Thursday, December 20, 2012

Leah Remini sued by former managers over "Family Tools" commissions

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Leah Remini's new TV gig is already giving her a headache, months before it even starts. Former "King of Queens" star Remini is being sued by her former managers, the Collective Management Group, which claims that it's owed $67,000 in commissions relating to her upcoming ABC comedy "Family Tools," which debuts May 1.

In a complaint filed with Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, the Collective says that it entered into an agreement with the actress in November 2011 that guaranteed the company 10 percent of the earnings that emerged from projects that Remini "discussed, negotiated, contemplated, or procured/booked during Plaintiff's representation of Remini," regardless of whether the income was earned after she and the Collective parted ways.

According to the lawsuit, that would include the $1 million that it says Remini will earn for the first season of "Family Tools." (The suit allows that it isn't owed commission on a $330,000 talent holding fee that Remini received from ABC prior to officially being booked on the show.)

Remini, pictured above wearing the self-satisfied smirk of someone who just might stiff her former managers out of their commission, terminated her agreement with the Collective "without warning or justification" in October, the suit says.

Alleging breach of oral contract among other charges, the suit is asking for an order stipulating that it's owed the $67,000, plus unspecified damages, interest and court costs.

Remini's agent has not yet responded to TheWrap's request for comment.

(Pamela Chelin contributed to this report)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/leah-remini-sued-former-managers-over-family-tools-183819268.html

mario williams vcu unlv sam young ncaa bracket

London Larder: The Grill on the Market

Steak
Smithfield

The area around Smithfield has always been associated with the legendary market where butchers and restaurants have sourced their meat for years. The surrounding area is home to many well-renowned restaurants specialising in steaks and grills, including Smiths of Smithfield and one of Gaucho?s outposts. We visited The Grill on the Market, which stands on the site of the old Smithfield Bar and Grill, another old carnivore-friendly site, and although the restaurant has had a modern facelift, the menu remains reassuringly similar. In this part of London the steak is king and the whole menu is built around it. Anything else would be heresy.

The front of the restaurant is home to a large bar area, which during our visit was packed with Christmas parties and a lively atmosphere. We took in the festive ambience with a drink at the bar while our table was prepared, giving us chance to appreciate the wide variety of beers available to whet our appetite.

We started off with some garlic rub bread while we perused the menu; two halves of lightly-toasted ciabatta with half a bulb of roasted garlic to smear across it (no vampires would be coming near us.) We then chose the Blackhouse sharing plate, consisting of fish cakes, salt and pepper chicken skewers, crispy calamari, and duck spring rolls. A personal highlight was the chicken skewer, moist and full of flavour and setting us up for a meaty main course.

When it came to mains, we felt it would be a crime to come to the Grill on the Market and not try the steak, so we opted for the rump: a chunky, well-marbled cut. As you?d expect from meat experts, the cooking was spot on, seared on the outside and ruby red and juicy in the middle. Combined with sides of French beans with shallots and garlic and chips, it was a classic meal done well. We also tucked into the seared yellow fin tuna loin marinaded in soy and ginger; the perfect alternative if red meat isn?t your thing. Don?t fill up too much on your main course though, the desserts here are equally as tempting. We rounded of our meal with a huge slab of red velvet cake and a rich, indulgent chocolate and black cherry torte.

Prices at The Grill on the Market are not extortionate and compare favourably with other steak restaurants in the area, but in January there will be even better value as Blackhouse members will receive 50% off the food bill. Available between 2 ? 31 January, all you need to do is go to blackhouse.uk.com/apply, register your details and await your discount card. Simple. ?And with excellent service and food, we?ll certainly be back.

2-3 West Smithfield, EC1A 9JX

Average price of main course: ?16.50
Average price of glass of wine: ?6.50
Food and drink: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Service: 5/5

WEBSITE / MAP / ?MENU

Source: http://www.london-larder.com/2012/12/the-grill-on-market_19.html

stephen colbert running for president richard threlkeld moonrise kingdom coachella lineup coachella 2012 lineup school delays joran van der sloot

Badger sleeping habits could help target TB control

Badger sleeping habits could help target TB control [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 19-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Lou
l.vennells@exeter.ac.uk
44-013-927-22062
University of Exeter

Sleeping away from the family home is linked to health risks for badgers, new research by the University of Exeter and the Food and Environment Research Agency has revealed

Scientists found that badgers which strayed away from the family burrow in favour of sleeping in outlying dens were more likely to carry TB.

The 12-month study of 40 wild badgers was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and could have implications for the management of bovine TB in parts of the UK. The behaviour of individual animals is thought to be a key factor in how the disease is spread among animals and livestock. The new findings could help to understand and develop measures to manage TB in badgers.

The study is published online on December 19 2012 in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. The work was carried out by Dr Nicola Weber of the University of Exeter's Cornwall Campus, who said: "At a time when stopping the spread of TB is vital for British farming, it's crucial to understand all of the factors involved in the transmission of the disease. Our research found that some individual badgers are more likely to sleep in setts in the outskirts of their territory. These individuals may be coming into contact with other sources of infection more frequently, meaning they could be more likely to both contract and to spread the disease, either to other badgers or to cattle."

Dr Weber attached electronic surveillance collars to badgers from eight groups at Woodchester Park in Gloucestershire, where the badger population is naturally infected with TB. Scientists selected a sample of 40 badgers from across the groups to provide a representative sample of age and sex.

In the study, each group had a territory made up of one or two main setts, which are used as the primary year-round underground den. They also had between three and eight outlying setts, which were occupied less frequently. The badgers were monitored for 28 consecutive days per season for one year to investigate how patterns differed between individuals.

Professor Robbie McDonald of the University of Exeter said: "Badgers occupying outlying dens are most likely to be looking for a mate, or defending their group territories. We think they acquire infection as a result of living on the periphery and contacting more individuals from other social groups, rather than because they are ostracised as a result of contracting the disease. It would be valuable to test the relationship between behaviour and infection more thoroughly.

"For all sorts of human epidemics, from typhoid to the common cold, some people are known to behave in a particular way which means they are more likely to spread the disease than the average individual. Our research demonstrates that this may also be true of TB in badgers. This knowledge could have long-term implications for managing the disease. Whatever the means of tackling infection in wildlife, it would be beneficial to know which individuals are most likely to spread TB to badgers and to cattle, and to design cost-effective management measures accordingly."

###


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Badger sleeping habits could help target TB control [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 19-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Lou
l.vennells@exeter.ac.uk
44-013-927-22062
University of Exeter

Sleeping away from the family home is linked to health risks for badgers, new research by the University of Exeter and the Food and Environment Research Agency has revealed

Scientists found that badgers which strayed away from the family burrow in favour of sleeping in outlying dens were more likely to carry TB.

The 12-month study of 40 wild badgers was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and could have implications for the management of bovine TB in parts of the UK. The behaviour of individual animals is thought to be a key factor in how the disease is spread among animals and livestock. The new findings could help to understand and develop measures to manage TB in badgers.

The study is published online on December 19 2012 in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. The work was carried out by Dr Nicola Weber of the University of Exeter's Cornwall Campus, who said: "At a time when stopping the spread of TB is vital for British farming, it's crucial to understand all of the factors involved in the transmission of the disease. Our research found that some individual badgers are more likely to sleep in setts in the outskirts of their territory. These individuals may be coming into contact with other sources of infection more frequently, meaning they could be more likely to both contract and to spread the disease, either to other badgers or to cattle."

Dr Weber attached electronic surveillance collars to badgers from eight groups at Woodchester Park in Gloucestershire, where the badger population is naturally infected with TB. Scientists selected a sample of 40 badgers from across the groups to provide a representative sample of age and sex.

In the study, each group had a territory made up of one or two main setts, which are used as the primary year-round underground den. They also had between three and eight outlying setts, which were occupied less frequently. The badgers were monitored for 28 consecutive days per season for one year to investigate how patterns differed between individuals.

Professor Robbie McDonald of the University of Exeter said: "Badgers occupying outlying dens are most likely to be looking for a mate, or defending their group territories. We think they acquire infection as a result of living on the periphery and contacting more individuals from other social groups, rather than because they are ostracised as a result of contracting the disease. It would be valuable to test the relationship between behaviour and infection more thoroughly.

"For all sorts of human epidemics, from typhoid to the common cold, some people are known to behave in a particular way which means they are more likely to spread the disease than the average individual. Our research demonstrates that this may also be true of TB in badgers. This knowledge could have long-term implications for managing the disease. Whatever the means of tackling infection in wildlife, it would be beneficial to know which individuals are most likely to spread TB to badgers and to cattle, and to design cost-effective management measures accordingly."

###


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-12/uoe-bsh121912.php

elvis presley elvis presley vanessa bryant vanessa bryant Prince Harry naked Prince Harry Vegas Melky Cabrera

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Blogging for Business Guide | Modern Dignity - The Social Web Blog

Blogging for Business Guide

?

Some bloggers talk about topics that are dear to them, others are business owners who are trying to generate an online following and promote their business. Blogging for business will offer your brand a number of different benefits.

One of the many reasons why many businesses are not currently blogging to build an online presence is because they cannot grasp these benefits.

The Many Overlooked Benefits of Business Blogging

A blog is a website that displays articles by category, author, and in chronological order. In the past, bloggers were individuals who wanted to create journals of their thoughts, experiences, and opinions. Today, blogging is much more than just a journal or an online diary. With a current and comprehensive blog, businesses can communicate with their clients, post industry-related news, and inform clients about new sales promotions and product launches.

But not all of the benefits of blogging are obvious. In fact, many of the benefits do not seem like promotion at all. Here are some of the many benefits to keep in mind before you overlook the power of blogging for business.

Offer Value to Your Visitors to Build Trust

When you create a blog and write valuable posts for your blog, you are offering your audience a greater value without charging them. In today?s highly competitive industry, you know how important it is to build your reputation and to make customers trust you before you try to use all of your sales tactics. By offering a value to your visitors, you can build trust by providing them with informative content that they want to read. As you build rapport, your chances of converting the prospect into a client increase.

Driving Traffic to Your Site

The key to having an online presence is showing the search engines that you are an authority in the industry. The more relevant your on-page content, the more traffic you will have directed to your business website. Blogging helps you establish yourself as an authority in the industry, not only to clients, but also to the search engines. You can build your links, give search engine spiders more content to scrub, and achieve better search engine rankings so that your business website is listed near the top of search engine results. By posting fresh and relevant content on your site, you are not only satisfying your readers, you are satisfying the search engines by optimizing your page organically.

Keep Your Customers Engaged

Now more than ever, customers want to be engaged. They want the opportunity to comment on posts and to be interactive with the companies they do business with. A blog is an interactive environment where customers have the power to comment and get answers. Make you open your blog up for comments and you will have greater success.

Setting up Your Blog

Now that you know some of the overlooked benefits associated with blogging, it is time to take time to create your blog on your website. Creating a blog is a straightforward as long as you know where to start. Here are a few tips to ensure you succeed with your business blog.

Use a free software program like WordPress to create your blog. Your developer should be able to add a blog quite easily and even create a theme/skin to match your existing site. A good example of a WordPress marketing blog can be found at Forza Direct Marketing.
Take time to write meaningful articles that customers want to read. If you were a customer, ask yourself if you want to read the content.

Post updated articles on a regular basis. When you have fresh content, you will attract more traffic and more subscribers.

Take your time when you write your blogs. You do not want to rush and make the content too dry. Some blogs may take 2 hours or more to write so that the reader sees you as an expert. As you gain experience with your writing you can reduce the amount of time it takes.

Keywords are important but do not let them take over the article. The article should read naturally but you should also find a way to incorporate the right keywords and keyword density.

If you are ready to build your online presence, a blog is a creative marketing method to consider. Some marketing methods require a large budget. Fortunately for small business owners, blogging does not require a huge budget or a deep understanding of Search Engine Optimization. Take your time to develop article topic ideas, write valuable content, and benefit from your business blogging efforts.

?

Editorial Staff at ModernDignity is a team of ?Bloggers ?led by Wilson Maina. Page maintained by Wilson Maina.

Source: http://www.moderndignity.com/blogging-for-business-guide/

direct tv wimbledon ray allen Savages Home Run Derby 2012 San Diego fireworks steve nash

Readout of the President's Video Conference with Prime Minister ...

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

December 18, 2012

The President and British Prime Minister David Cameron spoke today by video conference, as a part of their regular consultations on a range of strategic issues.? The Prime Minister took the opportunity to personally express his condolences to the community of Newtown and the American people regarding the tragic violence at Sandy Hook Elementary School.?The President thanked him for the support of the people of the United Kingdom at this difficult moment.

The two leaders expressed concern about the continuing violence in Syria. ?The President noted that the formation of the new Syrian Opposition Coalition marks an important step in preparing for a Syrian-led political transition, and reiterated the United States? firm stance regarding the use or proliferation of chemical weapons.? The two leaders also discussed Afghanistan and our ongoing consultations with the Afghan Government, including negotiation of a U.S.-Afghanistan Bilateral Security Agreement.? They agreed on the need to find a way forward on Middle East peace that stops the cycle of counterproductive unilateral actions by the Israelis and Palestinians, and brings the parties back to the negotiating table. ?On Iran, the two leaders agreed on the need to continue implementing sanctions, which are having an important effect, while pursuing diplomatic engagement to resolve the international community?s concerns about Iran?s nuclear program. ?

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/12/18/readout-president-s-video-conference-prime-minister-cameron

walking dead comic kratom broncos broncos lehigh walking dead season finale matt flynn

Boehner Fiscal Cliff Bill Would Include Millionaire Tax - Business ...

CNN

House Speaker John Boehner plans to introduce a bill on the House floor that would include tax increases on incomes above $1 million, he said this morning at a press conference.

"We're going to move to Plan B," Boehner said. "Our Plan B would protect American taxpayers who make $1 million or less."

That means, for the first time publicly, Boehner acknowledged he would be open to increased tax rates in a deal to avert the so-called fiscal cliff. Boehner said he hoped to avoid tax hikes on as many people as possible ahead of a Jan. 1 deadline.

Boehner emphasized that he was not breaking off talks with President Barack Obama on a larger, "balanced" budget deal. But he expressed frustration with the White House's pace of negotiations.

"We do not have a balanced plan when the President is calling for $1.3 trillion in revenue and only willing to put up $850 billion in cuts over 10 years," Boehner said. Last night, Boehner's office put the amount of spending cuts in Obama's plan at $930 billion.?

"What we've offered meets the definition of balance," Boehner said. "But the White House is not there yet."

On Monday night, the two sides appeared closer to a deal. Obama moved more toward Boehner on the revenue side, proposing a plan that would hike taxes on incomes above $400,000 instead of his previous demand of $250,000.

Boehner, meanwhile, has moved?toward the president in the past few days by agreeing to?propose tax-rate increases as part of his plan?for the first time ??though he opened by offering to raise rates on incomes above $1 million. On Sunday,?Boehner reportedly offered to lift the debt ceiling for one year.

Still, Boehner's office chided its lack of balance.

"Any movement away from the unrealistic offers the President has made previously is a step in the right direction, but a proposal that includes $1.3 trillion in revenue for only $930 billion in spending cuts cannot be considered balanced," Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said in a statement Monday. "We hope to continue discussions with the President so we can reach an agreement that is truly balanced and begins to solve our spending problem."

Politico reported this morning that Boehner told Republicans during a private meeting that "Plan B" is one that he hopes will stop many tax hikes as possible before a Jan. 1 deadline.?From Politico:

?For weeks, Senate Republicans ? and a growing number of you ? have been pushing for us to pivot to a ?Plan B,?? he will say. ?I think there?s a better way. But the White House just can?t seem to bring itself to agree to a ?balanced? approach, and time is running short. Taxes are going up on everyone on Jan. 1. They?re baked into current law. And we have to stop whatever tax rate increases we can. In the absence of an alternative, as of this morning, a ?modified Plan B? is the plan.?

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/boehner-fiscal-cliff-bill-millionaire-tax-obama-2012-12

google privacy changes windows 8 preview leap year moratorium dwts season 14 cast leap day michigan primary results

Friday, December 14, 2012

Eric Chua : Life, Business and Real Estate in Singapore ...

People are attracted to commercial real estate investing for a number of reasons. However, all of those motivations should be your choice based on your existing knowledge. The more you learn, the more you will financially benefit from commercial real estate. The tips in the following article are a great way for beginners to get their feet wet, or for experienced investors to bone up on their existing knowledge.

Make sure your asking price is realistic. Many different factors can influence the real worth of your property.

Secure the proper financing prior to hunting for property to buy. Loan products and commercial lenders are different from home loans. Commercial loans have some significant advantages that investors can take advantage of, that people buying personal property cannot. Larger down payments are required for commercial financing, but you have the safety of avoiding personal liability should things not end well. Banks are also considerably more lenient about letting you borrow down payment funds from associates.

TIP! If you want to learn a lot about real estate, check out several websites that offer a lot of information to both experienced and new real estate investors. Having a great base of knowledge will give you the tools to complete every part of the buying process with confidence, leading to solid decision making.

Be on the lookout for sellers who are motivated. It?s your responsibility to find sellers who are willing to make a deal, especially a deal that works in your favor such as selling the property for less than it is worth. Until you locate a great deal, nothing moves one way or the other when it comes to real estate. Once you identify a great deal, it is usually offered by a seller who is eager and very motivated to sell.

Determine the negotiation methods of real estate brokers you are considering. Much like you would interview a prospective employee, question their experience and training. Look for a broker who always adopt an ethical approach, has values and know where to get good deals. Request to see examples of previous negotiations, both those that were unsuccessful and those that were successful.

Tax Adviser

TIP! You need to understand that each property has for itself, a lifetime. You could make a big mistake by ignoring what you may eventually have to spend in order to keep up with the upkeep of the property.

Prior to purchasing anything, get together with your tax adviser. The tax adviser will explain information about the overall costs of the buildings, and can elaborate more about how taxes will affect your income. Consult your adviser for areas where taxes are lower.

Prior to listing your property for sale, you should first hire a reputable, professional inspector to go over the place. This way you can make sure it is prepared in advance of a sale, and if any problems arise during the inspection you can take care of it on the front end.

If you are investing in commercial properties, keep an eye out for any possibilities of buying bigger. It doesn?t take a lot more work than a smaller location, and it turns a greater profit over time.

TIP! Get yourself set up online before you buy any property. Set up a LinkedIn profile or a website.

Occupation is the key when you purchase commercial properties for rent. You are responsible for the expenses associated with keeping your unoccupied spaces updated and maintained. If you notice that you have several vacant properties, try to find out why, and look at ways of enticing tenants back in.

Know exactly what your requirements are before searching for commercial properties. You should have a good idea of the kind of space you will need. If you think your business will get bigger, consider purchasing more space than is currently required; doing this may save you money down the road.

When you are first starting out in real estate investing, the best thing is to keep it simple and start with one investment strategy at a time. Carefully consider the type of property investment you are interested in and focus your attention on it alone. It is in your best interest to stay focused on one type and do your best, than to spread yourself too thin and just do average at multiple investments.

TIP! One question you must ask potential real estate broker is that person?s definition of failure and success. Ask them to define their results measurements and how they determine it.

Once you have narrowed your choices down to two major contenders, you should expand your decision to include the big picture. It?s just as difficult to obtain adequate financing for a 10 unit apartment complex as it is for a 20 unit building. Also, purchasing more units is like buying in bulk. The more you buy, the cheaper each unit will be.

Interest Rates

People who invest in commercial real estate know the threat associated with fluctuating interest rates. In the current volatile economy the interest rates are rising and falling without warning, which can also dramatically affect the cost of financing an investment. Interest rate fluctuations should be taken into account when evaluating your long-term goals and profits.

TIP! You may need to make some changes to the commercial space you just rented before moving in. The improvements can just affect surface appearance like painting the walls or moving furniture around.

If you are ready to sign a lease for your commercial property, be very cautious if the lease is only a standard form. Large real estate companies have been known to hide clauses that are not advantageous to you in their very long, and complicated, leases. If you pay close attention to the content of the lease, you will be far less likely to encounter difficulties stemming from the lease document.

In commercial real estate, there are different kind of brokers. Some agents represent tenants only, while brokers work alongside tenants and landlords alike. Consider hiring a tenant-only broker as he?ll have the most experience in dealing with situations such as yours.

If you plan to finance your next commercial real estate purchase, you should first ensure that you can provide detailed financial statements for prospective lenders. These documents give the banks the information they need in regards to your financial responsibility and how secure their investment would be if they were to give you a loan to meet your goals.

TIP! Take a good look at the property?s surroundings. You are required to clean up any environmental waste on your property.

Feng Shui

When considering properties for your investment portfolio, abide by the principles of feng shui. Two of the most basic principles of feng shui- open spaces and clutter-free lifestyles -are also very appealing to buyers.

Ensure that you have a singular investment focus at any given time. Regardless of whether your real estate investment is a office, apartment complex, or undeveloped commercial land, it is important to concentrate your efforts on only one investment. Your undivided attention will be need to maintain each of these types of property. Master one type of investment at a time. Mediocre profits from several types of investments aren?t worth the effort, but major profits from one type of investment is.

TIP! Commercial loans require a higher down payment than your typical residential loan. You need to research different lenders so that you can find the best one for you.

As mentioned earlier in this article, you could have a variety of motivations driving you towards commercial real estate investment, but all motivations require learning more about this field to find success. Apply the advice from the preceding paragraphs towards your commercial property dealings and you can be well on the path to maximized profits and rewards.

Source: http://www.maynaseric.com/considering-the-commercial-real-estate-market-follow-these-tips-2

san francisco giants Medal of Honor Warfighter Richard Mourdock d t p zynga

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Amazon Wants to Ship You a Laborer to Install Your Purchases

Amazon is always trying out new ideas: some work, others fail. Now the retailer is testing the idea of sending laborers to your house. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/oY5nRQY8f6g/amazon-wants-to-ship-you-a-laborer-to-install-your-purchases

melissa gilbert deadliest catch dwts sean hannity bobby petrino fired buffett rule lollapalooza lineup

'Don't mix politics and religion with education' ? BorneoPost Online ...

by Lee Ya Yun, Lian Cheng and Joanna Yap, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 13, 2012, Thursday

LIGHT MOMENT: KTS Group managing director Dato Henry Lau (second right) chats with KTS Education Forum moderator Dunstan Chan (left) and the invited speakers (from second left) Dr Welyne Jeffrey Jehom, Assoc Prof Dr Beena Giridharan and Prof Dr Lau Seng during the morning session of the forum at KTS Garden in Kuching. ? Photo by Kong Jun Liung

Education system will be polarised if it fails to inculcate respect and understanding for each other ? Lau

KUCHING: Is our education system up to the mark?

Are our schools, colleges and universities inculcating the principles for inter-racial harmonious relations in our multi-racial society?

These were the questions posed by KTS Group managing director Dato Henry Lau at the KTS Education Forum yesterday.

?Each year, we are spending billions on education nationwide. After more than four decades of almost free education in primary and secondary schools, we are still baffled and unable to distinguish the differences between language and knowledge learning,? Lau noted.

He observed that the country?s education system suffered from political interferences, racial quota syndrome as well as other trivial and mundane preoccupations ? even in the higher learning institutions where innovation and intellectual freedom are the most fundamental essence of education.

Towards this, he cautioned speakers and participants at the forum that the discussion on education system should be limited to the discourse of knowledge as any intention to interfere it with politics or religion would further complicate an already complex issue.

?If the discussion on the education system could not maintain its pure objective, the role of education in contributing to the harmony and solidity of a society might be jeopardised.

?Education should be limited to knowledge and should not involve politics and religion. I hope the forum will turn it straight while we are exploring the issue of education in Malaysia. We should refrain from raising the issue of politics or religion or any other issues except education in its pure sense.?

Lau said the country?s malleable young should be taught to recognise the multi-cultural origins of the various ethnic groups, appreciate each other?s religion and show respect and understanding for one another.

?If our education system does not inculcate these attitudes in our students, it will only tend to polarise us. Getting a string of academic A?s is meaningless if the students fail to understand, appreciate and practice good moral values.?

Lau further warned: ?If we do not have an even and healthy development of our human capital, someday when and if our oil and gas supplies run out and our population increases, the real price we have to pay for the defects, if we do not correct them soon, will be painful and detrimental to our country.?

The Education Forum is part of the KTS 50th anniversary celebration themed We care, we grow.

A string of activities, centred around corporate social responsibility (CSR), has been organised throughout the year.

On CSR, Lau said it should be beyond cash donation and such like.

?In fact, helping to maintain a harmonious and stable society in our community is also part of CSR.

?KTS would like to play a part in education since education has become part and parcel of the development of a society. That?s why we have initiated the education forum,? he added.

The one-day forum titled ?Education in Malaysia: How Do We See It? The Sarawak Perspective? saw seven invited speakers presenting their insights on education to about 300 participants.

Lau expressed hope that the forum could help provide pertinent and salient answers to the all encompassing questions on education.

?I hope the forum can come out with a statement or paper which we can submit to the government. I know many have submitted but I hope we can do a better one,? he said.

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Source: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/12/13/dont-mix-politics-and-religion-with-education/

bristol motor speedway prometheus grand canyon skywalk tonga pid corned beef hash the walking dead season 2 finale

Attachment Style May Factor Into Fear of Commitment - Psych Central

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on December 11, 2012

Attachment Style May Factor Into Fear of CommitmentA new study suggests particular kinds of attachment experiences may cause some adults to avoid long-term relationships.

In the investigation, researchers sought to resolve an ongoing debate on the genesis of ?avoidant attachment.? Psychologists have questioned if the behavior is due to innate personality traits, such as being more of a loner, or is a delayed reaction to unmet childhood needs.

In the study, Tel Aviv University psychologist Dr. Sharon Dekel and?Barry Farber, Ph.D.,?of Columbia University, studied the romantic history of 58 adults, aged 22-28. They found that 22.4 percent of study participants could be categorized as ?avoidant? when it came to their relationships.

The ?avoidant? behavior was characterized by demonstrating anxiety about intimacy, a reluctance to commit to or share with their partner, or a belief that their partner was ?clingy.?

Overall, they reported less personal satisfaction in their relationships than participants who were determined to be secure in their relationships.

Dekel and Farber believe the roots of the commitment reluctance stems from adults trying to meet childhood needs. They found that while both secure and avoidant individuals expressed a desire for intimacy in relationships, avoidant individuals are conflicted about this need due to the complicated parent-child dynamics they experienced when young.

The premise of their study,?Dekel said, is based on attachment theory, which posits that during times of stress, infants seek proximity to their caregivers for emotional support. However, if the parent is unresponsive or overly intrusive, the child learns to avoid their caregiver.

The researchers believe that adult relationships reflect these earlier experiences. That is, when infantile needs are met in childhood, a person approaches adult relationships with more security, seeking intimacy, sharing, caring, and fun,?Dekel said.

This relationship perspective is called a ?two-adult? model, in which participants equally share desires with their partner.

Avoidant individuals, however, are more likely to adopt an ?infant-mother? intimacy model. For this group, when they enter relationships, there is an attempt to satisfy their unmet childhood needs,?Dekel said.

?Avoidant individuals are looking for somebody to validate them, accept them as they are, can consistently meet their needs and remain calm ? including not making a fuss about anything or getting caught up in their own personal issues.?

The tendency to avoid dependence on a partner is a defense mechanism rather than an avoidance of intimacy, she adds.

Researchers believe this is an area that deserves future study as individuals may have problems in obtaining satisfying romantic relationships. As a consequence they are also less happy in their lives and are more likely to suffer illnesses than their secure counterparts,?said Dekel.

Psychologists need a better understanding of what these insecure individuals need, perhaps through more sophisticated neurological studies, she suggests.

There is also the question of whether or not these attachment styles are permanent. Dekel believes that there are some experiences which can help people develop more secure relationship styles.

One clue to this capacity is a study Dekel performed that observed the experience of a traumatic event is often associated with survivors showing a greater ability and desire to form closer relationships.

Source: Tel Aviv University


APA Reference
Nauert PhD, R. (2012). Attachment Style May Factor Into Fear of Commitment. Psych Central. Retrieved on December 13, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/12/11/attachment-style-may-factor-into-fear-of-commitment/48925.html

?

Source: http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/12/11/attachment-style-may-factor-into-fear-of-commitment/48925.html

heather locklear hospitalized joplin tornado extreme makeover home edition constitution day constitution day coachella 2012 dolly parton

U.S. seizes Texas condo it says owned by former Mexican governor

MCALLEN, Texas (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge said the government has seized a luxury Texas condominium purportedly owned by a fugitive former Mexican governor wanted on suspicion of aiding drug traffickers, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Tuesday.

Federal prosecutors for the southern district of Texas say the $640,000 condominium on South Padre Island is owned by the former governor of Tamaulipas state, Tomas Yarrington, also the former national leader of Mexico's ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI.

Prosecutors allege that the property was purchased with money that came from Mexican drug traffickers.

Yarrington served as governor of Tamaulipas from 1999 to 2004 and unsuccessfully ran for president in 2005. Before that, he was mayor of Matamoros, the U.S.-Mexican border hometown of the Gulf Cartel, once one of that country's dominant drug-trafficking gangs.

In June, Yarrington denied the allegations against him in the United States, although he has still not come forward to face a warrant issued for his arrest in Mexico in August.

Senior PRI politicians say in private Yarrington could end up behind bars to show the party is serious about fighting corruption.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos granted the government's motion to take full possession of the condo, sell it and pay off taxes and homeowners' association fees owed, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release.

The government expects to sell the property at a public auction "in the near future."

A civil forfeiture complaint alleges that Napoleon Rodriguez, a business associate of Yarrington, made a straw purchase of the condo in 1998 so the politician would avoid attention from U.S. authorities.

Court records show Yarrington began investing millions from drug trafficking kickbacks in various properties in Mexico and Texas after he left public office, prosecutors said.

Rodriguez is currently in custody in Mexico.

The case against Yarrington, who was suspended in May from the PRI, emerged ahead of Mexico's presidential election in July as the centrist party attempted to shed its reputation for graft.

The PRI ruled Mexico from 1929 to 2000, and returned to power earlier this month after the election of President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Pena Nieto has vowed to fight organized crime and end the drug violence that claimed more than 60,000 lives during the term of former president Felipe Calderon.

(Reporting by Jared Taylor; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Eric Walsh)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-seizes-texas-condo-says-owned-former-mexican-020029644.html

wikipedia blackout kyla pratt justified season 3 custer scott walker restaurant week type 2 diabetes

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

More than 3,000 epigenetic switches control daily liver cycles

Dec. 10, 2012 ? When it's dark, and we start to fall asleep, most of us think we're tired because our bodies need rest. Yet circadian rhythms affect our bodies not just on a global scale, but at the level of individual organs, and even genes.

Now, scientists at the Salk Institute have determined the specific genetic switches that sync liver activity to the circadian cycle. Their finding gives further insight into the mechanisms behind health-threatening conditions such as high blood sugar and high cholesterol.

"We know that genes in the liver turn on and off at different times of day and they're involved in metabolizing substances such as fat and cholesterol," says Satchidananda Panda, co-corresponding author on the paper and associate professor in Salk's Regulatory Biology Laboratory. "To understand what turns those genes on or off, we had to find the switches."

To their surprise, they discovered that among those switches was chromatin, the protein complex that tightly packages DNA in the cell nucleus. While chromatin is well known for the role it plays in controlling genes, it was not previously suspected of being affected by circadian cycles.

Panda and his colleagues, including Joseph R. Eckercircadian cycles, holder of the Salk International Council Chair in Genetics, report their results December 5 in Cell Metabolism.

Over the last ten years, scientists have begun to discover more about the relationship between circadian cycles and metabolism. Circadian cycles affect nearly every living organism, including plants, bacteria, insects and human beings.

"It's been known since the early eighteenth century that plants kept in darkness still open their leaves in 24 hour cycles. Similarly, human volunteers also maintain circadian rhythms in dark rooms. Now we're determining the regulatory processes that control those responses," says Ecker, who was recently elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his work on the genetics of plant and human cells.

Panda offers an example of human circadian influenced behavior that is painfully familiar to all parents of newborns: Why do infants wake up in the middle of the night? It isn't because they aren't yet "trained" to a regular schedule, but because their internal circadian clocks haven't even developed.

"Once the clock is developed, the infant can naturally sleep through the night," Panda says. "On the other end of the scale, older people with dementia have sleep problems because their biological clock has degenerated."

In the case of humans and other vertebrates, a brain structure called the suprachiasmatic nucleus controls circadian responses. But there are also clocks throughout the body, including our visceral organs, that tell specific genes when to make the workhorse proteins that enable basic functions in our bodies, such as producing glucose for energy.

In the liver, genes that control the metabolism of fat and cholesterol turn on and off in sync with these clocks. But genes do not switch on and off by themselves. Their activity is regulated by the "epigenome," a set of molecules that signal to the genes how many proteins they should make, and, most importantly from the circadian point of view, when they should be made.

"We know that when we eat determines when a particular gene turns on or off, for example, if we eat only at nighttime, a gene that should be turned on during the day will turn on at night," Panda says.

For this reason, the epigenome is of particular interest for health, since we can control when we eat. An earlier study from Panda's lab, published last May in Cell Metabolism, suggested that we should observe a 16-hour fast between our evening and morning meals.

"In response to natural cycles, our body has evolved to make glucose at nighttime," Panda says. "But if on top of that you eat, you're creating excess glucose and that damages organs, which leads to diabetes. It's like over-charging a car battery. Bad things will happen."

In short, while we can't control what genes we're born with, we do have some influence over what they do. Nevertheless, the interplay between genome and epigenome is extremely complex. Panda, Ecker and their colleagues, including the paper's co-first authors Salk postdoctoral researchers, Christopher Vollmers and Robert J. Schmitz, did their studies in mice. In the mouse liver, they discovered more than 3,000 epigenomic elements, which regulate the circadian cycles of 14,492 genes. Comparing the mouse genome to the human genome, they find many of the same genes.

"Now that we know where the switches are, it brings us one step closer to understanding the mechanism of gene regulation," says Panda, "For example, it helps us restrict our search for other factors to particular regions of the genome. In other words, at least we now know to search in Alaska, rather than Australia. But Alaska's still a big place."

Other researchers on the study were: Jason Nathanson and Gene Yeo, of the University of California, San Diego

The work was supported by the Blasker Science and Technology Grant Award from the San Diego Foundation; the National Institutes of Health; the Mary K. Chapman Foundation; the Howard Hughes Medical Institute; the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; and the Pew Scholars Program in Biomedical Sciences.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:


Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Salk Institute for Biological Studies, via Newswise.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Christopher Vollmers, Robert?J. Schmitz, Jason Nathanson, Gene Yeo, Joseph?R. Ecker, Satchidananda Panda. Circadian Oscillations of Protein-Coding and Regulatory RNAs in a Highly Dynamic Mammalian Liver Epigenome. Cell Metabolism, 2012; 16 (6): 833 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2012.11.004

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/EShHEDWIwrc/121210174119.htm

swain match day nene dark shadows trailer nate mcmillan clooney arrested southern miss

Nate Diaz?s middle finger gesture during fight rattled Fox broadcast, but not Benson Henderson

During Benson Henderson's win over Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 5, the Fox broadcast repeatedly cut away to a shot of the empty octagon. Was it a technical difficulty? Did someone on Fox's broadcast truck hit the wrong button?

No. Diaz threw up the middle finger at his opponent, and the network cut away instead of risking a fine from the Federal Communications Commission.

This isn't the first time Diaz has caused a stir on network television. After a Strikeforce fight in 2010 on CBS, Diaz, his brother Nick and their teammates got into a postfight melee when Jason "Mayhem" Miller jumped into the cage after a Jake Shields win.

Diaz is known for using trash talk and throwing up the middle finger during fights. He famously locked in a triangle choke with his legs on Kurt Pellegrino and put up both fingers as he finished the submission. Henderson knew this and prepared for Diaz's game.

"It's something I actually had a little bit of a hard time with, but once my training partners got together, they all started talking crap to me in the middle of sparring and I'd get angry," Henderson said on Fuel TV's postfight show. "They helped control it and I did a pretty good job of being very focused and not letting that affect my emotional state in the middle of the fight."

Fantasy football advice on Yahoo! Sports:

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/nate-diaz-middle-finger-gesture-during-fight-rattled-161511051--mma.html

masters tickets one direction tulsa news scalloped potatoes the ten commandments charlton heston moses

Monday, December 10, 2012

Plane believed to be singer's found in Mexico

FILE - In this April 26, 2012, file photo, singing superstar Jenni Rivera performs during the Latin Billboard Awards in Coral Gables, Fla. Authorities in Mexico say the wreckage of a small plane believed to be carrying Rivera has been found on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, and there are no apparent survivors. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, file)

FILE - In this April 26, 2012, file photo, singing superstar Jenni Rivera performs during the Latin Billboard Awards in Coral Gables, Fla. Authorities in Mexico say the wreckage of a small plane believed to be carrying Rivera has been found on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, and there are no apparent survivors. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, file)

FILE - In this March 8, 2012, file photo, Mexican-American singer and reality TV star Jenni Rivera poses during an interview in Los Angeles. Mexican authorities confirmed that the plane in which Rivera was traveling disappeared early Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, after leaving the Mexican northern city of Monterrey where she performed in concert on Saturday night. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, file)

(AP) ? The wreckage of a small plane believed to be carrying Mexican-American music superstar Jenni Rivera was found in northern Mexico on Sunday and there were no survivors, authorities said.

Transportation and Communications Minister Gerardo Ruiz Esparza said "everything points toward" the wreckage belonging to the plane carrying Rivera and six other people to Toluca, outside Mexico City, from Monterrey, where the singer who has sold 15 million records had just given a concert.

"There is nothing recognizable, neither material nor human" in the wreckage found in the state of Nuevo Leon, Ruiz Esparza told the Televisa network. The impact was so powerful that the remains of the plane "are scattered over an area of 250 to 300 meters. It is almost unrecognizable."

No cause was given for the plane's crash, but its wreckage was found near the town of Iturbide in Mexico's Sierra Madre Oriental, where the terrain is very rough.

The Learjet 25, number N345MC, took off from Monterrey at 3:30 a.m. local time and was reported missing about 10 minutes later. It was registered to Starwood Management of Las Vegas, Nevada, according to FAA records. It was built in 1969 and had a current registration through 2015.

Media and celebrities in Mexico sent condolences to Rivera's family, but authorities still had not confirmed that she was aboard the plane and said there will be an investigation to identify the remains found.

"My friend! Why? There is no consolation. God, please help me!" said Mexican pop singer Paulina Rubio on her official Twitter account. Singer Miguel Bose, who appears on the Mexican show "The Mexican Voice" along with Rivera, wrote on his Twitter account: "My dear Jenni, you will always be in my heart. Forever. I love you."

The Televisa network announced a special program of "The Mexican Voice" in her honor.

Also believed aboard the plane were her publicist, Arturo Rivera, her lawyer, makeup artist and the flight crew.

The 43-year-old Rivera who was born and raised in Long Beach, California, is one of the biggest stars of the Mexican regional style known as grupero music, which is influenced by the norteno, cumbia and ranchero styles.

Though drug trafficking was the theme of some of her songs, she was not considered a singer of "narco corridos," or ballads glorifying drug lords like other groups, such as Los Tigres del Norte. She was better known for singing about her troubles in love and disdain for men.

The so-called "Diva de la Banda" was beloved by fans on both sides of the border for songs such as "De Contrabando" and "La Gran Senora."

Her parents were Mexicans who had migrated to the United States. Two of her five brothers, Lupillo and Juan Rivera, are also well-known singers of grupero music.

Although the she studied business administration, her passion for music was always present.

She formally debuted on the music scene in 1995 with the release of her album "Chacalosa". Due to its success, she recorded two more independent albums, "We Are Rivera" and "Farewell to Selena," a tribute album to slain singer Selena that helped expand her following.

At the end of the 1990s, Rivera was signed by Sony Music and released two more albums. But widespread success came for her when she joined Fonovisa and released her 2005 album titled "Partier, Rebellious and Daring."

She recently won two Billboard Mexican Music Awards: Female Artist of the Year and Banda Album of the Year for "Joyas prestadas: Banda." She was nominated to the Latin Grammy in 2002, 2008 and 2011.

Besides being a singer, she is also a businesswoman and actress, appearing in the indie film Filly Brown, which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival, as the incarcerated mother of Filly Brown.

She was filming the third season of "I love Jenni," which followed her as she shared special moments with her children and as she toured through Mexico and the United States. She also has the reality shows: "Jenni Rivera Presents: Chiquis and Raq-C" and her daughter's "Chiquis 'n Control."

Controversy often surrounded Rivera.

In 2009, she was detained at the Mexico City airport when she declared $20,000 in cash but was really carrying $52,167. She was taken into custody. She said it was an innocent mistake and authorities gave her the benefit of the doubt and released her.

In 2011, her brother Juan assaulted a drunken fan at a popular fair in Guanajuato after the man verbally attacked Jenni.

In the face of heavy criticism among her fans and on social networks, Rivera publicly apologized for the incident during a concert in Mexico City, telling her fans: "Thank you for accepting me as I am, with my virtues and defects."

On Saturday night, Rivera had given a concert before thousands of fans in Monterrey. After the concert she gave a press conference during which she spoke of her emotional state following her recent divorce from former Major League Baseball pitcher Esteban Loaiza, who played for teams including the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I can't get caught up in the negative because that destroys you. Perhaps trying to move away from my problems and focus on the positive is the best I can do. I am a woman like any other and ugly things happen to me like any other woman," she said Saturday night. "The number of times I have fallen down is the number of times I have gotten up."

The mother of five children and grandmother of two had announced in October that she was divorcing Loaiza after two years of marriage. It was her third marriage.

She was proud to present herself as a Latina woman with a down-to-earth persona struggling to give a good life to her children.

"I am the same as the public, as my fans," she told The Associated Press in an interview last March.

There have been several high-profile crashes involving Learjets, known as swift, longer-distance passenger aircraft popular with corporate executives, entertainers and government officials.

A Learjet carrying pro-golfer Payne Stewart and five others crashed in northeastern South Dakota in 1999. Investigators said the plane lost cabin pressure and all on board died after losing consciousness for lack of oxygen. The aircraft flew for several hours on autopilot before running out of fuel and crashing in a corn field.

Former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker was severely injured in a 2008 Learjet crash in South Carolina that killed four people.

That same year, a Learjet slammed into rush-hour traffic in a posh Mexico City neighborhood, killing Mexico's No. 2 government official, Interior Secretary Juan Camilo Mourino, and eight others on the plane, plus five people on the ground.

___

Associated Press Writer Galia Garcia-Palafox contributed to this report from Mexico City.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-09-Mexico-Singer's%20Plane%20Missing/id-951f1f210f2042bbbd54687626b676b1

nsx chad ochocinco roman numerals new england patriots superbowl halftime madonna madonna

Friday, December 7, 2012

Roethlisberger to start against Chargers

(AP) ? Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will start on Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.

Roethlisberger missed the last three weeks with a sprained right shoulder and dislocated rib but practiced for the second straight day on Thursday without incident. Roethlisberger said he felt "good" but declined to go into details. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley said he believes Roethlisberger can make all the necessary throws.

The Steelers (7-5) went 1-2 in Roethlisberger's absence, including a 23-20 victory over Baltimore last week behind backup Charlie Batch. Tight end Heath Miller said he hasn't noticed any drop off in velocity from Roethlisberger, who took "90 percent" of the snaps with the first team on Thursday.

Pittsburgh is tied with Cincinnati for the AFC's final wild card spot.

___

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

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-06-Steelers-Roethlisberger/id-c0abccdd38e14610a9afd8028a65bd4a

joseph kony joseph kony ipad 3 release date apple store down apple live blog ohio primary cell phone jammer

Ariz. family claims other half of $588M Powerball jackpot

PHOENIX (AP) ? The other ticket holders in last week's record $587.5 million Powerball jackpot have claimed their half of the prize but aren't stepping into the spotlight just yet, the Arizona Lottery said Friday.

The winning family opted to take the cash option of $192 million. They declined to take part in a news conference scheduled for Friday afternoon in Phoenix, the lottery said.

The ticket was sold at a convenience store in Fountain Hills, Ariz., northeast of Phoenix.

Lottery officials won't release the name or address of the winning family during the news conference but will give information about the family's decision to play, when they bought the winning ticket and how they responded to discovering that they had won, Lottery Director Jeff Hatch-Miller said.

A statement from the family will also be released, he said.

Hatch-Miller said the lottery would respond to media public records requests and release the name, but that probably would not occur before Monday because lottery officials were busy verifying that the family had the winning ticket. The lottery was also preparing for Friday's news conference, he said.

"Mainly because today we're focused on the press conference, we're preparing for that," Hatch-Miller said.

A mechanic and his wife, Mark and Cindy Hill, of Dearborn, Mo., already have claimed their half of the multistate Powerball prize.

The jackpot was the second-largest in U.S. history and set off a nationwide buying frenzy. At one point, tickets were selling at nearly 130,000 a minute.

Before the Nov. 28 drawing, the jackpot had rolled over 16 consecutive times without anyone hitting the jackpot. In a Mega Millions drawing in March, three ticket buyers shared a $656 million jackpot, the largest lottery payout of all time.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ariz-winners-claim-half-588m-powerball-prize-205643807.html

old navy walmart black friday walmart black friday Target Black Friday PacSun apple store bestbuy