PFT: Chiefs fire Crennel but keep GM Pioli

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The day after the 2012 NFL regular season ended, Judge David Doty convened a hearing on the question of whether the NFLPA should be able to pursue a collusion claim arising from the salary-cap penalties imposed in March on the Cowboys and the Redskins.? The day after the 2012 NFL regular season ended, Judge Doty issued a decision.

In short, the NFL removed a total of $46 million in cap space from the two teams for treating the uncapped year of 2010 as, well, uncapped.? The NFLPA, despite agreeing to the cap penalties in exchange for an agreement by the league to artificially increase the 2012 salary cap to a level north of the 2011 number, claimed that comments made in the aftermath of the announcement of the cap penalties disclosed for the first time that shenanigans were occurring in 2010.

The NFL argued that any potential claim for collusion was barred by the simple fact that the parties agreed in 2011 to end all litigation when finalizing a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.? Judge Doty agreed, finding that ?the NFLPA released the claims it attempts to assert in the underlying action.?

As a result, the settlement agreement won?t be reopened, and the NFLPA won?t be able to pursue upwards of $1 billion in damages from the NFL.

While the union may now appeal the outcome, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has a reputation for being conservative and, thus, pro-business.? Which makes it highly unlikely that Judge Doty?s decision would be overturned.

Indeed, most judges regardless of politics prefer to see settled cases remain settled.? In this case, the NFL and the NFLPA resolved their differences, including any claim that there was collusion in 2010 regarding the uncapped year that, based on the penalties imposed on the Cowboys and Redskins, wasn?t really uncapped.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/31/chiefs-fire-romeo-crennel-not-scott-pioli/related/

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Plug-In Hybrid Utility Trucks by ODYNE - CleanMPG Forums

Bucket trucks go high-techHarry Clark - CleanMPG - Dec. 30, 2012

The Odyne Hybrid truck.

I have personally spent many hours in a conventional bucket truck burning an awful amount of diesel and gasoline iwhile inspecting bridges for the NY State DOT. ODYNE appears to have a better way...

Odyne is a cleading manufacturer of advanced turnkey hybrid drive solutions including advanced PHEV technology enabling trucks over 14,000 lbs to have substantially lower fuel consumption, lower emissions, improved performance, quieter job site operation and reduced operating and maintenance costs.

Odyne?s modular system reduces fuel consumption by up to 50% compared to traditional diesel engines, depending on the application. The system offers the greatest benefit for trucks with driving cycles that have a high percentage of starting and stopping and extended periods of work site engine idle time to provide power to equipment or tools. An Odyne hybrid system helps fleet managers reduce their carbon footprint and meet sustainable energy goals by displacing the use of fossil fuels with cleaner, lower cost electricity from the grid, while providing a quieter, safer working environment.

Odyne ihas developed proprietary and patented hybrid technology featuring robust automotive grade components combining reliable electric power conversion, power control and energy storage technology with advanced electric propulsion motors and modular lithium ion battery systems. The Odyne hybrid power system interfaces with Allison Transmission?s industry leading fully-automatic transmissions and features Remy?s HVH250 series electric motor, boasting industry leading power density and efficiency, Johnson Controls modular lithium-ion battery systems and other robust quality components designed for rugged applications.

The system easily integrates with medium or heavy duty vehicle powertrains and is optimized for the demanding work truck market. An Odyne system can be installed on a wide variety of new and existing vehicles and is applicable across chassis manufacturers. According to a company release, the company has delivered more large trucks PHEV systems for fleets across the US than any other supplier.

The System overview

• Quiet operation for safer working conditions and extended work day
• Zero or significantly lower emissions at the job site
• Extra power for 12 volt loads
• Air conditioning and cab heating (optional) with the engine off
• Flexible operation, with software tailored to the application
• Parallel hybrid system for non-hybrid powertrain backup
• Regenerative braking to restore battery power
• High Capacity electrical energy storage increases vehicle efficiency
• Hybrid launch assist for improved acceleration, climbing and initiation of turns
• Power for vehicle mounted equipment and/or optional work site 120V/240V electrical loads with engine off

ODYNE ADVANTAGE

• A minimally intrusive design that preserves the chassis warranty, providing greater reliability
• More productive time in the field with fewer trips to the pump
• Charging from the grid at off-peak rates, ability to operate as hybrid without charging
• Fuel savings of up to 1750 gallons annually over the truck life
• Depending on duty cycle, up to 50% fuel economy improvements v.s. non hybrids
• Reduced fleet operating and maintenance cost
• 50 extra horsepower while driving (anti-idle trucks don?t offer)

---

Last edited by xcel : Today at 01:53 PM.

Source: http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46147

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Chris Federline: I Never Said I Banged Britney!

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Home, Sweet Home

?The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.?
? Ralph Waldo Emerson

I live in a pretty traditional brick ranch house with a finished full basement.? It is an older house with drafty windows and pipes that have been known to leak.? The furnace and quite possibly the curtains in the living room have been here since the early 1960?s when the house was built.? We have a sliding glass door instead of French doors and tiny closets.? But this is the house my husband and I created in our minds years before we found it and this is where my heart is at peace.

When we moved to Asheville, NC, we started in a smaller house with a semi-shotgun floor plan.? We dreamed up a house with a kitchen that looked out onto the fenced-in back yard.? We talked of needing a basement and both a living room and a den.? We wanted our two kids to have their own bedrooms and also a space for visitors to stay and feel comfortable.? We wanted a dead-end, flat street for the kids to be able to play and room for a garden.

We followed many leads but could not find anything in our price range for years.? We had pretty much given up when we got a random call from our old realtor.? She had a house on a street I had actually driven down many times wishing for an opening.? It was actually in our price range and we snapped it up that day.? We have been here now for eight years.

Sometimes, though, I wish my house was bigger.? I want to redo the kitchen -? a vintage oven is much cooler sounding than it actually is when using it daily. I don?t think they had invented self-cleaning when this was produced! ? I want to add on to our bedroom so we could have ?grown-up? closets.? I would love to create a new front porch to replace our front stoop with the wobbly rail. Sometimes I wallow in what I wish would happen.

But this holiday season I had a moment of realization about my house. ? In the month of December, my house hosted a baby shower.? We all fit snugly in the living room but it lent a sense of togetherness and informality to the gathering.? A few weeks later, my house held 16 excited 13 year old girls for a holiday party.? They first took over the living room for a service activity and then descended into the basement for pizza and squealing and girl bonding.? The next day brought my parents and then my brother, his wife and their tween to stay for the holidays.? This requires a mattress on the floor and the pull out sofa in addition to the guest bedroom.

One night as I went to sleep on the pull-out sofa, I had this very important realization.? My house may not be big or fancy but over the past three weeks it has held so much joy and love.? It has been a place to welcome all sorts of friends and family.? People feel comfortable coming in and taking off their shoes and staying.? What a wonderful gift!

So this house has been our home for eight years now.? It has seen money and marriage ups and downs.? It has seen parenting moments both brilliant and questionable.? It has seen pets passed on and pets added to our brood. ? But mostly it has seen love and family and friendship.? At the end of the day, I know this place is enough for me because it can hold my family and my friends and the memories we create.

I wish you happiness in your home with your family and your friends.? Remember that shared memories are so much better for our happiness than anything you can buy.? Though I really need to replace those orange curtains in the living room?..

~ The Mildly Manic Mom

?

?

Source: http://www.mildlymanicmom.com/home-sweet-home/

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Dan Ariely Talks Creativity And Dishonesty

Dan Ariely is a professor of behavior economics at Duke University. His latest book, The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty, explains how creativity makes us better liars--even to ourselves.

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?Lots of us are able to cheat a little bit and still think of ourselves as honest people.?
Dan Ariely is a professor of behavior economics at Duke University. His latest book, The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty, explains how creativity makes us better liars?even to ourselves.

?Dishonesty is all about the small acts we can take and then think, no, this not real cheating. So if you think that the main mechanism is rationalization, then what you come up with, and that?s what we find, is that we?re basically trying to balance feeling good about ourselves. On the one hand we get some satisfaction, some utility from thinking of ourselves as honest, moral, wonderful people. On the other hand we try to benefit from cheating.

?So rationalization is what we allows you to live with some cheating and not pay a cost in terms of your own view of yourself.

?What kind of people would be able to rationalize better than other people? Better storytellers, right? Creative people, right? Because if you?re creative, you find more ways to cheat and still yourself a story about why this is okay.?

?Ingrid Wickelgren and Steve Mirsky

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast]

You can hear Ingrid Wickelgren's full interview of Dan Ariely on the December 25th edition of the Science Talk podcast. Just go to www.scientificamerican.com/podcast and click on Science Talk.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=476b8b08a17b0ef195f04abadf61efb0

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How the HTC Windows Phone 8X could be improved

The Windows Phone 8X by HTC has been out for a few months now, being one of the first Windows Phone 8 devices to launch worldwide. It brought with it a deceptively slim, colorful design, a stunning Super LCD 2 display and decently powerful hardware for a Windows Phone, but not everything about the device is completely perfect.?

After having an 8X in my possession for over a month now, it's time to take a look at some of the things that could perhaps be improved about the Windows Phone 8X. Who knows? Maybe HTC will take some of this advice and use it to make their next Windows Phone flagship even better.

1. Include more than 16 GB of storage

Really, HTC, there are no excuses for using such a middling amount of storage in a flagship device, especially when a) there's no microSD card slot; and b) 16 GB is the maximum fixed storage option. I find it annoying that my entire music collection, just over 17 GB, does not fit on the 8X when it does on both my Android device and the Lumia 920. When you're paying for a premium device, you shouldn't have to micromanage the content on your phone because it's about to fill up.

I understand the choice not to include a microSD card slot, because it would indeed disrupt the unibody design, but at least give me the option to buy a phone with 32 GB of storage. The HTC One X, HTC's Android flagship, comes standard with 32 GB of storage, and if you opt to get the HTC One X+ you can even get 64 GB of storage!

2. Improve the color coating method

I'm disappointed to see this happen to my HTC 8X, as I really like the color and the feel of the polycarbonate body, but it's clear to me just a few weeks after I published my review that the color coating method is not the best. On the top corners of the phone, the blue color has visibly and significantly worn away to a darker black, while near the camera button the soft-touch coating has started to bubble and peel, revealing a smooth undercoat.

Now it should be noted here that I'm always very careful with how I handle my phones, especially those that I have to return after a review loan. In my entire time reviewing phones for Neowin, I've?never?scratched a display or caused significant wear to any of the phones I've used, including my Droid RAZR that I use in-between other review devices. The wear I'm seeing from just a few weeks of use with the 8X is a concerning one-off, and one that I'm not alone in experiencing.

If you get a black model, the color wear on the corners is not a problem, but you may experience peeling of the coating at some point. It would be nice to see HTC improve their method of coating the HTC 8X and giving it its color, because signs of wear should not appear after just a few weeks of use.

3. Increase the battery size

At 1,800 mAh the battery of the HTC 8X is not quite up to scratch in comparison with other top-end Android and Windows Phone devices; for example the Lumia 920 comes with a 2,000 mAh battery and the ATIV S has a 2,300 mAh cell. At the hands of powerful internals it does, at times, suffer the fate of dying prematurely and often barely makes it to the end of a serious day's work.

Ideally I would have liked to see the 8X's battery increased to around 2,000 mAh or above, without any significant increase in the size of the device, as that sort of size would allow the HTC 8X to adequately last out a day. Either that, or HTC needs to do some serious work on optimizing the phone's software to more efficiently use the battery - it's not too late to make software changes!

4. Put wireless charging in all models

For some bizarre reason, the Verizon HTC 8X that includes CDMA radios also includes wireless inductive charging, while the standard international model does not. It'd be nice if every model of the 8X included Qi-standard inductive charging, not only for feature parity between different versions of the same device, but also for the convenience associated with cable-free charging.

The trade-off? To add the inductive charging coil it has made the Verizon HTC 8X 2.1 grams heavier with no change in thickness. Seems reasonable to me.?

5. Add more camera settings and features

Aside from a few basic scene settings and camera controls, the Windows Phone 8X really lacks when it comes to camera software. It's sorely missing options to control focus in both video and photo modes, and the sort of live effects I've come to love from other HTC phones (like the One X) don't make a showing here. Even the basic camera controls, such as contrast and exposure, just say "higher" or "lower" than a "normal" value, which doesn't say much about what it's actually doing.

I know that Windows Phone 8's new lenses feature is supposed to take care of some of the other missing aspects, such as HDR photography, panoramas, time-lapse and other cool modes, but HTC provides zero first-party options for these sort of shots. The only bundled Lens is Bing Vision, and that does little in the way of changing up your photography, meaning HTC is relying on third-party apps to make the camera better. They don't do this with their Android phones, and Nokia provides many first-party Lenses on their Lumias, so I would have liked to see HTC get their act together and improve the camera software.

6. Tweak the firmware

Now this is something that could actually be fixed about the HTC 8X, unlike some of the other hardware-related suggestions that are a bit too late to implement at this stage. There are two particular things that HTC could tweak in regards to the 8X's firmware that would make the phone a that little bit better to use every day.

The first relates to the phone's auto-brightness mode, which does not ever utilize the full range of brightness levels, instead choosing from a smaller subsection based on the brightness level you set. This means that generally you'll need to set the phone on medium brightness for the best battery life, but then occasionally you'll need to manually change it to high when you're outside in the sun. If HTC tweaked this so auto-brightness actually used the full range of display brightness levels, then it wouldn't be so much of a hassle.

Tweak the camera and this photo wouldn't look as mediocre

The second is that the camera doesn't perform optimally on cloudy days, often taking darker-than-expected photographs even when there is plenty of visible light. Tweaking the automatic white balance, contrast and exposure levels for medium-light situations would make the camera so much better, as at other times (full sun, low light) there is not much to complain about in regards to the 8X camera. Adjusting the autofocus as well to recognize macro situations more quickly would also work wonders.

Got anything else to add??Let us know how you'd improve the Windows Phone 8X by HTC in the comments below.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/neowin-main/~3/sIeaCiW4XbA/how-the-htc-windows-phone-8x-could-be-improved

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Woman in custody in death of man pushed onto NY City subway tracks

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A homeless woman was in critical condition in a Los Angeles hospital after a man doused her with liquid accelerant and set her on fire as she slept on a bus bench, police said on Thursday. Officers arrested Dennis Petillo, 24, in connection with the early morning attack, and he has been booked in jail on suspicion of attempted murder, police said. The woman, whose name has not been released, was being treated at a local hospital with burns all over her body, said Los Angeles police Lieutenant Damian Gutierrez. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/woman-custody-death-man-pushed-onto-ny-city-181622949.html

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Weekend Open House Report: Single-Family Home Edition - Open ...

Location: 9 Clarendon Avenue, Clarendon Heights
Size: 3-bed, 2.5-bath, 3,939 square feet
Price: $2,600,000
Pitch: "Dramatic modern 1996 3BR/2.5BA 4lvl home enjoys stunning GG Bridge, north & east bay + downtown views. Set back from the street by an entry courtyard, the home has generously scaled rooms including 2 family BRS + full bath, a very spacious master suite w/ steam shower, spa tub, double vanity, 2 walk-in closets. Open floor plan living/dining room w/ frplc & deck adjoins the designer chef's kitchen. Wolfe range, granite counters, prep island, built-in and undercounter fridges, custom cabinetry, home office and sitting area that leads to the rear patio. An upper lvl family room/entertainment center has floor to ceiling built-in shelves, vaulted ceiling, stone frplc, front terrace. Double garage w/ extra storage & workroom. Elevator to all levels."
Open House: Sunday, 2 to 4pm

Location: 2155 31st Avenue, Parkside
Size: 2-bed, 1-bath, 1,325 square feet
Price: $675,000
Pitch: "Spacious marina style home in original condition. Ready for renovation. Huge full basement ready for expansion. Great location in between Taraval and Noriega Streets."
Open House: Sunday, 2 to 4pm

Location: 857 Castro Street, Eureka Valley
Size: 4-bed, 3-bath, unlisted square footage
Price: $1,899,000
Pitch: "Stunning Eureka Valley 4 bd/3 ba contemporary home at the top of Castro! Ground-up rebuild. Open flr plan, 10' ceilings, 8' drs. New mech systems: heat, plumbing, electrical, foundation & seismic upgrades. Skylights & dbl-pane windows. Main flr opens to sunny patio & garden. Recessed lights. Rift-cut white oak flrs. Chef's kitchen w/ island, Thermador pro gas range, vented hood, & Liebherr refrigerator. Caesarstone counters, white oak cabinets, glass & stone tile. Large master w/ en-suite bath, dbl vanity, tiled shower, & soaking tub. Laundry hook-ups on BR level. Full baths on both floors. Spacious closets. Wired for cable, alarm, data, & A/V w/ speakers. 2 car pkg w/ interior access & wine cellar. Access to private tech buses & 24th St!"
Open House: Sunday, 2 to 4pm

Source: http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2012/12/28/weekend_open_house_report_singlefamily_home_edition.php

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Reaction to death of Norman Schwarzkopf

Reaction to the death Thursday of retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf:

___

"With the passing of Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, we've lost an American original. From his decorated service in Vietnam to the historic liberation of Kuwait and his leadership of United States Central Command, Gen. Schwarzkopf stood tall for the country and Army he loved. Our prayers are with the Schwarzkopf family, who tonight can know that his legacy will endure in a nation that is more secure because of his patriotic service." ? President Barack Obama.

___

"Barbara and I mourn the loss of a true American patriot and one of the great military leaders of his generation. A distinguished member of that 'Long Gray Line' hailing from West Point, Gen. Norm Schwarzkopf, to me, epitomized the 'duty, service, country' creed that has defended our freedom and seen this great nation through our most trying international crises. More than that, he was a good and decent man ? and a dear friend. Barbara and I send our condolences to his wife, Brenda, and his wonderful family." ? former President George H.W. Bush.

___

"With the passing of General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, America lost a great patriot and a great soldier. Norm served his country with courage and distinction for over 35 years. The highlight of his career was the 1991 Persian Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm. 'Stormin' Norman' led the coalition forces to victory, ejecting the Iraqi Army from Kuwait and restoring the rightful government. His leadership not only inspired his troops, but also inspired the nation. He was a good friend of mine, a close buddy. I will miss him. My wife, Alma, joins me in extending our deepest condolences to his wife, Brenda, and to her family." ? former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

___

"The men and women of the Department of Defense join me in mourning the loss of Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, whose 35 years of service in uniform left an indelible imprint on the United States military and on the country. The son of a decorated Army officer, Gen. Schwarzkopf followed his father's legacy of service by enrolling in West Point in the 1950s. His bravery during two tours in Vietnam earned him three Silver Stars, and set him on the path lead our troops into battle in Grenada, and then to take charge of the overall allied effort in the first Gulf War as commander of United States Central Command. Gen. Schwarzkopf's skilled leadership of that campaign liberated the Kuwaiti people and produced a decisive victory for the allied coalition. In the aftermath of that war, Gen. Schwarzkopf was justly recognized as a brilliant strategist and inspiring leader. Today, we recall that enduring legacy and remember him as one of the great military giants of the 20th century. My thoughts and prayers are with the Schwarzkopf family in this time of sadness and grief." ? Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

___

"I was saddened to learn today of the passing of Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, a fellow West Point graduate, former CENTCOM commander and one of the 20th century's finest soldiers and leaders. I join the civilian and military leaders of our country, and servicemen and women, past and present, in mourning his death. Gen. Schwarzkopf embodied the warrior spirit, serving with distinction in three conflicts over his 35 years of dedicated service. The hallmark of his remarkable career was the swift and decisive victory over Saddam Hussein's forces after they invaded Kuwait. The thoughts and prayers of the Joint Chiefs and the Joint Force are with Gen. Schwarzkopf's family and friends." ? Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/reaction-death-norman-schwarzkopf-014655500.html

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Improve Your Business's Branding with Private Label Water - Water ...

Last updated 5 hours 33 minutes ago

No matter what type of business you run, it is important to ensure that your clients have a pleasant experience every time they see you so that they will be more likely to come back in the future. A simple offering of refreshment with company branded water bottles makes a great impression on your customers and has many benefits that are well worth the time it takes to create your custom labels. Here is a look at the big impact that details such as private labeled water can make for your business.

Your customers have something to take home
When you give customers a bottle of water with a custom branded label, they will have a piece of your branding to take home with them. This will increase the exposure of your logo to each customer who takes a water bottle and also serve as a small offering of a positive customer experience. You might encourage customers to reuse these custom labeled bottles to save plastic, so they will keep making an impression while reducing waste.

You can create a more professional reputation
Everything you put your brand on relates to your customer relationships, and bottled water is something that anyone can take with them. All people drink water, but not everyone is drinking water with your logo on it. When customers see that you have made the effort to reach out with more logo exposure, they may have a higher perception of the professionalism of your business. Plus, the label design is completely customized to your requests, so it will reflect your business in the exact way that you want it to.

If you choose Water Event in Dallas for your customized private label water, you can expect your order to be ready in about two weeks so that you can start branding your business more effectively. Get started on your label design by calling us today at (214) 431-3253 or visiting our website.

Source: http://www.watereventdallastx.com/618429/2012/12/28/improve-your-businesss-branding-with-private-label-water.html

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Scana to Deliver Supplies for LNG Applications ... - LNG World News

Scana Industrier ASA has through its subsidiary Scana Skarpenord, been awarded contracts to deliver actuators and control systems to customers in South Korea and China for FPSO and LNG/LPG applications.

The value of the contracts is 15 MNOK.

Scana Skarpenord has through its strategic positioning emphasized market penetrations towards the oil & gas application of the marine market, and these contracts are in accordance with this strategic direction.

The projects are planned to start immediately and deliveries will commence from 2(rd) quarter 2013.

15 Norwegian kroner = 2.693145 U.S. dollars

LNG World News Staff, December 28, 2012; Image: Scana Industrier

Source: http://www.lngworldnews.com/scana-to-deliver-supplies-for-lng-applications-in-south-korea/

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Business to business Sales Training Tip #39: Mack Hanan ...

The Mobile Traffic Entrepreneur

world wide web.SalesInfluence.TV Business to business Sales Training Tip #39 Mack Hanan Consultative Selling Formula by Victor Antonio

Video Rating: 4 / 5

The thing that matters online is... Traffic.* Traffic is the "currency" of the internet.

This entry was posted in B2b Selling and tagged Antonio, Consultative, Formula, Hanan, Mack, Sales, Selling, Training, Victor, Victor Antonio, Video Rating by johnkrol. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://neuroplasticity.mobi/?p=18096

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politburo joyan: Simple Abundance Exercises Can Change Your ...

Article title: Simple Abundance Exercises Can Change Your Mindset
Article Category: Self-Improvement

When you feel more prosperous, you will lead life of improved health, happiness and prosperity. However, when most of us think about our finances, most of the time we don?t have thoughts of prosperity.
Continue reading this article?

Source: http://www.medicalguide.pro/3374/simple-abundance-exercises-can-change-your-mindset-5.html

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Source: http://habit-bartel.blogspot.com/2012/12/simple-abundance-exercises-can-change.html

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Source: http://politburo-joyan.blogspot.com/2012/12/simple-abundance-exercises-can-change.html

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Source: http://cenovymol.posterous.com/politburo-joyan-simple-abundance-exercises-ca

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The New Black Friday Strategy Totally Backfired ... - Business Insider

Kim Bhasin / Business Insider

This year's holiday retail numbers are uglier than anticipated.?Growth came in at 0.7 percent ? the weakest since 2008.

The strategies that retailers used over the holidays didn't convince enough Americans to come to stores this year.?

The early Black Friday backfired on retailers,?wrote Brian Sozzi, chief equities analyst at NBG Productions in a note to clients.

"Early store openings for Black Friday only shifted the holiday consumption pool, which was the opposite of the intended effect," he wrote.

"Retailers wanted early buying to lead to splurge buys towards the end of the season.?The thought they hoped to trigger: 'man, did I REALLY get everyone enough?'?

It didn't work, and in the end, the move probably cost retailers more than a few pennies.

"Ultimately, retailers may find that all the Black Friday shifts have really achieved is the higher costs they incur from paying employees to come in for Thanksgiving,"?wrote Justin Lahart at The Wall Street Journal.

Between the fiscal cliff, Hurricane Sandy, and the tragic Newtown shootings, shoppers weren't in the mood.

"A lot of the Christmas spirit was left behind way back in Black Friday weekend," Marshal Cohen, chief research analyst at NPD Group,?told the AP. "We had one reason after another for consumers to say, 'I'm going to stick to my list and not go beyond it.'"

Even by offering steep discounts in the final moments, retailers didn't manage to get enough shoppers into stores to buy up merchandise. They resorted to "contingency promotional plans" in their panic as Christmas closed in,?wrote Lazard Capital Markets analyst Jennifer Davis in a note to clients.

"Traffic?definitely picked up over the last weekend, but we believe sales were?not quite as robust as hoped.?The extra weekend before Christmas?this year, compounded by the warm weather, amplified the post Black Friday lull," she wrote.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-strategy-2012-12

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Gulf War Commander Schwarzkopf Dies at 78 (Voice Of America)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273468133?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Egypt election panel: Morsi constitution wins by 2-1

Ahmed Abd El Latef / AP

Egyptian women cut their hair to protest against the Islamist-oriented constitution during a demonstration in Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012.

By Maria Golovnina, REUTERS

CAIRO - Egypt announced on Tuesday voters had approved overwhelmingly a constitution drafted by President Mohamed Morsi's Islamist allies, and the government imposed currency restrictions to cope with an economic crisis worsened by weeks of unrest.?

Final figures from the elections commission showed the constitution was adopted with 63.8 percent of the vote, giving Islamists their third straight victory at the polls since strongman Hosni Mubarak was toppled in a 2011 revolution.?

Morsi's Leftist, liberal, secularist and Christian opponents had taken to the streets to block what they argued was a move to ram through a charter that would dangerously mix politics and religion.?

The president argues that the new constitution offers sufficient protection for minorities, and adopting it quickly is necessary to end two years of turmoil and political uncertainty that has wrecked the economy.?

Hours before the vote result was announced, the authorities imposed a new ban on travelling in or out of the country with more than $10,000 in foreign currency, a move apparently intended to halt capital flight.?

Some Egyptians have begun withdrawing their savings from banks in fear of tougher restrictions.?

The "yes" vote paves the way for a parliamentary election in about two months, setting the stage for yet another electoral battle between surging Islamists and their fractious liberal and leftist opponents.?

The final result, announced by the election commission, matched --?to the last decimal place -- an earlier unofficial tally announced by Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.?

The constitution was drawn up by a body largely made up of Morsi's Islamist allies. The results announcement was a disappointment for the opposition which had put pressure on the authorities to recount the result to reflect what they have described as major vote violations.?

"We have seriously investigated all the complaints," judge Samir Abu el-Matti of the Supreme Election Committee told a news conference. The final official turnout was 32.9 percent.?

Cairo, gripped by often violent protests in the run-up to the vote, appeared calm after the announcement and opposition groups have announced no plans for demonstrations to mark the result.?

"The results was so odd and no change in the percentage points shows that nothing was done to take our complaints into account," Khaled Dawood, an opposition spokesman, said.?

The referendum, held on December 15 and on December 22, has sown deep divisions in the Arab world's most populous nation but Morsi says enacting the new constitution quickly will bring stability and a chance to focus on fixing the economy.?

A growing sense of crisis has gripped Egypt's polarized society for weeks. Standard and Poor's cut Egypt's long-term credit rating on Monday.?

Hours ahead of the results announcement, Prime Minister Hisham Kandil told the nation of 83 million the government was committed to taking steps to heal the economy.?

"The main goals that the government is working towards now is plugging the budget deficit, and working on increasing growth to boost employment rates, curb inflation, and increase the competitiveness of Egyptian exports," he said.?

Nasser Nasser / AP file

An Egyptian election worker shows his colleagues an invalid ballot while counting ballots at the end of the second round of a referendum on a disputed constitution in this Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 file photo.

CRISIS MODE?

The central bank said on Monday it would take steps to "safeguard" bank deposits, without giving any details. Rumors are rife of what sort of measures are planned.?

"I have been hearing that the central bank is going to take over all our bank deposits to pay wages for government employees given the current deteriorating economic situation," said Ayman Osama, father of two young children.?

He said he had taken out the equivalent of about $16,000 from his account this week and planned to withdraw more, adding that he had also told his wife to buy more gold jewellery.?

"I am not going to put any more money in the bank and neither will many of the people I know," he said.?

The referendum is the Islamists' third electoral victory since the fall of Mubarak, following parliamentary and presidential elections, representing a decisive shift in a country at the heart of the Arab world, where Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood was suppressed for generations by military rulers.?

However, secularist and liberal opposition members hope they can organize better in time for the next parliamentary vote.?

The opposition says the constitution fails to guarantee personal freedoms and rights for women and minorities. The government says the criticism is misplaced.?

Hossam El-Din Ali, a 35-year-old newspaper vendor in central Cairo, said he agreed the new constitution would help bring some political stability but like many others he feared the possible economic austerity measures lying ahead.?

"People don't want higher prices. People are upset about this," he said. "There is recession, things are not moving. But I am wishing for the best, God willing."?

More world stories from NBC News:

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/25/16149067-egypt-approves-new-constitution-drafted-by-mursi-allies?lite

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408 KSF Office Portfolio in Boston's Blossoming Seaport District ...

December 26, 2012

By Barbra Murray, Contributing Editor

It?s been a busy couple of quarters for office transactions in Boston?s Seaport District and the change in ownership of the 407,500-square-foot Fort Point portfolio is among the latest. Clarion Partners L.L.C. purchased the group of six buildings from a joint venture consisting of Angelo, Gordon & Co. and National Development for $128.5 million.

The portfolio, which has a current occupancy level of 96 percent, was marketed by commercial real estate and capital markets services provider HFF on behalf of the seller. Included in the collection of office addresses are the 94,300-square-foot property at 33-41 Farnsworth St.; 34 and 44 Farnsworth St., featuring a respective 24,400 and 93,800 square feet; 332 and 374 Congress St., which offer 34,400 and 96,200 square feet, respectively; and the 64,200-square-foot 263 Summer St. All six of the one-time manufacturing and warehouse structures are of the brick-and-beam style that was popular during their development more than 100 years ago; a style that has now come to appeal to those tech and creative users that are flooding into the Seaport District or, as it is increasingly referred to, the Innovation District.

?These buildings have great bones and really lend themselves to today?s tenants, which require open spaces, abundant infrastructure and collaborative work environments,? Coleman Benedict, senior managing director with HFF, said in a prepared statement. ?The Fort Point office submarket is one of the most dynamic in the country. With a long list of tenants searching for a limited amount of available space, it is sure to continue to be so for years to come.?

Indeed, in Fort Point and other neighborhoods of the Seaport District, vacancies are on the decline and rental rates are on the rise. The submarket?s 10.3 percent vacancy rate in the third quarter marked a noteworthy drop from the 13.3 percent figure in the third quarter of 2011, according to statistics from commercial real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle.? And the demand for space can certainly be seen in the price tags, even in the Class B segment of the market, where year over year overall asking rents jumped from $29.97 to $36.38.

The increasingly positive numbers are hardly lost on the Fort Point portfolio?s new owner. As Gary Rufrano, a senior vice president with Clarion, said in a press release, the company plans to capitalize on the ?significant opportunity to add value to the portfolio by capturing the growth in the Seaport and by bringing rents up to market levels.?

It seems as though there?s a beacon in the Seaport District that?s attracting all players in the office sector.? They?re buying it, they?re building it and they?re leasing it.

Among the recent acquisitions was DivcoWest Properties? $106.8 million purchase of Brickman Associates? 362,600-square-foot portfolio, and Skanska USA Commercial Development?s $33 million purchase of Parcel L1 within the Seaport Square development, where the company will erect a 455,000-square-foot office tower.

Projects presently under development include AREA Property Partners and Commonwealth Ventures? 500,000-square-foot One Channel Center, for which HFF recently arranged a $170 million construction loan.? Leasing activity has also been brisk. In December alone, national law firm Goodwin Procter signed a letter of intent to relocate its home to 350,000 square feet of space in a build-to-suit commercial high-rise at the Fan Pier mixed-use waterfront development, and car-sharing network Zipcar Inc. announced that it will move its corporate headquarters from neighboring Cambridge, Mass., and park its business at 35 Thompson Place, occupying the 46,000-square-foot building in its entirety.

Source: http://www.cpexecutive.com/regions/mid-atlantic/408-ksf-office-portfolio-in-bostons-blossoming-seaport-district-trades-for-129m/

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Pagano back to coach Colts after cancer treatment

Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano speaks during a news conference Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, in Indianapolis. Pagano returns to the team after undergoing successful leukemia treatment. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano speaks during a news conference Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, in Indianapolis. Pagano returns to the team after undergoing successful leukemia treatment. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Tina Pagano, right, and her daughter Taylor Pagano, listen as Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano speaks during a news conference Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, in Indianapolis. Pagano returns to the team after undergoing successful leukemia treatment. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano hugs his daughter Taylor Pagano following a news conference Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, in Indianapolis. Pagano returns to the team after undergoing successful leukemia treatment. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts former interim head coach and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians listens as head coach Chuck Pagano speaks during a news conference Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, in Indianapolis. Pagano returns to the team after undergoing successful leukemia treatment. Arians coached the team while Pagano was on leave. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano speaks during a news conference Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, in Indianapolis. Pagano returns to the team after undergoing successful leukemia treatment. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? Chuck Pagano stepped to the podium Monday, hugged his team owner, thanked his family for its support and wiped a tear from his eye.

He might, finally, turn out the lights in his office, too.

Nearly three months to the day after being diagnosed with leukemia, the Colts' first-year coach returned to a team eager to reunite with a boss healthy enough to go back to work.

"I told you my best day of my life was July 1, 1989," Pagano said, referring to his wedding date. "Today was No. 2. Getting to pull up, drive in, get out of my car, the key fob still worked. I was beginning to question whether it would or not. When I asked for Bruce to take over, I asked for him to kick some you-know-what and to do great. Damn Bruce, you had to go and win nine games? Tough act to follow. Tough act to follow. Best in the history of the NFL. That's what I have to come back to."

The comment turned tears into the laughter everyone expected on such a festive occasion.

For Pagano and the Colts, Monday morning was as precious as anyone could have imagined when Pagano took an indefinite leave to face the biggest opponent of his life, cancer.

In his absence, all the Colts was win nine of 12 games, make a historic turnaround and clinch a playoff spot all before Sunday's regular-season finale against Houston, which they pegged as the day they hoped to have Pagano back. If all goes well at practice this week, Pagano will be on the sideline for the first time since a Week 3 loss to Jacksonville.

Pagano endured three rounds of chemotherapy to put his cancer in remission.

That Pagano's return came less than 24 hours after Indy (10-5) locked up the No. 5 seed in the AFC and the day before Christmas seemed fitting, too.

"I know Chuck is ready for this challenge. In speaking to his doctor multiple times, I know that the time is right for him to grab the reins, get the head coaching cap on and begin the journey," owner Jim Irsay said. "It's been a miraculous story. It really is a book. It's a fairytale. It's a Hollywood script. It's all those things but it's real."

The reality is that he's returning to a vastly different team than the one he turned over to Arians, his long-time friend and first assistant coaching hire.

Back then, the Colts were 1-2 and most of the so-called experts had written them off as one of the league's worst teams. Now, they're ready to show the football world that they can be just as successful under Pagano as they were under Arians, who tied the NFL record for wins after a midseason coaching change.

Pagano also has changed.

The neatly-trimmed salt-and-pepper hair and trademark goatee that were missing in November have slowly returned, and the thinner man who appeared to be catching his breath during a postgame speech in early November, looked and sounded as good as ever Monday.

He repeatedly thanked fans for their prayers and letters, the organization and his family for their unwavering help and promised to provide comfort and support to other people who are facing similar fights. During one poignant moment that nearly brought out tears again, Pagano even recounted a letter sent to him by a 9-year-old child who suggested he suck on ice chips and strawberry Popsicles in the hospital and advised him to be nice to the nurses regardless of how he felt ? and he never even paused.

"I feel great, my weight is back, my energy is back and again, it's just a blessing to be back here," Pagano said.

In the minds of Colts players and coaches, Pagano never really left.

He continually watched practice tape and game film on his computer, used phone calls and text messages to regularly communicate with players and occasionally delivered a pregame or postgame speech to his team.

"He texted me and called me so much, it was like he was standing there in my face every day," said receiver Reggie Wayne, who has been friends with Pagano since the two were working together at the University of Miami.

But the Colts found plenty of other ways to keep Pagano's battle in the forefront.

They began a fundraising campaign for leukemia research, calling it Chuckstrong. Players had stickers with the initials CP on their locker room nameplates, and Arians wore an orange ribbon on his baseball cap during games. Orange is the symbolic color for leukemia. At one point, nearly three dozen players shaved their heads to show their ailing coach they were with him.

That's not all.

Arians and first-year general manager Ryan Grigson decided to leave the lights on in Pagano's office until he returned. Pagano noted the team even installed plastic clips to make sure those lights were not mistakenly turned off while he was gone. Those clips were removed when Pagano arrived Monday morning.

And Arians said nobody sat in the front seat of the team bus.

"He's always been our head coach," Arians said.

So after getting medical clearance from his oncologist, Dr. Larry Cripe, to return with no restrictions, Pagano couldn't wait to get to the office Monday morning.

Arians arrived at 7 a.m., three hours early for the scheduled team meeting. By then, Pagano had already driven past the inflatable Colts player with the words "Welcome Back Chuck" printed on its chest and was back in his office preparing for the Texans.

Players showed up a couple of hours later, and when the torch was passed from Arians back to Pagano, players gave their returning coach a standing ovation that Wayne said was well-deserved.

All Pagano wants to do now is emulate the success Arians and his players have had this season.

"I asked him (Arians) if he would lead this team and this ballclub and this organization and take over the reins," Pagano said. "What a masterful, masterful job you did Bruce. You carried the torch and all you went out and did was win nine ballgames. You got us our 10th win yesterday and you got us into the playoffs. You did it with dignity and you did it with class. You're everything that I always knew you were and more."

___

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

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-24-FBN-Colts-Pagano-Returns/id-c78d402d1a9946dd817fe9432bee534f

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Love Of Family & Home: Merry Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas Friends!!

I just wanted to drop in today to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas, and?let you know how much I appreciate each & every one of you!! Thank you SO MUCH for reading this blog & for all of the sweet comments & emails you send my way!!

I hope you all are having a WONDERFUL day!!!

I'll be away from the computer for the next couple of days to spend time with my family & to recuperate from the holiday! I hope that you all will take some time off as well....you DESERVE it!!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!! Talk to you all real soon!!!

Source: http://www.loveoffamilyandhome.net/2012/12/merry-christmas-2012.html

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Well: Wright?s Law

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Source: http://www.nytimes.com/video/2012/12/24/science/100000001947354/wrights-law.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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1 killed, 1 wounded in bar shooting near Seattle

Private security officers and a mall official stand adjacent to the Munchbar Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, in Bellevue, Wash. A 30-year-old Seattle man was killed and another man wounded in a shooting at the crowded bar earlier in the morning, police said. AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Private security officers and a mall official stand adjacent to the Munchbar Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, in Bellevue, Wash. A 30-year-old Seattle man was killed and another man wounded in a shooting at the crowded bar earlier in the morning, police said. AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The interior of the Munchbar, where tables are seen overturned and debris strewn about, is photographed Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, in Bellevue, Wash. A 30-year-old Seattle man was killed and another man wounded in a shooting at the crowded bar earlier in the morning about 10 miles east of Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The interior of the Munchbar, where tables are seen overturned and debris strewn about, is photographed Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, in Bellevue, Wash. A 30-year-old Seattle man was killed and another man wounded in a shooting at the crowded bar earlier in the morning about 10 miles east of Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The exterior of the Munchbar, where tables are seen overturned and debris strewn about, is photographed Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, in Bellevue, Wash.. A 30-year-old Seattle man was killed and another man wounded in a shooting at the crowded bar earlier in the morning about 10 miles east of Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The exterior of the Munchbar, where tables are seen overturned and debris strewn about, is photographed Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, in Bellevue, Wash.. A 30-year-old Seattle man was killed and another man wounded in a shooting at the crowded bar earlier in the morning about 10 miles east of Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

BELLEVUE, Wash. (AP) ? A 30-year-old Seattle man was killed and another man wounded in a shooting at a crowded suburban bar early Monday, police said.

Police issued an arrest warrant Monday evening for a 19-year-old man in connection with the shooting.

The shooting broke out just after 1 a.m. at Munchbar at Bellevue Square, an upscale shopping center about 10 miles east of Seattle, said Carla Iafrate, a spokeswoman for the Bellevue Police Department.

Police officers were outside the bar when gunfire erupted because a large crowd had gathered there, she said.

More than 600 people were inside the venue at the time of the shooting. "It was a very complicated scene," Iafrate said.

The wounded man was taken to Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue. Iafrate did not immediately know his age, hometown or condition.

The shooting appears to be an isolated incident. "There was some type of altercation," before it, she said.

Iafrate said the suspect police are seeking, Ja'mari Alexander Alan Jones, was convicted as a juvenile in the high-profile 2008 beating death of a Seattle street performer. Jones was sentenced to less than a year in juvenile detention on a first-degree manslaughter charge in that case.

No officers were involved in the shooting.

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said several players were at Munchbar following the team's Sunday night victory over the San Francisco 49ers, but none were injured.

"From what we know our guys were in a separate area and nobody was involved at all," Carroll said during a Monday news conference. "It was an awful thing that happened."

Witnesses described a chaotic scene, telling local media they dove for cover or hit the floor when they heard gunshots.

The shopping center opened Monday morning as normal, Iafrate said, adding that the shooting had minimal impact on overall operations.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-12-24-Bellevue%20Bar%20Shooting/id-b8c402e995d346f8a9b37d1f56efe68f

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Do You Require Customer Credit Card Debt Relief? Locate Out Now ...

Since of the tumbling economy these days, there has been an increasing quantity of individuals looking for to locate any kind of consumer credit card debt relief. The sad truth is, several folks have actually been living off of their credit cards for fairly a although now. Although the economy keeps heading in a downward motion, there are a lot more folks who now see themselves possessing to use their plastic cards just to spend foods, bills, as well as other basic essentials.

It is only a little matter of time when the line of credit will run out entirely, then do you know what will take place? Yeah that?s correct, you have to then pay the cash back for every little thing you utilized and in most instances, the credit card is maxed. This indicates you do not have privilege of having it any much more. It is basically the same factor as paying for a car you can not drive any longer

What generally will take place is that individuals will then commence to be late on paying back their credit and the only money they have is now employed for their simple essentials Sound familiar? I am certain it does!

This is when individuals will frequently occasions start to look for out distinct locations for customer credit card debt relief.One of the 1st considerations most individuals have is filing for bankruptcy, acquire generally they do not go by means of with it when they recognize the quantity of harm that it can cause on their credit report. Which is great because if a lender ever sees bankruptcy on your credit profile, they will by no means lend funds if you want a loan for a vehicle, mortgage, or any sort of unsecured credit line.

Source: http://www.bnr.co/finance-2/credit-tips/do-you-require-customer-credit-card-debt-relief-locate-out-now-just-before-you-get-buried-in-debt/

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CIA: ?Zero Dark Thirty? not a realistic portrayal of hunt for Osama bin Laden

The CIA says scenes of torture in the new film 'Zero Dark Thirty' are not an accurate portrayal of the hunt for Osama bin Laden. This follows similar criticism from three senior US Senators who say the film is 'grossly inaccurate and misleading'.

By Brad Knickerbocker,?Staff writer / December 22, 2012

This film image released by Columbia Pictures shows a scene from "Zero Dark Thirty," directed by Kathryn Bigelow. The film has been criticized for its scenes of torture.

Sony-Columbia Pictures/AP

Enlarge

In an unusual letter to CIA employees, the agency?s acting director Michael Morrell says the controversial Hollywood film ?Zero Dark Thirty? takes ?significant artistic license? with the years-long hunt that led to Navy SEALs killing terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and is ?not a realistic portrayal of the facts.?

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It?s not the first official complaint about the movie.

Earlier in the week, three senior US Senators ? Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein, fellow Democrat Carl Levin and Republican John McCain ? sent a letter to Michael Lynton, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, in which they expressed their ?deep disappointment? with the film for its ?grossly inaccurate and misleading ? suggestion that torture resulted in information that led to the location of Osama bin Laden.?

?Regardless of what message the filmmakers intended to convey, the movie clearly implies that the CIA?s coercive interrogation techniques were effective in eliciting important information related to a courier for Osama bin Laden,? the senators wrote. ?We have reviewed CIA records and know that this is incorrect.?

?The fundamental problem,? they continue, ?is that people who see Zero Dark Thirty will believe that the events it portrays are facts?. Recent public opinion polls suggest that a narrow majority of Americans believe that torture can be justified as an effective form of intelligence gathering. This is false. We know that cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of prisoners is an unreliable and highly ineffective means of gathering intelligence.?

No one know this better than Senator McCain, a former Navy pilot who spent years as a POW in North Vietnam, where he was subjected to brutal torture used to elicit false confessions.

'Zero Dark Thirty': top 3 controversies surrounding the Osama bin Laden film

In his letter to CIA employees, acting director Morrell (who took over from disgraced director David Petraeus), does not say that waterboarding and other forms of what the agency calls ?enhanced interrogation? did not occur during the hunt for bin Laden.

He acknowledges that such methods, which critics say amount to torture, were part of the agency?s ?former detention and interrogation program.? (In ?Zero Dark Thirty,? these are graphically shown as water-boarding, being hung from a ceiling, beatings, sleep deprivation, and being locked in a coffin-like box.)

But Morrell takes issue with the film?s portrayal of prisoner abuse and the role it played in the Bin Laden mission.

?The film creates the strong impression that the enhanced interrogation techniques that were part of our former detention and interrogation program were the key to finding Bin Laden.?That impression is false,? Morrell writes. ?As we have said before, the truth is that multiple streams of intelligence led CIA analysts to conclude that Bin Laden was hiding in Abbottabad.?Some came from detainees subjected to enhanced techniques, but there were many other sources as well.?And, importantly, whether enhanced interrogation techniques were the only timely and effective way to obtain information from those detainees, as the film suggests, is a matter of debate that cannot and never will be definitively resolved.?

Earlier this month, the Senate Intelligence Committee voted 9-6 to approve a classified report highly critical of the CIA?s detention and interrogation program.

?I strongly believe that the creation of long-term, clandestine ?black sites? and the use of so-called ?enhanced-interrogation techniques? were terrible mistakes,? committee chairman Feinstein said regarding the report. ?The majority of the Committee agrees.?

Based on their view that this element of ?Zero Dark Thirty? is ?grossly inaccurate and misleading,? Senators Feinstein, Levin, and McCain say Sony Pictures Entertainment has ?an obligation to state that the role of torture in the hunt for Osama bin Laden is not based on the facts, but rather part of the film's fictional narrative."

'Zero Dark Thirty': top 3 controversies surrounding the Osama bin Laden film

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/6AJgyhNZaeY/CIA-Zero-Dark-Thirty-not-a-realistic-portrayal-of-hunt-for-Osama-bin-Laden

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Gun lobby defends call for armed guards at schools

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The leader of the gun lobby on Sunday defended his call for placing armed guards in all American schools despite withering criticism of the group's response to the massacre of 20 first-graders in Newtown, Connecticut.

"If it's crazy to call for putting police and armed security in our schools to protect our children, then call me crazy," National Rifle Association Chief Executive Wayne LaPierre told NBC's "Meet the Press."

The NRA waited a week before issuing a statement on the December 14 killings of the children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School by a gunman who opened fire with a semi-automatic assault rifle.

LaPierre's speech on Friday in Washington drew protesters and stoked the fierce debate over U.S. gun laws in a nation with a culture of gun ownership and a history of school shootings and other gun violence.

The proposal to place armed guards in every school, an idea the NRA has long supported, drew the most criticism.

The congressman from Newtown's district, Chris Murphy, tweeted: "Walking out of another funeral and was handed the NRA transcript, the most revolting, tone deaf statement I've ever seen."

The New York tabloids skewered LaPierre's speech. The Daily News labeled him "Craziest Man on Earth" in a front-page headline on Saturday. The New York Post piled on with "Gun Nut! NRA loon in bizarre rant over Newtown."

The NRA's proposal was also attacked by politicians including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the nation's largest teachers union and Mark Kelly, the husband of former U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was hurt last year in a mall shooting by a gunman in Tucson, Arizona.

But LaPierre was undaunted.

"I think that is the one thing that we can do immediately that will immediately make our children safe," he said.

'GONNA BE A BATTLE'

LaPierre scoffed at the idea that reinstating the federal assault weapons ban that lapsed in 2004 would prevent more massacres, citing shootings that took place when the ban was in effect, including the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Colorado.

"It's not going to make any kid safer," he said.

Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham made the same point earlier on Sunday in a tweet: "The assault weapons ban didn't work then and it won't work now."

On NBC, Graham said he himself owns an AR-15, the type of assault rifle used by 20-year-old Adam Lanza in Newtown.

"I own an AR-15. I've got it at my house. The question is if you deny me the right to buy another one, have you made America safer?" he asked. "I don't suggest you take my right to buy an AR-15 away from me because I don't think it will work, and I do believe better security in schools is a good place to start."

Other gun rights advocates in Congress showed a willingness to consider new gun restrictions immediately after the Newtown shooting. U.S. lawmakers have not approved a major new federal gun law since 1994.

"It's gonna be a battle," Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut told CNN's "State of the Union."

He and Senator Charles Schumer of New York criticized the NRA for blaming gun violence on everything but guns.

An attempt to prevent shootings in schools without talking about guns "is like trying to prevent lung cancer without talking about cigarettes," Democrat Schumer said on NBC.

Also receiving scrutiny is a ban high-capacity magazines that allow shooters to fire multiple rounds in a short amount of time. They have been used in several mass slayings.

Graham, of South Carolina, said on NBC he opposes that move as well.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, said on ABC's "This week" that "putting some limits" on high-capacity magazines "could be part of the solution, but not the only solution." A former prosecutor, she also called for more stringent background checks of gun buyers.

The Obama administration was expected to propose steps next month to tighten gun laws.

(Editing by Doina Chiacu)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gun-lobby-defends-call-armed-guards-schools-202042338--finance.html

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