Tuesday, January 31, 2012

CompleteTax Premium Online (2011)

Ever since I began reviewing CompleteTax's online tax preparation services a few years ago, I've come to expect excellence in two areas in particular: tax expertise and guidance. I've never been disappointed and CompleteTax for tax year 2011 was no exception. That's not surprising: The site was developed by CCH, which has been analyzing income tax law and publishing related materials since 1913, the year the tax code was created. The company currently has roughly 700 publications in print and electronic formats.

There aren't a lot of changes to report since last year, though CCH has changed CompleteTax's pricing structure a bit, breaking out the costs of the federal forms from the state. So the site's aesthetics and navigation still lag behind those of its competitors, though it's as comprehensive as anyone in terms of its actual support for forms and schedules, and it's capable of completing both simple and complex returns.

Complete Tax's final review ? the automated process that combs your completed return looking for errors and omissions that could get you in trouble with the IRS?is also not as polished and refined as those of TaxACT Online Ultimate Bundle ($17.95, 4 stars) or TurboTax Premier Online ($66.77 - $89.99, 4.5 stars). While CompleteTax's score was lower than that of its main competitors, some interface remodeling, better navigational tools and improved integration would pull it to within reach of its competition.

A Trio of Options
There are three different versions of CompleteTax; each has increased complexity as you move up to a higher level. All include a free federal e-file. The options are:

  • CompleteTax Basic. Unlike TurboTax and H&R Block At Home[link], the entry-level CompleteTax lets you import W-2 and 1099 data from financial institutions. It lets you enter information about some types of income and credits and includes step-by-step instructions and tax guidance. Free; state version, $29.95.
  • CompleteTax Deluxe. Supports more income and credit types and lets you itemize deductions. You can enter investment data, retirement distributions, dependents ?and check your eligibility for the Alternative Minimum Tax. Federal, $29.95; state, $29.95.
  • CompleteTax Premium. Designed for the self-employed and small business owner, this top-of-the-line version ? which you must purchase to report self-employment -- incorporates more sophisticated tax data processing, including the Schedule C and self-employment tax. You can enter information about profit and loss, depreciation and amortization, and sale of business property. Federal, $39.95; state, $29.95. (This is the version reviewed here.)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/hTBu_n2-f6w/0,2817,2376886,00.asp

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[OOC] Bleach: Royal Guard arc

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This is the auto-generated OOC topic for the roleplay "Bleach: Royal Guard arc"

You may edit this first post as you see fit.

Proceed - on your way to oblivion.

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MrKing
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let me know when this is set up :)

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Monday, January 30, 2012

First Drug Ok'd to Combat Spreading Basal Cell Skin Cancer (HealthDay)

MONDAY, Jan. 30 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a drug to treat the most common form of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma.

Erivedge (vismodegib) is the first drug sanctioned in the United States to treat basal cell skin cancer that has metastasized, or spread. The once-daily pill is also designed for cases deemed unsuitable for surgery or radiation, the agency said in a news release.

This usually slow-growing, painless form of cancer starts in the epidermis, the top layer of skin. Frequent exposure to sunlight and other forms of ultraviolet radiation are the typical causes, the FDA said.

Researchers evaluated the safety and effectiveness of Erivedge in a clinical study of 96 people with locally advanced or metastatic cancer. Of those with metastatic disease, 30 percent had at least a partial response to the drug, while 43 percent of people with locally advanced basal cell had at least a partial response.

One specialist welcomed the drug's approval.

"Eviredge is an amazing revolutionary approach to treating skin cancer," said Dr. Michele Green, dermatologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "I have many patients who are elderly and infirm for whom getting surgery is a major ordeal. Molecular biology has advanced to the point where such an important advance in therapy was unthinkable even a few years ago."

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, and it is estimated that one in five Americans will develop it in their lifetime. Caught early, it is highly treatable.

The most frequently cited side effects of Erivedge included muscle spasms, hair loss, weight loss, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, distorted sense of taste, decreased appetite, constipation and vomiting.

Because of the potential risk for death or severe birth defects to a fetus, the drug will be packaged with a label warning, and doctors will not prescribe it to women who are pregnant, the agency said. Men and women will be advised to use birth control while taking the pills.

Erivedge, marketed by San Francisco-based Genentech, won expedited approval under a priority review program for drugs that may represent a major treatment advance.

More information

The Skin Cancer Foundation has details about basal cell.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/cancer/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20120131/hl_hsn/firstdrugokdtocombatspreadingbasalcellskincancer

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Kirk Communications Web Design NH Provides Clients with a ...

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Kirk Communications is a website design and development company located in New Hampshire with additional offices in Luxembourg and New Delhi, India. In addition to being a website design and development company, Kirk Communications is a global provider of inbound marketing including Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and social media integration. As SEO Company, Kirk Communications also runs large paid campaigns for clients (PPC). The company shares its philosophy, based on a focused commitment to strategic and tactical corporate communications, with clients across a broad range of vertical markets including technology, financial services and healthcare. Beyond being an integrated website design & development, Kirk Communications offers an extensive suite of state-of-the-art SEO and PPC analytics, that, in conjunction with innovative message development, helps its customers refine their brand, increase visibility and stay ahead of their competitors. Kirk Communications counts among its clients IDG, JungleTorch, Dorcy International, Optimize Interactive, Atlantic Plastic Surgery Center, Charter Auction and Animetrics. For more information, please visit us on the web at http://www.kirkcommunications.com.

Source: http://www.briefingwire.com/pr/kirk-communications-web-design-nh-provides-clients-with-a-strong-labor-team

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McGee's leads Wizards over Bobcats again 102-99 (AP)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. ? JaVale McGee scored 22 points and had 10 rebounds as the Washington Wizards defeated the Charlotte Bobcats for the second time in a week, 102-99 on Saturday night.

The matchup between two teams tied for the fewest wins in the NBA came down to the final shot, but Matt Carroll's 3-point attempt at the buzzer fell short.

McGee had a chance to seal the game with less than 6 seconds to go, but missed two foul shots. But that was about all McGee didn't do right, as shot 9 of 14 from the field. Like many others this season, McGee exposed Charlotte's poor interior defense, using an effective hook shot in the lane.

John Wall added 13 points and 10 assists for the Wizards (4-16).

The Wizards also got 21 points from Nick Young, while reserves Trevor Booker and Jordan Crawford chipped in with 16 and 12 points, respectively.

Kemba Walker became the third Bobcats (3-18) player to register a triple-double, recording 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. The 6-foot-1 Walker joined Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw as the only players in franchise history to record such a feat.

Diaw, back in the starting lineup for the Bobcats, had 21 points and 10 assists. Byron Mullens scored 23 points, while Carroll and Tyrus Thomas each added 13.

The Bobcats have lost eight straight.

The Wizards held the lead for most of the game, but the Bobcats battled back from 12 points down to take the lead at 92-90 on a dunk by Mullens. But that lead was short-lived as McGee hit a running hook in the lane two possessions later to give the Wizards a 96-94 lead they would never relinquish.

Trailing 102-99 with 41.2 seconds left, the Bobcats had a chance to tie, but burned almost the entire 24-second clock unable to get a look at an open 3-pointer as the Wizards stepped up the defense. Eventually, Diaw drove the lane but missed and McGee quickly grabbed the rebound.

The Bobcats immediately fouled.

McGee missed both shots and the Bobcats called timeout with 4.6 seconds left.

Carroll got a good look on the ensuing inbounds play, but his 3-point attempt to tie the game hit off the front rim.

Notes: Washington shot 53 percent from the field and won despite being outrebounded by the smaller Bobcats 42-32. ... The Bobcats were playing without five players, including their two leading scorers: Gerald Henderson and D.J. Augustin. Augustin has missed the last four games with a toe injury, while Henderson sat out after re-injuring his back in Friday night's loss to the 76ers.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120129/ap_on_sp_bk_ga_su/bkn_wizards_bobcats

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Sunday, January 29, 2012

Video: McCain Makes the Case for Mitt

Sen. John McCain, (R-AZ), discusses Mitt Romney's economic and conservative credentials, saying it is time to put a business man back in the White House.

Related Links:

Business & financial news headlines from msnbc.com

Top of page

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/46170401/

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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Chris Weidman takes UFC on Fox 2 decision

CHICAGO -- On 11 days notice, Chris Weidman took a less-than-stellar split decision over Demian Maia. The judges saw it 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 for Weidman at the United Center on Saturday night.

Though both men are accomplished grapplers, the first round started with nothing but stand-up. Neither fighter truly got an edge in striking, though it was Maia who got the first takedown. The two got back to their feet quickly, and Maia followed up with aggressive strikes.

Weidman got the takedown to start the second round, but again, they did not stay there for long. Maia's face started to show damage from the repeated hits Weidman delivered, but Weidman's movement around the cage slowed as the round went on. As Weidman slowed, Maia delivered more kicks and punches. Weidman tried for a takedown with a minute left, but Maia easily avoided it. In the final 20 seconds, Weidman was able to get the takedown, and turned over for a choke, but the round ended before he could secure it.

Weidman returned to the clinch in the third round, moving towards Maia and landing knees and punches. They continued their evenly matched striking fest, though both fighters were clearly exhausted.

The crowd in Chicago wasn't enthused about the action, but that's what happens when two grappling aficionados decided to engage in a fist fight.

UPDATE: After the bout, UFC president Dana White tweeted that the scores were read wrong. Weidman actually won by a unanimous decision.

Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
? Video: Teams on the NCAA tourney bubble
? Giants are chasing history instead of imploding
? Phil Mickelson misses cut at Torrey, daughter recovering from seizure scare

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/chris-weidman-takes-ufc-fox-2-split-decision-014653119.html

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Stars Hit Sundance!

sundance1_wide.jpg
Celebrities braved the snow and flocked to the Sundance Film Festival, but the films weren't the only hot tickets in Park City, Utah, this year.

The place to be seen in the day was definitely T-Mobile's The Village at the Lift where celebrities like Kate Bosworth, Liv Tyler and Victoria Justice could enjoy McCaf? lattes, hit up the uber cool Puma Social Lounge or get Mac makeup touchups.

But what would Sundance be without mentioning the swag?! The biggest celebs were gifted everything from Soul headphones at the Miami Oasis Lounge, Solstice designer sunglasses at the Gen Art Bertolli Meal Soup Chalet, the new Nintendo 3DS at its gaming lounge and sexy DL1961 Premium Denim at the Talent Resources Suite. But the winner for the best celeb lounge had to be the Vevo Sorel lounge, where almost every hot celebrity stopped by even The Bachelor's Ben Flajnik, who received several of the brand's hottest snow boots. But the biggest swag of all was at the Fender Music Lodge where Emily Blunt was gifted a trip to Vomo Island Resort in Fiji!

In the evening, stars Christina Hendricks and Tommy Lee dined at ChefDance where some of the world's leading chefs prepared a different delicious menu every night. The best part was the Yogurtland station for dessert as guests left. After dinner, the hottest acts in music today such as Ludacris, Deadmau5 and OneRepublic preformed at Park City Live and Drake at Bing Bar. Common also hosted an exclusive Express concert for his Sundance film LUV.

Also worth mentioning were the Grey Goose Blue Door Lounge and Acura Studio which served as the exclusive A-List lounges for several film dinners and after-parties. Rashida Jones, James Marsden and Emma Roberts were all spotted partying the night away at the lounges while sipping cocktails til 2 a.m.

For the late-night celebs, the hotspot was the T-Mobile Presents Google Music at Tao. Nick Lachey, Drake, Paris Hilton and Kirsten Dunst were all spotted at the pop-up nightclub getting their groove on and trying not to be seen.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/InTouchWeekly/~3/j865zdURBac/stars_hit_sundance.php

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Jesse Jackson adds voice to Grammy protest (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Civil rights activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Friday urged Grammy organizers to reinstate 31 ethnic and minority musical categories that have been cut from the music industry's top awards.

In a letter to Recording Academy president Neil Portnow, sent three weeks before the February 12 Grammy Awards show, Jackson said the elimination of awards for Native American and Hawaiian musicians, and cuts in Latin Jazz, R&B and other categories were ill-considered and unfair.

Jackson said some of the categories dropped by the Recording Academy in a major overhaul last year "constitute the very heart of the music that nourishes and inspires minority communities."

Writing on behalf of the Rainbow Push Coalition of U.S. civil rights groups, Jackson called for an urgent meeting with Portnow to try and resolve the conflict that has spurred months of protests and a lawsuit by leading musicians.

Portnow said on Friday he was "receptive to meeting with the Rev. Jackson to explain how our nomination process works and to show the resulting diverse group of nominees it produced" for this year's Grammy Awards.

Paul Simon, Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt and Bobby Sanabria are among dozens of musicians who have protested the decision, announced last April, to slash the number of Grammy categories to 78 from 109 for the 2012 Grammy Awards.

Some categories, such as Hawaiian and Native American albums were dropped completely, while others including Latin music and R&B saw the number of award categories halved.

Portnow said at the time the changes were necessary to maintain "the prestige of the highest and only peer-recognized award in music."

Sanabria and three other Latin Jazz musicians filed a lawsuit in New York in August saying the cuts would harm their careers financially. They have also called for a boycott of the CBS network, which broadcasts the annual Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles.

The 2012 Grammy Awards take place on February12. Rapper Kanye West leads the field of contenders with seven nominations followed by British singer Adele, Bruno Mars and alternative rock band Foo Fighters.

(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Corrects Jackson name in paragraph 1.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/music/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120128/music_nm/us_grammys_protest

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Friday, January 27, 2012

'Ripples' escapes pet carrier, causes four-hour delay

By KPRC staff

An Air Canada flight's takeoff was delayed by four hours Wednesday when a cat escaped from its carrier and hid in the cockpit wiring, airline officials said.

The plane was about to taxi for takeoff at 5:30 a.m. from Halifax, Nova Scotia, bound for Toronto, when a cat named Ripples escaped, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. The cat's carrier was stowed under his owner's seat.

Crew members spent hours searching for the 10-year-old tabby after hearing its frightened meowing.

Airport spokesman Peter Spurway said Ripples was later spotted in the cockpit, cowering in a dense bundle of wires.

It was freed only after ground control removed several electrical panels from the cockpit.

"Some people tried to catch him in first class, but he took off into the cockpit and nestled down," said Debbie Harris, the owner of the 10-year-old feline.

Harris told CTV that Ripples escaped from the back of the carrier after security guards failed to properly re-latch it.

"This is his first trip and his last ... he's not flying anymore," she said.

The airline rebooked some passengers, many of whom were visibly frustrated by the delay. According to Air Canada, pets are allowed in the cabin if they weigh less than 22 pounds and are small enough to fit in a carrier under the seat.?

More stories you might like:

This story originally appeared on Click2Houston.

Source: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/26/10245481-ripples-escapes-pet-carrier-causes-four-hour-delay

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Analyze this (Powerlineblog)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Make way for cyclists in Tel Aviv

The 'Amsterdam of the Middle East,' Tel Aviv has miles of urban cycling paths and a new bike-share program.

? A local, slice-of-life story from a Monitor correspondent.

Skip to next paragraph

Back in the 1990s, Tel Aviv?s bicycles were pushed to the margins of the urban landscape, which lacked bike lanes or bike racks.

In the past decade, however, Israel?s cosmopolitan capital has reimagined itself as an Amsterdam of the Middle East with miles of bike paths on sidewalks, boulevards, and in the streets.

With its generally flat terrain and temperate climate, Tel Aviv is an ideal city to navigate on two wheels. The network, marked with bicycle stencils, runs the length of the city?s Mediterranean seacoast, reaches down leafy historical avenues, and sweeps through the commercial center. The city also inaugurated a bike rental system, the Tel-O-Fun, with some 150 rental stations throughout the city. Usage has exceeded expectations, and the distinctive green and gray bikes with upright seating have become ubiquitous. A leading enthusiast is Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, who test-drove one of the Tel-O-Fun bikes and christened a bike traffic light.

Let?s be clear: Tel Aviv is no Amsterdam ? most of the bike lanes are on sidewalks. On trendy Rothschild Boulevard, the cyclists must dodge cafe tables, and on Ibn Gavirol, the bike path is interrupted by trees, benches, and building columns. But in a country where the volatile Israeli driver dominates the roads, some of that turf is being retaken by cyclists.

Think you know the Middle East? Take our geography quiz.

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Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/J-6g-6HQtwI/Make-way-for-cyclists-in-Tel-Aviv

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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

'Pirates' scene changed after lepers protest

Columbia Pictures

This scene, showing a leper's arm falling off, has been cut from the upcoming movie "Pirates."

By Gael Fashingbauer Cooper

In a funny, if shocking, scene in the trailer for the?upcoming stop-action movie, "The Pirates! Band of Misfits," the pirate captain acrobatically swings onto a ship, pulls his sword, and announces (in Hugh Grant's plummy British accent) that?he plans to plunder the ship's gold.

"Gold? Afraid we don't have any gold, old man" a sailor tells them. "This is a leper boat." And -- THUNK -- his arm falls off.

Live Poll

Should the movie have changed the scene?

  • 174348

    Yes, out of respect

    14%

  • 174349

    No, it's just a joke

    86%

VoteTotal Votes: 14884

But you won't be seeing that scene when the 3-D movie hits theaters April 27.

The British organization Lepra Health in Action?wrote on its website, "Leprosy is not an easy disease to catch, it is curable, those affected should live within mainstream society and no ? limbs don?t just fall off. Not even for comic effect."

Aardman Animations, the makers of "The Pirates!," listened to the group and issued a statement saying "after reviewing the matter, we decided to change the scene out of respect and sensitivity for those who suffer from leprosy. The last thing anyone intended was to offend anyone."

Lepra Health in Action?responded by saying?the group was "genuinely delighted that Aardman has decided to amend the film."

It's unclear if the movie cut the entire scene or just altered it. You can still watch the scene in the attached trailer.

Do you think the scene was offensive? Should it have been changed? Tell us on Facebook.

?More from movies:

Source: http://entertainment.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/25/10233980-pirates-scene-changed-after-lepers-protest

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Bryce Dallas Howard gives birth to daughter

Actress Bryce Dallas Howard and her husband, Seth Gabel, welcomed their second child on Thursday, with the baby girl's grandfather, filmmaker Ron Howard, announcing the happy news on Twitter.

"Beatrice Jean Howard-Gabel Born Jan 19 2012 8lbs 6oz Bryce & Baby B are spectacular Daddy Seth & brother Theo are beaming ear to ear :-)," the filmmaker tweeted Saturday evening.

Bryce Howard and her actor husband who appears on the series "Fringe" also have a 4-year-old son, Theo. Howard has spoken publicly in the past about her struggles with postpartum depression after his birth in 2007.

The most recent big-screen appearances for Howard, 30, were in "50/50" and as a member of the ensemble cast of "The Help." She also appeared in "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse." Her movie career began with uncredited bit parts in films by her director-producer father.

"Beatrice's arrival is hugely exciting for our family," Ron Howard tweeted. "Thanks for all the kind tweets folks."

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/46092283/ns/today-entertainment/

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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Zimbabwe teachers join national strike over pay (AP)

HARARE, Zimbabwe ? More teachers in Zimbabwe on Tuesday joined a national strike in which government workers are seeking to double their salaries.

Their action on the strike's second day, and the absence of more staff from government offices, began to disrupt routine services in the southern African nation.

Main schools in Harare sent pupils home early Tuesday as teachers heeded the call by labor leaders. They are demanding the lowest monthly salaries of $250 are raised to $538 to meet the minimum needs of an average family of five.

Zimbabwe Prime Minister's Morgan Tsvangirai's party, in charge of the labor and finance ministries in the nation's shaky coalition, said in a statement Tuesday it cannot meet the demands of 235,000 government employees without increased revenue from diamond mining controlled by the President Robert Mugabe's party.

The former opposition Movement for Democratic Change of Tsvangirai, a former labor leader, said it wanted to pay "a living wage" to ensure government facilities and departments provided viable services.

"It is possible to raise the funds if diamond revenues are remitted to the treasury" controlled by Finance Minister Tendai Biti, it said.

In his 2011 year-end budget statement, Biti said mining groups in the controversy-mired diamond fields of eastern Zimbabwe pledged to pay $600 million into state coffers this year. But possible profits from diamonds were far higher, he said.

Tsvangirai's party said Tuesday Mugabe's ZANU-PF party "continues to hold back on those national resources that should benefit all Zimbabweans."

Mugabe's party has denied hoarding revenues from diamonds. Human rights groups accuse the party and military chiefs of involvement in illicit diamond trade and rights violations and killings in eastern Zimbabwe, the recently discovered site of one of the world's largest alluvial diamond deposits.

The Apex Council, the umbrella body of public service labor groups, said in a statement the momentum of the five-day strike was building and its leaders were picketing schools and government offices where there were "pockets of resistance."

"The strike will demonstrate the seriousness and resolve workers can take on bread and butter issues," it said.

Lines of people seeking government services formed Tuesday at undermanned government offices that remained open. Nurses stayed at their posts awaiting a decision on strike action from their labor group, the Zimbabwe Nurses Association, health department officials said.

The militant Progressive Teachers Union, the second largest teachers' organization, said it had lost faith in the coalition that had failed to act against "workers who subsist on corruption." They were against the strike and kept some services running. In a statement Tuesday, it said politicians were using the teachers' plight for "sheer grandstanding" to score political points.

"No political party has been sympathetic to government employees ... at one time we were made to believe that the selling of diamonds shall neatly dress our wretched lives," the statement said.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/africa/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120124/ap_on_re_af/af_zimbabwe_strike

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Biochip measures glucose in saliva, not blood

Monday, January 23, 2012

For the 26 million Americans with diabetes, drawing blood is the most prevalent way to check glucose levels. It is invasive and at least minimally painful. Researchers at Brown University are working on a new sensor that can check blood sugar levels by measuring glucose concentrations in saliva instead.

The technique takes advantage of a convergence of nanotechnology and surface plasmonics, which explores the interaction of electrons and photons (light). The engineers at Brown etched thousands of plasmonic interferometers onto a fingernail-size biochip and measured the concentration of glucose molecules in water on the chip. Their results showed that the specially designed biochip could detect glucose levels similar to the levels found in human saliva. Glucose in human saliva is typically about 100 times less concentrated than in the blood.

"This is proof of concept that plasmonic interferometers can be used to detect molecules in low concentrations, using a footprint that is ten times smaller than a human hair," said Domenico Pacifici, assistant professor of engineering and lead author of the paper published in Nano Letters, a journal of the American Chemical Society.

The technique can be used to detect other chemicals or substances, from anthrax to biological compounds, Pacifici said, "and to detect them all at once, in parallel, using the same chip."

To create the sensor, the researchers carved a slit about 100 nanometers wide and etched two 200 nanometer-wide grooves on either side of the slit. The slit captures incoming photons and confines them. The grooves, meanwhile, scatter the incoming photons, which interact with the free electrons bounding around on the sensor's metal surface. Those free electron-photon interactions create a surface plasmon polariton, a special wave with a wavelength that is narrower than a photon in free space. These surface plasmon waves move along the sensor's surface until they encounter the photons in the slit, much like two ocean waves coming from different directions and colliding with each other. This "interference" between the two waves determines maxima and minima in the light intensity transmitted through the slit. The presence of an analyte (the chemical being measured) on the sensor surface generates a change in the relative phase difference between the two surface plasmon waves, which in turns causes a change in light intensity, measured by the researchers in real time.

"The slit is acting as a mixer for the three beams ? the incident light and the surface plasmon waves," Pacifici said.

The engineers learned they could vary the phase shift for an interferometer by changing the distance between the grooves and the slit, meaning they could tune the interference generated by the waves. The researchers could tune the thousands of interferometers to establish baselines, which could then be used to accurately measure concentrations of glucose in water as low as 0.36 milligrams per deciliter.

"It could be possible to use these biochips to carry out the screening of multiple biomarkers for individual patients, all at once and in parallel, with unprecedented sensitivity," Pacifici said.

The engineers next plan to build sensors tailored for glucose and for other substances to further test the devices. "The proposed approach will enable very high throughput detection of environmentally and biologically relevant analytes in an extremely compact design. We can do it with a sensitivity that rivals modern technologies," Pacifici said.

Tayhas Palmore, professor of engineering, is a contributing author on the paper. Graduate students Jing Feng (engineering) and Vince Siu (biology), who designed the microfluidic channels and carried out the experiments, are listed as the first two authors on the paper. Other authors include Brown engineering graduate student Steve Rhieu and undergraduates Vihang Mehta, Alec Roelke.

###

Brown University: http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau

Thanks to Brown University for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/116947/Biochip_measures_glucose_in_saliva__not_blood

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Monday, January 23, 2012

Diggins leads Irish women to rout of Tennessee

Notre Dame guard Skylar Diggins headsup court in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

Notre Dame guard Skylar Diggins headsup court in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

Tennessee guard Cierra Burdick, right, drives the lane as Notre Dame guard Kaila Turner defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

Tennessee coach Pat Summitt shouts instructions to her team in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame on Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

Notre Dame forward Devereaux Peters, middle, looks to pass between Tennessee forwards Shekinna Stricklen, left, and Alicia Manning in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

Tennessee guard Taber Spani, left, and Notre Dame forward Ariel Braker reach for a rebound in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

(AP) ? Skylar Diggins matched a season high with 27 points Monday night and No. 2 Notre Dame routed No. 7 Tennessee 72-44, holding the Vols to their lowest scoring output in school history.

Devereaux Peters had 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Irish (20-1), who have won 17 straight. Tennessee (14-5) got 13 points from Meighan Simmons, but shot just 27.9 percent in the lopsided loss.

Notre Dame was 0-20 all-time against the Vols before a 73-59 victory in the NCAA regional finals last March in Dayton, Ohio. The Irish haven't lost since Nov. 20 to top-ranked Baylor and have now beaten both UConn and Tennessee on their home floor this season after toppling both in last year's NCAA tournament.

Leading at the half, the Irish jumped out early in the second as Diggins sank a 3-pointer and Peters had three inside baskets in an 11-3 run that opened up a 39-21 lead three minutes in. Tennessee continued to miss on everything, from both the field and the free-throw line.

Diggins made a nice strip of an inside pass, dribbled the length of the court, passed to Peters and then got it back for a layup to make it 44-26 with just over 14 minutes left. Then after picking up her third foul, Diggins hit her fourth 3-pointer of the game to make it a 21-point lead. Diggins was 10 of 17 from the field and 5 for 7 on 3-pointers.

After Tennessee closed to within 16 with about seven minutes to go, the Irish went on one final run to put it away. Kayla McBride added 17 points for the Irish.

The Vols made just 17 of 61 field-goal attempts and were only 7 for 16 from the free-throw line.

Rebounding, including eight early offensive caroms, kept the Vols close in the early stages of the game because they could not make a shot. They missed 14 of their first 17 attempts from the floor and finished the first half 7 for 35 (20 percent). And the poor shooting extended to the line, where the Vols were only 4 for 10. The field-goal percentage and total points were first-half lows for the Vols this season.

McBride, showing an ability to break for the basket, had nine straight Notre Dame points at one juncture and scored 11 in the first half. Diggins ended up with 10 at the half, hitting two free throws with 2 seconds left to put the Irish up 28-18.

Tennessee's leading scorer, Shekinna Stricklen, who missed the previous game against LSU with a sprained knee, returned to the lineup and managed five points ? five points under her average. And Vols guard Taber Spani, who has been sidelined with a bone bruise in her left knee since Dec. 26, was also able to play.

Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, who has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, received a nice ovation when she came on the floor before the game and waved to the crowd, most of which was dressed in lime green.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-01-23-T25-Tennessee-Notre%20Dame/id-a3b5924c38b04a7f9bfd4d2bff8695e2

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Solar weather sparks stunning sky sights

Canadian Space Agency

This fisheye view of the auroral display above Yellowknife in Canada's Northwest Territories was captured by the Canadian Space Agency's AuroraMAX project early Saturday.

By Alan Boyle

Last updated 1:45 p.m. ET Jan. 22:

Forecasters say a blast from the sun should strike a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field, starting Sunday, and?create a mild geomagnetic storm. That's?not enough to pose a planetary threat, but the storm should spark better-than-usual auroral displays. Skywatchers are already getting some great pictures in advance of the peak.

The blast, known as a coronal mass ejection, was witnessed by sun-watching spacecraft on Thursday ? and at the time, NASA projected that the geomagnetic impact on Earth would be felt today. But experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather?Prediction Center in Colorado say the peak will come later.


"We're looking at it to start on Sunday, about 1 o'clock [p.m.] Eastern time," Joe Kunches, a space scientist at the?prediction center, told me today.

The storm of electrically charged particles is projected to take a relatively non-threatening path past our planet.?"We think it'll go to the north of Earth ... rather than right at us," he said.

The center's prediction projects that the "bulk of the disturbance" should occur on Monday. But even then, the storm will be a G1, which is the lowest ranking on the scale of geomagnetic activity. Such a storm generally produces weak fluctuations in electrical grids and has the potential for minor effects on satellite operations ? basically, nothing for regular folks to worry about.

The main effect is expected to be bright?northern lights that?could be visible farther south than usual. In northern regions, aurora aficionados are already seeing some fantastic fireworks.?Keep watch up above, particularly if you're in an area with clear, dark skies. Keep watch for updates in SpaceWeather.com's January aurora gallery as well. The Canadian Space Agency has its AuroraMAX webcam working in the Northwest Territories, and you can even sign up for updates via the project's Twitter account, @AuroraMAX.

If you have pictures to share, please pass them along via the Cosmic Log Facebook page or msnbc.com's FirstPerson in-box, and we'll put together a gallery of our own on Monday.

Update for 1:45 p.m. ET Jan. 22: The Space Weather Prediction Center is showing a rise in solar particle flux, and European observers are passing along some great pictures. Among the places to check, in addition to SpaceWeather.com, are the Aurora Sky Station in Sweden, the Facebook page for Iurie Belegurschi Photography in Iceland and this awesome Vimeo video (plus Flickr page) from Norway (play it at full screen for full effect):

Have you come across other websites or pages on Facebook or Google+ with great sights of the northern lights? Feel free to pass them along in your comments below. One caveat, though: Newbies may not have the capability to pass along Web links, so you might have to spell them out, as in www-dot-cosmiclog-dot-com. And as always, be cautious when clicking on external links.

More great auroral views:


Alan Boyle is msnbc.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter or adding Cosmic Log's Google+ page to your circle. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for other worlds.

Source: http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/21/10207087-solar-weather-sparks-super-sights

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Sunday, January 22, 2012

Etta James Dead At 73

Legendary singer, who influenced everyone from Janis Joplin to Beyoncé, died Friday after battle with leukemia.
By James Montgomery


Etta James in 1961
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives / Redferns

Etta James, the legendary singer whose career spanned six decades (and just as many musical genres) and whose voice has influenced everyone from Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt to Christina Aguilera and Adele, died Friday (January 20) after a lengthy battle with leukemia. She was 73 years old.

Best known for hits like "At Last," "All I Could Do Was Cry," "Tell Mama," "Something's Got a Hold on Me" and "Good Rockin' Daddy," James learned to sing in church, and first recorded professionally as a member of the all-girl doo-wop group the Peaches, with whom she'd score a #1 hit ("The Wallflower," an answer to Hank Ballard's "Work With Me, Annie"). Soon after that song's success, James left the group and toured with the likes of Little Richard and Johnny "Guitar" Watson. She'd subsequently sign with Chicago's Chess Records in 1960, where her powerful contralto was featured on a string of crossover classics that spanned R&B, soul, gospel, blues and even rock. It was during that time that she also began a battle with heroin addiction, one that would lead to stints in rehabilitation facilities and stall her career's momentum.

James would continue to record for Chess until 1978, then, after a stint opening for the Rolling Stones, she'd spend the next decade largely adrift, before returning with her comeback album, 1989's Seven Year Itch, which reunited her with producer Jerry Wexler and began a period that saw her finally receive the acclaim she'd long deserved. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and, the following year, won her first-ever Grammy award. In subsequent years, she'd also be enshrined in both the Blues and Rockabilly Halls, earn a lifetime achievement award from the Grammys and continue to record a string of well-received blues and jazz albums.

Photos: The life and career of Etta James.

Her Chess Records period was brought to the big screen (with varying degrees of accuracy) in the 2008 musical biopic "Cadillac Records," with Beyoncé portraying James. Beyoncé's cover of "At Last" was released as the lead single off the film's soundtrack, and would go on to win a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance. Beyoncé would also perform the song at president Barack Obama's inaugural ball in January 2009, a move which led James to famously tell an audience in Seattle that B "has no business up there singing ... my song that I've been singing forever." She'd later explain to the New York Daily News that she was joking, but added that she could've performed the song better.

In recent years, with her status secured (and her addiction problems largely behind her), James continued to tour, and she's been championed by some of today's biggest contemporary stars, like Adele, Aguilera, Florence Welch, Paramore's Hayley Williams, Joss Stone and Jazon Mraz. She was also a particular favorite of the late Amy Winehouse, whose own battles with addiction sadly turned out differently than James'. And just this year, a sample of her "Something's Got a Hold on Me" was used to maximum effect by DJ Avicii on his international hit "Levels," while her voice can be heard via sample in Flo Rida's current top ten hit, "Good Feeling."

James' health had been in decline for several years. In 2010, her son Donto told reporters that James had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and in January 2011, court documents filed by her husband — who was seeking to take control of her finances, as she was extremely ill — revealed that she was also undergoing treatment for leukemia. In December, James' live-in physician told a California newspaper that the singer was "terminally ill" and asked "for the prayers of her fans and friends." James' final album, The Dreamer, was released in November.

Share your condolences with Etta James' family on our Facebook page.

Related Photos Related Artists

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1677610/etta-james-dead.jhtml

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Pamela Georgette, MFT, ATR: Ask Pamela And Todd: She's a Therapist, He's a Comic and They're a Couple

Dear Pamela and Todd,

I thought this might be a good place to turn to for advice since it pertains to a woman who happens to be divorced.

I met a really attractive and intelligent woman at a holiday party. She was her early 30's, a couple of years older than me. We had been talking for a while and things seemed to be going well. We had even made tentative plans to go for a drink.

Things changed quickly when I gave her, what I thought was a compliment on her classic curves. I commented that she had a "really nice, hourglass figure". She became obviously offended. I tried to clarify my comments but she rolled her eyes and shook her head. She told me I was being "inappropriate" and that she was "very disappointed" and then WHAP! she slapped my face and walked off.

My confusion has lasted longer than the stinging in my cheek. Why was she so upset? I'm wondering; do divorced women have a heightened sensitivity to men being womanizers? Do you have any thoughts? Should I email her an apology note?

Signed,
Confused

Hello Confused,

Women are a complicated system of levers and pulleys and a mystery to most of us men. Your open handed hitter is no different. One woman might take that comment as a compliment (as intended) and be flattered, the next woman might slap you.

I would suggest no apology note if you really did just say, "You have a really nice hourglass figure" and not, "you've got a great ass and nice tits"...those are two very different sentences, though they often sound the same in my head. I say count your blessings that you got out with just a slap and hour of your time. If she was "very disappointed" with your comment you can imagine how she would feel when you actually made a mistake, like saying, "I like your tits."

I have no idea if divorced women have a heightened sensitivity to men being womanizers, but I'm sure they don't like generalizations. Or, in this case, guys at holiday parties that like hourglass figures. Luckily, you probably don't like eye-rolling and head-shaking. So call it a wash and move on.

Good luck,
Todd

Dear Confused,

It is apparent that you, albeit unintentionally, activated some old feelings with your comment. The only way for us to know for certain why this particular woman reacted the way she did is to ask her.

It would be a stretch to make the generalization that divorced women have a heightened sensitivity to men being womanizers. We can be sure that she did, as we all do, interpret the situation through her own perspective largely based on her past experiences. She may have been reacting to the circumstance of her divorce, how she was treated in her childhood or even how she has witnessed other women being treated.

Regarding apologizing, that depends on the circumstances. For instance, if you would like to see this woman again or if you feel remorse or guilt from your behavior and it is keeping you up at night. If either is the case then you may want to apologize for unintentionally offending her and ask specifically what she found unpleasant so you can try not to repeat the same mistake.
Thanks for writing in with your question. I would like to applaud you for examining your behavior and having the willingness to explore how to avoid such events in the future.

All the best to you,
Pamela Georgette, LMFT/ATR

If you have a relationship question for Pamela and Todd you can email them at mypickerisbroken@gmail.com. Your email gives permission for your question to be used in an upcoming "Ask Pamela and Todd" post.

DISCLAIMER: This forum is intended for entertainment and informational purposes. We neither intend nor claim to perform psychotherapy, or replace it. We believe that psychotherapy is effective only in the office of the therapist, and on a regular basis. If you are experiencing a mental health problem please seek professional help. Please call 911 if you are experiencing a life threatening emergency.

?

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pamela-georgette-mft-atr/ask-pamela-and-todd-shes-_b_1211350.html

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Saturday, January 21, 2012

Popular file-sharing website Megaupload shut down

This undated image obtained by The Associated Press shows the homepage of the website Megaupload.com. Federal prosecutors in Virginia have shut down one of the world's largest file-sharing sites, Megaupload.com, and charged its founder and others with violating piracy laws. (AP Photo)

This undated image obtained by The Associated Press shows the homepage of the website Megaupload.com. Federal prosecutors in Virginia have shut down one of the world's largest file-sharing sites, Megaupload.com, and charged its founder and others with violating piracy laws. (AP Photo)

(AP) ? One of the world's most popular file-sharing sites was shuttered Thursday, and its founder and several company officials were accused of facilitating millions of illegal downloads of films, music and other content.

An indictment accused Megaupload.com of costing copyright holders at least $500 million in lost revenue. The indictment was unsealed one day after websites including Wikipedia and Craigslist shut down in protest of two congressional proposals intended to make it easier for authorities to go after websites with pirated material, especially those with overseas headquarters and servers.

Megaupload is based in Hong Kong, but some of the alleged pirated content was hosted on leased servers in Virginia, which gave federal authorities jurisdiction, the indictment said.

The Justice Department said in a statement said that Kim Dotcom, 37, and three other employees were arrested Thursday in New Zealand at the request of U.S. officials. Three other defendants are at large.

Before Megaupload was taken down, it posted a statement saying allegations that it facilitated massive breaches of copyright laws were "grotesquely overblown."

"The fact is that the vast majority of Mega's Internet traffic is legitimate, and we are here to stay. If the content industry would like to take advantage of our popularity, we are happy to enter into a dialogue. We have some good ideas. Please get in touch," the statement said.

The indictment may have prompted a response from the loose affiliation of hackers known as "Anonymous," which claimed credit for attacking the Justice Department's website. The site was inaccessible Thursday evening.

A spokesman for the Motion Picture Association of America said in an emailed statement Thursday that the group's site had been hacked, although it appeared to be working later Thursday evening.

"The motion picture and television industry has always been a strong supporter of free speech," the spokesman said. "We strongly condemn any attempts to silence any groups or individuals."

Megaupload was unique not only because of its massive size and the volume of downloaded content, but also because it had high-profile support from celebrities, musicians and other content producers who are most often the victims of copyright infringement and piracy. Before the website was taken down, it contained endorsements from Kim Kardashian, Alicia Keys and Kanye West, among others.

The company listed Swizz Beatz, a musician who married Keys in 2010, as its CEO. He was not named in the indictment and declined to comment through a representative.

According to the indictment, Megaupload was estimated at one point to be the 13th most frequently visited website on the Internet. Current estimates by companies that monitor Web traffic place it in the top 100.

The five-count indictment, which alleges copyright infringement as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering and racketeering, described a site designed specifically to reward users who uploaded pirated content for sharing, and turned a blind eye to requests from copyright holders to remove copyright-protected files.

For instance, users received cash bonuses if they uploaded content popular enough to generate massive numbers of downloads, according to the indictment. Such content was almost always copyright protected.

The site boasted 150 million registered users and about 50 million hits daily. The Justice Department said it was illegal for anyone to download pirated content, but their investigation focused on the leaders of the company, not end users who may have downloaded a few movies for personal viewing.

A lawyer who represented the company in a lawsuit last year declined comment Thursday. Efforts to reach an attorney representing Dotcom were unsuccessful.

Megaupload is considered a "cyberlocker," in which users can upload and transfer files that are too large to send by email. Such sites can have perfectly legitimate uses. But the Motion Picture Association of America, which has campaigned for a crackdown on piracy, estimated that the vast majority of content being shared on Megaupload was in violation of copyright laws.

The website allowed users to download some content for free, but made money by charging subscriptions to people who wanted access to faster download speeds or extra content. The website also sold advertising.

The indictment was returned in the Eastern District of Virginia, which claimed jurisdiction in part because some of the alleged pirated materials were hosted on leased servers in Virginia. Prosecutors there have pursued multiple piracy investigations.

Steven T. Shelton, a copyright lawyer at the Cozen O'Connor firm in New York, said opponents of the legislation are worried the proposals lessen the burden for the government to target a wide variety of websites. Shelton said he expects to see the government engage in more enforcement in the future, as technology makes it easier to catch and target suspected pirates.

"I think we'll be seeing more of this," he said. "This is just the beginning."

Dotcom, a resident of both Hong Kong and New Zealand, and a dual citizen of Finland and Germany, made more than $42 million from the site in 2010 alone, according to the indictment.

Dotcom had his name legally changed. He was previously known as Kim Schmitz and Kim Tim Jim Vestor. He is founder, former CEO and current chief innovation officer of Megaupload.

Officials estimated it could be a year or more before Dotcom and the others arrested in New Zealand are formally extradited.

The others arrested were Finn Batato, 38, a citizen and resident of Germany, the company's chief marketing officer; Mathias Ortmann, 40, a citizen of Germany and resident of both Germany and Hong Kong, who is the chief technical officer, co-founder and director; and Bram van der Kolk, aka Bramos, 29, a Dutch citizen and resident of both the Netherlands and New Zealand, who oversees programming.

Still at large are Julius Bencko, 35, a citizen and resident of Slovakia, the site's graphic designer; Sven Echternach, 39, a citizen and resident of Germany, head of business development; and Andrus Nomm, 32, a citizen of Estonia and resident of both Turkey and Estonia, head of the development software division.

Several sister sites were also shut down, including one dedicated to sharing pornography files.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2012-01-19-Internet%20Piracy-Indictment/id-3371e70b329e4039b057bbfb198ff347

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For many, job loss would mean missing bills

Mark Lennihan / AP

People wait to talk with potential employers at a job fair in New York last December.

By Allison Linn

The sudden loss of a job has become, if not commonplace over the last years, at least not very surprising.

And yet, many Americans remain unprepared for not having an income. A new survey from Country Financial finds that one-third of Americans would immediately fall behind on their bills if they lost a job and were left with no income.

That?s virtually the same result that Country Financial got the last time they asked the same question, in July of 2009.

The good news: About one-quarter of Americans are well-prepared for a job loss. The January survey found that 24 percent of respondents could weather five months without an income. That?s also virtually the same percentage as in July of 2009.

Country Financial conducts the survey of 3,000 people bi-monthly.

Although the economy is consistently adding more jobs than it is shedding, some workers continue to be let go. For example, Kraft Foods said this week that it would cut 1,600 jobs as it prepares to split its business in two.

If you do lose a job, the market remains tough. The median time it takes to find a new job is 21 weeks, or about five months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There are currently about 13 million unemployed Americans who are looking for work, and the unemployment rate is at 8.5 percent.

Related:

Role reversal: Employers say they can't find workers

Few part-timers but more working multiple jobs

How long could you pay your bills if you lost your job?

Source: http://lifeinc.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/19/10183131-for-many-job-loss-would-mean-immediately-missing-bills

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Friday, January 20, 2012

iPhone and iPad Live podcast? postponed until tomorrow at 10am ET for Apple special event!

That's right, we're postponing our usual Wednesday night iPhone and iPad Live podcast tonight so that we can bring you a special edition tomorrow at 10am, where will be following along with Apple's special education event in New York, and offering up commentary, color, and analysis both during and after the announcements.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/mjRPE5_L8VI/story01.htm

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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Syrian tanks pull back from rebel town: opposition (Reuters)

AMMAN (Reuters) ? Syrian forces have pulled back from a rebel-held town near Lebanon after an agreement with insurgents to end fighting, a senior opposition leader in contact with residents said on Thursday.

Dozens of tanks and armored vehicles that had been surrounding Zabadani, 30 km (19 miles) northwest of Damascus, pulled back on Wednesday night to military garrisons 8 km away, and food and basic supplies have started reaching the town, Kamal al-Labwani told Reuters.

"The attack on Zabadani could renew any time. They may have pulled out of the area because they want to replace troops that have been hesitant to storm the town with more loyal forces," said Labwani, who is in the Jordanian capital.

President Bashar al-Assad's forces attacked Zabadani on Friday, after frequent demonstrations against his rule in the mixed Sunni Muslim and Christian town, situated near smuggling routes in mountains separating Syria from Lebanon.

It was the first big military assault since Arab monitors arrived in the country last month. Residents and opposition sources say insurgents managed to hold back the attacking troops until a ceasefire was reached on Tuesday.

There was no immediate comment from the Syrian authorities and state media have not mentioned the Zabadani ceasefire or five days of fighting that preceded it.

Arab monitors witnessed one demonstration there this week during a pause in the fighting, according to residents and YouTube footage which could not be independently verified.

(Reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Amman newsroom. Edited by Richard Meares)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120119/wl_nm/us_syria

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