Friday, November 30, 2012

U.S. top court to consider whether to review gay marriage cases

(Reuters) - The nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are widely expected to decide in a private meeting on Friday to enter the legal fray raging over same-sex marriage.

An announcement to take a case could come as early as Friday afternoon or Monday morning.

Thirty-one of the 50 states have passed constitutional amendments banning gay marriage while Washington, D.C., and nine other states have legalized it, three of them on Election Day, November 6.

At issue is the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, passed by Congress, which only recognizes marriages between a man and a woman. Gay men and lesbians have specifically challenged a part of the law that prevents them from receiving federal benefits that heterosexual couples receive.

The high court is considering requests to review five cases that challenge the law as a violation of the equal protection provisions of the U.S. Constitution.

Most courts to address the issue, including federal appeals courts in Boston and New York, have found the law's contested provision unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court is expected to take at least one of the challenges, as the court typically reviews lower-court decisions that invalidate a federal law.

Even in states where same-sex marriage is legal, the couples do not qualify for a host of federal benefits because of DOMA.

If the court accepts one of the cases, the oral arguments will likely take place in early 2013, with a ruling expected by the end of the court term in June.

If the court invalidates the law, states could still be free to legalize or deny same-sex marriages on their own terms.

Friday's scheduled court conference is one of the Supreme Court's regular weekly sessions at which it considers what new cases to add to the calendar.

The meetings, attended only by the justices, are held in a small conference room adjacent to the chambers of Chief Justice John Roberts.

The justices vote in order of seniority, and while it takes five of the nine for a majority decision in a dispute, it takes only four votes to add a case to the agenda and schedule oral arguments.

CALIFORNIA'S BAN

The court is also considering whether to review a challenge to California's ban on same-sex marriage, known as Proposition 8, which voters narrowly approved in 2008. The California case, Hollingsworth v. Perry, had sought to establish a constitutional right to marry for gays and lesbians.

The 9th Circuit in February found the gay marriage ban unconstitutional, but it ruled narrowly in a way that only affected California and not the rest of the country, finding that the state could not take away the right to same-sex marriage after previously allowing it. No other state to legalize gay marriage has later banned it.

If the Supreme Court later takes the case, it could follow the 9th Circuit's decision and also rule narrowly, requiring same-sex marriage only in California but not the rest of the country. Or it could recognize a right to marriage equality.

If the justices decline to take the case, the 9th Circuit's opinion would stand, and same-sex marriage would resume in California. That would significantly boost the number of same-sex couples able to marry, given the state's large size.

The Supreme Court is also considering an appeal from the state of Arizona, asking the court to revive a state version of DOMA. The Arizona law, which the 9th Circuit invalidated, eliminated domestic partner healthcare benefits for gay and lesbian state employees. Same-sex couples in Arizona cannot marry, under that state's constitutional ban passed in 2008.

(Reporting by Terry Baynes in New York; Editing by Howard Goller and Cynthia Osterman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-top-court-consider-whether-review-gay-marriage-060517051.html

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Self-Defense For Women! | Jackie's Women's Interest Bazaar

Related eBooks

5:22 My home-remedy weapon. Non-lethal. No weapons. Just straight up womanhood. Share!

Related Reading:

Practical Psychic Self Defense Handbook, The: A Survival GuidePractical Psychic Self Defense Handbook, The: A Survival GuideIs everything that goes on in your mind really you? Perhaps not, says Australian psychic researcher Robert Bruce. Drawing on more than two decades of firsthand research and experience, Bruce reports that our minds are subject to influences from many unseen spiritual sources. Some of these can influence how we think, feel, act, and even how our bodies function. They can make us unhappy, irritable, confused, sick, unstable, even crazy. This is why we need practical tools and countermeasures for psychic self-defense, all of which Bruce provides.

This is the ultimate guide to combating the influences of earthbound spirits, deranged ghosts, astral snakes and spiders, demonic spirits, and poltergeists. This is a highly anecdotal and comprehensive practical guide to the dark side of the psychic universe.

The Psychology of Self-DefenseThe Psychology of Self-DefenseWhether you are a stay-at-home mom, a police officer, or an experienced Martial Artist, this book will open your mind to a new way of thinking. Real, effective self-defense begins with a mindset. Here is your guide to developing that mindset. Learn what it takes to OVERCOME conflict, and PROTECT yourself and those you care about. In this book you will discover: what real-life self-defense actually is - and how to survive in today's world; why self-defense training should be a priority for everyone; the difference between self-defense and martial arts; and that's just the beginning! The information in this book has empowered people from all walks of life to be stronger, more confident, and safer. When self-defense is a MUST - nothing else will do. This book is written by Chris Sutton is an experienced law enforcement officer, Martial Arts school owner, and creator of the C.O.B.R.A. Self Defense System. C.O.B.R.A. is an internationally licensed Self-Defense Program founded in 2001. The Psychology of Self-Defense has been read by S.W.A.T. officers, military personnel, business owners, students, and people from every walk of life. This book is based on the author's 20-plus years of training, research and experience. It's a MUST for all!

Source: http://www.jackiesbazaar.com/womensinterests/self-defense/self-defense-for-women-3

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WSJ: Sharp courting US firms for investments, will trade displays for dollars

WSJ: Sharp courting US firms for investments, will trade displays for dollars

Loans, cuts and mortgages -- Sharp is doing everything it can to meet its "profitable by 2014" pledge, and according to the Wall Street Journal, it's looking to US suitors to lend a hand. Sources close to the company say that it's offering a stake in Sharp to companies like Dell, Intel and Qualcomm in exchange for a capital investment. So far, all four companies have declined to comment, but investors would reportedly score easy access to Sharp displays, a deal that could be a boon for Dell's hardware division. No official numbers have been announced, but the WSJ is being told that Sharp is hoping to take in ¥20 billion (about $240 million) from both Dell and Intel, and is negotiating a more meager investment with Qualcomm.

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Source: Wall Street Journal

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/29/wsj-sharp-courting-us-firms-for-investments/

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

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Rambler's Top100

nimitarora53: Malicious Ways that Spam Can Ruin Your Business ...

Spam can come in many forms, including ?special? toolbars and comment spam designed to post comments on your site that are false and sometimes embarrassing.? In a recent post from Google, we?re told that Google will penalize our sites if too much spam is tracked to the site.? This could be disastrous for your business and frustrating for you.?

Here are two ways that unchecked spam can hurt and possibly ruin your sites:

  • Rankings.? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the main way that most marketers build their sites for quality traffic and great rankings.? But spamming techniques can ruin your good rankings by luring visitors to your site(s) by droves in an unethical manner.

Malicious Ways that Spam Can Ruin Your BusinessSpamming techniques such as invisible text, stuffing unrelated keywords into your content, and duplicate content can alert search engines that you?re contriving to get traffic in an unethical manner, and they will ?red flag? those sites and penalize the site owners.

  • Credibility.? It?s so easy to lose your online credibility with spamming techniques.? Blogs are especially susceptible to these methods because visitors and participators in the blog don?t want to be inundated with useless content and multiple backlinks that have nothing to do with the purpose of the blog.

These spammers can use the legitimate backlinks on your blog to sell to other ?black hat? Internet Markets, causing your blog followers to fall by the wayside like flies.

Your reputation and ethics are so important to anything you do online while building your site(s).? Keep appraised of spammers who are out for a quick buck and who can ruin interest in your online efforts.

Web Spam Vs. Email Spam

You should know that there?s a difference between web spam and email spam.? The simplest explanation is that email spam is out for you to purchase a product, and web spammers (comments and/or blog posts) want your visitors to purchase their products.? You?re not the target ? but your clients are ? and that can drive them off of your site or blog in droves.

Malicious Ways that Spam Can Ruin Your BusinessThere is a service that you can turn to that will automatically delete comment and blog spam so that you don?t have to worry about it anymore.? The service is called Akismet, and you can access it through plugins such as WordPress or the Akismet API.? All you have to do is register and API key (like a password) which is your own private access to your account.

Then, each time a comment, pingback or trackback?appears on your site, the Akismet service tests it and either Okays it or turns it down.? You don?t have to do a thing ? and, you can be assured that the spam designed to ruin your site and steal sales and customers from you is taken care of.? Click Here to Tweet this Post.

When you use a plugin such as Akismet to stop spam from invading your site, you?ll keep Google and other search engines from penalizing your sites and from losing credibility with your followers.

Malicious Ways that Spam Can Ruin Your BusinessI?ve spoken about ?black hat techniques? before, and web spamming is definitely one of the worst.? They?re hoping you?ll disregard them because these spam techniques use flattery, praise and other positive comments to catch you off guard.

There?s no way for you to know if these comments and posts are legitimate.? That?s why it?s a good thing to use a plug in like Akismet to check it out for you.? Just be sure you?re protected from these spammers who are thieves and who can run your business off the Internet.?

Related posts:

  1. Spam Blocker For WordPress
  2. 5 Plug-ins You Need for your WordPress Blog
  3. 6 Ways To Get Free Traffic For Your Website
  4. Empower Your IM Business by Building a List

Source: http://www.carolamato.com/malicious-ways-that-spam-can-ruin-your-business/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=malicious-ways-that-spam-can-ruin-your-business

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Source: http://sterling796.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/malicious-ways-that-spam-can-ruin-your-business-summer.html

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Source: http://elvis1910.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/malicious-ways-that-spam-can-ruin-your-business-summer.html

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Source: http://nimitarora53.blogspot.com/2012/11/malicious-ways-that-spam-can-ruin-your.html

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Source: http://major328.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/nimitarora53-malicious-ways-that-spam-can-ruin-your-business.html

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Source: http://gaitebuke.posterous.com/nimitarora53-malicious-ways-that-spam-can-rui

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Weekly Security Update | Iraq Business News

Weekly Security Update

By Gary Sandiford, Olive Group?s Dubai based assessments manager.? Olive Group is a leading provider of security and technology solutions and has operated continuously in Iraq since 2003.

?

Overview

Olive Groups Iraq statistics are drawn from multiple sources, including media reporting and direct liaison with in country assets. Included within the statistics are a minority sub-set of serious incidents which may not be purely attributable to insurgent/terrorist groups, such as murder, kidnappings and organised crime activities.

The total number of reported incidents in Iraq for the period 19-25 November 2012 was 119.? This is on par with the 2012 weekly average of 118 and is a decrease on last week?s total of 137.? As per the norm, the situation throughout the country was highly variable between regions and provinces.? The North and North Central regions continue to experience the highest proportion of incidents, although both experienced reduced levels of activity this week, although variations were seen within the provinces of these regions, with incident levels doubling in Salah al-Din, yet dramatically reducing in Diyala.? The increased security posture in Baghdad for Ashura likely contributed to decline in figures from the capital.? In the West Region, most of the incidents were reported from the environs of Fallujah but were much reduced than last week.? The South Central Region witnessed increased incident figures, related to attacks on Shia pilgrims transiting through the province to Karbala.? The security plan in the South East Region could be considered successes; as only a few low-level incidents were reported this week.


Source: http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2012/11/28/weekly-security-update-25/

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WordPress.com Launches Restaurant Vertical As It Pushes Platform Well Beyond Basic Blogging

Screen shot 2012-11-28 at 10.41.25 PMRestaurants are kind of notorious for having painful web experiences -- either with websites that are horribly basic and out of date, or needlessly souped up with music and Flash animation. So it was good news today when web publishing stalwart WordPress.com rolled out a new set of templates specifically aimed at helping restaurants build clean, useful websites that can be easily accessed from both desktop and mobile devices.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/TnCekDyZDxs/

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Video: Santelli's 'Extra Credit' Project

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/49993770/

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The bridal pre wedding party and sweet desert to celebrate

Traditionally, before the big day the bride and groom have, separate, their night out with friends. It is a party if you want where the main reason is to go wild before tying the knot, the last chance of being single. In case of groom and his company it is a question mark but for ladies and bride to be it is a sure fact that a cake will be needed.

Wedding shower cakes are usually a surprise ladies make for the bride to be but after all not a sure fact of being so. In any case it is one of the indispensable parts of the party. To make it representative funny messages and designs are chosen. And to make yourself a clear image about this take a look of the bellow examples:

v? Wedding shower cakes with small figures on top, the bride and her bridesmaids. The topper is actually the gathering of toppers on a small, classic round cake but large.

v? Wedding shower cakes with funny texts. It is not that expensive as it is again about a simple cake of any shape just one layer or could be of any kind but with enough space to have a text on top: ?the best is jet to come?, ?what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? and so on.

v? Wedding shower cakes with a bride shape- the excepted event is the design of the party cake.

v? Wedding shower cakes with lingerie forms, with luggage, presents and what the bride likes more from shoes to shopping from Tiffany and so on to add symbols of such kind.

v? Wedding shower cakes with classic style design.

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Options vary and it is despite being a matter of taste the creativity part that gives a spur into buying something unique and funny.

Source: http://wedding-beauty.com/the-bridal-pre-wedding-party-and-sweet-desert-to-celebrate/

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

'Star Trek' Experts: Does 'Darkness' Synopsis Reveal The Villain?

Experts plunge 'Into Darkness' to figure out who the 'Star Trek' sequel villain really is.
By Josh Wigler


Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto in "Star Trek"
Photo: Industrial Light and Magic/Paramount

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1698000/star-trek-sequel-villain.jhtml

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Y Combinator Debuts YC VC To Replace The Start Fund; Includes Yuri Milner, Andreessen Horowitz

The YC VC ProgramTwo years ago, Yuri Milner and Ron Conway created The Start Fund to put $150,000 into all Y Combinator companies. Y Combinator ended up managing the fund, and encountered a few issues. So the incubator has decided to revamp the program to become more startup friendly. The new fund is called YC VC, and offers less money--$80,000 per startup.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/eNLMhBLp8dU/

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The unappreciated Jay Cutler

Bears quarterback Cutler is pressured by Vikings defensive end Griffen during the first half of their NFL football game at Soldier Field in ChicagoReuters

If you don?t like Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, you?re not alone. A poll of fans conducted last season found that Cutler was one of the Top 5 most disliked players in the NFL.

And if you?re looking for reasons not to like Cutler, you saw one when the Bears beat the Vikings on Sunday: Cutler committed one of the dumber penalties of the day when he ran out of bounds and then threw the ball at Vikings cornerback A.J. Jefferson. Throwing the ball at an opponent is an automatic 15-yard penalty, as every NFL player should know. Yes, Cutler can be an idiot sometimes.

But if you don?t think Cutler is a good quarterback, well, you?re wrong. Cutler?s abilities were on display in Sunday?s 28-10 win over the Vikings, but they were even more on display in the way the Bears completely fell apart without him a week ago against the 49ers. And Cutler?s importance to the Bears is on display in every game he misses: In the last three years, in games Cutler both started and finished, the Bears are 26-9. In games Cutler either missed entirely or was knocked out because of an injury in the first half, the Bears are 1-8.

No, Cutler doesn?t put up the kinds of numbers that the NFL?s elite quarterbacks produce, but Cutler doesn?t have anywhere near the kind of offensive talent surrounding him that the NFL?s elite quarterbacks have. The Bears have had one of the NFL?s worst offensive lines for Cutler?s entire tenure in Chicago, and they only got a high-level wide receiver for the first time this year, when they traded for Brandon Marshall.

I believe it?s that Chicago offensive line and that Chicago receiving corps ? as well as, yes, acting like a jerk at times by doing things like throwing a ball at an opponent ? that has made Cutler one of the most underappreciated players in the NFL. This is a good quarterback, playing on a team that appears headed toward the playoffs, in the NFL?s second-biggest media market, and he should get more credit than he does.

Cutler has a great opportunity, however, to change the way he?s regarded over the next couple of months. With the Bears right in the thick of the NFC playoff race, Cutler has the chance to do what he didn?t do when a knee injury knocked him out of the NFC Championship Game a couple years ago, and play the best football of his career on the biggest stage. I think Cutler is going to open some eyes in December and January. And maybe by February, he won?t be unappreciated anymore.

Here are my other thoughts on Sunday?s games:

Robert Ayers was the toughest player in the league on Sunday. Ayers, a backup defensive end for the Broncos, found out late on Saturday night that his father had died suddenly. But instead of heading home right away, he decided to stay in Kansas City to be there for his team against the Chiefs. Ayers played and played well in a 17-9 win in which the Broncos? defense shut down the Chiefs? offense, then was awarded a game ball in the locker room afterward and headed home to tend to his family.

Jared Allen got away with a brutal cheap shot. While his teammate Antoine Winfield was returning an interception, Allen launched himself directly into the head of Bears offensive lineman Lance Louis, delivering a hit that knocked Louis out of the game. Allen said after the game that he thought the hit was legal, but he?s wrong. That?s a blatant penalty that the officials somehow missed, but the league office won?t. Allen is in for a big fine.

The Chiefs got too cute. Kansas City?s opening drive against Denver was running smoothly, with an emphasis on running: Out of the Chiefs? first nine offensive plays, eight of them were runs, and those eight runs produced 48 yards. So what on earth were the Chiefs thinking with the play they called on third-and-3 in the red zone? Instead of running it again, the Chiefs called a bizarre trick play on which running back Peyton Hillis took the snap, ran to his right, then turned around and threw it to quarterback Brady Quinn. Hillis?s pass showed that there?s a reason he?s not a quarterback: He threw an ugly duck that didn?t even get close, falling to the ground a few feet in front of Quinn. That was a dumb play call that stopped a promising drive.

Something has to be done about the officials, Part 1. Everyone saw the horrendous call on Thanksgiving in which the officials somehow ruled that Texans running back Justin Forsett had run 81 yards for a touchdown, even though he was obviously down after just eight yards. But on Sunday not as many people noticed that the opposite mistake was made in the 49ers-Saints game: San Francisco receiver Michael Crabtree caught a pass, got hit, put his hand down to steady himself and kept running, about to break a big play ? except that the officials whistled the play dead, wrongly thinking Crabtree had been down. If we can?t count on the officials to get it right on a call as fundamental as whether or not a player was down, what can we count on them to get right?

Something has to be done about the officials, Part 2. Remember during the lockout, how everyone complained that the replacement refs were dragging out the games by taking way too long to make their rulings? No delays from the replacement refs were as bad as the ridiculous delay late in Sunday?s Ravens-Chargers game. After Ray Rice made an amazing play to turn a short pass into a first down on fourth-and-29, the officials delayed the game by a whopping 10 minutes to watch a replay and re-measure the spot of the ball, only to discover that it had been correctly ruled a first down on the field all along. A 10-minute delay late in the fourth quarter of a close game takes all the energy out of the building. Make the call and move on, refs.

Anyone want to help Charlie Batch out? With Batch, the Steelers? 38-year-old third-string quarterback, pressed into duty on Sunday, the Steelers needed to get big games from their running backs. Instead, Pittsburgh?s four running backs ? Rashard Mendenhall, Jonathan Dwyer, Isaac Redman and Chris Rainey ? combined for just 49 yards on 20 carries, while fumbling six times. Mendenhall and Rainey had two fumbles apiece, while Dwyer and Redman each had one. The Steelers? eight turnovers were the most for any NFL team in one game since 2001, and the Steelers were upset by the Browns.

Jim Harbaugh made the right decision. Colin Kaepernick is a better quarterback than Alex Smith, and if anyone doubted it before, no one should doubt it after Kaepernick led the 49ers to a big win at New Orleans on Sunday. Harbaugh was wise to bench Smith in favor of Kaepernick, who is now 2-0 as a starter with wins over the Bears (playing without Cutler) and Saints. With Kaepernick under center, the 49ers are going to be a tough team to beat in January. Although if they meet again in the playoffs, I like the Bears? chances with a healthy Cutler.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/26/nfl-morning-after-the-unappreciated-jay-cutler/related/

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What causes Acne and Natural Solutions | Fitlife.TV - Fitness

It?s confirmed. Dairy products and sugar cause?acne.

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As our sugar and dairy consumption has increased over the last 100 years so has the number of people with acne. We now have over 17 million acne sufferers, costing our health care system $1 billion a year, and 80-90 percent of teenagers suffer acne to varying degrees. The pimply millions rely on infomercial products hawked by celebrities or over-the-counter lotions, cleansers, and topical remedies. Recent research suggests that it?s not what we slather on our skin that matters most but what we put in our mouth.

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Many have suggested a diet-acne link, but until recently it has not been proven in large clinical studies. Instead dermatologists prescribe long-term antibiotics and Accutane, both of which may cause long-term harmful effects. In 2009, a systematic review of 21 observational studies and six clinical trials found clear links. Two large controlled trials found that cow?s milk increased both the number of people who got acne and its severity. Other large randomized prospective controlled trials (the gold standard of medical research) found that people who had higher sugar intake and a high glycemic load diet (more bread, rice, cereal, pasta, sugar, and flour products of all kinds) had significantly more acne. The good news is that chocolate (dark chocolate that is) didn?t seem to cause acne.

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The dietary pimple producing culprits?diary and sugar (in all its blood sugar raising forms)?both cause spikes in certain pimple producing hormones. Dairy boosts male sex hormones (various forms of testosterone or androgens) and increases insulin levels just as foods that quickly raise blood sugar (sugar and starchy carbs) spike insulin.

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Androgens and insulin both stimulate your skin to make those nasty, embarrassing pimples. One patient recently told me he would give a million dollars for a pill to cure acne. He doesn?t need to. It seems that for many the cure to acne is at the end of their fork, not in a prescription pad.

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While pimples are not as simple as too much milk or sugar in your diet, both have a significant impact. Nutritional deficiencies as well as excesses can worsen acne. Correcting common deficiencies including low levels of healthy?omega-3 anti-inflammatory fats, low levels of antioxidants such as vitamin E, zinc, and vitamin A, and including an important anti-inflammatory omega-6 fat called evening primrose oil all may be helpful in preventing and treating unwanted pimples. I will explain how you can correct and incorporate all of these nutritional elements of your diet and outlines some supplements that will help you fight acne in a moment.

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But first it is worth taking a deeper look at milk and sugar.

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Stay Away from Dairy and Avoid Acne

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One scientist referred to?milk?as a ?complex aqueous, suspended fat, liposomal, suspended protein emulsion?. What we do know is that milk is designed to grow things?namely, babies?and in the case of cow?s milk, calves. It is naturally full of what we call anabolic hormones (the same ones that body builders and A Rod use to grow big muscles, and which cause bad acne). These are mostly androgens (like testosterone) and growth hormones including insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). There is no such thing as hormone-free milk.

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Here?s a short list of the 60-some hormones in your average glass of milk?even the organic, raw, and bovine growth hormone free milk:

  • 20?-dihydropregnenolone
  • progesterone (from pregnenolone)
  • 5?-pregnanedione
  • 5?-pregnan-3?-ol-20-one, 20?- and 20?-dihydroprogesterone (from progesterone)
  • 5?-androstene-3?17?-diol
  • 5?-androstanedione
  • 5?-androstan-3?-ol-17-one
  • androstenedione
  • testosterone
  • dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate acyl ester
  • insulin like growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF-1 and IGF-2)
  • insulin

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This is what our government suggests we drink in high doses?at least 3 glasses a day for me, a healthy adult male, according to the?mypyramid.gov?website. Those guidelines have been strongly criticized by many including leading nutrition scientists from Harvard such as Walter Willett and David Ludwig.

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The famous?Nurse?s Health Study?examining health habits of 47,000 nurses found that those who drank more milk as teenagers had much higher rates of severe acne than those who had little or no milk as teenagers. If you think it is the fat in milk, think again. It was actually the skim milk that had the strongest risk for acne. In other studies of over 10,000 boys and girls from 9 to 15 years old, there was a direct link between the amount of milk consumed and the severity of acne.

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It appears that it is not just the anabolic or sex hormones in milk that causes problem but milk?s ability to stimulate insulin production. It actually may be the lactose or milk sugar in milk that acts more like a soft drink than an egg. Drinking a glass of milk can spike insulin levels 300 percent. Not only does that cause pimples, but it also may contribute to prediabetes. This is true despite studies funded by the dairy council showing that milk helps with weight loss. The question is compared to WHAT diet?a diet of bagels and Coke, or a healthy phytonutrient, antioxidant-rich, plant-based diet with lean animal protein?

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Stay Away from Sugar, Refined Carbs, and Pimples

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If a glass of milk causes pimples, that may drive you back to your Pepsi. But not so fast. Recent studies also show that sugar and refined carbs (a high-glycemic diet) cause acne. More importantly, taking kids off sugar and putting them on a healthy, whole foods, low-glycemic load diet resulted in significant improvements in acne compared to a control group eating a regular, high-sugar American diet. In addition to less pimples, the participants lost weight, became more sensitive to the effects of?insulin?(resulting in less pimple-producing insulin circulating around the blood). They also had less of the sex hormones floating around their blood that drive pimples. We know that women who have too much sugar and?insulin resistance?get acne, hair growth on their face, hair loss on the head, and infertility. This is caused by high levels of circulating male hormones and is called polycystic ovarian syndrome but is a nutritional, not gynecologic disease.

But the dietary influences don?t stop there. It is not just sugar, but the bad fats we eat that may also contribute to acne.

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Get an Oil Change

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Our typical Western diet is full of inflammatory fats?saturated fats, trans fats, too many omega-6, inflammatory, processed vegetable oils like soy and corn oils. These increase IGF-1 and stimulate pimple follicles.?Inflammation?has been linked to acne, and anti-inflammatory?omega-3 fats?(from fish oil) may help improve acne and help with many skin disorders.

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Balance the Hormones that Cause Skin Problems

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The link is clear?hormonal imbalances?caused by our diet trigger acne. Our diet influences sex hormones like testosterone, IGF-1, and insulin, which promote acne. The biggest factors affecting your hormones is the glycemic load of your diet (which is determined by how quickly the food you eat increases your blood sugar and insulin levels), and the amount of dairy products you eat. The good news is that eating a healthy diet and taking a few supplements can balance those hormones. Exercise also helps improve insulin function.

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How To Prevent and Treat Acne

Eight simple steps will help most overcome their acne problems.

1. Stay away from milk.?It is nature?s perfect food?but only if you are a calf.

2. Eat a low glycemic load, low sugar diet.?Sugar, liquid calories, and flour products all drive up insulin and cause pimples.

3. Eat more fruits and vegetables.?People who eat more veggies (containing more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds) have less acne. Make sure you get your 5-9 servings of colorful fruits and vegetables every day.

4. Get more healthy anti-inflammatory fats.?Make sure to get omega-3 fats (fish oil) and anti-inflammatory omega-6 fats (evening primrose oil). You will need supplements to get adequate amounts (more on that in a moment).

5. Include foods that correct acne problems.?Certain foods have been linked to improvements in many of the underlying causes of acne and can help correct it. These include fish oil, turmeric, ginger, green tea, nuts, dark purple and red foods such as berries, green foods like dark green leafy vegetables, and omega 3-eggs.

6. Take acne-fighting supplements.?Some supplements are critical for skin health. Antioxidant levels have been shown to be low in acne sufferers. And healthy fats can make a big difference. Here are the supplements I recommend:

  • Evening primrose oil: Take 1000 to 1500mg twice a day.
  • Zinc citrate: Take 30 mg a day.
  • Vitamin A: Take 25000 IU a day. Only do this for three months. Do not do this if you are pregnant.
  • Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols, not alpha tocopherol): Take 400 IU a day.

7. Try probiotics.?Probiotics also help reduce inflammation in the gut that may be linked to acne. Taking probiotics (lactobacillus, etc.) can improve acne.

8. Avoid foods you are sensitive to.?Delayed food allergies are among the most common causes of acne?foods like gluten, dairy, yeast, and eggs are common culprits and can be a problem if you have a leaky gut.

Following these simple tips will help you eliminate acne and have that glowing skin you have always dreamed of. And it?s much cheaper (and safer) than expensive medications and dermatologist visits. Improve your diet and take acne-fighting supplements and you will watch your pimples disappear.

Have you struggled with an acne or skin problem? Have you noticed any link between your skin? What seems to be a problem for you?

Why do you think we are encouraged to consume so much dairy when the risks to our health (and our skin) are so high?

What other steps have you taken to fight acne? What has worked? What hasn?t?

Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

References

Written by Mark Hyman, M.D. Original post on http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/do-milk-and-sugar-cause-a_b_822163.html

1. F. William Danby, MD, Nutrition and acne, Clinics in Dermatology (2010) 28, 598-604

2. White GM. Recent findings in the epidemiologic evidence, classification, and subtypes of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol 39(2 Pt 3):S34-7 (1998 Aug).

3. Lello J, Pearl A, Arroll B, et al. Prevalence of acne vulgaris in Auckland senior high school students. N Z Med J 108(1004):287-9 (1995 Jul 28).

4. Venereol 21(6):806-10 (2007 Jul).

5. Wolf R, Matz H, Orion E. Acne and diet. Clin Dermatol 22(5):387-93 (2004 Sep-Oct).

6. Magin P, Pond D, Smith W, et al. A systematic review of the evidence for myths and misconceptions? in acne management: diet, face-washing and sunlight. Fam Pract 22(1):62-70 (2005 Feb).

7. Spencer EH, Ferdowsian HR, Barnard ND. Diet and acne: a review of the evidence. Int J Dermatol 48(4):339-47 (2009 Apr).

8. Bendiner E. Disastrous trade-off: Eskimo health for white civilization, Hosp Pract 9:156-89 (1974).

9. Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Danby FW, et al. High school dietary dairy intake and teenage acne. J Am Acad Dermatol 52(2):207-14 (2005 Feb).

10. Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Berkey CS, et al. Milk consumption and acne in adolescent girls. Dermatol Online J 12(4):1 (2006).

11. Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Berkey CS, et al. Milk consumption and acne in teenaged boys. J Am Acad Dermatol 58(5):787-93 (2008 May).

12. Hoyt G, Hickey MS, Cordain L. Dissociation of the glycaemic and insulinaemic responses to whole and skimmed milk. Br J Nutr 93(2):175-7 (2005 Feb).

13. Kaymak Y, Adisen E, Ilter N, et al. Dietary glycemic index and glucose, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, and leptin levels in patients with acne. J Am Acad atol 57(5):819-23 (2007 Nov). Cordain L, Lindeberg S, Hurtado M, et al. Acne vulgaris: a disease of Western civilization. Arch Dermatol 138(12):1584-90 (2002 Dec).

14. Smith RN, Mann NJ, Braue A, et al. A low-glycemic-load diet improves symptoms in acne vulgaris patients: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 86(1):107-15 (2007 Jul).

15. Smith RN, Mann NJ, Braue A, et al. The effect of a high- protein, low glycemic-load diet versus a conventional, high glycemic-load diet on biochemical parameters associated with acne vulgaris: a randomized, investigator-masked, controlled trial. J Am Acad Dermatol 57(2):247-56 (2007 Aug).

16. Smith RN, Braue A, Varigos GA, et al. The effect of a low glycemic load diet on acne vulgaris and the fatty acid composition of skin surface triglycerides. J Dermatol Sci 50(1):41-52 (2008 Apr).

17. Zouboulis CC. Is acne vulgaris a genuine inflammatory disease? Dermatology 203(4):277-9 (2001).

18. James MJ, Gibson RA, Cleland LG. Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory mediator production. Am J Clin Nutr 71(1 Suppl):343S-8S (2000 Jan).

19. Simopoulos AP. Essential fatty acids in health and chronic disease. Am J Clin Nutr 70(3 Suppl):560S-9S (1999 Sep). 26. Kaaks R, Bellati C, Venturelli E, et al. Effects of dietary intervention on IGF-I and IGF-binding proteins, and related alterations in sex steroid metabolism: the Diet and Androgens (DIANA) Randomised Trial. Eur J Clin Nutr 57(9):1079-88 (2003 Sep).

20. Fulton JE, Jr., Plewig G, Kligman AM. Effect of chocolate on acne vulgaris. Jama 210(11):2071-4 (1969 Dec 15).

21. Anderson PC. Foods as the cause of acne. Am Fam Physician 3(3):102-3 (1971 Mar).

    • Whiteheads?- remain under the skin and are very small.

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    • Blackheads?- clearly visible, they are black and appear on the surface of the skin. Remember that a blackhead is not caused by dirt. Scrubbing your face vigorously when you see blackheads will not help.

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    • Papules?- visible on the surface of the skin. They are small bumps, usually pink.

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    • Pustules?- clearly visible on the surface of the skin. They are red at their base and have pus at the top.

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    • Nobules?- clearly visible on the surface of the skin. They are large, solid pimples. They are painful and are embedded deep in the skin.

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  • Cysts?- clearly visible on the surface of the skin. They are painful, and are filled with pus.Cysts?can easily cause scars.

Source: http://fitlife.tv/what-causes-acne-and-natural-solutions/

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Brazil's Rousseff scrambles to contain latest scandal

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is scrambling to contain fallout from a corruption scandal involving government officials linked to her mentor and predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva that has given her political opponents fresh ammunition.

The new scandal, which comes two weeks after the conviction of top Lula aides in Brazil's biggest-ever political corruption trial, could delay government decisions over airport upgrades and other infrastructure projects that are badly needed to make the world's sixth-largest economy more efficient.

It is not, however, expected to significantly dent Rousseff's popularity or her chances for re-election in 2014, since the details of the scandal are complex and the individuals directly implicated so far are outside her inner circle.

Police raided government offices in Brasilia and Sao Paulo on Friday and seized computers and data. Six people, including directors of two regulatory agencies, were arrested for using their government positions and contacts to sell approvals and favorable reports to businessmen.

Opposition senators have since called on government officials to testify before Senate committees. One congressman said Lula himself should appear to explain the role of his former personal assistant, Rose de Noronha, who police say was at the center of the influence-peddling ring.

Lula, who was president from 2003 to 2010 and still retains enormous influence in Rousseff's Workers' Party, said he felt betrayed when he heard Noronha had been implicated in the scandal. "I feel like I've been stabbed in the back."

Rousseff promptly fired Noronha and other officials under investigation. She also ordered a review of all decisions taken by the alleged corrupt officials.

Among those arrested was Rubens Carlos Vieira, director of airport infrastructure at the National Civil Aviation Agency. That has raised fears that investigations could delay the auctioning of private concessions for airports in Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro, among 12 Brazilian cities hosting the 2014 soccer World Cup.

World soccer body FIFA expects stadiums will be ready for the tournament but is worried that Brazil will not have enough hotels for the estimated 500,000 foreign visitors and that airport improvements will not be ready on time.

A government source said Vieira's actions would not compromise private concessions granted earlier this year to operate airports in Brasilia, Campinas and Sao Paulo.

An overdue plan for private companies to upgrade Brazil's congested seaports and build new ones will still be announced on December 6 as planned, the source told Reuters.

OPPOSITION AMMUNITION

The government is hoping the influence-trafficking scandal will blow over if no new damaging revelations emerge to distract political energy away from Rousseff's top priority of restoring solid growth to a once booming economy.

Her agenda is packed with issues crucial to Brazil's development, including a plan to lower Brazil's high electricity costs that has yet to be ironed out, plus a decision she must take by Friday on a bill to share royalties from oil-producing states with the rest of the nation.

Government business could get sidetracked if opposition leaders get their way and open a congressional investigation.

Senator Alvaro Dias, of the opposition PSDB party, called on Monday for Rousseff's justice minister to appear before a Senate commission hearing, along with Attorney General Luis Inacio Adams, her top legal adviser whose deputy was implicated.

Adams is one of the four or five people Rousseff most relies on for advice, a top government source said, and he was in line to become her chief of staff in a cabinet shuffle expected in February. That is probably not in the cards anymore as Adams is expected to lose clout inside the president's inner circle.

Adams and other officials implicated in the new corruption case were Lula appointees inherited by Rousseff, which will help the president shield herself from the fallout. Although Lula's support was critical to Rousseff winning election in 2010, she has after two years as president established her own image as an effective administrator who is tough on corruption.

"Dilma is Dilma, and not Lula's ventriloquist doll. She has her own style, her own way of operating, her own agenda," political consultant Andre Cesar said.

Time is also on Rousseff's side. Congress will enter recess on December 20 and stay out until February. With the year coming to an end, many Brazilians are more concerned with Christmas shopping, planning for the summer holidays and who will coach their soccer team for the World Cup than another scandal.

"The calendar is the government's best ally at this point," Cesar said.

(Additional reporting by Jeferson Ribeiro, Editing by Brian Winter and Eric Beech)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/brazils-rousseff-scrambles-contain-latest-scandal-142526716.html

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English Honors for Grade 7 : ISM Grade Six

Dear Current Grade 6 Parents,

An English Honors Program is offered in Grade 7 in the Middle School. This program offers opportunities for students who want to enrich their English experience with literature and improve their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The published aims and objectives of the English Honors Program at ISM are:

To broaden and deepen student appreciation of literature by engaging in a study of challenging literary texts
To foster a greater sense of the artistry and artfulness of language and writing
To extend each student?s English skills beyond the regular English curriculum
To foster a deeper understanding of how communication skills enrich and enhance the learning experience across the curriculum

The Honors Program: What is it and why do we do it?

The English Honors Program is primarily about enrichment; it is not used as a prerequisite for future English courses such as the IB Program in the High School. The Middle School English Honors Program, however, is good preparation if a student wants to pursue English studies in the future.

While the English Honors Program focuses upon enrichment, it is not for everyone. Parents should talk to their child about the challenges of the class. You need to be honest and think deeply about your reasons to apply. Does your son or daughter fit the profile of an Honors student? Before you consider applying, look at the following criteria of what makes an ideal Honors student:

Honors profile: What does an Honors student look like?

Students in our Honors Program see the communication skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening as essential components to their lives both in and out of an English classroom.
They consistently demonstrate mastery of the skills taught in English and therefore function more independently as English learners.
They achieve and maintain the highest standards of English at ISM as reflected by their English grades at ISM and in external testing.
They want to extend and deepen their English skills beyond the regular English curriculum.
They want greater formal exposure to challenging and varied literature.
They are avid readers and writers who practice these skills beyond required coursework.

How does my son or daughter apply for Honors?

If students presently in Grade 6 want to be considered for Honors in the next school year, they must first meet the minimum requirement of a first semester grade of A- to apply. If they have achieved this cutoff grade, they can then submit the slip at the end of this letter as an application of interest. This will allow each student to be assessed in the four areas of consideration:

First semester English grade: The minimum requirement is an A- in English.
Teacher Recommendation: Teachers will look at each student?s educational dispositions to determine whether they are reflective, self-directed critical thinkers and creative problem solvers.
External assessment scores: The first semester?s MAP scores for language and reading will be considered as another piece of data.
Cornerstone Writing Assessment: The Honors exam has been replaced this year with our second semester cornerstone writing assessment. All middle school students will participate in this writing assessment, and the results will be used to inform English instruction throughout the school; however, the results of this assessment will also be the final piece in determining our honors students for next year. The cornerstone will examine each student?s ideas through comprehension, analysis/interpretation, and evaluation as well as technical writing ability as described by voice, word choice, and sentence fluency. No preparation is possible or needed for the cornerstone assessment as all students will complete it.

A teacher panel will conduct a careful review of the information outlined in the four areas for each potential Honors student. After reviewing the criteria, the panel will select the top candidates for grade 6 to be offered a place in the English Honors class for next year.

Timeline:
Dates Actions
January Cornerstone Writing Assessment will be held
February 1 Deadline for Expression of Interest slip- turned into English teacher

(School must receive this slip for a student to be considered for Honors, including both parent and student signatures)
March Student applications considered and Honors lists decided
April Letters sent to parents on Honors decisions

What is my first step to apply for English Honors?

If you have read the requirements for the Honors Program, know that your son or daughter has met the minimum grade requirement and feel that he or she is a potential candidate, then please fill in and send back the intent slip at the bottom of this letter by February 1, 2013. This slip expresses your interest; you must hand this in if your child is to be considered for the program.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at burked@ismanila.org.

Sincerely,

David Burke Simon Gillespie

Middle School English Program Leader Middle School Principal

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

English Honors Program

Expression of Interest

Full Name: _________________________________________________

Current Grade Level: _________________________________________

English Teacher: _____________________________________________

I am expressing interest for my son/daughter __________________________ (first name) to be considered for next year?s English Honors program. I have read the course rationale, student profile and schedule. I understand that applying for the program will allow my son or daughter to participate in the selection process and does not mean automatic inclusion in the Honors Program.

Parent Signature: Student Signature:

Please return to your grade level English teacher no later than February 1, 2013.

Source: http://grade6.ism-online.org/2012/11/27/english-honors-for-grade-7/

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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Banks give $22 billion under mortgage relief deal

6 hrs.

Five U.S. banks have provided about $22 billion in mortgage relief to customers under a deal to settle borrowers' accusations over foreclosures, a report by the settlement's monitor said on Monday.

The report said that Bank of America Corp, which owes the most, improved in delivering first-lien mortgage modifications to customers, trailing only JPMorgan Chase & Co through September.

Bank of America provided $889.2 million in first-lien modifications that reduced loan balances for consumers, a turnaround from August when the bank had completed none. JPMorgan Chase & Co's total was $903.1 million in modifications, the most of the five banks.

Monday's report by Joseph Smith, the former North Carolina Banking Commissioner who is serving as the settlement's monitor, said the five banks together have completed about $22 billion in customer relief, up from $10.6 billion in August.

Smith said in an interview that he was "encouraged" and that February's settlement between five banks and federal and state officials had "made significant progress." But he cautioned that no banks have met their obligations until their numbers are reviewed and credited.

Counting $4.2 billion more in active trial modifications, the five banks have provided $26.1 billion in relief through September to 300,000 borrowers, according to the report.

A coalition of national and local consumer, housing and financial reform groups, the Campaign for a Fair Settlement, said it is disappointed that the banks did not show more progress on first-lien mortgages modifications compared to August. For example, it said about 31,000 borrowers were in active trial first-lien modifications at the end of September, a slight increase from 28,047 at the time of the last report.

"There is a big gap there," said campaign representative, Dan Petegorsky.

The settlement, to resolve allegations of faulty foreclosures, requires banks to provide around $20 billion of consumer relief by taking actions such as reducing loan balances for struggling borrowers and refinancing loans for customers whose homes are worth less than the value of their mortgages.

The banks, however, have not necessarily met their obligations yet because the settlement only provides for partial credit for certain kinds of relief. The banks only receive credit for $0.45 of every dollar of a write-down through a short sale, for example.

Short sales - in which borrowers sell their homes for less than the value of the mortgage - accounted for the largest portion of the total relief, about $13.1 billion.

The banks reduced consumers' first-lien mortgage and home-equity debt by $6.3 billion through loan modifications and other actions. They also completed $1.4 billion in refinancings.

Bank of America delivered $11.8 billion in total relief to consumers, the most of any bank, with short sales accounting for $7.4 billion of its total. JPMorgan provided the second most relief - about $6 billion.

The other banks in the settlement are Wells Fargo & Co ($2.5 billion in total relief), Citigroup Inc ($1.1 billion) and Ally Financial Inc ($587.8 million).

Bank of America, which acquired troubled lender Countywide Financial in 2008, owes about $11.8 billion in consumer relief and other payments. The bank has said it will meet its obligations within the first year.

If a lender does not meet its required relief within three years, it will be required to pay a penalty of no less than 125 percent of its unmet commitment, the report said. Smith said he expects the banks will complete their requirements earlier than three years.

Banks are required to meet at least 60 percent of their obligations through modifying first and second loans, so short sales are not expected to eventually be the bulk of the consumer relief, on a credited basis.

Short sales comprise a lion's share of the relief because they can be counted as soon as a sale is completed, Smith said. Modifications aren't considered complete until after the borrower has made three payments.

The coalition's Petegrosky said the group is concerned that banks are not required to report the race and income level of the borrowers receiving modifications. He said lower-income and minority borrowers received the worst loans during the housing boom.

"Our counselors and attorneys on the ground are scratching their heads at these stats because their clients aren't getting" modifications," he said.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/big-u-s-banks-give-22-billion-under-mortgage-relief-1C7155111

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RedBankGreen ? BARELY DRESSED FOR CANCER PREVENTION

Supporters packed Teak Restaurant for the second edition of Go Naked & Check Yourself on Sunday. (Photos by Rebecca Desfosse.)

By: REBECCA DESFOSSE

Sugarush cupcakes and Sweetest Sin have done it again. Teak Restaurant was nearly busting at the seams for the second sold-out Go Naked and Check Yourself cancer fundraiser and awareness raiser Sunday night.

Waitresses passed around food, cocktails, and minicupcakes. Lingerie and underwear models, in various states of undress, sold raffle tickets. But partiers weren?t there for the models, of course: they were there to learn how to check themselves for detectable cancers of the skin, testicles and breasts.

Cancer survivor DonnaLyn Giegerich kicked the night?s serious business off with palpable energy ? urging those present to check themselves, never give up if diagnosed with cancer and be disciplined in self-care. Giegerich suffered from Leiomyosarcoma, but ?ran, biked and swam through a year of rehab, chemotherapy and radiation,? she said.

Adding some star power was Elizabeth Vashisht from VH1?s Tough Love. ?Cancer runs in my family, so anything I can do to help out, I?m there,??said Vashisht.

Red Bank resident Christina Sallemi was hoping to walk away with a family package from CLB Photography, but didn?t win. Other prizes included packages from Sweetest Sin, Fashion Forward and Emilia. Each guest received a gift bag chock full of goodies donated by local businesses.

One of the biggest hits of the night was a photo booth ? which drew a steady stream of partiers all night. As one guest put it, ?who doesn?t love a photo booth??

Sugarush c0-owner Chris Paseka told redbankgreen that his goal for the evening was to raise $10,000, ?every dime? of which was slated for donation to either cancer prevention or Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. With $5,000 from ticket sales alone and 250 people bidding on silent auctions and purchasing raffle tickets, he was hoping the event would surpass that target.

Source: http://www.redbankgreen.com/2012/11/barely-dressed-for-cancer-prevention.html

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Battle over coastal Xmas display goes to LA court

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2011 file photo, a man walks past two of the traditional Nativity scenes along Ocean Avenue at Palisades Park in Santa Monica, Calif. Avowed atheist Damon Vix last year won two-thirds of the booths in the annual, city-sponsored lottery to divvy up spaces in the live-sized Nativity display. But he only put up one thing: A sign that read "Religions are all alike - founded on fables and mythologies." Vix left the rest of his allotted spaces empty, and in so doing, upended a Christmas tradition that began in Santa Monica nearly 60 years ago. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, file)

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2011 file photo, a man walks past two of the traditional Nativity scenes along Ocean Avenue at Palisades Park in Santa Monica, Calif. Avowed atheist Damon Vix last year won two-thirds of the booths in the annual, city-sponsored lottery to divvy up spaces in the live-sized Nativity display. But he only put up one thing: A sign that read "Religions are all alike - founded on fables and mythologies." Vix left the rest of his allotted spaces empty, and in so doing, upended a Christmas tradition that began in Santa Monica nearly 60 years ago. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, file)

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2011 file photo, a woman walks past a two of the traditional displays showing the Nativity scene along Ocean Avenue at Palisades Park in Santa Monica, Calif. Avowed atheist Damon Vix last year won two-thirds of the booths in the annual, city-sponsored lottery to divvy up spaces in the live-sized Nativity display. But he only put up one thing: A sign that read "Religions are all alike - founded on fables and mythologies." Vix left the rest of his allotted spaces empty, and in so doing, upended a Christmas tradition that began in Santa Monica nearly 60 years ago. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, file)

This Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012 photo shows avowed atheist Damon Vix in his home in Burbank, Calif. Vix last year won two-thirds of the booths in the annual, city-sponsored lottery to divvy up spaces in a live-sized Nativity display in Palisades Park in Santa Monica, Calif. But he only put up one thing: A sign that read "Religions are all alike - founded on fables and mythologies." Vix left the rest of his allotted spaces empty, and in so doing, upended a Christmas tradition that began in Santa Monica nearly 60 years ago. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

This Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012 photo shows avowed atheist Damon Vix in his home in Burbank, Calif. Vix last year won two-thirds of the booths in the annual, city-sponsored lottery to divvy up spaces in a live-sized Nativity display in Palisades Park in Santa Monica, Calif. But he only put up one thing: A sign that read "Religions are all alike - founded on fables and mythologies." Vix left the rest of his allotted spaces empty, and in so doing, upended a Christmas tradition that began in Santa Monica nearly 60 years ago. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

This Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012 photo shows avowed atheist Damon Vix in his home in Burbank, Calif. Vix last year won two-thirds of the booths in the annual, city-sponsored lottery to divvy up spaces in a live-sized Nativity display in Palisades Park in Santa Monica, Calif. But he only put up one thing: A sign that read "Religions are all alike - founded on fables and mythologies." Vix left the rest of his allotted spaces empty, and in so doing, upended a Christmas tradition that began in Santa Monica nearly 60 years ago. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

(AP) ? Damon Vix didn't have to go to court to push Christmas out of the city of Santa Monica. He just joined the festivities.

The atheist's anti-God message alongside a life-sized nativity display in a park overlooking the beach ignited a debate that burned brighter than any Christmas candle.

Santa Monica officials snuffed the city's holiday tradition this year rather than referee the religious rumble, prompting churches that have set up a 14-scene Christian diorama for decades to sue over freedom of speech violations. Their attorney will ask a federal judge Monday to resurrect the depiction of Jesus' birth, while the city aims to eject the case.

"It's a sad, sad commentary on the attitudes of the day that a nearly 60-year-old Christmas tradition is now having to hunt for a home, something like our savior had to hunt for a place to be born because the world was not interested," said Hunter Jameson, head of the nonprofit Santa Monica Nativity Scene Committee that is suing.

Missing from the courtroom drama will be Vix and his fellow atheists, who are not parties to the case. Their role outside court highlights a tactical shift as atheists evolve into a vocal minority eager to get their non-beliefs into the public square as never before.

National atheist groups earlier this year took out full-page newspaper ads and hundreds of TV spots in response to the Catholic bishops' activism around women's health care issues and are gearing up to battle for their own space alongside public Christmas displays in small towns across America this season.

"In recent years, the tactic of many in the atheist community has been, if you can't beat them, join them," said Charles Haynes, a senior scholar at the First Amendment Center and director of the Newseum's Religious Freedom Education Project in Washington. "If these church groups insist that these public spaces are going to be dominated by a Christian message, we'll just get in the game ? and that changes everything."

In the past, atheists primarily fought to uphold the separation of church and state through the courts. The change underscores the conviction held by many nonbelievers that their views are gaining a foothold, especially among young adults.

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life released a study last month that found 20 percent of Americans say they have no religious affiliation, an increase from 15 percent in the last five years. Atheists took heart from the report, although Pew researchers stressed that the category also encompassed majorities of people who said they believed in God but had no ties with organized religion and people who consider themselves "spiritual" but not "religious."

"We're at the bottom of the totem pole socially, but we have muscle and we're flexing it," said Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation. "Ignore our numbers at your peril."

The trouble in Santa Monica began three years ago, when Vix applied for and was granted a booth in Palisades Park alongside the story of Jesus Christ's birth, from Mary's visit from the Angel Gabriel to the traditional cr?che.

Vix hung a simple sign that quoted Thomas Jefferson: "Religions are all alike -- founded on fables and mythologies." The other side read "Happy Solstice." He repeated the display the following year but then upped the stakes significantly.

In 2011, Vix recruited 10 others to inundate the city with applications for tongue-in-cheek displays such as a homage to the "Pastafarian religion," which would include an artistic representation of the great Flying Spaghetti Monster.

The secular coalition won 18 of 21 spaces. The two others went to the traditional Christmas displays and one to a Hanukkah display.

The atheists used half their spaces, displaying signs such as one that showed pictures of Poseidon, Jesus, Santa Claus and the devil and said: "37 million Americans know myths when they see them. What myths do you see?"

Most of the signs were vandalized and in the ensuing uproar, the city effectively ended a tradition that began in 1953 and earned Santa Monica one of its nicknames, the City of the Christmas Story.

The Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee argues in its lawsuit that atheists have the right to protest, but that freedom doesn't trump the Christians' right to free speech.

"If they want to hold an opposing viewpoint about the celebration of Christmas, they're free to do that ? but they can't interfere with our right to engage in religious speech in a traditional public forum," said William Becker, attorney for the committee. "Our goal is to preserve the tradition in Santa Monica and to keep Christmas alive."

The city doesn't prohibit churches from caroling in the park, handing out literature or even staging a play about the birth of Jesus and churches can always set up a nativity on private land, Deputy City Attorney Jeanette Schachtner said in an email.

The decision to ban the displays also saves the city, which had administered the cumbersome lottery process used to award booths, both time and money while preserving the park's aesthetics, she said.

For his part, Vix is surprised ? and slightly amused ? at the legal battle spawned by his solitary act but doesn't plan anything further.

"That was such a unique and blatant example of the violation of the First Amendment that I felt I had to act," said the 44-year-old set builder. "If I had another goal, it would be to remove the 'under God' phrase from the Pledge of Allegiance ? but that's a little too big for me to take on for right now."

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and religion, but also states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." That has been interpreted by courts as providing for separation of church and state, barring government bodies from promoting, endorsing or funding religion or religious institutions.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-11-19-Nativity%20Scene-Atheists/id-8f40a2287f134e2a9c545aa8fc3a02a0

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ORA Ultimate Sound: For The iPad Owner Who Can?t Live Without 8 Speakers Built Into Their Case

234229fde3ce9fa831f3edd2d6f0fdfd_largeWe've seen designers and casemakers attempt to bring better sound quality to the iPad ? the Zooka wireless speaker bar comes to mind, as does the Sound Cover case. But we have yet to hear about a company adding eight speakers to the iPad in the form of an extending case. Until now. Meet the ORA Ultimate Sound System for iPad.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Bb1i-YyfzGc/

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EU ministers unlikely to fully recognize Syrian opposition

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU foreign ministers will on Monday thrash out positions on increasingly thorny problems in the Middle East, but the bloc will likely not follow France in giving full recognition to the new Syrian opposition, diplomats said.

The European Union has long called for unification of the fractious movement trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad, amid a conflict that has killed an estimated 38,000 people.

Foreign ministers will also discuss the exchange of attacks over the past week between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip. But there is always a range of views within the European Union on Israel, diplomats said.

Israel has been giving off signs of a possible ground invasion of the Hamas-run enclave as the next stage in its air and sea offensive, which it says is aimed at stopping Palestinian rocket fire.

U.S. President Barack Obama said that while Israel had a right to defend itself, it would be "preferable" to avoid an Israeli ground invasion.

In one diplomatic development in the Syrian conflict, France last week became the first European power to recognize the Syrian National Coalition as the sole representative of the Syrian people, and the French foreign minister later called for discussion of the possibility of supplying arms to the rebels.

But other Western states are holding back, uneasy over the presence of radical Islamists among the rebels and accusations by U.N. investigators of war crimes committed by rebel fighters.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Friday that Britain needed first to know more about the group's plans.

A diplomat from another EU country said a unified opposition was an important political step, but cautioned: "We are going to assess the situation after the opposition has unified."

The bloc's 27 foreign ministers would try to reach conclusions that encourage the new coalition but stop short of giving it full recognition, another diplomat said.

However, the current EU arms embargo on Syria would not yet be lifted to help the opposition, diplomats said.

The new developments in the Middle East are a test for the EU foreign policy, which has run relatively smoothly when states have had time to hammer out common positions - ratcheting up sanctions against Iran and Syria this past year, for example.

But the European Union has struggled in the past to react quickly to breaking events, such as when Germany opposed military action during the popular uprising in Libya in 2011.

The EU foreign ministers will join defence ministers to discuss a plan to help train Malian forces to fight Islamists who have taken over the north of the country.

The European Union will likely send 200 troops to Mali to help training, plus security personnel to protect them, but Brussels has ruled out a combat role.

The ministers will also address Iran's nuclear program, after a U.N. report said Tehran was set to sharply expand its uranium enrichment in an underground plant.

The report showed that Iran's stockpile of its most sensitive nuclear material was getting closer to an amount that could be sufficient for a nuclear weapon.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is scheduled to host a meeting of representatives of six powers in Brussels on Wednesday, as part of efforts to dissuade Iran from its nuclear program.

(Additional reporting by Angelika Stricker; Editing by Stephen Powell)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/eu-ministers-unlikely-fully-recognize-syrian-opposition-003042426.html

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