The practice of estate planning is continually changing as people's needs continue to change. One area where this is evident is in the growing importance of accounting for digital assets in one's estate planning documents. Digital or virtual assets are those which are stored on computers and the Internet.
Surprisingly, many people fail to consider digital assets in their wills. Unfortunately, estate planners do not always have the foresight to include these assets in the planning. As more and more assets are stored this way, estate planners will increasingly have to address the issue in the estate planning.
Digital assets include online bank and brokerage accounts, internet business, as well as domain names, blogs, Twitter accounts and social-media pages. Taking account of these assets after the owner's death isn't always simple. Attorneys sometimes hire computer-forensics experts to access Web accounts and services to appraise their value.
Another problem that can come up is when executors are unable to cancel services or payment schedules through online accounts. Attempting to do so may go against the terms of the service contract and federal anti-hacking laws.
Estate planners, in addressing the issue, are advising clients on how to ensure their heirs are able to access and transfer virtual property after his or her death. This involves taking inventory of all digital accounts and storing an updated list of passwords on a flash drive locked in a safe. Online companies have also emerged to address the problem.
The important thing for those doing estate planning is to have the conversation with their estate planning attorney.
Source: Forbes, "With Estate Planning, Don't Forget Virtual Assets," Chana R. Schoenberger, July 28, 2012
Environmental protection equipment, ?the 12th Five Year Plan? boost the development of
Message level, the positive constant during the ?12th Five-Year? environmental protection industry, the development of circular economy has harvested policy ?packs?. The 26th session of the 15 High-Tech Expo 2012 China circular economy development forum ?, the National Development and Reform Commission economic system and the Research Office of Management Institute of circular economy Yang Chunping revealed that the national circular economy development? 12th Five-Year Plan ?will be reported to the Department of State. According to the forecast, ?the 12th Five-Year? period, the national environmental protection industry output will reach 2 trillion yuan in 2020, environmental protection industry will become independent industry of Chinas national economy.
National financial energy saving work of the recently held meeting, the Deputy Minister of Finance Zhang Shaochun the main task of the second half of this year and next year fiscal promoting energy conservation.
To strengthen policy integration, solid job in the fiscal policy of energy saving pilot work. This is a groundbreaking work is the core of the city as a platform to integrate fiscal policy as a means to low-carbon industries, transportation of clean, green building, service intensive, major pollutants reduction,aluminum wheel. renewable energy exploit economies of scale into the main content, depth to promote energy conservation. The key is accelerating, and strive to achieve tangible results as soon as possible.
Two in conjunction with the current economic and industrial situation, and give prominence to expand the consumption of energy saving and environmentally friendly products and domestic photovoltaic large-scale applications. The first is to expand the consumption of energy saving products. The full implementation of the projects that benefit the promotion of energy-saving appliances, energy-saving products ?to take the financial subsidies to support the expansion of the consumption of energy-saving appliances and other products. To continue to intensify efforts to promote energy-saving lamps, LED lights, energy efficient cars and high efficiency motors and other existing products on the basis of, as soon as possible start the implementation of air conditioning, flat-panel TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, water heaters and other energy-saving appliances product marketing. Second is to expand the domestic photovoltaic large-scale applications. These include: continue to expand the size of the user side of the photovoltaic power generation project in the power load area, encourage centralized contiguous and of the self; take full advantage of the additional electricity price subsidies policy to encourage large-scale grid-connected solar power station construction in the western region to accelerate; components, the inverter key equipment suppliers and product performance to set a higher threshold conditions, and guide enterprises to speed up technological progress and industry consolidation.
Comprehensive and in-depth construction of key projects to promote energy conservation. To continue to focus on energy-saving technological transformation, the elimination of backward production capacity, supporting pipe network construction of sewage treatment facilities, three rivers and three lakes and the Songhua River water pollution control, heavy metal pollution control and other key energy saving projects, and continue to intensify its efforts to ferret out to ensure that the basis of diminished contribution to the energy saving potential to further push forward the structural energy conservation, building energy efficiency, environmental protection in rural areas, lakes, ecological and environmental protection, air pollution prevention and control of energy saving work, the formation of the situation in all aspects go hand in hand.mold in bathroom. Include: speed up the adjustment and optimization of industrial structure, promoting the structure of energy-saving; to promote building energy efficiency, accelerate the development of green buildings; efforts to increase rural environmental protection, ?Award to promote governance policy implementation; better lake water quality ecological and environmental protection; strengthening comprehensive prevention and control of air pollution .
To support bigger and stronger energy saving and environmental protection industries. First, as the starting point of contract energy management to expedite the implementation of the energy services industry. Second, demonstration and popularization of advanced environmental technologies to accelerate and promote the development of the environmental services industry as the starting point.
Five to accelerating the development of the development of new energy vehicles. Focus on five: First, arrange 10-20 billion a year starting this year, focus on supporting the new energy automotive industry with the production conditions and to support energy-saving automotive technology research and development and the construction industry chain. Taking into account the stable performance of hybrid buses, the energy saving effect is remarkable, and medium-sized cities in the country to promote the use of Continue to increase the 25 cities in the field of public services, new energy vehicle demonstration and promotion efforts, particularly to expand the use of the scale of public affairs, logistics, leasing and other industries. Fourth, the pilot cities as soon as possible to cancel the auction of new energy vehicles, license plate, Yaohao limit line restrictions, the introduction of parking fees, electricity, roads, etc. to support the policy to accelerate the pace of construction of charging stations and other infrastructure. Strengthen the constraint mechanism for the promotion of progress is slow, little effect of the city and up to less than a demonstration and extension of models, canceled its pilot, demonstration of qualifications.
In order to become the first result of major search engine pages, you need to sift through the numerous professional SEO firms that promise to get you there, and find the right one for your business. Before you jump into working with the most affordable firm you can find, you want to be sure that you are going to work with a company that honestly has the best interests of your business at hand. This is a difficult decision to make, especially because you are going to trust someone that you cannot meet face to face, with the success of your business website.
Why Most Small Businesses Need Help
While you might be thinking that you can get by without search engine optimization, or just doing the very basic optimization techniques, you could be doing more harm than good because there is a lot that goes into optimizing a site. First of all, keywords and keyword density are of importance to the success of your site. The right keywords that your customers search for is vital to your site displaying on a search page (here is where knowing your customers is most important). Then proper utilization of subtitles and titles as well as meta tag optimization are all necessary in order to further draw traffic into your site. Even incorporation like a strong backlink is important in optimizing your site. Now, you have to ask yourself if you are comfortable and certain that you can optimize your site in all these forms. If you can?t then there is no shame in seeking an SEO firm to do so, especially when it comes to the online success of your business!
Getting the Assistance You Can Rely On
As previously stated, finding an SEO firm that is quality and you can entrust your business marketing to is tough, but not impossible. When you are sorting through the multitude of companies that offer search engine optimization online, there are a few things that you want to ask their representative before you formalize a decision.
How much experience do outsourcing professionals have with search engine optimization techniques?
What kind of experience does your outsourcing professionals have? References? Samples of previous work?
Are they native English speakers?
What kind of guarantee does the outsourcing company have? Is there any quality control to the work that is completed?
How much does SEO service cost? Are you willing to work with my budget?
These are just a few of the questions that you should ask of any company representative who is interested in taking on your project. Based on their answers and the confidence that you feel in their services you can determine whether one company is better than the other, and which can meet your needs.
Not all SEO firm professionals are created the same, so don?t be fooled by a deal that sounds too good to be true, because traditionally that means that it more than likely is too good to be true!
Archeologists unearth extraordinary human sculpture in Turkey Could not connect to DB: 1040: Too many connectionsCould not execute 'UPDATE pressrelease SET r_hits = r_hits+ 1, r_total_hits = r_total_hits+ 1, r_pub_hits = r_pub_hits+ 1, r_total_pub_hits = r_total_pub_hits+ 1 WHERE r_id = 217921' on database eurekalert: 2002: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/tmp/mysql.sock' (2) Public release date: 30-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Kim Luke kim.luke@utoronto.ca 416-978-4352 University of Toronto
A beautiful and colossal human sculpture is one of the latest cultural treasures unearthed by an international team at the Tayinat Archaeological Project (TAP) excavation site in southeastern Turkey. A large semi-circular column base, ornately decorated on one side, was also discovered. Both pieces are from a monumental gate complex that provided access to the upper citadel of Kunulua, capital of the Neo-Hittite Kingdom of Patina (ca. 1000-738 BC).
"These newly discovered Tayinat sculptures are the product of a vibrant local Neo-Hittite sculptural tradition," said Professor Tim Harrison, the Tayinat Project director and professor of Near Eastern Archaeology in the University of Toronto's Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations. "They provide a vivid glimpse into the innovative character and sophistication of the Iron Age cultures that emerged in the eastern Mediterranean following the collapse of the great imperial powers of the Bronze Age at the end of the second millennium BC."
The head and torso of the human figure, intact to just above its waist, stands approximately 1.5 metres in height, suggesting a total body length of 3.5 to four metres. The figure's face is bearded, with beautifully preserved inlaid eyes made of white and black stone, and its hair has been coiffed in an elaborate series of curls aligned in linear rows. Both arms are extended forward from the elbow, each with two arm bracelets decorated with lion heads. The figure's right hand holds a spear, and in its left is a shaft of wheat. A crescent-shaped pectoral adorns its chest. A lengthy Hieroglyphic Luwian inscription, carved in raised relief across its back, records the campaigns and accomplishments of Suppiluliuma, likely the same Patinean king who faced a Neo-Assyrian onslaught of Shalmaneser III as part of a Syrian-Hittite coalition in 858 BC.
The second sculpture is a large semi-circular column base, approximately one metre in height and 90 centimetres in diameter, lying on its side next to the human figure. A winged bull is carved on the front of the column and it is flanked by a sphinx on its left. The right side of the column is flat and undecorated, an indication that it originally stood against a wall.
"The two pieces appear to have been ritually buried in the paved stone surface of the central passageway through the Tayinat gate complex," said Harrison. The complex would have provided a monumental ceremonial approach to the upper citadel of the royal city. Tayinat, a large low-lying mound, is located 35 kilometres east of Antakya (ancient Antioch) along the Antakya-Aleppo road.
The presence of colossal human statues, often astride lions or sphinxes, in the citadel gateways of the Neo-Hittite royal cities of Iron Age Syro-Anatolia continued a Bronze Age Hittite tradition that accentuated their symbolic role as boundary zones, and the role of the king as the divinely appointed guardian or gate keeper of the community. By the ninth and eighth centuries BC, these elaborately decorated gateways, with their ornately carved reliefs, had come to serve as dynastic parades, legitimizing the power of the ruling elite. The gate reliefs also formed linear narratives, guiding their audiences between the human and divine realms, with the king serving as the link between the two worlds.
The Tayinat gate complex appears to have been destroyed following the Assyrian conquest of the region in 738 BC, when the area was paved over and converted into the central courtyard of an Assyrian sacred precinct. These smashed and deposited monumental sculptures also include a magnificently carved lion that was discovered last year and Hieroglyphic Luwian-inscribed stelae (stone slabs or pillars used for commemoratives purposes). Together these finds hint of an earlier Neo-Hittite complex that might have once faced the gateway approach.
Scholars have long speculated that the reference to Calno, identified as one of the "kingdoms of the idols" in Isaiah's oracle against Assyria (Isaiah 10:9-10), alludes to the Assyrian devastation of Kunulua (i.e., Tayinat). The destruction of the Luwian monuments and conversion of the area into an Assyrian religious complex may represent the physical manifestation of this historic event, subsequently memorialized in Isaiah's oracle.
###
TAP is an international project, involving researchers from a dozen countries, and more than 20 universities and research institutes. It operates in close collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of Turkey, and provides research opportunities and training for both graduate and undergraduate students. The 2012 season was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the J.M Kaplan Fund, which provided support for the creation of a conservation program, and the University of Toronto.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tim Harrison
Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations
University of Toronto
Cell: +90-536-589-2443 (Please note: Prof. Harrison is on site in Turkey EEST: seven hours ahead of Toronto EST time)
timothy.harrison@utoronto.ca
Stan Klassen
Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations
University of Toronto
(416) 978-1135
stanley.klassen@utoronto.ca
Kim Luke
Communications, Faculty of Arts & Science
University of Toronto
Kim.luke@utoronto.ca
416-978-4352
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Archeologists unearth extraordinary human sculpture in Turkey Could not connect to DB: 1040: Too many connectionsCould not execute 'UPDATE pressrelease SET r_hits = r_hits+ 1, r_total_hits = r_total_hits+ 1, r_pub_hits = r_pub_hits+ 1, r_total_pub_hits = r_total_pub_hits+ 1 WHERE r_id = 217921' on database eurekalert: 2002: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/tmp/mysql.sock' (2) Public release date: 30-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Kim Luke kim.luke@utoronto.ca 416-978-4352 University of Toronto
A beautiful and colossal human sculpture is one of the latest cultural treasures unearthed by an international team at the Tayinat Archaeological Project (TAP) excavation site in southeastern Turkey. A large semi-circular column base, ornately decorated on one side, was also discovered. Both pieces are from a monumental gate complex that provided access to the upper citadel of Kunulua, capital of the Neo-Hittite Kingdom of Patina (ca. 1000-738 BC).
"These newly discovered Tayinat sculptures are the product of a vibrant local Neo-Hittite sculptural tradition," said Professor Tim Harrison, the Tayinat Project director and professor of Near Eastern Archaeology in the University of Toronto's Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations. "They provide a vivid glimpse into the innovative character and sophistication of the Iron Age cultures that emerged in the eastern Mediterranean following the collapse of the great imperial powers of the Bronze Age at the end of the second millennium BC."
The head and torso of the human figure, intact to just above its waist, stands approximately 1.5 metres in height, suggesting a total body length of 3.5 to four metres. The figure's face is bearded, with beautifully preserved inlaid eyes made of white and black stone, and its hair has been coiffed in an elaborate series of curls aligned in linear rows. Both arms are extended forward from the elbow, each with two arm bracelets decorated with lion heads. The figure's right hand holds a spear, and in its left is a shaft of wheat. A crescent-shaped pectoral adorns its chest. A lengthy Hieroglyphic Luwian inscription, carved in raised relief across its back, records the campaigns and accomplishments of Suppiluliuma, likely the same Patinean king who faced a Neo-Assyrian onslaught of Shalmaneser III as part of a Syrian-Hittite coalition in 858 BC.
The second sculpture is a large semi-circular column base, approximately one metre in height and 90 centimetres in diameter, lying on its side next to the human figure. A winged bull is carved on the front of the column and it is flanked by a sphinx on its left. The right side of the column is flat and undecorated, an indication that it originally stood against a wall.
"The two pieces appear to have been ritually buried in the paved stone surface of the central passageway through the Tayinat gate complex," said Harrison. The complex would have provided a monumental ceremonial approach to the upper citadel of the royal city. Tayinat, a large low-lying mound, is located 35 kilometres east of Antakya (ancient Antioch) along the Antakya-Aleppo road.
The presence of colossal human statues, often astride lions or sphinxes, in the citadel gateways of the Neo-Hittite royal cities of Iron Age Syro-Anatolia continued a Bronze Age Hittite tradition that accentuated their symbolic role as boundary zones, and the role of the king as the divinely appointed guardian or gate keeper of the community. By the ninth and eighth centuries BC, these elaborately decorated gateways, with their ornately carved reliefs, had come to serve as dynastic parades, legitimizing the power of the ruling elite. The gate reliefs also formed linear narratives, guiding their audiences between the human and divine realms, with the king serving as the link between the two worlds.
The Tayinat gate complex appears to have been destroyed following the Assyrian conquest of the region in 738 BC, when the area was paved over and converted into the central courtyard of an Assyrian sacred precinct. These smashed and deposited monumental sculptures also include a magnificently carved lion that was discovered last year and Hieroglyphic Luwian-inscribed stelae (stone slabs or pillars used for commemoratives purposes). Together these finds hint of an earlier Neo-Hittite complex that might have once faced the gateway approach.
Scholars have long speculated that the reference to Calno, identified as one of the "kingdoms of the idols" in Isaiah's oracle against Assyria (Isaiah 10:9-10), alludes to the Assyrian devastation of Kunulua (i.e., Tayinat). The destruction of the Luwian monuments and conversion of the area into an Assyrian religious complex may represent the physical manifestation of this historic event, subsequently memorialized in Isaiah's oracle.
###
TAP is an international project, involving researchers from a dozen countries, and more than 20 universities and research institutes. It operates in close collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of Turkey, and provides research opportunities and training for both graduate and undergraduate students. The 2012 season was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the J.M Kaplan Fund, which provided support for the creation of a conservation program, and the University of Toronto.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tim Harrison
Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations
University of Toronto
Cell: +90-536-589-2443 (Please note: Prof. Harrison is on site in Turkey EEST: seven hours ahead of Toronto EST time)
timothy.harrison@utoronto.ca
Stan Klassen
Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations
University of Toronto
(416) 978-1135
stanley.klassen@utoronto.ca
Kim Luke
Communications, Faculty of Arts & Science
University of Toronto
Kim.luke@utoronto.ca
416-978-4352
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
I am from the Northeast, where barbecue is something that happens to other people. Sure, I?d had the odd experience visiting my grandparents in North Carolina, but as a general rule I always regarded barbecue as the sort of exotic fare that is better to read about than to actually eat, like Turkish delight or head cheese.
When I moved to Missouri, I was pleased, if somewhat surprised, at the ubiquity of proper barbecue ? which is to say meat that has been cooked long, slow, and smoky. I would not say that I?ve become a connoisseur, but I?ve certainly become a fan. I also find myself married to a man who is on the verge of banning me from the kitchen altogether, since he seems to regard all non-smoked foods as a waste of time and entropy. Any occasion on which people gather for a meal seems to him a fine opportunity to fire up the smoker; I will not be surprised if we end up having pulled pork this Thanksgiving. I may have to learn how to make cocktails or something just so that I can feel as if I am contributing; in the meantime I just enjoy the ride.
This evening we had some friends over for dinner, which was, for Josh, merely an excuse to try out his smoking technique and a variety of sauces. His earlier experiments have paid off: the meat was tender, flavorful, and more or less falling apart, with crispy burnt ends that guests couldn?t help sneaking from the platter and eating with their hands. The sauces, which represented several different regions, sparked some lively debate among our guests as to which was the best. I favored the Lexington Dip, which was extremely vinegary and hot, but the South Carolina mustard-based sauce also had its proponents. All three were delicious ? and all I had to do was wash the dishes.
Note: All of these sauces should be prepared well ahead of time so that the flavors can meld. Three or four days ought to do it. You can use these sauces as a marinade, mop them onto the meat as it cooks, or just serve it along with the meat as a sauce.
LEXINGTON DIP
1 1/2 cup white vinegar (do not use cider vinegar) 1/4 cup ketchup 1/4 cup apple juice ? cup hot sauce, such as Sriracha 3 tablespoons light brown sugar 1/2 tablespoon salt 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 teaspoon finely ground black pepper Whisk together all the ingredients and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
SOUTH CAROLINA MUSTARD SAUCE
2 cups prepared yellow mustard 2/3 cup cider vinegar 3 tablespoons tomato paste 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, such as Tabasco or Sriracha ? cup brown sugar ? cup white sugar 1 chicken bouillon cube 2 teaspoons dried rosemary leaves 1 teaspoon celery seed 3 teaspoons mustard powder 2 teaspoons onion powder 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1 teaspoon table salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Mix the wet ingredients together in a bowl. Crush the bouillon cube with a spoon in a bowl add it to the bowl. Crush the rosemary leaves and celery seed in a mortar & pestle or in a blender or coffee grinder and add to the bowl. Add the rest of the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
EAST CAROLINA KISS
1 1/2 cups of distilled vinegar (white or cider)
1 teaspoon hot sauce, such as Sriracha
2 tablespoons sugar (white, light brown, or dark brown ? we used brown, which I recommend)
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
2 teaspoons finely ground black pepper
Pour all the ingredients into a jar and shake.
--All three sauces were adapted from http://www.amazingribs.com/
A fun personal finance tip that everyone can put to use is to only use paper money when making cash purchases. Then saving the coins received as change throughout the day by placing them in a jar at home. You will be surprised by how much money you can set aside without putting forth much effort at all.
If you have recently found yourself in financial hardships and need to give someone a gift, give something free. This does not mean you should wrap an used item, though. You could simply give a couple you know a night on the town, as you watch their children. The best gifts are free!
Before one is about to buy a car, house, or any high cost item that one will have to make payments on. By looking at the payments one will have to make on their purchase before purchasing they can make an educated decision on if they can afford it reasonably. This will ensure credit stays optimal.
If possible, steer clear of the emergency room. Walk-in clinics, and actual appointments at the doctor will both have a huge reduction in cost and co-pays. Emergency room doctors can also charge separately from hospitals if they are contracted. So, you would have two medical bills instead of one. Stick with the clinic.
Determine what your risk tolerance is before you start investing your money. Your risk tolerance influences your decision on what to invest in. If your risk tolerance is low, you are better off investing in cash-based investments. If your risk tolerance is high, you can explore the various emerging markets.
A key tip to improving your personal financial solution is paying off your credit-card balances in full every month. Credit-card companies can charge extremely high rates, sometimes in excess of 15%. If you want to make the most impact in improving your finances, pay off your credit-card balances first since they often charge such high borrowing rates.
If you are budgeting you should not spend any cash money. Try to switch most of your spending to a debit or credit card (debit card preferred). It is harder to track your spending when you are doing it with cash. Using debit you can see where your money is being spent.
Set aside a small amount of money from each paycheck to use however you would like. For example, you might decide to go bowling with friends or treat your child to a frozen yogurt. Do not spend more than the predetermined amount; this method allows you to have a little freedom while still keeping your spending under control.
If you have your debt spread into many different places, it may be helpful to ask a bank for a consolidation loan which pays off all of your smaller debts and acts as one big loan with one monthly payment. Make sure to do the math and determine whether this really will save you money though, and always shop around.
Manage your career as if it was an investment. Your job and the skills you develop are the most important asset you have. Always work to learn more, attend conferences on your career field and read books and newspapers in your area of expertise. The more you know, the higher your earning potential will be.
Consider banking with a credit union. In today?s difficult economy, many banks are eliminating free checking accounts or adding new fees and charges. Credit unions, however, are non-profit, so they usually charge lower fees and may offer lower interest rates on credit cards as well, allowing you to keep more of your money.
Try to make as many purchases as you can in cash and avoid using your credit card. Many credit card companies charge ridiculous fees that are just going to cost you more in the long run. Only use your credit card for emergencies or big purchases that you can?t pay for with cash.
Offering ones services as a piano teacher can often be a good way for one to gain some money for ones personal finances. Clients can be made of people all ages and one can often work out of home provided they have a piano. Apart from being a good gain to finances it will help one practice their own talent for piano at the same time.
Personal finance is something that must be learned. Learning to handle money well is a skill that is necessary in life, and it?s a skill one can always improve. Regardless of where someone got their first money advice, using great tips like these can put one on the right path to financial freedom.
Brain Padula features a column concerning Hen Party
Belgium's Mathieu Doby competes in the heats of the K-1 men's kayak slalom at Lee Valley Whitewater Center, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Belgium's Mathieu Doby competes in the heats of the K-1 men's kayak slalom at Lee Valley Whitewater Center, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
NEW YORK (AP) ? In the age of social media, NBC now has millions of television critics who make their opinions known about every aspect of Olympics coverage instantly.
They've even set up their own hashtag on Twitter: (hash)nbcfail. The online complaints focused Saturday on NBC's decision to air the marquee swimming event won by American Ryan Lochte on tape delay in prime time, and Friday on the network not streaming the opening ceremony online. Sunday's critics started early: people wondering why the U.S. men's basketball team's opening game aired on a cable network while women's cycling was shown on NBC.
The conversation is so active that NBC's executive producer of the games, Jim Bell, took to Twitter to answer critics and even change the way NBC is doing something in response.
"(hash)nbcfail is filled with a lot of crying and snark and humor, but NBC can actually learn something from it," said Jeff Jarvis, a media critic who writes the Buzzmachine.com blog.
Complaints about tape delayed coverage are an evergreen with Olympics held on foreign soil. But the London Games are the first with Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites in full flower, in a mobile phone era where people carry computers that instantly deliver news in their pockets. It has amplified the impatience of viewers who want to see events on their large-screen TVs instantly and haven't been mollified by NBC's decision to stream the events live online.
James Poniewozik, Time magazine TV critic, tweeted that "NBC tape delay coverage is like the airlines: its interest is in giving you the least satisfactory service you will still come back for."
That drew a quick response from NBC's Bell: "You do know that all sports events are being streamed live right?"
"I do, indeed!" replied Poniewozik. "Have enjoyed it. Apparently a lot of folks still prefer watching it on TV."
NBC says it saves big events for prime-time airing because that is when most viewers are available to watch them and where the network makes the bulk of its advertising revenue. Since prime time on the U.S. East Coast coincides with 1 a.m. London time, there are no events to air live then. NBC representatives noted that there were 39 hours of live events Sunday on NBC and its affiliated networks.
Even as it defends its approach, NBC clearly hears those critics. One of Bell's Facebook posts highlighted coverage of Sunday's cycling race by saying it was all-caps LIVE. The network advertised its live streaming on the prime-time broadcast.
Jonathan Wald, who produces Piers Morgan's CNN talk show and used to work at NBC, tweeted that "the medal for most Olympic whining goes to everyone who complains about what happens every four years. Tape delay."
One of those complainers, in fact, was Morgan: He tweeted his disdain Friday for NBC's decision not to make the opening ceremony available live.
The advent of Twitter makes it seems as if there's a lot of unhappiness when the majority of viewers are watching NBC on tape delay and appear satisfied with it, Wald said in an interview.
NBC can point to television ratings justifying their approach. The Nielsen company said the opening ceremony drew more than 40 million people Friday, the most ever for one of those Olympic events. Saturday's first night of coverage was seen by 28.7 million, another record, beating every other first night of Olympic competition. In Beijing four years ago, 24 million watched on the corresponding night.
Jarvis said he believes NBC could satisfy fans by, for example, televising events like Lochte's race live in the afternoon and then repeating it at night. He acknowledges, though, that he's not the one who'd potentially be risking millions of dollars in advertising revenue if such a decision cut into prime-time viewing.
NBC has tried to "hold on to old media strategies in a new media world," Jarvis said. "And that's a mistake."
Some of the online complaints seem to take special glee in bashing NBC, with a few describing it like an Olympic sport of its own. Some are quite personal, like the CNN producer who tweeted Sunday: "No USA basketball in my hotel room. Why they aren't putting it on NBC's main channel is beyond me!"
Bell, in some of his back-and-forth with online critics Sunday, answered one tweeter who described herself as a St. Louis mom and complained about NBC's "Nightly News" on Saturday airing results of events that hadn't been shown on the network yet. Bell tweeted that he'd look into it, and shortly after told her that "Nightly News" would announce a "spoiler alert" to tell people to avert their eyes if they didn't want to see results.
Not everyone online is a critic. On Sunday, the U.S. Olympic sailing team tweeted that it was "by far the greatest sailing TV coverage in Olympic history."
ROWDY vs. PHELPS: Does Michael Phelps need bulletin board material anymore? If so, Rowdy Gaines provided it with his sharp criticism of Phelp's first final this weekend. "He just didn't train for it ... You can't fake that event," Gaines said.
UP CLOSE: Understand NBC's need to help us get to know obscure athletes in obscure sports. But the news about two synchronized divers who both collect rubber ducks felt like self-parody.
UPCOMING: Ryan Lochte's bid for a second gold medal is featured on NBC's Monday night coverage.
With the increasing awareness of the importance of breast screening for early detection of cancer, breast imaging has found a place in today?s diagnostic armamentarium.
The common imaging modalities are mammography, ultrasound and MRI. Mammography is the investigation of choice and is an essential part of screening programmes in the West.
Mammography and ultrasound are corroborative and are generally done together. MRI finds a place in the evaluation of dense breasts and in multi-centric cancer, said Dr Padmaja Canumalla, Specialist Radiologist, Zulekha Hospital, Dubai.
The high risk factors in breast cancer are patients with mother/sister having cancer breast or cancer ovary, patients on HRT, patients over 60 years, late motherhood and short lactation.
Screening mammography has been proved to have a place in the early detection of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society Recommendations are:
Physical exam regularly after 20 years age
Base line exam ? between 35 and 39 years
Annual/biannual exam ? between 40 and 49 years
Yearly after 50 years
Breast reporting has been standardised by the American College of Radiologist so that there is good understanding between the reporting radiologist and the treating clinician. Reporting is done based on the breast lexicon and every report is given a category of the BIRADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System). This allows a uniform standard interpretation of the report.
According to the RCR guidelines, mammography is not recommended for generalised lumpiness, long standing nipple retraction and cyclical breast pain associated with periods.
The factors which protect from breast cancer are:
Four or more hours of exercise per week results in about 40 per cent reduction in breast cancer risk.
Physical exercise in adolescence was associated with significantly delayed breast cancer onset.
Healthy weight at menarche and at 21 years significantly delayed breast cancer onset.
Women who average 1.5 drinks per day have a 30 per cent increase in risk.
Radiation is dangerous for young women, especially if they have not completed breast development. ?news@khaleejtimes.com
Spain?s Pau Gasol grabs a rebound against China?s Yi Jianlian during a men?s basketball game at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
LONDON?Los Angeles Lakers NBA star Pau Gasol scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, sparking 2008 Olympic silver medallist Spain over China 97-81 on Sunday in a Group B round-robin Olympic basketball opener.
Serge Ibaka, another NBA standout on a team filled with such talent, added 17 points as the Spaniards ripped a Chinese team that had pushed them to over-time in 2008 group play before losing 85-75.
NBA standout Yi Jianlian of the Dallas Mavericks led China with game highs of 30 points and 12 rebounds while Wang Zhizhi, the first Chinese player in the NBA who now plays in China, contributed 15 points.
Spain took a 53-41 half-time lead but stubborn China stayed within 69-60 entering the fourth quarter. Spain opened the final period with a 14-7 run and China could not catch the European champions despite a late push led by Yi.
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July 30, 2012
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Mumbai: The country?s financial capital and also the richest city, Mumbai, has a humongous 14.5 lakh families living in slums, said Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in the Legislative Council on Wednesday. Assuming five persons per family, the total slum population stands at a whopping 72.5 lakh. These slumdwellers account for 58 per cent of the total population of 1.24 crore, but are squeezed in a meager 37 sq km or 6.13 per cent of the total city area.
Chavan conceded that affordable housing is the most vexing issue in Mumbai and was repeatedly raised during his recent meeting with the Mumbai MLAs. Measures are underway to calculate how much affordable housing can be built on land encroached by slums with an estimated calculation of 500 units per hectare.
?If an estimated calculation of 500 units per hectare is taken, we are calculating how much can be built on the available land after setting aside the areas with reservations. We are looking at cluster development as it provides for good layouts compared to individual buildings,? the Chief Minister said.
Chavan also informed the Council that the President had given consent to the long-pending Bill that fixed responsibility on municipal and police officers for encroachments. ?The President has recently given consent to the long-pending Bill. Once implemented, it will fix responsibility for encroachments,? said Chavan. He added that the government was reworking the rental housing scheme to change it into an affordable housing scheme.
He said a discussion will be held with the Ministry of Environment and Forests about the ?discrepancy? regarding FSI to hotels in CRZ area after Leader of the Opposition Vinod Tawde questioned higher FSI given to some new hotels in South Mumbai.
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Here?s a question: Can you guess the average square footage of a home purchased last year?
In 2011, the average home purchased was 1900 square feet and had three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
But as we?ve talked about in today?s show, one size doesn?t fit all home owners.
In the housing boom days where the larger homes were prevalent in suburban landscapes, home owners almost wore the square footage of a home as a badge of honor. The bigger, the better.
But now home owners have realized bigger isn?t always better. These gigantic homes cost a lot more to maintain, and to heat and cool. As your square footage increases, so can your utility costs.
So does that mean smaller is better then?
You likely didn?t pick your mate based on how tall they were ? at least we hope you didn?t, that could lead to disappointment! While there?s more to choosing a mate than size alone, that same thinking should be applied in choosing a home as well.
For some, the 300 square foot micro condos that are popping up in New York City which we discussed earlier in the broadcast are sufficient enough. For others, they prefer to go big. Even gigantic! In Orlando, there?s a nearly 100,000 square foot home being built which will be the biggest house in America when it?s complete. It?s dubbed the Queen of Versailles.
Obviously there?s quite a size difference between a 300 hundred square foot home and 100,000 square feet. So which one is better?
Well, the truth is you may be setting yourself up for heartache if you just go on square footage. You could be missing out in overlooking some gems.
Some real estate markets already realize this and no longer emphasize square footage in home sales. Instead, they highlight the number of bedrooms and other characteristics of a house. They realize that it?s what ?feels? to be the right size to a home shopper not the dimensions on paper that will win the affection of home buyers.
After all, if you walk into a home that is 1500 square foot and then another home that?s also listed at that you may wonder: Why do they ?feel? so different?
One may feel spacious, while the other feels cramped. That?s because square footage is used in different ways. Some homes have long hallways that zap square footage away. Others are more open that can make the smallest of corridors feel larger than they really are. Some homes squeeze in more bedrooms, while others at the same square footage have bigger but fewer bedrooms.
Square footage also can be calculated differently, is that square footage listed for a home all usable space? Maybe it?s including a crawl space, outdoor patio, or the garage.
Home shoppers often may want to know about the price-per-square-foot so they can use that number to comparison shop other homes in the area, and see if they?re paying more or less on average.
But this can be misleading.
Square footage doesn?t factor in how many stories a home has or the type of dwelling it is, whether it?s a single family home or a townhome.
Homes don?t sell for more just because they have higher square footage. Visit New York City to see that!
Other characteristics are factored into price, such as the home?s condition, location, nearby amenities, and how the space is configured.
Going beyond the square footage is what finding the ?right-size? home is all about. It?s not about supersizing or downsizing. It?s about finding a home that fits the way YOU want to live in it and how YOU use the space. No matter how big or small, it?s choosing the right-sized home for you.
So put away that measuring tape and hang up the yard stick.
It?s about more than the numbers ? it?s about you, your family and the place you call ? home.
Syrian gunships pounded rebels and troops clashed with insurgents in Aleppo on Friday as world powers voiced fears of an all-out assault and called for "maximum pressure" to prevent a massacre.
Columns of armed forces and armour have poured into Aleppo over the past two days, with troops firing on a string of rebel neighbourhoods in the battle for control of the pivotal northern city.
Amid widespread expectations that an increasingly desperate President Bashar al-Assad will pull out all the stops to secure Aleppo, residents of some areas of the commercial capital fled in fear of a massacre.
The redeployments were "almost complete," a Syrian security official told AFP, while adding that "rebels are stationed in narrow streets, in which fighting will be difficult."
Colonel Abdel Jabbar al-Okaidi of the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) told AFP via Skype that "we expect a major offensive at any time."
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman said: "The question is, to what extent will regime troops resort to excessive use of force, because if this is the case, there will be hundreds of deaths."
Aleppo has been the scene of fierce fighting since rebels launched a major offensive on July 20 from rear bases across the nearby border with Turkey.
The Observatory said helicopter gunships attacked the southwest of the city, in the Salaheddin, Bustan al-Qasr, Sukari, Al-Mashhad and Al-Azamiya neighbourhoods.
In Salaheddin, a rebel told AFP by telephone that residents were fleeing and confirmed helicopters had been firing on the district since daybreak. Troops were on the outskirts of the area and had not yet tried to enter.
Troops also clashed with rebels in the central district of Al-Jamaliya, adjacent to the historic old quarter, as well as in Mahatat Baghdad and in Saadallah al-Jabiri Square.
An AFP journalist said people were starting to go hungry in Aleppo because of a shortage of bread.
He also said the FSA was conserving its ammunition, especially rocket-propelled grenades, in anticipation of the expected tank assault.
The Observatory reported at least four deaths in Aleppo on Friday, among 59 people killed nationwide -- 27 civilians, 17 soldiers and five rebels.
Amid the skirmishes, the rebels captured 150 soldiers and militia members in Aleppo and the northwestern province of Idlib, the Britain-based Observatory said.
On Thursday, pro-government daily Al-Watan said Aleppo would be "the mother of all battles."
"Aleppo will be the last battle waged by the Syrian army to crush the terrorists and, after that, Syria will emerge from the crisis," it said.
A number of powers expressed fears of yet another massacre.
In late May, at least 108 people were killed near the central town of Houla, the United Nations said. On July 12, regime forces killed more than 150 people in the central village of Treimsa, including dozens of rebels, the Observatory said.
White House spokesman Jay Carney rejected on Friday comparisons between Aleppo and Benghazi, the rebel-held Libyan city that was an early focus of the uprising against Moamer Kadhafi.
Kadhafi loyalists launched a major offensive against the Benghazi rebels, and were attacked by an international coalition including the United States enforcing a UN-mandated no-fly zone.
"There were a broader array of issues that allowed for the kind of action that the United States -- you know, the international community, led by the United States, was able to take in Libya," Carney said.
Italy called for "maximum pressure" on Assad to prevent further killings, while UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged his regime to stop its Aleppo offensive.
"I'm seriously concerned by the escalating violence in Aleppo," Ban said in London. "I urge the Syrian government to halt the offensive. The violence from both sides must stop for the sake of suffering civilians."
French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told AFP that "with the build-up of heavy weapons around Aleppo, Assad is preparing to carry out a fresh slaughter of his own people."
His comments came as two Syrian opposition activists unfurled an enormous rebel flag at the base of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Noting the massing of forces, US State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland said "this is the concern that we will see a massacre in Aleppo, and that's what the regime appears to be lining up for."
In Geneva, UN human rights chief Navi Pillay spoke of atrocities in the regime's ongoing battle to cleanse Damascus of rebels and said Aleppo was also at risk.
"I have been receiving as yet unconfirmed reports of atrocities, including extra-judicial killings and shootings of civilians by snipers" in Damascus, Pillay said.
"It goes without saying that the increasing use of heavy weapons, tanks, attack helicopters and -- reportedly -- even jet fighters in urban areas has already caused many civilian casualties and is putting many more at grave risk.
"All this, taken along with the reported build-up of forces in and around Aleppo, bodes ill for the people of that city," she said.
And the former head of the troubled UN observer mission, Major General Robert Mood, whose mandate to lead a 300-strong mission ended last week amid a sharp spike in violence, said Assad's fall was a matter of time.
"But will it fall in a week or in a year? That is a question I do not dare answer."
"Many think that if Bashar al-Assad falls or that if he is given an honourable exit... the problem will be solved. That is an over-simplification one should be wary of," Mood said. "The situation could even get worse."
Talese never got an interview with Ol? Blue Eyes, but, as he told his editor, after three months of reporting he may have gotten something more elusive: ?the truth about the man.?
?A part of Sinatra, no matter where he is, is never there. There is always a part of him, though sometimes a small part that remains Il Padrone. Even now, resting his shot glass on the blackjack table, facing the dealer, Sinatra stood a bit back from the table, not leaning against it. He reached under his tuxedo jacket into his trouser pocket and came up with a thick but clean wad of bills. Gently he peeled off a one-hundred-dollar bill and placed it on the green-felt table. The dealer dealt him two cards. Sinatra called for a third card, overbid, lost the hundred.
?Without a change of expression, Sinatra put down a second hundred-dollar bill. He lost that. Then he put down a third, and lost that. Then he placed two one-hundred-dollar bills on the table and lost those. Finally, putting his sixth hundred-dollar bill on the table, and losing it, Sinatra moved away from the table, nodding to the man, and announcing, ?Good dealer.? ?
AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - President Bashar al-Assad's artillery pounded rebel-held areas around Aleppo on Friday, preparing the ground for an onslaught on Syria's biggest city where the United States has said it fears a "massacre" may be imminent.
Opposition sources said the shelling, which follows intensive ground and air bombardment of the city itself, was an attempt to stop fighters from resupplying rebel units inside Aleppo.
"They are shelling at random to instill a state of terror," said Anwar Abu Ahed, a rebel commander outside the city.
The battle for Aleppo, a major power centre that is home to 2.5 million people, is being seen as a potentially game changing turning point in the 16-month uprising against Assad that could give one side an edge in a conflict where both the rebels and the government have struggled to gain the upper hand.
A rebel commander said insurgents had attacked a convoy of Syrian army tanks heading towards the city, as the government continued to redeploy forces from other parts of the country to bolster its forces there.
The fate of Syria itself - an ethnically fragmented nation of 22 million people - is likely to determine the future of the wider region for years to come amid fears that its own sectarian tensions could spill across its porous borders.
The U.S. State Department said credible reports of tank columns moving on Aleppo, along with air strikes by helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, represented a serious escalation of Assad's efforts to crush his opponents.
"This is the concern: that we will see a massacre in Aleppo, and that's what the regime appears to be lining up for," Victoria Nuland, a spokeswoman for the State Department, said.
As the remaining residents of Aleppo braced themselves for more bloodshed, General Robert Mood, the outgoing head of the U.N. monitoring mission, told Reuters he thought Assad's days in power were numbered.
"In my opinion it is only a matter of time before a regime that is using such heavy military power and disproportional violence against the civilian population is going to fall," the Norwegian general, who left Damascus on July 19, said.
Navay Pillay, the United Nations human rights chief, said a pattern had emerged as Assad's forces resorted to shelling, tank fire and door-to-door searches.
"All this, taken along with the reported build-up of forces in and around Aleppo, bodes ill for the people of that city," Pillay said in statement.
MORTAR ROUNDS
Government troops stationed on the outskirts of the city unleashed barrages of heavy-caliber mortar rounds on its western neighborhoods, while Russian-built MI-25 helicopter gunships struck in the east, opposition activists in the city said.
The heavy fighting follows an audacious bomb attack that killed four of Assad's closest lieutenants in Damascus on July 18, a development that led some analysts to speculate that the government's grip was slipping.
In the first reported casualty on Friday, a man of about 60 wearing a traditional white prayer outfit was killed near a park in Aleppo. His body was placed in a mosque pending identification.
On Thursday, thirty-four people were killed in and around Aleppo, according to opposition activists.
"The rebels have so far been nimble, and civilians have mostly been the victims of the bombardment," said activist Abu Mohammad al-Halabi, speaking by phone from the city.
Majed al-Nour, another activist, said rebels had attacked a security outpost in the neighborhood of Bustan al-Joz, which is close to Aleppo's city centre, on Thursday.
"The rebels are present in the east and west of the city, and have a foothold in areas of the centre. The regime forces control the entrances of Aleppo and the main thoroughfares and commercial streets and are bombarding the residential districts that fell into rebel hands," he said.
Nour said tens of thousands of people had fled Aleppo to nearby northern rural regions close to Turkey.
HELICOPTERS OVER DAMASCUS
In Damascus on Friday, four helicopters flew over southern areas of the capital, firing heavy machine guns into the districts of Hajar al-Aswad and Tadamon as well as the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp, a resident said.
"I can see two above me right now, heading towards Hajar al-Aswad," she said by telephone, the pounding of guns audible in the background. Helicopters were flying low and appeared to be targeting specific buildings.
With U.N. Security Council resolutions for sanctions against Syria vetoed by Russia and China for a third time last week, the United States has said it is stepping up assistance to Syria's fractured opposition, though it remains limited to non-lethal supplies such as communications gear and medical equipment.
Reuters has learned that the White House has crafted a presidential directive, called a "finding," that would authorize greater covert assistance for the rebels, while stopping short of arming them.
It is unclear whether President Barack Obama has signed the document, a highly classified authorization for covert activity.
A Syrian parliamentarian from the northern province of Aleppo said on Friday she had defected to Turkey, becoming the first member of the rubber-stamp assembly elected in May which is dominated by Assad's Baath Party to defect.
"I have crossed to Turkey and defected from this tyrannical regime," Ikhlas al-Badawi told Sky News Arabia.
One of the most senior figures to defect from Assad's inner circle, Brigadier General Manaf Tlas, has put himself forward as someone who could help unify the opposition inside and outside Syria to help steer a power transfer.
Tlas visited Saudi Arabia before going on to Turkey where he met Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Turkey, a former ally of Assad and now one of his fiercest critics, has a heavy strategic stake in shaping any post-Assad leadership.
Meanwhile, a source close to the mediation effort told Reuters on Friday that international mediator Kofi Annan was still trying to forge a political solution to the Syria crisis despite being made a scapegoat for the failure of the two sides to agree.
(Additional reporting by Tabassum Zakaria, Matt Spetalnick and Andrew Quinn in Washington; Writing by Giles Elgood; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Here?s your seemingly impossible task: Write an engaging story for your website or blog that captures readers? attention ? but you have absolutely nothing new to report. Even seasoned public relations pros dread this roadblock, and it can be even more difficult for small or mid-size business owners who want to create quality content.
My fellow Brandpoint editors and I are faced with this situation every day, and rather than panic, we love a challenge that gets our creative juices flowing. If you think you?re stuck and there?s nothing worthwhile to write, consider these tips to uncover the hidden angle and create content readers will care about.
1: Relate your story to a current event
Is there something happening in the news that relates to your product or target audience? Writing about current events, local or national, allows you to stay relevant in the readers? eyes. Do this regularly and they?ll return again and again. If you?re still stuck, find out what your contacts are talking about on social media ? it could give you some clues as to what is top-of-mind and you might be able to use that in your writing.
2: Tie your content to a season or holiday
Seasons and holidays are perfect reasons to create unique content that is helpful to your readers. How about focusing a story on fall or tying your messaging to the start of the school year? Does your product relate to an upcoming holiday or special event? Seasons and holidays are perfect for advice and how-to stories, so think creatively and you?ll find an angle your readers will connect with.
3: Consider new audiences
You never want to forget about your target audience, but when brainstorming new writing topics, consider new demographics. For example, if you typically promote your granola bar to mothers who need healthy snacks for their kids, you might also write a story speaking to adults who need an easy breakfast option or college students who want a protein-packed snack after a workout. Doing this can also help you expand your customer base, which hopefully will expand your bottom line.
4: Conduct an interview
Do you have someone at the organization who you can position as an industry expert? How about a happy customer that had a unique experience? Instead of using generic, canned quotes in your writing, spend some time interviewing that person. Ask probing questions and try to uncover new information. The interview itself could serve as a story, or you might be able to use some quotes to support a broader angle.
What techniques have helped to inspire your writing creativity?
Laura Malm
With PR agency and newspaper experience, Laura?s well prepared to write about any topic thrown at her. New mommy, camper and frequent garage sale shopper.
I seriosly love the Pepe Le Pew cartoons so much that I almost named my dog for this Looney Tunes short.
My dog is a French. A French Bulldog.
Penelope is a French name and the name of the cat that Pepe is always chasing.
My dog almost ended up being named Penelope (Penny) for short, but I settled on Pearl instead.
Marketing & Productivity Tips From Pepe Le Pew
Here is what I dig about Pepe?
He is sauve. Consistent. Never looks stressed. Stays relentless without overexerting himself.
He is casually persistent.
No matter how fast, how frantic, how far Penelope runs? Pepe is always right there. And he never breaks a sweat. He just does his little hop and sings his little song.
Pepe stays positive. He never looks disappointed or frustrated or upset. No mater what happens to Pepe he always has a good attitude. I think the reason is because he is chasing something he loves.
Are you chasing what you love?
It?s important to do all these thinsin your marketing and to increase your productivity.
Don?t stress.
Be consistent.
Stay relentless? but don?t overexert.
Stay positive.
Chase what you love.
Don?t just chase your prospect? be where they will be.
Watch some Pepe Le Pew videos below?
For more marketing and productivity tips from Looney Tunes be sure to check out?
Productivity Tips From The Roadrunner & Wile E. Coyote
Productivity Tips From Sam Sheepdog
Get Daily Productivity Tips
"Darin, just wanted to let you know I've really been enjoying your newsletters. You've taken your email marketing to a whole new level, keep up the good storytelling man." -- Brian Tercero "You provide the best email content of any (email) list I'm on." -- Greg Grospitch, Co-Founder and COO of Verified Agent "If you aren't getting Darin Persinger's daily email you are really missing out." --Chris Smith, Chief Evangelist Inman News
LONDON?Mitt Romney rejected calls for new gun laws in the aftermath of last week's movie theater shooting in Colorado, insisting new legislation would not have prevented the tragedy.
In an interview with NBC's Brian Williams, the presumptive Republican nominee pointed to the fact that James E. Holmes, the suspect in last Friday's shooting, was "building bombs"?even though it was illegal.
"A lot of what this young man did was clearly against the law," Romney told NBC. "But the fact that it was against the law did not prevent it from happening."
Asked if he had a "problem" with individuals being able to purchase large amounts of ammunition via the internet, Romney said he didn't think it was possible to "prevent people who want to provide harm from being able to purchase things to carry out that harm."
"What I wanna do is find the people who represent a danger to America and find them and keep them from having the capacity to use or buy things that could? hurt other people," Romney said.
The GOP candidate argued that "changing the heart of the American people" may be the only key to cracking down on gun violence. He described himself as a supporter of the Second Amendment right to bear arms, but acknowledged he had differences with the National Rifle Association?though he didn't name a specific issue where he disagreed with the gun rights group.
"Their agenda is not entirely identical with my own," Romney said. "I don't know if I line up 100 percent with? almost anybody."
Speaking from London, where he kicked off a seven-day overseas tour Wednesday, Romney was asked about his speech before the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention on Tuesday in which he criticized President Barack Obama for his "shabby treatment" of Israel. Romney declined to elaborate on his remark, telling Williams he didn't want to trash Obama while he's traveling overseas.
"I don't want to be in any way critical of the president or to be fashioning foreign policy departure from the president, while I'm on foreign soil," Romney said. "But I can tell you that with regards to any nation that feels its security is at risk that they should have a firm conviction that America is securely behind them. And I hope the people of Israel feel that. I would certainly want to communicate that I as a citizen and a candidate stand with Israel and want to see them have a prosperous and peaceful future."
[Get more updates from Romney's overseas trip by following @hollybdc on Twitter]
Romney was asked about a Daily Telegraph report that quoted an unnamed adviser to his campaign suggesting Obama did not fully appreciate the "Anglo Saxon heritage" shared between the United States and Great Britain. Acknowledging he was "not enthusiastic about adopting comments made by people who are unnamed," Romney disputed the comment.
"We have a very special relationship between the United States and Great Britain. It goes back to our very beginnings---cultural and historical. But I also believe the president understands that," Romney said. "So I don't agree with whoever that adviser might be."
Romney again rejected calls to release additional tax returns beyond the two years he's pledged to release, telling NBC Democrats "take what's there, twist it, distort it,? (and) dishonestly use it in attack ads."
"I just don't want to give them more material than is required," Romney said.
Asked about criticism from Republicans that he hasn't fully explained his personal story to voters, Romney laughed off the suggestion, telling Williams that he's been more than open about his life.
"I'm happy to talk about my heritage? I'm proud of my heritage," Romney said, noting that his father was born in Mexico and mentioning his membership in the Mormon church. But he argued it was still too early for most voters, suggesting most people won't start paying attention to the presidential race until after Labor Day.
"Most folks won't really get to see me until the debates and will get a better sense of the character that I have," Romney said.
He declined to offer any details about his search for a vice presidential running mate. Williams asked Romney the suggestion among Republicans that he would pick "an incredibly boring white guy."
"You told me you were not available," Romney joked.
In order to become the first result of major search engine pages, you need to sift through the numerous professional SEO firms that promise to get you there, and find the right one for your business. Before you jump into working with the most affordable firm you can find, you want to be sure that you are going to work with a company that honestly has the best interests of your business at hand. This is a difficult decision to make, especially because you are going to trust someone that you cannot meet face to face, with the success of your business website.![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 30-Jul-2012
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