Sunday, September 30, 2012

Airfare Deals: China, Mexico, Hawaii, and Colorado Ski Towns

Reserve your seat today on a flight to the beaches of Hawaii and Mexico, the slopes of Colorado or farther afield to China -- plus Airfare Watchdog's take on the continuing to acquire US Air frequent flier miles.

Air Canada's 20% Off Promo Code for Beijing & Shanghai

Take 20% off flights to Beijing and Shanghai from cities in Canada. Just use the latest promo code from Air Canada (tel. 888/247-2262; www.aircanada.com). To apply the 20% off discount, enter promo code NQPE9QV1 at time of purchase. Offer is valid for travel from Oct. 23 through Dec. 29. Book by midnight, Sept. 30.

Round-trip fares (including all taxes):

For a complete list, visit our fare pages for Shanghai and Beijing.

Mexico Sale from Alaska Airlines

Save on fall flights to Mexico with the current sale from Alaska Airlines (tel. 800/426-0333; www.alaskaair.com). Travel dates and rules will vary by route, so be sure to read our Fare Details for specifics.

Travel to Puerto Vallarta is valid Sundays through Wednesdays from Sept. 23, through Oct. 17. Travel to Los Cabos is valid Sundays through Wednesdays from Sept. 23, through October 31. Travel from Puerto Vallarta is valid Tuesdays through Fridays from Sept. 21, through Nov. 9. Travel from Los Cabos is valid Tuesdays through Fridays from Sept. 21, through Nov. 9.

No advance purchase required. All tickets must be booked by 11:59pm, Oct. 1.

Round-trip fares (including all taxes):

Hawaii Sale from American Airlines

American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com) is offering discounted fares to Hawaii for travel through Dec. 14. Fares are valid for travel Mondays through Thursdays. All tickets must be booked by 11:59pm CT, Oct. 7.

Tickets require a 3-night minimum stay. Avoid blackout dates on travel to Hawaii on Nov. 15-19, and from Hawaii on Nov. 23-27.

Round-trip fares (including all taxes):

For a complete list of current deals, visit our fare pages for Honolulu, Maui, Kona, and Lihue.

Ski Sale from Frontier

Get a jump on your winter ski trip with the new sale from Frontier (tel. 800/432-1359; www.flyfrontier.com). Fly to Colorado Springs, Aspen, Hayden/Steamboat Springs, and Durango. Sale fares are valid for travel through Feb. 13, Mondays through Thursdays. Tickets require a 21-day advance purchase, and must be booked by 11:59 pm ET, Oct. 1.

Seats are limited at these fares and certain flights and/or days of travel may be unavailable, especially during busy travel periods.

Other airlines (United, Delta) may be matching along some routes. Round-trip fares include:

From the Mailbag: Merger Miles (US Air Dividend + American Advantage?)

Q: After all of the news articles this year about a possible merger between US Airways and American Airlines, I am concerned about the fate of my US Air Dividend Miles. I would love to continue earning or purchasing additional miles but am not sure if I should do that or not. Without hearing about any clear conclusion one way or the other if a merger will actually take place, does it behoove us to keep acquiring miles with US Air? I would hate to have a high mileage balance only to find out that the airline alliance where they are destined to go is one whose airline partners I don't fly based on their routes or personal preference. What are your thoughts?

A: Read on.

Additional Reporting by Tracy Stewart

George Hobica is a syndicated travel journalist and blogger whose website, www.airfarewatchdog.com, tracks unadvertised airfare wars and fare sales, including the most helpful and always updated Top 50 Airfares.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/frommers/deals/~3/kufGgCMOX_I/7801.html

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Bill Clinton lauds Italian fitness equipment firm | Gymrat Fitness

MILAN (AP) ? Former U.S. President Bill Clinton lauded the Italian company Technogym for its cooperation with his foundation to promote health, diet and fitness programs in American schools.

Clinton gave the keynote speech Saturday at the inauguration of the Technogym Village in the northern Emilia-Romagna region, the company?s new headquarters.

The Clinton Foundation has targeted childhood obesity among its programs to improve personal health, and Clinton said Technogym ?has been a great partnership ? promoting health, diet and fitness programs for our kids, starting from the push to eliminate sugary drinks readily available in our schools to offering exercise programs.?

Technogym calls itself the world?s leader in the wellness and fitness sectors. It is has been an official Olympic supplier, and has supplied equipment to U.S. schools and colleges.

See original article:?

Bill Clinton lauds Italian fitness equipment firm

Source: http://www.gymrat-fitness.com/bill-clinton-lauds-italian-fitness-equipment-firm

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U.S. intelligence takes blame for mixed Libya attack messages

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper's office on Friday tried to explain the shifting public explanations for who was behind the deadly Sept. 11?attack on the American compound in Benghazi, Libya. DNI public affairs director Shawn Turner said U.S. intelligence concluded "in the immediate aftermath" of the assault that it had ?begun "spontaneously" in the wake of violent protests in Egypt.

"We provided that initial assessment to Executive Branch officials and members of Congress, who used that information to discuss the attack publicly and provide updates as they became available," Turner said.?"As we learned more ... we revised our initial assessment to reflect new information indicating that it was a deliberate and organized terrorist attack carried out by extremists."

The statement could take some of the heat off the White House over some of its early explanations for what happened in Benghazi, which claimed the lives of American Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three colleagues. White House press secretary Jay Carney, noting that an FBI investigation was ongoing, repeatedly tied the attack to public anger at an Internet video that insults Islam.

The White House drew fire from Republicans who rejected that early explanation and said the attack was clearly terrorism. Carney accused the president's political foes of trying to score partisan points with the attack. But by late last week, Carney was saying it was "self-evident" that it was a terrorist attack. White House officials say his explanation changed as new evidence came to light.

Still, a knowledgeable source told Yahoo News last week that the U.S. intelligence community had reached the conclusion that the attack was the work of terrorists on "Day One." The source repeated that assessment on Thursday. Top Libyan officials came out shortly after the assault to describe it as a terrorist attack. President Barack Obama, in September 12 remarks about the tragedy, vowed that "no acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation."

Turner also said in his statement that "it remains unclear if any group or person exercised overall command and control of the attack, and if extremist group leaders directed their members to participate.?However, we do assess that some of those involved were linked to groups affiliated with, or sympathetic to al-Qaeda.

"We continue to make progress, but there remain many unanswered questions," he said. "As more information becomes available our analysis will continue to evolve and we will obtain a more complete understanding of the circumstances surrounding the terrorist attack."

It was unclear how long the "immediate aftermath" scenario remained in force, and when the intelligence community revised its assessment. An email to Clapper's press office seeking more details on that front went unanswered.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/u-intelligence-takes-blame-mixed-libya-attack-messages-213919074--election.html

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Saturday, September 29, 2012

Kodak plans to end consumer inkjet printer sales

(AP) ? Kodak said Friday that it plans to stop selling consumer inkjet printers and will eliminate 200 more jobs than previously projected as it requested more time to submit its framework for emerging from bankruptcy protection.

The Rochester, N.Y.-based company, which filed for bankruptcy protection in January, wants the court to extend the exclusivity period for the filing of its plan until Feb. 28. After the exclusivity period expires, creditors may file competing plans.

In the months since its filing, Eastman Kodak Co. has worked to reshape itself, selling off businesses, eliminating jobs and slashing other costs, with the goal of emerging from court protection in 2013.

Kodak said earlier this year that it would stop making digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames. Earlier this year, it sold Kodak Gallery, its online photo service business, to Shutterfly Inc. for $23.8 million.

In August, Kodak said that it was looking to sell its personalized imaging and document imaging businesses in order to focus on its printing and business services. Kodak's document imaging division makes scanners and offers related software and services. The personalized imaging business includes photo paper and still camera film products. It also offers souvenir photo products at theme parks and other venues.

The company also has been trying to sell off its collection of patents, but earlier this month it indefinitely postponed an auction of its imaging patent portfolios. The company said in court filings at the time that it was looking at other possibilities, including keeping the patents and creating a company to make money by licensing the technology.

On Friday, the company said it now plans to focus its consumer inkjet business on the sale of ink for its existing printers and start winding down sales of printers next year.

The move is in line with the company's goal of refocusing itself on commercial and packaging printing, along with other services, and is expected to significantly boost cash flow in the U.S. starting in the first half of 2013, Kodak said.

The company, whose workforce peaked at nearly 150,000 workers in 1988, has already cut 2,700 jobs this year. It originally planned to cut at least another 1,000 jobs, but boosted that figure to 1,200 on Friday.

Kodak said the 23 percent reduction in its employee ranks save the company more than $340 million per year and reduce its workforce to about 13,100 employees.

Kodak was founded in 1880, and it introduced the iconic Brownie camera in 1900, making hobby photography affordable for many people. Its Kodachrome film, introduced in 1935, became the first commercially successful amateur color film.

But the company has struggled in recent years, hurt by the shift toward digital photography and competition from Japanese companies such as Canon.

A hearing on the motion and other matters is scheduled for Oct. 17.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2012-09-28-Kodak-Bankruptcy/id-a10794e7887741dfacb9716b2e1c2adf

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Claims Representative - Workers Compensation job from Insurance ...

Claims Representative - Workers Compensation

CLAIM YOUR FUTURE AS A GREAT PERFORMER!

Providing both satisfying and challenging work along with a highly professional and friendly work atmosphere, Sedgwick has a strong commitment to its colleagues and its clients. If you are seeking place where you can do great things for those whose lives you touch while maximizing your own career possibilities, Sedgwick is the place for you. As the largest and most innovative Third Party Administrator in the claims industry and the first and only TPA to receive both recognition as the Best TPA in America and the coveted Employer of Choice designation, we invite you to come be a part of our team and, ?Claim Your Future.?

PRIMARY PURPOSE : To analyze mid- and higher-level workers compensation claims to determine benefits due; to ensure ongoing adjudication of claims within company standards and industry best practices; and to identify subrogation of claims and negotiate settlements.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES


  • Manages workers compensation claims determining compensability and benefits due on long term indemnity claims, monitors reserve accuracy, and files necessary documentation with state agency.
  • Develops and manages workers compensation claims' action plans to resolution, coordinates return-to-work efforts, and approves claim payments.
  • Approves and processes assigned disability claims, determines benefits due, and manages action plan pursuant to the disability claim or client contract.
  • Manages subrogation of claims and negotiates settlements.
  • Communicates claim action with claimant and client.
  • Ensures claim files are properly documented and claims coding is correct.
  • May process complex lifetime medical and/or defined period medical claims which include state and physician filings and decisions on appropriate treatments recommended by utilization review.
  • Maintains professional client relationships.
  • ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES


  • Performs other duties as assigned.
  • Supports the organization's quality program(s).
  • Travels as required.
  • QUALIFICATION

    Education & Licensing
    Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university preferred.

    Experience
    Three (3) years of claims management experience or successful completion of Claims Examiner II training required. Licenses as required.

    Skills & Knowledge


    • Knowledge of regulations, offsets and deductions, disability duration, medical management practices and Social Security and Medicare application procedure as applicable to line of business
    • Excellent oral and written communication, including presentation skills
    • PC literate, including Microsoft Office products
    • Analytical and interpretive skills
    • Strong organizational skills
    • Good interpersonal skills
    • Ability to work in a team environment
    • Ability to meet or exceed Service Expectations

    WORK ENVIRONMENT
    When applicable and appropriate, consideration will be given to reasonable accommodations.

    Mental: Clear and conceptual thinking ability; excellent judgment, troubleshooting, problem solving, analysis, and discretion; ability to handle work-related stress; ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously; and ability to meet deadlines

    Physical: Computer keyboarding, travel as required

    Auditory/Visual: Hearing, vision and talking

    NOTE : Credit security clearance, confirmed via a background credit check, is required for this position.

    The statements contained in this document are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a colleague assigned to this description. They are not intended to constitute a comprehensive list of functions, duties, or local variances. Management retains the discretion to add or to change the duties of the position at any time.


    Sedgwick is an Equal Opportunity Employer

    and a

    Drug-Free Workplace


    Additional Information: N/A
    Requisition #: 10166

    Source: http://jobs.insuranceclaimsweb.com/c/job.cfm?site_id=1635&jb=11060850

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    Li Han ousts Lindaweni Fanetri to surge into Women's Singles final ...

    Li Han ousts Lindaweni Fanetri to surge into Women?s Singles final at Indonesia Open GP Gold

    China?s emerging player Li Han proved her mettle on court as she surged into Women?s Singles final after showing a tremendous performance in semi-final contest and ousted the home favourite Lindaweni Fanetri at Indonesia Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton 2012 on Saturday, September 29, in Indonesia.

    The second seeded Han, who has been putting up spectacular show of dominating badminton, continued her roller-coaster run in the semi-final contest and registered a decent victory over the local shuttler Lindaweni.

    Han played to her maximum potential throughout the battle and she managed to end it up in straight games with a tight margin by taking 48 minutes on court.

    In the meanwhile, the un-seeded Lindaweni failed to make her winning streak prolonged as she could not play aggressive game in the ending points and eventually lost the battle in straight games with a decent margin on the board.

    Both ladies showed their incredible skills on court as they played attacking and positive badminton and pushed each other in all areas to take advantage on court.

    However, in the ending points of first half, it was Han who played smart badminton and executed controlled shots which helped her to take an 11-8 advantage on score board.

    After the break, Lindaweni injected more power into her smashes and also took the bird early at net which assisted her to make the score levelled at 13-13.

    From this stage, both shuttlers played at their best and reached at the ending points without taking any lead.

    The Indonesian player was at 20-19 but failed to score the last point as Han played impressive badminton and got three consecutive points to finish up the set with a 22-20 score on the board.

    In the second game, Han was clearly in control of rallies as she dictated Lindaweni in all areas of the court and managed to take an incredible 11-6 lead until the break.

    After the mid-game interval, Lindaweni played better badminton and managed to make the score levelled at 12-12 but failed to stop her Chinese challenger from winning the set with a 21-18 score on the board.

    Han overpowered Lindaweni in this interesting semi-final battle in 48 minutes with a tight margin of 22-20 and 21-18.

    Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Li-Han-ousts-Lindaweni-Fanetri-to-surge-into-Womens-Singles-final-at-Indonesia-Open-GP-Gold-a191131

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    Cool Write Public Speaking Speech images | Free Articles

    Check out these write public speaking speech images:

    Frederick Douglass
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    Portrait of Frederick Douglass in the DC Recorder of Deeds Building. Frederick Douglas was the first recorder of deeds for the District of Columbia

    Frederick Douglass (February 141, 1818 ? February 20, 1895) was an American abolitionist, editor, orator, author, statesman and reformer. Called "The Sage of Anacostia" and "The Lion of Anacostia," Douglass was among the most prominent African Americans of his time, and one of the most influential lecturers and authors in American history.

    Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, who later became known as Frederick Douglass, was born a slave in Talbot County, Maryland near Hillsborough, twelve miles from Easton. He was separated from his mother, Harriet Bailey, when he was still an infant. She died when Douglass was about nine years old. The identity of Douglass? father is obscure; Douglass originally stated that his father was a white man, perhaps his master, Captain Aaron Anthony, but later said that he knew nothing of his father?s identity. When Anthony died, Douglass was given to Mrs. Lucretia Auld, wife of Captain Thomas Auld; the young man was sent to Baltimore to serve the Captain?s brother, Hugh Auld. When Douglass was thirteen, Hugh Auld?s wife, Sophia, broke the law by teaching Douglass to read. Douglass later referred to this in his first abolitionist speech.

    In 1837, Douglass met Anna Murray, who sold a poster bed to buy sailor?s papers needed for Frederick Douglass?s escape. Douglass escaped Slavery on September 3, 1838 boarding a train to Havre de Grace, Maryland dressed in a sailor?s uniform and carrying identification papers provided by a free black seaman. After crossing the Susquehanna River by ferry boat at Havre de Grace, Douglass continued by train to Wilmington, Delaware. From there Douglass went by steamboat to "Quaker City" Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His escape to freedom eventually led him to New York, the entire journey taking less than twenty-four hours.

    Douglass continued reading. He joined various organizations in New Bedford, including a black church. He regularly attended Abolitionist meetings. He subscribed to William Lloyd Garrison?s weekly journal, the Liberator, and in 1841, he heard Garrison speak at the Bristol Anti-Slavery Society?s annual meeting. Douglass was inspired by Garrison, later stating, "no face and form ever impressed me with such sentiments (the hatred of slavery) as did those of William Lloyd Garrison." Garrison was likewise impressed with Douglass, and mentioned him in the Liberator.

    Several days later, Douglass gave his first speech at the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society?s annual convention in Nantucket Island. Twenty-three years old at the time, Douglass later said that his legs were shaking. He conquered his nervousness and gave an eloquent speech about his life as a slave.

    In 1843, Douglass participated in the American Anti-Slavery Society?s Hundred Conventions project, a six month tour of meeting halls throughout the east and middle west of the United States. He participated in the Seneca Falls Convention, the birthplace of the American feminist movement, and was a signatory of its Declaration of Sentiments.

    Douglass later became the publisher of a series of newspapers: "The North Star", "Frederick Douglass Weekly", "Frederick Douglass? Paper", "Douglass? Monthly" and "New National Era". The motto of "The North Star" was "Right is of no sex?Truth is of no color?God is the Father of us all, and we are all Brethren".

    Douglass? work spanned the years prior to and during the Civil War. He was acquainted with the radical abolitionist Captain John Brown but did not approve of Brown?s plan to start an armed slave revolt. Douglass believed that the Harpers Ferry attack on federal property would enrage the American public. Douglass would later share a stage in Harpers Ferry with Andrew Hunter, the prosecutor who successfully convicted Brown.

    Douglass conferred with President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 on the treatment of black soldiers, and with President Andrew Johnson on the subject of black suffrage. His early collaborators were the white abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phillips. In the early 1850?s, however, Douglass split with the Garrisonians over the issue of the United States Constitution.

    Douglass had five children; two of them, Charles and Rossetta, helped produce his newspapers.

    Douglass was an ordained minister of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

    Douglass? most well-known work is his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, which was published in 1845. Critics frequently attacked the book as inauthentic, not believing that a black man could possibly have produced so eloquent a piece of literature. The book was an immediate bestseller and received overwhelmingly positive critical reviews. Within three years of its publication, it had been reprinted nine times with 11,000 copies circulating in the United States; it was also translated into the French and Dutch languages.

    The book?s success had an unfortunate side effect: his friends and mentors feared that the publicity would draw the attention of his ex-owner, Hugh Auld, who could try to get his "property" back. They encouraged him to go on a tour in Ireland, as many other ex-slaves had done in the past. He set sail on the Cambria for Liverpool on August 16, 1845, and arrived in Ireland when the Irish famine was just beginning.

    Douglass spent two years in the British Isles and gave several lectures, mainly in Protestant churches. He remarked that there he was treated not "as a color, but as a man." He met and befriended the Irish nationalist Daniel O?Connell. When Douglass visited Scotland, the members of the Free Church of Scotland, whom he had criticized for accepting money from U.S. slave-owners, demonstrated against him with placards that read "Send back the nigger".

    In 1847, Douglass founded a New York newspaper called The North Star, which focused on opposing race and sex discrimination, especially concerning slavery. One evening, a group of men burst into the office and menacingly approached one of the printing presses. Douglass reached it before they did, saying, "You can smash this place and I?ll open my paper elsewhere. Stop me, and others will take my place. You came here to destroy my paper? Let me help you." Douglass then smashed the printing press himself. "You can smash machines, but you can?t smash ideas." Ashamed, the men filtered out.

    In 1851, Douglass merged the North Star with Gerrit Smith?s Liberty Party Paper to form Frederick Douglass? Paper, which was published until 1860. Douglass came to agree with Smith and Lysander Spooner that the United States Constitution is an anti-slavery document, reversing his earlier belief that it was pro-slavery, a view he had shared with William Lloyd Garrison. Garrison had publicly demonstrated his opinion of the Constitution by burning copies of it. Douglass? change of position on the Constitution was one of the most notable incidents of a division that emerged in the abolitionist movement after the publication of Spooner?s book The Unconstitutionality of Slavery in 1846. This shift in opinion, as well as some other political differences, created a rift between Douglass and Garrison. Douglass further angered Garrison by saying that the Constitution could and should be used as an instrument in the fight against slavery. With this, Douglass began to assert his independence in the Garrisonians. Garrison saw the North Star as being in competition with the National Anti-Slavery Standard and Marius Robinson?s Anti-slavery Bugle.

    In March 1860, Annie, Douglass? youngest daughter, died at Rochester, New York, while he was still in England. Douglass returned from England the following month, taking the route through Canada to avoid detection.

    By the time of the Civil War, Douglass was one of the most famous black men in the country, known for his oratories on the condition of the black race, and other issues such as women?s rights.

    After the Civil War, Douglass held a number of important political positions. He served as President of the Reconstruction-era Freedman?s Savings Bank; as marshal of the District of Columbia; as minister-resident and consul-general to the Republic of Haiti; and as charg? d?affaires for Santo Domingo. After two years, he resigned his ambassadorship due to disagreements with U.S. government policy. In 1872, he moved to Washington, D.C after his house on South Avenue in Rochester, New York burned down ? arson was suspected. Also lost was a complete issue of The North Star.

    In 1868, Douglass supported the presidential campaign of Ulysses S. Grant. The Klan Act and the Enforcement Act were signed into law by President Grant. Grant used their provisions vigorously, suspending habeas corpus in South Carolina and sending troops there and into other states; under his leadership, over 5,000 arrests were made and the Ku Klux Klan was dealt a serious blow.

    Grant?s vigor in disrupting the Klan made him unpopular among many whites, but Frederick Douglass praised him. An associate of Douglass wrote of Grant that African Americans "will ever cherish a grateful remembrance of his name, fame and great services."

    In 1872, he became the first African American to receive a nomination for Vice President of the United States, having been nominated to be Victoria Woodhull?s running mate on the Equal Rights Party ticket without his knowledge. During the campaign, he neither campaigned for the ticket nor even acknowledged that he had been nominated.

    Douglass spoke at many schools around the country in the Reconstruction era, including Bates College in Lewiston, Maine in 1873

    In 1877, Frederick Douglass purchased his final home in Washington D.C., on the banks of the Anacostia River. He named it Cedar Hill (also spelled CedarHill). He expanded the house from 14 to 21 rooms and included a china closet. One year later, Douglass expanded his property to 15 acres (61,000 m?), with the purchase of adjoining lots. The home is now the location of the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site.

    After the disappointments of Reconstruction, many African Americans called Exodusters moved to Kansas to form all-black towns. Douglass spoke out against the movement, urging blacks to stick it out. He was condemned and booed by black audiences.

    In 1877, Douglass was appointed a United States Marshal. In 1881, he was appointed Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia. His wife (Anna Murray Douglas) died in 1882, leaving him in a state of depression. His association with the activist Ida B. Wells brought meaning back into his life. In 1884, Douglass married Helen Pitts, a white feminist from Honeoye, New York. Pitts was the daughter of Gideon Pitts, Jr., an abolitionist colleague and friend of Douglass. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College (at that time Mount Holyoke Female Seminary), Pitts had worked on a radical feminist publication named Alpha while living in Washington, D.C..

    Frederick and Helen Pitts Douglass faced a storm of controversy as a result of their marriage. She was a white woman and nearly 20 years younger than he. Both families recoiled; hers stopped speaking to her; his was bruised, as they felt his marriage was a repudiation of their mother. But individualist feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton congratulated the two].

    The new couple traveled to England, France, Italy, Egypt and Greece from 1886 to 1887.

    In later life, Douglass determined to ascertain his birthday. He was born in February of 1816 by his own calculations, but historians have found a record indicating his birth in February of 1818.

    In 1892 the Haitian government appointed Douglass as its commissioner to the Chicago World?s Columbian Exposition. He spoke for Irish Home Rule and on the efforts of Charles Stewart Parnell. He briefly revisited Ireland in 1886.

    On February 20, 1895, Douglass attended a meeting of the National Council of Women in Washington, D.C.. During that meeting, he was brought to the platform and given a standing ovation by the audience.

    Shortly after he returned home, Frederick Douglass died of a massive heart attack or stroke in his adopted hometown of Washington D.C.. He is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, NY.

    In 1921, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity made a pilgrimage to Douglass? home in Anacostia and presented a shingle to the Frederick Douglass Historical and Memorial Society designating Frederick Douglass as an exalted honorary member of Omega chapter. He holds the distinction of being the only member initiated posthumously.

    The Posthumous Membership Shingle read:
    This is to certify that the Honorable Frederick Douglass, Ex-Slave, Abolitionist, Orator, Advocate of Women?s Suffrage, Editor and Statesman, has been initiated a member of the Omega Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

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    Image by fallsroad
    car keys.

    the ultimate expression of personal freedom in America, the symbol of mobility, ability; an extension of the individual. with a car many things are possible ? travel, shopping, hauling, visiting or just plain driving for the pleasure of it. we take cars for granted ? if you don?t have one you are somehow deficient ? and we?ve largely forgotten how powerful they are.

    my wife has a car, a modest vehicle that gets her where she needs to go ? work, school, errands, visits with friends and family. it?s utility is undeniable. there is a faux-sportiness about it, and the color ? blackberry ? is quite pleasing to the eye. i know that car backwards and forwards with only one minor detail ? i haven?t a clue what it is like to drive it.

    i have what is termed these days a "seizure disorder", known more widely as "epilepsy", once known as "having fits". my brain does not function correctly, prone to electro-chemical misfiring that renders it chaotic, unusable, dysfunctional. during these neurological meltdowns i may fall to the ground and shake violently, sit in a chair and stare off into space, drooling, or wander panicked around the house sniffing the air for a scent that exists only in my inside-out mind.

    the aftermath of these seizures covers a range. at the minimum i am exhausted and confused when i come to or am forced to wake up. my muscles will be sore, my head in the thrall of a serious pounder, speech heavily slurred, thought largely impossible. if i?m really lucky i?ll still have the smell of burning wire or insulation in my nose, and the taste of hot metal in my mouth, both by-products of the seizures involving that nonexistent odor. a long period of sleep is required for me to function at even the most rudimentary level.

    the permanent effects become more pronounced as the seizures continue. my short term memory is a mess, i?m very forgetful, and while speaking or writing i?ll lose words, and i mean lose them so completely i?ll have to find another way to speak/write my thought. i?m prone to sudden exhaustion, sleep poorly, and my temper has become short, too short, which is hard on rachel. coupled with my instant forgetfulness, i?ve started quite a few needless arguments based on the fruits of a faulty memory.

    my first seizure occurred when i was 20 years old ? not exactly rare, but not that common. as far as i know it was not the direct result of a brain injury, though my left frontal lobe does show two very small areas of scarring. it is not known whether or not this has any relation to the seizures, though the only one caught during eeg monitoring originated from that same lobe. i have been medicated on and off for the last twenty years with no real success. presently, i am at the end of the medication road, taking my current prescription as much to satisfy my neurologist (an excellent doctor ? high praise from someone like me) as to control seizures. my longest period without seizures was eighteen months, during which time i was not taking any meds at all. the pace, variety, and severity of the seizures has increased over the years.

    the treatments left to me are all invasive, requiring surgical testing to determine my fitness for the procedures themselves. "it?s only brain surgery" my doctor cracks in his deadpan way. for the time being i?m unprepared to risk the possible loss of function, which varies wildly depending upon which parts of the brain must be removed. perhaps walking won?t be possible, or speech, there may be memory loss, and so forth.

    so for the indeterminate future i have to find a way to get along with a brain and body prepared to betray me without a seconds warning. i cannot leave the house by myself. fear of having seizures in public or finding myself appearing stupid because my memory has chosen an inopportune moment to abandon me keeps me at home. so does the sheer danger of walking around by myself and the potentially fatal possibilities of having a seizure while crossing the road or using the stairs, or any of a dozen other scenarios. rachel works and goes to school, so i?m pretty much on my own, essentially house bound.

    the immobility may be somewhat alleviated in months to come. i am applying to an organization called Paws With A Cause, a non profit that raises and trains working dogs to aid the disabled and chronically ill. for epileptics there are seizure response dogs which can be trained to respond in a variety of ways depending upon the nature of the seizures the person experiences. this can include staying with me, trying to awaken me, bringing the phone so i can call for help, and monitoring me as i move about the house, or go outside. in the outside world the dog can help me get around, blocking me before i walk into objects, go down stairs, cross the street. once given a command (something i would not be able to do during a seizure) the dog would allow me to proceed. it would also be able to alert strangers to my status, and carry a cell phone pre-programmed with my wife?s phone number as well as my meds.

    the application process has only begun, and i don?t know if i will be approved nor how long it will all take, but this could be my set of keys to the kingdom.

    of course, even with the dog at my side, i still won?t be able to drive. :)

    Source: http://www.zhaojiyu.net/cool-write-public-speaking-speech-images-5/

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    Would You Ride in a Self-Driving Car? [Chatroom]

    I still can't get over the fact that self-driving cars are legal. If, sometime in the next few years, someone gave you the opportunity to ride in one, alone, would you do it? As a cheerleader of all things future, I should say that I'd oblige. But I'm not so sure I would. More »


    Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Q2nEnkRzAQc/would-you-ride-in-a-self+driving-car

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    Friday, September 28, 2012

    Severe loss to great ape habitat

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    Source: http://www.labspaces.net/123958/Severe_loss_to_great_ape_habitat

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    Thursday, September 27, 2012

    Great Suggestions For Preparing Home Improvement Jobs in ...

    Perhaps you have decided to make some enhancements to your dwelling, but you shortage experience in order to do thus? Don?t feel sick. You might have come to the right spot. This article is gonna provide you with beneficial tips will help your home exactly the way you want this!

    Cleaning :

    Cleaning up constantly needs to be what?s on your mind while making renovations. Possessing garbage in the manner will almost certainly slow down your progress immensely. Will have a new trashcan or even dumpster create to be able to remove the trash as you might be working. This may cause your efforts move much easier,as well as being, clean along with efficient.

    If you cannot find a way to handle a serious diy venture in your home ? spruce up the exterior. Simply by cleaning up the outdoors of your house, you provide that a moment transformation. An easy case associated with cleaning inside the entry as well as filling screen boxes and also planters with seasonal flowers will brighten you home considerably. A quick coat of coloring on the entry way as well as a brand-new lighting permanent fixture for the veranda is the crowning glory!

    Help your home feel as if your house with the addition of any doormat. A number of people usually neglect the addition of any doormat facing the door. That not just will serve a reason of earning a property sense complete, and also acts and also hardwearing . flooring surfaces clean. Making the doormat in which people can easily wipe their particular feet will certainly lessen how long you may spend cleaning your current floors.

    If you want your house to become attractive like Dr Klininkyz , then you might want to play outside to see precisely what others observe. An attractive yard is a superb starting point for. Pick landscaping which is simple to look after, but beautiful as well. Additionally, look at your own decks and patios to find out if they are often spruced with an excellent cleaning, staining or perhaps furnishings can up the appeal of these kinds of areas.

    If you are lucky enough to get have a very deck on the residence, the chances are you do routine cleaning like capturing and standard removing outdoor debris. It?s also wise to do a deep cleaning of the terrace surface at least once per year. Get rid of anything from your own deck to offer yourself more than enough room to function.

    Artwork is often a traditional task. Water-based latex paints create easy and simple clean-up. You only need soapy water. But not essential oil paint is perfect for work. It can be are more durable. Whenever cleaning up via oil paint, use oil on your paint brushes to melt the paint. Then you can utilize soapy water.

    Deciding to use wooden flooring instead of carpeting could help you save a great deal of headache ultimately. Floor covering can include allergens and cleaning it is usually out of the question. The cost of ripping up and replacing the carpet can almost always be as costly as just putting along wood floors. Wooden floors could be refinished as well as repainted when needed; additionally providing a much more non-urban and bungalow style environment.

    When cleaning the cabinets , much build up associated with dirt and also grease is easy to remove using a industrial grade cleaner. An industrial cleaner with orange oil is made for cleaning wooden cabinets. This type of commercial cleaner is ideal for taking away large develop ups associated with grease along with enhancing the seem of your cabinets : best maid service cincinnati.

    Clean or exchange the filters on your house?s heating and cooling system. Dirty filtration make system less efficient. Frequently filter cleaning as well as replacement is definitely a straightforward job that could be performed by your homeowner. Even if you must engage a expert, you probable recoup the costs fairly quickly.

    Think you need to be able to re-tile your bathroom? Try out cleaning the tile and re-grouting very first. In this way could help you save time and cash over the total re-tile project. It?s also better to achieve alone. A toothbrush is an excellent device to use when cleaning grout. A quality steam mop can make a huge difference too.

    It really is not unusual or embarrassing to become inexperienced when it comes to producing renovations. If you know what you are doing, you possibly can make your property search spectacular. This information is meant to direct you towards undertaking exactly that.

    Source: http://horse-in-a-storm.com/great-suggestions-for-preparing-home-improvement-jobs-in-cincinnati/

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    Instead of Discounting, Use the Three Options Strategy

    Note: I wrote this piece a number of years ago and I am still receiving feedback from salespeople, sales managers, and senior executives that it works well in today?s environment, no matter what sales methodology they are using. ?In fact, ESR?s custom advisory services projects are always priced this way. ?Our clients really like this approach.


    Last minute discounting has become so prevalent that many companies have come to depend on it as their default sales strategy. Employing a go-to-market strategy of being the lowest cost provider is one thing, but dramatic, tactical discounting on every deal will erode your company?s margins and leave you digging a deeper and deeper hole in which your company will ultimately bury itself.

    I don?t want to give you the impression that discounting is never appropriate.? Here are three scenarios where it may be required:

    1. When a company has mispriced their offering.?Let?s face it.? Times have changed. Competition is fierce. And yes, as much as we don?t like to admit it, prices and fees have been forced down in some markets. If everyone else is now selling what you sell for $1.00 and you?re still selling it, just as you always have, for $2.00, and you can?t prove you can deliver a dollar?s worth of additional value for the customer, your pricing is too high?way too high. Call it a discount, or call it a price adjustment, in this situation you?ve got face reality and sell your products at a price the market will bear, or you won?t sell very much at all.
    2. As a token concession to close the deal. I don?t see a problem with ?rewarding? a buyer for signing an order within your required time frame, for example. Understand, I would much rather provide other concessions that don?t cost my company money and don?t educate my customer that whenever I am going to ask them for an order, I am going to give up part of my margin and commission. But I do live in the real world and understand that for my clients, pricing concessions are sometimes required to get the deal signed.
    3. When you haven?t done an adequate job of selling the unique business value your product or service will provide the customer. ?I am never happy hearing about situations like this, but if you?ve not done the best selling job, there is some room in your pricing model for a discount, and you need the deal, discounting may be better than losing the deal on principal.

    Of course your risks are not only reducing margins to get this deal done, but you?ve educated the customer that they can get a discount when you are under the gun.

    How do you avoid discounting?

    To succeed in B2B sales today, you must sell business improvement, not products or services. That means differentiating yourself from your competition in the unique value you, your products and services, and your company can provide toward your customer achieving their corporate, divisional, business unit, department, or governmental agency goals.

    Have you transitioned into the mode of creating customer demand by targeting accounts?getting in before they know they have a need, and establishing yourself as a knowledgeable, trusted, and patient advisor?? If not, you?ll continue to be on the receiving end of all sorts of one-sided customer demands, mostly taking the form of answering requests for information, doing presentations, demonstrations, free trials, fighting the constant battle against having your offering commoditized by the customer, and being on the receiving end of strong demands for discounts.

    We?ve been taught over the years to bundle our products and services where possible to provide the customer with a single investment number. That way, we were told, they can?t nickel and dime you, and can?t slice up your offering, able to say no to pieces they don?t want or need.? But now times have changed and when you think about it, that?s exactly what you want to do.

    If you sell products or services that can be componentized, sold in pieces or modules, or in phases, you?re potentially in good shape.

    Scenario

    You know your competition is going to come in with a substantial discount, as they have before. Your sales effort must include:

    • Assuring yourself that the customer is not making a decision solely or primarily on price. This question must be asked again and again of key decision makers throughout the process.
    • Getting agreement from the ?real buyer? that you understand their business objectives and that your offering can help them achieve those objectives. This method does not work unless you are dealing with the real buyer.
    • Finding unique areas of additional value (on top of their existing requirements) that you can provide through the capabilities of your product or service offering.
    • Management support for potentially selling part of your offering now, and the rest later on rather than selling the whole thing at a discounted price.

    In cases where you know your competitors will be discounting, you?ll need to offer several investment options to your customer. Alan Weiss, ?the consultant?s consultant,? suggests providing three opportunities for them to say yes.

    If you offer your prospect three options to buy?let?s say for the sake of labels, Platinum, Gold, and Silver?and you?ve done a good job of selling the business value of your offering?you can avoid having to concede more than a nominal discount.

    Your plan here should be not to discount, but rather to back value out of your proposal to meet the prospect?s desired investment level. Presenting three options lets you do exactly that.? The customer gets to determine how much they want to invest and will enjoy the resulting ROI associated with that level of investment. ?Be advised that to do this most effectively, you?ll need some political, financial, and competitive selling skills.

    Here is a template for the three options:

    The Platinum Option

    • Gets the customer what they need (and want)
    • Highest level of investment.? You might ask for a 10-30% premium over the Gold level for this option, depending on the value you believe you can deliver to the customer.
    • All the features, modules, components, capabilities available
    • Your best resources
    • Quickest time to value
    • Priority service: As examples, a special 800 number (like the airline priority clubs), top of the queue, 24 x 7 x 365
    • The highest ROI (see graphic)
    • Other perks, such as quarterly meetings with your CEO, special invitation events, input into your product development plans

    The Gold Option

    • Gets the customer all of what they need (and a few wants)
    • Budgeted level of investment. This is aimed right at the prospect?s budget level.
    • Most/many of the features, modules, components, capabilities
    • Proven, talented and dependable resources
    • Quick time to value
    • An attractive ROI
    • Other perks, such as quarterly meetings with your VP of Service, special invitation events

    When your prospect tells you your competition has come in with a very low price, you can calmly?discuss with them the fact that they have an option (the Silver option) that will provide them with what they need at a competitive price. You will already have differentiated yourself from the competition in a number of areas: understanding the customer?s business, industry, opportunities, challenges, competitive and customer pressures, and built rapport with the real buyer. In addition, you?ve professionally educated your prospect on the risks that befall companies who depend on tactical discounting to win.

    The Silver Option

    • Gets the customer most of what they need now, and the rest in ?phase two,? next quarter or next year, for example
    • The lowest level of investment, aimed 10-30% below the Gold level, depending on how severe a discount the competition is going to offer
    • Some of your total array of features, modules, components, capabilities.? The rest can be acquired later.
    • Talented and dependable resources
    • Reasonable time to value
    • An ROI that meets their corporate requirements

    What will the customer do? The may tell you they want your Platinum option at the Silver price. If you?ve done an effective job selling the business value of your product or service and built a relationship with the real buyer based upon trust, you can look them in they eye and tell them it just isn?t possible. What will they do then? According to our clients, more often than not, the customer will go for the Gold or Platinum option.

    ? 2012?? Dave Stein?? All Rights Reserved

    Photo credit:?? Olena Pantiukh ? Fotolia.com

    Source: http://davesteinsblog.esresearch.com/2012/09/26/instead-of-discounting-use-the-three-options-strategy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=instead-of-discounting-use-the-three-options-strategy

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    Daimler CEO sees "challenging" times for Mercedes

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    Wednesday, September 26, 2012

    Mailbag: Save some Cy Young votes for Braves' Kimbrel

    Reliever having kind of rare season that merits award consideration

    Image: KimbrelGetty Images

    Through Monday, Braves closer Craig Kimbrel had allowed only 25 hits and struck out 106 batters in 58 2/3 innings.

    MLB EXPERT MAILBAG

    By Tony DeMarco

    NBCSports.com contributor

    updated 7:24 p.m. ET Sept. 25, 2012

    Tony DeMarco

    Baseball Expert Tony DeMarco has been covering the big leagues since 1987, and been casting Hall of Fame ballots for the last 15 years. He answers questions weekly here:

    Q: Given his lights-out ninth-inning performances, how realistic is it to say that Craig Kimbrel is a serious Cy Young Award contender?
    ? Lee Ayres, Atlanta

    A: It's very realistic to think that Kimbrel's name will be included on most of the 32 BBWAA ballots ? which incidentally, now include the top five finishers, rather than the long-standing three. But winning the award figures to be a difficult proposition for him.

    Since I happen to have an NL Cy Young Award vote this season, I can't go into any detail at this point on how I will fill out my ballot. But I'll present the questions that voters will have to debate in deciding where to put Kimbrel among a list of standout candidates that includes R.A. Dickey, Gio Gonzalez, Clayton Kershaw, Johnny Cueto, Kyle Lohse, Matt Cain, Aroldis Chapman and possibly a few other potential vote-getters.

    First of all, relievers just don't win the award very often. Eric Gagne was the last to do it in 2003, and Dennis Eckersley's MVP/Cy Young season was 20 years ago. It's simple ? no matter how dominant a reliever might be, it's hard to have more impact in 60-or-so innings as a starting pitcher does in 200-plus.

    But there are exceptions to every rule, and Kimbrel's dominance certainly has been historical and remarkable (as has Chapman's). How about some of these Kimbrel numbers through Monday?:

    • 25 hits allowed in 58.2 innings and 214 batters faced. His .126 opponents batting average is the lowest qualifying average since 1900.
    • 1.08 ERA
    • With only 14 walks allowed, his WHIP is 0.67 ? the lowest by an NL reliever since 1900.
    • 106 strikeouts, or 16.4 per nine innings ? the best single-season ratio on record.
    • 39 saves in 42 opportunities for a league-best 92.8 percentage.

    But the problem is going to be that innings total of only 58.2. Chapman has thrown 10 more despite being shut down for awhile in mid-September, and actually has 13 more strikeouts than Kimbrel.

    And are Kimbrel's historically microscopic numbers better in the grand scheme of things than ? just to pick two leading candidates:

    • Dickey with a very good shot at a pitching Triple Crown, going 19-6 (with two remaining starts) for a sub-.500 team, pitching seven innings and allowing one or fewer runs in 15 starts, tossing back-to-back one-hitters, and being in the top three in virtually every major statistical category?
    • Gonzalez winning 20 games (granted with the league's best run support and no blown saves behind him), leading the NL in opponents' batting average and OPS, and doing all of it for a first-place team?

    These are tough calls voters will have to make, and it just may come down to this last week of the regular season for many of them to decide.

    Q: Do you think that being pushed by the Orioles will help the Yankees come playoff time? Or does it matter at all?
    ? Jennifer Chilm, Los Angeles

    A: This question arises every late-September for first-place teams, and here's how I see it: I do think it's better for division leaders to be somewhat challenged, and be forced to play at a high level down the stretch. That makes it easier to keep their edge once the playoffs begin ? as opposed to clinching too early and losing intensity.

    In almost every postseason, we see a favorite who clinched early and coasted into the playoffs, only to get upset. And most often, it's by a team that had to fight its way into the playoffs, and in effect, had been playing playoff games for the last couple of weeks. Last year's Cardinals are the latest in a long line of teams to fit the latter bill.

    But as the first-place team, you don't want to be pushed for too long, or challenged so late that you don't clinch until the last day or two of the regular season. That might not allow you to set your rotation, or rest a regular or two who could use a couple of days off.

    So the ideal scenario to me is be pushed a bit, but clinch the division title with a minimum of three games left in the regular season. In the new playoff format, with off days and the wild-card play-in game, that would allow almost a week to adjust and set things just right heading into the LDS round.

    In the Yankees' case, the AL race is a bit tighter than they'd like. In fact, it's been so tight for so long that their 1.5-game edge over the Orioles through Monday seems big, doesn't it? I do think they will outlast the Orioles and win the AL East, setting up a first-round series against either the White Sox or Tigers.

    And at that point, then it will become more a question of match-ups with either of those two teams, as well as how healthy and effective the Yankees' starting pitchers will be, not to mention Mark Teixeira.

    Q: The Padres signed Carlos Quentin and Huston Street to extensions this year, but have not signed Chase Headley, who in my opinion is their best player. Why is that? What do you think will happen in the off-season with him?
    ? Robert Pyper, Phoenix

    A: Oh, there's no doubt about it, Headley is the Padres' best player. Which makes their handling of his situation very interesting and important, to say the least.

    In his breakout season, Headley, 28, is making $3.475 million ? easily one of the game's best bargains among arbitration-eligible players. His salary for 2013 will more than double in arbitration, and a long-term deal certainly has become the likeliest option with his monster second half (.300, 21 HR, 66 RBI, .372 OBP, .576 slugging through Monday).

    While Headley's second half significantly has upped his value, if I were the Padres, I'd lock him up in a multi-year deal that will take away a year or two of free agency. He doesn't complain about the home ballpark, has proven that you can put up numbers despite its pitcher-friendly conditions, and is a solid defender and team leader.

    And as you mention, the team's new ownership already has handed out extensions, so it appears as if there's room to expand the payroll ? certainly in the case of a cornerstone-type player such as Headley, rather than a chronic injury risk such as Quentin.

    But the Padres were listening to offers for Headley around the trade deadline, and could do again this winter. And in fact, they owe it to themselves to at least see if there's an offer out there similar to the great package (Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal, Edinson Volquez, Brad Boxberger) they received from the Reds last off-season for Matt Latos. If so, they may decide to go that route.

    But absent that, Headley likely will get a long-term deal to stay in San Diego.

    ? 2012 NBC Sports.com? Reprints

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    More news
    Hamilton back from 'weird' injury

    HBT: Josh Hamilton returned to the Rangers? lineup Monday night?and homered against the A?s, moving ahead of Miguel Cabrera to reclaim the AL lead with 43 long balls.

    White Sox lose, give Tiger shot at tie in AL Central

    CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago White Sox gave Detroit an opening to tie for the AL Central lead when Gordon Beckham hit into a game-ending forceout with the potential tying run on second base Tuesday in a 4-3 loss to the last-place Cleveland Indians.

    Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49171454/ns/sports-baseball/

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    Wall Street lower on euro zone fears but off session lows

    NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday as renewed upheaval in the euro zone over financial bailouts led investors to book profits from recent gains near the close of a strong third quarter.

    Violent protests in Madrid against expected austerity measures and growing talk of secession in Catalonia increased pressure on Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy as he moves closer to asking euro zone policymakers for rescue money.

    Rajoy, speaking to the Americas Society in New York, said measures in Spain are necessary to strengthen Europe and the government was committed to fiscal discipline and structural reforms with sacrifice that must be shared across Spanish society.

    Meanwhile, Greece faced its biggest anti-austerity protest in more than a year as international lenders admitted to difficulty in working out how to solve Athens' debt crisis.

    "There is still a real risk that Europe has to make some decisions that could hold the market together ... over the next few weeks as it relates to Greece and certainly Spain," said T. Doug Dale, chief investment officer for Security Ballew in Jackson, Mississippi.

    "There are still enough unknowns out there that it doesn't take a whole lot to get the S&P back off."

    The S&P 500 is up more than 5 percent for the third quarter and nearly 2 percent for September, historically a weak month for equities, largely due to actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank to prop up their economies.

    The Dow Jones industrial average <.dji> shed 2.07 points, or 0.02 percent, to 13,455.48. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.spx> dropped 2.89 points, or 0.20 percent, to 1,438.70. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.ixic> lost 16.31 points, or 0.52 percent, to 3,101.42.

    Since the Fed's most recent stimulus plan on September 13, the benchmark index has fallen 1.4 percent as earnings warnings from companies, including FedEx Corp and Caterpillar Inc , have sparked concerns about global growth.

    But analysts noted Wednesday's declines were limited and credited similar policies by central banks, an improvement in the U.S. housing market and stocks that were cheap compared to historical levels.

    "Last year, when you started to see negative news out of Europe, the fear was contagion, the fear was a Lehman-type event. We've removed that tail risk from the marketplace," said Art Hogan, managing director at Lazard Capital Markets in New York.

    "Having removed ... the Lehman-type event risk out of Europe makes days like today a little less volatile."

    A government report that prices of new U.S. single-family home sales vaulted to their highest level in more than five years in August also helped to reassure jittery investors.

    Jabil Circuit tumbled 9.5 percent to $18.98 after the technology company reported fourth-quarter earnings that missed expectations and forecast weak first-quarter results.

    The session's best performing sectors were defensive plays such as utilities <.gspu>, telecoms <.gspl> and consumer staples <.gsps>.

    Longer term, however, the equity outlook appeared more positive. While the S&P 500 wasn't expected to move much from its current level through the end of the year, according to a Reuters poll of analysts, it should advance in the first half of 2013, largely on central bank actions.

    American Greetings Corp jumped 17.2 percent to $16.81 after the company said it received an offer to go private from a group led by its chief executive, valuing the greeting card company at about $580 million.

    New Yahoo Inc Chief Executive Marissa Mayer laid out goals for the Internet company in her first companywide address Tuesday and chose a new chief financial officer. Shares edged up 0.1 percent to $15.70.

    (Editing by Kenneth Barry)

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stock-index-futures-signal-flat-lower-open-093700536--finance.html

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    HGTV Stars Serve Up Home Entertaining Tips During 17th Epcot ...

    PinExt HGTV Stars Serve Up Home Entertaining Tips During 17th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival %tag

    Alison Victoria 640x426 300x199 HGTV Stars Serve Up Home Entertaining Tips During 17th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival %tag

    Celebrities Appear Weekends at Festival Center from?Sept. 28 through Nov. 12

    HGTV presents fresh home-entertaining ideas by celebrity designers each weekend at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival presented by Chase Sept. 28 through Nov. 12.? In each 30-minute noon seminar Friday through Sunday, designers will offer tips to festival guests on stylish table settings, perfect holiday gifts and other hot topics.? Celebrities also will meet guests at 1 and 3 p.m. at the Vineyard Stage.

    The HGTV celebrity lineup includes:

    Sept. 28-30 ? Danielle Colding, HGTV Design Star winner, Season 7, Shop This Room.? Seminar topic: ?Entertainment Passport: Your Ticket to Creating a Travel-Inspired Dining Experience.?

    Oct. 5-7 ? Casey Noble, Design on a Dime.? Seminar topic: ?Gifts that Keep Giving: Holiday Favors that Double as D?cor.?

    Oct. 12-14 ? Alison Victoria, DIY Network?s Kitchen Crashers.? Seminar topic:? ?Crash Course for Holiday D?cor.?

    Oct. 19-21 ? Brian Patrick Flynn, HGTV.com, Design Happens contributor.? Seminar topic:? ?Express Lane Elegance: Stylish Table Settings from Supermarket Finds.?

    Oct. 26-28 ? Meg Caswell, Meg?s Great Rooms.? Seminar topic:? ?Entertaining in Style: Make It and Make It Fun.?

    Nov. 2-4 ? Marianne Canada, HGTV.com Special Projects Editor.? Seminar topic:? ?Handmade Goodies They Won?t Regift.?

    Nov. 9-12 ? Emily Henderson, Secrets from a Stylist.? Seminar topic:? ?Create Holiday Memories: Style, Share and Preserve Those Family Photos & Cards.?

    The country?s leading home and lifestyle television brand, HGTV offers an addictive blend of design and decorating to the 46-day festival at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

    More information about the 17th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is available by calling 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) or by visiting ww.epcotfoodfestival.com.

    What?s Included with Epcot Admission:

    HGTV Home Entertaining Seminars, Authentic Taste seminars, special book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts, Marketplace Discovery Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

    Special Programming by Reservation:

    The Party for the Senses grand tasting events and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) to make reservations.? Information and reservations for select events and programs are at www.epcotfoodfestival.com.

    Check out the latest deals and offers from:
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     HGTV Stars Serve Up Home Entertaining Tips During 17th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival %tag

    About Chip

    Chip C has written 6396 post on Chip and Co..

    Chip is owner of and webmaster of Chip and Co - Your source for Disney News and Views. He focuses on writing Disney Park News, Planning Tips, Giveaways, TV and Movie News. When he isn't blogging about Disney he is planning his next trip to Walt Disney World.

    Source: http://www.chipandco.com/2012/09/hgtv-stars-serve-home-entertaining-tips-17th-epcot-international-food-wine-festival/

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