TEXT-Fitch: Marginal Earnings Upside for China's FAI-Related Industries

(The following was released by the rating agency)

Link to Fitch Ratings' Report: 2013 Outlook: China

Fixed-Asset Investment

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=700172

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG, January 30 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings says

in a new report that it expects a firmer economic outlook for

China in 2013 to only marginally improve the operating

environment of fixed asset investment (FAI)-related sectors.

This is because a protracted period of industry restructuring to

address excess production capacity is essential to enhance the

longer-term outlook.

Specific product classes - concrete, rebar, light rail steel

- that benefit from urbanisation may continue to perform well

while slower industrial production capacity growth may constrain

the performance of companies in the heavy industry sector.

The report also highlights that global demand changes may

complicate the operating environment, putting cost and pricing

pressure on an already thin profit margin. Another risk is that

a rapid pace of industry consolidation driven by the state may

hurt corporate balance sheets as few companies have the

financial resources and operational breadth to undertake M&A

large enough to materially affect the industry competition

structure.

Currently Fitch rates the following companies:

Aluminum Corporation of China Limited ('BBB+'/Stable)

Baosteel Group Corporation ('A-'/Stable)

China Hanking Holdings Limited ('BB-'/Stable)

China Hongqiao Group Limited ('BB'/Positive)

China Liansu Group Holdings Limited ('BB'/Stable)

China Oriental Group Company Limited ('BB+'/Negative)

China Shanshui Cement Group Limited ('BB-'/Positive)

Delong Holdings Limited ('B'/Negative)

West China Cement Limited ('BB-'/Stable)

Winsway Coking Coal Holdings Limited ('BB-'/Negative)

Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co. Ltd

('BBB-'/Stable)

The report, '2013: China Fixed-Asset Investment', is

available on www.fitchratings.com or by clicking on the link

above.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/text-fitch-marginal-earnings-upside-chinas-fai-related-035418588--sector.html

Tagg Romney Bosses Day Cabin Fever 2 Alexis Wright Zumba binder full of women Microsoft Surface Candy Crowley

Scientists learn more about how inhibitory brain cells get excited

Jan. 30, 2013 ? Scientists have found an early step in how the brain's inhibitory cells get excited. A natural balance of excitement and inhibition keeps the brain from firing electrical impulses randomly and excessively, resulting in problems such as schizophrenia and seizures. However excitement is required to put on the brakes.

"When the inhibitory neuron is excited, its job is to suppress whatever activity it touches," said Dr. Lin Mei, Director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University and corresponding author of the study in Nature Neuroscience.

Mei and his colleagues found that the protein erbin, crucial to brain development, is critical to the excitement.

It was known that a protein on the cell surface called TARP gamma-2, also known as stargazing, interacts with a brain cell receptor called AMPA, ensuring the receptor finds the cells surface. It is here that the receptor can be activated by the neurotransmitter glutamate. AMPA receptor activation is essential to activation of the NMDA receptor, which enables cells to communicate, ultimately enabling learning and memory, Mei said. How TARP gamma-2 was controlled, was an unknown.

Inside the nucleus of inhibitory cells in areas of the brain that control learning and memory, the researchers found erbin interacts with TARP gamma-2, enabling it to survive. "If you do not have this mechanism, your stargazing becomes very unstable and your AMPA receptor cannot be on the surface so this neuron is inactive," Mei said. They also found that erbin is only in these inhibitory neurons, called interneurons. They're already working on what they believe to be the counterpart for excitatory cells, which account for about 80 percent of brain cells.

"Interneurons basically control firing," releasing GABA, a major inhibitory neurotransmitter, Mei said. They tone down or synchronize the activity of pyramidal cells, pyramid-shaped neurons that get both excitatory and inhibitory input then make the call on what action to take.

When scientists ablated the erbin gene in mice or kept erbin from interacting with TARP gamma-2, a protein that helps anchor the AMPA receptor on the cell surface, TARP gamma-2 couldn't do its job. The result was less receptors on the cell surface and mice that were hyperactive with impaired learning and memory.

Cell activity hinges on receptor activity and receptors must be anchored on the cell surface to work. Ensuring AMPA receptors are strategically placed is a lifelong task since the busy receptors wear out and each brain cell has tons of them, Mei said.

He and his colleagues reported in the journal, Neuron, in 2007, two genes -- neuregulin-1 and its receptor ErbB4 -- that help maintain a healthy balance of excitement and inhibition by releasing GABA at the sight of inhibitory synapses, the communication paths between neurons. Years before, they showed the genes were also at excitatory synapses, where they also could quash activation. Both genes are involved in human development and implicated in schizophrenia and cancer.

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 Georgia Health Sciences University. The original article was written by Toni Baker.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Yanmei Tao, Yong-Jun Chen, Chengyong Shen, Zhengyi Luo, C Ryan Bates, Daehoon Lee, Sylvie Marchetto, Tian-Ming Gao, Jean-Paul Borg, Wen-Cheng Xiong, Lin Mei. Erbin interacts with TARP ?-2 for surface expression of AMPA receptors in cortical interneurons. Nature Neuroscience, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/nn.3320

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/top_news/top_health/~3/5e3pfQjjfxE/130130121641.htm

dale george will obama birth certificate nick cannon lindsay lohan saturday night live snl lindsay lohan valley fever

Get The Credit Repair Tips That Can Help - Finance

If you have a mistake in your credit report, you can have a low score and it could be difficult to get someone to give you credit. There is no need to pay for an expensive service, you can do many of these repairs yourself. Check out the following tips on how you fix your credit on your own.

Do not use your credit cards. Do all of your spending with cash or debit cards. If you absolutely have no other choice but to use a credit card, pay off the balance in full as soon as possible.

Debt collection agencies can be the most stressful part of a bad credit crisis. Make sure you know that cease and desists of any type can only stop you from being harassed, you?re still going to be in debt. This doesn?t let the customer off the hook for the debt, it merely stops the threatening calls.

During your credit improvement journey, you may feel pressured into committing to payment plans or sending in lump sum payments that are simply not affordable. Know what your budget is and stick to it. If you sign up for payment plans you cannot follow, your credit score will only get worst.

If you want to improve your credit score, don?t let anyone pull your credit report unnecessarily. Whenever someone inquires about your credit score, the inquire is recorded.

Pay all your bills to fix your credit. Credit counseling can also be a great help.

Try and pay down any revolving account balances in order to boost your credit score. You can improve your score by lowering your balances. Your FICO credit score notes what your balances are on your revolving accounts based on the credit you have available.

Be very wary of programs that do not sound legal; chances are they aren?t. There are scams all over the web that teach you how to create a new credit file. This tactic is not legal, and you face serious repercussions if you are caught. The legal costs can cripple you, and there is a very good chance you will be sent to jail.

Look through your credit card statement each month and make sure that it is correct. If there are, you will need to contact the company immediately to avoid them reporting this to a credit reporting agency,

Go through your credit report and identify any outstanding item. Ensure the report is free of errors and then begin the process of repairing the damage. Stay current with your monthly payments but start by tackling and paying off the largest amount owed first.

If your credit is such that you cannot get a new card to help repair it, apply for a secured one. Secured credit card applications have a high rate of approval because you must fund a security deposit against your credit limit. Even though this card will be secured by your own money, you will make payments and manage it as if it were unsecured. This will improve your credit as you show yourself able to make the payments on time.

Never trust a business or person who offers to clear up your credit for a price. Especially if it is correct information they say they can remove. These bad marks stay on your record for seven years or more. It is true, however, that you can remove inaccurate information from your report, but you do not need the assistance of a consultant to do so.

New lines of credit either long-term loans or a new credit card will initially lower your credit score. Resist the urge to apply for credit cards while shopping at your favorite retailer, even if they offer tempting promotions. Credit scores typically drop when new credit is opened.

Make sure to fully read every single credit card statement that you get. Check to be sure that you actually purchased the things that are listed on your statement, so that you are only paying for things you bought. You need to be sure that everything is correct on the statements.

If you are doing hardcore credit score improvement, you need to scrutinize your report for negative entries. Any mistakes, such as in the amount owed or the date the agreement was entered, could result in the removal of the entire negative trade line on your credit report.

Develop a plan that works if you are in need of credit score repair. Be totally committed to changing your spending habits. Don?t buy the things that aren?t needs. Ask yourself how necessary each purchase is, and how affordable it is too. If you can?t answer ?yes? to each of the questions above, you need to reconsider the purchase.

Financing homes can be made more difficult when your credit score is low. If your income is a factor you may qualify for a FHA loan, which has lower standards and makes the federal government your lender in a sense. FHA loans can even work when someone lacks the funds for down payment or closing costs.

Look for a credit repair agency that is legitimate. Too many of these services will use your desperation to make money. Far too many people have been bilked by dishonest agencies. Read all the reviews that you can find and you should be able to make a decision about who you can trust.

Look into credit counseling if your credit is a wreck. They can teach you how to get rid of all you owe and still live each month. You must be open to discard your credit cards, and you must send monthly payments to your creditors.

Consumers should carefully research credit counseling agencies before choosing one with which to work. There are some counselors that are real, while others are basically scammers. There are many scams out there. It is wise for consumers to not give out personal information unless they are absolutely sure that the company is legit.

As you can see, you have many options when it comes to repairing your credit. If you implement these tips, your credit score should rise. The best person to deal with your credit improvement is you and there is no reason why you cannot succeed at it.

Knowing about cnbc can certainly make your life easier. But before you start, you need to learn all you can about cnbc. When you do this, you can figure out the thorny issues that might arise. Utilize the tips you?ve just learned here and continue to do your research in order to have the best chance of success.

Related Posts:

Source: http://thenysefloor.com/2013/01/28/get-the-credit-repair-tips-that-can-help/

berkshire hathaway ufc 144 james jones james jones aladdin black forest ufc 144 fight card

NATO missile defense battery in Turkey operational

BRUSSELS (AP) ? The first of six Patriot missile batteries being deployed to Turkey to protect against attack from Syria was declared operational Saturday and placed under Turkish command, NATO said.

The battery, provided by the Netherlands, is meant to protect the city of Adana by shooting down missiles that could come over the Syrian border. Turkey has become a harsh critic of the regime in Syria, where a vicious civil war has left at least 60,000 people dead.

The United States, Germany and the Netherlands are providing two batteries each of the latest version of the U.S.-made Patriots. The other five Patriot batteries are expected to be in place and operational in the coming days in Adana, Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep.

"This is a clear demonstration of the agility and flexibility of NATO forces and of our willingness to defend Allies who face threats in an unstable world," Admiral James Stavridis, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, said in a statement.

NATO reiterated Saturday that the Patriots are for defensive purposes only. Syria has not fired any of its surface-to-surface missiles at Turkey during its nearly two-year civil war and its government has described the NATO deployment as a provocation.

NATO also deployed Patriot batteries to Turkey during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq 10 years ago. They were never used and were withdrawn a few months later.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nato-missile-defense-battery-turkey-operational-130210789.html

peter paul and mary edgar rice burroughs dallas clark litter marinol flight attendant pau gasol trade

Ensure Harmonious Relationships With Daily Zodiac Compatibility

Daily zodiac compatibility tools are a great resource for ensuring harmonious personal and professional relationships. A lot, of course, depends on the interpretative skills and experience of the astrologer you consult. Scientific, authoritative astrological compatibility updates have helped hundreds of people achieve the most productive and happy relationships with the key members in their life.

How Zodiac Compatibility Reports Work

Astrological or zodiac compatibility reports are compiled using a definite system that distills hundreds of years of hard-won facts and techniques. Most authoritative astrologers in the western tradition use any one among two techniques - the Synastry method or the Composite technique.

The Synastry technique consists of comparing the positions of the houses, planets, and certain key points in the charts belonging to the two individuals whose compatibility needs to be tested. The composite method, on the other hand, works by identifying the midpoints between each major planet in the natal charts of the partners or individuals concerned to cast a whole new relationship chart.

But this is only in the western astrological tradition. Each ancient astrological system has its own particular techniques for identifying compatibility ratings. Many astrologers, belonging to both the eastern and western traditions, prefer to use numerology for such consultations. Regardless of the method used, the validity of these charts has been proven beyond dispute in hundreds of real life partnerships.

Using a Daily Zodiac Compatibility Tool

Daily compatibility updates can be useful in a variety of ways. If you are in a relationship, these updates can help you identify potential problems well in advance. This allows partners to be prepared for troubled times in relationships, making things easier to handle. Compatibility updates will also give you a heads up on when any extra TLC may come in handy. For example, if the report shows that the relationship with your partner may start getting strained soon, investing in some couple time or extra patience can help you weather the storm.

Compatibility reports can also help with other key relationships in your life with parents, with children, and with bosses or colleagues. Many parents are able to understand their children better after reading and understanding a compatibility report. Similarly, you will be able to plan the best time to approach your boss about a raise or a key promotion by consulting these astrology charts.

Make the most of your life with daily zodiac compatibility tools.

About the Author:
Visit prem jyotish to find out more about some of the best daily zodiac compatibility tests on the internet. Prem jyotish also offers other types of reading methods like numerology.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Ensure-Harmonious-Relationships-With-Daily-Zodiac-Compatibility/4394964

super bowl start time target jason wu gi joe jason wu for target collection nick diaz vs carlos condit the patriot hall of fame

Magnetic levitation tissues could speed toxicity tests

Jan. 24, 2013 ? In a development that could lead to faster and more effective toxicity tests for airborne chemicals, scientists from Rice University and the Rice spinoff company Nano3D Biosciences have used magnetic levitation to grow some of the most realistic lung tissue ever produced in a laboratory.

The research is part of an international trend in biomedical engineering to create laboratory techniques for growing tissues that are virtually identical to those found in people's bodies. In the new study, researchers combined four types of cells to replicate tissue from the wall of the bronchiole deep inside the lung.

The research is available online and scheduled to appear in a future issue of the journal Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods.

"One of the unique things about the magnetic levitation technology is that it allows us to move cells around and arrange them the way that we want for a particular types of tissue," said study co-author Tom Killian, professor and department chair of physics and astronomy at Rice. "This is the first time anyone has arranged these four cell types in the same way that they are found in lung tissue."

In vitro laboratory tests have historically been conducted on 2-D cell cultures grown in flat petri dishes, but scientists have become increasingly aware that cells in flat cultures sometimes behave and interact differently than cells that are immersed in 3-D tissue.

Killian and fellow scientists from Rice and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center co-founded Nano3D Biosciences in 2009 after creating a technology that uses magnetism to levitate and grow 3-D cell cultures. The technology relies on inert, nontoxic magnetic nanoparticles that are inserted into the living cells. Researchers can then use magnets to lift and suspend the cells as they grow and divide.

"Growing realistic lung tissues in vitro is a particular challenge," said study co-author Jane Grande-Allen, professor of bioengineering at Rice. "There are a number of technical obstacles, and scientific funding agencies have placed a particular emphasis on lung tissue because there's a large potential payoff in terms of reducing costs for pharmaceutical and toxicological testing."

Nano3D Biosciences won a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 2011 to create a four-layered lung tissue from endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts and epithelial cells.

Glauco Souza, the company's chief scientific officer and co-founder, said the project switched into high gear when Rice bioengineering graduate student Hubert Tseng joined the research team as an intern. Tseng was already a student in Grande-Allen's lab, one of Rice's leading laboratories for tissue-engineering research.

"Hubert's and Jane's expertise in tissue engineering was invaluable for tackling this problem," Souza said.

Another collaboration that paid off big was a partnership with a group of undergraduate students at Rice's Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen. The undergraduate team, Cells in 3-D, worked on a magnetic pen that could be used to grab, move and combine magnetized 3-D cell cultures. Souza said Tseng used a version of this tool to create layered bronchiole tissues for this new study.

This microscopic image shows the structure and layers of in vitro bronchiole tissue created at Rice University and Nano3D Biosciences. The cell layers include epithelial cells (EpiC), smooth muscle cells (SMC), pulmonary fibroblasts (PF) and pulmonary endothelial cells (PEC).

Tseng said the new tissue resembles native bronchiole tissue more closely than any other tissue yet created in the lab.

"We conducted a number of tests, and the tissue has the same biochemical signature as native tissue," Tseng said. "We also used primary cells rather than engineered cells, which is important for toxicological testing because primary cells provide the closest possible match to native cells."

Souza said bronchiole tissue could solve another problem that's frequently encountered in testing the toxicity of airborne agents.

"With traditional 2-D cultures, it is very difficult to culture cells at the air-liquid interface, which is what you'd prefer for toxicity testing," he said. "With our technology, we can easily levitate the bronchiole tissue to the air-liquid interface so that airborne toxins are exposed to the epithelial layer of the tissue, just as it would occur in the lungs."

Grande-Allen said Tseng and other members of her group have already used the same methods pioneered in the bronchiole study to produce heart valve tissue; Souza said the NSF has awarded the company with a second phase of SBIR funding to further develop the technique for other types of tissue.

Study co-authors include Robert Raphael, professor of bioengineering at Rice and co-founder of Nano3D Biosciences; Dr. Robert Moore, a pediatric pulmonologist at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM); and former BCM scientist Jacob Gage, now with Nano3D Biosciences.

The research was funded by NSF and the Texas Emerging Technologies Fund.

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 Rice University. The original article was written by Jade Boyd.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Hubert Tseng, Jacob A. Gage, Rob Raphael, Robert H. Moore, T. C. Killian, K. Jane Grande-Allen, Glauco R. Souza. Assembly of a three-dimensional multitype bronchiole co-culture model using magnetic levitation. Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods, 2013; : 130110035304008 DOI: 10.1089/ten.TEC.2012.0157

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/top_news/top_technology/~3/W6mof4dHY6w/130124183640.htm

fran drescher scarlett o hara pat sajak vanna white michael robinson joe paterno memorial service taco bell breakfast menu

Wood on the seafloor -- an oasis for deep-sea life

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Trees do not grow in the deep sea, nevertheless sunken pieces of wood can develop into oases for deep-sea life - at least temporarily until the wood is fully degraded. A team of Max Planck researchers from Germany now showed how sunken wood can develop into attractive habitats for a variety of microorganisms and invertebrates. By using underwater robot technology, they confirmed their hypothesis that animals from hot and cold seeps would be attracted to the wood due to the activity of bacteria, which produce hydrogen sulfide during wood degradation.

Many of the animals thriving at hydrothermal vents and cold seeps require special forms of energy such as methane and hydrogen sulfide emerging from the ocean floor. They carry bacterial symbionts in their body, which convert the energy from these compounds into food. The vents and seeps are often separated by hundreds of kilometers of deep-sea desert, with no connection between them.

For a long time it was an unsolved mystery how animals can disperse between those rare oases of energy in the deep sea. One hypothesis was that sunken whale carcasses, large dead algae, and also sunken woods could serve as food source and temporary habitat for deep-sea animals, but only if bacteria were able to produce methane and sulfur compounds from it.

To tackle this question, the team deposited wood logs on the Eastern Mediterranean seafloor at depths of 1700 meters and returned after one year to study the fauna, bacteria, and chemical microgradients.

"We were surprised how many animals had populated the wood already after one year. The main colonizers were wood-boring bivalves of the genus Xylophaga, also named "shipworms" after their shallow-water counterparts. The wood-boring Xylophaga essentially constitute the vanguard and prepare the habitat for other followers," Bienhold said. ?But they also need assistance from bacteria, namely to make use of the cellulose from the wood, which is difficult to digest."

The team of researchers observed that the wood-boring bivalves had cut large parts of the wood into smaller chips, which were further degraded by many other organisms. This activity led to the consumption of oxygen, enabling the production of hydrogen sulfide by sulfate-reducing microorganisms. And indeed, the researchers also found a mussel, which is typically only found at cold seeps or similar environments where it uses sulfur compounds as an energy source. "It is amazing to see how deep-sea bacteria can transform foreign substances such as wood to provide energy for cold-seep mussels on their journey through the deep ocean", said Antje Boetius, chief scientist of the expedition. Furthermore, the researchers discovered unknown species of deep-sea worms, which have been described by taxonomic experts in Germany and the USA. Thus, sunken woods do not only promote the dispersal of rare deep-sea animals, but also form hotspots of biodiversity at the deep seafloor.

###

Bienhold C, Pop Ristova P, Wenzh?fer F, Dittmar T, Boetius A (2013) How Deep-Sea Wood Falls Sustain Chemosynthetic Life. PLoS ONE 8(1): e53590 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0053590

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft: http://www.mpg.de

Thanks to Max-Planck-Gesellschaft for this article.

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

This press release has been viewed 29 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126415/Wood_on_the_seafloor____an_oasis_for_deep_sea_life

Tom Cruise ryan reynolds Star Trek: The Original Series Carlton Morgan Freeman Dead Stand Up to Cancer Azarenka

Forget about fair - It's better when bosses pick favorites

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

A new study from the University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business shows that bosses should pick favourites if they want top performing teams.

"Conventional wisdom tells us that we should treat everyone the same to create a collegial and productive work atmosphere," says Sauder Professor Karl Aquino, who co-authored the forthcoming study for the Journal of Business Ethics. "But our research shows this can be a disincentive for workers who would otherwise go above and beyond on behalf of the team with a little bit of extra attention."

In a series of experiments, the researchers found people are more likely to experience heightened self-esteem, follow workplace norms, and perform tasks that benefit a group if a leader treats them relatively better than other people in their group.

"Bosses are in a tricky position," says Aquino. "There's a risk that treating some employees better than the rest can turn others off. The key is to find the right balance ? treat everyone reasonably well, but treat those whose work counts most or who have been most productive just a little bit better."

Aquino says that, in general, working culture in the United States leans toward showing preferential treatment to star employees, while Canadian, Northern European and most Asian cultures take a more egalitarian approach. Aquino suggests managers should consider a middle path to avoid creating envy while sustaining high levels of productivity among their star players.

In one of their experiments, the researchers looked at how preferential treatment from bosses affects a person's self-worth in their job and willingness to conform to workplace norms. A 357-person sample was surveyed online to assess their level of preferential treatment in the workplace. The workers were also asked to nominate a colleague to participate in a second online survey to report on whether the employee violated norms of efficient production and considerate conduct.

Respondents who reported receiving preferential treatment from their bosses reported feeling a greater sense of self-worth in their jobs. Their colleagues' assessment was that they behaved less antisocially and more productively at work.

Another study tested if preferentially treated group members were more likely to volunteer for a task that benefits the group. A sample of 41 students was divided into groups of three and asked to provide suggestions via email to a "team leader" for improving education at their university.

Participants received a group reply from the leader that included itemized responses to all the members' suggestions. In half of the groups, all recipients received the same email response which showed them preferential treatment over their peers. In the other half of the groups, the leader's responses showed positive but equal respect for all of the participant suggestions.

In a follow up survey, participants were asked to rate their willingness to take on a task to benefit a subsequent group discussion. Participants who received preferential treatment indicated that they were more willing to take on a group serving task than those who were treated well but equally.

###

University of British Columbia: http://www.ubc.ca

Thanks to University of British Columbia for this article.

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

This press release has been viewed 2 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126402/Forget_about_fair___It_s_better_when_bosses_pick_favorites

chipper jones chipper jones dancing with the stars cast mickael pietrus heart transplant the international preppers

Strong results from Google, IBM push stocks higher

NEW YORK (AP) ? Strong earnings from tech giants are nudging the stock market higher early Wednesday, ahead of a planned vote in Congress to raise the country's borrowing limit.

Tech giants Google and IBM reported surprisingly solid earnings late Tuesday, a hopeful sign for investors. Analysts had projected technology companies would post weak results in the fourth quarter.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 57 points to 13,769 as of 10:10 a.m. EST. IBM led the Dow's 30 stocks, surging 6 percent.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index was flat at 1,492. The Nasdaq composite rose 12 points to 3,155.

House Republicans are expected to vote in the afternoon on a measure to lift the federal government's debt ceiling, giving it enough room to pay its bills for another three months.

Google jumped 6 percent in early trading. Its earnings climbed at the end of last year as online advertisers spent more money in pursuit of holiday shoppers. The stock rose $40.61 to $743.88.

IBM's results beat expectations, thanks to its lucrative Internet-based "cloud" computing business and other software services. IBM also raised its earnings outlook for the current year. Its stock rose $11.36 to $207.48. Apple is scheduled to report its results after the close of trading.

Advanced Micro Devices also reported results that were better than analysts had expected. The world's second-largest maker of microchips, behind Intel, posted a smaller loss and higher revenue than analysts had forecast. AMD jumped 8 percent, making it the top stock in the S&P 500. It rose 22 cents to $2.65.

Coach plunged 14 percent, or $8.64, to $52.04 after the luxury handbag maker said a challenging economy and heavy price-cutting by competitors weighed on its results. Rivals like Michael Kors are attracting loyal followers.

In the bond market, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note dipped to 1.82 percent, down from 1.84 percent late Tuesday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/strong-results-google-ibm-push-stocks-higher-144402554--finance.html

emmys torrey smith torrey smith oakland raiders Jessica Lange NFL scores week 3 kat dennings

Wendy's Parenting Picks: Baby-Proofing Your Home

Dr. David comments on partnering with physician assistants to meet the needs of patients....

Dr. David takes your calls....

Dr. David takes your calls....

Dr. David takes your calls....

Arkansas GOP wants to see the Fed's final offer after the White House announces some flexibility in Medicaid expansion....

A family says they are finally sleeping well for the first time in more than a decade after a man was found guilty Friday of murdering two people in Conway....

The National Weather Service says 56 tornadoes touched down statewide on January 21, 1999, claiming eight lives....

A multi-million dollar project along Interstate 540 saves lives....

Hurbert Dewayne Jackson of Little Rock shot and left on the side of Highway 15...

It happened around four this afternoon at the Woodhaven complex....

Source: http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext?nxd_id=630652

jennifer garner romney michigan derrick williams railgun jk rowling new book between two ferns ihop

Ros? is here to stay, and other international wine trends - Business ...

Here at Maclean's, we appreciate the written word. And we appreciate you, the reader. We are always looking for ways to create a better user experience for you and wanted to try out a new functionality that provides you with a reading experience in which the words and fonts take centre stage. We believe you'll appreciate the clean, white layout as you read our feature articles. But we don't want to force it on you and it's completely optional. Click "View in Clean Reading Mode" on any article if you want to try it out. Once there, you can click "Go back to regular view" at the top or bottom of the article to return to the regular layout.

Andrew Johnson/Getty

You can?t find a bottle of wine for under $5 in most Canadian liquor stores, despite the fact that low-cost vino makes up 70 per cent of wine consumption globally. The irony was not lost on the crowd at?the Jan. 22 Vinexpo news conference that detailed the results of a global study on current wine and spirit trends. They even giggled after seeing a chart breaking down world wine consumption by price in 2007 to 2011 with a forecast to 2016. In 2011, almost 70 per cent of wine sales were for bottles under $5 USD. Twenty-one per cent were for bottles priced between $5 and $10, and the remaining nine percent were for wines costing more than $10. The next chart broke down Canada?s consumption in the same way, only there wasn?t even an under $5 category (see the first two slides below).

But Vinexpo chairman Xavier de Eizaguirre?and Baron Philippe de Rothschild?s managing director?looked on the bright side of Canadians having practically no access to wines $5 and under. They tend to be of poorer quality, he said. Think of it as training our palates to not accept cheap plonk.

This is the 11th year that Vinexpo?the world?s largest global world wine and spirits exhibition held every two years in Bordeaux?has commissioned the detailed study from the British firm IWSR.

De Eizaguirre was most startled by the wine statistics out of China, who has become the 5th largest consumer of wine worldwide after a shocking 144 per cent increase in consumption between 2007 and 2011. ?It?s astonishing,? he said, ?considering 10 years ago, there was nothing. They sometimes didn?t even know what varietals they were planting. [China] will continue to be a key player.?

Russia also emerged in the top 10 wine-consuming countries. ?You must remember,? said?de Eizaguirre, ?that before the Revolution, Russia was the biggest consumer of Champagne in the world.?

France and Italy still made the top two spots respectively in the 10 biggest wine exporters worldwide list. But Italy saw a 53 per cent increase between 2007 and 2011, while France saw a growth of just five per cent.?Italy has been smarter, said?De Eizaguirre, when it comes to exporting their product. He likened it?even attributed it?to the overwhelming success they?ve had in exporting their cuisine worldwide: when you eat an Italian restaurant, ?you drink Italian wine.

Other notable trends: Rest assured, ros? consumption is growing on a worldwide basis, likely on account of its improved quality over the years and the fact that it?s no longer viewed as just a seasonal sipper, said De Eizaguirre. The world also loves vodka more than any other spirit. And?it?s projected that Canada?s growth rate with regard to wine consumption will continue to rise between 2012 and 2016 at a rate of 14.3 per cent?three times greater than the global average.

Have a look at the charts below for details on what the world?and Canada?is drinking in terms of both wine and spirits, a $183-billion dollar business that?s as big as cosmetics.

Source: http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/01/22/rose-is-here-to-stay-and-other-international-wine-trends/

ipad 3 release date apple store down apple live blog ohio primary cell phone jammer g8 summit netanyahu

Surgical Strikes with Targeted Business Sales Leads | Business 2 ...

In the military, the term surgical strike refers to an attack which results in only dealing damage to the legitimate military target. This is achieved by months of much strategic planning to make sure that only the intended target is damaged and collateral damage be brought down to a bare minimum, or have none at all. In marketing, we can say that we can achieve surgical strikes when we make use of targeted business sales leads.

Marketing should be strategic as to make sure that our marketing messages hit their intended targets, much like when executing a surgical strike. However, such ?attacks? are difficult to execute when your leads don?t help you identify who your targets should be. In the end, launching a strategic marketing strategy all falls down to the type of leads your lead generation campaign gets you.

Your lead generation campaign should be able to get you high-quality targeted sales leads which will allow you to execute your very own surgical marketing strike! Here are a few tips on how to execute a surgical strike using targeted sales leads:

Step 1: Identify your target prospects.

Before you launch your strike, you first need to plan. During the planning phase is when you should start identifying who your targets are ? the recipients of your marketing messages and other such offers. Your lead generation campaign should help you in this part of the process as your leads will tell you which of your prospects should be on your ?list of targets?.

Step 2: Understand prospect behavior.

The next thing to do in planning your surgical strike is to make sure that you understand your prospect?s behavior. For example, an assassin would observe their targets movement and behavioral patterns before making their move, much like how military strategists plan where and when to strike based on the behavior of their targets.

Understanding prospect behavior such as when they seem most ready to buy, or when they are most interested should aid you in knowing which of your targeted sales leads is ripe for your attack!

Step 3: Find the right time to attack.

There is obviously both a wrong and right time to attack. If you attack at the wrong moment you risk losing your entire chance at getting to your prospect. If you attack at the right time, however, the direct opposite may just happen. Surgical strikes are tactical attacks which not only require an understanding of the lay of the land and the behavior of the targets involved but also calculating when the right time to pounce is. Your marketing strategy should function on the same level if you want to get good results when using targeted sales leads.

The military uses surgical strikes to make sure that they only deal damage to what or who they need to so that casualties and collateral damage is minimized or non-existent. Your campaign should be surgical in that your messages are delivered to your target prospects as intended and to increase the chances that you convert those prospects into sales. Make use of your targeted sales leads wisely to lead your plans to fruition and success!

Source: http://www.business2community.com/sales-management/surgical-strikes-with-targeted-business-sales-leads-0378394

Walking Dead Season 3 vampire diaries derek jeter Red Bull Stratos Redbull Stratos steve mcnair vice presidential debate

Walhberg: Boy band union is strong for summer tour

In this picture provided by Starpix, New Kids on the Block members, from left, Jordan Knight, Danny Wood, Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, and Joey McIntyre, far right, perform during the announcement of "The Package Tour," Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 in New York. The major summer tour will feature New Kids on the Block, 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men. (AP Photo/Starpix, Kristina Bumphrey)

In this picture provided by Starpix, New Kids on the Block members, from left, Jordan Knight, Danny Wood, Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, and Joey McIntyre, far right, perform during the announcement of "The Package Tour," Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 in New York. The major summer tour will feature New Kids on the Block, 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men. (AP Photo/Starpix, Kristina Bumphrey)

In this picture provided by Starpix, from left, Shawn Stockman, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris of Boyz II Men perform during the announcement of "The Package Tour", Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 in New York. The major summer tour will feature New Kids on the Block, 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men. (AP Photo/Starpix, Kristina Bumphrey)

In this picture provided by Starpix, from left, Jeff Timmons, Justin Jeffre, Nick Lachey, and Drew Lachey of 98 Degrees perform during the announcement of "The Package Tour", Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 in New York. The major summer tour will feature New Kids on the Block, 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men. (AP Photo/Starpix, Kristina Bumphrey)

This picture provided by Starpix shows members of 98 Degrees, Boyz II Men, and New Kids on the Block, during the announcement of "The Package Tour," Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 in New York. The major summer tour will feature the three bands. (AP Photo/Starpix, Kristina Bumphrey)

NEW YORK (AP) ? For Donnie Wahlberg it's not a matter of why now, rather "why not?"

The recording artist-turned-actor was referring to the news of a major tour with his New Kids on the Block, who'll be joined this summer on "The Package Tour" by 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men.

"The state of the boy band union is strong," Wahlberg joked Tuesday. "Even though technically we're not really boy bands, but we're OK with that, so we'll accept it."

The three bands sold millions of records in the 1980s and '90s and helped usher in a wave of vocal groups that continues today.

The Boston-based NKOTB formed in 1984 and amassed ten Top 20 hits. They broke up in 1994 but got back together after a 14-year hiatus. Wahlberg said he feels the break coincided with the maturation of their fan base.

"They needed time to have families and husbands and children and get jobs and live their life," Wahlberg said.

But now he sees his band's music as a complement to the fans' adult lives.

"We created an outlet for them to feel good about themselves and tap into that youthfulness that had been put to bed for a long time ... you may be 40, but the euphoria of it makes you feel 14 all over again," Wahlberg said.

The band also announced a new single, "Remix (I Like The)," which will be released Jan. 28, and a new album, "10," which is out April 2.

That music will be a bit more mature than some of the band's previous material, member Joey McIntyre said.

"It is about the decisions that a grown man makes and goes through, as opposed to singing songs like 'Popsicle,'" he said.

Nathan Morris, one of the members of Boyz II Men, known since the early 1990s for such hits as "I'll Make Love to You" and "End of the Road," said the tour is going to be all about performing.

"If the boy band thing is attached, it's wonderful, but for all of us in here, we're ready to get out there and sing and perform," he said. "That's just what we do."

Though 98 Degrees is the youngest group on the bill, it has been apart the longest, 12 years.

"So we're excited to get back together and doing what we do," member Nick Lachey said. "We feel reinvigorated by our bond and by our group, so we're very excited by that."

Wahlberg, who stars as Detective Danny Reagan on the CBS television series "Blue Bloods," about several generations of a family of New York City police officers, said the boy bands' tour, kicking off May 31 in Uncasville, Connecticut, and continuing into July with more than 30 dates, is going to be "great."

"You have three acts that have lots of records, lots of fans," he said. "Fans that are anxious to sing those records and anxious to sing other bands' records, too."

___

John Carucci covers entertainment for The Associated Press. Follow him at http://www.twitter.com/jcarucci_ap

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-01-23-US-Music-New-Kids-On-The-Block/id-b17ee337742e4aa8a2a83148ee07c86e

lotto numbers susan powell megamillions winners university of louisville louisville ky final four lotto winners

Political Party! Stars Come Out for Inauguration Day

From Beyonce to Katy Perry, Hollywood's hottest celebrities came to Washington D.C. to celebrate President Barack Obama

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/celebrities-attend-inauguration-day/1-b-516665?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Acelebrities-attend-inauguration-day-516665

Voting Results 2012 pbs ron paul Cnn Electoral Map roseanne barr guy fawkes gary johnson

Spain video shows police saving woman from tracks

MADRID (AP) ? Closed-circuit television cameras have captured dramatic images of a Spanish police officer saving a woman from the subway tracks in the Madrid underground as a train was about the enter the station.

The images run on Spanish media websites Tuesday showed the woman suddenly falling off the platform in the Marques de Vadillo station on Monday, causing panic among other waiting passengers.

The police officer, who was further down the platform, immediately jumped onto the tracks and dragged her to the opposite platform seconds before the train entered the station.

Police said the woman, 52, had suffered a dizzy spell. She was treated in a city hospital for minor head injuries.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/spain-video-shows-police-saving-woman-tracks-155538815.html

alternative minimum tax modeselektor gran torino gloria steinem war of the worlds rock and roll hall of fame severe weather

Video: Wall of snow slams firefighter attempting rescue

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50521481/

office max jcp Sports Authority Hollister old navy walmart black friday walmart black friday

NAMW Member Teleseminar February 22, 2013 |The Ghost in the ...

? 11 AM PST?? 12 PM MST??? 1 PM CST?? 2 PM EST

Please join us for this informative teleseminar on ghost writing. Whether you want a ghostwriter for your memoir, or want to learn to ghostwrite for others, you will find useful information in this presentation by ghostwriting expert, Kim Pearson. Read what Kim has to say about this teleseminar.

?

?

It?s the nature of memoir to be full of ghosts from the past. But this discussion is about a ghost in the present. Ghostwriter, that is.

You, your family, or your ancestors have a great story, one that will resonate with many people. Yet you know that writing a book is tough, and you?re not sure you can do it. You probably have good reasons for this belief, such as:

• You are not a writer. Maybe you are inexperienced, or simply not confident in your writing skills.

• You hate to write. You would rather clean the toilet than write.

• You haven?t got the time to write a whole book. After all, you have a job, a family, a life.

But that story is screaming to be told! What can you do? Answer: Hire a ghost.

?

In this one-hour discussion you will learn:

• How a ghostwriter does what she/he does ? the ghostwriting process.
• What your role is in this process.
• How a ghostwriter can ?sound? like you. (A ghostwriter is rather like an actor, just on the page instead of the stage.)
• What a ghostwriter might cost you, and how long it might take her/him to write your book.
• Who owns the book/copyright, and how to make sure it?s you.

?

Along the way, I?ll share some tips on writing memoir, such as:

• How to identify likely readers, and then grab them.
• How to choose a theme for the memoir.
• What to include in your memoir, and what to leave out

?

Ghostwriter Kim Pearson has been a full-time ghostwriter, editor, and author for 15 years. She has ghostwritten over 40 books (over 20 of them memoirs) and ebooks, plus articles and blogs, and authored 6 books of her own, including one on how to write a memoir based on historical events. Her website is www.primary-sources.com. You can also check out one of her blog posts on The Blood Red Pencil titled ?The Grateful Ghost? in which she writes about her wonderful job. http://tinyurl.com/clcpecd.

?

Source: http://www.namw.org/2013/01/namw-member-teleseminar-february-22-2013-the-ghost-in-the-memoir/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=namw-member-teleseminar-february-22-2013-the-ghost-in-the-memoir

minnesota twins bobby abreu 2012 draft colt mccoy arbor day mike adams janoris jenkins

Insert Coin: Arduino-compatible Pinoccio microcontroller sports battery, WiFi

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

It's been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Improving on a good idea, however, is truly the ultimate homage, according to the makers of the new Pinoccio microcontroller. Inspired by the Arduino, the brain trust behind the Pinoccio decided to take the stuff they liked about the popular platform -- ease of programming and low cost -- and add some features to make it even better. These include a rechargeable battery, a temperature sensor and a built-in radio that allows one Pinoccio with a WiFi shield to communicate wirelessly with other Pinoccios. The microcontroller also delivers performance that stacks up well with an Arduino Mega but at a smaller size -- the Pinoccio only measures a couple of inches long and an inch wide. The project is currently trying to raise $60,000 at Indiegogo, with supporters netting the standard Pinoccio by pledging $49 and a microcontroller with a WiFi shield for $99. For more details, feel free to check out the video after the break or peruse the project's Indiegogo page by clicking at the source link.

Previous project update: The Lomography Smartphone Film Scanner was apparently ready for its closeup. The Kickstarter project more than tripled its $50,000 goal with two more weeks to go.

Filed under: Misc

Comments

Source: Indiegogo

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/iRSX73XUlA4/

pretty in pink nba all star game shark tank john wall gordon hayward gas prices rising stars challenge

HDHomeRun Prime beta update for DLNA streaming is live

Got your HDHomeRun Prime, your favorite DLNA client and an itch to watch some premium HD cable TV? Well, then it's time to head over to the beta forum, download the latest firmware then register as a tester. Those of you lucky enough to have a nice TV provider that doesn't lock everything down with Copy Once flag will be able to watch live TV on just about any DLNA playback device that supports MPEG2. Those not so lucky will need a PS3 or a 2012 Samsung HDTV, without which this little gem ain't going to do you much good. Sadly, this doesn't work on the regular HDHomeRun because of hardware limitations, but the new tuners due this spring will allow DLNA access of ATSC, QAM and DVB sources -- as well as allow playback on Media Players that only support h.264. The usefulness of this is still pretty limited while we wait for the rest of SiliconDust's Project:Connect to come together, but we don't see any reason why you wouldn't join in on the fun.

Filed under: HD

Comments

Source: Project:Connect beta forum

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/19/hdhomerun-prime-beta-update-for-dlna-streaming-is-live/

presidents george washington russell westbrook horsetail falls ice t new york knicks president day

Where To Locate Cost-free Things Online

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.hablemosdelagripe.org/where-to-locate-cost-free-things-online/

philadelphia eagles obamacare Todd Akin Register To Vote Fox News Live Obama 2016 Who Is Winning The Election 2012

Acer Aspire One 725 Win7x86 Wi-fi ??????????? - ?????? - Ferra.ru

?????????? ???????, 15:08

????????????.Wi-fi ???????? ????? 30 ??????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???????? ????????? ?? ?????? 2-3 ? ????? ???????? ???????? ? ??? ????????? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ?????????.? ??? ????? ?????????

Source: http://forums.ferra.ru/index.php?showtopic=54104

rick warren the perfect storm hard boiled eggs mickelson how to tie a tie sweet potato recipes the sound of music

ACTIVE LISTINGS ONLY ? Why do we have to specify ? shouldn't ...

Santa Clarita real estate is what we do with regard to representation of buyers and sellers in the real estate world. ?We have been doing this since 1998 and during that time the internet has taken off.

Pre-Internet: ?the listings were contained within the MLS books ? picked up by realtors from the Local Boards of Realtors. ?However, the relationships in the business were much more important than they are today. ?I?m referring to the agent to agent connections. ?It mattered who you knew and what they were willing to share.

Post-Internet: ?this has truly changed the game ? however, with the apparent ?transparency? that exists on-line, some still want to keep the waters muddy in an attempt to influence your buying or selling decision.

Examples: ?When searching on-line there are only so many truly active real estate listings for sale. ?However, some websites ? some of the real estate syndication websites are publishing listings that are not for sale ? that have sold. ?They may be in escrow about to close and sell. ?It could be that they are listings that ?had been uploaded by agents in an attempt to get you to contact them, but are not really for sale.

A Note about listings in Back-up position. ?Back-up is a status that should only be used when the seller of a home wants to allow additional viewings so another ?qualified? buyer can write an offer on their home ? to hold in backup. ?This is because the first offer, while it maybe secure, could cancel escrow. ?If that happened, the seller would have nothing to fall back on.

Unfortunately, the back up position still appears to be ?active? on some of the real estate syndication websites. ?So you go into it thinking that the listing you have fallen in love with on-line is for sale and there are no ?accepted offers? on it. ?It then turns out that that listing is in back up position, not that the seller wants to show the home or obtain additional offers, it?s because the agent is attempting to generate more leads from that listing via on-line attempts.

Therefore, if you are going to search on-line ? that?s great. ?When you do so, make sure you know what you are viewing related to real estate. ?Are you looking at a website that is publishing listings that are not truly for sale any longer? ?Or are you looking at the true Active Listings that are for sale right now?

We Guarantee 100% that we only publish Active Real Estate listings on the home page of the Top Santa Clarita real estate website. ?When we publish the listings where the sellers via their agents have indicated they want additional offers to be held in back-up positions ? We tell our clients that?s what we are doing and those are the listings they are viewing.

Side Note: ?I felt it very important to go into detail about the Active versus Back up statuses and the best ways ?you can search in order to protect yourselves from a ?not so transparent? internet.

The Paris911 Team at REMAX of Santa Clarita, works within the REMAX Relocation venue.? Servicing those Human Relations Departments, big Corporate Relocation Departments, for the COO, CFO, CEO, and any other ?C-Name? needing relocation to and from the Santa Clarita Valley in California. Paris and Connor MacIvor write about the relocation process are recognized Relocation Authors on Google Plus for Business.

Tagged as: active listings only, active versus back up, actually active, santa clarita active listings, santa clarita real estate, why active

Source: http://relocation.paris911.com/2013/01/16/active-listings-only-why-do-we-have-to-specify-shouldnt-everyone-be-doing-this/

orange crush harden nor easter nor easter ted nugent veep los angeles kings

NRA says Congress will not pass weapons ban

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2013, file photo, Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with representatives from the video game industry in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. As Biden finalizes a package of recommendations for the president to curb gun violence, the National Rifle Association said there is enough support in Congress to block any new laws that would ban assault weapons. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2013, file photo, Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with representatives from the video game industry in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. As Biden finalizes a package of recommendations for the president to curb gun violence, the National Rifle Association said there is enough support in Congress to block any new laws that would ban assault weapons. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Ralph Fascitelli, president of Washington CeaseFire, a local advocacy group trying to reduce gun violence, takes the stage at Westlake Park for their "StandUP Washington" rally and march Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Seattle. The group marched down 4th Avenue to the Mural Amphitheater at the Seattle Center where local civic and religious leaders gave speeches in support of banning semi-automatic weapons and strengthening gun control laws. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Bettina Hansen) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; SEATTLEPI.COM OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT; USA TODAY OUT; TV OUT

FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2012, file photo, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., takes a question during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. McCain responded with a flat out "no" when asked Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, on CBS' "Face the Nation" whether Congress would pass a ban on assault weapons. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2012, file photo, NRA president David Keene speaks during a news conference in response to the Connecticut school shooting in Washington. Senators plan to introduce a bill that would ban assault weapons and limit the size of ammunition magazines, like the one used in the Newton shooting where 20 children were killed, shot multiple times with a high-powered rifle. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? As Vice President Joe Biden finalizes a package of recommendations for the president to curb gun violence, the National Rifle Association predicted that Congress is likely to block any new laws that would ban assault weapons.

The NRA has so far prevented passage of another assault weapons ban like the one that expired in 2004. But some lawmakers say the December massacre in Newtown, Conn., where a gunman slaughtered 20 young children and six adults, has transformed the country, and Americans are ready for stricter gun laws.

Still, the NRA says it thinks Congress would likely prevent a new assault weapons ban.

"When a president takes all the power of his office, if he's willing to expend political capital, you don't want to make predictions," NRA president David Keene told CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday. "You don't want to bet your house on the outcome. But I would say that the likelihood is that they are not going to be able to get an assault weapons ban through this Congress."

Biden is to meet Monday with House members to discuss ways to reduce gun violence. He is expected to give President Barack Obama a comprehensive package of recommendations Tuesday.

Senators plan to introduce a bill that would ban assault weapons and limit the size of ammunition magazines, like the equipment used in the Newton shooting where 20 children were shot multiple times with a high-powered rifle. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California has promised to make a renewed push for a ban on assault weapons.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., responded with a flat-out "no" when asked Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" whether Congress would pass a ban on assault weapons.

Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a lifelong member of the NRA, has said everything should be on the table to prevent another tragedy like Newtown. But he assured gun owners he would fight for gun rights at the same time.

"I would tell all of my friends in NRA, I will work extremely hard and I will guarantee you there will not be an encroachment on your Second Amendment rights," Manchin said on ABC's "This Week."

The NRA's deep pockets help bolster allies and punish lawmakers who buck the powerful weapons lobby.

The group spent at least $24 million in the 2012 elections ? $16.8 million through its political action committee and nearly $7.5 million through its affiliated Institute for Legislative Action. Separately, the NRA spent some $4.4 million through July 1 to lobby Congress. Keene insists the group represents its members and not just the gun manufacturers, though he said the NRA would like industry to contribute more money to the association.

"We know what works and what doesn't work," Keene said. "And we're not willing to compromise on people's rights when there is no evidence that doing so is going to accomplish the purpose."

The NRA, instead, is pushing for measures that would keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, until a person gets better.

"If they are cured, there ought to be a way out of it," Keene said.

Currently, a person is banned from buying a gun from a licensed dealer if the person is a fugitive, a felon, convicted of substance abuse, convicted of domestic violence, living in the U.S. illegally or someone who "has been adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to any mental institution."

States, however, are inconsistent in providing information about mentally ill residents to the federal government for background checks. And, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence said some 40 percent of gun sales happen with no background checks, often at gun shows or through private sellers over the Internet or in classified ads.

___

Follow Eileen Sullivan on Twitter: http://twitter.com/esullivanap

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-01-14-Gun%20Control/id-b5a3c2ee1e4840cb999e94a0dc1805a3

chuck colson death meteor showers 2012 ufc 145 jones vs evans marian hossa philip humber red sox

AP Source: Eagles interviewed Brian Billick

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? The Philadelphia Eagles have interviewed former Ravens coach and current Fox analyst Brian Billick for their coaching vacancy, a person familiar with the meeting told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Billick, who led Baltimore to a Super Bowl title in the 2000 season, met with the Eagles last Monday, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss it.

The Eagles are known to have interviewed eight other candidates, including three high-profile college coaches who decided to stay at their schools. They were Notre Dame's Brian Kelly, Oregon's Chip Kelly and Penn State's Bill O'Brien.

Philadelphia fired Andy Reid on Dec. 31, a day after finishing 4-12 in his 14th season.

Billick hasn't coached since 2007. He was 80-64 in nine seasons with the Ravens, leading them to two division titles and a 5-3 record in four playoff appearances.

CSNPhilly.com first reported Billick's interview.

The 58-year-old Billick began his NFL coaching career in Minnesota as a tight ends coach in 1992. After two seasons, he was promoted to offensive coordinator and helped the Vikings set a then-record 556 points in 1998.

Billick became the second coach in Ravens history in 1999 and guided them to a Super Bowl victory over the New York Giants in his second season.

Known for having a dynamic offense in Minnesota, Billick never come close to matching it in Baltimore. His offense never ranked higher than 14th in total yards and cracked the top 10 in points just once.

Of course, talent had a part in that. The Vikings had Randall Cunningham and Daunte Culpepper as their quarterbacks, along with star wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and running back Robert Smith.

Billick's Ravens were built on strong defenses led by Ray Lewis and Co. They finished in the top six in total yards in eight of Billick's nine seasons.

Billick assembled quite a coaching staff in Baltimore. Six of his assistants became head coaches, including Mike Smith (Atlanta), Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati), Rex Ryan (New York Jets), Mike Singletary (San Francisco), Mike Nolan (San Francisco) and Jack Del Rio (Jacksonville).

The Eagles have an interview scheduled with Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden on Monday and are expected to interview Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians this week.

They met with Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley on Saturday, according to two people familiar with the meeting. Seattle lost to Atlanta on Sunday, so the Eagles are free to hire Bradley if he's their choice.

Owner Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman and president Don Smolenski interviewed former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith on Thursday. They previously met with Atlanta assistants Nolan and Keith Armstrong and Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.

___

Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobMaaddi

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ap-source-eagles-interviewed-brian-billick-233613590--nfl.html

lizzie borden lizzie borden iona taylor allderdice mixtape andrew bogut pi day monta ellis