Friday, 31 August 2012

PFT: Texans fan dies in fall at Reliant Stadium

nfl_a_raymond_james_b1_576AP

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to struggle to sell tickets, and it?s gotten so bad that it?s time to address the question of whether the market still merits having an NFL franchise.

With their regular-season home opener only nine days away, the Buccaneers remain 9,000 short of the goal for lifting the local blackout.

The gap, reported by Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, must be closed within 72 hours of kickoff, or the game won?t be televised in the team?s home market.

The failure to sell enough tickets at the stadium comes despite a string of efforts to sell all non-premium seats, from taking full advantage of the new league rule that allows teams to cut their ?manifest? to 85 percent, to uncharacteristically spending million on free agents like Vincent Jackson, Carl Nicks, and Eric Wright, to hiring a new coach, to cutting the prices on parking and concessions for the home opener, to honoring Ronde Barber.

By the way, it?s the first freaking game of the year.? And Cam Newton is coming to town.? Division rival.? The team that once claimed Chris Simms? spleen.

It was supposed to be a slam dunk for Week One.? And still the team is 9,000 tickets short.

Look, we like Tampa.? The city did a great job hosting the Super Bowl.? But regardless of the reason ? local economy, apathy, whatever ? if fans continue to fail to show up for the games, at some point the team needs to be moved to a place where the fans have the money, the time, and the inclination to attend games.

The Glazers get blamed for plenty of things.? They bear no blame here.? The Glazers have tried to improve the team and to make it more attractive to attend games.? Eventually, the people need to respond.

There?s no indication that the Glazers are looking to move the team.? Given the manner in which the community continues to respond to the franchise, they?d be crazy if they weren?t exploring their options.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/31/texans-fan-dies-in-fall-at-reliant-stadium/related/

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SEAL: Bin Laden book is not a political statement

"No Easy Day," written by a former Navy SEAL who helped take down Osama bin Laden, claims the al-Qaida leader did not defend himself during the raid. The book will become available on Sept. 4, earlier than the anticipated Sept. 11 release date. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.

By Jeff Black, NBC News

A Navy SEAL who took part in the raid on Osama bin Laden?s compound and witnessed the killing of the 9/11 mastermind says a book he wrote about the mission is not a political statement.

Responding to criticism that the book was intended to influence the presidential election, the former SEAL told CBS News that he wrote it to honor victims of the 9/11 terror attacks and the hundreds of people who made the raid a success.


The book, entitled ?No Easy Day,? had been scheduled for release on Sept. 11 to commemorate the attack on the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon in 2001, but it instead will be made available on Sept. 4. The book is already No. 1 in sales on Amazon.com.

Al-Qaida linked websites threaten ex-Navy SEAL turned author

CBS News said Mark Owen ? a fake name meant to hide his identity???was disguised for the "60 Minutes" interview as a security measure. His voice was also altered.

"He has been professionally made up by a professional makeup artist to look completely different than his true self," Kevin Tedesco, executive director of communications of "60 Minutes," told NBC News on Thursday. "He was fully comfortable to go on camera without it, but we used makeup."?

Some media outlets learned Owen?s real name and published it, sending him into hiding.

?You know, if these?crazies on either side of the aisle want to make it political, shame on them,? Owen told CBS. ?This is a book about September 11th, and it needs to rest on September 11th. Not be brought into the political arena, because this???this has nothing to do with politics.

An excerpt of Scott Pelley's interview for "60 Minutes" was posted on the CBS News website on Thursday.

Watch the most-viewed videos on NBCNews.com

In the interview, Owen emphasizes that hundreds of Americans participated in the advance work that led to the raid on the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. That included collecting intelligence, detailed planning and even building a full-sized replica of the compound for training.?

?We just took care of the last 40 minutes,? Owen said.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/30/13570966-ex-navy-seal-book-on-bin-laden-raid-about-911-not-politics?lite

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Nearly 18 percent of Kentuckians lack health insurance | Economics

In 2010, nearly 641,000 or 17.5 percent of Kentuckians under the age of 65 did not have health insurance, according to estimates released?today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

At 17.5 percent, the rate of uninsured residents in the state was higher than in all but 18 states. Massachusetts had the lowest rate of uninsured at 5.2 percent; Texas was highest at 26.3 percent.

Minorities and the poor were more likely to be uninsured, according to the Census Bureau estimates.

More than 28 percent of residents under 65 in families that made less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level lacked health insurance. ??For residents under 65 in families that made less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level the percentage lacking health insurance jumped to 30 percent.

The uninsured rate among whites was 16.5 percent compared to 20.1 percent for blacks and 37.4 percent for Hispanics.?

The uninsured rate among persons under 19 years of age was only 6.7 percent compared to 21.8 percent for persons 18 to 64 years of age.?

Oldham County had the lowest percentage of uninsured residents, at 10.2 percent.? The highest estimated uninsured rate was in Casey County, at 24.2 percent followed by Monroe County (23.8 percent); Todd County (23.5 percent); and Adair and Cumberland counties each with an uninsured rate of 23 percent.

With more than 101,000 uninsured residents, Jefferson County had the largest number of uninsured followed by Fayette County with 46,700 and Kenton County with 21,300 uninsured.?

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Posted in: Census, Demographics, Health care

Source: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/economics/2012/08/29/nearly-18-percent-of-kentuckians-lack-health-insurance/

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Thursday, 30 August 2012

Washington County food drive deemed a success

HILLSBORO, Ore. -- The second annual Washington County Farmer?s Market summer food drive was an unquestionable success, officials said.

Benefiting the Tualatin Valley Gleaners, this supplemental food program is designed to provide food, aid and other assistance to the low income and disabled individuals in the Tualatin Valley area.

Eleven different Washington County Farmer?s Market locations participated, and the donations amounted to $1051 in cash and tokens. The total amount of food gathered from all of the Washington County Farmer?s Markets was 3,932 pounds.

In addition to canned items and fresh produce bought from the market vendors, donations included such items as:

  • food for pets
  • personal supplies (deodorant, diapers, shampoo)
  • condiments (mayo, ketchup, soy sauce, syrup)
  • protein foods (canned tuna, chicken and other meats)

When: From 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturdays (through Nov. 17) and from 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays (through Aug. 29)

Where: SW Hall Boulevard, between Third and Fifth Streets in Beaverton. Find a map and directions.
Info: Call 503-643-5345 for details.

Shopping at the market means

  • Enjoying whole foods that are at their peak of flavor
  • Enjoying foods that have not been shipped across the country burning precious fossil fuels
  • Buying plants that were raised and nurtured by the people who sell them
  • Supporting artisans who produce products that are made with attention to craft and quality
  • Boosting our local economy by supporting Northwest producers
    ?

Source: http://beaverton.katu.com/news/community-spirit/491336-washington-county-food-drive-deemed-success

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Giuliana and Bill Rancic welcome a baby boy

By Randee Dawn, TODAY contributor

Bill Rancic announced the birth of his and Giuliana Rancic's first child, Edward Duke, early Thursday morning.?

"The 'Duke' has landed!" tweeted Bill. "Edward Duke Rancic was welcomed into the world last night at 7lbs 4oz. G & I feel blessed beyond words...We did it!"

E! reported that the four-hour labor went smoothly, and that both Bill and Giuliana were in the delivery room for the birth?via a gestational surrogate hired by the Rancics. Bill cut the umbilical cord, and Giuliana was the first to hold the baby, then passed him over to her husband. They both fed little Edward, and told E! that the child was doing well and already had been bathed for the first time.?

"Bill and I are blessed beyond words to welcome Edward into our lives," Giuliana told E! "Thank you so much to everyone who supported us along the way. We are so in love with the little guy already!"

It was a long road for the Rancics, who shared their journey on TODAY in multiple appearances. Last year, they shared Giuliana's fight with infertility and the breast cancer that was discovered while she was in treatment, then returned in April to explain how they would use a gestational surrogate to bring their child into the world.

Giuliana was true to her word, promising back in June that she wouldn't give their upcoming baby boy any "Hollywood-type, weird name that people can't pronounce."

As for whether little Ed Duke will appear on their Style network reality show "Giuliana & Bill," fans will just have to wait and see.?"We've thought about that," she told E! in June. "It's definitely come up in conversation, and it's this sort of thing where I think we just need to have the baby first and then figure out is this going to work or not."

Congrats to the new parents!

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Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2012/08/30/13566044-giuliana-and-bill-rancics-baby-edward-duke-arrives?lite

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Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Website Seo | Deac au

Internet search engine marketing might be the process whereby websites undergo redevelopment to possess correct and finest communication of keyword phrases to appear google. You will find essentially two factors that could determine a website?s rank browsing search engines like google like yahoo ? original completely unique content with pertinent keyword phrases in the human body and link recognition. Other important elements may be the architecture within the site, visibility of content, underlying codes and exactly how natural the site seems to search engines like google like yahoo.

Internet search engine marketing is really Online marketing. Companies involved in website seo are focused on boost the website traffic and position in the client?s website. They normally use publicity and varied marketing strategies to get this done objective.

Techniques found in Internet search engine marketing contain the chance to improve both quantity superiority website site visitors. The final outcome result that?s expected by any online technique is always to achieve the client complete a project preferred in the site owner for example signing up or purchasing an item. Techniques used are frequently categorized either as White-colored Hat Internet search engine marketing or Black Hat Internet search engine marketing.

White-colored Hat Internet search engine marketing uses techniques approved by search engines like google like yahoo when it comes to its acceptability. It?s devoted to making content for the user and making it simpler accessible. Most site proprietors make critical mistakes in creating or creating websites that inadvertently steer clear of the site itself.

The invention and correction from the mistakes including machine-unreadable menus, broken links, temporary redirects and poor navigation structure would be the primary work of White-colored Hat Internet search engine marketing. Some techniques which may be considered proper by search engines like yahoo are employing unique and relevant title to title each page site editing to change vague words with specific terminologies including relevance about them the increase of unique user produced content and participation in an exceedingly web ring and various quality websites, yet others. Basically, White-colored Hat Internet search engine marketing aims to satisfy its objective through quality.

Black Hat Internet search engine marketing uses ways to enhance rankings which are not approved by search engines like google like yahoo. Generally, including techniques which are deceitful and unrelated to delivering quality prepared to site website site visitors. Some of the most typical Black Hat Search engine optimization techniques are spamdexing and cloaking.

Website SEO

Spamdexing would be the promotion of irrelevant pages through deceitful techniques together with the abuse of search information. It relates to getting websites more exposure compared to what they deserve for working with specific keyword phrases leading to unsatisfactory search engine results. Cloaking might be the thought of serving one version using the page to look results bots as well as the other version to human website site visitors. They when discovered, will often be punished by cut in the website rankings or getting rid of their records altogether.

The task in the Internet search engine marketing Company

The technical staff using the Search engine optimization company begins by checking the present status out of your how do people determine once the optimisation process will not encounter any problems of function. The optimizer inside mentioned staff uses manual searches and custom research software to obtain data and make up a group of abdominal muscles highly trafficked and particular words within the specific industry. Choosing a the very best keyword phrases is completed in consultation while using the client.

When some keyword phrases continues to be created, their optin list emerges for that content authors who shall manage making unique contents if needed. The authors make sure that the copy utilizes the primary element phrases using the right densities and marketing type of this website. Consultation in regards to the posts are carried out in front of the efforts are started in order that they will not compromise the essence within the website.

Copy authors use optimisation engineers to integrate the data with the website. Specialists will most likely be trying to redevelop the website for optimal communication of key phrases and phrases to locate search engines like google like yahoo. All facets within the website will probably be modified to best match the search formula. Link development is going to be also carried out like a fundamental a part of google optimisation services.

Upon in conclusion within the optimisation process, the website will most likely be published to everybody major search engines like yahoo and sites for example Yahoo! and Google. Sites that are fee-based can be put in to the distribution to boost link recognition. Just in case an internet site has indexing issues, Search engine optimization service companies shall create and submit sitemaps for the search engines? programs. The ranking report out of your website will probably be done in front of the optimisation process each thirty days after optimisation is done. It will help the customer company to uncover the progress out of your website.

Search engine optimization Service Companies in Low Wage Nations

Selecting the website seo firm don?t have to be rather difficult if the organization starts by looking for plans that focuses alone specific needs. The accomplishments associated with a Search engine optimization project will require an extensive and personalized approach with some other site?s unique characteristics. There should be an equilibrium including the website?s functionality and style, the searching behavior of target audiences together with the information utilized by search engines like yahoo. A templated proposal it will not possess the chance to go over all facets out of your how do people really ensure it is search friendly.

Search engine optimization service companies acquire own different packages, services and techniques. You?ll uncover certain to be questions about paid out-in inclusion programs, marketing concepts and getting content. These issues should be resolved just before into any final agreement.

Most offshore Internet search engine marketing service companies of under developed nations works together with Search engine optimization companies of progressive nations similar to the USA and people in Europe too as with the Asian regions to provide acceptable results quickly. Online marketing, organic website seo, web page design, web application and development have become their strong points. Most exhibit the readiness to know, appreciate and anticipate certain requirements of the website?s consumer.

To concretize the advantages of outsourcing to low wage nations, India?s situation might be reported. To begin with, India has a reliable satellite and submarine communication links that facilitate good broadband connectivity while using the relaxation worldwide. It exports software having a a lot more than 95 nations also it?s quality standards meet worldwide approval. The nation includes a large pool laptop or computer literate and British speaking professionals with well-known it capabilities. Probably the most striking advantage will get this standard of professionalism for lower personnel costs in comparison which get an identical services from Search engine optimization companies in developed nations. While other Internet search engine marketing companies from under developed nations for example Venezuela, Bulgaria and Latin america haven?t yet arrived at exactly the same status as India, every one has demonstrated its particular talents which can make them promising venues for outsourcing.

Over time remains mentioned, website seo boils lower which are more fundamental factor ? real content. An Search engine optimization provider discussion the objectives within the site owner would be the the one which would be the perfect partner. What size an internet site is secondary right selection of an Search engine optimization company who shares exactly the same vision also it?s within the business?s budget. They claim quality includes a cost. For quality offshore outsourcing, low wage nations provide quality in the cheaper.

Visit Search engine optimization Norwegian Seo service for additional info on the effectiveness of Search engine optimization

Source: http://deac-au.org/08/29/website-seo/

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Huffington Post Now Has Its Own ?Labs? Site For Online News Experiments

huffpost-labs-logoNews publishers are becoming tech companies, right down to the Google Labs style experimental sites: The New York Times Company Research & Development Lab, The Globe Lab, WapPo Labs... And now there's HuffPost Labs, which will unveil its first project today: Highlights, a collection of the most popular sentences from articles and blog posts across the Huffington Post empire.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Fkr8XOwo5iU/

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Do You Make These Mistakes In Marketing Your Small Business?

Posted on 29. Aug, 2012 by Brian Halligan in Blog, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing

HEART 2We started this company because we saw an opportunity to help businesses break away from the traditional marketing playbook and attract better quality leads through inbound marketing. In the first five years of HubSpot, we did just that. Our software has helped 7,000+ businesses generate more than 12 million leads for their companies. We helped them do it in a way that didn?t cost them a fortune. We helped them do it in a way that added valuable content to the space. And we couldn?t be prouder of the results they?ve achieved.?

In that time, the world of online marketing has grown increasingly complex. When we started HubSpot, there were four or five tools that most companies used to manage their online marketing. Even then, we thought that was a lot. Today, we talk to some companies who are using twice that amount ? just to communicate with their prospects and customers. And the truth is, they aren?t getting any closer to the kind of relevant and personalized communication leads and customers need.

So now, there is another opportunity: a chance to help marketers in companies of every size and industry reduce the noise that has made marketing increasingly more fragmented, and get back to the strategy and art that makes marketing people can truly love.

Today, I am really happy to introduce you to HubSpot 3.?

An End to Isolated Tools and Fragmented Marketing

Marketers have grown far too accustomed to CSV files. We spend way too much time importing, exporting, and patching together isolated sets of data just to get a clear view of our marketing. HubSpot 3 was built to be the antidote to all of those extra steps and the fragmented customer experience they create.

It all starts with the single, centralized marketing database, your most important marketing asset. The database, which we call Contacts, gives you a complete history of every interaction you?ve had with your leads and customers across channels. Every single HubSpot tool is unified and made more powerful by Contacts. Your emails become smarter, your landing pages more dynamic, and your social media shares more integrated into the rest of your marketing strategy. Contacts is your all-in-one marketing control center.

Learn all about the new:

  • Contacts and the Contact Timeline: The central brain of your marketing, Contacts keeps track of what matters to your leads and customers and how engaged they?ve been with your company.
  • Smart Lists and Segmentation: Smart Lists are contact lists based on a set of criteria; they automatically grow and update over time.

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The Right Content to the Right Person at the Right Time

At the end of the day, inbound marketing is about relevancy. You earn new leads because you publish quality content that is relevant enough for someone to download and read. But what happens after they convert? For a lot of marketers, inbound methods stop here ? and they shouldn?t. The way to keep leads engaged and turn them into happy customers is to extend that relevant experience throughout their decision-making process.

Here?s how it works in HubSpot 3: A website visitor converts into a lead because they found a piece of content useful. From that moment forward, HubSpot Contacts starts building an understanding of what interests the lead has based on each interaction he or she has with your company. Each one of those interactions informs and shapes all future communications to that specific lead. What?s more, because Contacts stores the lead?s history with your company, it can approximate where the lead is in their decision-making process to help you tailor content that fits that stage of consideration. Because all of your communication tools are in HubSpot, everything from emails to CTAs, forms, and images on your site take on the ability to adapt to be more relevant to each individual contact.

Learn all about the new:

  • Smart CTAs: Powered by data from Contacts, Smart CTAs enable you to create images and calls-to-action for your website or emails that dynamically adapt to reflect the viewer?s interests, industry, lifecycle stage, or other areas of segmentation.
  • Smart Fields: Smart fields are a long-awaited answer to anyone who is sick and tired of filling out yet another website form with the same information. As you collect more information about your leads, Smart Forms remove any field that has been completed in the past, creating shorter and shorter forms for your leads without sacrificing valuable information.
  • Email: Target specific segments, and personalize your sender, subject, and message body content with any field or custom field from your contact profile.
  • Workflows: Workflows enable you to trigger targeted communications based on a lead?s behavior. A divergence from traditional marketing automation, however, Workflows also allow you to update details in a lead?s profile based on activity across channels, including social media.

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An Uncompromised View Into Your Entire Strategy

HubSpot has always believed in analytics that run across channels and give you a complete view of your marketing. In HubSpot 3, not only are lead and customer data shared across all of your tools, but we?ve also actually physically tied views from each of the tools into the others, so you can see how each channel is influencing others.

Learn all about the new:

  • Social Contacts: See which of your leads clicked on something you shared in social media, and quickly add them to a list to nurture. In the Contact profile, see how active each lead has been in social media and how recently they?ve engaged with you.
  • Landing Pages: Run an entire campaign from one view. Create, test and promote landing pages, then see which channels (email, social, search, etc.) are bringing leads to it.

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A Marketing Platform and Community That Makes 1+1=3

We?re in this for more than just software. We?re in it for the love of marketing. It?s that love that?s behind all of the free tools and ongoing training we provide, which we?ve consolidated and re-launched as HubSpot Academy. And it?s the shared passion for good marketing that unites our ever-expanding marketplace?of more than 60 add-on apps and 100+ top-notch service providers. The combination of the marketplace and world-class coaching adds volumes to HubSpot 3.?

Oh, and did I mention? A way to take this all on the road.

iphone app

To make HubSpot 3 portable, HubSpot is releasing its first-ever mobile app. The iPhone app ? which can be found in Apple?s App Store ? gives you instant access to your marketing analytics, the award-winning Marketing Grader app, and every lead and customer?s contact record with your company. You can even get push notifications when new leads come in, which helps you follow up immediately.

Learn more about the mobile app, or download it for free from the App Store.

This morning at Inbound 2012, I announced HubSpot 3 for the first time. I am incredibly proud of the work that went into it, and I?m excited for what it will open up for marketers everywhere. I firmly believe that the methodology and platform fueling HubSpot enables our users to create marketing that people will truly love ? an end goal that makes all of us HubSpotters smile.

If you?re a customer of ours, you can learn more about migrating to HubSpot 3 within your individual accounts. New customers can purchase the newly released platform at current HubSpot prices until September 1, when prices are slated to increase.

An explanation of the full release can also be found at www.hubspot.com/3.



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Make sure you pick up your copy of our FREE Business Acceleration Report! Simply enter your info on the form to the right and I'll send it right out! -->> Thanks for visiting!

Tags: Small Business Internet Marketing

Source: http://www.frontlinemarketingsystems.com/blog/small-business-marketing/announcing-hubspot-3-the-future-of-marketing-software/

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Tuesday, 28 August 2012

New jury instructions explicit: No Facebook

7 hrs.

While judges have always admonished jurors not to?blab during a trial and deliberations, some people can't keep their mouths shut. The growth of social media like?Facebook and?Twitter have proven?too tempting for some jurors, ?so a new set of guidelines for jurors in federal cases aims?to make it crystal clear: Stay off the stuff.

In a new set of?jury instructions?issued by a Federal Judicial Conference committee, jurors will be told by the judge:

I know that many of you use cell phones, BlackBerrys, the Internet and other tools of technology. You also must not talk to anyone at any time about this case or use these tools to communicate electronically with anyone about the case. This includes your family and friends. You may not communicate with anyone about the case on your cell phone, through e-mail, BlackBerry, iPhone, text messaging, or on Twitter, through any blog or website, including Facebook, Google+, My Space, LinkedIn, or YouTube. You may not use any similar technology of social media, even if I have not specifically mentioned it here.

And, the judge will add: ?"I expect you will inform me as soon as you become aware of another juror?s violation of these instructions."

That's how many?judges have learned?about?such missteps. The conference surveyed judges last fall about jurors' use of social media during trials and deliberations, and found that when "social media use was detected, it was most likely to be reported by a fellow juror."

"This social media use most often took the form of posts about the progress of the case or the juror?s service in general," according to the?study. "There were several instances of jurors attempting to contact participants in the case via social media.

Indeed. In Florida earlier this year, a 29-year-old juror who?sent a Facebook message to a defendant during a trial, then bragged on the social network about being kicked off the jury, is now himself in hot water ? and in jail for contempt of court. In Britain last year, a 40-year-old juror admitted she used Facebook to?contact?the defendant in a case because she saw "considerable parallels" between their lives.

U.S. District Court Judge Julie A. Robinson, chairwoman of the Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Case Management, which issued the new guidelines, said in a statement?that while "the overwhelming majority of judges take steps to warn jurors not to use social media during trial," the judges who were surveyed said that "additional steps should be taken."

"The judges recommended that jurors frequently be reminded about the prohibition on social media before the trial, at the close of a case, at the end of each day before jurors return home, and other times, as appropriate. Jurors should be told why refraining from use of social media promotes a fair trial. Finally, jurors should know the consequences of violations during trial, such as mistrial and wasted time. Those recommendations are now part of the guidelines."

? Via Network?World

Check out Technolog, Gadgetbox, Digital Life and In-Game on?Facebook,?and on?Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/new-federal-jury-instructions-explicit-no-facebook-no-twitter-966195

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Cooled coal emissions would clean air and lower health and climate-change costs

Cooled coal emissions would clean air and lower health and climate-change costs [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 27-Aug-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Jim Barlow
jebarlow@uoregon.edu
541-346-3481
University of Oregon

EUGENE, Ore. -- (Aug. 27, 2012) -- Refrigerating coal-plant emissions would reduce levels of dangerous chemicals that pour into the air -- including carbon dioxide by more than 90 percent -- at a cost of 25 percent efficiency, according to a simple math-driven formula designed by a team of University of Oregon physicists.

The computations for such a system, prepared on an electronic spreadsheet, appeared in Physical Review E, a journal of the American Physical Society.

In a separate, unpublished and preliminary economic analysis, the scientists argue that the "energy penalty" would raise electricity costs by about a quarter but also reap huge societal benefits through subsequent reductions of health-care and climate-change costs associated with burning coal. An energy penalty is the reduction of electricity available for sale to consumers if plants used the same amounts of coal to maintain electrical output while using a cryogenic cleanup.

"The cryogenic treatment of flue gasses from pulverized coal plant is possible, and I think affordable, especially with respect to the total societal costs of burning coal," said UO physicist Russell J. Donnelly, whose research team was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy for the work detailed in the published journal article.

"In the U.S., we have about 1,400 electric-generating unit powered by coal, operated at about 600 power plants," Donnelly said. That energy, he added, is sold at about 5.6 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to a 2006 Congressional Budget Office estimate. "The estimated health costs of burning coal in the U.S. are in the range of $150 billion to $380 billion, including 18,000-46,000 premature deaths, 540,000 asthma attacks, 13,000 emergency room visits and two million missed work or school days each year."

In their separate economic analysis, Donnelly and UO research assistant Robert E. Hershberger, also a co-author on the journal paper, estimate that implementing large-scale cryogenic systems into coal-fired plants would reduce overall costs to society by 38 percent through the sharp reduction of associated health-care and climate-change costs. Not in the equation, Donnelly said, are the front-end health-care costs involved in coal extraction through mining.

The cryogenic concept is not new. Donnelly experimented briefly in the 1960s with a paper mill in Springfield, Ore., to successfully remove odor-causing gasses filling the area around the plant using cryogenics. Subsequently the National Science Foundation funded a major study to capture sulfur dioxide emissions -- a contributor to acid rain -- from coal burning plants. The grant included a detailed engineering study by the Bechtel Corp. of San Francisco.

The Bechtel study showed that the cryogenic process would work very well, but noted that large quantities of carbon dioxide also would be condensed, a consequence that raised no concerns in 1978. "Today we recognize that carbon dioxide emissions are a leading contributor to climate-warming factors attributed to humans," Donnelly said.

Out came his previously published work on this concept, followed by a rigorous two-year project to recheck and update his thermodynamic calculations and compose "a spreadsheet-accessible" formula for potential use by industry. His earlier work on the cryogenic treatment of coal-plant emissions and natural gas sources had sparked widespread interest internationally.

While the required cooling machinery would be large -- potentially the size of a football stadium -- the cost for construction or retrofitting likely would not be dramatically larger than present systems that include scrubbers, which would no longer be necessary, Donnelly said. The new journal article does not address construction costs or the disposal of the captured pollutants, the latter of which would be dependent on engineering and perhaps geological considerations.

According to the Physical Review E paper, carbon dioxide would be captured in its solid phase, then warmed and compressed into a gas that could be moved by pipeline at near ambient temperatures to dedicated storage facilities that could be hundreds of miles away. Other chemicals such as sulfur dioxide, some nitrogen oxides and mercury also would be condensed and safely removed from the exhaust stream of the plants.

Last December the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued new mercury and air toxic standards (MATS), calling for the trapping of 41 percent of sulfur dioxide and 90 percent of mercury emissions. A cryogenic system would do better based on the conservatively produced computations by Donnelly's team -- capturing at least 98 percent of sulfur dioxide, virtually 100 percent of mercury and, in addition, 90 percent of carbon dioxide.

"This forward-thinking formula and the preliminary analysis by these researchers offer some exciting possibilities for the electric power industry that could ultimately benefit human health and the environment," said Kimberly Andrews Espy, UO vice president for research and innovation. "Scientists at the University of Oregon are continuing to develop new ideas and advanced materials to foster a sustainable future for our planet and its people."

###

Co-authors with Donnelly and Hershberger on the journal article were: Charles E. Swanson, who earned his doctorate in physics from the UO and served as postdoctoral researcher under Donnelly; John W. Elzey, a former research associate in Donnelly's Cryogenic Helium Turbulence Lab and now a scientist at GoNano Technologies in Moscow, Idaho; and John Pfotenhauer, who earned his doctorate at the UO and now is in the mechanical engineering department at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

About the University of Oregon

The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.

Source: Russell J. Donnelly, professor of physics, 541-346-4226, rjd@uoregon.edu

Links:

Donnelly faculty page: http://physics.uoregon.edu/faculty/donnelly.html

UO physics: http://physics.uoregon.edu/index.html

Follow UO Science on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UniversityOfOregonScience

Note: The University of Oregon is equipped with an on-campus television studio with satellite uplink capacity, and a radio studio with an ISDN phone line for broadcast-quality radio interviews. Call the Media Contact above to begin the process.



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Cooled coal emissions would clean air and lower health and climate-change costs [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 27-Aug-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Jim Barlow
jebarlow@uoregon.edu
541-346-3481
University of Oregon

EUGENE, Ore. -- (Aug. 27, 2012) -- Refrigerating coal-plant emissions would reduce levels of dangerous chemicals that pour into the air -- including carbon dioxide by more than 90 percent -- at a cost of 25 percent efficiency, according to a simple math-driven formula designed by a team of University of Oregon physicists.

The computations for such a system, prepared on an electronic spreadsheet, appeared in Physical Review E, a journal of the American Physical Society.

In a separate, unpublished and preliminary economic analysis, the scientists argue that the "energy penalty" would raise electricity costs by about a quarter but also reap huge societal benefits through subsequent reductions of health-care and climate-change costs associated with burning coal. An energy penalty is the reduction of electricity available for sale to consumers if plants used the same amounts of coal to maintain electrical output while using a cryogenic cleanup.

"The cryogenic treatment of flue gasses from pulverized coal plant is possible, and I think affordable, especially with respect to the total societal costs of burning coal," said UO physicist Russell J. Donnelly, whose research team was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy for the work detailed in the published journal article.

"In the U.S., we have about 1,400 electric-generating unit powered by coal, operated at about 600 power plants," Donnelly said. That energy, he added, is sold at about 5.6 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to a 2006 Congressional Budget Office estimate. "The estimated health costs of burning coal in the U.S. are in the range of $150 billion to $380 billion, including 18,000-46,000 premature deaths, 540,000 asthma attacks, 13,000 emergency room visits and two million missed work or school days each year."

In their separate economic analysis, Donnelly and UO research assistant Robert E. Hershberger, also a co-author on the journal paper, estimate that implementing large-scale cryogenic systems into coal-fired plants would reduce overall costs to society by 38 percent through the sharp reduction of associated health-care and climate-change costs. Not in the equation, Donnelly said, are the front-end health-care costs involved in coal extraction through mining.

The cryogenic concept is not new. Donnelly experimented briefly in the 1960s with a paper mill in Springfield, Ore., to successfully remove odor-causing gasses filling the area around the plant using cryogenics. Subsequently the National Science Foundation funded a major study to capture sulfur dioxide emissions -- a contributor to acid rain -- from coal burning plants. The grant included a detailed engineering study by the Bechtel Corp. of San Francisco.

The Bechtel study showed that the cryogenic process would work very well, but noted that large quantities of carbon dioxide also would be condensed, a consequence that raised no concerns in 1978. "Today we recognize that carbon dioxide emissions are a leading contributor to climate-warming factors attributed to humans," Donnelly said.

Out came his previously published work on this concept, followed by a rigorous two-year project to recheck and update his thermodynamic calculations and compose "a spreadsheet-accessible" formula for potential use by industry. His earlier work on the cryogenic treatment of coal-plant emissions and natural gas sources had sparked widespread interest internationally.

While the required cooling machinery would be large -- potentially the size of a football stadium -- the cost for construction or retrofitting likely would not be dramatically larger than present systems that include scrubbers, which would no longer be necessary, Donnelly said. The new journal article does not address construction costs or the disposal of the captured pollutants, the latter of which would be dependent on engineering and perhaps geological considerations.

According to the Physical Review E paper, carbon dioxide would be captured in its solid phase, then warmed and compressed into a gas that could be moved by pipeline at near ambient temperatures to dedicated storage facilities that could be hundreds of miles away. Other chemicals such as sulfur dioxide, some nitrogen oxides and mercury also would be condensed and safely removed from the exhaust stream of the plants.

Last December the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued new mercury and air toxic standards (MATS), calling for the trapping of 41 percent of sulfur dioxide and 90 percent of mercury emissions. A cryogenic system would do better based on the conservatively produced computations by Donnelly's team -- capturing at least 98 percent of sulfur dioxide, virtually 100 percent of mercury and, in addition, 90 percent of carbon dioxide.

"This forward-thinking formula and the preliminary analysis by these researchers offer some exciting possibilities for the electric power industry that could ultimately benefit human health and the environment," said Kimberly Andrews Espy, UO vice president for research and innovation. "Scientists at the University of Oregon are continuing to develop new ideas and advanced materials to foster a sustainable future for our planet and its people."

###

Co-authors with Donnelly and Hershberger on the journal article were: Charles E. Swanson, who earned his doctorate in physics from the UO and served as postdoctoral researcher under Donnelly; John W. Elzey, a former research associate in Donnelly's Cryogenic Helium Turbulence Lab and now a scientist at GoNano Technologies in Moscow, Idaho; and John Pfotenhauer, who earned his doctorate at the UO and now is in the mechanical engineering department at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

About the University of Oregon

The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.

Source: Russell J. Donnelly, professor of physics, 541-346-4226, rjd@uoregon.edu

Links:

Donnelly faculty page: http://physics.uoregon.edu/faculty/donnelly.html

UO physics: http://physics.uoregon.edu/index.html

Follow UO Science on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UniversityOfOregonScience

Note: The University of Oregon is equipped with an on-campus television studio with satellite uplink capacity, and a radio studio with an ISDN phone line for broadcast-quality radio interviews. Call the Media Contact above to begin the process.



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


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/uoo-cce082712.php

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Queen's University Belfast wins national environment award

Queen's University Belfast wins national environment award [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 28-Aug-2012
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Contact: Anne-Marie Clarke
comms.officer@qub.ac.uk
44-028-909-75320
Queen's University Belfast

Queen's University Belfast has won a top award in the national campaign to find Britain's greenest companies, councils and communities

Queen's University Belfast has won a top award in the national campaign to find Britain's greenest companies, councils and communities.

The University won a Green Apple Environment Award for the arsenic-removal water cleansing project, which was carried out by the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering.

The School competed against more than 500 nominations to win this award in the international category. The award was for Dr Bhaskar Sen Gupta and his team's work in developing a method to remove arsenic from ground water without the use of chemicals, in the world's first low-cost arsenic removal plant in India.

Dr Sen Gupta said: "I am delighted we have been awarded this UK Industry Award as it is a great recognition for the work we have been carrying out into the removal of arsenic from groundwater without using chemicals.

"It recognises the team's hard work in tackling the world's worst case of ongoing mass poisoning. This solution overcomes arsenic contamination of groundwater and improves the quality of life in rural communities."

As a result of this success the University has been invited to have their winning paper published in The Green Book, the leading international work of reference on environmental best practice, so that others around the world can follow their example and learn from their experience.

The Green Apple Award recognises, rewards and promotes environmental best practice around the world.

The University will also be considered for the European Business Awards for the Environment.

###


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Queen's University Belfast wins national environment award [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 28-Aug-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Anne-Marie Clarke
comms.officer@qub.ac.uk
44-028-909-75320
Queen's University Belfast

Queen's University Belfast has won a top award in the national campaign to find Britain's greenest companies, councils and communities

Queen's University Belfast has won a top award in the national campaign to find Britain's greenest companies, councils and communities.

The University won a Green Apple Environment Award for the arsenic-removal water cleansing project, which was carried out by the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering.

The School competed against more than 500 nominations to win this award in the international category. The award was for Dr Bhaskar Sen Gupta and his team's work in developing a method to remove arsenic from ground water without the use of chemicals, in the world's first low-cost arsenic removal plant in India.

Dr Sen Gupta said: "I am delighted we have been awarded this UK Industry Award as it is a great recognition for the work we have been carrying out into the removal of arsenic from groundwater without using chemicals.

"It recognises the team's hard work in tackling the world's worst case of ongoing mass poisoning. This solution overcomes arsenic contamination of groundwater and improves the quality of life in rural communities."

As a result of this success the University has been invited to have their winning paper published in The Green Book, the leading international work of reference on environmental best practice, so that others around the world can follow their example and learn from their experience.

The Green Apple Award recognises, rewards and promotes environmental best practice around the world.

The University will also be considered for the European Business Awards for the Environment.

###


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

?


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


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/qub-qub082812.php

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Monday, 27 August 2012

repressive dilettante: Finance/ Budgeting Manager (0 ? 3 yrs ...

Estimating Manager ? UAE

about 2 weeks ago - No comments

Dubai ? Be responsible for cost estimates for bids as well as major change orders for all projects. Ensure that the processes and the systems followed for estimating are consistent and sound across all projects Ensures that estimates are free of errors, omissions and hidden contingencies

Supply Chain & Customer Service Manager

about 1 month ago - No comments

Dubai ? east you will manage the processes involved in supply chain, demand forecast, customer service, distribution, sales, and operations planning? and international perspectives, and experience in logistics management and a record in sales/ customer service are the key to securing this position

System Analyst (Tariff & Product Management)

about 1 month ago - No comments

Dubai ? Managers as well as external ones such as Solution Design Management (SDM), Demand Release Management (DRM and other Delivery verticals. 3.

Accountant ? Automotive Finance Shared Services

about 2 months ago - No comments

Dubai ? Automotive Finance Shared Services is a department under? Automotive handling the back office? functions? related to accounting?? for Automotive. AFSS handles Accounts Receivables, Accounts Payables, General Ledger Accounting, Reconciliations, Sales Accounting and annual

Accountant ? Automotive Finance Shared Services

about 2 months ago - No comments

Dubai ? Automotive Finance Shared Services is a department under? Automotive handling the back office? functions? related to accounting?? for Automotive. AFSS handles Accounts Receivables, Accounts Payables, General Ledger Accounting, Reconciliations, Sales Accounting and annual

Senior Geo-Marketing Manager

about 3 months ago - No comments

Dubai ? As a geo-Marketing Manager you will be leading the development of Granular telecommunications services? demands models? -Must be coming from a Marketing background -Experience in GeoMarketing, Geographic Information System(GIS), Databases, Processes, Information Management

HR Shared Services Consultant ? UAE

about 4 months ago - No comments

Dubai ? Our client is a professional services company and they are looking for an experienced Shared Services professionals with particular knowledge of HR (primarily) and Finance & Accounting services. This is a 3 months contract based in Dubai. Our client is looking to create a Shared

Communications Director | Fair Recruitment Dubai, UAE

about 5 months ago - No comments

Dubai ? development and successful implementation of Integrated External & Internal Communications plans and associated programs across the S&S ME business?. Manages directly the ME communications team providing them regular management oversight and support.

Accountant ? GL /Sale Control ? Automotive Finance Shared Service ? Al Futtaim ? Automotive

about 7 months ago - No comments

Dubai ? AF6102 Accountant GL Sale Control x2 Automotive Finance Shared ServiceAutomotive About the businessAutomotive Finance Shared Services? is a department under Automotive handling the back office functions related to accounting for Automotive. AFSS handles Accounts Receivables Accounts

Accountant ? AR / Sales Accounting ? Automotive Finance Shared Service ? Al Futtaim ? Automotive

about 7 months ago - No comments

Dubai ? AF6101 Accountant AR Sales Accounting x3 Automotive Finance Shared ServiceAutomotive About the BusinessAutomotive Finance Shared Services? is a department under Automotive handling the back office functions related to accounting for Automotive. AFSS handles Accounts Receivables Accounts

Source: http://www.salesjobsindubai.co.in/jobs/office-automation/finance-budgeting-manager-0-3-yrs

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Source: http://repressive-dilettante.blogspot.com/2012/08/finance-budgeting-manager-0-3-yrs-sales.html

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Myanmar president promotes reformers in cabinet shake-up

YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar President Thein Sein announced a long-awaited reshuffle of his cabinet on Monday that sees his top reformers moved into key ministerial posts and reassignments for remnants of the former military junta.

Ministers of Industry Minister Soe Thein, Minister of National Planning and Economic Development Tin Naing Thein and Rail Transportation Minister Aung Min - Thein Sein's closest allies - were given posts in the Office of the President, moves seen as efforts to bolster the fast-moving reforms in the post-military era.

The reshuffle of nine ministers, announced on state television, has been anticipated for months and is seen as a strong message of intent by Thein Sein, the former military heavyweight who has surprised the world by freeing more than 650 political prisoners, scrapping media censorship and introducing broad economic liberalization.

Two ministers believed to be close to retired junta strongman Than Shwe were assigned to less prominent ministries.

Aung Min's shift into the president's office frees him up to pursue complex political negotiations with at least 10 ethnic minority rebel groups with which the government has agreed ceasefires after decades of conflict during five decades of military rule.

As Industry Minister and chairman of the Myanmar Investment Commission, Soe Thein, was seen as a integral part of efforts to set up special economic zones and attract foreign businesses to an impoverished and strategically-located country rich in oil, gas, timber and precious stones.

He will be joined by Finance Minister Hla Tun in Thein Sein's inner circle. The replacements for those who were promoted were not announced on Monday.

'ACTIVE, VIBRANT' CABINET

A member of the president's advisory board, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media, told Reuters the reshuffle was intended to make the government "more active and vibrant".

"He's just sending the right men to the right places," he added.

A further 15 deputy ministerial posts were announced, which will see four more women in the top tiers of government and promotions for three of the president's closest advisors.

Labour Minister Aung Kyi, a U.S.-educated former general who served as the junta's representatives in talks with Aung San Suu Kyi during her stints of house arrest, will also head the Information Ministry overseeing media, which is now enjoying unprecedented freedom after decades of tight control.

He replaces Kyaw Hsan, who held the post for a decade and is believed to an ally of dictator Than Shwe, who relinquished power in March 2011 when Thein Sein's quasi-civilian government took office. Kyaw Hsan will become minister of cooperatives.

Tint Hsan, a businessmen who also was close to the junta leader, was relieved of one of his two posts. He will now handle only the sports portfolio and will be replaced as minister of Hotels and Tourism, sectors the government has targeted for expansion.

(Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Michael Roddy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/myanmar-president-promotes-reformers-cabinet-shake-161513765.html

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Long Grand Slam season wraps up at US Open

FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2012, file photo, Serena Williams returns a shot to Urszula Radwanska, of Poland, during a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament in Mason, Ohio. Call it mental gymnastics, a creative way of looking at things or whatever else might apply. In an Olympic year, the U.S. Open _ scheduled to begin on Monday, Aug. 27, and considered the toughest test in tennis even under normal circumstances _ is essentially the season's fifth major, causing many top players to double down on their fitness and reorganize their schedules to prepare for what they hope will be a two-week grind in the fishbowl that is Flushing Meadows. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2012, file photo, Serena Williams returns a shot to Urszula Radwanska, of Poland, during a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament in Mason, Ohio. Call it mental gymnastics, a creative way of looking at things or whatever else might apply. In an Olympic year, the U.S. Open _ scheduled to begin on Monday, Aug. 27, and considered the toughest test in tennis even under normal circumstances _ is essentially the season's fifth major, causing many top players to double down on their fitness and reorganize their schedules to prepare for what they hope will be a two-week grind in the fishbowl that is Flushing Meadows. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2012, file photo, Novak Djokovic, from Serbia, hits a backhand shot against Marin Cilic, from Croatia, during a quarterfinals match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament in Mason, Ohio. In an Olympic year, the U.S. Open _ scheduled to begin on Monday, Aug. 27, and considered the toughest test in tennis even under normal circumstances _ is essentially the season's fifth major, causing many top players to double down on their fitness and reorganize their schedules to prepare for what they hope will be a two-week grind in the fishbowl that is Flushing Meadows. (AP Photo/Al Behrman, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2012, file photo, Roger Federer, from Switzerland, reaches for a shot against Stanislas Wawrinka, from Switzerland, during a semifinals match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament in Mason, Ohio. In an Olympic year, the U.S. Open _ scheduled to begin on Monday, Aug. 27, and considered the toughest test in tennis even under normal circumstances _ is essentially the season's fifth major, causing many top players to double down on their fitness and reorganize their schedules to prepare for what they hope will be a two-week grind in the fishbowl that is Flushing Meadows. (AP Photo/Al Behrman, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Champion at Wimbledon in both singles and doubles. Winner again at the All England Club in both events, four weeks later at the London Olympics.

Nobody would blame Serena Williams if she felt worn down by this year's jam-packed tennis calendar. She doesn't see it that way, though ? even with the grind of the U.S. Open looming.

"I look forward to this," Williams said. "It's almost as like a launching pad for what I want to do for the rest of the hard-court season."

In a way, yes, Monday's start of the year's last Grand Slam actually marks something of a new beginning ? the kickoff of a six-month stretch on the hard courts that winds down at the 2013 Australian Open.

Call it mental gymnastics, a creative way of looking at things or whatever else might apply. What can't be denied is that in an Olympic year, the U.S. Open ? considered the toughest test in tennis even under normal circumstances ? is essentially the season's fifth major.

"A lot of them," Jim Courier said, "are running on fumes."

Indeed, many top players have had to double down on their fitness and find new, creative ways of organizing their schedules to get ready for what they hope will be a two-week grind in the fishbowl that is Flushing Meadows.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic barely took any time off following his fourth-place finish at the Olympics. He traveled to Toronto for a hard-court tuneup, played six matches and won the tournament.

Then, he flew to Cincinnati, played six more matches but lost to Roger Federer in the final. No shame there, though that loss to Federer did include an uncharacteristic 6-0 whitewashing in the first set.

"Mentally, I wasn't there, wasn't fresh," Djokovic said. "It had been a very busy time starting at the Olympic Games, and maybe that caught up with me at the end."

No big deal in Cincinnati. But a half-hour mental lapse in New York could mean the end of Djokovic's quest to win what has, essentially, shaped up as the tiebreaker major for 2012.

Second-seeded Djokovic won the Australian Open. Rafael Nadal won the French Open. Top-seeded Federer won Wimbledon. Just for good measure, third-seeded Andy Murray won the Olympics, meaning the U.S. Open could essentially determine the player of the year in men's tennis.

Some combination of Nadal ? absent this year because of a knee injury ? and the other three have occupied every spot in the finals of the past eight Grand Slam tournaments.

Who has the most to gain over this fort night? John McEnroe thinks it's Murray, who has the Olympic gold, but is still in search of his first Grand Slam title.

"The way it pans out, it's conceivable that Murray could make an argument were he to win this ... that you could say he's the best player in the world this year," McEnroe said. "To me, that's an unbelievable upside."

Murray opens Monday in Arthur Ashe Stadium against Alex Bogomolov Jr., of Russia.

Federer, back at the top of the rankings after 25? months during which Nadal and Djokovic took the spot from him, has a night match Monday against American Donald Young, who is 3-21 this season.

Federer says there's a difference between how he feels now and last year, when he had two match points in the semifinals against Djokovic, but lost both and closed out his first full season since 2002 without a Grand Slam title.

"I think I felt good last year, but probably felt that maybe, at times, the matches were not always on my racket," he said. "Whereas maybe this time around, I feel like if I'm playing well, I can dictate who's going to win or lose."

Though the women's game has been more in flux than the men's of late ? seven different winners over the past seven Grand Slams ? the math is essentially the same in 2012: Three of the top four women ? No. 1 Victoria Azarenka (Australia), No. 3 Maria Sharapova (France) and No. 4 Williams (Wimbledon) ? have major titles this year and all need this one to break the tie.

Where things differ is in the way Williams has been playing of late. She lost a total of 17 games over six matches in the Olympics, punctuating it with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Sharapova in the final ? the kind of drubbing that would have to come to mind if the two should meet in the U.S. Open final on Sept. 8.

Sharapova had two hard-court tune-up tournaments on her schedule, but pulled out of both with a stomach virus.

"I think it was a sign my body just needed to slow down," she said. "It was a lot of travel, a lot of playing. I had a hectic summer. So, I decided to shut it down until here, because we still have a lot to play towards the end of the year."

Kim Clijsters, on the other hand, doesn't have to save any energy for down the road. Win or lose, she says the U.S. Open will be it for her.

"Here," she said, while pointing to her heart. "You feel when it's right."

Clijsters has won her past 21 matches at Flushing Meadows. In 2005, she won the tournament. She didn't return again until 2009, after she had gotten married and had a daughter, Jada. With virtually no tournament play under her belt in 2009, Clijsters won seven matches to become the first unseeded woman to capture the U.S. Open.

Because of how busy 2012 has been, she'll do the same as Sharapova ? come into the U.S. Open not having played a competitive match since the Olympics.

Is this any way to prepare for her farewell?

"I remember 2009, I didn't have many matches, either," Clijsters said. "So I don't worry about that."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-08-26-US%20Open/id-2f53580ba16848fbbd116c09689c74db

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Sunday, 26 August 2012

Police officers pay price for insurance scam: Editorial | NOLA.com

Two former law enforcement officials will serve time behind bars for a scheme to defraud an insurance company, and that stiff consequence is appropriate.

Kevin Guillot was a sergeant with the New Orleans Police Department when he filed a false claim with Progressive Insurance in June 2011 saying that his Ford F-250 had been stolen from a Jefferson Parish boat launch while he was out fishing.

His motive, according to a federal investigation, was to avoid paying for engine problems he was having with the truck. The plan was to claim something happened to the engine while the truck was out of his possession.

The scam proved far more costly than any repair bill. Mr. Guillot and his accomplice, Daniel Spears, who was then a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's deputy, both lost their jobs and will now lose their freedom. Mr. Guillot was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance to 11 months in prison, and Mr. Spears to six months. Mr. Guillot's nephew, Anthony Venezi, was sentenced to a year of probation for lying to officials to back up his uncle's story.

All three entered guilty pleas.

The damage was even more grievous for another accomplice, Salvadore Battaglia, who worked under Mr. Guillot at the NOPD. He filed a phony report saying that the truck had been recovered. He committed suicide shortly after news broke about the investigation.

Defrauding an insurance company is a serious crime in itself, but Mr. Guillot and Mr. Spears used their law enforcement positions to execute the scam. That's a betrayal of the public trust. Their sentencing should send a strong message that abuse of power will not be tolerated.

Source: http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2012/08/police_officers_pay_price_for.html

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Duncan Mighty: Not Ripe For International Stage? - HiSleek News ...

Duncan Mighty, the ?Port Harcourt First Son? crooner is one artiste that has carved a niche for himself in the Nigerian entertainment industry; and most music pundits thought he is ripe for the international audience. But would such notion be said to be true after assessing his single with Jamaican A-list musician, Shaggy, many considered as a ?flop?, ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM writes.

He is not the first Nigerian artiste to go beyond the shores of Africa to widen his horizon and seek more fan base by collaborating with renowned superstars, especially now the world is a global village and music a unifying factor. The likes of D?banj and P-Square have toed the path before and had come out with great hits, making a statement that they are truly a star by their own right.

D?banj and his erstwhile partner Don Jazzy took the Nigerian and indeed African music fans by storm when he did a remix of his ?Mr. Endowed? with American superstar rap artiste, Snoop Dogg. Then came ?Oliver Twist? in which he featured one of the biggest name in the world of music Kanye West which received massive accolades and appreciation from fans across the globe.

P-Square took the Nigerian music industry by storm with a remix of ?Chop My Money?; a hit done with Senegalese-born US-based artiste Akon that received huge airplay across the country. And right after that was another remix with another A-list superstar, Rick Ross, in a song entitled ?Beautiful onyinye? that is still receiving regular airplay across the country.

That collaboration has been considered as one of the biggest effort coming from the Nigeria music scene, courtesy of the Konvict

Source: http://hisleek.com/duncan-mighty-not-ripe-for-international-stage/

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D-backs trade Saunders to Orioles for Lindstrom

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Joe Saunders delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Joe Saunders delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Joe Saunders watches a two-run home run hit by St. Louis Cardinals' David Freese in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

(AP) ? Eager to bolster an inexperienced pitching staff during their first playoff run since 1997, the Baltimore Orioles obtained left-hander Joe Saunders on Sunday in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Baltimore gave Arizona right-handed reliever Matt Lindstrom and cash considerations or a player to be named later.

Saunders, who was scheduled to start Sunday against San Diego, was 6-10 with a 4.22 ERA in 21 starts with Arizona this season. He won 12 games last season while helping the Diamondbacks win their first NL West title since 2007.

Baltimore began the day tied for the second American League wild-card spot with Oakland and in third place in the AL East, only four games behind the division-leading New York Yankees.

"I like our ballclub's chances," said Dan Duquette, the Orioles vice president of baseball operations. "There's an old saying: If you're going in the right direction, keep walking. So the addition of Joe Saunders gives us a chance to keep walking in the right direction. And I think it gives us better balance against the left-handed lineups that we're going to be facing."

Saunders was born in nearby northern Virginia, played high school ball in Virginia and pitched at Virginia Tech before being drafted in the first round of the 2002 draft by the Los Angeles Angels.

"We've liked Joe Saunders for quite a while," Duquette said. "We had some discussions with him in the offseason. He's a local kid and a professional left-handed pitcher. He's won more than he's lost in the big leagues, he's pitched in the American League, he's pitched in the playoffs. He's pitched in a tough ballpark in Arizona."

The Orioles have only one left-hander in the bullpen and a rotation that includes rookies Miguel Gonzalez, Wei-Yin Chen and Steve Johnson.

"We just liked his experience, which I think compliments our starting rotation," Duquette said of Saunders. "And I also like the fact he's left-handed."

Saunders, 31, has pitched for the Angels and Diamondbacks since launching his big league career in 2005.

"I just like this addition of veteran left-handed depth to our staff," Duquette said. "It helps solidify the starting rotation while we're waiting for (injured) Jason Hammel to return. Then, if Jason Hammel does return, it gives us another good left-handed option because Joe Saunders is very good left-on-left. While we're waiting for (left-handed reliever Troy) Patton to come back, if we have several starters doing well, Joe gives us more depth and experience to our pitching staff."

Lindstrom went 1-0 with a 2.72 ERA in 34 appearances with the Orioles this season. He has held right-handers to a .207 average and scoreless in 10 of his past 11 outings.

Lindstrom has played six major league seasons with Miami, Houston, Colorado and Baltimore.

"He's another right-handed power arm. He's got some experience here in the West as well. We're pretty familiar with him, and you can see we like power arms in our bullpen, so he'll be a good addition," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said.

Duquette believed Saunders would be more valuable to the Orioles than Lindstrom at this point in the season.

"Matt Lindstrom did a nice job for us. He contributed to the bullpen," Duquette said. "I just think the left-handed addition to our starting rotation and the capability to get more innings at a high level was better for the team at this stage of the season. And who knows? Joe Saunders is a local kid. Maybe he's with us beyond this year. That's something we can take a look at. It certainly strengthens us now."

To fill Lindstrom's place on the 25-man roster, the Orioles recalled right-hander Jake Arrieta from Triple-A Norfolk. Arrieta, Baltimore's opening day starter, went 3-9 with a 6.13 ERA in 18 starts with the Orioles before being optioned to Norfolk on July 5.

The Diamondbacks had talked about going to a six-man rotation so they could keep rookie Tyler Skaggs in the big leagues, but went in a different direction. With Saunders gone, Skaggs has his spot.

Arizona general manager Kevin Towers said the trade had a lot to do with the team's young pitching. Skaggs, Patrick Corbin and Wade Miley are all rookies, while Trevor Cahill and Ian Kennedy are the only ones left from the opening day rotation.

___

AP Sports Writer John Marshall contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-08-26-Orioles-Diamondbacks%20Trade/id-55707898e31c4ab0ab1dee555dc69260

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