Report: US Patent And Trademark Office Denies Apple's iPad Mini Trademark Application, Deemed ?Merely Descriptive?

Right after it launched the iPad mini, Apple filed a trademark application for the name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). As Patently Apple noticed earlier today, however, the USPTO will likely refuse Apple’s trademark filing because, the reviewer argues, “the applied-for mark merely describes a feature or characteristic of applicant?s goods.” The letter?was mailed to Apple on January 24, but only made public in the last few days. Apple can still respond to this notice and correct its application, though it’s hard to see how Apple could argue against the USPTO’s argument that ‘mini’ is ‘merely descriptive.’ “The applied-for mark merely describes a feature or characteristic of applicant?s goods.” The word ‘mini,’ the reviewer argues, just describes that the iPad mini is indeed “a small sized handheld tablet computer” and just describes the mini’s features. It is not, the reviewing attorney says, “a unitary mark with a unique, incongruous, or otherwise nondescriptive meaning in relation to the goods and/or services.” The USPTO would only grant Apple the trademark to the full iPad mini name if the company could show that the word ‘mini’ has now acquired a “distinctiveness.” In addition, Patently Apple also notes, the reviewer also denied the application for now because Apple should have provided the USPTO with a specimen other than its own product website, even though Apple always uses these for its trademark applications and this was never a reason for a denial before. The reviewer also believes that there is a “likelihood of confusion” between Apple’s existing iPad trademarks and this new iPad? mini application, which, to be honest, doesn’t make a lot of sense. Here is the letter the USPTO sent to Apple in January: USPTO Refuses Apple’s iPad mini Trademark Application

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/xL16BBltNvs/

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Report: Saudi Arabia may try to end anonymity for Twitter users

Reuters ? ? ? 20 hrs.

Saudi Arabia may try to end anonymity for Twitter users in the country by limiting access to the site to people who register their identification documents, the Arab News daily reported on Saturday.

Last week, local media reported the government had asked telecom companies to look at ways they could monitor, or block, free internet phone services such as Skype.

Twitter is highly popular with Saudis and has stirred broad debate on subjects ranging from religion to politics in a country where such public discussion had been considered at best unseemly and sometimes illegal.

Early this month, the security spokesman for Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry described social networking, particularly Twitter, as a tool used by militants to stir social unrest.

The country's Grand Mufti, Saudi Arabia's top cleric, last week described users of the microblogging site as "clowns" wasting time with frivolous and even harmful discussions, local newspapers reported.

"A source at (the regulator) described the move as a natural result of the successful implementation of (its) decision to add a user's identification numbers while topping up mobile phone credit," Arab News reported.

That would not necessarily make a user's identity visible to other users of the site, but it would mean the Saudi government could monitor the tweets of individual Saudis.

The English-language daily and sister paper to the Saudi-owned pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat newspaper did not explain how the authorities might be able to restrict ability to post on Twitter. Both newspapers belong to a publishing group owned by the ruling family and run by a son of Crown Prince Salman.

Internet service providers are legally obliged to block websites showing content deemed pornographic.

One of the big investors in Twitter is Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a nephew of King Abdullah who also holds significant stakes in Citi Group, News Corp and Apple through his Kingdom Holding Company.

The country's telecom regulator, Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) did not immediately responded to requests for comment on the report. Last week it did not comment on the report it was seeking to restrict Skype use.

A spokeswoman for Kingdom Holding said Prince Alwaleed was not available to comment.

"There are people who misuse the social networking and try to send false information and false evaluation of the situation in the kingdom and the way the policemen in the kingdom are dealing with these situations," said Major General Mansour Turki, the security spokesman, at a news conference on Mar 8.

At a separate interview with Reuters this month, Turki argued that a small number of supporters of al Qaeda and activists from Saudi Arabia's Shi'ite minority used social media to stir wider sympathy for their goals and social unrest.

However, he also argued against banning the site.

Two weeks ago one of Saudi Arabia's most prominent clerics, Salman al-Awdah, who has 2.4 million followers on the site, used Twitter to attack the government's security policy as too harsh and call for better services. He warned it might otherwise face "the spark of violence".

Two leading Saudi human rights activists were sentenced to long prison terms this month for a variety of offences including "internet crimes" because they had used Twitter and other sites to attack the government.

Some top princes in the monarchy now use Twitter themselves and Crown Prince Salman, King Abdullah's designated heir and also Defence Minister, recently opened an official account.

(Reporting By Angus McDowall; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653377/s/2a29c693/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Ctechnology0Ctechnolog0Creport0Esaudi0Earabia0Emay0Etry0Eend0Eanonymity0Etwitter0Eusers0E1C9144293/story01.htm

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Marriage Rituals Among Mudaliar Community In 21st Century ...

<p> </p>
the <p> 1995 years, the Haikou municipal government declaration to the Hainan Provincial Department of Civil Affairs, built in the edge of the village of Tong Shin Wang Haiping Martyrs Monument (South China Sea Network reporter Sun thus rendering) </p>
<p> </p>
<p> now the Memorial of the approximately 10 acres of land has been surrounded by tall erected and the private residence being built round and round and much (South China Sea Network reporter Sun thus rendering) </p>
<p> </p>
<p> here four weeds. To this end, Ration families of martyrs and Wang Pi Quan said: "This does not respect the acts of the martyrs of very angry people!" (South China Sea Network reporter Sun thus rendering photo) </p>
<p> Tomb Sweeping Festival rain have, pedestrians Deep Sorrow. Annual Ching Ming Festival is approaching, is that people are to worship their own ancestors the busy Haikou Mayor stream town's Wang Pi Jun, Wang Pi-chuen, Wang Pi Yue three brothers are very tangled, anxiety, because they uncle CPC early revolutionaries, Hainan revolutionary martyr Ration Martyrs Memorial still remain a lonely and desolate tombstone now even surrounded by the unauthorized construction of private homes. Ration nephew Wang Pi Chuen to the South China Sea Network reporter said,Jordan 5 Raging Bull, even as a revolutionary martyr not get people's attention, and now Memorial Park unattended due to long-term barren, very heartbreaking. </P>
<p> Ration: performance Fengwei Joan nationality revolutionary martyr </p>
Ration <p>, formerly known as the reign of luan, word Xiang Lin, aka wow Lee, 1904 Lunar March 16, was born in Hainan Haikou Mayor stream town hall Shin Estate, a family of teachers. The name may be not well-known, but still indelible as the Chinese Communist Party members of the great achievements made by the Chinese revolution - Ration six first Qiong Ji Communists. </P>
<p> Ration consecutive years participated in the 1919 May Fourth Movement, 1925 May Thirtieth Movement, 1926 Northern Expedition sport, 1927, "August" Nanchang Uprising, which is unique in the Joan membership Communists in the . </P>
end of <p> 1927, Ration create the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, only twenties Former Provisional Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Provincial CPC Committee propaganda department, Minxi Recorders secretary, peasant riots, commander-in-chief, the provincial party committee The secretary of the Central Military Commission, the provincial party committee and agency secretary, first secretary of the Xiamen Center Municipal (Chief Secretary of War) and other staff. </P>
<p> secretary of the Central Military Commission of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Ration create Minxi revolutionary base areas, the agrarian revolution, he was the commander-in-chief of peasant uprisings; also created and led the 12th Army of the Red Army; him involved in the training of party cadres, culture absorbed more than three thousand new party members. </P>
<p> addition, Ration martyrs also Wenwuquancai to the. Served during the propaganda department of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee Army secretary, when the archive file of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Provincial Committee a written report to the CPC Central Committee, almost all the Ration drafted; He also founded the "battle", "mass Several publications reported "," Agni ". 1930 Ration martyrs is also involved in the leadership and planning was the famous "5.25" Xiamen prison raids event does not harm a single soldier more than forty rescued our revolutionary comrades. Shocked the nation on the subject, rare in the world, a far-reaching impact. High clouds based on this event, after the liberation of a famous writer, writing a novel small town in the Spring and Autumn ", after adapted into a movie won the outstanding works. </P>
<p> Ration martyr Joan membership Communists in the first fight side by side with Mao Zedong. In the Zhangzhou 1932 Battle Ration led local armed forces with the Central Red Army led by Mao Zedong, overcome Zhangzhou victory. Million celebration rally Ration stage to deliver a speech, Mao Zedong sitting listening to the stage, after the two shook hands cordially. The Ration continue with Mao Zedong research. </P>
<p> said: According to the Chinese Communist Party History Office of Fujian Province, Xiamen History Office comrades Ration for the revolutionary cause of the party's contribution to the great, great sacrifice, Luo ranked first in the history of the CPC Fujian Party Ration name second. October 25, 1932, Fujian Party mourning Ration comrades sacrifice: "Haiping comrades sacrifice four months, he is a loyal member of the proletariat, to make his final vocation. Sacrifice of Fujian Party not stroking a giant hit in our ranks, a not fill the gap. "</p>
<p> a family of three are all Revolution sacrifice his comrades Tao Zhu mourn the martyrs on the island </p>
<p> in that turbulent era, the Chinese Communists always at the edge of life. "5.25" Xiamen the prison raids incident after less than a year, Xiamen underground command center has been damage to the enemy, responsible for provincial authorities Ration wife Liang Huizhen and seven other comrades Shop, Ration the day to escape. </P>
early June, <p> 1932, the night of the running revolution Ration secret joints in Xiamen Zhongshan Park, the traitor informer, unfortunately, the ambush spy arrested. Ration sacrifice when he was only 28 years old, his wife Liang Huizhen was only twenty-six, Liang Huizhen have cherished eight months pregnant, along with his unborn child, a Ration all the blood, and sprinkled Lujiang not leave a root seedlings , even the bones can not be looking. </P>
<p> the early 1950s, Hainan liberation, Ration secretary of the Fujian Provincial Military Commission Tao Zhu, all the way to embark on Hainan Island, the two glorious plaque gift Ration and Liang Huizhen the families of the martyrs and son; 1951 Qiongshan County commemorative plaque to the People's Government of the "power of the people" Ration martyrs home; 1957, the government took the glorious commemorative certificate signed by Chairman Mao Zedong gave Ration families of the martyrs ? ? ? ? ? ? Since Ration relatives only know a the Ration Martyrs couple hehe merit, realized Ration Hainan culture as cultural celebrities importance. </P>
the build long <p> Martyrs Memorial bumpy the road </p>
<p> It is understood that, to the Hainan Provincial Department of Civil Affairs in 1995, Haikou Municipal Government to declare built in the edge of the village of Tong Shin Wang Haiping Martyrs Monument was fundraising and government support of the the Ration Martyrs Memorial Preparatory Committee mobilize social forces, by the village committee leadership and the local masses agreement, agreed to set aside about 10 acres of land as Ration Martyrs Memorial sites. </P>
<p> 2013 3 26, Wang Pi Jun, Wang Pi-chuen, Wang Pi ax three brothers presented to reporters the Haikou Municipal People's Government in 1995, it is clearly in response to Recommendation No. 15, the Municipal People's Congress the Third Session of the Eleventh that: planning group was established by the the Xiuying District and the long stream town, society, public donations, municipal and district governments support settlement funds to launch. There Haikou City People's Government of the Secretary-General's office meeting minutes of August 26, 2010,Jordans 5, the above also clear: the construction of Wang Haiping Martyrs Memorial of great significance for strengthening the city patriotic education bases and carry forward the revolutionary history. </P>
<p> Wang Pi-chuen told reporters: "In order to be able to build Ration the Martyrs Memorial, our brothers and several everywhere, personally submit the material to the leadership at all levels, all strongly endorsed However, so many years has not been a practical solution. "</p>
Wang Pi Jun <p> "I hope the leaders of relevant departments can improve attention Hainan capable of such a talent is not easy, it makes sense for us to build an international tourist island, is We Hainan culture is a good indication." Wang Pi-chuen, Wang Pi ax three brothers hope that the years of running not to be wasted. </P>
<p> Martyrs Memorial surrounded by private homes </p>
In 26 am <p> 2013, South China Sea Network reporter in Ration relatives of Wang Pi Jun, Wang Pi-chuen, Wang Pi ax three brothers, accompanied, arrived at the Hainan Haikou City Xiuying Mayor stream town hall Shin Estate Hai Yu the Ration Martyrs Memorial near the west line. The reporter saw about 10 acres of Memorial has been one after another, surrounded tall erected and the private residence being built,Air Jordan 5 Raging Bull, and illegal construction has seriously affected the situation to Memorial. Today it is no longer the past large color door dressed grave monument, both sides of the coconut trees lush downtown scene. Four weeds. To this end, Ration families of martyrs and Wang Pi Quan said: "This lack of respect for the martyr's behavior is very angry people!" </P>
<p> According to reports, though it was an agreement of local people to set aside about 10 acres of land as the the Ration Martyrs Memorial land, but "did not apply for the land certificate, in recent years, because of the increased value of the land, the villagers in this block ground was built illegally built, even into the Memorial of the road blocked illegally built. </P>
at the scene, the reporter also found that the entire Memorial is surrounded by several buildings, some have serious impact on the overall landscape of Memorial. </P>
<p> village: these illegally built almost all of the village committee agreed to cap </p>
<p> According to Wang Pi military brothers in the past few years, because Ration Martyrs Memorial was illegally built "under siege", they have repeatedly reflected to the relevant government departments to put an end to such violations, but the villagers still its own way, these illegally built talks cover more and more to cover the higher. "</p>
<p> 3 26 am, the South China Sea Network reporter this issue to the Xiuying District, Haikou City, the urban management department to report receiving the report, officers said "rural land and building mainly by the town government is responsible for, and said," Now with the town government Contact staff understand the situation. "</p>
<p> at noon that day, a long stream town hall goodness Village Committee Director Wang came to the scene, and said, "commissioned by the town government explain the situation. Director Wang believes that the village committee full support to build the Ration Martyrs Memorial. But he believes that, because Ration Martyrs Memorial sites for the relevant documents had not, this piece of land before the villagers' collective land, so the past few years, many villagers have to apply to the village committee to build a house here, "Village The Committee also agreed to a few households in this building houses. </P>
<p> these collective land homestead documents, Deputy Director Wang believes that "are collective land use permits, long stream town house is officially homestead certificate." </p>
Zeng Yuan, <p> (South China Sea net HAIKOU, March 26, the South China Sea Network reporter Sun thus rendering intern,) </p>
<p> </p>
<p> now the Memorial of the approximately 10 acres of land has been surrounded by tall erected and the private residence being built round and round and much (South China Sea Network reporter Sun thus rendering) </p>
<p> </p>
<p> the only road out of the Memorial Garden of very barren (South China Sea Network reporter Sun thus rendering photo) </p>
<p> </p>
<p> because the road blocked the only road out of the Memorial also very barren (South China Sea Network reporter Sun thus rendering photo) </p>
<p> </p>
<p> 1957 the government took the glorious commemorative certificate signed by Chairman Mao Zedong gave Ration families of the martyrs (South China Sea Network reporter Sun thus rendering photo) </p>
<p> </p>
<p> Wang Pi-chuen told reporters: "In order to be able to build Ration the Martyrs Memorial, our brothers and several everywhere, personally submit the material to the leadership at all levels, all strongly endorsed However, so many years has not been a practical solution. "(South China Sea Network reporter Sun thus rendering photo) </p>inhiy7uwietgwy
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Source: http://midtownlunch.com/forums/topic/marriage-rituals-among-mudaliar-community-in-21st-century

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Filmmaker who rescued Romanian orphans is killed

ENCINITAS, Calif. (AP) ? A documentary filmmaker known for helping rescue children from squalid Romanian orphanages in the early 1990s was fatally shot following a dispute over the trimming of shrubbery outside his Southern California home, officials said Friday.

John Charles Upton Jr., 56, was found dead Thursday on a dirt path in the yard of his Encinitas home. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said detectives arrested Michael Vilkin, 61, on suspicion of murder. He was being held without bail, pending arraignment Tuesday.

Upton, after learning of the plight of Romanian orphans, publicized the brutal conditions and was instrumental in bringing an estimated two dozen orphans to America for medical care and adoption.

Vilkin, in an interview conducted in county jail, told KGTV in San Diego he fired gunshots in self-defense after Upton menaced him with a gun during a dispute over foliage.

Vilkin said he owns vacant property next to Upton's home, and the two men had a disagreement over trimming shrubs.

"I did not go to him," Vilkin told the station. "He came to me threatening and pulled a gun (on) me."

Upton's brother, Michael Upton, told U-T San Diego that his brother and Vilkin previously argued about trees.

Upton's work in Romania also gained the attention of influential activists, inspiring billionaire philanthropist Richard Branson and actress Jessica Lange to help rescue youngsters from Romania.

Upton went on to create an online network of films about charitable causes.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/filmmaker-rescued-romanian-orphans-killed-231935649.html

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No end to Italy deadlock as president meets parties

By James Mackenzie

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's political parties remained far apart on Friday as President Giorgio Napolitano searched for a way out of the month-long stalemate since deadlocked elections left no group able to form a government alone.

Napolitano met political leaders on Friday after center-left chief Pier Luigi Bersani, who won the largest share of the vote but fell short of a majority in parliament, failed to reach a deal with other parties that would allow him to govern.

Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi insisted that the only solution was for Bersani to accept a coalition deal that would give the media tycoon a share in power but he was immediately rebuffed by a senior Democratic Party official.

The 76-year-old billionaire said there was "no other solution" than a coalition and he ruled out backing a technocrat government like the one led by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti, whom he blames for pushing Italy into recession.

"Our position has not changed. We expressed it with absolute clarity to the president," center-right leader Berlusconi told reporters after the meeting with Napolitano.

Luigi Zanda, Senate leader for Bersani's Democratic Party(PD), said it was "very difficult" to imagine a coalition with Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) party.

"There are too many important issues in PDL policies that are light years from those of the Democratic Party," he told SkyTG television.

After five days of talks that ended on Thursday, Bersani failed to get a deal with either Berlusconi or Beppe Grillo's populist 5-Star Movement, which holds the balance of power.

Five Star repeated on Friday that it would not back a government led by any of the big parties it blames for Italy's social and economic crisis. It also rejected any "pseudo-technocrat" administration.

"Give them a vote of confidence? Those are swear words in the mouths of people like them," Grillo said in a live video broadcast on his popular blog. "They should all just go home."

A deal between center-right and center-left has been blocked by Bersani, who says Berlusconi is untrustworthy and also rejects the latter's demand to nominate a successor to Napolitano, whose mandate expires in May.

Berlusconi said there had been no deal on the presidency but it was "in the logic of things that if you form a coalition government you discuss the best president of the Republic".

PRESIDENT TAKES THE INITIATIVE

After Bersani's failure, the 87-year-old Napolitano is holding a quick round of meetings with the main parties to assess what options remain to prevent another election.

The refusal by Berlusconi and his allies in the Northern League as well as Grillo to back a technocrat government appears to narrow his options greatly and made it much less likely that an independent figure will be able to lead a non-political administration - which many see as the only way out of deadlock.

"We were against the Monti government and if there is to be another government of that type it's a thousand times better to have new elections," League leader Roberto Maroni said.

Among the names which had been considered possible candidates as a technocrat leader are Fabrizio Saccomanni, director general of the Bank of Italy or the head of the constitutional court Franco Gallo.

The political gridlock has fed growing worries about Italy's ability to confront a prolonged economic crisis that has left it in deep recession for more than a year, with a 2-trillion-euro ($2.6-trillion) public debt and record unemployment, especially among the young.

Rumors have been circulating for days that ratings agency Moody's is preparing to cut its rating on Italy's sovereign debt, which is already only two notches above "junk" grade, partly due to the uncertain political outlook.

Napolitano has made clear that he does not want Italy to go back to new elections immediately, not least because the widely criticized election law is likely to just repeat the deadlock.

But many are already preparing to vote again, with Berlusconi's center-right confident that the momentum created by his surge towards the end of the last campaign will continue.

A poll by the SWG company on Friday showed the center-right had pushed Bersani's bloc into second place since the vote.

($1 = 0.7788 euros)

(Additional reporting by Naomi O'Leary; Editing by Barry Moody and Michael Roddy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/italys-president-seeks-way-political-deadlock-091517168.html

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Katharine McPhee Returns to American Idol, Performs with OneRepublic

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The Tactical Pen ? a pen James Bond would want

  Need a new multi-functional item for your EDC? Then take a look at the Tactical Pen from Cybernetic Research Labs. What makes this pen different from others is the addition of a carbide end-piece that can be used as an emergency glass breaker. The pen is built of several connecting sections, allowing for multiple [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/03/29/the-tactical-pen-a-pen-james-bond-would-want/

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Got Credit? Use These Tips To Make The Most Of It - Finance News ...

Credit cards have created problems for some people for as long as they have been available. Bank cards can be hard to manage and use if your understanding of how they work is not good. The following advice will teach you what you need to know to use charge cards properly.

Review all the credit card accounts you have and think about closing those that you do not use. Closing accounts that are old reduces the risk of having those accounts used fraudulently. You can close accounts that you don?t want anymore, even if you still have a balance, too. Simply keep paying the balance off until it is completely repaid.

It may not be a great idea for someone to get credit cards when they turn 18. While this is what many people do, you need to get a few months of understanding the credit industry behind you before you go all out. See what it is to be an adult before you jump head first into your first credit card.

Interest Rate

You may have a good payment history, and a good credit score, but still be paying a high interest rate on your credit card. Ask your company to lower the interest rate. In a few cases, this will happen. Any reduction in interest rate can really add up to huge savings for you in the long run.

Whenever you are about to go traveling, especially when going overseas, carry a couple of charge cards on you. Having cards from two separate banks gives you more options. If one card is declined, you probably won?t be able to use another one issued by the same bank. Your access to credit will be far more secure if you have two completely different ways to make charges.

Keep an eye on your credit score. Most creditors think of 700 as the lowest number you can have while still being considered to have good credit. Improve your spending habits by spending to improve your credit score. With a credit score of at least 700, you will receive the lowest interest rates and best credit offers.

As soon as your monthly card statements are received, immediately check them. Be sure your charges match up to your purchases. That is the most effective way to be aware of duplicated or unauthorized transactions. If you notice them, they need to be reported as soon as possible so the matter can be resolved.

Credit Card

You should review your credit card statement thoroughly every month. Check?and double check?every new charge that appears on your statement. If you see any charges that you cannot identify or that show the wrong amount, get in touch with the credit card company right away. If you initiate any complaints or disputes when they happen, they are much easier to get resolved.

Keep one credit card open. Keep the one you have had the longest, or the one that has the best record of timely payments. This shows that you are able to manage an account for an extended amount of time.

It is highly recommended that your credit card limits remain less than 75% of the total money you make every month. If you have a limit higher than a month?s salary, you should work on paying it off immediately. This is because your interest will just keep growing bigger and bigger.

Most charge cards come with a pre-set limit on the amount of money you are able to spend. Be careful not to go past this limit, and try to avoid using your card unless it is an emergency. If you are close to your credit limit, you may not be able to use your card during an emergency.

If your credit is poor, you might want to consider a secured card. You may need to front a few hundred dollars to get started, but such cards can improve credit scores significantly if used wisely.

Do not lend other people your credit card for any reason. Even though a good friend might have a need, it is never a good decision to lend it to anyone. This can lead to excessive charges, over the limit fees, and other problems if your friend happens to charge more than they should.

Look at your credit card receipt as soon as the transaction is completed in the store. If anything on the receipt needs to be corrected, this is the easiest time to get it done!

Every year you should make sure to ask for a free credit report from each of the credit bureaus. Take out your card statements, and make sure those amounts equal the recorded amount of debt on your credit history.

Interest Rate

Understand what your interest rate will be. You should completely understand the interest rate prior to signing up for a credit card. If you are unaware, you may end up paying far more than the initial price. If your interest rate is high, there is a good possibility that you won?t have enough money to pay your debt at the end of the month.

Don?t start using bank cards to purchase things you aren?t able to afford. No matter how nice an item is, you shouldn?t use a credit card to finance an item if you cannot afford it. You will pay a lot of interest and monthly payments that you could not pay for. Exit the store and mull over your purchase for a couple of days before making your final decision. If you still want to purchase the item, the store?s financing typically provides the lowest interest rates.

As discussed previously, frustration and confusion can often come with attempting to understand your credit card accounts. If you know how to use them, though, they do not have to cause you trouble. Knowledge is the key to using bank cards appropriately.

Blue widgets is an important topic and you should do more research. Now you should have enough information to get you started. Do not worry if it all seems unfamiliar to you. This is normal, and you?ll be in the pro league in no time.

Source: http://www.sonipa.net/got-credit-use-these-tips-to-make-the-most-of-it/

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Stress Management - Say Hello Indonesia

Stress is really bad for your body and for your life. It can waste your energy, and your time. There are many reasons why people may get stress. Problem with the workplace, family, financial, loss someone, guilty, or even feared could be the factors of stress. Stress can cause restlessness, unhappiness, impatience and anger. It can harm your life, relationships and health.

It does, you cannot control your life and your condition as what you want. Controlling and eliminating the reasons of stress is not an easy thing to do, but it is very helpful if you can act and behave to reduce or alleviate your stress. Don?t ever let you down and internally affected too much. There are a number of stress relief methods that can and must be tried out that will help you to reduce stress:

1. Take a nice bath.
You may soak in the warm water for fifteen minutes, close your eyes and breath consistently. It?s useful for your body circulation and help you to feel relax.

2. Listen to music.
Play some soft music, light a candle, and drink a glass of milk, tea or hot chocolate can warm you. Maybe you can do a little dance, follow the music and rest your mind. Forget all your problems for at least one hour. These can make you feel calm.

3. Watch comedy or funny films.
Laugh is the best method to reduce stress. Ask your friends to find the references of funny film or television programs. Enjoy it with consuming your favorite snacks, and you?ll feel relax.

4. Go picnic with your family or friends
Vacation or even just walking in a park, feel the fresh air, enjoying the view, and having fun with your family or friends also a great method for reducing stress. They can make you feel happy and relax.

5. Massage
Massage is useful to stretch your nerves. Go to the salon or spa, or maybe you can share it with your wife or husband.

6. Take a short walk and deep breath
Take a short walk in park or garden can help you to relief stress. Feel the fresh air and take a deep breath.

7. Do what you like to do
Take a time to do ?just me time?. Do what you really like to do, do your hobbies, eat your favorite food, listen to your favorite music, go to your favorite place, etc.

8. Meditation
It exerts a calming effect on the body, nerves and blood pressure, reduces restlessness, and brings peace of mind, detachment and equanimity.

9. Motivate your self
Whatever your problem, however hard it is, always be positive thinking. Talk to yourself that you can do that. Say you can, so you will. Believe it. Listen to motivator, or read an inspiring story book. It really helps to make you motivated.

10. Pray to your God
This is the most importing to do. Communicate all your problems and feelings to God. Believe, nothing is impossible if you give it to God.

How success you can manage your stress depend to yourself. It requires some effort and time. Be patient, be happy, and believe in God. That?s the key.

Source: http://sayhelloindonesia.blogspot.com/2013/03/stress-management.html

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Grizzly robot EV shrugs off difficult terrain, laughs at heavy loads

Like its namesake, Clearpath Robotic's Grizzly is most comfortable in the wild. Sure, this unmanned ATV is perfectly capable of handling paved streets. But the 26-inch wheels and eight-inches of ground clearance are really built for offroad excursions. The 80-horsepower all-electric motor is capable of reaching speeds of 11 mph and of towing loads over 1,300 pounds. In short, this thing is beast. Clearpath suggests the bot would excel at agricultural tasks, but it seems to us that plowing fields would be a waste of Grizzly's skills. Unless, of course, those fields happened to be on another planet. To see this mobile monster in action check out the gallery below and the video after the break.

Gallery: Clearpath Grizzly

Filed under: Robots

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Via: Inhabitat, Damn Geeky

Source: Clearpath Robotics

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/d1B3x2OMyTs/

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Moss Moments: Week 23- Pregnant with Placenta Accreta/Percreta ...

{background info- Hello! My name is Jenifer and this is the story of my high-risk pregnancy. ?I am currently pregnant with my eighth child (A BOY!!) and was diagnosed with Placenta Previa and Placenta Percreta. ?I also have Beta Thalassemia which contributes to severe anemia. ?While this has been a difficult pregnancy and we anticipate a difficult delivery, IT IS WORTH IT! ?

We NEVER regret our decision to get pregnant with this baby and are so grateful for this experience!!

?Accreta affects about 1 in 2500 pregnancies. ?(It is pretty rare!) ?If you have had previous uterine surgeries, your risk of Accreta increases to 1 in 500. ?I have had two previous c-section and one D&C, following a miscarriage. ?Although I was at risk, prior to being diagnosed with this condition, I never knew Placenta Accreta existed. ?

Would I have decided not to have another baby if I knew I had a greater risk of Accreta?? ?NO. ?To me, the gift of bringing a baby into the world outweighs the risk of something being wrong. ?For years I knew I had another little boy waiting to come to my family. ?This pregnancy is a gift, I believe LIFE is worth the risk. ?

I would however, have opted NOT to have a D&C for my miscarriage if I knew it would threaten my ability to have save pregnancies in the future. ?I would also NEVER choose a c-section for convenience-- my c-sections were both emergency. ?I am also glad that I found a doctor willing to deliver my last baby VBA2C. ?Vaginal deliveries are better and safer. ?(Abortions also greatly increase your risk of Accreta.) ?Surgery in your uterus DOES affect your ability to have healthy babies in the future. ?Mothers need to be made aware of this BEFORE we choose optional surgeries.

What is Accreta? ?Accreta is where your placenta attaches to your uterine wall instead of to the lining of your uterus. ?There are three different levels-- Accreta, Increta, and Percreta. ?Accreta is where your placenta is attached to the first layer of uterine wall, deeper than the lining-- often Accreta's can still deliver and save the uterus. ?Increta is where the placenta has grown into the muscle wall of the uterus-- this usually requires a c-section/hysterectomy. ?The rarest form of Accreta is Percreta where the placenta actually grows through the wall of the uterus and attaches to other organs in the?abdomen? ?Percreta?is very dangerous and will require a c-section and repair of other internal organs that are affected. ?Percreta?affects only 6% of all who have Accreta. ?Most commonly, Percreta involves the uterus which is in front of the uterus (anterior placenta). ?Sometimes Percreta?involves?the bowels with a posterior placenta. ?Rarely it involves the uterus, bladder, cervix and bowels... ?this is my condition.

Often, Placenta Previa and Accreta or?Percreta?go together. ?Placenta Previa means your placenta is at the bottom of your uterus over your cervix. ?(Most healthy placentas attach high up in the uterus.) ?When the placenta is low, it is more likely to be positioned over old c-section scars (which are usually in the bottom front of your uterus.) ?It is easier for the placenta to attach and seep through old scar tissue than it is for placenta to attach to healthy uterine wall-- this makes sense to me. ?It is important to note, however, that you can have?Percreta?or even Accreta on your first pregnancy, or without any previous uterine surgeries. ?This condition is just one of those things that could happen in life.

Accreta is most dangerous when undetected prior to birth. ?After the baby is delivered, the doctor will try to deliver the placenta. ?When the placenta is attached to the uterine lining, it will come out easily. ?When the placenta is attached to the wall of the uterus, it will be difficult to remove after birth. ?Undetected?Accreta?will usually result in a placenta that tears during delivery- some comes out and some remains inside the uterus?hemorrhaging.? While they are cleaning up the recently delivered baby, the mother will start to feel sick, often begin throwing up and then will begin to?hemorrhage? ?Wise doctors will recognize the?hemorrhage?and rush the mother into an emergency hysterectomy where the uterus will be removed to stop the bleeding. ?If the mother has an undetected Percreta, as they remove the uterus, the bladder will tear and they will need to reconstruct the bladder also. ?Diagnosing this condition prior to birth is so important.

Accreta can be diagnosed by careful ultrasound?technicians?pretty early in pregnancy.?
Here are some warning signs that helped them diagnose me--
1- I bled early in my pregnancy (the first 12 weeks). ?I believe that I miscarried a twin and in the process shed much of my natural uterine lining making it easier for the remaining placenta to attach directly to the uterine wall. ?Accreta is not supposed to cause bleeding early in your pregnancy-- but, i do know others who have had a similar experience.
2- Early ultrasound showed a low-lying placenta. ?Placenta?Previa?paired with previous c-sections should immediately raise a red flag that Accreta might be present.
3- My placenta had Lacunae or black lakes in it. ?In the ultrasound, my placenta looked like Swiss cheese. ?It has gotten more swiss cheesey as it has grown, but the black lakes were certainly present early on and were good early warning signs.
4- ?I just knew something was wrong. ?Although my OB continually assured me that things were "fine" ?I just didn't feel like this was a normal pregnancy. ?I pushed to see a specialist and the minute the fetal medicine doctor saw my ultrasound he diagnosed me. ?Trust that gut feeling you have and seek the proper diagnosis.
5- Scoping my bladder showed placenta vessels invading.

My placenta is on the anterior wall of my uterus adhered to the myometrium, directly over my previous c-section scars, and has spread (like a cancer) to other organs in my abdomen, mainly my bladder, my cervix, and my colon. ?Doctors also note that my Percreta covers almost my whole placenta, not a small portion. ?They are hoping to begin steroid shots at 32 weeks and deliver with a large team of specialists (and a lot of waiting blood) no later than 34 weeks (that will be around June 1st). ?If I begin bleeding prior to 32 weeks, they will life flight me to OHSU. ?Spotting or bleeding will probably mean I'll be hospitalized prior to 32 weeks.

My delivery will be a scheduled surgery in the main OR. ?They expect over 20 doctors and it could take up to 8 or 9 hours. ?The last two?Percreta?patients at OHSU required 40 units of blood transfused and had a very intense surgery. ?A healthy adult only has about 10-12 units of blood in their body. ?Yeah, that is a lot of blood loss!

I am currently being treated by a team of specialists at OHSU. ?The head doctor I work with is in Perinatology and Fetal Medicine, my surgeon is in Gynecology/Oncology, I have a Hematologist that specializes in Obstetrics and a Urologist. ?Additionally they are coordinating with the blood bank to ensure there is enough blood ready for my extensive surgery and I've met with Anesthesiologists. ?In time, I will meet the NICU team. ?Yes, I have MANY doctor appointments. ?We feel SO blessed to have this baby and to be in the hands of skilled doctors. ?

I have been on complete pelvic rest and modified bed rest since 12 weeks of pregnancy. ?My husband and other kind family members are taking care of my home and family while I spend most of my days sitting or laying. ?This time of resting has been difficult, but it has also been a great gift. ?I am thankful for every week that this baby is growing bigger and healthy inside of my womb. ?I can't wait to meet this little guy-- our grand finale!!

This is a record of my pregnancy for my family and for those of you who may be experiencing something similar. ?Yes, I share a lot, perhaps too much. ?Thank you for being a part of this journey with me. ?I am one who learns much from the experiences of others and I'm happy to share my experience with you, in the hopes that somehow it may help.}

Week 23-- ?

Doctor Appointments.

Hematology-
They continue to do a lot of blood work to see if I'm having a hemalytic reaction to my blood transfusions.
I feel good and my blood looks good, so no transfusions.
She explained a lot of blood stuff that went over my head. ?Basically, I needed the assurance that they would be prepared with blood when the time comes for my surgery.
This doctor wants me to call her directly if I am concerned or begin to feel bad. ?I had been trying to leave messages with her nurses or nurse practitioners when I felt I was having a reaction and she said in the future contact her directly. ?Thank goodness!
Blood is looking good this month!
She ordered more lab work and sent me over to do labs following our appointment.

Perinatology-
Prior to my appointment I had another intense ultrasound which lasted over an hour- both external and vaginally.
The baby looks good, but my placenta is not good.
The whole bottom of my uterus looks like Swiss cheese placenta... there is no?discernible?defining line where the uterus usually is.

I can not accurately describe what it is like to see my ultrasound. ?It is almost UNBELIEVABLE.

Your uterus is like a balloon, on the right (or front of your body) is your bladder. ?The tie at the bottom is your cervix that opens during delivery to let out the baby and placenta, and to the left (or back) is your bowels and intestines. ?Other organs are squished all around your continually expanding balloon uterus.
On an ultrasound you can usually see the border of your uterus. ?It looks like a white line, in the shape of a big circle. ?The placenta is usually inside the border of the uterus. ?The bladder also looks like a smaller circular spot next to your uterus, and your cervix looks like a thick, fat carrot at the bottom.

On my ultrasound the whole bottom of my uterus looks like a blanket of swiss cheese placenta. ?You can't really see ANY uterus border... it's just placenta with a lot of small lakes of blood. ?Amidst this placenta there is a bigger lake-like thing, that is my bladder. ?There is a darker, hard to make out carrot shape, that is my cervix, and there is a mess of placenta and bowel. ?It's bad looking.

My room was full of doctors and residents and a sonographer and an even better sonographer and I'm asking questions like, "Is that my cervix?" ?"Is that my bladder?" ?And they are all looking at the screen with this look of "Wow. ?That's bad." ?I say, "So, they'll probably have to remove my cervix too." ?And they say, "Yes, definitely." ?It is UNREAL.

The sonographer was really trying to see the back of my uterus to determine how my placenta was involved with my bowels and intestine. ?She was using a stick ultrasound up INSIDE me. ?As she was trying to see deeper back into me she kept asking me to scoot down further. ?I finally laughed and told her I could scoot further down, but she would need to do an episiotomy if she was actually going to see any further inside me. ?(Sorry if that was too graphic.) ?Just another fun day on the ultrasound table.

The prognosis-- my placenta is attaching to my bladder (like we had seen previously), but it is also merging with my cervix and appears to be growing through the back of my uterus also, where my colon and intestine are located. ?AHH!!! ?That was new to me and not so good to hear.

My doctor thinks I look great and am doing well. ?She said she will not rest easy until my uterus is out of my body.

The "worst case" scenario?is that I will need to do some reconstructive surgery of my bladder and my bowels after delivery. ?(As if I can even say worst case, because I suppose it could ALWAYS be worse.) ?That surgery will involve a bag for urine and a?separate?bag for stool coming out of my abdomen for 4 months before they can reattach my bowels and bladder. ?(I still need to read up on this stuff-- I know a few people who have had this, is it called a colostomy?) ?Blah!! ?That didn't sound too fun to me. ?Hopefully it won't come to that.

This doctor said, "Don't worry, Dr. M (the oncology surgeon) is masterful with bowel reconstruction. ?She's a great surgeon." ?I am comforted by this, but would rather NOT need a masterful bowel reconstruction. ?I told my Perinatolgist that Dr. M seemed to think my surgery wasn't too horrible. ?With a laugh (meaning, yes, it is horrible), she explained to me that was NOT because it wasn't a tough surgery, it was only because I am skinny and in good shape. ?She said that I should heal well and am easier to operate on than someone heavier. ?I am glad I have SOMETHING positive going for me (I bet even that could change after 2 more months of low activity and high hunger... ha!)

Test Results.
CBC- Hemoglobin 8.3, Hematocrit 27
Echocardiogram-- very normal!
Ultrasound- shows?Percreta?in the anterior and posterior part of my uterus... blah.

Physically at 23 weeks.
I still really feel good. ?I'm grateful that my mom is here caring for my home and family so that I can rest.
I try to get out often and visit with friends.
I do not lay down all the time (it makes me feel horrible!)
I sit and walk a bit, take car trips, go to church, watch movies and plays, and do things with my family.
I am not lifting heavy things, running or climbing stairs, driving, or walking for long periods of time.
(I am SO grateful I am NOT bleeding!!)
I do nap or rest frequently. ?I am rarely alone at home or in the car (in case I begin to hemorrhage.)
I am in a lot of lower abdomen pain of I do too much, so i feel good about my limited activity level.

Mentally at 23 weeks.
We have had friends come visit and book groups at my house. ?My kids often invite friends over and I try to continue watching my kids play basketball or sing in their middle school play. ?Todd and I sneak out to dinner and a movie when we can. ?The more social I remain the happier my soul seems to be. ?I am so grateful for all that I can still do so I don't spend much time focused on what I'm not doing.

I wrote a big LONG post about how I deal with each item on my "not so good" list. ?(I'll publish that tomorrow in case you want to read for a few hours...)
Basically, my mentality is-- ?Life is good, even when it's hard.
Things could always be worse.
Most hard things come hand in hand with great blessings-- treasures of learning and growth that you would never have without experience.
And perspective-- ?People are going through hard things every day.
If they can do it, I can too.
A little "CRAP" in my life is nothing I can't handle.

Sometimes I get down and whine and tantrum... and those are good days too. ?They make me appreciate the times when I feel faithful.

Today, I feel faithful.
Life is good, with or without proper plumbing.
Please, take a second the next time you are sitting on the toilet and just BE GRATEFUL for all you CAN do ?(or doo doo).
ha!

Source: http://toddnjenifermoss.blogspot.com/2013/03/week-23-pregnant-with-placenta.html

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Scientists criticize Italy for allowing unproven stem cell therapy

By Catherine Hornby

ROME (Reuters) - Scientists have criticized an Italian government decree allowing a group of terminally-ill patients to continue using an unproven stem cell treatment, saying such therapies may cause harm and risk exploiting desperate people.

The treatment, created by the privately-owned Stamina Foundation, was banned by Italian medicines regulator AIFA last year after it inspected their laboratories, leading to a series of legal challenges by families of patients.

In early March, Health Minister Renato Balduzzi allowed a terminally ill child to continue using the Stamina treatment after hearing the emotional pleas of her parents.

The Health Ministry then issued an official decree on March 21 allowing 32 patients, mainly children, already using the treatment to continue it.

Scientists from around Europe released a statement on Thursday criticizing the decree, warning that Balduzzi was "riding roughshod over existing European licensing criteria", failing to protect patients from exploitation and ignoring the need for sound evidence that therapies are effective.

"These unproven and ill-prepared stem cell therapies, for which there is no scientific basis, will do nothing for patients and their families except make them poorer," said Charles French-Constant from the University of Edinburgh's Center for Regenerative Medicine.

"DANGEROUS PRECEDENT"

Advocates of the therapy say strict regulations work in favor of big drug companies with their portfolio of blockbuster treatments, reducing the pool of potential competitors. But scientists said Stamina's treatment was unproven and risky.

"There is no rationale for this and no evidence that these procedures are not dangerous for patients," said Professor Michele De Luca of the University of Modena.

"This creates a dangerous precedent," he said, adding that anyone could use media pressure and take advantage of patients' hopes of skirting normal evidence-based procedures.

Stem cells are the body's mother cells and can self-renew or multiply while maintaining the ability to transform into any type of cell.

Stem cell therapy involves introducing new adult stem cells into damaged tissue to treat disease. A number of therapies exist but many remain at the experimental stage.

Several judges presiding over the cases brought by patients' families ruled the Stamina treatment should be available under a law that permits the use of unproven therapies for patients who are dying and have no other options.

Supporters of the therapy have held rallies calling for it to be made available to anyone with an incurable disease. One woman staging a near-naked protest in a Rome square with "yes to life, yes to Stamina" scrawled on her body.

Scientists warned that a complication or death as a result of such an untested therapy could become an obstacle for the advancement of all stem cell therapies.

"This would include some of the more promising therapies that have a strong scientific rationale for working in patients with certain types of disorders such as Parkinson's disease," said Roger Barker, Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge.

(Editing by Rosalind Russell)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/scientists-criticize-italy-allowing-unproven-stem-cell-therapy-191333452.html

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Italy's center-left leader fails to form govt

MILAN (AP) ? Italy remained in political gridlock Thursday after the center-left leader announced he had failed to form a government.

Pier Luigi Bersani, who has been talking with parties since Friday, expressed some bitterness when he told reporters at the president's office in Rome that he found "unacceptable" attempts by some parties to set "preclusions and conditions."

Bersani's attempt at forming a stable government able to help Italy out of recession and get Italians back to work was always a long shot. Bersani's coalition controls the lower house, but not the Senate, and inconclusive February elections gave strong voice to a protest party.

The next move belongs to President Giorgio Napolitano, who will hold a day of consultations Friday to "personally ascertain the developments possible," the president's secretary general, Donato Marra, said.

The failure makes more likely a possible technical government with a well-defined mission to take on urgent tasks, which include rewriting the election law, and push through some measures that have broader acceptance, like cutting political costs.

"I do believe now that the president will try to find a personality who is not so political as Bersani, possibly coming out of the left, and see if that person can find some sort of agreement to get the backing" from both the center-left and the center-right, said Giovanni Orsina, a professor of political science at Rome's LUISS University. "That is the only solution at the moment."

The Feb. 24-25 elections ended in a three-way gridlock with Bersani's center-left forces, former Premier Silvio Berlusconi's center-right forces and the anti-establishment protest movement founded by comic-turned-political leader Beppe Grillo.

Old animosities and a hardline left wing of his party forced Bersani to rule out an alliance with Berlusconi's center-right forces ? a sort of grand coalition that Napolitano clearly favored. And Grillo's 5 Star Movement made clear that it wouldn't back Bersani or any established party ? despite Bersani's appeal to responsibility during a meeting Wednesday.

The 5 Star Movement's apparent intransigence makes a way forward difficult. It refuses steadfastly to vote confidence in any government that it does not run, and the Italian constitution requires a vote of confidence for a government to officially take office.

The movement on Thursday proposed that Italy could continue under the caretaker government of Mario Monti, allowing the newly elected parliament to take on some urgent tasks. It was unclear if Napolitano would find that acceptable, if Monti would want to stay on, or if such a possibility were even constitutional.

Orsina said there is a limit to how long a government can continue without a vote of confidence, and this caretaker government was formed provisionally until a new government could be formed. "If we say it is not a provisional solution, that it is more permanent, I think Monti should go back to the chambers and ask for confidence," Orsina said.

Monti, whose technical government enacted emergency measures to help protect Italy from the sovereign debt crisis after Berlusconi stepped down in 2011, dissolved parliament last December after Berlusconi pulled support, paving the way to elections. More recently, he has been under pressure over his government's flip-flop over the fate of two Italian marines charged with murder in India. It first announced earlier this month the pair would not go back to face trial after being allowed home temporarily, but then sent them back anyway fearing international isolation over the move.

His decision to run in the elections, finishing fourth with a dismal 10 percent of the vote, also has sapped his authority as a technical figure.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/italys-center-left-leader-fails-form-govt-183434343.html

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Ailing A-Rod will make more than Houston Astros

FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2012 file photo, New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez is interviewed before batting practice prior to a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis. Rodriguez will make more this year than all the Houston Astros combined _ a lot more. A-Rod's $29 million salary tops the major leagues for the 13th straight season, according to a study of major league contracts by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2012 file photo, New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez is interviewed before batting practice prior to a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis. Rodriguez will make more this year than all the Houston Astros combined _ a lot more. A-Rod's $29 million salary tops the major leagues for the 13th straight season, according to a study of major league contracts by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2013 file photo, Houston Astros third base coach Dave Trembley (47) talks to players before the start of a spring training baseball workout in Kissimmee, Fla. Alex Rodriguez will make more this year than all the Houston Astros combined _ a lot more. A-Rod's $29 million salary tops the major leagues for the 13th straight season, according to a study of major league contracts by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Alex Rodriguez will make more this year than all the Houston Astros combined ? a lot more.

And he won't even play the first half of the season, if at all.

A-Rod's $29 million salary tops the major leagues for the 13th straight season, according to a study of major league contracts by The Associated Press.

Rodriguez's Yankees are on track to have the highest payroll on opening day for the 15th straight year, climbing above the Los Angeles Dodgers to a projected $228 million with this week's acquisition of Vernon Wells.

With teams due to set opening-day rosters Sunday, the Yankees' payroll will be nearly 10 times the spending of the Astros, who have shrunk their payroll to about $25 million.

"When we get on the baseball field with whomever the opponent is, they are not sitting there saying: 'Well, their players make more money than us so therefore you're deemed a winner and we're deemed a loser,'" Astros manager Bo Porter said Thursday. "Games are won and lost on the baseball field, and it doesn't matter what somebody is paid every two weeks. At the end of the day, that person has to be better than you today."

Rodriguez, recovering from hip surgery, is followed on the money list by Philadelphia pitcher Cliff Lee at $25 million.

Three of the top six will start the season on the DL, with A-Rod joined by New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana (third at $24.6 million) and Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (sixth at $23.1 million). Wells is fourth at $24.6 million and CC Sabathia fifth at $24.3 million, giving the Yankees four of the top six.

The Astros and Miami Marlins have no such worries about pricey players getting hurt. After lifting payroll to about $100 million at the start of last year and then flopping in the first year of their new ballpark, the Marlins slashed spending to around $40 million.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig endorses the decisions, saying "every team runs in cycles."

"You have to understand where you are and not be afraid then to do what you have to do," he said. "Outside of building a good farm system, I don't see how you will remain competitive."

The price of competing keeps going up. The average salary projects to about $3.67 million, up about $200,000 from the start of last season.

As always, the Yankees did as they pleased. For all the talk of austerity under owner Hal Steinbrenner, New York will break the record of $209 million it set in 2008 and top the $200 million mark for the sixth straight season. While the Yankees will pay luxury tax for the 11th consecutive year in 2013, they want to get under the $189 million tax threshold in 2014.

"We've actually increased our payroll this year," Yankees President Randy Levine said. "As sometimes happens, certain people like to ignore the facts instead of the reality. These are the same people who one day criticize us for spending too much money, the next day criticize us for spending too little. The goal of the team every year is to do what's necessary to field a championship team. That goes for this year and, as Hal Steinbrenner has said, next year and every year going forward."

For much of the offseason, it appeared as if the Dodgers would emerge as baseball's biggest spenders in their first full season since a group headed by Mark Walter, Stan Kasten and Magic Johnson bought the club for $2 billion from Frank McCourt.

Just 12th at $95 million on opening day last year, the Dodgers climbed to about $216 million after acquiring Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford from Boston last summer, when they also added Hanley Ramirez and Brandon League. Los Angeles then signed Zack Greinke during the offseason for $147 million. The Yankees had been the only previous team to reach $200 million.

"Everybody knows it's not about the money. It's about how they're going to play together," said All-Star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, whose Colorado Rockies will have a payroll of about $75 million.

"They still have to go out there and know each other and be winners," he said, referring to the Dodgers. "Last year, they got three great players and they still didn't make it because they still have to go out there and get used to playing together and compete."

The Dodgers haven't won the World Series since 1988 and if they fall short again this year, they might spend even more. They had the biggest impact on the elite free-agent market.

"There's a perception that we're in on a couple dozen starting pitchers, three dozen outfielders and infielders, 17, 18 catchers," GM Ned Colletti said during the winter meetings.

Toronto also bulked up, jumping from $75 million at the start of last season to about $118 million after adding Jose Reyes, R.A. Dickey, Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson in trades and signing Melky Cabrera.

"You look on paper and Toronto should be in the World Series," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "The talent they've added is substantial."

Oakland showed last year that money isn't everything, winning the AL West despite the lowest payroll in the majors. The A's have gone up slightly to about $68 million.

"Our payroll, as in every year we have owned the A's, has been within our annual budget ? around half of our revenue," Oakland owner Lew Wolff said in an email. "We are all set to go even as we face much larger payroll teams. Actually, that makes the season even more exciting to me."

The Mets hardly resemble a high-revenue team anymore and are down to about $90 million ? and that includes about $17.5 million to account for the settlement with departed outfielder Jason Bay. After the Mets' owners settled a lawsuit caused by the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, they promised to resume spending. But they haven't broken out the checkbook just yet, except for a new long-term deal with new team captain David Wright.

"I think we would anticipate being big investors where appropriate," owner Fred Wilpon said.

The AP's figures include salaries and prorated shares of signing bonuses and other guaranteed income for players on active rosters, disabled lists and the restricted lists, and rosters will change before teams must cut down to 25 active players. For some players, parts of deferred signing bonuses and salaries are discounted to reflect current values.

For the first time, the AP study presents payrolls for both active rosters and rosters following adjustments for cash transactions in trades, signing bonuses that are the responsibility of the club agreeing to the contract, option buyouts and termination pay for released players.

For instance, the Astros are paying Pittsburgh $4.5 million as part of last year's trade sending Wandy Rodriguez to the Pirates. Houston's active payroll for its 25-man roster will be about $19 million, the lowest in the major leagues since the 2006 Florida Marlins at $15 million.

___

AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley and AP freelance writers Mark Didtler, Maureen Mullen and Dick Scanlon contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-03-28-Major%20League%20Salaries/id-1099ff1a85f94dc8b1921bf20c39c8b1

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Phil Jackson&#39;s First Tweet Was A PR Stunt - Business Insider

AOL

Phil Jackson joined Twitter yesterday, and his first tweet was this:

Everyone loved it because they thought the old-school basketball coach was just having trouble with computers, and didn't care enough about how he is perceived to fix the misspelling.

But it turns out the tweet was part of an ad campaign to promote the account, which is itself a promotional tool for his upcoming book, "Eleven Rings."

The joke is that he couldn't type "11 rings" because he was wearing all 11 of his NBA championship rings.

The account's avatar is the cover of the book, and the publisher is linked to in the Twitter bio.

Today Phil tweeted this commercial where he pretends to write the tweet?(via AOL):
?

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/phil-jacksons-first-tweet-was-a-pr-stunt-2013-3

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Kind Hearted Woman, Raped at 3, Helps Others Heal

When Robin Poor Bear was in her 20s, she asked for a Native American name. The Road Man, or spiritual leader, came up with Kind Hearted Woman.

There was good reason: After a lifetime of physical and sexual abuse, her heart was still bursting with empathy for others.

The daughter of an alcoholic mother, Poor Bear was molested by her foster father at age 3. But today, at 35, she gives a voice to others who have suffered sexual abuse.

"I remember it -- not the rape itself, but the emergency room and the nurses trying to hold me down to examine me," Poor Bear, now living in Minnesota, told ABC News. "I remember the door and being so terrified it would fly open and someone would get me."

Poor Bear suffered repeated sexual abuse at the hands of her foster father and two uncles until she was 13. Then, as a young wife, she was beaten by her husband.

That pain is revisited after the couple divorces and her ex-husband is convicted of molesting their 12-year-old daughter, as well as a teenage foster daughter.

The psychological anguish caused Poor Bear, an Oglala Sioux and member of North Dakota's Spirit Lake tribe in North Dakota, to turn to alcohol. And when Poor Bear eventually spoke up about the abuse, her daughter and son, now 17 and 14, were taken away from her.

On Monday, April 1, and Tuesday, April 2 at 9 ET, PBS's "Frontline" will air a powerful documentary, "Kind Hearted Woman," about Poor Bear's struggle to stay sober, further her education and heal herself from the deep wounds of sexual abuse.

David Sutherland, whose films "The Farmer's Wife" (1998) and "Country Boys" (2005) also offer a cinema verite look at poor, rural life, spent three years with Poor Bear and her children.

The centerpiece of the film is Poor Bear's battle to gain custody of her children while improving her own life.

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Sutherland, 67, followed the family from Poor Bear's first day out of alcohol rehab, through school and jobs, juggling being a mother and trying to become a social worker. Frustrated at every turn, Poor Bear fights a corrupt tribal legal system and a culture of domestic violence that pervades many Native American communities.

Native American women have the second-highest rate of rape of all races and ethnicities, at 27 percent, second only to mixed-race women, according to the Centers for Disease Control's 2011 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. Nearly half of all of these women have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking in their lifetime.

"There are two or three thousand enrolled members living on the reservation and just a small handful of law enforcement to get calls," Poor Bear said about the time she spent a Spirit Lake Reservation. "Some reports are not taken seriously and some are not followed through the proper protocols."

Last year, unrelated to the documentary, the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs took over social services at Spirit Lake because of concerns that tribal mismanagement had contributed to abuse of children.

But Poor Bear said that the causes of domestic violence and abuse go deeper than scarce funding and little oversight on Native American reservations. She blames the "rape" of the indigenous culture when it was "Christianized."

"Who taught us how to be parents and how to be loving and caring and kind to each other when they took away all the traditions and we couldn't speak our language without being beaten?" Poor Bear asked.

A former singer, Poor Bear said that she comes from a legacy of heartbreak, but also of generosity.

Her mother, an alcoholic, froze to death in her 30s banging on the door of Poor Bear's foster family, who refused to let her in, Poor Bear tells an audience of abused women in the film.

Her grandfather died saving children in a log cabin fire, she tells ABCNews.com. "The doorway collapsed and when they found him, he was still protecting and holding a baby," she said.

Sutherland did not intend to make a film about Native Americans and was hesitant to reinforce negative stereotypes about life on the reservation. He had singled out several other battered women in his search for an authentic character-driven story about abuse, but Poor Bear's rose to the top.

"She had an associate's degree and was smart," he said. "I liked her sense of humor and she was always upbeat, even in the saddest moments, with the kids."

Sutherland never expected the turn the dramatic narrative would take. When Poor Bear's daughter Darian reveals she was molested by her father at the age of 12, she is required to testify in federal court.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/kind-hearted-woman-journey-heal-years-sexual-abuse/story?id=18834439

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ZTE Posts Second-Straight Quarter Loss, To Round Off First Annual Loss

As it already warned, ZTE posted its second-straight quarterly loss, due to contract delays and falling handset sales in China. It made a net loss of 1.14 billion yuan ($183 million) in the three months ended Dec. 31, compared with its net income of 991.16 million yuan a year prior. Sales in the fourth quarter also fell 16 percent to 23.5 billion yuan ($3.78 billion). This rounds off its first yearly loss, at 2.84 billion yuan ($456 million). The company blamed the decrease in profit margin on low-margin contracts in emerging markets like Africa, South America and Asia, as well as its home market of China. ZTE has spent the last 20 years aggressively expanding overseas, but often at the cost of profitability because of its slim profit margins as it undercuts European equipment makers in emerging markets such as India. It recently said it will try to cut costs and make a profit in the first quarter by focusing on developed markets, instead. ZTE has been lagging behind fellow Chinese rival, Huawei Technologies. The former recently announced it will increase its investment in 4G infrastructure, in order to catch up with Huawei, as the two compete for most 4G contracts from the three major carriers in China?China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/jaZT_6X9KJY/

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