Sunday, September 30, 2012

Square Enix blames lack of new consoles for failures. Is this an ...

?

Really Square Enix? Is this a joke?

Speaking about Consoles, Square Enix had the audacity to say:

?This generation has been way too long, and I say this because you have a lot of developers that work on a new platform, and perhaps will not succeed, so they will wait for the next generation, and will jump on that platform,? Merceron said. ?You could not do that with this generation though. So these developers went elsewhere to see if the grass was greener. They found Web browsers, they found iOS, they found other things and a lot of them won?t come back to the hardware platforms.?

Your excuse for your horrible new games and your rape of the Final Fantasy series is that you just need a new console to sell your new games?

Is this because Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are doing all the marketing?

Does their millions of dollars hyping up the consumers have anything to do with possibly bigger sales numbers on another rehashed and horrible Final Fantasy?

Is this just an excuse for your pathetic and weak sauce performance over the last few years?

~~~~~~~~~~~

The Sleeping Giant

I?ve been amazingly busy these past couple months but an article with so much gumption, balls, and simply b.s had to prompt a response. This statement forced the digital pen into my hand and inspired these words.

The comments on Gamespot went BALLISTIC with people calling out Square Enix for their amazingly sad excuse of failures. People lamented being told to throw away their PS3/360?s and spend another $500 on some new system.

Some comments included:

?I don?t really agree here. I mean I am just fine with my PS3 right now. I know a lot of other people are happy with their current consoles too. ? ~

?i love my ps3. Games on it look great, and most importantly play great. I don?t like the keyboard controls. I love being able to sit on my lazy-boy chair, sit back, turn on my 55? TV and PS3 and let my mind get lost in some awesome adventures.

I am still happy with this generation of consoles. When the new comes out I will be happy to get it? ~

?I don?t know about you guys, but I am still waiting for Square to release something good. I keep my hopes up, but the last few Final Fantasy games have been mediocre. The last good one was 9. They just want a new system, so they can release another mediocre game, and complain to us that we don?t support them enough, and that is why we will not get a remake of 7.?? ~

??This coming from Square Enix, who have so far released only ONE franchise title on the current gen console (XIII). Before you start looking for ?greener grass,? take a look at what?s underneath your feet.? ~

?I do not like Square-Enix anymore and I had hopes for them that they will treat gaming right. They are bunch of cynical bastards that are destroying gaming by re-rereleasing the same video games from the past. All my favorite?Japanese video game companies are dying such as Squaresoft, Capcom, and Nintendo. I guess Namco is the only Japanese company I like because of Tekken.? ~

?I disagree with his assessment. ?Studios who were unable to keep up with AAA game development this generation would not have been better served by having a new generation of consoles already. ?Console game budgets and development cycles will only continue to increase as expectations rise. ?The growth of the mobile and web platforms is more similar to the growth of indie game development and would have occurred regardless of the decisions Sony and Microsoft have made as those platforms have matured in the past few years.? ~

?What a lousy excuse for their poor development cycles. We have received 4 awesome Assassins Creed titles since 2007, and we have received 1.5 very MEH final fantasy games. Sure blame the other companies who can continually release awesome games on the current hardware.? ~

??What a load. These a holes take forever to make games and theyre talking about long life cycles, bit%6 please! How about you make a game that isnt almost exactly like all your other games. I used to love Square in the days of the SNES, their glory days are long gone IMO. And please stop with the male leads that look like females, i cant take it anymore.? ~

?Bull**** ! This is exactly why I dont like square enix. All they want to do is mint money. Besides the conventional wisdom here is that new consoles come when the older ones reach their full potential, both economically and in terms of tech utilization.? ~

??so its sony?s, microsoft?s, ati?s, nividia?s fault that you changed you?re internal dev structure by hiring cheaper staff to make browser/mobile games? how is this guy director of anything. maybe if they hired/promoted better directors in their corp. they?ll make better decisions and stop making stupid half thought statements like this one. ?? ~

?That doesn?t make sense. ?We aren?t going to develop for this generation because it is too old, so we are going to develop for mobile, which is like developing for consoles from 2-3 generations ago?. WHAT?? ~

?easy to say when you didn?t have to subsides a console for a couple of years or more before you break-even, easy to say when you are not the consumers that buys consoles, if you feel development restrictions on consoles why don?t they go crazy pushing the?envelop on PC; gamers that are willing to dish $600-700 for new consoles every couple of years are willing to upgrade a PC fto latest technology, given that developers show us that having the latest tech. actually enhances our gameplay experience?significantly (as if showing of engine with better graphics is enough)? oh wait developers are not taking that risk, instead they go after high profit / low cost from mostly?forgettable?single mechanic browser games and then you have the sack to blame hardware manufacturers. How much money does square throw at marketing new xbox or PS, not much if any. What ground does square have to say all this, when was the last time they blew our minds with a new experience FF13 pleeeeeaaaze, linear doesn?t hold its on against some games from original PS in my opinion. ? ~?

?Maybe stop making crappy games and we?ll be more inclined to buy them. How dare they blame the systems?? ~

?

uhh, really? this coming from Square-Enix? uhhh really? dude, i get it, you want all the latest tech an whatnot, but your company used to OWN the market on high quality games, legions of fans were born on the amazing output you had during PSone and PS2 days. and yet, most of your best games were produced at the end of each of those systems life cycles. This gen you have been so quite, SE, and your most accomplished outings were often via studios you aquired and were not in house games (like Deus Ex). Sorry, i feel it?s a bit out of place for SE to be making excuses about this generation when the actual games (gameplay, not just pretty presentation) they have put out this gen have been rather lackluster. Sounds like a set up to me, like: ?hey, investor, don?t get mad at us when our financials start to tank, it?s because the console makers didn?t get around to making new systems fast enough??

tech is great, and there is no stopping it, but it is only one element of what makes gaming great.

? ~

~~~~~~~~~~~

This is just a small sample of the comments left on that Gamespot article. The fact remains, Square Enix got this so wrong it?s not even funny. No one?s laughing. People are seriously offended at the laziness and incompetence of one of our favorite game developers.

Why not ATTEMPT to satisfy your fans a little before you go whining Square? Btw hows about making Kingdom Hearts 3 while you?re at it? We?ve only been waiting for 6 FREAKING YEARS! Geez.. and Microsoft/Sony are the lazy ones eh?

?

Source: http://theparanoidgamer.com/square-enix-blames-lack-of-new-consoles-for-failures-is-this-an-insanely-bad-joke/

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The Best Two Things: Video Games & Neil deGrasse Tyson | OGR

Well, I?m positively late on this one. One of my favorite men that has ever existed,?astrophysicist?Neil deGrasse Tyson, has officially spoken about video games into a microphone, and?somehow?the world didn?t implode with the weight of pure unbelievable?serendipity.

Dr. Tyson runs a science-based podcast called?StarTalk Radio. It wasn?t until recently that I investigated why my RSS feed hadn?t yielded me any new podcasts since June. Luckily, my fear that the podcast had been canned was unfounded. The feed changed! Now I have a healthy bit of podcast catch-up to do. When first browsing the selection, I immediately noticed a pair of episodes that required my?immediate?consumption. They were about video games.

Advancing to the Next Level: The Science of Video Games (Part 1)?and?(Part 2)?are absolutely brilliant. Dr. Tyson interviews Jeff Ryan, author of?Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America?and famous game designer?Will Wright?with co-host Eugene Mirman. This makes for some fascinating conversation as Ryan and Wright both provide intriguing facts, ideas and tidbits about the history of video games, artificial intelligence, ludology, design theory and the future of gaming hardware. Eugene Mirman offers up consistently hilarious quips and comments about these topics and even knows what a?Vectrex?is/was.

If you like hearing intelligent people talk about video games, these two podcasts simply cannot be missed. Clear up an hour and a half and put these sciencey soundwaves in your ears. For games. For science!

This entry was posted in Gaming Thoughts, PODCASTS, Technology and tagged neil degrasse tyson, podcast, starTalk radio, video games. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://oldgamereviewer.com/2012/09/28/the-best-two-things-video-games-neil-degrasse-tyson/

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Saturday, September 29, 2012

Ohio St just another rival now for Dantonio

Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell, right, celebrates his touchdown with teammate Bennie Fowler (13) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Eastern Michigan, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, in East Lansing, Mich. Bell rushed for a career-high 253 yards and a touchdown to help Michigan State win 23-7.(AP Photo/Al Goldis)

Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell, right, celebrates his touchdown with teammate Bennie Fowler (13) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Eastern Michigan, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, in East Lansing, Mich. Bell rushed for a career-high 253 yards and a touchdown to help Michigan State win 23-7.(AP Photo/Al Goldis)

Ohio State's Urban Meyer coaches against UAB during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio walks the sideline during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Eastern Michigan, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 23-7. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller throws a pass against Alabama-Birmingham during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

(AP) ? For years, Mark Dantonio and Ohio State were on fairly cozy terms.

Dantonio was a defensive coordinator there ? a protege of coach Jim Tressel ? before moving on and eventually taking over at Michigan State. He grew up an hour from the Buckeyes' home field, and his wife is an Ohio State graduate.

Times change, though. The Tressel era came to an unceremonious end. Urban Meyer is coaching the Buckeyes now, and for Dantonio, Ohio State is now simply a rival.

"It does make it easier," Dantonio said. "I know Urban, everything. Good guy, all that kind of stuff. It makes it easier when you don't have a real personal attachment because it's tough when you play against your good friends."

The 20th-ranked Spartans host the 14th-ranked Buckeyes on Saturday ? a tone-setting Big Ten opener if there ever was one. It will be Meyer's first conference game since taking over at Ohio State, and although the Buckeyes aren't eligible for the Big Ten title, there's a sense they could be the league's best team.

Michigan State, on the other hand, is still eyeing a Rose Bowl berth that narrowly eluded the Spartans the last two seasons. Dantonio's team made quite a statement at Ohio State last year, racking up nine sacks in a 10-7 win. Michigan State (3-1) brings back many of the same defensive standouts from that team, but the Buckeyes (4-0) hope they've improved.

"We made it through our preseason 4-0," Meyer said. "We have a lot of work to do to become a better football team in all three phases. We'd better do it fast because we're facing an excellent team in a tough environment."

Ohio State's unbeaten start included a win over California, while Michigan State knocked off Boise State in its opener. The Spartans also lost to Notre Dame and weren't sharp in a victory last weekend over Eastern Michigan.

Ohio State's defense is currently ranked last in the Big Ten, but quarterback Braxton Miller has already thrown for seven touchdowns and run for another seven.

With new quarterback Andrew Maxwell taking over and throwing to an inexperienced corps of receivers, Michigan State has leaned heavily on running back Le'Veon Bell, who already has 610 yards on 117 carries.

"Get him before he gets to you," Buckeyes safety Orhian Johnson said. "That's definitely the thing. You definitely want to get to him before he gets started because he's real top-heavy and you know he's going to run downfield. He's got good feet, so you can't just chop at him, but you have to make sure you get up there, you wrap him up and get your boys there for you."

It's hard to say what the outlook is among Michigan State players because they weren't available to the media this week. It's not unusual for the Spartans to close ranks before a big game, and this certainly qualifies.

"Has nothing to do with the press as much as it does with how we handle ourselves, our team, what we need to be dealing with and thinking about," Dantonio said. "I sometimes think that media talk and pressure sort of gets them thinking in different directions. I wanted to close our group and concentrate on us."

At least this time, Dantonio doesn't have to answer questions about facing his former boss. Now, Ohio State is just another strong program with an accomplished coach.

"The one who left two years ago won a national championship," Dantonio said, referring to Tressel. "It's just another great coach coming into our conference, doing his thing. I don't know what impact. It's a great conference. I just see it as another guy you've got to compete with recruiting on the field, tied together schematically, doing a great job, good recruiter. There's a lot of that going on in this league."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-09-28-FBC-T25-Ohio-St-Michigan-St/id-39006e20a39345e6beb63240319db26a

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It was just a regular day when suddenly everyone over 15 poofed... [Literate RP'ers only/Accepting]

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Somalia: Al Shabaab militants abandon Kismayo after African Union attack

Al Shabaab militants have abandoned Kismayo in southern Somalia, a day after African Union troops launched an attack on the key port city.

The Associated Press reported that Kismayo residents awoke Saturday to find the Islamist militants had abandoned police and government headquarters in the city center, sparking a looting spree.

More from GlobalPost: Somalia gears up for final offensive against Al Shabaab

Kenyan and Somali forces with the AU mission on Friday launched a beach assault on Kismayo, while inland troops pushed toward the city,?the BBC reported.

Kismayo has been a stronghold for Al Shabaab, and an important source of funding for the group since it was forced out of Mogadishu in August 2011, the AP said.

The BBC said Al Shabaab had used Kismayo's port to bring in weapons. The group had funded itself largely by charging taxes on goods arriving at the port.

Al Shabaab announced it was leaving Kismayo via its Twitter account:

More from GlobalPost: In-depth: Africa becomes new frontline against Al Qaeda

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/somalia/120929/somalia-al-shabaab-militants-abandon-kismayo-after-au-attack

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/somalia/120929/somalia-al-shabaab-militants-abandon-kismayo-after-au-attack

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Friday, September 28, 2012

QE3 may spark a Currency War as Traders anticipate more CB ...

In an article featured by the Financial Times dated September 26, 2012, writer Alice Ross raised the possibility that the Fed?s new round of quantitative easing dubbed as QE3 may spark a currency war. Other countries, particularly Japan and Brazil have openly criticized the QE3 claiming that it is an intentional ploy by the Fed to keep the U.S. Dollar low against other currencies. A low dollar has the net effect of cutting down the export earnings of countries selling goods to the U.S. as well as making imports by U.S. traders from these countries more expensive. While a low dollar may be good to the U.S. economy, it can wreak havoc to the economies of its trading partners.

The Fed?s intention behind the QE3 is to inject more capital to the banking system by buying their long term debt instruments like mortgages. Fed is projecting that with more capital on hand, banks will start lending money to businesses which in turn will give the economy the big push it needs. Unfortunately, QE3 has a negative effect of weakening the dollar which actually started sliding down against other currencies even before the third round of quantitative easing was put in place two weeks ago.

Already, the BOJ increased its own bond buying program to bring down the value of the Japanese Yen against the U.S. currency in response to the QE3. Traders are speculating that a large scale BOJ intervention may be in the works according to the same Financial Times article, especially after its bond buying efforts failed to weaken the yen. Other countries which have expressly intervened to depend their respective currencies in the past are also likely to follow as they start to realize the crippling effect of a weak dollar to their own economy. This may ultimately lead to an unprecedented currency war according to some analysts.

The possibility of central bank intervention in the currency market is what the majority of traders fear most. Learning lessons from the past when Central Banks intervened in the open to defend their currencies, these traders have in fact started to draw away from currencies whose central banks are more likely to step in and intervene. They are setting their sights on currencies whose central banks are not known to intervene in the currency market like Mexico.

?

?

Meanwhile, in the European front, Spain?s cost of borrowing has risen sharply, fueling speculations that Spain may finally avail of the ECB rescue plan. However, the stringent belt tightening measures being required from them by the ECB have already fired up separatist sentiments within the country, especially in the Catalonia region and among Basque separatists. The situation has placed the Spanish financial authorities in a queer ?damned if you do, damned if you don?t? kind of a ticklish situation.

The U.S. dollar, on the other hand, has remained resilient amid all these conflicting developments. Apparently comfortable at the current levels of the U.S. currency, the Fed is concentrating more in reigniting the local economy and less concerned with the likelihood of a currency war which the QE3 detractors have prophesied.

Source: http://blog.fxcc.com/qe3-may-spark-a-currency-war-as-traders-anticipate-more-cb-intervention/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=qe3-may-spark-a-currency-war-as-traders-anticipate-more-cb-intervention

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Fans cheer NFL referees in first game back after lockout

BALTIMORE ? They walked like conquering heroes through the tunnel of football gladiators. And the greatest decision the NFL's returning officials had to make Thursday night was whether to tip their caps to the roar that rolled down from above.

Head linesman Wayne Mackie tips his cap as he walks on the field Thursday night. (AP??It was less than an hour before their first game back after the national nightmare that was their lockout, and the sound that surrounded them from the still half-filled M&T Bank Stadium felt like sweet music. They suspected such a welcome as they dressed in their tiny cinder-blocked room beneath the stadium's stands. They discussed what it would feel like to step into cheers. And then they debated a staggering question they never had reason to consider before:

Do they doff their caps?

They are officials, after all. Hardly here to be the show. And because of this they seemed resolute in appearing oblivious to the only love they will ever feel in a football stadium. They entered the tunnel without expression. But as the cheers tumbled down around them, their cool melted. Smiles danced at their lips.

And then referee Gene Steratore pulled his white cap off his head and waved it to the fans, who had given them a standing ovation.

[More: Replacement ref insists he made correct call on late Seattle TD]

"The emotion kind of overtook us for a second there," Steratore said after the Ravens' 23-16 win over the Cleveland Browns.

He stood at the front corner of the officials' locker room. He had showered and dressed but he was still giddy from a night like none he had ever had on a football field. In the room behind him, his colleagues sat in various states of dress. They laughed as they pulled off their socks. The room was filled with a genuine joy.

"We know what this is," said Steratore, a 10-year veteran. "We know how special this is. And we have always taken such pleasure in being a part of this whole thing and having it go smoothly without being recognized. And then when you're actually recognized, it was a little different feeling to be honest with you."

What a strange day it must be for someone accustomed to being mocked and hooted and booed to suddenly be recognized for what he does right. Steratore and the men in the room behind him seemed to understand that on Thursday. They realized they will never be more popular than when they appeared from the tunnel that first time on Thursday, following a horrendous start to the season with replacement refs that ended with Monday night's controversial touchdown in Seattle. It was as if they didn't want to let go of the night.

He laughed.

"To see [the fans], at some point, recognized that ? there is a value to what we do and to be able to acknowledge that the way they did coming out, the anticipation that may happen, it was something that I guess we probably did need," Steratore said. "Because it was something that had never happened before."

[More: Darrelle Revis' injury could impact future of Jets' GM, coach]

Neither, probably was the giant hug he received from Ravens coach John Harbaugh as the fans clapped.

"That was more an embrace don't you think?" Steratore said after the game, spreading his arms wide.

"It was a man hug," Harbaugh later said.

To grasp Harbaugh's enthusiasm, to realize how an NFL head coach could openly wrap his arms around a referee in an expression of affection, you have to appreciate how deep the frustration was for the coaches who dealt with replacement officials these past few weeks.

There is nothing NFL coaches hate more than officials who don't know the rules. They can accept bad calls ? they don't have to like them, but they can understand them. Bad calls, they say, are a part of the game. What drives them mad is when the officials don't know the rules. Coaches are driven insane by officials who don't know every paragraph of the rule book.

[More: Top 10 worst gaffes by replacement refs]

Former cornerback Shawn Springs, who once played for New England coach Bill Belichick, said this week that he was certain this is why Belichick was so irate after losing here to the Ravens on Sunday night. No coach, he said, knows the rules like Belichick. The Patriots coach actually employs a man named Ernie Adams, who among other things is a rules expert and sits in the coach's booth.

An NFL head coach said this week that the communication between he and the replacement officials had been horrendous. He said he realized why the dialogue failed and thought the men were doing the best job they could. But he added that he could tell they weren't certain about many of their rulings.

"They didn't know the rules at all," said an NFL executive, who like the head coach, risked punishment by the league if they spoke on the record. "They just killed the flow of the game with all their talking. They would go under the hood and it would take forever and then they would come back and the whole pace of the game was blown."

For all these reasons, Thursday night was filled with a strange kind of love. Coaches smiled when they saw the old officials back on the field again. Players laughed. Fans waved.

Referee Gene Steratore talks with Ravens head coach John Harbaugh before Thursday night's game. (AP)The enchantment won't last, of course. Thursday night was a one-time thing, a relief that games wouldn't stretch on for hours as flag after flag was thrown and players fought unchecked and calls were botched. In the Ravens' locker room afterward, Harbaugh said he had one miscommunication with the officials in the game.

But it all seemed such a small thing on the giddy night that football finally felt right.

And as he stood in the officials' locker room, Steratore agreed. The last few weeks gave him an odd vacation he had never known. It gave him a chance to see how much he missed the NFL and more important, it gave the NFL and all its coaches and players and fans a chance to see how much they all missed him.

"I think this was a little bit different in the sense that we were actually recognized and part of the story before the game, which is not something we are used to," Steratore said. "It's not something we look to do. Our main objective is to be unnoticed. It's not to be part of the entertainment but as the director. The game is for the coaches and players to be noticed.

[More: The worst calls in sports history]

"We're the people that are directing the show, per se. [Thursday night] I guess there may have been a scene in the entire play where maybe we were the focus for the first time, so that was a different feeling. To just be applauded by 50,000 people prior to anything happening, it was something that kind of chokes you up. It was a special feeling."

Special indeed on the night he became a national hero.

Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? Should fantasy owners put RG3 on the trade block?
? Video: NFL Week 4 locks to win | Expert picks
? Rising outfield star left A's system to become a monk
? Y! News: Texas woman says cops forced her to buy drugs

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--regular-nfl-referees-welcomed-back-to-unprecedented-reception-during-ravens--win-over-browns.html

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Fire destroys single mom's business, retirement plans - Financial Post

Situation: Fire devastated family business and home of divorced woman

Strategy: Get insurance settlement and a job, invest for retirement

Solution: Retirement income two-thirds more than pre-fire salary

Trouble, it is said, comes in threes. The case of a woman we?ll call Judy, 50, appears to prove the rule. Recently divorced, she found her home destroyed by fire and her source of income terminated.

Judy owned, lived in and ran a ski lodge in Alberta until it was burned to the ground in an electrical fire in late 2010.

A seasonal operation with 15 rooms, it barely broke even after paying Judy a $48,000 annual pre-tax salary. She had insurance, of course, but it was a low-cost package that did not cover loss of business or provide for full replacement cost of the lodge.

So instead of paying out potentially millions it would take to rebuild at today?s prices, she will be left with an insurance settlement of $400,000 and the lot where the lodge used to be, which is worth about $75,000.

Investing everything scares the heck out of me. I need a plan but don?t know where to start. I am still frightened by what happened and I have planning paralysis

There is no money to rebuild the lodge. Judy has moved to a rental apartment in Vancouver and is looking for a new job. There won?t be any payment for loss of business, which was a break-even operation to begin with.

So far she has received $200,000, which she is using to supplement the $1,212 she gets every month from employment insurance. In the expensive Vancouver housing market, her settlement may not even be enough to buy her a new home.

With twin sons in university and her own retirement to consider, she is nervous.

?What do I do now?? Judy asks. ?I could buy another home, but that is impossible in Vancouver. Investing everything scares the heck out of me. I need a plan but don?t know where to start. I am still frightened by what happened and I have planning paralysis.?

Family Finance asked Derek Moran, head of Smarter Financial Planning Ltd. in Kelowna, B.C., to work with Judy. In his view, she can solve her problems if she can get a new job, perhaps in hotel management, and make sensible investments. It will take a series of steps, he says.

Cash management

Mr. Moran suggests a couple of first steps: Put $10,000 of her $175,670 cash ? what?s left after paying some of her transitional living costs and replacing clothing and other goods ? into her tax-free savings account.

Second, pay off a $5,000 line of credit with a 7.5% interest rate.

Third, sell a $40,000 building lot to her ex-husband via a vendor-take-back mortgage. If he misses a payment, she gets the lot back. The deal is not without risk, for if the market price of the lot were to drop and he missed payments, she would be left with an asset of reduced value.

A sale is pending of the $75,000 lot where the lodge once stood.

Judy can make several economies. She allocates $450 a month to her sons? educations on top of income from their $38,000 trust accounts. Yet each son can make $225 a month with part-time work. Her $650-a-month spending for clothing covers replacement of her wardrobe, which was lost in the fire. It will be reduced over time.

Judy can apply the skills she used in many years of ski lodge management to running a conventional hotel or another lodge. She expects to replicate the $48,000 annual salary when, soon, she expects to have full-time work.

She can eliminate $200 a month for the cost of her line of credit, $450 for university costs, $253 for property taxes on the lots, $650 for clothing expenses, and $350 a month for keeping her horse (due to be sold).

Remaining expenses, including a normalized budget of $200 a month for clothing and grooming, would add up to $3,535 a month. If her retirement income after tax can produce that amount, her retirement would be adequately financed and, with a bit of financial engineering, some capital would be preserved for her sons to inherit.

Retirement

If she invests in high-quality corporate bonds or dividend-paying stocks that generate a conservative return of 2% after inflation and income taxes, her assets of $527,670 (including her insurance settlement) would grow to $739,000 in 17 years when, at 67, her Old Age Security begins. In retirement, that capital could generate 3% or $22,170 after average 10% income tax. All figures are in 2012 dollars.

If Judy is prepared to exhaust her capital in 25 years to age 90, her financial assets could generate $47,000 a year to age 90, Mr. Moran estimates. Judy is on track to earn full Canada Pension Plan benefits at 65 of $11,840 a year. She will also receive $6,540 in Old Age Security at age 67. Her gross income at age 67, assuming capital exhaustion by age 90, would total $65,380. or $4,900 a month, after 10% income tax.

If Judy gets a job and is able to save $10,000 a year out of salary and investment income until she is 67 and her OAS begins, she could grow $204,000 additional capital by 65. In retirement, that money could generate $6,120 a year at 3% before tax. If this capital is not exhausted, it could be a legacy for her children. In this case, Judy?s total pre-tax annual income would rise to nearly $71,500 a year, or $5,363 a month, after 10% tax.

In spite of the fire and its destruction of her way of life, her after-tax retirement income in 2012 dollars would be 1.7 times more than her annual salary before the blaze. She could easily cover expenses less the cost of stabling and feeding her horse, which is due to be sold, debt service and university expenses for her sons.

There are a lot of ifs in these projections, Mr. Moran admits. Judy should be able to get a job in hotel management. The final insurance settlement of $200,000 is probable, but at the moment, the money is just a contingent asset.

She could also choose to use some of the insurance money for a down payment on another house where she finds permanent work. In that case, her $1,400 monthly rent payments could be spent on mortgage payments. Utilities and upkeep would add to that, but it?s her future choice.

Nevertheless, Judy is, as Mr. Moran says, by nature a saver. ?If she can invest wisely and work to cover living expenses and to provide a margin for saving, she should be able to have a comfortable retirement,? he says.

Need help getting out of a financial fix? Email andrewallentuck@mts.net for a free Family Finance analysis.

Source: http://business.financialpost.com/2012/09/28/fire-destroys-single-moms-business-retirement-plans/

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

South Sudan-Sudan agree on oil but not border

(AP) ? The presidents of Sudan and South Sudan signed economic and security agreements Thursday that will allow a resumption of oil exports from South Sudan. The two countries also reached deals for a demilitarized zone between their borders and a cessation of all hostilities that brought the countries to the brink of all-out war just a few months ago.

Sudan President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan President Salva Kiir signed the agreement in Ethiopia's capital, where they have been holding talks since Sunday. The talks were originally scheduled to last only a day. The sides could not agree on a shared border or on how to address the disputed region of Abyei.

Both sides have been under pressure from the U.N. Security Council to resolve the outstanding issues or risk sanctions. South Sudan broke away from Sudan last year after an independence vote that was the culmination of a 2005 peace treaty that ended decades of war that killed more than 2 million people. But the border was never defined, and South Sudan suspended oil production in January after accusing Sudan of stealing its crude, which is transported in pipelines through Sudan. Border clashes escalated in April when South Sudan troops took over an oil town in a region Sudan claims as its own.

With the deal sealed Thursday, officials say only "technical works" remain for oil exports to resume soon. Some officials have said it will take months to clear the pipelines and get oil flowing again.

The security agreement was signed by the two countries' defense ministers, while lead negotiators inked economic and trade agreements. AU mediators say the two sides also signed a deal to let their citizens freely move between, reside in and work in both countries.

Bashir and Kiir spent four days in an apparent effort to overcome the most contentious issues ? finalizing a border and determining the status of the border region of Abyei ? but failed.

The freeze on oil production has cost both countries millions of dollars in lost revenue. An economic crisis sent inflation soaring and pushed food prices beyond the reach of ordinary citizens, said Jose Barahona, the top official for the aid group Oxfam in South Sudan, who called the agreements encouraging.

"But the two nations will continue to face an uncertain future until there is agreement on Abyei and the other contested areas, and efforts are stepped up to resolve the conflicts in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile," he said, referring to two areas in Sudan where residents are seen to be sympathetic to South Sudan. Fighting in the region has sent 170,000 refugees fleeing over the border into South Sudan.

Samson Wasara , a professor of economics at Juba University in South Sudan, said the resumed oil exports ? from which Sudan will take transport fees ? would help ease tensions but that the new demilitarized buffer zone will provoke more conflict if the borders are not clearly defined. He noted that the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea has been a source of tension for decades.

"Proper border demarcation will reduce the chance of encroachment by both countries. But in order to do this, the international community must pressure Sudan and South Sudan to agree to something definite. If this is not sorted out quickly it will lead to later tension," Wasara said.

African Union mediator Thabo Mbeki, Ethiopia's Communications Minister Bereket Simon and diplomats witnessed the agreement's signing ceremony at the Sheraton Addis hotel. The ceremony started with a minute of silence for the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, whom Mbeki credited with being instrumental in facilitating the talks.

___

Associated Press reporter Michael Onyiego in Juba, South Sudan contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-09-27-Sudan-South%20Sudan/id-12b3b13d65cf42c9ad32377a3d9ff5f8

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Legitimate Internet Business Search And Life Stories: How To ...

Whether you're selling something of great value or even something fun and whimsical, network marketing can prove to be a great business opportunity for you. However, there are many ways you can fail with this venture, so it's always best if you check out some tips to make sure you're heading in the right direction.

When you have a career doing network marketing, you need to make sure that you are spending your time wisely. Taking a lot of time to check your emails or Facebook is not really going to get you anywhere in terms of making more money. Make sure you know the sales of your company product, and how your sponsors are doing, then you can spend some time doing the things first mentioned.

Be confident in your business and the opportunity you are presenting before even thinking about approaching someone. If you aren't sure that this is the best business opportunity since sliced bread that will come across to people as you speak to them. If you are radiating confidence in success then prospects will flock to you.

You should diversify the occasions with which you reach out to your public. Do not stick to one method only. Take a look at your community calendar and make sure you will have a booth for your company at the most popular events. Perhaps you should use different materials for each occasion by having different sets of brochures printed for different audiences.

In a network marketing program, your success ultimately rests in the hands of your recruits and customers. The decisions they make about your program dictate their participation and your profit. You need to develop your talents for guiding them - with the greatest gentleness - towards making the proper decision. Network marketing is ultimately a social skill; a persuasive marketer is a successful marketer.

Increase your network marketing success by taking the time to learn one new technique every day to improve your leadership skills. Skim a book of inspirational thoughts. Discover what well-known experts are saying. Enroll in a community college or adult-learning leadership course. Read the biographies of famous world leaders and business gurus. Incorporate their strategies into your business plan, and take charge of your accomplishments!

People are going to need a reason to trust you as a network marketer, and it is up to you and you alone to give them this reason. If you cannot think of a reason why someone should trust you with their investment, then perhaps you should find something else to do besides marketing.

Picking your spots in network marketing is incredibly important. You won't be able to pitch a product to just anyone. Make sure you're sticking with a niche market and always advertising to those people more likely to join your network. Remember, there's something in it for them too, so make sure they know it.

Learn as much as possible from the company that supplies you with the products. Find out how the products are made, who uses them and for what. You will be able to sound like an expert when you present your products and will know how to answer your customers' questions.

You do have to be able to sell to be a successful network marketer, but the good news here is that being a great salesperson isn't an inborn trait. It's something you can learn to do effectively. The tips you've just read here can help you improve your marketing. Use them to your benefit.

Source: http://internetbiz-usalife.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-to-launch-product-and-make-profits.html

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Melatonin and exercise work against Alzheimer's in mice

Melatonin and exercise work against Alzheimer's in mice [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 26-Sep-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: SINC
info@agenciasinc.es
34-914-251-820
FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology

Different anti-aging treatments work together and add years of life

The combination of two neuroprotective therapies, voluntary physical exercise, and the daily intake of melatonin has been shown to have a synergistic effect against brain deterioration in rodents with three different mutations of Alzheimer's disease.

A study carried out by a group of researchers from the Barcelona Biomedical Research Institute (IIBB), in collaboration with the University of Granada and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, shows the combined effect of neuroprotective therapies against Alzheimer's in mice.

Daily voluntary exercise and daily intake of melatonin, both of which are known for the effects they have in regulating circadian rhythm, show a synergistic effect against brain deterioration in the 3xTg-AD mouse, which has three mutations of Alzheimer's disease.

"For years we have known that the combination of different anti-aging therapies such as physical exercise, a Mediterranean diet, and not smoking adds years to one's life," Coral Sanfeliu, from the IIBB, explains to SINC. "Now it seems that melatonin, the sleep hormone, also has important anti-aging effects".

The experts analysed the combined effect of sport and melatonin in 3xTg-AD mice which were experiencing an initial phase of Alzheimer's and presented learning difficulties and changes in behaviour such as anxiety and apathy.

The mice were divided into one control group and three other groups which would undergo different treatments: exercise unrestricted use of a running wheel, melatonin a dose equivalent to 10 mg per kg of body weight, and a combination of melatonin and voluntary physical exercise. In addition, a reference group of mice were included which presented no mutations of the disease.

"After six months, the state of the mice undergoing treatment was closer to that of the mice with no mutations than to their own initial pathological state. From this we can say that the disease has significantly regressed," Sanfeliu states.

The results, which were published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, show a general improvement in behaviour, learning, and memory with the three treatments.

These procedures also protected the brain tissue from oxidative stress and provided good levels of protection from excesses of amyloid beta peptide and hyperphosphorylated TAU protein caused by the mutations. In the case of the mitochondria, the combined effect resulted in an increase in the analysed indicators of improved performance which were not observed independently.

Treatment not easily transferable to humans

"Transferring treatments which are effective in animals to human patients is not always consistent, given that in humans the disease develops over several years, so that when memory loss begins to surface, the brain is already very deteriorated," the IIBB expert points out.

However, several clinical studies have found signs of physical and mental benefits in sufferers of Alzheimer's resulting from both treatments. The authors maintain that, until an effective pharmacological treatment is found, adopting healthy living habits is essential for reducing the risk of the disease appearing, as well as reducing the severity of its effects.

The melatonin debate

The use of melatonin, a hormone synthesized from the neurotransmitter serotonin, has positive effects which can be used for treating humans. With the approval of melatonin as a medication in the European Union in 2007, clinical testing on this molecule has been increasing. It has advocates as well as detractors, and the scientific evidence has not yet been able to unite the differing views.

According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, melatonin is probably effective in sleeping disorders in children with autism and mental retardation and in blind people; and possibly effective in case of jet-lag, sunburns and preoperative anxiety.

"However, other studies which use melatonin as medication show its high level of effectiveness," Daro Acua-Castroviejo explains to SINC. He has been studying melatonin for several years at the Health Sciences Technology Park of the University of Granada.

The expert points out that international consensus already exists, promoted by the British Association for Psychopharmacology also published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology in 2010, which has melatonin as the first choice treatment for insomnia in patients above the age of 55. This consensus is now being transferred to cases of insomnia in children.

Its use in treating neurodegenerative diseases is acquiring increasing scientific support in lateral amyotrophic sclerosis, in Alzheimer's, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

"Even though many more studies and clinical tests are still required to assess the doses of melatonin which will be effective for a wide range of diseases, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of melatonin mean that its use is highly recommended for diseases which feature oxidative stress and inflammation," Acua-Castroviejo states.

This is the case for diseases such as epilepsy, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and even the aging process itself, where data is available pointing to the benefits of melatonin, though said data is not definitive.

###

Reference:

Garca-Mesa Y, Gimnez-Llort L, Lpez LC, Venegas C, Cristfol R, Escames G, Acua-Castroviejo D, Sanfeliu C. "Melatonin plus physical exercise are highly neuroprotective in the 3xTg-AD mouse". Neurobiol Aging 2012 Jun; 33(6):1124.e13-29.

Contact:

Coral Sanfeliu
Instituto de Investigaciones Biomdicas de Barcelona (IIBB)
Tel.: +34 93.363.83.38
Email: coral.sanfeliu@iibb.csic.es

About melatonina:

Daro Acua-Castroviejo
Centro de Investigacin Biomdica
Parque Tecnolgico de Ciencias de la Salud
Universidad de Granada
Telf.: +34 958 241000, ext. 20169
Email: dacuna@ugr.es



[ 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.


Melatonin and exercise work against Alzheimer's in mice [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 26-Sep-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: SINC
info@agenciasinc.es
34-914-251-820
FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology

Different anti-aging treatments work together and add years of life

The combination of two neuroprotective therapies, voluntary physical exercise, and the daily intake of melatonin has been shown to have a synergistic effect against brain deterioration in rodents with three different mutations of Alzheimer's disease.

A study carried out by a group of researchers from the Barcelona Biomedical Research Institute (IIBB), in collaboration with the University of Granada and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, shows the combined effect of neuroprotective therapies against Alzheimer's in mice.

Daily voluntary exercise and daily intake of melatonin, both of which are known for the effects they have in regulating circadian rhythm, show a synergistic effect against brain deterioration in the 3xTg-AD mouse, which has three mutations of Alzheimer's disease.

"For years we have known that the combination of different anti-aging therapies such as physical exercise, a Mediterranean diet, and not smoking adds years to one's life," Coral Sanfeliu, from the IIBB, explains to SINC. "Now it seems that melatonin, the sleep hormone, also has important anti-aging effects".

The experts analysed the combined effect of sport and melatonin in 3xTg-AD mice which were experiencing an initial phase of Alzheimer's and presented learning difficulties and changes in behaviour such as anxiety and apathy.

The mice were divided into one control group and three other groups which would undergo different treatments: exercise unrestricted use of a running wheel, melatonin a dose equivalent to 10 mg per kg of body weight, and a combination of melatonin and voluntary physical exercise. In addition, a reference group of mice were included which presented no mutations of the disease.

"After six months, the state of the mice undergoing treatment was closer to that of the mice with no mutations than to their own initial pathological state. From this we can say that the disease has significantly regressed," Sanfeliu states.

The results, which were published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, show a general improvement in behaviour, learning, and memory with the three treatments.

These procedures also protected the brain tissue from oxidative stress and provided good levels of protection from excesses of amyloid beta peptide and hyperphosphorylated TAU protein caused by the mutations. In the case of the mitochondria, the combined effect resulted in an increase in the analysed indicators of improved performance which were not observed independently.

Treatment not easily transferable to humans

"Transferring treatments which are effective in animals to human patients is not always consistent, given that in humans the disease develops over several years, so that when memory loss begins to surface, the brain is already very deteriorated," the IIBB expert points out.

However, several clinical studies have found signs of physical and mental benefits in sufferers of Alzheimer's resulting from both treatments. The authors maintain that, until an effective pharmacological treatment is found, adopting healthy living habits is essential for reducing the risk of the disease appearing, as well as reducing the severity of its effects.

The melatonin debate

The use of melatonin, a hormone synthesized from the neurotransmitter serotonin, has positive effects which can be used for treating humans. With the approval of melatonin as a medication in the European Union in 2007, clinical testing on this molecule has been increasing. It has advocates as well as detractors, and the scientific evidence has not yet been able to unite the differing views.

According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, melatonin is probably effective in sleeping disorders in children with autism and mental retardation and in blind people; and possibly effective in case of jet-lag, sunburns and preoperative anxiety.

"However, other studies which use melatonin as medication show its high level of effectiveness," Daro Acua-Castroviejo explains to SINC. He has been studying melatonin for several years at the Health Sciences Technology Park of the University of Granada.

The expert points out that international consensus already exists, promoted by the British Association for Psychopharmacology also published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology in 2010, which has melatonin as the first choice treatment for insomnia in patients above the age of 55. This consensus is now being transferred to cases of insomnia in children.

Its use in treating neurodegenerative diseases is acquiring increasing scientific support in lateral amyotrophic sclerosis, in Alzheimer's, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

"Even though many more studies and clinical tests are still required to assess the doses of melatonin which will be effective for a wide range of diseases, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of melatonin mean that its use is highly recommended for diseases which feature oxidative stress and inflammation," Acua-Castroviejo states.

This is the case for diseases such as epilepsy, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and even the aging process itself, where data is available pointing to the benefits of melatonin, though said data is not definitive.

###

Reference:

Garca-Mesa Y, Gimnez-Llort L, Lpez LC, Venegas C, Cristfol R, Escames G, Acua-Castroviejo D, Sanfeliu C. "Melatonin plus physical exercise are highly neuroprotective in the 3xTg-AD mouse". Neurobiol Aging 2012 Jun; 33(6):1124.e13-29.

Contact:

Coral Sanfeliu
Instituto de Investigaciones Biomdicas de Barcelona (IIBB)
Tel.: +34 93.363.83.38
Email: coral.sanfeliu@iibb.csic.es

About melatonina:

Daro Acua-Castroviejo
Centro de Investigacin Biomdica
Parque Tecnolgico de Ciencias de la Salud
Universidad de Granada
Telf.: +34 958 241000, ext. 20169
Email: dacuna@ugr.es



[ 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/2012-09/f-sf-mae092612.php

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Biologists uncover dynamic between biological clock and neuronal activity

ScienceDaily (Sep. 25, 2012) ? Biologists at New York University have uncovered one way that biological clocks control neuronal activity -- a discovery that sheds new light on sleep-wake cycles and offers potential new directions for research into therapies to address sleep disorders and jetlag.

"The findings answer a significant question -- how biological clocks drive the activity of clock neurons, which, in turn, regulate behavioral rhythms," explained Justin Blau, an associate professor in NYU's Department of Biology and the study's senior author.

Their findings appear in the Journal of Biological Rhythms.

Scientists have known that our biological clocks control neuronal activity. But not previously understood is how this process occurs -- that is, how does information from biological clocks drive rhythms in the electrical activity of pacemaker neurons that, in turn, drives daily rhythms?

To understand this mechanism, the researchers examined the biological, or circadian, clocks of Drosophila fruit flies, which are commonly used for research in this area. Earlier studies of "clock genes" in fruit flies allowed the identification of similarly functioning genes in humans.

In their study, the researchers focused on eight master pacemaker neurons located in the central brain -- these neurons set the timing of the daily transitions between sleep and wake in the fly. Specifically, they were able to isolate these neurons from animals and identify sets of genes differentially expressed between dawn and dusk.

In a series of follow-up experiments, they concentrated on one gene, Ir, whose expression was found to be much higher at dusk than at dawn and much more highly expressed in pacemaker neurons than in the rest of the brain. Ir encodes a potassium channel that helps set the resting state of neurons -- and so its rhythmic expression makes it an excellent candidate to help link the biological clock to pacemaker neuron activity. High levels of Ir expression at dusk should make it much harder for pacemaker neurons to signal than the low levels seen at dawn, a finding that fits with earlier studies showing that pacemaker neurons fire more at dawn than at dusk.

The authors also found that genetic manipulations that either increase or decrease Ir levels affect behavioral rhythms. Perhaps more interestingly, these were also associated with changes in the timing and strength of oscillations in the core clock.

"Biology is never as simple as we imagine it will be," explained Blau. "We were looking for an output of the biological clock that would link the core clock to neuronal activity. Ir seems to do this, but it also, remarkably, feeds back to regulate the core clock itself. Feedback loops seem to be deeply engrained into the biological clock and presumably help these clocks work so well."

The study's other co-authors were: Marc Ruben, a doctoral candidate; Mark Drapeau, a former postdoctoral researcher; and Dogukan Mizrak, a doctoral candidate. The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by New York University.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Marc Ruben, Mark D. Drapeau, Dogukan Mizrak, and Justin Blau. A Mechanism for Circadian Control of Pacemaker Neuron Excitability. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 2012; 27: 353-364 DOI: 10.1177/0748730412455918

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/aodZMkuaICU/120925171220.htm

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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Ex-Murdoch editor Brooks due in court on hacking plot charges

LONDON (Reuters) - Rebekah Brooks, a former executive in Rupert Murdoch's media empire and friend of Prime Minister David Cameron, faces charges in court on Wednesday that she conspired to hide evidence from police investigating a phone hacking scandal.

The charges are part of the criminal inquiry into assertions that UK newspapers intercepted messages on the phones of celebrities, politicians and crime victims, and made illegal payments to public officials.

The scandal has damaged the reputation of Murdoch's global media operations, raised questions about Cameron's judgment and exposed the close relations between British politicians, police and journalists.

Brooks, 44, was expected to enter a plea on three counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice between July 6 and July 19, 2011. The hearing will take place at the Central Criminal Court in London.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the first charge alleges she conspired with her husband Charlie Brooks, a racehorse trainer, to "conceal material from the officers of the Metropolitan Police Service" in London.

The second accuses Brooks and Cheryl Carter, her one-time personal assistant, of plotting "to remove seven boxes of material from the archive of News International", Murdoch's UK newspaper business.

The third alleges that Brooks, her husband and three others conspired "to conceal documents, computers and other electronic equipment from officers".

Cameron's ex-media chief Andy Coulson, who also worked as a Murdoch newspaper editor, is due in the same court for a preliminary hearing on charges that he conspired to intercept phone messages.

Brooks is separately charged with conspiracy to intercept phone messages, allegations she has denied. Wednesday's hearing will encompass both the charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and those related to phone messages.

Brooks was one of Murdoch's most trusted and loyal managers, editing two of his top-selling tabloid newspapers before going on to run News International. She was also close to Cameron, exchanging text messages with the Conservative leader.

(Reporting by Peter Griffiths; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ex-murdoch-editor-brooks-due-court-hacking-plot-002629678.html

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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Gold and Silver Blog: Investing in Physical Gold rather than ETF

Reducing the Risks of Investing in Physical Gold :
Gold Bullion International CEO Savneet Singh on the benefits of investing in physical gold rather than an ETF.


ETF or Exchange-Traded Fund. By attracting those looking to invest in nontraditional assets and sectors, the global ETF market has inflated to more than a trillion dollars in assets over the past few years...some put that number now at about 2 trillion dollars. "Gold held in the Trust's unallocated gold account and any Authorized Participant's unallocated gold account will not be segregated from the Custodian's assets. If the Custodian becomes insolvent, its assets may not be adequate to satisfy a claim by the Trust or any Authorized Participant." So if the custodian runs into trouble, it may not be able to make good on your claim. If anything, it should reinforce the idea that you should buy physical gold/silver bullion or trade with an ETF that? trades only in fully-allocated, good-delivery gold/silver. I would recommend buying physical and knowing exactly where you can sell it in in your area for fair price when the time comes to cash out.

Source: http://goldbasics.blogspot.com/2012/09/investing-in-physical-gold-rather-than.html

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Israel's only co-ed combat unit proves its worth

FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2006, file photo Israeli soldiers listen to their commander as they prepare for a march near Ein Yahav in southern Israel. A deadly shootout along Israel's border with Egypt on Friday, Sept. 21, 2012 has shone a spotlight on Israel's only mixed female and male combat unit, granting some recognition to a group that has faced much skepticism and often been the butt of jokes since its inception. Friday's attack was a major test for the Caracal Battalion, which is used to more tame operations, and the soldiers' participation was credited with helping to slay the three gunmen. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2006, file photo Israeli soldiers listen to their commander as they prepare for a march near Ein Yahav in southern Israel. A deadly shootout along Israel's border with Egypt on Friday, Sept. 21, 2012 has shone a spotlight on Israel's only mixed female and male combat unit, granting some recognition to a group that has faced much skepticism and often been the butt of jokes since its inception. Friday's attack was a major test for the Caracal Battalion, which is used to more tame operations, and the soldiers' participation was credited with helping to slay the three gunmen. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 11, 2009, file photo, an Israeli Caracal unit female soldier takes position during a sniper training course at a military base in central Israel. A deadly shootout along Israel's border with Egypt on Friday, Sept. 21, 2012 has shone a spotlight on Israel's only mixed female and male combat unit, granting some recognition to a group that has faced much skepticism and often been the butt of jokes since its inception. Friday's attack was a major test for the Caracal Battalion, which is used to more tame operations, and the soldiers' participation was credited with helping to slay the three gunmen. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File)

(AP) ? A deadly shootout last week along Israel's border with Egypt has shined a spotlight on Israel's only mixed female and male combat unit, granting some recognition to a group that has faced much skepticism and often been the butt of jokes since its inception.

The Caracal battalion's response to the militant attack on Friday ? which left three gunmen dead, including one whom Israeli officials said was killed by a female soldier ? marked a major test for the unit that typically handles tame operations. One Israeli soldier also was killed.

On Sunday, Israeli newspapers and radio broadcasts glowed over the news that the co-ed battalion played a decisive role in thwarting the assailants' attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted about the work of the unit ? named after a medium-sized cat native to the Middle East and Africa ? in his weekly Cabinet meeting. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz traveled to the scene of the attack and congratulated the soldiers.

"If the Caracal force wasn't there in those critical moments, it's clear to everyone that we could have faced a difficult attack," Col. Guy Biton, the commander of the Sagi Brigade that oversees the battalion, told the Maariv daily newspaper.

Most Jewish Israeli citizens are drafted into their nation's defense forces when they turn 18. Women, however, typically serve less time than men and usually away from the battlefield, in administrative or technical positions. A minority serve in combat roles.

By contrast, 60 percent of Caracal's soldiers are women.

Women were barred from combat until 2000, the year Caracal was introduced as a way to ease females into combat duty. The unit was positioned in areas along Israel's borders with Jordan and Egypt. For years, the territory was calm, largely because Israel has peace deals with both neighbors. Soldiers who were there mostly worked to prevent drug and weapons' smuggling and while they were trained to neutralize an armed threat, they rarely faced one.

But in the last year and a half, since the fall of longtime Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak, Caracal's usual patrolling area near Egypt has become a hotbed of militant activity. Egypt's vast Sinai peninsula is home to Islamic extremists who have staged attacks against Egyptian and Israeli targets. The Jordanian border has remained quiet.

In the most recent attack, a shootout on the Israel-Egypt border left one Israeli soldier and three assailants dead. The military said the militants were heavily armed and wearing explosive belts when they crossed into Israeli territory and opened fire on soldiers guarding a team of workers who were building a border fence meant to protect against just such attacks.

An Israeli forces spokeswoman said the troops quickly returned fire, killing the militants and preventing a major attack ? a coup for the women and men of Caracal. The battalion fought on Friday alongside soldiers from Israel's Artillery Corps. In line with its policy not to discuss troop deployment, the military declined to provide the battalion's size.

"I feel proud to know that finally people are coming to recognize and know what we are worth and what we are able to do," Amit Epstein, a former Caracal company commander, told Israel Radio.

The recognition comes to Caracal after years of challenges. Resolving logistical issues like building separate sleeping quarters and bathrooms were a first hurdle. But the unit has continued to grapple with widespread skepticism from a male-dominated military.

The female soldiers' ability to fight alongside men has been questioned. But the battalion's men also have been stigmatized, written off as too weak to be accepted into a regular, all-male unit. Skeptics have also wondered how focused young men and women can be when working so closely with the opposite sex.

And the praise that followed Friday's incident was marred by a report Monday that one of the female Caracal soldiers chose to duck for cover rather than return fire during the border attack.

Israel Radio quoted the soldier as saying: "I didn't have a chance against them," referring to the militants. The soldier was not named in line with military policy.

Nonetheless, Doron Almog, who served as the head of Israel's southern command when the battalion was formed, was not surprised by the successful effort. He said the group is prepared for such attacks and expects it to continue to be called on for such dangerous operations.

And as the border with Egypt becomes increasingly volatile, Caracal will be able to continue to prove itself, he said.

"The best public relations strategy is to have a successful operation and to come and show results," said Almog.

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Follow Tia Goldenberg on Twitter (at)tgoldenberg

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-09-24-Israel-Co-Ed%20Combat/id-f86189aec85e4c5f862d8a93b2c04de7

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