Beyond room service: Order up a fighter

12 hrs.

Dana McMahan , NBC News contributor

Hotel guests need not head out with an unknown entity for adventure when they book a room. Properties around the globe are tempting travelers with one-of-a-kind experiences on the grounds or directly through the hotel.?

Whether you fancy a Muay Thai lesson with a fighter in Bangkok or an exclusive cooking class in Costa Rica, if you choose well, your hotel can arrange a day you'll remember long after check-out.

?Hotels are just now recognizing that they have resources that other travel-related industries have been tapping for years,? said?Ted Mandigo, director of hotel consulting firm?TR Mandigo & Company. The?company has tracked the travel habits of U.S. consumers for more than?20 years. ?Hotels have been passive providers, nicely fitting into the travel industry, but not aggressively promoting their resources,? he said.

Now that properties see the light, they're getting on the bandwagon with an array of offerings.?

For wannabe fighters, or anyone drawn to the idea of punching and kicking a champion Muay Thai fighter, guests at the Peninsula Bangkok can go a few rounds with a real live kickboxer at an outdoor makeshift ring overlooking the Chao Phraya, commemorated with photo, certificate and boxing shorts.

At The Wauwinet in Nantucket, Mass., guests can try their hand at hauling in lobster traps aboard The Wauwinet Lady. The hotel chef will later prepare a lobster feast with their catch. Those who would prefer to limit their catch to waves can learn from the resident professional surfer at Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa in the Maldives, with beginner lessons that include everything a surfer newbie may need. ?

Not?that into the hang ten scene? Those aspiring to dance with the stars can learn the tango without leaving the hotel at Tango Lodge Palermo Soho in Buenos Aires. The six-days-a-week classes always include an English speaker.

These activities tap into the need to?experience something "new and different" that Peter C. Yesawich, vice chairman of MMGY Global (a marketing communications company specializing in the travel, leisure and entertainment industries) says has ?become increasingly important for consumers when selecting hotel or resort accommodations ? particularly true for younger (millennial) travelers. It's access to experiences that would otherwise be 'inaccessible' that appear to be growing in their allure."

Andrea Duvall, an avid traveler from Louisville, Ky., took advantage of?just such an exclusive-to-hotel-guests option: a cooking class at Los Altos de Eros, a small hotel in Costa Rica.?

?It?s a remote hotel on top of a hotel,? she said. ?The class was an easy option rather than arranging transfers to offsite activities, and a great way to learn to prepare local food yourself.??

Duvall said?she and her husband?seek out uniquely local experiences and this fit the bill.?

?The experience we had felt very intimate,? she said. ?We were literally in the kitchen of the property ? it felt like an authentic experience?versus?a big cooking school off-site.?

While offering experiences are??savvy selling points for hotels trying to distinguish themselves,??some can be??terrific perks,? according to Pauline Frommer, nationally-syndicated host of "The Travel Show" with Clear Channel Media. She offers a word of caution: "Sometimes hotel tours and additional activities are not the best value because they've been simply thrown together in an attempt to get more money."

?Independently-arranged activities can be more interesting because they'll draw the kind of thinking traveler who researches his options in advance ... and the variety of travelers will be greater,??Frommer said.??Remember, a lot of the travel experience consists of interacting with other travelers, so getting out of your hotel can be a good idea.?

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/itineraries/beyond-room-service-order-fighter-1B8041250

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Phoenix elementary schoolers rally around be a STAR

PHOENIX ??WWE Superstars and Divas spread the be a STAR anti-bullying message to more than 150 students at Herrera Elementary School Thursday. (PHOTOS)

Ted DiBiase, Brodus Clay, Cameron, Naomi and Josh Mathews led the rally, which took place just days before WWE?s Royal Rumble hits Phoenix?s US Airways Center. After a welcome by Herrera Elementary School counselor Julia Hubbard and a Public Official, the seventh- and eighth-graders listened to the Superstars? and Divas? personal messages about how they?ve been affected by bullying.

They explained the different forms of bullying, such as cyber, physical and verbal, and encouraged the students to be a STAR by not being bystanders and standing up to bullies and telling a parent, teacher or guardian when they?re having issues with bullies. They also spoke about using the Internet and social media as a way to send positive, respectful messages.

Finally, the Superstars and Divas led the Herrera Elementary School students in a rousing rendition of the ?be a STAR chant.?

One out of every four children is bullied, and a child is bullied every seven minutes, whether it?s cyber, physical or verbal. Through WWE and The Creative Coalition?s campaign, children around the globe are encouraged to ?be a STAR: Show Tolerance And Respect.?

For more than a year and a half, WWE Superstars and Divas have visited more than 40 schools to spread the be a STAR message, affecting 20,000-plus children! This is in addition to the 25,000 people who have taken the be a STAR pledge online at beastaralliance.org.

Be a STAR is made up of more than 50 alliance partners including Scholastic Inc., YMCA of America, Girl Scouts of America, GLAAD, RAINN and STOMP Out Bullying. For more information, visit?beastaralliance.org, the?be a STAR Facebook page and on Twitter @beastaralliance. Also, log on to?beastaralliance.org to take the official be a STAR pledge and to download a free be a STAR teacher?s aide and be a STAR toolkit to start your own local chapter.

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Source: http://www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/wweinyourcorner/be-a-star-phoenix-rally

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Personal Bankruptcy: Do I Have Any Choices? | Value Stock ...

Is your debt piling up to the point that a bankruptcy seems like the only option? Do not worry, because you are not the only one. There are thousands of people who file for bankruptcy every day. This article will give you the information you need to make your bankruptcy go smoothly.

Regardless of how terrible your situation is, when you choose to file for bankruptcy, always be honest. It can be catastrophic to make up things about your assets and debts. Also, it is against the law. You could even spend time in prison for lying about this information.

Prior to choosing a bankruptcy attorney, seek a free consultation with at least three attorneys. Ensure that your meeting is actually with the attorney, not with a paralegal or an assistant. People in these positions are unable to offer legal advice. Searching for the best lawyer will help you located the comfort you need during this time.

Lots of people who file for bankruptcy say they will never use credit cards again. This is not a smart move, since using credit wisely allows you to build a solid credit history. If you never use credit, you won?t be able to rebuild the good credit that you will need to make future purchases. Start with having a single credit card to help you go in the proper direction.

Keep the concept of shame out of your head if you are contemplating bankruptcy. For many people, bankruptcy is a source of guilt and feelings of worthlessness. Although dealing with a bankruptcy is stressful, try to focus on the positive. The best way of dealing with bankruptcy is to keep a positive attitude during this time of financial upset.

Don?t stop the the bankruptcy process if you find a job. Filing for bankruptcy may still be the best way forward for you. The timing of your bankruptcy filing can greatly affect the amount you will be required to repay. If you can file for bankruptcy before receiving additional income, this extra money won?t count against you.

It?s a good idea to contact the three major credit bureaus and get fresh copies of the credit reports they have on you once your bankruptcy is a few months behind you. You should double-check all the information on those reports to ensure their accuracy. If you find any discrepancies, immediately follow up on them so you can continue to repair your credit.

It is essential to always be candid in your bankruptcy petition and subsequent documents. Hiding things from the court can get your case dismissed with no option to refile. Be certain that you disclose all of your income and all of your assets to the court. You will be more likely to secure a fair and favorable judgment by demonstrating good faith in this way.

Assess your documentation for accuracy. Although your attorney will fill out your paperwork for you and file it, remember that the accuracy of the information is your responsibility. Keep in mind that an attorney is dealing with more than one case, so keeping the details straight for each is unlikely 100% of the time. Due to that, be sure to verify that the information on your paperwork is correct.

Find ways to relax while you go through the process of filing for bankruptcy. Many people feel a lot of stress while they work through the bankruptcy process. This kind of stress can take a heavy toll on your personal life, especially if you are not making any efforts to adopt a positive attitude. Bankruptcy is hard to go through, but you must remember that a less stressful, more enjoyable life is waiting on the other side of it.

Know your bankruptcy rights. Bill collectors will lie to you and say you can?t have their bill discharged. However, there are few debts that cannot be eliminated, like student loans and child support payments. If a bill collector attempts to say their bill cannot be discharged, look it up. If they are wrong, report them.

Choose the best bankruptcy attorney in your area. Once you?ve found one, ask if they offer a free consultation. Put your financial records together and bring them to this lawyer. Once you arrive your attorney can advise you on the proper steps to take to file for bankruptcy.

When you file for bankruptcy, you want to be certain that your papers include every debt that you need to get discharged. Any debts you forget to list will not be discharged. Be certain to list all of your debts so that none that could have been discharged will be overlooked.

Think through your decision to file for bankruptcy carefully before going ahead with it. Alternatives do exist, including consumer credit counseling. Be sure to consider all options before filing for personal bankruptcy, as this will take a large toll on your credit score for the next ten years.

Figure out what caused the financial situation you are in right now. Unplanned medical bills are one thing, but undisciplined spending on shopping trips is another. If you have a hard time controlling yourself when it comes to spending money on unnecessary things, you might want to ask for help in order for you not to go back to experiencing financial trouble once you finish filing for bankruptcy.

As you can see, you are not alone in your need to fix your finances by choosing bankruptcy. But with the benefit of the information you have here, you have a head start on your journey. Put the tips you learned into action so that you can ensure your bankruptcy process moves along without trouble.

It?s always positive to learn information. When you have knowledge, you can move forward toward your goals. With the info you?ve just learned, you are ready to call yourself a blue widget expert. Continue learning in order to achieve the success you really want.

Source: http://valuestockinvestmentfunds.com/2013/01/25/personal-bankruptcy-do-i-have-any-choices/

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Military has to decide which combat jobs for women

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon's decision to lift the ban on women serving in combat presents a daunting challenge to top military leaders who now will have to decide which, if any, jobs they believe should be open only to men.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to announce Thursday that more than 230,000 battlefront posts ? many in Army and Marine infantry units and in potentially elite commando jobs ? are now open to women. It will be up to the military service chiefs to recommend and defend whether women should be excluded from any of those more demanding and deadly positions, such as Navy SEALs or the Army's Delta Force.

The historic change, which was recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, overturns a 1994 rule prohibiting women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units.

The change won't take place overnight: Service chiefs will have to develop plans for allowing women to seek the combat positions, a senior military official said. Some jobs may open as soon as this year, while assessments for others, such as special operations forces, may take longer. The services will have until January 2016 to make a case to that some positions should remain closed to women.

Officials briefed The Associated Press on the changes Wednesday on condition of anonymity so they could speak ahead of the official announcement.

There long has been opposition to putting women in combat, based on questions of whether they have the necessary strength and stamina for certain jobs, or whether their presence might hurt unit cohesion.

But as news of Panetta's expected order got out, many members of Congress, including the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., announced their support.

"It reflects the reality of 21st century military operations," Levin said.

Objections were few. Jerry Boykin, executive vice president of the Family Research Council, called the move "another social experiment" that will place unnecessary burdens on military commanders.

"While their focus must remain on winning the battles and protecting their troops, they will now have the distraction of having to provide some separation of the genders during fast moving and deadly situations," said Boykin, a retired Army lieutenant general. He noted that small units often are in sustained combat for extended periods of time under primal living conditions with no privacy.

Panetta's move comes in his final weeks as Pentagon chief and just days after President Barack Obama's inaugural speech in which he spoke passionately about equal rights for all. The new order expands the department's action of nearly a year ago to open about 14,500 combat positions to women, nearly all of them in the Army.

In addition to questions of strength and performance, there also have been suggestions that the American public would not tolerate large numbers of women being killed in war.

Under the 1994 Pentagon policy, women were prohibited from being assigned to ground combat units below the brigade level. A brigade is roughly 3,500 troops split into several battalions of about 800 soldiers each. Historically, brigades were based farther from the front lines, and they often included top command and support staff.

The necessities of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, however, propelled women into jobs as medics, military police and intelligence officers that were sometimes attached ? but not formally assigned ? to battalions. So while a woman couldn't be assigned as an infantryman in a battalion going out on patrol, she could fly the helicopter supporting the unit, or move in to provide medical aid if troops were injured.

And these conflicts, where battlefield lines are blurred and insurgents can lurk around every corner, have made it almost impossible to keep women clear of combat.

Still, as recent surveys and experiences have shown, it will not be an easy transition. When the Marine Corps sought women to go through its tough infantry course last year, two volunteered and both failed to complete the course. And there may not be a wide clamoring from women for the more intense, dangerous and difficult jobs, including some infantry and commando positions.

Two lawsuits were filed last year challenging the Pentagon's ban on women serving in combat, adding pressure on officials to overturn the policy. And the military services have been studying the issue and surveying their forces to determine how it may affect performance and morale.

The Joint Chiefs have been meeting regularly on the matter and they unanimously agreed to send the recommendation to Panetta earlier this month.

A senior military official familiar with the discussions said the chiefs laid out three main principles to guide them as they move through the process. Those were to maintain America's effective fighting force, preserve military readiness and develop a process that would give all service members the best chance to succeed.

Women comprise about 14 percent of the 1.4 million active military personnel. More than 280,000 women have been sent to Iraq, Afghanistan or to jobs in neighboring nations in support of the wars. Of the more than 6,600 U.S. service members who have been killed, 152 have been women.

The senior military official said the military chiefs must report back to Panetta with their initial implementation plans by May 15.

___

AP National Security Writer Robert Burns and AP Broadcast reporter Sagar Meghani contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/military-decide-combat-jobs-women-141230491.html

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Family in Sandy-damaged home suffers in deep freeze: 'This is ...

More than 400 residences in Staten Island still don't have electricity because their homes are too damaged, and many are taking refuge in warming tents. NBC's Katy Tur reports.

By Miranda Leitsinger, Staff Writer, NBC News

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Dee and Scott McGrath were huddled under two blankets, both wearing hooded sweatshirts and pants, with an electric heater by their bed. Dee heard her daughter coughing through the night from the room next door and feared she was getting sick.

Though they?d tried to cover up the open gaps between the wood on the first floor of their gutted home, which was inundated by 11 feet of water during Hurricane Sandy, the chill of a deep freeze sweeping New York was seeping in. Downstairs, it was just under 20 degrees. Upstairs, where they?ve restored heat, it was only 60,?the couple said as they recounted the Wednesday night experience.

The McGraths are not alone in their suffering: Though the number of those living without heat is a hard number for officials to gauge, more than 9,000 dwellings remain without electricity in the city, according to data from the area's power companies.

?It?s rough, it?s very stressful, it?s very depressing. And you get the anxiety of not knowing when your work is going to be done and when your house is going to be back,? Scott, 45, said Thursday afternoon, taking a break from working on the electrical wiring in his home. ?You have emotional-like panic attacks in your head, you?re thinking of what you have to do next to make sure your family don?t die or get sick with the flu and stuff ? you can?t be exposed outdoors all day and this is being exposed outdoors.?

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Some 20,000 residential buildings in the city were left with some damage or disruption to their utilities after Sandy. A city program, mostly funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, had restored utility services and provided replacement equipment to more than 11,800 residences as of Jan. 21, while some 7,000 are awaiting help. Work on about 1,900 dwellings is under way.

The McGraths moved back in two weeks after the storm, but they only got heat on Jan. 2. Before then, they had been running nine to a dozen electric heaters off two generators at a cost of $80 a day. Until this weekend, they had to take showers and use the toilet at a neighbor?s home.

Miranda Leitsinger / NBC News

Dee Young-McGrath and her husband, Scott McGrath, stand Thursday in the first floor of their gutted home where the temperature dropped to just under 20 degrees the night before. It's hard to get the rebuilding done in such cold weather, they said.

?My poor daughter is sick in bed right now running a fever and I have to have an electric heater running for her besides my heat,? he said of Crystal, 21, a meter reader for one of the city?s power providers, Con Edison of New York. Upstairs the thermostat showed it was 60 degrees. ?It?s pretty sad and she?s wrapped up in two blankets.?

Although the McGraths? home received help from the?Rapid Repairs program, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between FEMA and local agencies, Scott said the program?s subcontractors had botched the installation work, with leaks springing in the pipes when the boiler was turned on. His brother, a plumber, fixed the problems.

They got electricity earlier, on Christmas Eve. But the work done by Rapid Repairs was ?basic,? Scott said, leaving them with few outlets, such as just two in the kitchen. He was installing more outlets on Thursday before eventually putting up insulation and dry wall.

The couple has done almost all of the repair work on their own, finishing the bathroom downstairs, with a shower and toilet, this weekend. Though it was an achievement they had looked forward to, the timing couldn?t have been worse with the onset of the subzero temps this week.?

?It is completely unbearable to step foot out of my bedroom,? said Dee Young-McGrath, 42. ?It?s like torture to sit on an ice-cold toilet. And the shower, I mean, we have holes in the wall back there ? it?s just excruciating.?

The couple, who have lived in the home for 10 years, said they stayed for several reasons, including that FEMA housing options were either too far away or in troubled city neighborhoods, and many places wouldn?t take dogs. They have a 10-year-old dog, Brownie, a chocolate lab and border collie mix.

?Their (FEMA) answer was to tell me to put my dog in a shelter. That is my family. ? I?d rather sleep in my car before I put my dog in a shelter,? Scott said as he called a tail-wagging Brownie ?Daddy?s little girl.?

They also stayed since it's their home and because they?d heard stories of vandalism.

?Whatever I have left, I want to keep,? he said. ?You stay here to protect your property, what?s left.?

Though the days are long and dark for them, there was a little levity when Katie jokingly offered a reporter a cold drink. One wall on the first floor is lined with bottles of water, a two-liter orange soda and a few energy drinks.

Katie said they were lucky to have a roof over their heads when others still did not and were sheltering at warming centers, but they both said the stress and depression has been great.

Scott said on some days he could not motivate himself to get out of bed and his hands would tremble when he was overcome with anxiety. They have been given sick leave from their jobs at Con Edison, where he is an investigative inspector and she an instructor, due to the emotional toll. The cold, with a forecast that it may snow on Friday or over the weekend, is making it even worse.

?I have ? panic attacks, anxiety at night, wondering what?s going to happen to my house. You know, running electric heaters, I start to panic, thinking that I?m going to cause a fire,? Scott said, noting he also worried about the possibility of pipes breaking in the freezing weather.

?This is not a way (for) a person to live,? he said. ?It?s depressing to come here every day and you?re living in this house.?

NBC Nightly News' Katy Tur contributed to this report.

Related stories

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/24/16685593-family-in-sandy-damaged-home-suffers-in-deep-freeze-this-is-being-exposed-outdoors

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2nd NY hospital warns of insulin pen infection

OLEAN, N.Y. (AP) ? A second western New York hospital is notifying patients that they may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C through the improper sharing of insulin pens, hospital officials said Thursday.

Olean General Hospital was mailing letters to 1,915 patients who received insulin at the hospital from November 2009 through last week, advising them to call to arrange for blood testing. The risk of infection is very low, hospital officials said, but they wanted patients to be aware of the possibility.

Hospital officials said the action follows an internal review conducted after the Veterans Affairs hospital in Buffalo discovered more than 700 patients may have been exposed to blood-borne pathogens over a two-year period when multi-use pens intended for use by a single patient may have been used on more than one person.

"Interviews with nursing staff indicated that the practice of using one patient's insulin pen for other patients may have occurred on some patients," said Timothy Finan, president and chief executive of Upper Allegheny Health System, the parent company of the Olean hospital.

Olean General had not identified any specific patients who may have received an injection from another patient's pen and knew of no cases of infection, Finan said in a news release.

"Regardless, to the extent there may be a chance, however remote, that any patient was provided insulin from an insulin pen other than their own, Olean General Hospital has decided to be proactive and aggressive with respect to notification of our patients," the release said.

As was the case in Buffalo, needles were changed with each use of the insulin pens, the Olean hospital said. The risk of infection remained, however, because stored insulin in the pen cartridge could have become contaminated by a back flow of blood with each use.

"We are very aware that while the risk of infection from insulin pen re-use is extremely small, cross-contamination from an insulin pen is possible," Finan said.

Federal health agencies have been warning against sharing insulin pens for several years. The Food and Drug Administration issued an alert in March 2009 after learning that more than 2,000 patients may have been exposed at a Texas hospital between 2007 and 2009.

A clinical alert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year came amid continued reports of the practice.

The pens have been removed from use at Olean General. They were never used at a second hospital in the Upper Allegheny Health System, Bradford Regional Medical Center in Pennsylvania, Finan said.

Revelations of the issue at the VA hospital led the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General to initiate a review of the Buffalo hospital.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2013-01-24-Hospital-Insulin%20Pens/id-f9b1f7b2f82a4e29b122211a5e6baaf1

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Estrogen fights urinary infection in mouse study

Jan. 23, 2013 ? Estrogen levels drop dramatically in menopause, a time when the risk of urinary tract infections increases significantly.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found new evidence in mice that the two phenomena are connected by more than just timing. If further research confirms these links, boosting estrogen levels may get a second look as an approach for reducing urinary infections in menopausal women.

"Scientists tested estrogen as a treatment for post-menopausal women with urinary tract infections in the 1990s, but the results were either ambiguous or negative," says senior author Indira Mysorekar, PhD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and of pathology and immunology. "With the mouse model of menopause that we've created, we can more completely understand how estrogen levels affect infection susceptibility, bladder health and the inflammatory response to infection. That should point the way to better treatment strategies."

The findings appear online in Infection and Immunity.

Urinary infections are a significant cause of illness in many women throughout their lives and are particularly prevalent after menopause. The bacteria that cause these infections can spread to the kidney and bloodstream, with the potential for serious complications.

To simulate menopause in mice, scientists surgically remove their ovaries. Like menopausal women, the mice no longer make estrogen.

To rule out the possibility that the stress of surgery affects the risk of urinary tract infections, the researchers conducted the same surgery in other mice but put the ovaries back in, maintaining their ability to make estrogen.

When researchers gave both groups of mice urinary tract infections, the menopausal mice had higher levels of infectious bacteria in their urine. Most of the bacteria came from barrier cells, which line the interior of the bladder. These cells are the first to be infected by the bacteria.

"When the barrier cells are lost, they need to be replaced immediately," Mysorekar says. "In the menopausal mice, we found that this replacement process was stopping short of completion. That left cells under barrier cells exposed, and they are much more vulnerable to infection."

The menopausal mice had more bacterial reservoirs, which are pockets of infection that may provide a place for the bacteria to hide during antibiotic treatment. After treatment stops, the reservoirs can reseed the infection.

In earlier research, Mysorekar had identified an important regulator of the barrier cell repair process. In the new study, she showed that low estrogen levels disable this regulator.

The bladders of the menopausal mice also had higher levels of immune inflammatory compounds known as cytokines.

"The cytokines caused inflammation that left the bladder in bad shape," Mysorekar says. "It's possible that damage caused by inflammation increases the bacteria's ability to break into bladder tissue and create reservoirs of infection."

In the control mice, which had normal estrogen levels, cytokine levels and inflammatory damage were both significantly lower. When researchers gave the menopausal mice estrogen, their cytokine levels and inflammatory damage also decreased significantly, as did reservoirs of infectious bacteria.

Mysorekar notes that earlier clinical trials of estrogen's usefulness against urinary infection evaluated the treatment's success by tracking levels of bacteria in the urine. The researchers say their new results suggest that bacteria levels alone may not provide a complete picture of estrogen's effectiveness against the infections.

"If we can find ways to look at other aspects of the infectious process in humans, we may find that estrogen is more helpful than we previously realized," Mysorekar says. "We need to look for other indicators, such as cytokines in the urine, to more fully assess estrogen's potential role in treatment."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Washington University in St. Louis. The original article was written by Michael C. Purdy.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Wang C, Symington JW, Ma E, Cao B, Mysorekar IU. Escherichia coli pathogenesis in a murine menopause model. Infection and Immunity, March 2013

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/zfSJvojEOGc/130123221411.htm

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Video: PFT Live: Goodell makes?Pro Bowl threats

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Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/21134540/vp/50576609#50576609

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Excellent Self Help Advice For A Better Life | Samuel Levitz ? A ...

Many people want to improve some aspect of their lives. It could be changes emotionally, socially or professionally. The piece that follows includes several useful ideas for those wishing to pursue greater personal development.

Listening is equally as valuable as speaking when you are communicating. This is particularly true when you are talking about self-development. Don?t just listen to other people. Listen to yourself. Hearing your own thoughts and feelings when you express them will lead to a better understanding of what you need to improve your life.

Plenty of employers are more concerned with the fact that you have a degree, rather than what school you attended. There are of course a few exceptions, such as within the finance and engineering industries. In most cases though, just getting a four year degree will make all the difference in the world.

TIP! While it is essential that you have people in your life, you should not depend on others for your happiness. Focus on making yourself happy.

If self improvement is an important goal in your life, be sure to feed your faith with love. There is no way to have faith in something you do not love. Never let faith take a back burner in your life. Do good for others and show that you love yourself through your love for others.

When you are working on your personal development, you should realize you deserve to be the best you can be. Repeat this statement to yourself every day, ?I owe it to myself to strive for the best?. When you complete your journey you?ll be secure in the knowledge that you did the best you could and no regrets are necessary.

Take stock of your alcohol use to see if you are drinking too much. Are nicotine or other destructive habits something that harms you? Our body is sacred, and we should respect it and treat it as so. Eliminating bad habits can be a very essential part of improving your life. Take stock of how you are living your life and the habits you have accumulated. Which ones do you think you could get rid of right now?

TIP! Your mind?s health depends on how healthy your body is. Develop a regular fitness routine and follow a nutritious, satisfying diet plan.

You can try writing yourself a motivational speech. List all of your good qualities on a postcard. Keep the card in your purse or wallet, and pull it out every time you feel depressed and defeated or have a negative thought about yourself. Better yet, read the list out loud while recording yourself. What?s the point?

If you are not able to achieve anything you wanted to, it is time to evaluate the situation seriously. Find out how others have succeeded at the same thing. This could illuminate a problem with the feasibility of your goals, your technique for achieving such goals, or even simply not allowing the time necessary to complete them.

Try and find new ways to challenge yourself. New challenges open new possibilities for you. You will see, do and explore more things than you ever thought possible. You may even want to achieve something that has never been done before. Look for your own thing to do, instead of accomplishing things people have already done.

TIP! Instead of talking up all of your trophies and accomplishments, ask other people about their notable achievements and proudest moments. This will help you to find some of the amazing things that people can accomplish, and help you to respect them more.

Evaluate yourself and seek out that one aspect that you wish to change or improve. It may be that you have several such things which you could concentrate on, but by selecting just one, you stand a better chance of prevailing. In addition, this enables you to make slow and gradual changes to your actions, perceptions and behaviors, increasing the likelihood that these new concepts will eventually become second nature.

If you want to improve yourself, write down a specific list of things you want to improve. Write down everything you aspire to be or to change about yourself. The next step is to seek different ways to grow that skill or trait. Finally, you will need to put yourself in a situation where you can practice being confident. You will have a high degree of success if you attack this methodically.

One way to raise your self-esteem is to give other people compliments. Doing the opposite and taking the initiative to be kind to others helps you to be kind to yourself too.

TIP! Work more efficiently to get the most out of your effort. Some say there is a trick that involves taking frequent breaks throughout the work day.

Nothing is more important to your personal development than working on health issues. When you are feeling good, it is easier to feel better about yourself. You can think more clearly, and even save time and money, by not having to go to the doctor on a regular basis. Make it your goal to improve your health.

Getting out and living your life can really enhance your quest for self improvement. The thing you have to do is take action. Take charge of your life and refuse to take the role of a spectator. Being a passive observer to the world around you removes you from the game entirely. Do not let that happen.

Maintaining benevolent wishes for others can lead to an increase in the good things you bring into your own life. Thus, never wish down on someone and always pray for the best. If you focus on the positive aspects of everyday life, you will be much less susceptible to those random episodes of doom and gloom.

TIP! If you experience anxiety in social situations, ask a friend to join you at the movie theater. You will be thrust into a busy setting and out of your comfort zone, but you will not have to excessively socialize with others.

None of us can say that we haven?t made mistakes from time to time. One of the biggest mistakes that we often choose to ignore is our choice in foods. Unchecked stress can be very damaging to both your mind and your body. Make an honest effort to live life to the fullest without sweating the small stuff.

You can benefit by learning about other individuals who are a success. You can build upon the trails they blazed and avoid mistakes they made by finding out how they reached fulfillment. Reading about the lessons they have learned will have a positive impact on your own self improvement.

You need a good attitude for personal development. A negative attitude will hold you back and even send you down the wrong path. Instead, let go of negative thinking. Make a choice everyday to look on the positive side of things and watch your goal progression improve.

TIP! Establish reachable goals to increase your feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction in life. Once you have identified your own weaknesses, you can begin to improve upon them.

Ask successful people around you about their habits and consider adopting them too. Don?t try to make too many changes at once. Start with two or three fundamentals that can make a difference, and practice those few until they feel natural to you. It can take up to three weeks to acquire a new habit, so it is important to keep trying.

Keep your focus on your inner self instead of your physical appearance. In the long run, wearing the best clothes or looking incredible does not matter. What?s most important is your internal appearance and your personality. Instead of making cosmetic changes, put more effort into improving your inner self.

Know what your core beliefs are and live by them. Your personality is strongly shaped and supported by these principles. Sticking to your core values will help your self esteem, if you?ve got a strong foundation to rely on. This will also help you develop consistency.

TIP! Humility is essential to your success. In the grand scheme of things, we are relatively insignificant.

Get rid of every part of your life that is disorganized. Not only will being organized make you feel accomplished, but it will also boost your confidence. You will also have the added benefit of relief from the stress that disorganization can cause. Organizing your environment can be a calming and centralizing influence.

Take care of yourself physically to get the most out of your personal development activities. You can keep your energy level up with regular exercise, a healthy diet, and getting a good night?s sleep. This will give you the energy you need to be successful at your self improvement efforts. It might seem easy, but it can prove to be very difficult.

Focus on learning how to stay calm in difficult circumstances, rather than becoming irrational and emotional. Once you learn how to remain calm in the midst of stress, you?ll have the confidence needed to cope with anything that happens in your life. Learning to breathe deeply upon command can give you back your sense of control.

TIP! Decide what you value most in life and stick with it. Therefore, it is extremely important that this is a priority in your life.

Treat yourself right by respecting your body. When your body communicates a need such as hunger, pain or thirst, it is important that you address it as soon as possible. Once you do this, your body will be better able to aid you for the long term. If you neglect your body now, you will pay for it down the line.

Many people know that they wish to improve the quality of their lives, but they do not know where to begin. This article will give you many ideas to get going, though keep in mind that only you can make a change. You?ll discover ways to keep your motivation and drive from waning by referring back to these suggestions periodically.

Look for reading material that inspires you and encourages you to be your best. Everyone?s idea of a positive piece of writing is different. It may be a religious bible, or alternatively a book of inspirational quotes. As long as you have a tangible source that can help to inspire you when you?re feeling down, you?ll always be able to regain your peace of mind. This, of course, can vastly increase your ability to deal with anything that life throws your way.

TIP! An extremely important key to personal development is knowing what you want to do with your life. One of the things that will make the biggest difference in your outlook is having long-term goals.

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Source: http://www.samuellevitz.com/excellent-self-help-advice-for-a-better-life-2

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Obama officially signs Cabinet nominations

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama has signed documents officially submitting top administration nominations to the Senate.

In a traditional inauguration signing ceremony in the U.S. Capitol after he took the oath of office, Obama affirmed the nominations of John Brennan to be director of the CIA, former Sen. Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense, Sen. John Kerry to be secretary of state and Jack Lew for Treasury secretary.

Obama also signed a proclamation to commemorate the inauguration. The proclamation is entitled "National Day of Hope and Resolve, 2013."

President Ronald Reagan established the tradition of visiting the Capitol's President's Room after taking the oath to sign documents and pose for photographs

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-01-21-US-Obama-Nominations/id-e67ef4231d384725b06d3794d7870363

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Is space big enough for two asteroid-mining companies?

The latest company to launch into the asteroid-mining business isn't worried about competition from its biggest rival, saying that the resources of deep space are vast enough to support a bustling new industry off Earth's surface.

The new company, Deep Space Industries, Inc., announced today (Jan. 22) that it plans to mine asteroids for metals, water and other resources, with the goal of helping humanity spread throughout the solar system. Another company with similar goals, the billionaire-backed Planetary Resources, unveiled its own plans last April.

Both companies can coexist and prosper, Deep Space officials said during a press conference today.

"We love Planetary Resources," Deep Space chairman Rick Tumlinson said. "Space is big. There's room for everybody."

Deep Space and Planetary Resources will go after near-Earth asteroids,?many of which are rich in water and a variety of different metals.

Both firms aim to split asteroid water into its constituent hydrogen and oxygen, which are the chief components of rocket fuel. Asteroid-derived propellant could be dispensed from off-planet "gas stations," allowing satellites and journeying spacecraft to top up their tanks cheaply and efficiently.

Such off-Earth depots could extend the lives of satellites and make manned trips to far-flung destinations like Mars much more economically viable, advocates say.

The metals and other materials, meanwhile, could be used to construct habitats, solar-power satellites and other spacecraft, potentially jump-starting an in-space manufacturing industry. Precious metals such as platinum and gold could also be delivered to Earth for terrestrial use.

So far, astronomers have identified more than 9,000 near-Earth asteroids, with about 1,000 being added to the rolls every year. Such numbers suggest there are more than enough to keep two mining companies busy for a long time, Deep Space officials said.

"There are two or three million near-Earth asteroids," said Deep Space CEO David Gump. "There's room for everyone to prosper, I think."

The startup of two asteroid-mining firms ? along with the rise of private spaceflight companies such as California-based SpaceX ? is a sign that humanity may finally be taking real steps toward the long-held dream of permanent space settlement, Tumlinson said.

"One company may be a fluke," he said. "Two companies showing up? That's the beginning of an industry."

Follow SPACE.com senior writer Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall?or SPACE.com @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook?and?Google+.?

Copyright 2013 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/space-big-enough-two-asteroid-mining-companies-212904493.html

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Michelle's Homage (talking-points-memo)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/278621795?client_source=feed&format=rss

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The Hintonburg Home project in Ontario, Canada

by Simona Ganea, posted in Apartments, on January 17th, 2013

The Hintonburg Home project was developed by Rick Shean of Ottawa-based architectural practice Christopher Simmonds Architect. It had as a goal the creation of a contemporary residence in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The architect designed the home for his family and the project was completed in 2012.The result was this beautiful two-storey property with a contemporary and stylish design.

The house has two volumes which are connected by a courtyard. Both volumes open onto the courtyard from where they get natural light and beautiful views. The courtyard serves as a front porch area for one of the volumes. This one, located at the rear of the property, contains most of the public spaces, including the kitchen, the dining room and the lounge areas. The front den contains the more private spaces. This part is connected to the street as well as to the courtyard through large windows.

In order to establish a strong indoor-outdoor connection, the two volumes have lots of openings that open the rooms towards the exterior and let the spaces expand. The glass walls and floor-to-ceiling windows let natural sunlight invade the rooms thus making them more airy and open.

The exterior design of the residence is simple. The palette of materials and colors includes white oiled cedar and natural cement boards. They might be simple but the reflect the elegance of this modern property and allow it to stand out and to overpower the adjacent property with their simple beauty.

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Source: http://www.homedit.com/the-hintonburg-home-project-in-ontario-canada/

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Disney Infinity Will Help Children Learn Creativity and Social Skills

There?s likely no more nobler endeavour that a video game designer, studio or publisher can make than to aim to help teach children through games. The majority of the time, however, attempts to do so fail. The vast majority of games that educate kids are so lacking in the fun department that children simply don?t want to play them. Clearly, that?s not going to be the case with Disney Interactive?s Disney Infinity.

Disney Infinity is a game from Disney Interactive that follows in the footsteps of Toy Story 3: The Video Game. What made Toy Story 3 so enjoyable was its Toy Box mode, a mode which allowed players to play as toy Story 3?s characters Woody, Buzz or Jessie and play in an open world toy box, being assigned missions by various characters and unlocking toys and other assorted goodies.

Toy Box was a truly excellent gaming experience. That?s why Disney have now decided to expand on the Toy Story 3 game by making Disney Infinity, a game squarely focused on the Toy Box mode.

If you?re a gamer yourself, you probably already realise why Disney Infinity is so exciting a prospect, but if you?re a parent you may require a little more convincing. Thankfully, this isn?t just a game. Disney Infinity, from what has so far been shown, will be a great means of teaching children to use their creative brain and also to develop social skills.

Let?s start by getting to grips with how Disney Infinity works. It?s a new system from Disney in which you have special figures of Disney characters that you put on a base, you then play as those characters in the game.

More interestingly, in Disney Infinity you get to build the game world in any way you like. You can build race tracks and buildings, you can build your world however you like. Having built the world, you then share it with friends online who can download and play on the world you created themselves.

Even better still, you get to play through the worlds of all your favourite Disney characters. You can play as characters from Pirates of the Caribbean, Toy Story, The Incredibles, MonstersUniversity and more. Each of these characters have their own unique world which players can build. So, for instance, in Pirates of the Carribean players will be able to build pirate ships.

So, why is Disney infinity such a good game for kids?

?

Simple, Disney infinity teaches kids to use their imagination and their creative brain in order to build up the different worlds that the Disney characters inhabit.

Not only this, but having used their creative brains and imaginations to build the world, kids then get to share their creations online with the rest of the world, encouraging their social skills

Disney Infinity looks like it might become a very good game for kids. It?s coming out on June 18^th so stay tuned!

Hit LIKE or join or subscribe to ARoleModel below for updates on Disney Infinity.?

?

About Paul Harrison

Author of ARoleModel.com, I work as a journalist and critic in the UK. I'm also a body language and self improvement specialist.

Source: http://arolemodel.com/disney-infinity-good-game-for-kids/

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Jobless claims drop to five-year low

9 hrs.

Reuters

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits tumbled to a five-year low last week, a hopeful sign for the sluggish labor market.?

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 37,000 to a seasonally adjusted 335,000, the lowest level since January 2008, the Labor Department said on Thursday. It was the largest weekly drop since February 2010.?

The prior week's claims figure was revised to show 1,000 more applications than previously reported.?

While last week's decline ended four straight weeks of increases, it is probably not the start of a new trend or a sign of a material shift in labor market conditions as claims tend to be very volatile around this time of the year.?

This is because of large swings in the model used by the department to iron out seasonal fluctuations.?

A Labor Department analyst said the model had expected a large increase in claims last week, but the actual number of filings only showed a modest increase, leading to a big decline in the seasonally adjusted figure.?

He said there was nothing unusual in the state level data and that no states had been estimated.?

The four-week moving average for new claims, a better measure of labor market trends, fell 6,750 to 359,250, suggesting some improvement in underlying labor market conditions.?

The claims data covered the survey week for January's nonfarm payrolls. Job growth has been gradual, with employers adding 155,000 new positions in December. The unemployment rate held steady at 7.8 percent last month.?

Job gains averaged 153,000 jobs per month in 2012, little changed from 2011. The sluggish labor market and subdued inflation pressures are likely to keep the Federal Reserve on its ultra easy monetary policy course.?

The claims report showed the number of people still receiving benefits under regular state programs after an initial week of aid increased 87,000 to 3.21 million in the week ended January 5.?

The four-week average of the so-called continuing claims was the lowest since July 2008.?

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economywatch/jobless-claims-drop-five-year-low-1B8014114

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What Your Prospects Really Care About

Track your small business? prospects and sales with the help of a free simple CRM and sales tracking app like Base.

?

During a meeting with the owner of a small software company, we talked about the slide deck his sales team uses in face-to-face meetings with prospects and he proudly stated that the most powerful slide was the one that featured the organizations his company worked with.

When I asked him why he thought this was such a great slide he told me that it demonstrated that his company had the capability to work with large organizations and that it reduced a prospect?s potential fear and hesitation about moving forward with the buying decision.

It was interesting hearing his perspective because I completely disagreed with it.
This is common myth that many business owners and sales people fall prey to. They mistakenly believe that who they work with is important to people they are selling to.

However, the reality is that your prospect simply doesn?t care. All they want to know is what you can do to help them solve a particular problem or concern; it seldom matters who you have helped deal with a similar problem in the past.

Here are a few key issues your prospects really care about.

Increasing sales

I don?t know a business owner on the planet who doesn?t want to increase their sales and grow their business. Entrepreneurs are obsessed with growing and expanding and capturing more sales and they spend a lot of time thinking about how to achieve this goal.

If you can demonstrate?and prove?that your solution will help them achieve this goal, they will sit up and listen.

Decreasing costs

All the sales in the world don?t matter if a company is not profitable. There are plenty of examples of organizations who appeared to be highly successful only to go out of business because they couldn?t generate a profit. However, managing expenses and decreasing costs is a big challenge because most companies already run lean and tight.

Does your product or service offer solutions to help business owners reduce their costs without negatively affecting the business?

Increasing market share

Market share is a key measurement in the business world. You can?t grow a business by remaining stagnant and this means expanding your market. Even companies who sell to the same set of established accounts look for ways to sell more to those customers.

What can you do to help your prospects increase their market share?

Beating the competition

The legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi, was quoted as saying, ?There is no room for second place.? Many entrepreneurs are competitive people by nature and they often obsess about finding ways to beat the competition.

Although Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were friends, they were also fierce rivals and they constantly sought ways to outperform each other in their respective companies.

Can you tap into this drive and demonstrate how your solution will help a prospect outperform one?or all?of their competitors?

Increasing customer retention

Savvy business people know that keeping customers makes good business sense. After all, the cost of retaining a customer is usually much less than the cost of acquiring a new one. However, this is a challenging goal especially when the majority of companies run lean and everyone in the organization is expected to accomplish more with fewer resources.

Is there a way you can help your prospects achieve this goal?

These are just five things that are important to your prospects; depending on the industry you sell in, there could be others.

The most effective way to make a sale is to focus on what is important to your prospect, not what you think is important.

Kelley Robertson writes for Future Simple's Growth University and is a business expert experienced in helping people master their sales conversations so they can win more business. He conducts sales training workshops and delivers keynote speeches through his company The Robertson Training Group.

Source: http://www.futuresimple.com/blog/what-your-prospects-really-care-about/

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Animal Water Pistols

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Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0KF3JLKFSE&feature=youtube_gdata

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Lost Phone? Don't Blame Wayne Dobson

If you lost your Sprint cell phone, don't come knocking on the door of Wayne Dobson, 58.

In the two years that Dobson has lived in his one-story home with his wife, five people--all missing their Sprint cell phones--have come knocking on his door, demanding that he return their handsets.

If a GPS tracker for your lost cell phone leads you to Dobson's home, you'll find a sign outside his door in North Las Vegas, Nev., that reads, "No lost cell phones!! This location gives a false 'phone locator' position due to a cell tower behind this home. Please contact the North Las Vegas Police and file a report."

"I put it up because there seems to be no end to this," he said.

On Dec. 18, four men who Dobson described as "young" pounded on his door at around 2:30 a.m., shouting for him to return their phone. One of the men had a tablet with a tracking application, pointing to Dobson's home.

"I understand why people are upset. These are $300 or $500 devices," Dobson said. "I'm worrying about someone showing up in an agitated state, are drinking, and if that one person has a weapon perhaps. This is Las Vegas."

He told the men repeatedly that he didn't have their cell phone and they eventually went away.

"When those things happen, you don't go back to sleep," Dobson said. "You wonder if they are going to throw a rock in the window, or spray paint on my wall."

It got so bad that on many weekends, he sleeps in the big chair near the door, as first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

"I never know when this is going to happen. I can't sleep comfortably any more. I think, what's going to happen next? It's a very disturbing problem," Dobson said.

The problem is so vexing that he said he has reached out to his city council commissioners, Sprint and the chief of police. Sprint hasn't responded to him yet.

Sprint said the company is looking into the matter.

Dobson had finally had enough on Dec. 30 around 4 a.m., when police showed up at his home in response to a 911 call. After first being startled by noise and a flashlight outside one of his windows, a police officer demanded that Dobson come outside and he was searched for weapons.

He later learned a police dispatcher received a 911 call but was unable to get the address from the caller. A police system tracker had led cops to Dobson's home.

It was the fourth time police had come knocking on his door. Two of the visits were prompted by people who had called police trying to find a lost cell phone. In the other two cases, police mistakenly showed up at his door in response to a 911 call.

North Las Vegas police spokeswoman Chrissie Coon told the Review Journal that the accuracy of tracking locations based on cell phone location is "not a perfect technology" and the police department only infrequently dispatches police via that method.

The Review-Journal reports that the problem could be related to the cell phone tower that is about 300 to 400 yards from Dobson's home, but cell phone technology experts John B. Minor and Ben Levitan told the Review-Journal that they think the problem has to do with Sprint's switchboard.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lost-phone-quit-blaming-guy-180330586--abc-news-tech.html

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Ryan gives Rubio?s immigration reform outline a thumbs up

MELBOURNE, Jan 14 (Reuters) - A nervous Sam Stosur survived the first test of her annual battle with stage-fright at the Australian Open, but the spotlight is set to focus on the ninth seed after all of her compatriots were dumped from the first round on Monday. Australia's hopes of a home-bred champion at the year's first grand slam have gone unfulfilled for 34 years and, with Lleyton Hewitt crashing out against eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic late in the evening, appeared set for further frustration. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/aboard-paul-ryan-supports-marco-rubio-immigration-reform-222004852--election.html

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Sweden seeks 2 Britons for smuggling garlic

STOCKHOLM (AP) ? Swedish prosecutors have issued international arrest warrants for two Britons suspected of masterminding a smuggling ring involving Chinese garlic.

The men first shipped the garlic to Norway by boat, where it entered the country duty-free since it was considered to be in transit, prosecutor Thomas Ahlstrand said Wednesday. They then drove large shipments of garlic across the Norwegian-Swedish border, avoiding customs checks and thus Swedish import duties.

Ahlstrand said the men avoided paying some ?10 million ($13.1 million) in Swedish taxes with the scheme, which took place in 2009 and 2010. A lengthy police investigation led to the identification of the two Britons.

Ahlstrand initially said they smuggled in 1.2 tons of garlic, but later said the exact amount was unclear.

It was not the first time smugglers have shown a preference for garlic from China, which accounts for nearly 80 percent of world output and is often significantly cheaper than local varieties.

In 2010, Polish authorities seized six containers with 144 tons of Chinese garlic that had been smuggled into the country via the Netherlands.

It was not immediately clear whether the Polish smuggling was linked to the Swedish case.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/aa9398e6757a46fa93ed5dea7bd3729e/Article_2013-01-09-Sweden-Garlic%20Smugglers/id-c7c6cfaedfd94e839e637c6ff6ed1f79

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Obama To Push Immigration Overhaul In Early 2013: Report

* Plan would require businesses to verify new employees in country legally
* Could create a guest-worker program for low-wage immigrants
* Immigrants seeking legal status would have to pay fines and back-taxes
WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama is forging ahead on a wide-ranging plan to overhaul the U.S. immigration system early this year, including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already in the country, the New York Times reported on Sunday.
Obama wants to advance the plan even as he faces tough battles with Congress over fiscal issues and gun-control laws, and may lay out his ideas during his annual State of the Union address on Feb. 12, the Times said, citing senior administration officials and lawmakers.
The president had made immigration reform a key promise for his second term, and said in November after he won the election that he expected a bill would be introduced in Congress shortly after his January inauguration.
"We are still assessing our options, no decisions have been finalized and as a result it would be premature to speculate - reports to the contrary are inaccurate," a senior administration official told Reuters on Sunday.
The Times said the immigration plan would require immigrants seeking to obtain legal status to pay fines and back-taxes, and would make it possible to pursue citizenship.
The plan would require businesses to verify that new employees are in the country legally, and could create a guest-worker program for low-wage immigrants, the report said.
It may also add visas to relieve backlogs and allow high-skilled immigrants to stay in the country, the Times said.
Some analysts had expected that Obama's immigration reform plans could be delayed by fractious deficit talks with Congress, which face a series of critical deadlines in February and March.
Obama will need cooperation from Republicans, but they have acknowledged they need to address issues important to Latinos, an influential voting bloc that voted heavily for Obama and his Democrats in the November election.
Top Republican lawmaker John Boehner has said he wants to see immigration reforms. The House of Representatives passed a bill in November that would create a permanent visa program for foreigners with advanced science and technical degrees.
The Times said a bipartisan group of senators led by Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, and Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, would like to introduce comprehensive legislation as early as March, and hold a vote by August.
"This is so important now to both parties that neither the fiscal cliff nor guns will get in the way," Schumer told the Times, saying talks were advancing quickly.
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, often mentioned as a future Republican candidate for president, is also working on the issue, but has proposed tackling the issues in stages rather than in one comprehensive law.
His plan would allow undocumented immigrants to gain temporary status and eventually apply for permanent residency, Rubio told the Wall Street Journal in an interview published on Saturday.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a rising star in the Democratic Party, is slated to speak in Washington on Monday on the importance of quickly advancing immigration reform.
"We can't do this piecemeal, and we can't have second-class citizenship. This has to be a pathway to full citizenship," Villaraigosa said on the CBS show "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/13/obama-immigration_n_2468112.html

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Troops raid Somali town in attempt to rescue hostage

By Omar Nor and Ben Brumfield, CNN

updated 8:04 AM EST, Sat January 12, 2013

Somalia is divided into three regions: Somaliland and Puntland are semi-autonomous; the capital Mogadishu is in Somalia itself.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: A French soldier and the hostage die in the attack, French defense ministry says
• NEW: Al-Shabaab says the hostage is alive and at a new location
• NEW: Islamists say they also have a wounded French soldier
• NEW: The French government undertook the rescue attempt after failed negotiations

Mogadishu, Somalia (CNN) -- French forces swooped into Somalia for a rescue mission under the cover of darkness, leading to a fierce gunbattle with militants who killed the hostage, the French defense ministry said Saturday.

The raid Friday night also left a French soldier and 17 Islamist fighters dead, according to the French ministry. Another soldier went missing.

Hostage Denis Allex died at the hands of his captors, France said.

But the al-Shabaab militia, which is affiliated with al Qaeda, claimed that the hostage is unharmed and being held at a new location.

Profile: Who are Al-Shabaab?

The militants said in a statement on their Twitter account that they will decide the hostage's fate in the next two days.

The chopping sound of helicopter blades and volleys of gunfire startled Bulo Marer town residents out of their sleep Friday night, when French paratroopers descended on the camp.

Three helicopters initiated a heated gunbattle with captors under the cover of darkness in the town about 75 miles northwest of the capital Mogadishu, eyewitnesses said.

French soldiers leaped from the aircraft to engage the Islamists on the ground.

Al-Shabaab 'recruiting U.S. citizens'

"From the outset the French commandos faced strong resistance," the defense ministry said in a statement. "In the course of the assault, fierce fighting took place."

Al-Shabaab claimed the French soldiers left behind combat gear and a wounded comrade before disengaging.

"The injured French soldier is now in the custody of the Mujahideen," al-Shabaab said.

Allex was abducted on July 14, 2009, the French defense ministry said.

France said it decided to undertake the rescue attempt after the terror group failed to negotiate for the hostage's release for three and a half years while holding him in inhumane conditions.

Omar Nor reported from Mogadishu, and Ben Brumfield wrote in Atlanta. CNN's Joseph Netto and Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report.

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