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APNewsBreak: Hamilton says Armstrong gave him PED

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ? Tyler Hamilton says Lance Armstrong gave him an illegal blood booster at his house before the 1999 Tour de France and the two teammates compared notes on using performance-enhancing drugs as far back as 1998.

Hamilton makes the allegations in his book, "The Secret Race. Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France, Doping, Cover-ups and Winning at All Costs," set to be published Sept. 5. The Associated Press purchased a copy Thursday. Armstrong agent Bill Stapleton did not immediately respond to a request for comment

Hamilton and Armstrong rode together on the U.S. Postal Service team.

Armstrong has long denied doping but last week chose not to fight drug charges made by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. USADA has erased 14 years of Armstrong's competitive results, including his seven Tour de France titles.

The book mirrors much of what Hamilton told "60 Minutes" in 2011 and what he said he told federal criminal investigators looking into doping allegations on the Postal Service team. Officials closed that investigation in February without bringing any charges against Armstrong.

Hamilton details his own drug use and says usage on the team started even before Armstrong joined in 1998. He and Armstrong soon became roommates and confidants who would discuss using the blood-booster EPO and other performance-enhancing drugs.

He said while visiting Armstrong's home in Nice shortly before the 1999 Tour, he asked the Texan if he had any EPO and Armstrong pointed to the refrigerator.

Hamilton described a doping plan put in place by the team for the 1999 Tour de France, with Armstrong's knowledge, that included a motorcyclist riding behind racers with a thermos full of EPO. It was to be dispensed to riders in the team camper after race stages.

He said team leaders, doctors and mangers encouraged and supervised doping and performance-enhancing drugs were handed out to cyclists in white lunch bags.

Armstrong has previously sought to discredit Hamilton as a drug cheat who was twice banned for doping and was recently stripped of his 2004 Olympic gold medal.

According to USADA, Hamilton is among its key witnesses ready to testify against Armstrong. In all, it said as many as 10 former teammates were ready to do so. The agency has withheld most of their names, saying it feared Armstrong would try to intimidate them.

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/apnewsbreak-hamilton-says-armstrong-gave-him-ped-221638459--spt.html

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Will youths desert Obama as American dream dims?

Four years ago, young voters flocked in their tens of thousands to hear Barack Obama tell them they could change the world.

But youngsters who helped make Obama president have grown up in the human detritus of the Great Recession and many see dreams of a bright future dimmed as they struggle to find work.

Hope pulsated through massive, youthful crowds at university campuses as Obama surged to victory in 2008 and defied conventional wisdom when his youthful legions actually showed up at the polls.

Sixty-six percent of the under 30s voted for Obama over his Republican foe John McCain, according to exit polls.

But recent surveys show Obama's advantage may be slipping. A CNN poll had him down 10 points on 2008, leading his new Republican rival Mitt Romney by 56 to 37 percent.

The Obama campaign recognizes the stakes and sent the president on a two-day swing through battleground states where the youth vote could make the difference.

"You've got a steady stream of cynics who are telling you change is impossible, you can't make a difference, you won't be able to close the gap between how things are and how they should be," the president said in Virginia on Wednesday.

Obama also slammed those who tell young voters "'you were naive last time... when you had all that hope and change stuff.'

"But, you know, I don't believe that. I don't think you believe that," Obama said before running off a list of achievements from ending the war in Iraq to passing health care reform, to convince young voters their vote was not wasted.

While youth excitement seems down, Obama did rip up considerable enthusiasm on his college tour, drawing crowds of 6,000 in Iowa, 13,000 in Colorado and a rowdy 7,500 in Virginia.

But the pain in the millennial generation may give Romney an opportunity to -- if not beat Obama among youth voters -- at least cut into his margins in a knife-edge election.

New research by Generation Opportunity, a non-partisan group working with Americans aged 18 to 29, shows the depth of pain among America's youth.

Eight-nine percent of young people said the economy was having an impact in their daily lives, and many had cut the amount of money they spent on entertainment, vacations and groceries. Seventeen percent had put off a lifetime moment like a wedding or family reunion.

Yet their struggles do not seem to be prompting apathy: 76 percent of those polled said they planned to vote in November.

Generation Opportunity president Paul Conway, a veteran of 100 political campaigns, said he has never seen such political electricity as that currently roiling youth voters.

"These folks are very, very acutely aware of what is going on," he said, adding that "they are not beholden to any political party."

The facts about youth unemployment are stark: unemployment among 18-29-year-olds stood at 12.7 percent, in July, according to Generation Opportunity.

Romney's answer is to adopt a blunt economic argument to youngsters.

"Half the kids coming out of college this year -- half -- can't find a job, or a job that's consistent with a college degree," he said in New Hampshire this month.

"It's unacceptable."

Peter Levine, director of the non-partisan youth research think tank CIRCLE said Republicans were right to think they can make up ground.

"There is a big opportunity for Romney, part of the reason is that four years ago, Obama's support among youth voters was completely out of line with historical precedent," he said.

Levine also argued that while any segment of voters could be important in a close election, youth voters, who could number over 20 million, were particularly important.

Had young voters been completely discounted in 2008, McCain would have won three traditionally Republican states captured by Obama -- North Carolina, Indiana and Virginia.

Obama's core supporters still seem receptive to his arguments that it would be wrong to change economic course despite tough economic times.

"I don't think it's the president's fault. He doesn't have much control (though) he does have some," said Keith Abel, 20, an industrial technology student at Iowa State University who attended an Obama rally on Monday.

"I'm willing to give him more time if he's asking for more time. He's got a plan, and he needs some more time."

Fellow student Lauren Gabel said Romney's focus made her uncomfortable.

"It's a huge part of it of course, but focusing solely on the business aspect misses a part of what's actually going on," she said.

Senior Obama aides say the president will continue to make his case to young voters in coming weeks in a peak period for registering voters.

"He will remind young voters that it is showtime," and place the key choices of the election before them, said Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/youths-desert-obama-american-dream-dims-141418006.html

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Unity 3D for linux gets two playable demos

Linux gamers are really just having the time of their lives right now. They've been embraced by indie game devs, by Valve, Epic and the increasingly popular Unity 3D. And, some of these properties aren't quite ready for the big show yet, you can get a taste of what to expect from Unity 4 thanks to a pair of playable demos that have hit the web. AngryBots and Unitroids are both available as standalone executables for your open-source desktop. They're not complete games, but they at least serve as practical demos of the progress being made in porting the gaming engine. They've both got their quirks at the moment, but it's hard not to get excited about the prospect of plummeting through AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! for the Awesome on your Quantal PC. Hit up the source for download links.

Filed under: Gaming

Unity 3D for linux gets two playable demos originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 07:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/29/unity-3d-for-linux-gets-two-playable-demos/

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Custom Business Solutions: Changing Times Call for Changing ...

The days when start-up companies would struggle to gain ground in the market are nearly over. Times have changed with more opportunities for a steady economic growth. Now, everyone can be successful given the right tools and resources.

The Changing Times

In the past, there were only two kinds of companies: the big players and the start-ups. The big players had all the resources. They pay for the biggest advertisements, the most skilled workers and the best office and store locations. Meanwhile, start-ups have minimal resources. This made it difficult for them to gain any leverage in the market.

It restricted their capacity to finance the skillful employees or even get the best locations for their office or stores. ?Creating brand awareness in this type of market takes a gigantic leap of faith and huge investment. It is possible that a client may invest large sums of money to a start-up company. However, it is unlikely due to several business risks. Investors are more likely to invest on bigger companies that offer a more stable investment for them.

Fortunately, technological advancements gave start-up companies access to better and more efficient tools to help them achieve growth and sales. Thanks to custom business solutions, costs of operations are no longer as high as they used to be. The increasing use of the Internet and all of its business opportunities has made customized business plan a viable option for any company.

Custom Business Solutions and the Options of your Company

There are two types of business solutions: on-premise custom business software or cloud-based custom business solutions. Custom business software are tools that can be used to enhance online visibility of your website. These programs are usually installed on one?s computer to track and monitor the status of your website?s ranking. Examples of such include Misspelled Keyword Generators and Google Ad Research Tool. You need to have experience or at least some knowledge of its usage before you can use them effectively. If not, using them can be futile.

On the other hand, custom business solutions are services that are provided by third party companies which help in producing high-quality work for clients. They can be in the form of outsourcing, accounting, recruiting or even technical expertise. Unlike business software, you need not worry about anything since professionals handle these crucial business needs for you. This gives you time to focus on other aspects of your business.

Custom business solutions are cost-effective and provide a wider scale of internet marketing strategies. The task of figuring out which solutions work well for your website is unlikely to solely fall on you. Their wide range of skills and platforms can give any website the capability of acquiring leads through all possible scenarios. Compared to business solutions software, it is more flexible and definitely more effective.

Why Custom Business Solutions?

Why not? The Internet has amped the competition when it comes to businesses. It is important to stand out from the crowd, and there?s no better way to do so than by using strategies that are tailor-fit to your business. Success for small businesses is now sustainable and definitely attainable if you have the right tools. ?With custom business solutions, companies can now easily plan their marketing strategy to better attract their target customers.

Source: http://outsourcemanila.com/custom-business-solutions-changing-times-call-for-changing-measures/

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Where Are They Now?: Crowbar

Got a nagging injury you want to fix? A bad back? Stiff knees? If you?re in the market for a physical therapist, look no further than the pipe-wielding wildman of WCW, Crowbar.

While that may not sound like the best advertisement for a therapist, the former WCW Hardcore and Cruiserweight Champion, whose real name is Christopher Ford, has dedicated years of his life to the craft, working with several hospitals in northern New Jersey before branching out and opening his own practice.

And he did it all while competing in the ring, bouncing around between WCW, ECW and WWE before finding a stable spot in Ted Turner?s Atlanta-based organization in 1999. But the story of how Ford got there, and what he?s done since leaving WCW in 2001 is stunning. (CLASSIC PHOTOS | CURRENT PHOTOS?| VIDEO PLAYLIST)

Ford?s love of wrestling began at childhood. A major fan of superheroes and comic books, the Rutherford, N.J., native was originally drawn to larger-than-life characters like Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior. But as he got older and was drawn more to the craft of wrestling, Superstars like Randy Savage and Ric Flair began to mesmerize him.

By the time he hit high school, wrestling became an extreme passion for Ford and he began to consider stepping in the squared circle.

?It was getting to where being a fan wasn?t enough,? he told WWE.com.

During his sophomore year of high school, Crowbar found out that former WWE Superstar ?Iron? Mike Sharpe was going to open a wrestling school in Brick Township, N.J., about 90 minutes from home. That was all he needed to hear to make up his mind. He spent the summer working as a bus boy in a banquet hall, eventually saving up enough to begin training at Sharpe?s school.

Ford was ?Iron? Mike?s first student at the Jersey Shore academy. He quickly learned that there wasn?t much of a difference between Sharpe, the man he had seen on television, and Sharpe, the teacher.

?What you saw of him on TV was how he trained you,? Ford explained. ?He would put on his black tights and boots, tape up his wrists and actually oil up to train. He would be explaining the moves and all that, but he was working out himself, too.?

And if you?re wondering, Sharpe did occasionally wear his trademark leather armband, his student said.

Sharpe?s quirkiness didn?t end in the ring, though, as he?s long been rumored to be one of the ?neatest? grapplers ever ??a fact which Ford laughed about when asked about his teacher?s penchant for organization, before confirming it was true.

?His bag was immaculate,? he said. ?If you opened it up, it was a series of Ziploc bags. It was almost like those Russian egg dolls. You would open one bag that would go into a smaller one that would go into a smaller one.?

After studying under Sharpe for nine months, Ford hit the independent scene on the east coast in early 1992. Taking the name ?Dangerous? Devon Storm, he barnstormed throughout New York and New Jersey, wowing crowds with talent like Ace Darling, who later became his tag team partner in WCW. The bleach blond grappler adapted an aerial style he learned from Bill DeMott. Devon Storm?s high-flying ability caught the attention of WCW?s higher-ups, who put the young New Jersey native on the biggest stage they had to offer. Ford began working for the company on a regular basis, appearing on several episodes of Saturday Night and an early edition of Monday Nitro, challenging then?United States Champion Konnan.

Though he was taking to the air on national television, when the cameras were off, Ford was trying to keep his feet firmly on the ground and his nose in books. When he wasn?t wrestling, he was a full-time student at Kean University, pursuing a degree in physical therapy so he?d have something to fall back on.

?It was a unique thing,? he explained. ?I would attend school, get my work done ahead of time and fly out to TV.?

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Source: http://www.wwe.com/classics/wherearetheynow/where-are-they-now-crowbar

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Judges Tout Wikipedia in 'Jet Ski' Exclusion Ambiguity

A Utah Court of Appeals ruled the term ?jet ski? to be ambiguous as exclusion in a homeowners? policy, and to back up its decision the court used as a reference the popular reference website Wikipedia, calling it a ?great repository of contemporary wisdom.?

The court overturned decision that ruled against a pair of men allegedly injured on a watercraft who sued their homeowners insurer, Fire Exchange, which refused their claim because the policy excluded among other things injuries suffered while on a ?jet ski.??The case was Fire Insruance Exchange vs. Robert Allen Oltmanns and Brady Blackner.

The men were injured while riding Oltmanns? personal watercraft, and they filed a claim under Oltmann?s homeowners? insurance policy.

The appelate?finding, filed on Aug. 16, states that Utah courts have long held that ??insurance policies should be construed liberally in favor of the insured and their beneficiaries so as to promote and not defeat the purposes of insurance,? sided with attorneys for defendants who argued the term ?jet ski? was ambiguous because that refers to the trademarked name of a watercraft manufactured by Kawasaki.

?Basically, then, the insurer was imprecise in using the term ?jet ski? in its policy,? the court stated. ?Even discounting the bizarre possibility that it meant to refer only to one Kawasaki watercraft model, it still cannot be definitively said what the insurer intended:? Did it mean all manner of personal watercraft?? Or did it mean only the stand?up variety? The provision, then, is ambiguous as a matter of law.?

To back up their judgment the court used Wikipedia, which it cited as a ?great repository of contemporary wisdom.?

The court in its decision also defended its use of Wikipedia.

?In the past, we might have hesitated to cite Wikipedia in a judicial opinion given its reputation?perhaps not well deserved?for unreliability,? the court stated. ?But the increasing trend of using Wikipedia in judicial opinions over the last decade seems to demonstrate a growing recognition of its value in some contexts, as noted in one 2010 article that found that by that year Wikipedia had been cited in over four hundred judicial opinions.?

?By far the most interesting thing is the Wikipedia references,? said Valerie Moore, with Haight Brown Bonesteel in Los Angeles.

Moore, who does coverage work and bad faith defense primarily for insurance companies in all lines, including personal and commercial, believes the use of Wikipedia in decisions will continue to rise.

?I think we might see more of this,? she said.

As for referencing Wikipedia as ?great,? that?s a matter of opinion.

?At first I thought they were being tongue and cheek,? she said.

In terms of the decision itself, the court used the contract interpretation laws of Utah, which are virtually the same in most states, Moore noted.

?They?re just confirming that when you as an insurer are the party that drafted the policy,? she said. ?There?s no room for bargaining when you?re an insurer. Exclusions are very narrowly read by all courts.?

She added, ?I believe a California court would find the same thing. And I think that almost any other court would too.? I think that a lot of policies are going to be changed to say ?personal watercraft.??

Moore noted the court did temper it?s deference to Wikipedia, calling for its use in some, but not all situations.

The opinion, which cited a 2007 argument by Judge Richard A. Posner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago in favor of Wikipedia as a resource, read like an advertisement for using Wikipedia in most instances.

?While a prudent person would avoid a surgeon who bases his or her understanding of complicated medical procedures on an online source whose contributors range from expert scholars to internet trolls, where an understanding of the vernacular or colloquial is key to the resolution of a case, Judge Posner is correct that Wikipedia is tough to beat,? the opinion stated.

?

Article source: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2012/08/27/260865.htm

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Source: http://jallencoblog.com/judges-tout-wikipedia-in-jet-ski-exclusion-ambiguity/

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Overtime complaints common in US, worldwide

By Allison Linn, TODAY

It?s no secret that many Americans feel like the weak economy has forced them to do more work for the same or even less pay.

A new survey finds they have lots of company among workers around the world.

About two-thirds of hourly workers surveyed in Great Britain, France, Australia, China, Canada, Mexico, India and Brazil said their employers violate overtime rules at least some of the time.

In the U.S., slightly less than half the hourly workers surveyed had the same complaint.

The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Kronos Inc., which makes technology for human resources operations.

Chinese, Indian and British workers were most likely to complain that their rights had been violated. The French were most likely to say their bosses don?t violate overtime rules.

The?hourly?workers surveyed generally said they were eager to work extra hours, presumably because they expect that will lead to more pay.

Among the workers surveyed in other countries, more than half said they were happy to have the overtime hours they got, and one-third said they?d like to have more overtime hours. French, Canadian and British respondents were most likely to say they wanted more OT.

Among the U.S. workers surveyed, 49 percent said they were happy with the amount of overtime hours they work, and another 43 percent said they wished they could work more hours.

In the U.S., there has been a record jump in employee claims of wage and hour violations, including off-the-clock work and?miscalculation?of overtime pay. More than 7,000 people have filed claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act so far this year, according to calculation from law firm Seyfarth Shaw. That?s up from around 2,000 a decade earlier.

The sample for the Kronos survey included 666 U.S. hourly workers and 1,700 hourly workers from other countries.

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India Blackouts Raise Questions About Outsourcing Risk - Rothstein ...

Written by Phil on August 27, 2012 in Business Continuity, disaster preparedness, Risk Management.

The great India power blackouts of the summer of 2012 left about twice the population of the United States without electricity. For Insurance carriers who depend on Indian outsourcers, these events raise questions about what constitutes due diligence in evaluating the risks and how to appropriately craft service-level agreements for potential exposures.

The only way for insurers to adequately prepare for events such as the India blackouts is to a full-scale risk assessment of suppliers to the second and third tier.

?They need to employ a supply chain risk assessment methodology that is flow-chart oriented, and which identifies exposure points and bottlenecks,? explains Zurich?s Larry Collins. ?The same methodology applies whether you are an underwriter considering insuring a supplier or an insurance CIO doing business with the supplier.?

See India Blackouts Raise Questions About Outsourcing Risk, by Anthony O?Donnell for Insurance & Technology.

?

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Source: http://www.rothstein.com/blog/india-blackouts-raise-questions-about-outsourcing-risk/

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Auto Insurance Rates Too High - Illinois Car Insurance

If you have a credit card balance (or other debt) with an interest rate of 15 to 20 percent and your new automobile loan would be closer to 6 to 10 percent, you might be better off paying more on your credit card debt. You would save on interest costs complete, and paying off credit cards is great for your credit score.

Find an independent insurance agent in your region. Car insurance companies that work with independent insurance agents such as Progressive and Safeco allow you to search for independent insurance agents in your area using their websites.

The kind of automobile you own is one of the largest determining factors in calculating your yearly motor insurance rate. Faster cars and convertibles usually have higher insurance premiums because you are more likely to drive them faster. For example, when comparing a sports car and a family sedan, the sports car nearly always costs more to insure, because one of the main characteristics of a sports automobile is its power and speed.

You are a high risk car owner if you fall under any of these categories:

• Committed offense
• Older than the age of 70
• Below the age of 25

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Source: http://illinois-carinsurance.com/auto-insurance-rates-too-high

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Ideas To Help You Achieve Your Home Improvement Goals at ...

When it comes to home improvement, have a plan from the start through the finish of your intended improvement. This will ensure that you stay within your budget and that you complete your intended project without the emotional factors being involved. It can be obvious both to a potential buyer and to your pocketbook if a home improvement project is made up as you go.

Adequate lighting in a bathroom has everything to do with making the most out of your space. It is important that the right lighting scheme be used. If you use the right amount of light, it can make your bathroom the relaxing space that it needs to be. Evaluate your bathroom lighting today, and see if there are any improvements you can make.

Having a small kitchen doesn?t have to be all bad. Since you have limited surfaces and space to work with, make sure to purchase a sink with a deep bowl. Then add some elegant high- end faucets to match the rest of your kitchen. You can easily create a feeling of space without having to compromise the rest of your home.

To make the roof on your real estate last as long as possible you should make sure there are power vents installed to draw hot air out of the attic space. This will keep the underside of the roof cooled down so that it does not cook your shingles the way a frying pan cooks and egg.

To make sure that you?re always getting the most out of your air conditioning units, always remember to clean those filters. Especially if you have a large central machine attached to the home, it?s vital that the filter remains clean so that the machine doesn?t have to work too hard and burn itself out prematurely.

To help improve your home, try tiling your patio. You can create an area where you can relax or eat. Tiling the patio is pretty inexpensive, but you do need a professional tiler. Tiles are available in many colors, styles, and materials, so be creative and create your own personal space.

You can make simple art for your wall by purchasing some solid colored picture frames and tearing out pictures from old children?s books. Illustrations from the likes of Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz and so on are very popular. They make great old fashioned wall art, and add a touch of personality to your home.

Clean out your home every few months by taking a look around and collecting items that you no longer need. It is a great feeling to update your home decor as well as giving unwanted items to charity. Take those things you no longer need and donate them to a local charity or orphanage. This will de- clutter your home and give you space for new items.

If you are looking for home improvement projects that are guaranteed to raise the value of your home, you can?t go wrong with a bathroom or kitchen remodel. Builders and real estate agents estimate that perfecting these rooms is likely to earn you more than 100 percent back on your investment when you put your home up for sale.

Before you begin painting a room it is important to lay down drop clothes or old sheets on the floor. When painting a room it is very possible to have paint drip or spill on the floor. Regardless of what type of floor you have it can be very difficult to get paint up once it is on a surface.

Consider attending free seminars on home improvement at your local home supply retailer to see how to complete a project safely and correctly. You can even get hands-on practice in areas like tile installation or brick laying. Check out the calendar to see which classes are coming up, or request a class that isn?t on the schedule.

In summary, there are some obvious ideas that have been tested over time, as well as some newer techniques that you may not have considered. Hopefully, as long as you follow what we suggest in this article, you can either get started with your home improvement project or improve on what you have already done.

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Air strike kills Pakistani Taliban commander in Afghanistan

KABUL/PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - A NATO air strike in eastern Afghanistan has killed a commander of the Pakistani Taliban, both NATO and the Taliban said on Saturday.

Both sides identified the dead commander as Mullah Dadullah and said several of his comrades were also killed in the attack on Friday.

A NATO statement did not say who carried out the assault but the alliance is alone in having the air power to conduct such an operation. It said Dadullah's deputy, Shakir, was also killed.

"Dadullah, also known as Jamal, was responsible for the movement of fighters and weapons, as well as attacks against Afghan and coalition forces," the statement said.

It said Afghan and coalition forces backing the Kabul government had "conducted a post-strike assessment" and found that there had been no civilian casualties or damage to civilian property.

Pakistani Taliban officials, as well as Pakistani intelligence officials said Dadullah had been killed in a house in eastern Konar province, along with 12 bodyguards. They said he was the leader of the Taliban in Pakistan's Bajaur tribal agency, near the border with Afghanistan.

Dadullah, in his 40s, replaced Maulvi Faqir Mohammad last year after Mohammad told the media that the Taliban were holding peace talks with the government.

The Pakistani Taliban, committed to the same Islamist principles as the Taliban ousted from power in Kabul in 2001, replaced Mohammad with Dadullah to undercut the secret negotiations, Taliban commanders say.

"Mullah Dadullah was staying at a house in Sheegal Darra, along with his 12 bodyguards, when they came under attack. All of them were killed on the spot," said one of the Pakistani Taliban commanders.

Some Pakistani Taliban fighters and commanders were forced to flee into Afghanistan after the Pakistani army launched a series of offensives against them in 2008 and 2009.

But the group still frequently carries out cross-border raids on Pakistani armed forces. In June, the Pakistani Taliban said they beheaded 17 Pakistani soldiers in a cross-border raid.

The United States has in recent weeks stepped up drone attacks aimed at militants in areas of northwest Pakistan largely outside government control despite protests by Pakistani politicians.

Many Pakistanis say the drones infringe on national sovereignty and some activists have raised concerns over civilian deaths. Drone attacks on Friday killed at least 16 people in northwest Pakistan.

(Additional reporting by Saud Mehsud in DERA ISMAIL KHAN: writing by Katharine Houreld; Editing by Ron Popeski)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/air-strike-kills-pakistani-taliban-commander-afghanistan-080819622.html

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Top Items to Make Your Commercial Kitchen a Success ...

Last updated 1 hour 42 minutes ago

Commercial kitchens are unique in that they are generally used to prepare food for dozens, if not hundreds, of people at the same time. In order to help facilitate this feat day in and day out, restaurant and canteen kitchens require a set of special equipment. If you wish to be able to prepare food for the masses quickly and effectively, the following items are absolute must-haves for your commercial kitchen.

Appropriate Cabinetry

Every successful commercial kitchen is equipped with utensils, cookware, dishes, storage containers, and small appliances. To ensure that there is a place for everything in your kitchen, work with a restaurant equipment supply company to choose dish cabinets and wall cabinets designed for commercial kitchens.

A Functional Blender Station

Blending cocktails and preparing exotic smoothies without a high-quality blender is not an option when you have dozens of people to serve at once. A blender station gives you the space and the capacity you need to keep all drink ingredients within arm?s reach of your high-performance, volume-loaded blender.

A Central Work Table

Forget slicing and dicing vegetables and herbs on cutting boards that were made with residential kitchens in mind. When you cook in a commercial kitchen, you need space to spread out the ingredients you are cooking with. A handful of work table options exist, and a restaurant equipment specialist can help you identify which is best suited for your kitchen?s needs.

A Very Large Sink

Unless you want to make food preparation and dish clean-up in your kitchen a reoccurring nightmare, you need a sink with the capacity to hold all of your largest dishes. From a deep one-compartment sink with an attached drainboard to a four-compartment sink with multiple faucets, a restaurant equipment supplier can provide a sink that will help maximize efficiency and cleanliness in your commercial kitchen.

Are you a commercial kitchen owner in Atlanta, Charlotte, or Miami who is looking for the tools that will make your restaurant a success? Offering equipment of only the highest quality, Klinger?s Trading can help you. To speak with a wholesale restaurant equipment specialist about our supplies, call (678) 894-7126.

Contact us to become an authorized dealer. ?If you are an end user and would like to purchase our products, send us an email with your city/state and we will find the dealer nearest you.

Source: http://www.klingerstradingcast.com/530529/2012/08/26/top-items-to-make-your-commercial-kitchen-a-success.html

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Multiple new mini iPad proofs - ProductReviews

The chances of Apple releasing a smaller iPad were very slim when Steve Jobs had been alive, which is thanks to his repeated words on a 7-inch model not being needed to fill the gap between iPhone and the 10-inch iPad. It seems that 2012 is a very different year, and this week alone has seen multiple new mini iPad rumors surfacing that confirm what should be the official name and an event planned for October.

Just two days ago we reported that it would be unlikely to see the new iPhone share a stage with other hardware, which has since been given weight from other sources all pointing towards an October event planned for the iPad mini, and this is separate to the new iPhone event expected in September. Within the last 24-hours an article on AllThingsD has touched on the possibility of an October event for the mini iPad, and it?s their opinion that two events is ideal for Apple to keep on top of the ?tech news cycle? right before the busy holiday shopping season.

The name will be kept simple ? just like Apple did with the ?New iPad?, the 3rd generation, it looks like they will keep the name simple for a smaller iPad this year. Today we?re hearing from an Asian source that the official name will simply be ?iPad mini? and come in at a size of 7.85-inches. The source also highlights that the October event could feature a new iPod touch 5G and iPad nano, and we?ve heard previously this event could be focused on everything iTunes and Music with a more mobile iPad.

What specs would you like the mini iPad to feature? The price is currently unclear, although expect it to be cheaper and lose a few specs to cut costs. The iPod touch 5G might feature NFC, as with the iPad 3, and this would allow for the media player to become almost the same as the iPhone (just lacking traditional phone calls).

Source: http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/08/26/multiple-new-mini-ipad-proofs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=multiple-new-mini-ipad-proofs

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Hockey Kicks Cancer Event | Aug2012

Great event here from High Heels and Hockey.

?

The Pittsburgh sports blogging community will be holding a charity kickball tournament on October 6th to celebrate Hockey Fights Cancer Month. Proceeds will be donated to our local chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which Hockey Fights Cancer benefits.

Please join?Crosby FTW,?High Heels & Hockey,??The Pensblog,?PensNation,?Faceoff Factor, and?Slewfooters?for a day of kickball, raffles, prizes, and more!

The tournament will be divided into teams of 10. When signing up, be sure to talk to your friends and family so that you are able to get onto the same teams. We will update the form when teams fill. ?If you want to represent a blog team, but it is indicated that the team is full, please let us know and we will create a B team for our blogs.?If you do not wish to play but would like to come out and support the teams, you may sign up to attend as a spectator.

Location:?South Hills Dek Hockey
1551 Worthington Avenue
Jefferson Hills, PA 15025

Time: 1:00pm ? 8:00pm ? A schedule of games will be posted prior to the event.

Admission: $20 per player/spectator
Cost includes a Hockey Kicks Cancer t-shirt and a plate of food

Other:
50/50 raffles
Prize Baskets

You can sign up here. We'll have more posts about this in the weeks ahead.

Source: http://www.thepensblog.com/tpb/aug2012/hockey-kicks-cancer-event.html

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Baker Barrios Launches New Brand Identity : : Baker Barrios Architects

ORLANDO, FL.??? (Aug. 24, 2012) ? The Orlando-based commercial planning and design firm, Baker Barrios, announced a new corporate brand identity package that reflects the company?s 20 years of growth, innovation, and evolution. ?The launch marks the first company-wide re-branding effort in more than a decade and emphasizes the firm?s vision to establish a legacy based on creative excellence, innovative solutions, and long-term relationships.?

?We have taken a comprehensive approach to address the full spectrum of re-branding not only to include our brand image, but also our brand strategy, brand management, and overall brand experience,? said Shanon Larimer, Associate Principal and Vice President of Marketing.? ?Our new look builds upon the firm?s solid image, culture, and heritage, expressing continuity as well as change. As a result, the fresh and energized identity has a strong connection to our past, but is represented in a bold, new way to suggest our approach to the future.??

The new brand has been integrated throughout the firm?s business practice; personal interactions, corporate culture, communications, and services. It reflects and informs the company?s business decisions, and it guides all points of client contact.

?We have significantly improved our business and portfolio over the last several years. Our brand launch recognizes the natural evolution of that transformation,? said Tim Baker, Founding Principal. ?Today, Baker Barrios offers clients a complete spectrum of services ? from architecture and interior design to planning and landscape architecture services, operates multiple offices, and has completed projects in more than 20 states and nine countries. Elevating our corporate brand and raising awareness about the depth and breadth of our services portfolio will help us attract and retain the best talent, achieve our strategic goals to grow our company, and increase shareholder value.?

Illustrating Baker Barrios? solid foundation, the primary logo has been contemporized to reflect a bold uppercase ?B? and remains red, reflecting strength, energy, passion, and confidence.? The placement of the ?B? inside a red, black, or silver square flows elegantly from the top to bottom, leading to the firm?s name, Baker Barrios.? The open ?B? suggests an openness to new ideas and new relationships.?

The word ?Architects? has been dropped from the new logo and upgraded marketing collateral will incorporate the firm?s scope of design services: Architecture + Interior Design + Planning + Landscape Architecture. ?A secondary color palette consisting of eight colors and professional photography has been added to support and visually enhance the brand image while also reflecting the vibrancy of the firm.?

The newly incorporated tagline, ?The Next Generation of Design?, captures the essence of the Baker Barrios approach ? always moving forward with new ideas for improving its clients? business by delivering in its brand promise of providing quality design with exceptional service.? It evokes an aspirational tone and symbolizes the next phase in creative development, client base, and leadership.
The company recently increased its reach with new projects in Alabama, Ohio and Tennessee and was awarded two projects in the Middle East.? The firm has increased staff in each market, and is expected to grow an additional 20 percent before the year?s end. Most recently, the firm?s marketing division was the recipient of two American Business Awards for strategic excellence and in 2011, Baker Barrios was recognized as the Firm of the Year by the Orlando chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

?###

?BAKER BARRIOS

Established in 1993, Baker Barrios is a commercial planning and design firm with a core focus in architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture.?? Baker Barrios leverages its deep resources and diverse expertise to develop design solutions for industries including commercial, corporate, education, entertainment, healthcare, hospitality, industrial, mixed-use and multi-family residential properties.? Baker Barrios collaborates with clients to create environments that enhance organizational performance, achieve measurable business goals, and enrich people and their communities.

Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Source: http://www.bakerbarrios.com/news/?p=507

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Dribbble - C (umbrella) by Ivan Bobrov

The top protrusion seems too high, but other than that, it's very nice. The first thing that came to mind, though, is the Travelers Insurance logo. They're here in the U.S. and not in Russia as far as I know, so maybe it doesn't matter. Similar concept, but the execution is very different.

Source: http://dribbble.com/shots/701055-C-umbrella

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Robin Roberts Speaks on "Respect" for Ann Curry, GMA Versus Today Show Rivalry

They may have been rivals for approximately one year, and Good Morning America overtaking The Today Show in the ratings may have led to Ann Curry's departure from the latter program, but that doesn't mean Robin Roberts was happy to see her fellow journalist go.

Appearing on Piers Morgan Tonight yesterday, Robert said she doesn't "take joy" in watching The Today Show fall apart, not when there are actual human beings in the other end.

"Let me tell you, the morning that Ann [Curry] said her goodbye, we were watching," Robins said. "And on our program, which you don't see very often, we spent the last couple of minutes talking about Ann Curry...and appreciating her, and such great respect."

Roberts, of course, has gone through her own emotional journey this year, having just returned to the GMA co-anchor chair after a few weeks ago.

Five months after beating breast cancer, Robins revealed this summer that she is battling a rare blood and bone marrow disorder. A bone marrow transplant is scheduled for early September.

[Photos: WENN.com]

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/08/robin-roberts-speaks-on-respect-for-ann-curry-gma-versus-today-s/

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Samsung teases ?Something Smart Is Coming? at IFA, possible Windows 8 device

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If you?re excited with the upcoming release of Microsoft?s latest platform, Windows 8, then you?re probably just as excited to see the sort of hardware the manufacturers might have up their sleeves to accompany the new operating system. Now it seems that Samsung does have something planned which they will be unveiling at IFA and have since released a video titled ?Something Smart Is Coming?. Thanks to the video, we have managed to catch a glimpse of what appears to be a laptop, although its full design and its specs were not revealed. However with IFA taking place very soon, we guess we won?t have to wait long to find out! In the meantime you can check out Samsung?s teaser video above.

Related articles:
Chrome for iOS updated
The Dark Pi Rises in the form of a drone
Pentagon lays down new social media rules

Seen at: global.samsungtomorrow??

Source: http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/08/samsung-teases-something-smart-is-coming-at-ifa-possible-windows-8-device/

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Video: Terror triggers Mali exodus

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/48762046/

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Advantage flu virus: Scientists discover one of the ways the influenza virus disarms host cells

ScienceDaily (Aug. 23, 2012) ? When you are hit with the flu, you know it immediately -- fever, chills, sore throat, aching muscles, fatigue. This is your body mounting an immune response to the invading virus. But less is known about what is happening on the molecular level.

Now Northwestern University scientists have discovered one of the ways the influenza virus disarms our natural defense system. The virus decreases the production of key immune system-regulating proteins in human cells that help fight the invader. The virus does this by turning on the microRNAs -- little snippets of RNA -- that regulate these proteins.

The researchers, led by molecular biologist Curt M. Horvath, are among the first to show the influenza virus can change the expression of microRNA to control immune responses in human lung cells.

The findings reveal a new aspect of the interaction between the influenza virus and its host. Knowing how viruses disable the immune system to wreak havoc in the body will help researchers design therapeutics to preserve the immune response and keep people healthy. The knowledge also may be valuable for future diagnostics.

The study is published by the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The paper will appear in its final form in September.

"It's a battle of supremacy between virus and host," said Horvath, the senior author of the paper. "Our goal is to understand how the flu replicates in the host. Now we've discovered a new pathway in which the flu controls the immune response, by shutting down vital protein production. With better understanding of this mechanism, one day we may be able to customize therapeutics to target individual flu strains."

Horvath is the Soretta and Henry Shapiro Research Professor in Molecular Biology and professor of molecular biosciences in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. He also is professor of microbiology-immunology and medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine.

A microRNA has only 17 to 24 nucleotides, and its function is to dampen or shut down the production of proteins in the body. (Proteins are the workhorses of the cell.) There are hundreds of different types of microRNAs in animals.

It's been known for many years that when a virus such as influenza infects respiratory cells there is an immediate antiviral response at the cellular level -- the first barrier for protecting the body from the virus. Most of the changes that occur are a result of antiviral gene expression.

About 10 years ago, scientists first learned about small RNA pathways called microRNAs, which regulate gene expression. This led Horvath to want to investigate the role of microRNAs in influenza virus infection and determine what they are contributing to the antiviral response. Exactly which genes might the microRNAs be targeting?

In their current study, Horvath and his team used human lung cells, infected them with the influenza A virus and looked to see which microRNAs were activated in response to the virus. They focused on six microRNAs that were found to increase in abundance during flu infection.

The researchers found the virus activated two microRNAs that turned on the genes IRAK1 and MAPK3. This resulted in a decrease in the amount of proteins that help turn on the immune response.

Essentially, the virus uses the cell mechanisms to its advantage, disarming parts of the natural antiviral system. The flu takes over the expression of microRNAs for its own purposes. The flu increases the expression of microRNA, which decreases the amount of protein and diminishes the immune response.

Having identified a specific set of microRNAs whose expression in host respiratory cells is changed by the influenza virus, Horvath next is interested at looking at the clinical outcomes. He is working with Pedro C. Avila, M.D., professor of medicine-allergy-immunology at the Feinberg School to see if the microRNAs are disregulated in patients with influenza.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Northwestern University. The original article was written by Megan Fellman.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Curt M. Horvath, William Buggele, Karen Johnson. CS01-7 Influenza A Virus Infection of Human Respiratory Cells Induces Primary MicroRNA Expression. Cytokine, 2011; 56 (1): 5 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2011.07.306

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/health_medicine/genes/~3/frH4yfqXx1s/120823143835.htm

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lvsports: Zach Barket poised to make up for lost time with Lehigh University football team http://t.co/knzECeDe

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Source: http://twitter.com/lvsports/statuses/238565994665218048

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Father's age seen as crucial to baby's disease risk

LONDON (Reuters) - A father's age, not a mother's, when a baby is conceived is the single largest factor in the risk of passing on new gene mutations to children and may help explain why childhood autism rates are rising, scientists said on Wednesday.

In a study which turns conventional thinking on its head, researchers sequenced the genomes of 78 Icelandic families with children diagnosed with autism or schizophrenia and found a father's age was crucial to the genetic risk of such disorders.

"Conventional wisdom has been to blame developmental disorders of children on the age of mothers," said Kari Stefansson, chief executive of the private firm deCODE Genetics in Reykjavik, whose work was published in the journal Nature.

"(But) our results all point to the possibility that as a man ages, the number of hereditary mutations in his sperm increases."

He said this age-linked increase in mutations proportionally increased the chance a child might carry a harmful mutation that could lead to conditions like autism and schizophrenia.

"It is the age of fathers that appears to be the real culprit," he added.

The study found an average of two more new gene mutations appeared in offspring for every year of increase in a father's age - meaning the number of new mutations passed on by fathers would double every 16.5 years from puberty onwards.

However, it was not possible to say at what age this could become a concern for a man since there are so many other factors involved in the health of offspring.

Women who conceive later in life are at higher risk of having babies with Down syndrome and other rare chromosomal abnormalities, but Stefansson said his study showed men transmitted far more new gene mutations to children than women.

Richard Sharpe, a professor at the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Reproductive Health who was not involved in this research, said its results suggested men should recognize there is a price to pay for remaining fertile into old age.

"PRICE IS PAID BY CHILDREN"

"The price is paid by their children because the older your father at conception the greater the number of gene mutations you inherit from him," he said. "In contrast, gene mutations inherited from your mother are unaffected by her age at conception."

The finding chimes with the results of three American studies published in April which found that spontaneous mutations could occur in a parent's egg or sperm cells that raised the risk of autism, and that fathers were four times more likely than mothers to pass these mutations on.

Autism spectrum disorders can range from severe mental retardation with a profound inability to communicate, to relatively mild symptoms combined with some high levels of function such as those seen in people with Asperger's syndrome.

Among core features of the disorders are poor communication skills and difficulties with social engagement. In the United States, an estimated 1 in 88 children have autism, while in Europe the rate is thought to be around 1 in 100.

Diagnosis rates have been rising around the world in the past few decades and scientists have been trying to figure out why. At least part of the increase is believed to be due to better diagnosis and wider recognition of the disorders.

Scientists previously have found dozens of genes that may raise the risk of autism. But genetic causes only explain about 10 percent of cases, and recent studies have pointed to environmental factors, possibly arising at conception, as a potential trigger.

Darren Griffin, a professor of genetics at the University of Kent who was not involved in the new study, said the age finding was significant "but not one necessarily to cause great worry among prospective older fathers".

"There are three billion of letters in the DNA code of humans and the numbers of mutations detected in this study are in the dozens," he said.

Other studies in Iceland have shown that the risk of both schizophrenia and autism increases significantly with a father's age at conception, and that men are having children later. The average age of Iceland fathers conceiving in 2011 was 33 years, up from 27.9 years in 1980.

Stefansson stressed that demographic changes of this type - such as men tending to have children later - are not unique to Iceland, so suggest the reported increase in autism rates around the world was at least partially due to older fathers.

(Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Pravin Char)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fathers-age-seen-crucial-babys-disease-risk-170406133.html

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SKorea to resume Iranian oil imports next month

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) ? South Korea will resume imports of Iranian crude next month within levels that comply with U.S. sanctions, government and industry officials said Tuesday, as the country tries to manage the pain that diminished oil supplies meant for the domestic economy.

The resumption will make South Korea the latest Asian country to bypass the European Union's insurance ban on Iranian oil shipments. In July, the EU ban hit the four key Asian markets for Iranian oil, China, India, Japan and South Korea, which were earlier exempted from U.S. government penalties after they made significant cuts to their Iranian oil imports.

South Korea is in a difficult position in its dealings with Iran, analysts said: Seoul wants to maintain close ties with its most important ally, the United States, as Washington pushes for tighter sanctions meant to derail Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program, but South Korea also needs to keep alive crucial business and energy ties with Iran, whose crude is cheaper than other oil exporters.

Critics say major Asian countries' pursuit of Iranian oil hurts Western efforts to confront Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

South Korean government officials, however, said the oil import resumption will comply with the Obama administration's guidelines.

"The volume of oil South Korea is set to resume importing from Iran is within the range that was promised to the United States," said an official at South Korea's Knowledge Economy Ministry. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of his involvement in ongoing diplomacy on the issue. The official confirmed that imports of Iranian crude oil will resume next month.

In the first five months of this year, South Korea reduced its Iranian crude imports by 16 percent from a year earlier.

Since the EU ban stopped imports from Iran in July, South Korean refiners have been talking with the Iranian National Oil Co., the National Iranian Tanker Co. and the Iranian government about ways to ship crude on tankers provided and insured by Tehran.

Before the EU sanctions hit, South Korea was the world's fourth-largest buyer of Iranian crude.

SK Energy Co., South Korea's largest oil refiner, which purchased 10 percent of its crude from Iran before the sanctions hit, is discussing dates and details with Iranian firms and the government in Tehran, said spokesman Yoo Jung-min. Hyundai Oil Bank Co., South Korea's No. 4 refiner, also expects to restart oil purchase from Iran next month, company spokesman Koh In-soo said. They are the only South Korean refiners that buy crude from Iran.

The resumption of oil imports will help the nearly 3,000 mostly small and mid-sized South Korean businesses that do businesses with Iran. Seoul joined global sanctions against Iran in 2010 and bans selling goods related to nuclear weapons and oil to Iran. But South Korea and Iran found a way for South Korean companies to conduct trade with Iran without violating sanctions.

Under a 2010 agreement, Iran's Central Bank opened accounts at South Korean banks. While exporters usually get paid in the foreign currency used by trading partners, the 2010 measure allowed South Korean exporters doing business with Iran to get paid in Korean won.

Because deposits are then later used to pay South Korean exporters that sold goods to Iran, halting oil imports from Iran hurts these exporters. South Korea's exports to Iran increased 32 percent last year over a year earlier to $6 billion.

Last week, India joined Japan to offer state-backed insurance coverage on Iranian oil shipments. Insurance coverage is crucial in shipping oil because of possible environmental claims and liability from oil spills.

Seoul and Washington are major trade and security partners that recently put in place an ambitious free trade deal, and 28,500 American troops are stationed here as a deterrent against North Korea. But South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy, depends heavily on oil imports and is uneasy with joining a campaign against an important energy partner.

"South Korea's participation in the U.S. sanctions against Iran has been more symbolic than substantive," said Lee Hee-soo, a political scientist and Middle East expert at Seoul's Hanyang University. "Considering the huge trade South Korea does with Iran, it is difficult for South Korea to be as tough on Iran as the United States wants its ally to be. Iran's too big an energy and business partner for South Korea."

___

Associated Press writer Sam Kim contributed to this report. Follow Youkyung Lee on Twitter at http://twitter.com/YKLeeAP .

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/skorea-resume-iranian-oil-imports-next-month-095429326--finance.html

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Why can't the cost of flood insurance rise Felix Salmon

[unable to retrieve full-text content]has a mammoth report aboard the the National Flood Insurance Program ? something which is a veritable bucket of fail. In a nutshell,????? ??, it undercuts personal insurers and therefore namely the only game in town; it insures only a ...

Source: http://uploadons.com/blog/why-cant-the-cost-of-flood-insurance-rise-felix-salmon/

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Cutting the 'guilty,' leaving the 'pleasure'

Luis M. Alvarez / AP

Burger King added smoothies, wraps and salads this year in its biggest menu expansion since the chain opened its doors in 1954.

By Bill Briggs, NBC News contributor

Fast food surges through Alec Armbruster's veins.?His father, an advertising expert, has consulted for McDonald's, while Alec, 18, has stuffed many of his teen years with a "once-every-three-days" Taco Bell habit -- heavy on the soft tacos.?

"If I go to Taco Bell, I skip all the healthy menu items because the other food is a lot better," said Armbruster, a college student in Sarasota, Fla. "I never read the calories on those things."?

His age, gender and large appetite are typical of the core demographic that drives the business of Taco Bell and most fast-food chains. But times are changing.

Last month Taco Bell rolled out a veggie-laced menu line, Cantina Bell, entering the fray with quick-serve rivals that?have launched a new, nutritional arms race: trying to out-healthy one another.

McDonald's is touting its "under 400 calories" items, including the venerable Filet-O-Fish sandwich. Burger King has just added?smoothies and salads to?its menu. Wendy's is pitching a new mobile app that lets customers personalize meals based on the number of calories they choose.?

"The new battleground is shifting from 'value' to 'better for you' options," said Nick Castaldo, senior vice president of marketing at Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, an East Coast chain, and a lecturer at NOVA Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

"Some of it is defensive, trying to appease nutrition critics - especially as the government's nanny-state rules intensify," he said. "But some of it is a competitive reaction to the business inroads made by fast-casual chains such as Chipotle and Einstein Bros. Bagels, which used 'freshness' as a differentiator and a proxy for 'health,' against traditional fast food."

But will these heart-happy changes truly risk losing core customers with their?deep passions for burgers,?fries and?Nachos BellGrande? Or in fast-food speak, is Taco Bell?at risk of losing its SHUs, the "Super Heavy Users"?

"They?re not going to violate that relationship by going all healthy," said Adam Armbruster, Alec's dad, and a partner a ESA & Co., an ad strategy firm. "But at the same time, they want to get the soccer mom in a hurry, driving a Volvo with high income."

Armbruster said the low-fat menu items are?mainly a nod to mothers who otherwise would drive past the fast-food joints even though her kids may be?screaming for them.

"She wants the speed and convenience but she?s not willing to do the calorie intake," Armbruster said. "Suddenly, she can be going into Arby?s or going into KFC."?

And she doesn't have to look behind her to see if other soccer moms are casting judgmental looks her way.

"I would assume that the salad category expansion (at some fast food chains) has resulted in?incremental business -- more female appeal and permission for more?frequency," Castaldo said. But he added that most of the healthier fast-food menu options probably have little lasting appeal.

Indeed, the heavy hitters of the fast-food?industry are not expected to forsake the diehard customers responsible for their profits.

For example, while?Burger King dangles its strawberry and mango smoothies, customers also have the option of a?triple Whopper that?can be built five beef patties tall with a whopping (sorry)?1,600 calories and 1,250 milligrams of sodium. For dessert they?can try the new?bacon sundae (510 calories, 670 milligrams of sodium). McDonald's now boasts 44 menu items with?less than 400 calories but plenty with far more, including the?Angus bacon and cheese burger with its?790 calories and 2,070 milligrams of sodium.?

McDonald's

McDonald's says it has 44 menu items under 400 calories, including the Filet-O-Fish.

And while there's a berry-almond salad on the summer menu at Wendy's, the focus of its brand advertising is "on freshness and quality, not health benefit," company spokesman Bob?Bertini said. The focus is not on?Wendy's hit Baconator burger (970 calories, 2,020 milligrams of sodium). ?

This is not the first time Taco Bell took a run at healthier fare. Seven years ago the company unveiled a low-cal, low-fat "Fresco Menu" that lets customers remove cheese or cream-based sauces.

Asked whether the new?Cantina Bell line is sign that Fresco didn't?connect with its?most loyal fans, Taco Bell spokesman?Rob Poetsch said no.

"We still offer it," he said. "We do have folks who come to us looking for lower-calorie options."

But Cantina "is?really focused on layers of flavors. We don?t market it as a lower-calorie item,"?Poetsch added. "What we?ve noticed is people are shifting from this concept that food is fuel to one where food is experience. That was the insight that drove the Cantina menu."

Taco Bell is a "nutritional hard case," Castaldo said. While mainstram chains like McDonald's have a family-friendly appeal, Taco Bell's core audience has always been young males.

?"I've?heard some good things about that (Cantina) product, but it is definitely a brand-position bender for that chain," Castaldo said.

Just ask core customers like?Alec Armbruster, whose father says he "can recite the entire Taco Bell menu."

In fact the younger Armbruster said he has not eaten at Taco Bell in about three months -- a diet-change choice -- but he was dubious about the Cantina line.

"That?like a salad-looking thing?" he asked. "I guess?I would order one if I wanted to try to be healthy and if I didn?t have enough money to pay for a healthy meal some place else."?

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Source: http://bottomline.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/21/13300292-fast-food-giants-try-to-cut-the-guilty-leave-the-pleasure?lite

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