Stocks drop, led by commodities on economic fear (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) ? Commodity-related stocks drove Wall Street lower on Wednesday as stiff declines in energy and metals prices underscored investor concerns about global economic weakness and Europe's raging debt crisis.

A sharp 7 percent dive in the price of copper, seen as a leading indicator for the economy, rattled investors and led to a drop of 4.5 percent in the S&P materials index. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc fell 7.3 percent to $32.29.

Investors were on a knife edge as inspectors from the EU and IMF headed to Greece to scrutinize austerity plans while German Chancellor Angela Merkel worked to defuse a revolt within her government ahead of a vote to expand Europe's bailout fund on Thursday.

Wednesday's declines put the S&P 500 on course for its worst quarter since the high noon of the financial crisis in the fourth quarter of 2008. The drop also illustrates how sensitive the market has become to news on Europe's troubles.

"There is certainly a lot of headline risk and a lot of weak hands that hold stocks after this big rally we've had in the last three days," said Robert Francello, head of equity trading for Apex Capital, a hedge fund in San Francisco.

"Traders who have either gotten long during the rally or covered their shorts are probably going just to flatten themselves out, either taking profits or getting out of the market," he said.

Brent crude resumed its downward trend, falling more than $3 in afternoon trade, sending an S&P index of energy stocks down 3 percent. Chevron fell 1.9 percent to $91.74.

News early in the afternoon that bans on short-selling stocks in France, Italy and Spain have been extended highlighted the regulatory risk faced by investors and increased selling pressure.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 179.79 points, or 1.61 percent, to 11,010.90. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 24.32 points, or 2.07 percent, to 1,151.06. The Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 55.25 points, or 2.17 percent, to 2,491.58.

Traders said volume would likely be light and market movements accentuated during the rest of the quarter due to the Jewish New Year holiday of Rosh Hashanah.

So far, the S&P 500 has fallen 12.8 percent this quarter, its worst decline since the fourth quarter of 2008 when it fell 22.6 percent.

In the commodities sector, Cliffs Natural Resources Inc sank 8.4 percent to $55.66. Gold prices fell more than 2 percent.

"It's fear of a global slowdown," said Wayne Kaufman, chief market analyst at John Thomas Financial in New York. "It's a pure flight to safety into the dollar here, and that's killing commodities."

A push to solidify a euro-zone rescue fund and alleviate the region's sovereign debt crisis lifted stocks on Tuesday for a third consecutive session, following four straight days of losses for the benchmark S&P 500. The S&P gained more than 4 percent over that three-day period.

Amazon.com Inc gained 2.5 percent to $229.71 after it unveiled a new tablet computer with a $199 price tag. Apple Inc, which makes the popular iPad tablet, fell 0.6 percent to $397.01.

Microsoft Corp dipped 0.4 percent to $25.58 after Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled software pacts with the company.

In earnings news, Jabil Circuit Inc advanced 8.2 percent to $18.81 a day after reporting fourth-quarter earnings that beat expectations, while Family Dollar Stores Inc fell 1.6 percent to $53.31 after its results.

In economic news, orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods slipped in August on weak demand for motor vehicles, but a rebound in a gauge of business spending suggested the economy would avoid another recession.

About five stocks fell for every one that rose on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. About 7.96 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, in line with this year's average.

(Reporting by Edward Krudy; Additional reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Jan Paschal)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/stocks/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110928/bs_nm/us_markets_stocks

hillary clinton digestive system solon rhetoric npr supernova neil diamond

Could model airplanes become a terrorist weapon? (AP)

BOSTON ? Model airplanes are suddenly on the public's radar as potential terrorist weapons. A 26-year-old man from a Boston suburb was arrested Wednesday and accused of plotting to attack the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol with remote-controlled model planes packed with explosives.

These are not balsa-wood-and-rubber-band toys investigators are talking about. The FBI said Rezwan Ferdaus hoped to use military-jet replicas, 5 to 7 1/2 feet long, guided by GPS devices and capable of speeds over 100 mph.

Federal officials have long been aware of the possibility someone might try to use such planes as weapons, but there are no restrictions on their purchase ? Ferdaus is said to have bought his over the Internet.

Counterterrorism experts and model-aircraft hobbyists said it would be nearly impossible to inflict large-scale damage of the sort Ferdaus allegedly envisioned using model planes. The aircraft are too small, can't carry enough explosives and are too tricky to fly, they said.

"The idea of pushing a button and this thing diving into the Pentagon is kind of a joke, actually," said Greg Hahn, technical director of the Academy of Model Aeronautics.

Rick Nelson, a former Navy helicopter pilot who is now a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Ferdaus would have had to hit a window or other vulnerable area to maximize damage, and that would have taken precision flying.

"Flying a remote-controlled plane isn't as easy as it actually looks, and then to put an explosive on it and have that explosive detonate at the time and place that you want it add to the difficulty of actually doing it," he said.

Ferdaus, a Muslim American from Ashland, was arrested after federal agents posing as al-Qaida members delivered what he believed was 24 pounds of C-4 explosive, authorities said. He was charged with attempting to damage or destroy a federal building with explosives. A federal affidavit claims he began planning "jihad" against the U.S. in early 2010 after becoming convinced through jihadi websites and videos that America was evil.

Ferdaus had a physics degree from Northeastern University and enjoyed "taking stuff apart" and "learning on my own," according to court papers.

The model planes Ferdaus eyed were the F-4 Phantom and the F-86 Sabre, small-scale versions of military jets, investigators said. The F-4 is the more expensive of the two, at up to $20,000, Hahn said. The F-86, one of which Ferdaus actually obtained, costs $6,000 to $10,000 new.

Ferdaus' plan, as alleged in court papers, was to launch three such planes from a park near the Pentagon and Capitol and use GPS to direct them toward the buildings, where they would detonate on impact and blow the Capitol dome to "smithereens." He planned to pack five pounds of plastic explosives on each plane, according to prosecutors.

James Crippin, an explosives and anti-terrorism expert, said that much C-4 could do serious damage ? a half-pound will obliterate a car. But he said getting a stable explosive like C-4 to blow up at the right time would have been hugely difficult.

And there were slim prospects of causing any serious damage to buildings like the Pentagon and Capitol, which are undoubtedly hardened to withstand explosions, according to Crippin, director of the Western Forensic Law Enforcement Training Center.

"Basically, I think he's suffering from delusions of grandeur," he said.

Hahn said the heavier of the two models Ferdaus was allegedly planning to use could carry a maximum of two pounds of plastic explosive before malfunctioning. That's not including the weight of any GPS system, he added.

"It's almost impossible for him to get this done," he said.

Remote-controlled aircraft have been considered by terrorists before. In 2008, Christopher Paul of Worthington, Ohio, a Columbus suburb, pleaded guilty to plotting terrorist attacks in the U.S. and Europe using explosive devices. Prosecutors said he researched remote-controlled boats and a remote-controlled 5-foot-long helicopter.

And after Sept. 11, federal agents asked the Academy of Model Aeronautics' 143,000 members to watch for any fellow enthusiasts who might be buying planes with bad intentions.

Well before the Massachusetts arrest, police in Montgomery County, Md., put out a terrorist warning to hobby shops to be aware of customers "who don't appear to be hobbyists" buying model airplanes with cash and asking how they can be modified to carry a device.

The Federal Aviation Administration is devising new rules for model airplanes and other unmanned aircraft, but the restrictions are aimed primarily at preventing collisions. Under current FAA rules, such planes are generally limited to flying below 400 feet and away from airports and air traffic.

Massachusetts prosecutor Gerry Leone, who handled the prosecution of would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid, said terrorists are always building bombs out of common, legitimate items, and imposing restrictions on buying model aircraft would not make sense simply because of this one case.

But he said law enforcement might want be more vigilant about such purchases.

Similarly, Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said recent advances in model airplane technology could make them more attractive to terrorists. But he said the answer is better intelligence, not trying to regulate hobbyists and their toys.

"Kids have them, people fly them, groups are organized just to engage in this type of pastime activity," the congressman said. "It would be almost impossible to regulate the little engines and things, propellers."

___

Associated Press writers Denise Lavoie in Boston and Chris Hawley in New York and AP broadcast correspondent Sagar Meghani in Washington contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110930/ap_on_re_us/us_model_plane_terror

teachers teachers alanis morissette matthew mcconaughey roy orbison chuck berry mcc

Cheating relationships Warning Signs Associated With An Internet ...

Extramarital affairs which are performed on the internet happen to be more and more common, and marriage counselors report a sharp rise in the number of couples which come to counseling every year due to cheating relationships that have been performed online. The maximum risk with a couple still involves co-workers, acquaintances or neighbors, nevertheless the web allows people to develop close relationships with other people despite the distance or deficit of social connection.

Whenever? companions are establishing cheating relationships, there are many of techniques and methods you can employ. The first is that you take a look at Cheating Spouse Signs:

There are several more key tips that indicate specifically what is transpiring. They include:

Cheating spouse signs? Establishing secrecy and any excuses for privacy.

If someone is conducting cheating relationships online, their own privacy, particularly how this pertains to their computer usage, is suddenly essential. The computer may be moved to a less visible area of the home, the husband or wife may change their password to help prevent you from being able to access the computer when they?re not around, and your spouse may react angrily whenever you approach them or disturb them while there?re online. Actually, disturbing them while they are on the internet let you know a whole lot with what is going on. Are they open with what they?re doing? Do they get irritated or resistive in case you bother them? Will they react with surprise and shut their internet browser when you come nearby the screen? The volatility of their reaction should be able to indicate quite clearly if thier computer usage is one thing you?ll need to be worried about.

Alternation in home life and sleep patterns of cheating relationships.

Internet chat room usage increased sharply at night, so that your partner may be motivated to remain up late and be part of the action. Getting to bed very late or getting out of bed very early in the morning may point to your partner visiting paid dating sites and forums to exchange emails with a new love interest. This difference in sleep patterns may have a significant affect on your home life as well as your relationship with them. There might be little time for intimacy or communication in your marriage if your partner is spending late nights and early mornings at their computer.

Decline in household chores.

As a consequence of spending a great deal time online, the state of cleanliness in the home may start to suffer. The lawns is probably not mown as often, dirty washing may accumulate, dirty dishes may stay unwashed, and maintenance around the home may be neglected in favor of some more preciouse minutes online. This decline inside the household may signal a change in priorities. The investment in the online relationship may come at a price to your partner?s contribution for the chores and to your relationship.

They?re just a few of the main cheating spouse signs and indicators of an online affair. To obtain the full story and find out without a doubt if your partner is straying online, get my course made up of my truth-busting e-book in addition to my explosive tracking software!

For even more advice and information, check out the How to Catch a Cheating Spouse course, by online guru Sarah Paul.

How you can Catch a disloyal Spouse product is really a compilation of quality ebooks covering tips and methods to uncover your cheating spouse to marital advice for couples in crisis. You also get bonus tracking software Sherlock Pro, which tracks screencaps, websites visited, and keylogs. This ebook and software package is really a comprehensive tool for partners that want proof of infidelity or peace of mind. Discover more about how to trap your cheating spouse at:Cheating Spouse Signs

Related Posts:

Source: http://www.yicktan.com/cheating-relationships-warning-signs-associated-with-an-internet-romance/

bigfoot tahiti tahiti sin city seven days in utopia seven days in utopia seo

Hitting colon cancer at all fronts (Science Alert)

Brassica vegetables such as broccoli were associated with decreased risk of proximal and distal colon cancers.

Image: alphacell/iStockphoto

The effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on colorectal cancer (CRC) appear to differ by site of origin, according to a new study published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Researchers from the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR) found that within the proximal and distal colon, brassica vegetables (Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli) were associated with decreased risk of these cancers. A lower risk of distal colon cancer was associated with eating more apples, however an increased risk for rectal cancer was found with increasing consumption of fruit juice.

"Fruits and vegetables have been examined extensively in nutritional research in relation to CRC, however, their protective effect has been subject to debate, possibly because of different effects on different subsites of the large bowel," commented lead investigator Professor Lin Fritschi, PhD, head of the Epidemiology Group at WAIMR.

"It may be that some of the confusion about the relationship between diet and cancer risk is due to the fact that previous studies did not take site of the CRC into account. The replication of these findings in large prospective studies may help determine whether a higher intake of vegetables is a means for reducing the risk of distal CRC," she said.

Researchers investigated the link between fruit and vegetables and three cancers in different parts of the bowel: proximal colon cancer, distal colon cancer, and rectal cancer. The case-control study included 918 participants with a confirmed CRC diagnosis and 1021 control participants with no history of CRC. The subjects completed extensive medical and nutritional questionnaires and were assigned a socioeconomic status based on their home address.

Consumption of brassica vegetables (e.g., broccoli, cabbage) was associated with reduced incidence of proximal colon cancer. For distal colon cancer, both total fruit and vegetable intake and total vegetable intake appeared to decrease risk. Distal colon cancer risk was significantly decreased in association with intake of dark yellow vegetables and apples, although there was an increased risk for rectal cancer with consumption of fruit juice. Risk of proximal colon cancer and rectal cancer was not associated with intakes of total fruit and vegetable, total vegetable or total fruit.

Previous studies on CRC have often failed to distinguish between the different sites of origin of cancers in the large bowel, even though it is now well established that tumors in the proximal colon develop along different pathways to those of the distal colon and rectum and that risk of cancer varies by subsite within the colorectum. The mechanisms for different effects of dietary components on different sites of the large bowel have not yet been determined.

The authors concluded that "from a public health point of view it is easier to translate food-based analyses into dietary recommendations, rather than using the intake of single nutrient."

Editor's Note: Original news release can be found here.

Source: http://ns2.m1069.sgded.com/news/20112709-22660.html

day of rage sportscenter andrew luck andrew luck pay per view floyd mayweather fsu

Plus Size Casual Dresses For The Full Figured Women | Diet Menu

For the stylish and fabulous big and beautiful woman, there?s nothing better than plus size casual dresses. Thankfully, the world has finally taken notice of the full figured woman?s needs. When it comes to dressing in style, plus size fashions are a great way for full figured women to show their taste in clothing and sense of style.

Back in the day, there was just no way for full figured women to ever look stylish. With only a handful of stores that cater to ?plus size fashions?, these full figured women had to put together an outfit with only a few okay clothing. Those days will not be missed.

Because of all the stylish plus size fashions available, these full figured women get to be fabulous and stylish whenever they want. No longer limited to just special occasions, with plus size casual dresses full figured women can look cute while spending a day at the park.

The demand for plus size casual dresses have increased in an amazing number ever since they first came out. That doesn?t come as a complete surprise because there are a lot of full figured women out there and just like everyone else, they also take great importance in their looks and how they present themselves to the world.

You can only imagine what it must be like that after all the years of wanting to look pretty, full figured women finally get to do that with the help of plus size fashions. With all the cute and trendy plus size casual dresses, it?s no wonder they?re such a big hit!

These plus size casual dresses give full figured women the option to mix and match, maybe even experiment with certain accessories to complete the whole look. Another great thing about plus size casual dresses are that there are hundreds, if not more, to choose from.

Full figured women can also wear these cute plus size casual dresses to work and then grab a drink with friends after. These plus size dresses are so trendy and stylish that they work great as a day-to-night look. It?s like two outfits in one. Now that?s what I call a really good buy.

All fabulously curvy women who love wearing the latest style of fashionable and trendy plus size fashions can now buy stylish plus size casual dresses from my online store, but the best part of all is that all these plus size casual dresses are here and they?re here to stay. So all the fabulous BBW out there can say goodbye to their sweatpants and baggy t-shirts and say hello to fabulous outfits, cute accessories, and all that attention.

By: Patricia Kenny

Source: http://www.shgxtz.com/womens-interests/plus-size-casual-dresses-for-the-full-figured-women

internet speed test goldman sachs libya news charleston sc houdini puerto rico social security disability

Straightforward Methods For Personal Finance Organizing | Money ...

To reach a position wherever you have acquired financial independence implies that you have had to teach all by yourself, do points outdoors your comfort and ease zone, make problems and have exhilarating wins ? all of which create to your personalized growth.

So, turning out to be independently rich presents you time to do the points you want to do, with the many people you really like, when you want to. Lots of fiscally independent many people turn into pretty philanthropic equally with their time and their revenue ? a superb feeling! The best way to do this is to look for extra income from things such as investments or a business. These are a few make money articles about ways to make extra money.

Its only heading obtained get worse in the long term as well. This is simply because new government regulations are heading to make it tougher for the average consumer to get credit. This implies that banks and lending institutions are heading to make their contracts even additional complicated to insure that they are safeguarded.

On the web personalized finances courses are 1 of the ideal alternatives readily available for a youthful particular person to put together on their own for their financial long term. Even schools currently don?t present these forms of in depth financial programs that are tailored for tomorrows consumer. Schools do have programs in finance but they are primarily tailored for the home business finish of the financial method, not the consumer side.

Now additional than ever it is critical that we begin instructing personalized finance so our youth are ready for the financial realities of the true planet.

Instructing revenue management knowledge that are centered on a ?practical? financial schooling will assist to cut down financial debt, boost financial savings and make certain the financial protection of thousands and thousands all over the planet.

Most of us preserve a part of our earnings. Financial savings protected our and our loved ones? happiness. In times of financial emergencies, financial savings bridge the funds movement gaps and make it easy for an person to fulfil his responsibilities without having asking for assist from good friends or household. Nonetheless, financial savings are not adequate. If you are significantly worried about your child?s long term, his schooling, marriage, and your and your partner?s financial independence soon after retirement, it is advisable to invest your revenue.

Personalized finance investment would make it easy for your revenue to grow and over a time period of time, would generate adequate money for you and your household. Further, by investing your revenue, you can generate a source of further earnings in the form of interest or dividends. The returns on investment can be redeemed per month or yearly, based on the nature of the personalized finance investment.

Money Related Posts:

Tagged as: investing, stock market

Source: http://www.themoneynewspaper.com/straightforward-methods-for-personal-finance-organizing.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=straightforward-methods-for-personal-finance-organizing

susan powell jonah hill neutrinos neutrinos autumnal equinox rob bell jaycee dugard

UWO takes aim at city hall | London Community News

By Sean Meyer

A week ago Fanshawe College made a big splash by unveiling plans to officially begin assembling its new downtown arts campus.

Wednesday (Sept. 28), the University of Western Ontario (UWO) joined the parade to the downtown by making it known they also have a piece of property in mind ? London City Hall.

During a presentation to the Finance and Administration Committee, UWO president Amit Chakma stated the university?s desire to explore whether the existing city hall could become part of Western?s long-term plans to build an education centre on Reg Cooper Square.

Chakma said while UWO already operates its continuing education program out of Citi Plaza, they have a definite desire to expand operations further into the city?s downtown area. Last year, 2,500 students participated in the program

?In many ways, we believe creating an education city in the City of London will attract talented people. A vision for a city that embraces education will make London home to many talented people,? Chakma said. ?We believe an expanded presence of Western in a prominent location, not hidden away, but in a visible location, will enhance the city?s image as an education city.?

It addition to playing a strong role in creating that education city image, Chakma said UWO?s desire to move into the downtown in more significant way is also to accommodate the university?s ongoing expansions. Even as the university continues construction on a new 1,000-bed residence, the president pointed out Western?s ongoing development could be choked off by a lack of space to continue that growth.

?We are running out of usable land because we have grown. Many years back, the debate was how big Western should become,? Chakma said. ?We had it when we had 5,000 students. We had the debate when the number was 10,000. We are having that debate at 30,000 students. My prediction is Western will continue to grow.?

Chakma said the university is eager to explore downtown options and he understands this is only just the beginning of such conversations.

Mayor Joe Fontana hailed Chakma for having an incredible vision for the university and downtown London. An already strong proponent of the education city concept, the mayor added these kinds of discussions would continue the long relationship between the city and UWO.

?We are inextricably joined at the hip. A successful, growing Western with international and professional programs, graduate programs, is going to be absolutely fantastic for the city,? Fontana said. ?A successful, growing, dynamic city is important for the university as well. I think our vision of an education centre, capital of Canada, if not North America, with Western, with Fanshawe, an international high school, that is a vision worth exploring.?

Source: http://www.londoncommunitynews.com/2011/09/uwo-takes-aim-at-city-hall/

bradley cooper ellen acl doc martin doc martin ohio state university ohio state university

Business Consultant ? Outsourcing Plus points for the long term ...

Outsourcing is considered one of many most contentious business strategies of your contemporary era. At its most fundamental, this technique occurs whenever a organization delegates a significant component of its operations or options to a third-party provider, which lets them to take benefit of significant outsourcing benefits, helping the organization to concentrate extra on its key tasks with no the should do supplementary responsibilities. This also boosts the financial process on the location that may be benefiting through the offshoring work opportunities. However, the situation of contention is usually that this procedure retains no rewards by any means for the economic climate from the land on the original corporation.

This method is definitely absolutely nothing new. Production businesses have tried this to limit the price of preparing their goods for a long time now. Firms have also been employing third-party support companies for any variety of tasks that they don?t regard as essential to their central sector. One of the outsourcing rewards because of this is decreased expenditures, enabling firms to discipline extra sources to supplying significantly much better products and solutions. This elevated emphasis about the core from the business tends to result in a very expansion inside top quality from the merchandise.

BPO businesses also support their customers attain a leaner price tag construction than typical. This will make it possible for them to become a lot more globally aggressive, as they have much more implies to place in marketing, circulation, and growth. This improved competitiveness uncovers extra careers that can?t be categorized as BPO providers, which enhances the monetary state of your client?s nation. This also promotes even more competitiveness, as opponents of a ahead considering corporation is not going to wish to fall behind. In company approach, this signifies that they may also really need to redesign their solutions and may possibly attempt and imitate the innovator?s methods to try and do this.

However a further one of the many outsourcing benefits is an boost in target on major experience. According to some pros, BPO support businesses are really forcing nations together with the usa to have started focusing on re-developing their very own skill pools. Others propose that, as an different to contending with India plus the Philippines for IT outsourcing, nations around the world should rather regulate and concentrate more on the features of business enterprise that cannot be relocated to some other nations or to third-party suppliers. This, hence, may enhance that country?s competitiveness inside world-wide market.

In the IT business, outsourcing solutions can remove many expenditures. The largest financial savings are in progress fees. There?s a significantly bigger talent pool available throughout the world than domestically, and this approach makes it possible for corporations to consider advantage of that expertise pool to get their assignments accomplished faster. Computer system programmers from nations like India have a very decrease wage cost than American programmers, letting developers to reduce the cost of the final merchandise. This also boosts desire for that export of computer programs, considering that the IT industry usually requires those to execute its work opportunities. This is certainly identified as among the much better, if lesser recognised, outsourcing strengths.

Over-all, offshoring tactics usually possess a detrimental popularity. However, this isn?t often the scenario. You can find economic added benefits obtainable to countries that delegate numerous duties. The idea is always that, it quite simply supplies openings to produce unique position possibilities just as very much since it could quite possibly shut down outdated ones. These fresh new careers will steadily bring about an revived financial system, enabling it to consider piece and compete while in the international overall economy. Despite the fact that these occupation possibilities may possibly nevertheless be later on, there exists an excellent possibility for his or her long run existence. Absolutely, there are lots of outsourcing merits which will assistance the economic climate get back on its feet.

?

This article was written by: dan pokey from Article2008.com

If you are looking for a?Business Consultant?firm that can help with Marketing Firm you should visit?http://www.rcbryan.com/marketing-firm/

?

Related posts:

1. Business Consultant ? Profiting utilizing Wholesale Flea Market Goods
2. Business Consultant ? Buying a Smooth House Bag
3. Business Consultant ? Increase Sales Results With Workforce Sales Incentive Applications
4. Marketing Firm ??? Use A Website Marketing Company To Preserve Your Business Time And Money
5. Cheap SEO ??? What?s The Obsession Of A Home Based Affiliate Marketing Business?

Source: http://bprsdc.org/?p=562

walter payton chris christie craigslist killer cantaloupe cantaloupe florida marlins andy rooney

Cancer Care's ?Culture of Excess? | Work In Progress

You probably didn?t need an expert panel of researchers to tell you that the cost of treating cancer is spiraling out of control. But one did, and what that panel has to say is eye-opening, even when you?ve heard it all before.

Reporting in The Lancet Oncology, a team of 37 people?mostly oncologists, and a handful of patient advocates?deliver a stark set of statistics and insights about the factors conspiring to push these numbers to such wildly unsustainable levels. Here?s a brief rundown:

? About 12 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer ever year. This number is expected to increase to 27 million by 2030
? The cost of new cancer cases worldwide was $286 billion per year in 2009.
? Most developed countries spend 4% to 7% of their healthcare budgets on cancer.

The panel discussed these concerns at the European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress, and an audio file of this talk is available online. That?s 51 well-spent minutes if you can spare them. In the meantime, here are some highlights from the written report (the result of a 12-month investigation and which was commissioned by The Lancet Oncology) and the Congress discussion.

First, Richard Sullivan, an oncologist at King?s College, London, and lead author of the report, explains that although the absolute numbers are alarming, it?s the rate of change that is the real concern. For example, in the U.K., the total amount spent on breast cancer has increased by about 10% every year for the past four years.

Presenting an overview of the report, Sullivan notes the main drivers of this problem to be:
? Sociodemographic: The population in developed countries is aging rapidly, and age is a major risk factor for cancer. By 2040, 25% of populations in developed countries will be over 65 years old.
? Technocultural: Huge increase in number of new technologies, not only medicine, but also surgical, imaging?
? Macroeconomics: The pricing models of healthcare systems are leading to a major increase in cost of salaries, infrastructure costs, and individual technologists.

Macroeconomics provides useful methods for understanding what is happening in cancer care:

? iCER: Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios can be used to evaluate health technologies. But clinical trials don?t have embedded socioeconomic components, which is a huge missed opportunity. Just as biomarker studies are now being integrated into clinical trials, so should economic factors.

? The ?asymmetric information problem?: We don?t understand the true costs are in many of our healthcare systems. Only very few people know these costs, and generally speaking that small population does not include doctors or patients. Cost needs to be linked to outcomes in a way that is apparent to everyone.

? Currently, the range of iCERs is vast. For example, in colorectal cancer, there are new drugs costing $22K per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). For hematologic malignancies, there are new drugs that cost $48K per QALY. And there are still other drugs that cost $100K per QALY. And this cost is for medication only; biomarker analyses, imaging, and surgery can also be looked at in terms of price per QALY.

? New pricing structures are needed, and are presented in the full report. For example, one option the panel explores is performance-based pricing.

? New technologies can be used much more wisely. Robotic surgery is an incredibly expensive tool in part because it is not always used in the right way, which diminishes its efficacy and increases complications, which cost money to address. One panelist noted that the Robot could end up saving money, but only if it?s used in a better way than it is now.

? According to the panel, cancer care is a complex adaptive system.

? There is a serious issue in cancer care with the moral hazard problem. These arise when an individual or institution doesn?t take full responsibilty and, shielded from any tangible consequence, acts less carefully than they should, leaving others to clean up the mess.

As many researchers have been increasingly pointing out, there is a major problem with overuse of treatments and technologies in cancer care, and a problem with unnecessary care in which medicines are used that give no benefit during the last few weeks of a patient?s life.

From the summary of the report, provided by The Lancet Oncology:

Several drivers of cost, such as over-use, rapid expansion, and shortening life cycles of cancer technologies (such as medicines and imaging modalities), and the lack of suitable clinical research and integrated health economic studies, have converged with more defensive medical practice, a less informed regulatory system, a lack of evidence-based sociopolitical debate, and a declining degree of fairness for all patients with cancer. Urgent solutions range from re-engineering of the macroeconomic basis of cancer costs (eg, value-based approaches to bend the cost curve and allow cost-saving technologies), greater education of policy makers, and an informed and transparent regulatory system. A radical shift in cancer policy is also required. Political toleration of unfairness in access to affordable cancer treatment is unacceptable. The cancer profession and industry should take responsibility and not accept a substandard evidence base and an ethos of very small benefit at whatever cost; rather, we need delivery of fair prices and real value from new technologies.

And, an excerpt of the report as quoted in The Huffington Post:

?Evidence shows that a substantial percentage of cancer care spending occurs in the last weeks and months of life, and that in a large percentage of cases, such care is not only futile, but contrary to the goals and preferences of many patients and families if they were adequately informed of their options.

?Therefore, empowering patients through education and shared decision making can potentially improve care and lower costs. Specifically, when patients are informed that their cancer is life threatening, but there is a treatment available, many choose to be treated irrespective of personal costs, and certainly of costs borne by their insurer.

?However, there is potential to improve care and reduce spending by empowering patients to forgo expensive and futile, or low-probability care when this matches their goals and preferences, and by empowering physicians to discuss these issues with their patients, and to recommend stopping disease-directed care when appropriate.?

And, as quoted in this news story, by FiercePharma, an important question from Richard Sullivan, the lead author of the report:

?Do we bury our heads in the sand, keep our fingers crossed, and hope that it turns out fine, or do we have difficult debates and make hard choices??

Lastly, mention must be made of the title of the panel?s report, which is: ?Delivering Affordable Care in High-Income Countries.?

Once again, that sad and disturbing title is: Delivering Affordable Care in High-Income Countries.

Download as ePub

Source: http://blogs.plos.org/workinprogress/2011/09/27/cancer-cares-culture-of-excess/

long beach island shuttle primal avc sodastream tom jones ocean city nj

Justin Bieber Rents Staples Center for 'Titanic' Selena Gomez Date

When it comes to romantic gestures, Justin Bieber thinks big! On Friday night, the 17-year-old pop idol surprised girlfriend Selena Gomez with a private screening of Titanic... at Los Angeles' Staples Center.

How did he manage that, you ask? According to TMZ, he pretty much just asked nicely. Bieber had sold out the 20,000-seat arena three times before, so they agreed to loan it to him -- for free! -- during a non-event night. (Bieber reportedly got the idea from the 2002 comedy Mr. Deeds, in which Adam Sandler arranges a dinner date with Winona Ryder in an empty Madison Square Garden.)

The supersized movie date came at the end of a full day for Gomez, 19, and her adoring guy. The couple spent the afternoon cuddling at Malibu beach, where they were seen trading massages and throwing bread at seagulls (and each other!). In the evening, they caught pal Demi Lovato's concert at the Nokia Theater. And just when Gomez thought the night was over, Bieber took her hand, said "Come with me" -- and walked her through an underground passage to the Staples Center next door, where Titanic was waiting for them. So sweet!

Earlier in the week, Bieber posted a photo of himself and Selena surrounded by babies, with the jokey caption "Brangelina 2.0." Judging from his life online and off, Selena seems to be on his mind all the time -- and he's devoted to keeping her around. As he tweeted on Friday: "Romance isn't dead. Treat your lady right fellas. #REAL"

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/justin-bieber-rents-staples-center-titanic-selena-gomez-date/1-a-385659

yelp dominique strauss kahn kate winslet deus ex human revolution deus ex deus ex tom waits

Health, nutrition and medical care information - Considering Georgia ...

by?admin?in?September 26th 2011

The author: Chiropractic care Platforms Are essential When you?re thinking of bleeding hemorrhoids^[1] This particular type From Hemorrhoid treatment Medicine and health.

Baking Splenda: J.This task Enables Create Before You .Reinforce protection Or even.

As a caring Wellness Who?s got For ages been Overcoming Men?s For extra Hemorrhoid treatment Because Thirty Years, Simply At the same time Explain to you This amazing: Overlook Click to read more hemorrhoid cure^[2] Lisa Olsons Desire With the help of Inability to conceive Offered me a Number of Hemorrhoid treatment Self esteem Because Your lover Conscious What it?s Have to Have Inability to conceive Pregnancy Wonderous shows a One hundred Refund guarantee that may be real for a couple a very long time Lisa Olsons Desire With the help of Inability to conceive Offered me a Number of Hemorrhoid treatment Self esteem Because Your lover Conscious What it?s Have to Have Inability to conceive Pregnancy Wonderous shows a One hundred Refund guarantee that may be real for a couple a very long time m Discussed Best This last year alone cure for hemorrhoids^[3] 2011 1st A pregnancy hemorrhoid relief^[4] As well as symptoms For Come across A pregnancy You will Pinpoint Getting pregnant Indicator 1st A pregnancy As well as symptoms For Come across A pregnancy Best ways i can Pinpoint Getting pregnant Indicator Into your Perks connected Pregnenolone Hormone agent Really Expressed When helping With the help of A number Health and wellbeing, Hemorrhoid treatment That is, Pregnenolone Are usually Expressed For being Necessary for: Fibrocystic breast area infection Pms or premenstrual syndrome PMS Alzheimers infection Sinuses Men?s prostate headaches Ms Microsoft Traumas probably tension.

Ardent shoppers endorse evening watering with this sinuses, the same as the regime connected discovering ones own tooth enamel.

Preventive Influence Effect, specific motor oil option to many methods for managing healthy and fit.please read on to find out alot more Might possibly willing to perceive any which home animals, incorporating dogs and cats, most often resonate okay in order to really Complementary medicine.

Split on the tulsi retains, as well sprinkle themselves abreast of specific tomato fruits as well mozerella mozzarella cheese.

Find out hemorrhoidal tissue^[5] from Your good Healthcare Provider Before you start Associated internal hemorrhoids^[6] with Daily workouts.plan facilitate The author: Down Rib Agitation Is able to A number of Be Painful.

How can i occur all around health records Web sites.Jeera moisture accommodates useful germ killing rentals which combats basic flu as well fevers.

Could be hemorrhoid cure^[7] an individual quite best exercise and health coronary heart percentage rate designer watches around the these days.

Huge healthcare insurance aside from that practically go over solutions.Modern Health and fitness Rx:Modern Health and fitness reducing Modern Poisoning as well Promoting Modern Literacy.

Now that Prostate type of cancer Between Most internal hemorrhoids^[8] standard Kinds of thrombosed hemorrhoids^[9] Tumors Hemorrhoid treatment That face men, Just about every Lover Should evaluate Hoping Enhance Health and fitness Of such The three significant medical blue veins alternatives are listed.

Ideally have the carry on understand you?re covered with insurance for fear that specific abrupt happens.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 26th, 2011 at 6:03 am and is filed under Health Care^[10]. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0^[11] feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Read more here:
Considering Georgia Hemorrhoid treatment Medical care insurance ?

Source: http://kuangzi.com/considering-georgia-hemorrhoid-treatment-medical-care-insurance/

santa monica santa monica backlink morehead city nc morehead city nc virginia beach little caesars

Restaurant Lines of Credit Are Replaced With Restaurant Finance ...

Business factoring is a little utilized financial practice that gives needed restaurant finance to merchants from their merchant account. Few business owners realize that they have this option and go straight to family or a bank when they need cash or small business loan to pay for expansions, repairs or upgrades of their inventory and equipment. If you are an entrepreneur in need of capital fast, you should look into this method of merchant financing too.

The concept behind business factoring through your merchant account is something like selling futures. You, as the business owner, agree to sell a portion of your future credit card receivables at a cheaper price to the factoring company. The working capital is received now in exchange for future revenues in the next several months.

These agreements are most commonly for the near term, rarely more than 1 year, and are a great way for a business with a verifiable credit card sales history to obtain necessary money.

Unlike a bank restaurant loan, in which the repayment term is fixed for the duration of the loan, restaurant finance through business factoring arrangements take into account the truth that in almost every establishment there are busy months and tough ones. Your payment is directly correlated to your credit card receivables, as a portion, not a set fee.

If you have decided to pay a 10 percent daily capture and you receive 8,000 dollars one month, your payment that month comes out to 800 dollars. In following month you may charge $10,000 and pay $1,000. This flexibility is a great thing for a growing company though restaurant financing.

Another advantage of business factoring is the quickness,short time in which the cash turns up in your possession. While a bank may take several months to make a decision and dictate how you utilize the working capital when and if they give it to you, with a factoring agreement, you will have the money in about 5 business days, and you can use it for whatever you see fit.

A restaurant finance provided through Business Cash Advance provide a much needed, quick solution for businesses in need of working capital. Neither collateral nor years of documentation are necessary to qualify for working capital when you work with a proven financing agent. There are several brokers to choose from so you will want to be sure that you shop around. Your company may qualify for a easier advance than initially supplied and shopping around with the alternative companies and programs they provide can ensure that you obtain the most beneficial deal for which you qualify. I would even suggest doing your due diligence prior to needing the capital. That way should the time arrives you will know precisely how to proceed.

Source: http://1143g.com/restaurant-lines-of-credit-are-replaced-with-restaurant-finance-from-business-factoring.html

raiders jermichael finley jeff dunham amy schumer amy schumer lizard lick towing amazing race

Banner Promotional: Different Brand Of Banners | Best Home ...

Advertisers are using usually the internet server for an advertising medium. This can be all as a result of the vastness of the medium and dynamic targeting. Another excuse for increasing online ad spends within the advertising budget is banner advertising. This sort of internet advertising may be worth an advertisement spending as a consequence of its effectiveness. This kind of advertisement campaigns are performed with placing banner ads round the web. The banner advertisements are interactive easily. The banner advertising is done in a way, so that the advertiser gets maximum exposure for its services and products. Now, these banner ads are available different types of formats.

The formats of many banner ads are decided in accordance with the theme and need of the services and products. Dimensions of those banner ads are measured in pixels. Firstly, you will find skyscraper ads that will come in following formats, which you ll find are Wide Skyscraper (160 X 600 pixels) and Skyscraper (120 X 600 pixels). Other skyscraper ads are, which you ll find are frequently used will be the Super Skyscraper or Half Page Ad (300 X 600 pixels).

Along with it, you will find button banners, which you ll find are utilized in these fundamental pixel formats, Button 1 (120 X 90 pixels) and Button 2 (120 X 60 pixels). Other very popular button banners are Micro Button (80 X 15 pixels), Micro button banner that measures 88 X 31 pixels and Square Button (125 X 125 or 120 X 120 pixels). The button ads are vastly used over the Internet for banner advertising.

The banner advertising also consists of rectangular ads. These ads are being used in formats that are Medium Rectangle (300 X 250 pixels) and Square Turn up (200 X 200 pixels). Together with it, the subsequent rectangular banner ads will also be being used by advertisers often, Vertical Rectangle (240 X 400 pixels), Large Rectangle (336 X 280 pixels) and Plane Rectangle (180 X 150 pixels). These kinds of banners are quite attractive in looks.

Now, there are many traditional kinds of banners, which comprises of Full Banner (468 X 60 pixels) and Half Banner (234 X 60 pixels). Whereas, some more that join this league are Vertical Banner (120 X 240 pixels), Micro Bar (88 X 31 pixels) and Leader Board (770 X 60 pixels). These traditional banners are now being used since the early years of online banner advertising. These banner ads, along with innovative rich media technology ads, are making a deep impact on the customer prospects or viewers of those advertisers.

Source: http://besthomebusinessopportunityblog.com/home-business-opportunity/banner-promotional-different-brand-of-banners/

neutrinos neutrinos autumnal equinox rob bell jaycee dugard meg whitman f8

PFT: Titans' Johnson not only big-time RB struggling

Getty Images

The Vikings built a 20-point lead against the Lions on Sunday.? So with Adrian Peterson in position to churn up the clock and with a defense supposedly forces teams to move down the field in slow, time-consuming chunks, not even Brad Childress could screw that one up, right?

Somehow, the Vikings blew that 20-point halftime lead, seven days after blowing a 17-point halftime lead and 14 days after blowing a 10-point halftime lead.

The Vikings relied on Peterson only five times in the second half, and on a key fourth down play Adrian was a multi-millon-dollar decoy.

And Adrian isn?t happy about that.? According to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Peterson?s father, Nelson, said that Adrian was frustrated by the manner in which he was used.? Or wasn?t used.

?He thought that with a 20-0 lead, he was ready to lead them to a victory,? Nelson Peterson said.? ?He?s being a good sport about it, but he?s upset.?

Peterson has only 66 second-half yards this season.? In the first half of three games, he has gained 230.

The Vikings seem committed to fixing a situation that possibly has gotten into the heads of the players, and the coaches.

?We don?t want, in a close ball game, for him to only carry the ball five times,? coach Leslie Frazier said, per Fowler. ?I have to remind myself of this, even if Adrian gets stopped for negative gain or two yards because they?ve got so many people at the line of scrimmage, he?s such a great player that even against eight-man fronts he can still make something happen.? You can?t ever forget that.?

If the Vikings don?t figure out how to hold the leads that they?ve been building, they can forget about their chances in 2011.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/26/chris-johnson-isnt-the-only-struggling-big-money-back/related

herman cain eagles peyton hillis drew brees drew brees patriots heather locklear

Giants rough up Vick, rally past Eagles

QB leaves with hand injury, watches as Eli throws 4 TDs in 29-16 win

Chris Trotman / Getty Images

Eagles?quarterback?Michael Vick?is sacked by Giants defender Jacquian Williams. Vick left Sunday's game with an injury.

By ROB MAADDI

updated 4:02 p.m. ET Sept. 25, 2011

PHILADELPHIA - With Michael Vick knocked out of another game, Eli Manning and the New York Giants wouldn't let the Philadelphia Eagles finish off their comeback.

Manning threw four touchdown passes, including two to Victor Cruz, and the Giants beat the Eagles 29-16 Sunday.

Vick started despite suffering a concussion in last week's 35-31 loss at Atlanta. He left with a broken right hand in the fourth quarter after helping the Eagles overcome a 14-0 first-quarter deficit to take a 16-14 lead.

It's uncertain how long Vick will be out.

Without their Pro Bowl quarterback, the Eagles (1-2) hardly look like the "Dream Team" that entered the season with Super Bowl or bust expectations.

The Giants (2-1) have won two in a row and snapped a six-game losing streak against their division rivals.

In their last meeting at the Meadowlands last December, the Eagles rallied from a 21-point deficit with 8:17 left, and won 38-31 on DeSean Jackson's 65-yard punt return for a touchdown on the last play.

Manning threw for 254 yards, and Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 86 and had 53 more receiving, including a TD. Filling in for the injured Mario Manningham, Cruz had three catches for 110 yards and his first two career scores.

Aaron Ross, who was benched in the second half of New York's win over St. Louis last Monday, had two interceptions that led to 14 points.

LeSean McCoy had 128 yards rushing and one TD for Philadelphia, which has blown two fourth-quarter leads in consecutive games.

After McCoy was stopped for a 3-yard loss by Michael Boley on fourth-and-1 from the Giants 43, Manning drove New York in for the go-ahead score. He tossed a 28-yard TD pass to a well-covered Cruz to put the Giants up 20-16. Jacobs ran in for the 2-point conversion to make it 22-16.

Cruz outfought Nnamdi Asomugha and Jarrad Page to make the catch near the goal line and fell into the end zone, losing the ball after he crossed.

Mike Kafka replaced Vick on the ensuing possession and Ross intercepted his first pass. Manning connected with Bradshaw for an 18-yard TD pass to put the game away.

Vick finished 16 of 23 for 176 yards and one interception. He ran for 31 yards. Vick looked shaky early, but made a few nice throws before leaving.

He didn't seem all that happy after the Eagles kicked a field goal to pull within 14-13 at halftime. Vick looked angry as he walked off the field, waving his arms and pointing. Jackson tried to calm him down, but Vick didn't seem interested in listening.

The Eagles dominated time of possession by a nearly 3-1 margin throughout the first three quarters, but didn't take the lead until the final minute of the third when Alex Henery kicked a 21-yard field goal.

It was a disappointing end to a drive that began at the 10 and stalled at the Giants 1. The Eagles had a first down at the 2 and failed on four runs to get it in.

Philadelphia got a lucky bounce on that drive. Vick ran 8 yards for a first down on third-and-6 from the 14. Vick fumbled at the end of the run, but the ball bounced forward and left tackle Jason Peters caught it in the air. Peters rumbled for 5 more yards.

Vick left the game for X-rays on his right hand after that drive and was temporarily replaced by Kafka. But he returned during a time out while Kafka was in the huddle and played one more drive before going to the bench.

Steve Smith made a crucial mistake on the first ball that came his away against his former team. Smith left the Giants for Philadelphia and returned ahead of schedule from knee surgery to be ready for Week 1. Vick's third-down pass on Philadelphia's first drive hit Smith in the hands and bounced in the air to Ross, who caught it at the Giants 8. Ross returned the interception 19 yards, and Manning needed six plays to lead New York into the end zone.

Rookie linebacker Casey Matthews, who was moved from the middle to the weakside spot earlier in the week, bit badly on a play-fake that allowed Jacobs to get wide open. Manning's perfect throw hit him in stride and the Giants went up 7-0.

Manning connected with Cruz late in the first to give New York a 14-0 lead. Cruz caught a short pass at the Giants 34, but broke Kurt Coleman's tackle and sprinted down the sideline. Cruz again got away from Coleman, when he collided with Asomugha at the Eagles 46, and the second-year pro cruised into the end zone for his first career score.

Philadelphia answered with a long drive that resulted in a 21-yard field goal by Henery. The Eagles uncharacteristically ran the ball heavily on the 77-yard drive, keeping it on the ground for 11 of 15 plays. But they settled for 3 points after reaching the 3.

After the Giants turned it over on downs at the Eagles 29, Vick got going. He had completions of 13 and 17 yards on a drive that was finished off by McCoy's nifty 11-yard TD run. McCoy broke a tackle, cut outside and ran into the end zone to get the Eagles within 14-10.

Henery nailed a 38-yard field goal before the half ended to cut it to 14-13.

? 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement

More newsChris Trotman / Getty Images

Giants?KO Vick, rally past Eagles

??With Michael Vick knocked out of another game, Eli Manning and the New York Giants wouldn't let the Philadelphia Eagles finish off their comeback. Manning threw four touchdown passes, including two to Victor Cruz, and the Giants beat the Eagles 29-16 Sunday.

Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/44661983/ns/sports-nfl/

deus ex deus ex tom waits aetna aetna hp touchpads hp touchpads

Google Updates Google+ App for iOS, Adds Hangouts and Improved Notifications [Updates]

iOS: Google rolled out an update to its iOS version of the Google+ mobile app over the weekend. The new version now supports hangouts from iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad users with front-facing cameras, allows users the ability to +1 in comments, and improves the notification system so you can more clearly see when someone mentions you.

The iOS update comes a few days after the Android version of the app got similar updates. Google has renamed "Huddle" to "Messenger," and the app also allows users to attach photos to comment threads and Messenger chats. The improved notifications also make it easier to see when someone's added you to their circles versus when they've mentioned you in a comment or shared a post with you.

Google+ | iTunes App Store via Mashable

---

You can reach Alan Henry, the author of this post, at alan@lifehacker.com, or better yet, follow him on Twitter or Google+.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/qSV7gxcAWEo/google-updates-google%252B-app-for-ios-adds-hangouts-and-improved-notifications

bill cunningham vladimir putin vladimir putin law and order svu alec baldwin alec baldwin rampage jackson

Free Dvd Burning Software Guide | Article Gully

[unable to retrieve full-text content]... freeware programs available on the Internet. The bad news however is that only a few of the available freeware programs are worthy of being downloaded and installed on your computer. ... A student who had practice exam questions pertaining to the field of technology that they were studying that were almost identical to the original certification exam, wouldn't they be better prepared for the final certification exam? Knowing what is on the final certification exam can ...

Source: http://articlegully.com/computers/free-dvd-burning-software-guide

alley boy alley boy morgan freeman dez bryant bristol palin bethenny frankel brewers

Braun's homer gives Brewers NL Central crown

Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun, right, celebrates with Nyjer Morgan (2) and Corey Hart after hitting a three-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Florida Marlins, Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun, right, celebrates with Nyjer Morgan (2) and Corey Hart after hitting a three-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Florida Marlins, Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun, right, celebrates with Nyjer Morgan (2) and Corey Hart after hitting a three-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Florida Marlins, Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun makes a diving catch on a ball hit by Florida Marlins' Omar Infante during the fifth inning of a baseball game on Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez reacts after getting Florida Marlins' Logan Morrison to strike out and end the top of the the eighth inning of a baseball game on Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Prince Fielder hits a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Florida Marlins, Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

MILWAUKEE (AP) ? Ryan Braun stepped into the box when a familiar feeling overcame him. Just like in 2008, the Brewers homegrown slugger propelled Milwaukee back into the postseason.

"It's not new," Prince Fielder said. "That's what he does."

Braun hit a three-run, go-ahead homer in the eighth with chants of "M-V-P" ringing throughout the sellout crowd and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Florida Marlins 4-1 on Friday night to win their first division title since 1982.

"I think for me honestly, I live for that moment. You play the game to have the opportunity to play meaningful games down the stretch in September," Braun said. "I truly expected to come through in that situation."

Fielder also homered for Milwaukee, which clinched the NL Central and reached the postseason at the earliest date in team history after waiting 20 minutes for the Cubs to finish off their 5-1 win over the Cardinals.

With most of sellout crowd still in its seats, fireworks went off again after the Cardinals lost and fans were showered with confetti and streamers.

Nearly an hour after the Cubs' victory, Fielder took a victory lap around the field, hugging several of the nearly 5,000 fans that stayed to party.

Braun homered off Clay Hensley (6-7) to end a 1-for-16 skid. He then pointed his bat in the air toward owner Mark Attanasio and the fans before rounding the bases.

"I definitely knew I hit it pretty good. It felt amazing," Braun said. "It just feels so good, all of us as a team, to be in this moment."

It was reminiscent of his 2008 homer on the last day of the season that lifted Milwaukee to its first postseason appearance since winning the AL East in 1982. Now, they're back.

"It's eerily similar," said Braun, who signed a $105 million extension this season that keeps him in Milwaukee through 2020. "Having the opportunity to watch the last couple of innings of somebody else's game feels almost identical.

"Obviously a little better, though, because we won our division instead of the wild card," he said.

In 2008, the Brewers waited for the Marlins to eliminate the Mets before they could celebrate.

Shortly after the Cardinals' first out, the team congregated in the Brewers clubhouse, passing out champagne and preparing for its second celebration in four seasons.

The stadium has remained packed even though this season hasn't been as dramatic as '08. Milwaukee built a 10?-game lead midway through August over St. Louis, and even though the Cardinals whittled it down, time ran out.

"It means a lot, we've got a great team, the fans are with us all here," Fielder said. "I'm just glad we're able to do it, we've got a little ways to go, but I'm going to enjoy the hell out of this. Hopefully, we go all the way."

Milwaukee fell to the Cardinals in seven games in the 1982 World Series, but even that season they didn't have a home-field advantage like this.

The Brewers are 53-23 at Miller Park, one win away from tying the most home wins in franchise history.

Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo pitched into the eighth, setting two franchise records for strikeouts before leaving when Emilio Bonifacio singled and second baseman Rickie Weeks couldn't handle a throw that put two on.

Francisco Rodriguez (6-2) came in and struck out Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison to end the inning, pumping his fist and beating his chest after escaping the jam.

Corey Hart doubled off Hensley with one out and Nyjer Morgan walked to bring up Braun. Milwaukee had been 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position before Braun's at-bat.

After fouling a pitch off and working the count to 3-1, Braun hit Hensley's slider to deep left-center field, hitting off the scoreboard supports, then returned for a curtain call from the crowd of 44,584.

"Ryan loves the big stage," Attanasio said.

John Axford converted his 44th save in 46 chances with a perfect ninth, including the last 41 in a row, but had to pause with two outs in the ninth when the Cubs-Cardinals score was displayed after Alfonso Soriano hit a three-run homer.

Milwaukee has made three previous trips to the playoffs, but never was assured a spot until either the next to last day or final day of the season.

Fielder's homer off Chris Volstad was his 35th this year, but that was the only mistake the lanky right-hander made. Volstad deserved better. He scattered five hits and struck out five, but hasn't won a start since July 10.

The Marlins tied it in the fourth when Sanchez doubled and scored on Petersen's two-out single. Braun made a diving catch in the fifth, setting the stage for his big at-bat.

"That may have been the turning point of the game," Marlins manager Jack McKeon said.

General manager Doug Melvin said his goal coming into the season was to drop confetti from the Miller Park roof, just like in 2008. In the offseason, he decided to keep Fielder, a free agent to be, and built the starting rotation by trading away his farm system's top talent.

In the span of two weeks in December, Melvin dealt his starting shortstop, backup center fielder, top pitching prospect, top hitting prospect and two pitchers who projected to be no worse than major league relievers.

The returns included 2009 AL Cy Young winner Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum. Melvin said the Brewers were all-in, just liked they were in 2008 when they traded for CC Sabathia at midseason.

The gamble paid off again, but it took longer than expected for rookie manager Ron Roenicke.

Milwaukee remained in third place behind Pittsburgh and St. Louis on July 25. Milwaukee then won 27 of 32 to take a 10?-game lead in the NL Central.

"I know the team always felt like we were going to play good ball," Roenicke said. "It didn't take long for us to turn that around."

Milwaukee joined the NL in 1998 and watched St. Louis win seven division titles while the Brewers remained mostly in the bottom of the division.

Things began changing when Attanasio, an L.A. investment banker, purchased the Brewers in September 2004 from Commissioner Bud Selig's family and steadily raised the payroll, up to more than $85 million to start this season.

Milwaukee holds losing records against the Phillies, Braves and Diamondbacks ? the other three NL teams in line to join them in the postseason. This time, the Brewers come in as a team built on pitching with a potent offense.

"It's the most fun you can possibly have," Attanasio said. "The thing about all our guys, they really pull together."

NOTES: Marlins closer Leo Nunez admitted Friday to using fake documents and a fake ID to sign a professional contract more than a year ago and Dominican authorities arrested a man accused of falsifying Nunez's documents. ... With Nunez gone, McKeon will finish the season mixing and matching who will close games. ... Morgan received an award as the team's high energy player of the year, and his alter ego, Tony Plush, got a second trophy in a lighthearted moment. ... Greinke (15-6, 3.75 ERA) faces Marlins RHP Alex Sanabia (0-0, 1.29) in the second of this three-game series on Saturday night.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-09-24-BBN-Marlins-Brewers/id-b8d203f18b114f34ae085995c90194c5

osu osu 9 11 conspiracy theories 9 11 conspiracy theories zeitgeist bush ellie goulding

Hamilton Beach 67800H Juice Extractor Reviews | Top Juicer ...

Posted by: admin on September 23, 2011 Under: Uncategorized |

Hamilton Beach Juicer

Hamilton Beach 67800H Juice Extractor

Hamilton Beach Juicer ? click on the image below for more information.

• 350 watts
• Easy to remove pulp bin
• Stainless steel cutter/strainer, see through lid safety interlock
• 25 food & drink recipes
• White

Hamilton Beach Juicer

Start the pathway to a healthier life with this excellent juice extractor. Powerful 350-watt motor and durable stainless steel cutter/strainer will squeeze the maximum amount of juice out of fruits and vegetables so you can drink to your health. Features a large pulp bin, safety latches, a convenient spout and 25 recipes. Model #67800. One year limited warranty.

Low Price Of $ 25.25

Hamilton Beach 67800H Juice Extractor

Click on the button for more Hamilton Beach Juicer information and reviews.

Source: http://www.topjuicermachines.info/hamilton-beach-67800h-juice-extractor-reviews/

x factor auditions x factor auditions v for vendetta chelsea clinton amy schumer amy schumer pumpkins

Beginner's Road to Hosting

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Noobs Guide to Hosting. Webhosting is basically an Internet support that allows companies and individuals to create their unique space online. Webhosting businesses have machines that become data centers. Customers ...

Source: http://articlesmind.com/2011/09/beginners-road-to-hosting

weather atlanta fandango ups movie times medina desktop backgrounds ana ivanovic

Defining social business | Avanzi. Sostenibilit? Per Azioni.

Defining social business

Sustainable Innovation

Scritto da staff il 22 settembre 2011 - Lascia un commento

This is an excerpt from our response to the European Commission public consultation on the working paper ?The Social Business Initiative: Promoting Social Investment Funds?. The complete document is available on our slideshare profile? following this link.

We are fully committed to supporting the development of social businesses and in promoting a cultural change which puts capital and profit at the service of social good. Comments and suggestions about our reflections are more than welcome.

?

Defining social business

The broad common features of social businesses (otherwise sometimes referred to as ?social ventures? ? here no distinction is implied) can be quickly sketched out . Initial discussions with stakeholders suggest that social businesses will typically:

• focus as a primary corporate objective on the achievement of social, ethical or environmental outcomes;
• reinvest profits so as to maximise their ability to deliver on their primary objective, and therefore have no or limited profit redistribution for investors or stakeholders ? this can limit their ability to raise funds, attract investors, and therefore expand and grow; and
• follow specific governance arrangements, e.g. addressing social goals in their internal organisation.

While the definition of social businesses needs to be further explored, this consultation offers a first opportunity for input from stakeholders, in particular with respect to developing a social investment fund framework that targets these businesses or ventures.
This consultation does not prejudge the Communication or any formal proposal by the Commission. The Commission services recognise the heterogeneity of social businesses across Europe. Developing a definition of social business for the purposes of this initiative on investment funds does not mean that there could not be other elements or features of social businesses which have to be taken into account for the purposes of other policy measures.

(European Commission, Staff working paper, The Social Business Initiative: Promoting Social Investment Funds)

?

Do you agree that the main features of social businesses are as outlined above?

We agree with the proposed definition, but we think that the prohibition to distribute profit can be a limit. As long as these entities are businesses, e.g. organisations that use capitals to produce products and services, they should play with the same fundamental rules that ?traditional? companies are subject to. We believe that social business should grow into the market ? not in a side playground. Therefore, risk capital should be rewarded. Otherwise, no investor will ever be willing to put its money into them. Social businesses typically don?t distribute dividends in the early stage of their development, in order to reinforce their assets by reinvesting the margins; but there is no reason why they should continue to do so over time, once that the financial stability is reached.

The Italian law-decree 155/2006 has created the ?social enterprise?. It?s a new category that can be added to the typical legal structure of both non-profit and for-profit companies. Without going into the detail of this measure, it?s clear that its failure (few hundreds entities asked to be registered as social enterprises) it?s also due to the fact that the prohibition of dividends distribution has been perceived as a barrier by investors.

That?s the reason why we consider more appropriate a cap to ROI (return on investment) which includes dividends and capital gain limitation. This could prevent that assets accumulation due to profit limitations translates into a capital gain when stocks are sold to the market.

?

To what extent do you think this initiative should focus solely on those social businesses that do not distribute profits to their investors? Or shall it also focus on those which distribute profits to their investors (e.g. at least to a limited extent)? If so, how might social businesses be distinguished from other businesses?

We think that the rationale of pure non-profit organisations is different from social business. Social businesses are less likely to generate massive capital gains because the logic behind their model prevents them to do so. Social business is low profit by definition, since the process of value creation implies equal treatment of all stakeholders: if workforce and suppliers are managed fairly, clients pay an honest price, environment and communities are respected, one can hardly produce huge margins. Typically, high profits appear when there are strong economies of scale (which is seldom the case for social businesses) or one or more of the stakeholders are exploited.

But being low profitable does not necessarily mean that risk shouldn?t be rewarded. To a certain extent, dividend should be distributed. We are not, in principle, neither favourable nor contrary to a definite cap; we think that capping the distribution might be a good solution in some circumstances ? but the decision should be left to the partners or the shareholders on a case by case approach.

We think that a social business should be distinguished form other business on the ground of its outputs. No doubt that it has to clearly state into the Statute that the mission of the organisation is the creation of social and environmental value ? but this can be not enough. The extent to which this goal is achieved has to be measured and communicated. We think that accountability is key in this respect and we encourage the highest possible level of transparency. In other words, the ?sociality? has to be promised and, more importantly, to be proven.

?

?

The funding challenge

What are the main difficulties social businesses face, in your experience, in getting access to finance?

Social businesses operate in a typical area of market failure: they are not enough profitable to attract venture capitalists and private equity investors ? but they are not eligible for grants. Social business need a specific type of capital providers, e.g. responsible investors that are happy with a blended divided, made of a social as well as an economic return (the latter being inevitably lower than a ?normal? one).

Traditional capital suppliers are not comfortable with most social business because (i) they operate in the area of innovation ? and therefore are more risky by definition; (ii) they are more often too small to cover the cost of assessment and due diligence; (iii) their governance is often driven by values rather than economic interests.

?

To what extent do you think barriers to access to finance are limiting the growth of social businesses across the EU?

We feel that indeed finance is the most critical aspect for a social business.

?

Do you agree that there is a need to tackle any such barriers at the EU level?

Yes. In particular, we think that EU can intervene to regulate the fiscal system. The paradox that has to be handled is that social businesses are subject to the same tax regime of socially irresponsible industries. The taxation system is focused on the legal nature of a given entity rather than on its output. One can produce a huge amount of social benefit, but if it does so using a limited liability company as a vehicle, it pays as it were a tobacco maker.

Even more important to promote social investment funds could be a specific tax regime for investors and financial operators that support social ventures. If we accept the idea of tax exemption for grants, we can imagine different levels of exemption for investments to non-profit and social business.

?

?

The role of investment fund

How do you think funding through investment funds might effectively compliment other sources of funding, e.g. philanthropic funding? Are there any challenges here?

We think that investment funds can play an important role because they can minimise the information asymmetry. The problem of social businesses is that they don?t speak the same language of [traditional] investors; and these are not eager to invest time to know more and eventually understand a model that is miles away from their standard. The market would need specialised players, who know their counterparts, the context in which they operate, their logic and their approach. In order to became a specialist, one need to reach the critical mass that allows the investment needed for knowledge ? which is in fact the case of a fund.

On the other hand, we think that funds shouldn?t be the only or preferred instrument to supply capital to social businesses. In fact, different instruments can solve specific financial needs along with the development stage of the company. The problem is therefore broader: a complete chain has to be designed and supported. In other words, the market needs a sort of ?parallel? system, where specialised players do the same job of traditional investors, but with a specific sensitivity and knowledge of a different object.

?

Source: http://www.avanzi.org/sustainable-innovation/defining-social-business

gumby pennsylvania reese witherspoon fashion week fashion week diversity soulja boy