to auto-tune (see video above), a connection was forged between Cookie Monster and Batman (Video Proves Dark Knight is Secretly Cookie Monster), and the Muppets welcomed ?The Voice?s? Cee Lo into their homes (Muppets Join Cee Lo on ?All I Need Is Love? video).?

Music

USA Olympic Swimming Team?s ?Call Me Maybe? Tribute

U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen Go ?Gangnam Style?

A newcomer to the U.S. must think everyone is out there dancing (or galloping) in the streets 24/7, thanks to the flood of ?Gangnam Style? and ?Call Me Maybe? tribute videos. (The original "Gangnam Style" video itself hit 1 billion views on Dec. 21.) Among the most-watched of these videos here at TODAY.com were the Olympic Swimming Team?s tribute to the Carly Rae Jepsen song?and the Naval Academy?s take on ?Gangnam Style.? Ohio University?s band also got into the ?Gangnam? act, as did Hugh Jackman when singer PSY visited the ?Wolverine? set, and clever editors managed to get both Klingons and Bill Nye in on the Korean pop sensation. Even the president got in on it, unwittingly, thanks to auto-tune and some clever editing, as his ?version? of ?Call Me Maybe? proves.

Kids

Autistic child ballerina dances her way into viewers' hearts with viral video

Songs are funny but kids are gold: One of our most popular stories of the entire year came from the video of an autistic child ballerina going through her steps in perfect precision with a pro. Katy Perry also stepped up to the mic with a little girl who had autism and sang with her onstage. And lest anyone think all kids can do is sing, it turns out they can also kick a little butt, as the ?Dragon Baby? video showed in graphic (hey, stuffing is just pouring out of that toy?s wound!) detail.?

Cats and Dogs

Cat Wanders Into Weather Report

Cats don?t care. They just do their thing. And sometimes, when they do, a camera captures their awesome indifference. Another one of the year?s top clicks went to the kitty who wandered onto Univision?s Miami news set as Eduardo Rodriguez read out the weather; the crew just couldn?t stop laughing, but at no time did Rodriguez break a sweat. A cat also delighted readers with its ride on a record player, and to be fair to canines, the much-clicked sight of actor Kevin Bacon diving into a pool with his pet pit bull Lucy was also hugely popular.

So what was your favorite viral video of the past year? What did we miss? Let us know on Facebook!

More Entertainment news:

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2012/12/24/15997192-from-gangnam-style-to-weather-cats-2012-was-a-banner-year-for-viral-videos?lite

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Israel rejects US gun lobby claims on its security

JERUSALEM (AP) ? Israel's policy on issuing guns is restrictive, and armed guards at its schools are meant to stop terrorists, not crazed or disgruntled gunmen, experts said Monday, rejecting claims by America's top gun lobby that Israel serves as proof for its philosophy that the U.S. needs more weapons, not fewer.

Far from the image of a heavily armed population where ordinary people have their own arsenals to repel attackers, Israel allows its people to acquire firearms only if they can prove their professions or places of residence put them in danger. The country relies on its security services, not armed citizens, to prevent terror attacks.

Though military service in Israel is compulsory, routine familiarity with weapons does not carry over into civilian life. Israel has far fewer private weapons per capita than the U.S., and while there have been gangster shootouts on the streets from time to time, gun rampages outside the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are unheard of.

The National Rifle Association responded to the Dec. 14 killing of 20 first-graders and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school by resisting calls for tighter gun control and calling for armed guards and police at schools. On Sunday, the lobby's chief executive, Wayne LaPierre, invoked his perception of the Israeli school security system to back his proposal.

"Israel had a whole lot of school shootings until they did one thing: They said, 'We're going to stop it,' and they put armed security in every school and they have not had a problem since then," LaPierre said on the NBC News show "Meet the Press."

Israel never had "a whole lot of school shootings." Authorities could only recall two in the past four decades.

In 1974, 22 children and three adults were killed in a Palestinian attack on an elementary school in Maalot, near the border with Lebanon. The attackers' goal was to take the children hostage and trade them for imprisoned militants.

In 2008, another Palestinian assailant killed eight young people, most of them teens, at a nighttime study session at a Jewish religious seminary in Jerusalem. An off-duty soldier who happened to be in the area killed the attacker with his personal firearm.

Israel didn't mandate armed guards at the entrances to all schools until 1995, the Education Ministry said ? more than two decades after the Maalot attack and two years after a Palestinian militant wounded five pupils and their principal in a knifing at a Jerusalem school.

Israel's lightly armed school guards are not the first or the last line of defense. They are backed up by special police forces on motorcycles that can be on the scene within minutes ? again bringing out the main, but not the only, difference between the two systems.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor spelled it out.

"We're fighting terrorism, which comes under very specific geopolitical and military circumstances. This is not something that compares with the situation in the U.S," Palmor said.

Because it is aimed at preventing terror attacks, Israel's school security system is part of a multi-layered defense strategy that focuses on prevention and doesn't depend on a guy at a gate with a gun.

Intelligence gathering inside Palestinian territories, a large military force inside the West Bank and a barrier of towering concrete slabs and electronic fencing along and inside the West Bank provide the first line of defense.

Guards are stationed not just at schools, but at many other public facilities, including bus and train stations, parking lots, malls and restaurants.

"There are other measures of prevention of an attack taking place, which are carried out 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all over the country," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Many are not for public knowledge.

Gun lobbyists who might think Israel hands out guns freely to keep its citizens safe might be less enamored of Israel's actual gun laws, which are much stricter than those in the U.S. For one thing, notes Yakov Amit, head of the firearms licensing department at the Ministry of Public Security, Israeli law does not guarantee the right to bear arms as the U.S. Constitution does.

"The policy in Israel is restrictive," he said.

Gun licensing to private citizens is limited largely to people who are deemed to need a firearm because they work or live in dangerous areas, Amit said. West Bank settlers, for instance, can apply for weapons licenses, as can residents of communities on the borders with Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. Licensing requires multiple levels of screening, and permits must be renewed every three years. Renewal is not automatic.

The policy is designed "to strike a balance between needs and risks," Amit said. "We know that weapons are a dangerous thing, and in the hands of someone who isn't trained or isn't reliable, it causes problems."

The gap between Israeli gun ownership and U.S. gun ownership is consequently staggering. A total of 170,000 guns are licensed for private use in Israel, or about one gun for every 30 adults.

In addition to the privately held weapons, 130,000 guns are licensed to Israeli security companies, firing ranges, government ministries and companies that operate in areas deemed dangerous. Soldiers who carry assault rifles off base during their regular or reserves service turn them in when they complete their tours of duty.

By contrast, U.S. authorities estimate that at least one-third of all American households have firearms ? and in many cases, not only one.

Americans are also much freer to choose what type of guns they buy. Automatic weapons of the type Lanza used to gun down his victims are banned for private ownership in Israel. It is also rare for a person to be authorized to own more than one firearm, Amit said.

Eighty percent of the 10,000 people who apply yearly for licenses are turned down, he said. In the U.S., people can purchase firearms from private dealers without a background check or a license of any kind.

In Israel, applicants must undergo police screening and medical exams, in part to determine their mental state, Amit said.

Many Israelis receive weapons training in the military. But to be licensed to receive a weapon outside the military, they must undergo at least two hours of additional training, then repeat the training and medical exams every three years before they can renew their licenses.

Anybody who possesses a legally acquired gun waives the right to confidentiality, and authorities cross-reference for new information about the gunholder every three months.

"The point is not to complicate, but to make sure the system makes things safer," Amit said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israel-rejects-us-gun-lobby-claims-security-201808159.html

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