3 Pieces of Advice from a Freshman Republican to the GOP

Freshman Republican Rep. Tom Cotton of Arkansas answered questions for 40 minutes in a room full of conservatives at the National Review Institute summit in Washington on Friday. When he finished speaking there was boisterous applause, and one woman walked up to him after the speech and said, "You'll be president one day." Cotton shook her hand, gave an aw-shucks thank you and walked on to glad-hand with other conservatives. He's one of the party's rising stars and is already being talked about as a potential challenger to Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor in 2014.

Here are three political lessons learned after the wide-ranging discussion.

1. Get good candidates. Bad candidates make for poor election outcomes. That might seem obvious, but there's a definite narrative developing around the party's 2012 defeat that poor candidates contributed to the drubbing at the polls. To be certain, Cotton wasn't calling for the party to moderate, but he acknowledged that weak candidates weaken the party, and he talked in more straightforward political terms than some other Republicans who instead call for the party to "modernize, not moderate." His advice? "If you want to win an election it helps to nominate skillful candidates, and I don't think on that front necessarily it's ideology," Cotton said. He pointed to Sen. Ron Johnson, a former businessman as an ideal candidate and only hinted at losing candidates like Todd Akin of Missouri whose campaign failed after now-infamous comments on rape in his contest against Sen. Claire McCaskill.

2. Exploit foreign policy. Cotton argued voters care less about foreign policy than the economy and domestic policy because it affects them less, but the fact that Obama has deemphasized the war in Afghanistan and is focused on pulling the troops out means there's a political opportunity for the GOP. Cotton put it like this. "On the campaign, foreign policy is just very different than domestic policy. ? People don't ask what do you think we should do about taxes? What do you think we should do about the 2nd Amendment? They ask, 'You're gonna protect our 2nd Amendment rights, aren't you? You're not gonna raise my taxes are you?' But they do ask those kinds of questions about Afghanistan and Iraq? We all experience the economy or domestic policy firsthand in our churches homes and rotary clubs. ? So there's more opportunity for leadership, for persuasion on foreign policy."

3. If you can't pass your own conservative agenda, then frustrate the president. Make the case, Cotton suggested, that the "collective government" theme President Obama pursued in his inaugural address is a continuation of the era of big government. Cotton's betting that that message won't sell with the public. Here's what he called for. "What we need are political leaders who will clearly and always make the case for conservative reform, whether that means blocking the worst of the Obama agenda or passing our own reforms," he said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/3-pieces-advice-freshman-republican-gop-084521390--politics.html

seahawks natalie wood patriots Sandy Hook Hoax 2014 Corvette Stacie Halas justin timberlake

Spotting fetal growth problems early could cut UK stillbirths by 600 a year

Jan. 24, 2013 ? Growth restriction in an unborn child is the single largest risk factor for stillbirth, especially when it goes unrecognized before birth, finds a new study. Yet it is currently missed in most pregnancies.

The authors say spotting it early could substantially reduce the risk, and this needs to become a cornerstone of safety and effectiveness in antenatal care.

Stillbirth rates in the United Kingdom are among the highest in developed countries. They have often been considered unexplained and unavoidable, and their rates have changed little over the last two decades.

Recently, doctors have found that many stillborn babies fail to reach their growth potential, prompting a renewed focus on what causes fetal growth restriction. So a team of researchers at the West Midlands Perinatal Institute in Birmingham set out to assess the main risk factors associated with stillbirth in a multiethnic population.

Using NHS records, they identified 92,218 normally formed singleton babies, including 389 stillbirths, from 24 weeks of gestation, delivered during 2009-11 (a stillbirth rate of 4.2 per 1,000 births). They then assessed several maternal and fetal risk factors for stillbirth and calculated the proportion of stillbirths that could be potentially avoided if these risks were removed.

These included mother's age, parity (the number of times she had given birth), body mass index, mental health history, pre-existing diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, smoking in pregnancy, alcohol consumption, and fetal growth problems.

First, third and subsequent pregnancies were associated with an increased risk of stillbirth compared with second pregnancies, but high maternal age carried no increased risk in this population which excluded congenital anomalies. Ethnicity (African, African-Caribbean, Indian and Pakistani) carried a higher risk, as did deprivation and unemployment of the mother or her partner.

Maternal obesity (BMI of 30 or more), smoking, pre-existing diabetes, a history of mental health problems, and fetal growth restriction were all associated with a significantly increased risk.

As potentially modifiable risk factors, maternal obesity, smoking in pregnancy and fetal growth restriction together accounted for 56% of all stillbirths.

However, the strongest risk factor was fetal growth restriction, which carried a fourfold higher risk of stillbirth compared with normal growth pregnancies. This increased to an eightfold risk if it was not detected during pregnancy, accounting for 32% of all stillbirths in the study.

Yet the authors point out that the presence of fetal growth restriction is currently missed in most pregnancies.

They estimate that 71 stillbirths in their study population could have been avoided through better antenatal recognition. Extrapolated to the UK population, this would represent 600 fewer stillbirths per year.

"Our study shows that while there are several risk factors for stillbirth that can be ascertained from the outset of pregnancy, the single largest factor is fetal growth restriction, which is currently not well predicted and not recognised antenatally in most pregnancies," say the authors. "Most normally formed singleton stillbirths are potentially avoidable ? and preventive strategies need to focus on improving antenatal detection," they conclude.

In an accompanying editorial, two experts from the University of Auckland say this study adds "important new insights" about modifiable risk factors for stillbirth, but that efforts to improve detection of fetal growth restriction must be intensified.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by BMJ-British Medical Journal.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. J. Gardosi, V. Madurasinghe, M. Williams, A. Malik, A. Francis. Maternal and fetal risk factors for stillbirth: population based study. BMJ, 2013; 346 (jan24 3): f108 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.f108

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/cwKZgpdKpWc/130125104226.htm

tornadoes mitch hedberg secret service scandal shea weber greystone sidney crosby at the drive in

WTC workers scrawl graffiti of defiance, hope

NEW YORK (AP) ? On most construction projects, workers are discouraged from signing or otherwise scrawling on the iron and concrete. At the skyscraper rising at ground zero, though, they're being invited to leave messages for the ages.

"Freedom Forever. WTC 9/11" is scrawled on a beam near the top of the gleaming, 104-story One World Trade Center. "Change is from within" is on a beam on the roof. Another reads: "God Bless the workers & inhabitants of this bldg."

One of the last pieces of steel hoisted up last year sits near a precarious edge. The message on it reads: "We remember. We rebuild. We come back stronger!" It is signed by a visitor to the site last year ? President Barack Obama.

The words on beams, walls and stairwells of the skyscraper that replaces the twin towers lost on Sept. 11, 2001, form the graffiti of defiance and rebirth, what ironworker supervisor Kevin Murphy calls "things from the heart." They're remembrances of the 2,700 people who died, and testaments to the hope that rose from a shattered morning.

"This is not just any construction site, this is a special place for these guys," says Murphy of the 1,000 men and some women who work in the building at any given time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Everyone here wants to be here, they want to put this building up," Murphy says. "They're part of the redemption."

On a frigid, windy winter day, with the 9/11 memorial fountain straight below and the Statue of Liberty in the distance, Murphy supervised a crew of men guiding the first piece of the steel spire that will top out the building at a dizzying 1,776 feet ? the tallest in the Western Hemisphere.

In the rooftop iron scaffolding for the spire, 105 floors up, a beam pays homage to Lillian Frederick, a 46-year-old administrative assistant who died on the 105th floor of the south tower, pierced by a terrorist-hijacked airliner.

A popular Spanish phrase is penned next to two names on one concrete pillar: "Te Amo Tres Metros Sobre el Cielo," meaning, "I love you three steps above heaven."

Some beams are almost completely covered in a spaghetti-like jumble of doodled hearts and flowers, loopy cursives and blaring capitals. Many want to simply mark their presence: "Henry Wynn/Plumbers Local (hash)1/Sheepshead Bay/Never Forget!"

Families of victims invited to go up left names and comments too, as did firefighters and police officers who were first responders. "R.I.P. Fanny Espinoza, 9-11-01" reads a typical remembrance signed by several family members of a Cantor-Fitzgerald employee.

Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff wrote: "With you in spirit ? those who perished, those who fought, those who build."

Time and daily routines have softened the communal grief as the workers carry on, trading jokes and gruff male banter. Some ends up in whimsical graffiti marking World Cup soccer matches, New York Giants Super Bowl victories and other less-weighty matters that have gone on since construction began six years ago. One crudely drawn map of the neighborhood down below shows the location of a popular strip club.

People on the ground below will never see the spontaneous private thoughts high in the Manhattan sky. The graffiti will disappear as the raw basic structure is covered with drywall, ceiling panels and paint for tenants moving into the 3 million square feet of office space by 2014.

Knowing this, workers and visitors often take photographs of special bits of graffiti, so the words will live on.

____

Follow Verena Dobnik at http://www.twitter.com/VerenaChirps

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wtc-workers-scrawl-graffiti-defiance-hope-072159909--finance.html

national pancake day ohio school shooting sean young arrested matt kenseth bridge to nowhere primary results dale earnhardt jr

4 Steps to Succeed In The Retail Business | Amy's Designs

Are you looking at that?Florida retail space? If you?re thinking about starting a retail business, you need to familiarize yourself with the basics ?first. It?s not enough that you have the money or you have a great idea. To succeed in the industry, you need to follow a simple formula that will help you pick up sales and repeat customers. Take the time to read this article; for 10 minutes, it can save you time, money and effort when running your store.

4 Steps To Be A Retail Superstar:

1. Personalized Service: Always treat each customer as if he or she is royalty. Train your staff to always smile and be polite. Familiarize the names of your customers and keep tabs on their particular interests. On their next visit, you can call them each by name and offer them new stocks you think they would love. This will make your customer feel special and important. Small gestures like this will make them want to come back for more helpings.?
2. Keep it hip: Keep your store hip and upbeat. Everyone wants to be seen shopping at the ?Go To? store in the mall. If you?re not very confident about your taste in decor or on the products you pick, you can hire someone who does. A fashion consultant will help you pick the right styles to appeal to your target market. Reading and research will also help you big time. If you are selling clothes, subscribe to a popular fashion magazine and review the pictures. It will give you a good idea where the trend is heading to next. Keep your eyes and ears open for the next big thing!
3. Location: No matter how nice your items are or how much you?ve labored on your store display, it?s not going to matter much if nobody sees it. Location is key in the retail industry. Whether it?s a Florida?retail space or one that?s in New York, it has to be visible and accessible to your target market. Take the time to study the foot traffic and flow. People can hardly say ?No? to a must-have item that?s only 3 feet away!
4. Know your product: Most customers know what they want. They probably Googled it before they even stopped to check it out?on your store. Before you display a new product, take the time to brief your sales clerks about how the item works and what the features are. This is important because customers are going to want to know.

Impressing your customer with these neat tricks will lure them in one day at a time. Next thing you?ll know, you might just be opening another new store to accommodate everyone! Best of luck!

Source: http://amysdesigns.com/2013/01/23/4-steps-to-succeed-in-the-retail-business/

quentin tarantino jessica chastain jessica chastain hugh jackman Amy Poehler Australian Open Girls Hbo

"Mad Men" season 6 gets premiere date

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Lift a highball, television lovers: "Mad Men" will return to screens this April.

The critically adored, relentlessly blogged about, frequently awarded AMC show will kick off a sixth season of alcoholism, infidelity and advertising accounts with a special two-hour premiere.

Will Don cheat on Megan? Did Betty lose the weight? Is Peggy happy at Cutler, Gleason, and Chaough? Will Sally and Glen live happily ever after? Did Kinsey's "Star Trek" episode get picked up?

The answers to all those questions could be revealed on April 7 at 9 p.m. when the series starts up again.

Matthew Weiner, the creator of the series, will write the script and Executive Producer Scott Hornbacher will direct. Hornbacher previously oversaw directing duties on some of the show's more evocative episodes, such as season three's "Wee Small Hours," also known as the one where Sal get fired, and "Far Away Places," or the one where Roger takes LSD.

Following the premiere, "Mad Men" will return to its regular timeslot at 10 p.m. with an episode written by Jonathan Igla and Weiner, and directed by star Jon Hamm.

"To be able to continue exploring the stories of these characters for a sixth season is an amazing opportunity," Weiner said in a statement. "We love mining this world and look forward to bringing the audience stories that we hope will continue to both surprise and entertain them."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mad-men-season-6-gets-premiere-date-224916707.html

greg mortenson jim marshall died 2013 toyota avalon the secret life of bees full moon aubrey o day masters live

House votes to push debt limit deadline to mid-May

By Michael O'Brien, Political Reporter, NBC News

?

The House of Representatives authorized a suspension of the nation?s debt limit through mid-May, delaying a default on the government?s obligations that would have taken effect in February.

The House of Representatives has passed the extension of the US debt limit to May 19 with a vote of 285 to 144. The measure moves on to the Senate for final passage. MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.

The GOP-controlled House voted 285 to 144 to comfortably pass a three-month extension in the government?s borrowing authority just as Senate Democratic leaders suggested they would take up and pass the legislation as soon as they could.

The vote early Wednesday afternoon by the House would forestall a default on the national debt. The Treasury Department had warned that the government would exhaust its authority to borrow to finance its existing obligations by the middle of February.

The bill, which Republican leaders unveiled last week, would suspend the debt limit through May 18 and require both the House and the Senate to produce and pass a budget resolution in the meanwhile, with a deadline of April 15. If either chamber fails to pass a budget, its pay would be put into escrow ? ?No Budget, No Pay? goes the newly-minted Republican slogan to describe this strategy.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, and the House GOP leadership speak to reporters after a closed-door meeting on avoiding a potential debt crisis, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013.

"It's time for Congress to get serious about this," Boehner said of the mounting national debt during a speech on the House floor ahead of the vote, "and this is the first step in an effort to bring real fiscal responsibility to Washington."

Republicans settled upon the strategy in the face of criticism from President Barack Obama that another round of brinksmanship over the debt limit would threaten catastrophe for the economy.

?To spare the middle class another knock-down, drag-out fight, we're going to proceed on this legislation and get it out of here as soon as we can,? Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in a press conference on Wednesday.

The GOP?s new tack has the added benefit of forcing Senate Democrats to produce a formal budget, something the upper chamber has avoided for several years now. Democratic budget chief, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Wednesday that Senate leaders had intended to produce a budget anyway, and would do so regardless of what the House bill requires.

Budgets are often political documents as much as a governing roadmap; Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan?s two budgets as Republican chairman of the House Budget Committee proposed a series of spending cuts and major changes to entitlement programs. But Democrats also managed to seize upon the most controversial elements of the Ryan budgets to use it to campaign against Republicans. If Senate Democrats author a budget, Republicans will doubtless seek to turn it against their opponents.

In the meanwhile, Republican leaders in the House have vowed to produce a budget document that would balance the U.S. budget within a decade. Ryan, the erstwhile GOP vice presidential nominee, said at a Wall Street Journal breakfast this morning that he expects this new strategy to yield ?a big down payment on the debt crisis.?

Source: http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/23/16663257-house-votes-to-push-debt-limit-deadline-to-mid-may?lite

gary carter died cmas cmas tcu dr. oz heart attack grill las vegas the heart attack grill

UWF forms Doctor of Physical Therapy Partnership Program with ...

Press Release: The University of West Florida (UWF) and the University of South Florida (USF) will be able to move forward to create a pilot program offering a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in Pensacola. The partnership program was approved last week by the Florida Board of Governors, which serves as a key step in advancing its implementation.

?This partnership will provide a valuable opportunity for UWF students to participate in USF?s nationally recognized Doctor of Physical Therapy program,? said Martha Saunders, PhD, UWF Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. ?Partnerships like this are important because they maximize the state?s resources, build on successful programming and provide needed support to our community. We appreciate the support of both institutions? Board of Trustees as well as the Florida Board of Governors, and I am looking forward to more collaborations in the future.?

The Board?s approval follows the Florida Legislature?s appropriation last year of $1 million to help fund the USF-UWF Doctor of Physical Therapy education partnership program.

The collaborative program will expand access to UWF students interested in pursuing a DPT and help meet a state-identified need for more physical therapists in a largely rural region of the state.

If other requirements by accreditation organizations are met as expected, students will begin applying for the program in July 2013 and start their studies in summer 2014.

The partnership will allow the USF Health School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences to expand enrollment in its nationally-ranked, three-year DPT degree program by as many as 12 additional students a year. The newly created slots will be competitively available to UWF graduates who meet USF?s DPT admissions requirements. When fully implemented, up to 36 qualified UWF graduates could be enrolled in the program.

Students would spend their first year of physical therapy studies at the USF Health campus in Tampa. The final two years of the three-year program would be spent in classrooms at UWF?s Pensacola campus and clinical internships conducted at hospitals and outpatient sites across the state?s Panhandle.

?This is an exciting educational partnership for health care in Florida,? said Stephen K. Klasko, MD, CEO of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. ?We are grateful that state lawmakers, the Florida Board of Governors, UWF President Judy Bense, and USF President Judy Genshaft have all recognized the critical need for more physical therapists to meet the future healthcare needs of Floridians.?

The Board of Governors conducted a statewide analysis regarding the physical therapist workforce demand. Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDEO) data and online tools indicate that the Pensacola area is a remote pocket of high-demand in the state for physical therapists, with more than 160 openings advertised in Fall 2012.

Florida public and independent universities awarded an estimated 392 professional DPT degrees during 2011-2012. The FDEO projected workforce demand for physical therapists is 492 annually to the year 2020.

?Together USF, with our cutting-edge physical therapy education program emphasizing inter-professional collaboration, and UWF, which provides impressive pre-professional health sciences education, will help meet this rapidly growing demand for physical therapy services.? said William S. Quillen, DPT, PhD, director of the USF School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences and associate dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

?Northwest Florida is home to healthcare organizations, such as Andrews Institute, that are known throughout the United States for their quality physical therapy programs,? said George Stewart, PhD, Director of the UWF School of Allied Health and Life Sciences. ?This program will produce qualified professionals who are prepared to enter this competitive workforce. The regional healthcare community has been extremely supportive of this endeavor, and we will utilize their expertise and facilities for internships, clinical rounds and more. We look forward to meeting their need for trained physical therapists.?

Source: http://ricksblog.biz/uwf-forms-doctor-of-physical-therapy-partnership-program-with-usf/

chariots of fire nbc Medal Count Sam Mikulak London 2012 diving Tim Berners-Lee Olympics 2012 Schedule

Video: Over one million attend Obama?s second inaugural

Gen. Allen cleared?of improper behavior in emails

The Defense Department?s inspector general has found that allegations that Gen. John Allen engaged in inappropriate behavior in emails he exchanged with Tampa, Fla., socialite Jill Kelley were unsubstantiated.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/hardball/50553761/

allen iverson jr smith chris anderson rondo suspended bay bridge presidents day band of brothers

How To Artify Your Home | Conservative Refuge - Old Mans Home ...

Would you like to make your house feel more like a home? Is it comfortable enough, but not really special? If so, I have some easy ?arty? tips to make your environment that bit more special.

Before you start making any alterations, or adding anything, you need to clean and declutter. This helps you to see rooms more clearly and what space you have to utilise. When this is done you can start to improve your surroundings.

Use enticing aromas. How much nicer it is to enter a room with a lovely aroma than one with the usual household smells such as pet odour, cooking smells or stale smoke. Certain scents have the power to promote clarity of mind and positive thoughts. Start using scented candles, incense or aromatherapy oils or sprays regularly.

Hang beautiful artwork. Make your home completely unique by having original artwork on your walls. You don?t have to pay thousands for gorgeous contemporary artworks. Many websites, including mine, have beautiful paintings for sale at really reasonable prices. What a talking point your original artwork will make when you have guests.

Say it with flowers. A lovely floral display not only looks fabulous but also provides a fresh smell. Try to display flowers in an nconventional way by using unique containers or putting together plants and flowers which are not usually displayed together.

Uplift with colour. If you are unsure about using bold or more vibrant colour than usual, simply paint in one wall in a room with a bold accent. This way you will get a lift without being overpowered by strong colour.

Use lighting. Either table lamps or floor lamps can create a wonderful ambience in any room. Light up dark corners for a homely glow.

Feng Shui. Try rearranging your furniture for a more peaceful and positive environment. Feng Shui is an ancient philosophy which tells us that how we arrange our home has a direct effect on our fortunes. There is plenty of information on the Internet and in books about how you can make positive changes by rearranging your furniture to promote more positive energy flow through your home. All of these easy and inexpensive tips will help you to turn your house in to a real home.

Gail Miller is a professional artist whose artwork is a visual feast of colour and fun. Her fascination with bold colours and fluid, expressive shapes and line are evident in funky abstracts, sinuous nudes, vibrant still life paintings and lively townscapes.

Source: http://www.conservativerefuge.com/home-improvements/how-to-artify-your-home/

jeremy lin espn sassafras mardi gras 2012 the secret world of arrietty cee lo allen iverson jr smith

Atlanta industrial property available for lease | Commercial Property ...

Posted on: January 20th, 2013 by admin@cpp

An Atlanta commercial real estate industrial property is available for lease from Commercial Property Professionals.

The property is located at 3991 Old Dixie Highway in Atlanta. It has 31,018 square feet of space and sits on 3.22 acres. There aresecured parking and storage areas on the property, with nearly 100 parking spaces.

The building is equipped with six dock high doors, which are 8-foot by 10-foot and also have levelers. There are also 26 grade level drive-in doors, which are cross docks. The interior of the building has 16-foot high ceilings and is also fully sprinklered. It was constructed in 1991 and has 4,000 square feet of air conditioned production area.

This property has a zoning category of Heavy Industrial and is registered with Clayton County. There is also a Heavy Power setup, which includes 800 amps, 120/208 volt, as well as 200 amps and 110 volt.

It is located one-half mile from the interstate, as well as five miles from the Porsche North American Headquarters andHartsfield-Jackson International Airport Terminal. Employee tax credits are available for the property.

Those interested in more information about the property can contact William Wood by phone at (404) 867-9110, or by email at wwood@CPProfessionals.com. Daniel Levison also can be reached at (404) 358-3547, or by email at dl@CPProfessionals.com.

Source: http://www.cpprofessionals.com/commercial-property-professionals-news/atlanta-industrial-property-available-for-lease-62647

Fashion Island shooting Victor Cruz nfl standings Vicki Soto Adam Lanza fox news obama

Israel offering bonuses to teachers who boost student enlistment

Israel is offering new salary bonuses to high school educators based on criteria including their success in motivating pupils to perform their army service, fueling criticism of alleged militarism in its education system.

The decision to give such ''differential rewards'' to school staff was first reported by the Haaretz newspaper late last year, and was confirmed this week to the Monitor by the education ministry. Critics say the move, and other recent steps, could inculcate a hawkish worldview among Israeli youth and thereby make future Middle East peacemaking even more difficult. But defenders of the step say keeping draft rates high is essential for Israel's security in a dangerous regional environment.

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

An education ministry circular, dated Oct. 21, 2012, and sent to principals, outlines a new policy of giving bonuses as of the close of the current school year. The extra payments to teachers are to be determined according to "achievements in learning," "social achievements," and "achievements in values" by schools. Schools giving places to special education students and their having a ''high rate of enlistment for military,national or civil service'' are the values achievements for which teachers are to be rewarded, according to the circular, which was obtained by the Monitor

Israeli high schools have always been influenced by the military, for which service is compulsory for Israeli Jewish men and women outside the growing ultra-orthodox population, which enjoys de facto exemptions. But the connection has become more pronounced since 2009, when Gideon Saar, from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, took over as education minister.

Get our FREE 2013 Global Security Forecast now

Army officials say the percentage of the Israeli population performing the mandatory service has dropped slightly in recent years and that this represents a concern in long-range planning.

'PATH OF VALUES'

The linkage between bonuses and draft rates comes just months after the ministry expanded a program it runs jointly with the army whose official purpose is ''to strengthen the ties between schools and the army.'' Now running in hundreds of schools, the Derech Erech ("Path of Values") program brings army officers to schools to discuss the relationship between the army and society and to strengthen teenagers' desire to make a substantial contribution during their three years of mandatory military service.

The army also runs another long-standing program, Gadna, which gives high schoolers a taste of life in the military. Addressing teachers at a session of the Derech Erech program in Jerusalem, last summer, Mr. Saar told them ''teachers are lifelong draftees,'' according to media reports at the time.

According to the circular, full-time teachers in schools whose achievements are ranked as being in the top 10 percent in their category will receive bonuses of 8,000 shekels ($2,160), while 6,000 shekels ($1,620) will be paid for the next 10 percent, 4,000 shekels ($1,081) for the following, and then 3,000 ($810) shekels for being in the top 40 percent of the schools.

Unabashed assertion of Israeli claims to biblically resonant sites in the occupied West Bank is also part of the ministry's current approach. Two years ago, Saar inaugurated a controversial program to bring high schoolers on trips to the Cave of the Patriarchs holy site and the hard-line Jewish settlement in the West Bank city of Hebron.

EDUCATION OR INDOCTRINATION?

Critics say the stress on the army and territory comes at the expense of humanistic values.

"The ministry of education is taking Israel in a more militaristic, more nationalistic, more xenophobic, and more chauvinistic direction. It's not an education, it's a sort of indoctrination," says former education minister and former leader of the dovish Meretz party Yossi Sarid.

"We are not Sparta, we are not raising people to become soldiers," he says. "Unfortunately, sooner or later they become soldiers, but this should be a necessity, not an idea."

Asked whether the policies would make it harder for Israel to make peace with its Arab neighbors in the long run, Mr. Sarid responds, ''I believe that is the target. It's not an inevitable result, it's the aim of the system at the present moment. The aim is to make people more ultra-nationalist and ultra-rightist.''

Israeli Arab high schools ? whose pupils do not go on to serve in the military ? will pay a high price for heightened army involvement in the schools and the new funding scheme, says Sharaf Hassan, educational director for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.

''Educating to prepare for the army and to encourage enlistment comes at the expense of regular education, which is meant to educate for democracy and citizenship,'' he says.

MINISTRY RESPONSE

The education ministry said in a written response to the criticism of the Hebron trips that they ''are part of a program that deals with the topic of heritage and does not have any political aspects.'' The ministry said it was important for pupils to visit the Cave of the Patriarchs ? where according to tradition the bible's Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are buried ? because ''this constitutes the cradle of the Jewish nation.''

Asked to respond to criticism of the new bonus system, the ministry said it is ''designed to develop excellence among teachers and pupils. The ministry is aware of the great investment and commitment needed to bring pupils to high achievements in the values, social, and learning fields.''

Raanan Gissin, who served as spokesman for former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, dismissed the criticism of the funding decision, saying ensuring a high draft rate is essential for Israel.

''Israel finds itself in a peculiar situation, surrounded by enemies and threats including from Iran and from terrorism, whether conventional or non-conventional," he says. "So serving for three years is sine qua non of the way society survives in this environment. To survive, everyone has to take part in defense and that means three years of military service.''

Mr. Gissin also said it is a positive that army officers come to the high schools. ''They are not speaking politics there, they are speaking as people with experience carrying the burden. They are saying there is another way to fulfill yourself other than becoming a tycoon, that you can do it by serving your country.''

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

Related stories

Read this story at csmonitor.com

Become a part of the Monitor community

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israel-offering-bonuses-teachers-boost-student-enlistment-150004777.html

chris harrison girl scouts printable bracket game change own stacy francis tournament brackets

DIY Flash Paper for Illusions or Just for Kicks

Flash paper is a staple for stage illusionists to create fire tricks and, as long as you follow safety protocols, can be a fun chemistry experiment.

YouTube user Nighthawkinlight demonstrates a method for making Nitrocellulose (aka flash paper) using cotton squares cut from a t-shirt, sulfuric acid (drain cleaner) from a plumbing supply shop, and potassium nitrate. You'll add the potassium nitrate to the sulfuric acid and stir to create nitric acid and pour that over your cotton strips. After letting the cotton soak for an hour you'll neutralize the acid by adding water (usually you only add acid to water but see the video for the explanation why this case is different) and a solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water. After drying out the flash paper will briefly flare up with fire when lit by a flame. Many stage magic effects have used nitrocellulose over the years and while there are otherwise no practical applications (maybe to help start a fire in a survival situation) it is a fun chemistry experiment as long as you follow proper safety procedures.

Keep in mind that, because this project involves using acid and acid vapor, you need to make sure you're wearing safety glasses and have water and baking soda nearby in case of accidental contact. Also make sure this is done outside as you don't want the acid vapors in your home.

How to Make Flash Paper - Magic Trick Fireballs (Nitrocellulose) | YouTube

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/wXsEAtwZ_qE/diy-flash-paper-for-illusions-or-just-for-kicks

pinnacle airlines kansas vs kentucky joe posnanski michael kidd gilchrist national championship calipari national archives

more family love :: winter home moments. - life in motherhood ...

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Source: http://marcelroman.typepad.com/blog/2013/01/more-family-love-winter-home-moments-life-in-motherhood.html

badminton Dominique Dawes Gabby Olympic Gymnast Robyn Lawley Gore Vidal mlb trade rumors Misty May And Kerri Walsh

Rihanna, Chris Brown Have A New Collaboration On The Way

The singers were snapped leaving the studio, and Brown's rep has confirmed that a new track is in the works.
By Jocelyn Vena

Cover Art for Rihanna's new single, "Stay," featuring Chris Brown
Photo: Rihanna, via Instagram

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1700492/rihanna-chris-brown-new-collaboration.jhtml

the last lecture kim jong un josh powell madonna halftime show linsanity the alamo anencephaly

jessie j bikini snap twitter

LAST week JESSIE J had gentle words about pop stars, actors and other celebs who strip off, take photos of themselves then post the images on Twitter.

She posted: ?I?m bored... Maybe I should get naked and smoke and take pictures of myself and post them on Instagram? Or NOT. *rolls eyes*?

There are no drugs in sight, but here?s Jessie stripped down to her bikini in Singapore.

Abracadabra ... the singer poses with a pal

Xposure

She posted a pile of snaps invading her own privacy for her massive six million-strong Twitter fan base to see.

And for that, I will be eternally grateful ? it?s been a bit quiet on the picture front, and if I printed a shot of RIHANNA again, I might have gone mad.

Leggy lady ... the celeb relaxes on her Singapore holiday

Xposure

Source: http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/4744275/jessie-j-bikini-snap-twitter.html

eric holder carole king crystal renn matilda cab calloway melissa gilbert deadliest catch

Local search engine to improve visibility of a business | Local Web ...

Local search engine optimization will improve the visibility of your business at your business location. It is true that there will be a number of customers for your business at the business location. Hence, it is wise to find tune your site for local search listings. You should understand the keywords that are used by local users to search your website. You should also take measures to optimize the web pages so that those pages will list on top of the local search listings. You should submit your sites to various directories and search engines so that your website?s local search results will improve. As your website gets traced easily, you are likely to receive number of inquires. As the number of inquiries will increase there will be a corresponding growth in the sales volume.

Importance of local search

The role of local search engine should be understood to take advantage of its potential. It is true that most of the customers will depend on local newspapers to be aware of local happenings. Local newspapers and local television channels are used by businesses to promote their products and services locally. As more and more customers are using the internet as a medium for communication, businesses should be proactive in the implementation of measures such that they will be able to make the most of their advertising campaigns.

The website should be optimized for local search engine algorithm. The information that you are searching for should be listed when local search parameters are used. For example, if a user wants to find all the hotels available in a particular zip code area, he should get such details. Hence, the content of the website should be optimized by keeping an eye on the local search engine.

How to make the most through search engines?

Businesses should take the opportunity to upload their data to local search databases. Webmasters should ensure that the website related information should be disseminated through various search engines that focus on various kinds of data including maps, business data and product & service information. In fact, there are a number of search engines that are providing location specific information. By ensuring that your website is updated in all such local search improvement channels, you can certainly make the most from local search engines. For example, the giant Google Maps will always crawl for addresses mentioned on various websites. The information that you provide on your website will be used by a number of search engines and the information gathered from various sites will be compiled and consolidated to provide useful information to end users.

Proactive measures

Hence, you should take proactive measures to ensure that your website?s layout and content reflects the current web standards. The content should be optimized not only for search engines but also for local search engines so that you can make the most from local promotions. As you take concrete measures to present your website?s details in a systematic way, you can certainly make the most by increasing the sales.

Source: http://www.localwebgeek.com/local-search-engine-to-improve-visibility-of-a-business/

the masters live mega millions winner holy thursday chris stewart evo 4g lte marlins new stadium arnold palmer

8 Email List Building Tips For Online Success | Andrea Bolder's ...

I have done a ton of training focusing on email list building tips and techniques. Building an email list is one of the most important building blocks to making money online. Without an email list you are severely limiting your income potential. Your goal every single day should be focused on adding more readers, subscribers, and leads.

When I first got started online I was afraid to build an email list. WHY? I can?t really explain the root of that fear other than I was scared of using my website to sell to people. It was almost like I was afraid to ask for the money or didn?t believe people would actually buy products from me.

I know, I know. What is the point of building a business if you are afraid to ask for the money?

But after about 12 months of not seeing the income I wanted you could say I was forced into an attitude adjustment.

When it comes to blogging ? your email list is you number one asset and it IS where the money?s at.

You can be produce great content, awesome videos and know how to drive traffic ? but if you fail to convert those readers, viewers and visitors to subscribers on your email list then you might as well close the door on your online enterprise right now.

Building an email list does not make you some sleezy salesman, schemer or spammer!

Giving people the opportunity to opt-in to your email list or download a free offer in exchange for their contact details does not make you look bad is complete so get that thought out of your head right now! If you are struggling to build your email list let?s go step by step through the whys, whats and hows with these email list building tips.

01. Why Would Anyone To Join Your Email List?

First and foremost you need to ask yourself why anyone would want to join your email list. If you can?t come up with a good answer of you wouldn?t be compelled to join your own list, then you need to work on that immediately. I opt-in to email lists all the time and I also opt-out of email list that don?t serve my needs. But the reason I join an email list is because there was something I liked about the content I read on someone?s site and I wanted more. It?s as simple as that.

I want you to email me and let me know when you publish something new that might help me build my business or make my life easier.

02. Having The Confidence To Know and Understand Your Value?

People who are scared about building an email list lack the confidence in their expertise, products or brand. They don?t believe they are worthy of people listened to or attracting followers that will buy from them. They don?t think they deserve great success. The truth of the matter is that if you have information that can help someone else you are actually doing them a disservice by not giving them the opportunity to opt-in and receive more information from you.

Know and understand the value you bring to the market place. It?s OK to make money online doing something you are passionate about and helping people at the same time. The mindset you have when it comes to building an email list will dictate the SUCCESS of your email list building activities.

03. Know Why Building A List Is Important

When it comes to building an email list the why is just as important as the how! Here are a few reasons why growing an email list is important to your success online:

• You can email your list any time you want. Have a new blog post you can email them. Have something inspirational to say, you can email them.
• Have a product recommendation or launching a product of your own? You can send a surge of traffic to your sales pages with one click of a button.

04. Putting The Pieces Together

1. Creating Your ?Mafia Offer?

What?s a ?mafia offer?? Something your visitors can?t say no to. This is the most important part of the email list building process. You want to provide give something of value away in return for names and email addresses. Creating your mafia offer is easy. All you have to do is produce a product that you could sell but instead give away for FREE.

Don?t be afraid to give way your best material to get more people to sign up. Not only does it increase conversions but it can make you a lot of money in the long run. In fact my first offer was a FREE ebook that I gave away on my blog which went on to make me thousands of dollars in months.

Let?s say you have a weight loss blog, you could created a report called ?7 Ways To Shed More Pounds With Less Exercise?. In this report you teach visitors how to do this while also recommending products or services that will genuinely help them but also make you money as an affiliate. Keep in mind your goal is to help your readers but to also make money. If you are not familiar with how affiliate marketing works, I suggest you read this guide. A step 7 guide can be completed in just a few hours and you can get an attractive, professional ebook cover from fiverr.com for $5.

You can deliver your FREE report in a PDF format, including the link in a follow up email which is automatically sent to new subscribers (I use Aweber for this) immediately after they opt-in. You can also deliver your report in one long email or break it up into a series of emails.

Also, keep in mind that your FREE gift does not have to be a report. It can be a Video, Audio or ZIP file with any combination of the above.

2. Setting Up Your Opt-in Form & Email Funnel

I use Aweber as my email marketing service provider. These companies allow you to collect names and email addresses, send and track emails, and more. I am also learning that as your email list grows for every 10,000 subscribers you should look into using another service. Relying on just one company, may not be good business sense and you would hate for you entire business to crumble overnight because your email service shut you down, went out of business or made a mistake. With that said, make sure you are backing up your contacts on a weekly or daily basis depending on how many leads you are generating just to be safe.

Regardless of the email service provider you choose, you?ll be able to create opt-in boxes or web forms that you can place throughout your blog. Once a lead ?opts in? you can send them to a custom page or you can use the email providers default thank you page. I prefer to create a custom page in WordPress thanking new subscribers for opting in and giving them instructions on how to access their free gift. To take advantage of the fact, that this is the point where your lead is most interested in what you are offering, I also suggest placing several affiliate product links or banners on your thank you page that are related to your free gift.

?3. Have a Page Dedicated To Your Free Offer

Make it easy for your new subscribers to share your offer with their network of friends and customers. Don?t rely on just a sidebar opt-in box, but also create a separate sign up page detailing your offer. People can simple copy and share the page link. Another awesome tool I recommend is using OptimizePress ? this allows you to create high converting squeeze pages in 5 minutes or less. These squeeze pages convert at a rate of more than 50% which means if 1000 visitors see your? page, over 500 will opt-in.

They have a ton of different pages to choose from, you can add your logo or banner, include a video on your squeeze page, show a preview of one, add a free PDF report with an eCover, include testimonials, social sharing buttons and more!

4. Use a Popup Opt-In Form

This is something that took me a while to get comfortable with, but man o man it has increased my opt-ins and profits substantially! When you first visit my site you see my popup which was created using a WordPress plugin called Popup Domination. Instead of using the generic pop up forms Aweber provides, I wanted something that was functional, professional looking and really drove opt-ins. The options Popup Domination provides such as how soon the popup shows up, how often, on what pages, along with their sleek, stylish designs were just what I wanted. Using Popup Domination I was able to double my opt-ins almost immediately, which tripled my profits.

I use the Popup Domination template which allows me to add the eCover of my FREE report. This template converts much higher than the one?s I?ve tried where I did not include the cover, so? I suggest you invest in an eCover design for your free gift.

5. Creating Your Email Follow Up Series

This is a step you really want to take time with. By setting up follow messages, your email service provider will automatically email your subscribes at a pre-scheduled date and time. For example a follow up email with a link to your free offer will be sent out immediately. But you can schedule follow up emails to be sent out the next day, and the next day after that, or 4 days after that, etc. This is an awesome way to automate your business and income. You may broadcast an email to your list recommending a product. If that email makes you money you will want to add the email to your list of follow up messages. This way, when new readers opt-in you can automatically send that email to your new subscribers. To them it will be new content, to you it means another chance to make money on something you did weeks or months ago. That is the true meaning of leverage!!

6. How To Profit From Your Email List

There are a number of ways to monetize your email list. The most common and easiest way is by promoting affiliate products. Just think about being able to shoot an email to your list and in return make hundreds, even thousands of dollars for 5 minutes worth of work. The opportunities to make money online are there, you just have to be willing to take advantage of them. Here are a few ways to promote via email:

• Send an email to your list with a direct link to the product sales page (easiest, fastest solution but doesn?t convert as well)
• Send an email to your list which directs them to a product review on your blog
• Send an email to your list which directs them to a personalized bonus page you?ve created on your site. Introduce them to the product and offer them an exclusive bonus if they purchase through your affiliate link. (this works well for higher priced products)

I?ve personally had the best success sending my subscribers to a post where I?ve done a product review. Not only does this take them back to my blog, but it gives me the opportunity to list the specific benefits as well as give my opinion on the product. It also increases my chance of selling other products. Since they are already on my site they may browse some of the other recommended products I have on my site.

7. How often should I email my list?

Well it depends. I know marketer who email their list every day and some once a month. I personally think that you should email your list whenever you have something of VALUE to give them. That means you are sharing something that will help them get better results in their business. So a rule of thumb is to ask yourself ? does this email provide value. if it doesn?t don?t send it.? It is essential to over deliver and keep your subscribers engaged. This can only be done by putting their needs first and delivering information, products and services that improve their life and business.

Do not simple promote, promote, promote! You should be sharing more free content than promoting products. Not only does this help build rapport, but it shows your subscribers that you really care about them not just about getting their money. People buy from people they know really have their best interest in mind.

8. How To Increase Income and Open Rates

This is a step most people do not utilize or even think is possible. There are always people who will not open up your email the day you send it out. So I suggest sending another email to the people who didn?t open the email the day before. You can keep the email content the same but tweak the title. Maybe this time it will catch their curiosity and they will be more compelled to open and read your email. Before using this option that would not have been possible.

So there you have it. 8 email list building tips for online success! Did I miss anything? Feel free to add your comments and thoughts below. It is always appreciated.

?

Source: http://andreabolder.com/2013/8-email-list-building-tips-for-online-success/

venus williams Freeh Report direct tv wimbledon ray allen Savages Home Run Derby 2012

Woman Steals Train, Crashes Into Building in Sweden

Source:

demi moore hospitalized james farentino somali pirates navy seals navy seal team 6 tim gunn tim gunn

Ravens LB Ayanbadejo bashes Pats on Twitter

Updated: January 13, 2013, 10:53 PM ET

ESPN.com news services

The war of words between the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots already is under way.

While New England was in the process of defeating the Houston Texans on Sunday to set up an AFC Championship Game rematch with Baltimore, Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo ripped the Patriots on Twitter, particularly criticizing their no-huddle offense.

"New England does some suspect stuff on offense. Can't really respect it. Comparable to a cheap shot b4 a fight," Ayanbadejo tweeted.

Ayanbadejo will get an opportunity to see New England's offense in person next Sunday when the Ravens visit the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game for the second consecutive season. New England won last year's meeting, 23-20, thanks to a missed field goal by Baltimore's Billy Cundiff as time expired.

The Patriots gained 457 yards of total offense in Sunday's 41-28 victory over the Texans, as Tom Brady passed for 344 yards while orchestrating a hurry-up offense that confounded Houston throughout the contest.

But Ayanbadejo was unimpressed, referring to the Patriots' approach as "a gimmick."

"Are you watching the game pats vs texans?" Ayanbadejo tweeted. "If so you see the hurry snap offense catch em b4 they set up. It's a gimmick."

He later tweeted: "Their offense is good enough to be successful with out that."

Ayanbadejo proceeded to make a critical reference to the Spygate scandal and Patriots coach Bill Belichick's decision to cut wide receiver Tiquan Underwood one day before Super Bowl XLVI.

SN: AFC Championship Game

For the second straight year, the Patriots and Ravens meet with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. Which team is headed to New Orleans? Cast your vote!

"You know the same organization that did spygate and cut a guy the day b4 the Super Bowl," he tweeted.

Ayanbadejo also referred to the Patriots' 2007 season, when they completed the only 16-0 regular season in NFL history but lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

"18-1," he tweeted.

The Ravens rallied past the Patriots for a 31-30 victory in Week 3 this season. Ayanbadejo, who did not record a tackle in that contest, posted several tweets stating that he "Can't Wait!" for the latest rematch between the rivals.

Source: http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2012/story/_/id/8841830/2013-nfl-playoffs-brendon-ayanbadejo-baltimore-ravens-bashes-new-england-patriots-twitter

Kmart Black Friday PlanetSide 2 Alexis DeJoria danica patrick sweet potato casserole turkey Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Will.i.am on top as Bowie returns to UK charts

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. producer will.i.am's collaboration with Britney Spears topped the British pop charts on Sunday as David Bowie notched up his first top 10 single in two decades with his surprise new release.

Launched without warning on Bowie's 66th birthday, the single "Where Are We Now?" caused widespread media interest, and charted in sixth place despite only having been available for five days.

It was his first new song in almost a decade and produced his best chart performance since 1986, when he reached number two with "Absolute Beginners", the Official Charts Company said.

Topping the chart was "Scream and Shout" by will.i.am, featuring Britney Spears, giving her a first British number one since 2004.

U.S. country-pop star Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" moved up to second, with James Arthur, winner of the British version of the "X Factor" TV talent show last year, dropping from first to third with "Impossible".

In the album chart, singer Emeli Sand? returned to number one with "Our Version of Events", which has now spent 48 consecutive weeks in the Top 10.

Last week's chart-topper "18 Months" by Scottish producer and singer Calvin Harris dropped to second place, and English singer Jake Bugg rose a place to third with his eponymous album.

R&B star Rihanna climbed three to fourth with "Unapologetic". The only new entry in the top 10 was the soundtrack from the Oscar-nominated film musical "Les Miserables", which debuted in fifth.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/am-top-bowie-returns-uk-charts-192208405.html

andrew shaw hologram pulitzer prize winners nfl 2012 schedule gmail down tim lincecum ryan oneal

Oakland police say 4 killed in separate shootings

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) ? Oakland police are investigating four fatal shootings that took place in different parts of the city within six hours, the latest outbreak of violence in a city that saw 131 homicides last year.

Friday's victims included a 17-year-old high school senior who died at the scene of the attack at around 8:15 p.m. Oakland police spokeswoman Johnna Watson blamed groups "involved in ongoing feuds" for the shootings.

The first fatal shooting involved a 22-year-old Oakland man and took place at around 2:30 p.m., The Oakland Tribune (http://bit.ly/ZIXOd8) reported.

The second shooting was reported at around 3 p.m. when a 30-year-old Stockton man's body was found. It's believed the man ? identified as Larry Lovette ? was shot elsewhere in the city and his body taken to the Glenview district, police said.

Then at around 4:15 p.m., a 20-year-old Oakland man was found shot in his car in the driveway of a home. Eddiebo Rodriguez died after he was taken to a hospital, police said.

The 17-year-old ? identified by authorities as Ken Harbin ? died in an area that's plagued by gangs and gun violence. Neighbors said they heard dozens of gunshots Friday night.

"Shooting happens out here all the time," said Armando Ramirez, 37, who was walking by the scene of Harbin's shooting with two small children Saturday morning. "It's a part of life here."

Two other people were killed earlier this week in separate shootings in the city.

Mayor Jean Quan, Police Chief Howard Jordan and several staff members discussed Friday's shootings in a Saturday morning conference call, Quan spokesman Sean Maher said.

"We know the greater Oakland community is looking for fast action and we are putting every resource we can into making that happen," Maher said.

The police department has 612 officers, down from more than 800 in 2009 and far short of the 925 recommended by the city's strategic plan, Councilwoman Libby Schaaf said.

Proposals for creating a new police academy, contracting for supplemental policing from the county sheriff and enlarging the ranks of civilian Police Department employees could all come before the council this month, she said.

"Basic public safety resources are not in place," she said. "I know we can responsibly afford new investments in public safety."

Violent crime in Oakland rose 23 percent in 2012, prompting the city to announce last month the hiring of former New York City police commissioner and Los Angeles police chief Bill Bratton as a consultant on how to reduce crime and combat gang violence.

Bratton will be joined by noted police strategist Bob Wasserman, head of the Boston-based Strategic Policy Partnership, who has consulted many of the nation's biggest cities on policing.

___

Information from: The Oakland Tribune, http://www.oaklandtribune.com

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-01-12-US-Four-Homicides-Oakland/id-15108943f69a44598cf15863fe4034ca

at last al green gina carano burger king delivery etta james at last john king obama sings al green

Obama to Seek Immigration Overhaul

President Obama plans to push Congress to move quickly in the coming months on an ambitious overhaul of the immigration system that would include a path to citizenship for most of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, senior administration officials and lawmakers said last week.

Mr. Obama and Senate Democrats will propose the changes in one comprehensive bill, the officials said, resisting efforts by some Republicans to break the overhaul into smaller pieces -- separately addressing young illegal immigrants, migrant farmworkers or highly skilled foreigners -- which might be easier for reluctant members of their party to accept.

The President and Democrats will also oppose measures that do not allow immigrants who gain legal status to become American citizens one day, the officials said.

Even while Mr. Obama has been focused on fiscal negotiations and gun control, overhauling immigration remains a priority for him this year, White House officials said. Top officials there have been quietly working on a broad proposal. Mr. Obama and lawmakers from both parties believe that the early months of his second term offer the best prospects for passing substantial legislation on the issue.

(Read More: Why Immigration Reform May Happen This Year)

Mr. Obama is expected to lay out his plan in the coming weeks, perhaps in his State of the Union address early next month, administration officials said. The White House will argue that its solution for illegal immigrants is not an amnesty, as many critics insist, because it would include fines, the payment of back taxes and other hurdles for illegal immigrants who would obtain legal status, the officials said.

The President's plan would also impose nationwide verification of legal status for all newly hired workers; add visas to relieve backlogs and allow highly skilled immigrants to stay; and create some form of guest-worker program to bring in low-wage immigrants in the future.

A bipartisan group of senators has also been meeting to write a comprehensive bill, with the goal of introducing legislation as early as March and holding a vote in the Senate before August. As a sign of the keen interest in starting action on immigration, White House officials and Democratic leaders in the Senate have been negotiating over which of them will first introduce a bill, Senate aides said.

''This is so important now to both parties that neither the fiscal cliff nor guns will get in the way,'' said Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, a Democrat who is a leader of the bipartisan discussions.

A similar attempt at bipartisan legislation early in Mr. Obama's first term collapsed amid political divisions fueled by surging public wrath over illegal immigration in many states. But both supporters and opponents say conditions are significantly different now.

Memories of the results of the November election are still fresh here. Latinos, the nation's fastest-growing electorate, turned out in record numbers and cast 71 percent of their ballots for Mr. Obama. Many Latinos said they were put off by Republicans' harsh language and policies against illegal immigrants.

(Read More: Issues For Obama's Second Term)

After the election, a host of Republicans, starting with Speaker John A. Boehner, said it was time for the party to find a more positive, practical approach to immigration. Many party leaders say electoral demographics are compelling them to move beyond policies based only on tough enforcement.

Supporters of comprehensive changes say that the elections were nothing less than a mandate in their favor, and that they are still optimistic that Mr. Obama is prepared to lead the fight.

''Republicans must demonstrate a reasoned approach to start to rebuild their relationship with Latino voters,'' said Clarissa Martinez de Castro, the director of immigration policy at the National Council of La Raza, a Latino organization. ''Democrats must demonstrate they can deliver on a promise.''

Since the election, Mr. Obama has repeatedly pledged to act on immigration this year. In his weekly radio address on Saturday, he again referred to the urgency of fixing the immigration system, saying it was one of the ''difficult missions'' the country must take on.

Parallel to the White House effort, Mr. Schumer and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Republican, have been meeting with a group of at least four other colleagues to write a bill. Republicans who have participated include John McCain of Arizona, who has supported comprehensive legislation in the past; Jeff Flake, also of Arizona, who is newly elected to the Senate; and Mike Lee of Utah. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida participated in one meeting last month.

Democrats in the meetings include Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat; Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Michael Bennet of Colorado.

Basic tenets for the bill, Mr. Schumer said, were that it would be comprehensive and would offer eventual citizenship for illegal immigrants who follow a prolonged process to correct their status.

''This is a bottom line,'' Mr. Schumer said in an interview on Thursday. ''The Democrats have made it clear we will not accept a bill without a direct path to earned citizenship.'' He said senators from both parties had been ''pleasantly surprised'' at how rapidly the talks had proceeded.

Source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/100375167

best cyber monday deals macaulay culkin Larry Hagman macys apple apple jcpenney

FAA to launch comprehensive review of Boeing 787

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Federal regulators say they are ordering a comprehensive review of the critical systems of Boeing's 787s, the aircraft maker's newest and most technologically advanced plane, after a fire and a fuel leak earlier this week.

The Federal Aviation Administration says the review will include the design, manufacture and assembly of the aircraft. Officials plan to detail the review at a news conference Friday morning.

The 787, which Boeing calls the "Dreamliner," relies more than any other modern airliner on electrical signals to help power nearly everything the plane does. It's also the first Boeing plane to use rechargeable lithium ion batteries and to be made with lightweight composite materials.

A fire ignited Monday in the battery pack of an auxiliary power unit of a Japan Airlines 787 empty of passengers.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-01-11-Boeing%20787-FAA/id-a515a8d0a766443da64641c7b59f5556

radar weather morosini death jacoby ellsbury jacoby ellsbury lionel richie kenny rogers avatar the last airbender

Physical therapy in the intensive care unit is better for patients and ...

January 12, 2013 8:28 am You are here:Home Medicine Physical therapy in the intensive care unit is better for patients and the hospital?s bottom line Tags:?Article, conservative, Cost, Financial, Hospital, radha-korupolu, reference, rehabilitation, Science, Social, Study, Time

Source: http://www.humanhealthandscience.com/physical-therapy-in-the-intensive-care-unit-is-better-for-patients-and-the-hospitals-bottom-line/news

jeff saturday jason smith jon corzine austin rivers austin rivers sweet home alabama etch a sketch