Ohio killer set for execution found hanged in cell

Ohio Dept. Of Rehabilitation via AP

This undated photo provided by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction shows Billy Slagle. Slagle was found hanged in his prison cell on Sunday, three days before he was to face the death sentence for stabbing a woman in 1987.

By Thomas J. Sheeran, The Associated Press

CLEVELAND ??A man condemned to death for fatally stabbing a neighbor during a Cleveland burglary apparently killed himself in his cell Sunday just days before his execution set for Wednesday.

Billy Slagle, 44, was found hanging in his cell about 5 a.m. at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution south of Columbus, prison spokeswoman JoEllen Smith said. He was declared dead within the hour.

No other details were immediately provided.

Slagle was sentenced to die for the 1987 stabbing of Mari Anne Pope, who was killed while two young children she was watching were in the house.

In a rare move, the prosecutor in Cleveland had asked the Ohio Parole Board to spare Slagle. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty said jurors today, with the option of life without parole, would be unlikely to sentence Slagle to death.

The parole board and Gov. John Kasich both rejected mercy for Slagle.

Last week, Slagle's attorney argued that a jury never got the chance to hear the full details of his troubled childhood.

The attorneys, arguing for a new trial and to delay his execution, said that information met requirements for asking for a new trial, which normally must happen within four months of a conviction.

Slagle was "unavoidably prevented" from filing his request because his original attorneys didn't develop and present the evidence, the filing said.

McGinty and Slagle's attorneys had cited his age ? at 18, he was barely old enough for execution in Ohio ? and his history of alcohol and drug addiction.

? 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/663306/s/2f8b8293/sc/3/l/0Lusnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A80C0A40C198628270Eohio0Ekiller0Eset0Efor0Eexecution0Efound0Ehanged0Ein0Ecell0Dlite/story01.htm

rutgers dharun ravi george clooney arrested ravi leigh espn st patricks day

Iran gets new president, vows 'constructive' foreign relations

By Yeganeh Torbati

DUBAI (Reuters) - Hassan Rouhani took office as Iran's president on Saturday promising "constructive interaction with the world" after eight years under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad marked by diplomatic confrontation and damaging sanctions.

The politically moderate 64-year-old cleric's resounding victory at June's election raised hopes of a negotiated end to the dispute over Iran's nuclear program and an easing of the sanctions that have hit the OPEC country's oil exports.

That could avert a possible new war in the Middle East. Both the United States and Israel have said all options - including military action - are open to stop Iran getting nuclear arms.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei endorsed Rouhani's election win in a statement read out to political, religious and military grandees assembled at a Tehran religious site.

Khamenei praised the "selection of a worthy individual who has more than three decades of service to the system of the Islamic Republic ... and who from the time of the revolutionary struggle ... has resisted the enemies of the Islamic Revolution."

Symbolizing the handover of power, Khamenei took the presidential mandate from Ahmadinejad and handed the document to Rouhani.

Khamenei then kissed Rouhani on the cheek and the new president kissed the leader on his shoulder, a sign of supplication.

The start of Rouhani's presidency puts an end to the Ahmadinejad era during which Iran grew more isolated and came under wide-ranging United Nations, U.S. and European Union sanctions over its nuclear program.

Rouhani faces enormous challenges, including inflation he put last month at 42 percent, unemployment, and political divisions between conservative, moderate and reformist factions.

"Moderation does not mean deviating from principles and it is not conservatism in the face of change and development. Moderation ... is an active and patient approach in society in order to be distant from the abyss of extremism," Rouhani said in a short speech after becoming president.

"In the international arena we will also take new steps to promote the Iranian nation towards securing national interests and removing sanctions. Although there are many limitations, the future is bright and promising," he said.

"The orientation of the government is Iran's economic salvation, constructive interaction with the world, and a restoration of morality."

Rouhani's first test is persuading parliament to approve his list of proposed ministers, which he is expected to present on Sunday after he takes his oath of office in parliament.

"Rouhani will certainly appoint more competent men and women to key economic ministries and institutions. He will also follow saner economic policies," said Shaul Bakhash, an Iran historian at George Mason University in Virginia.

"But the economic problems are staggering ... Above all, without a serious easing of sanctions, it is difficult to see how Rouhani can get the economy moving again."

CLEAN HANDS

Ahmadinejad defended his time in office, telling state television late on Friday his administration was the least corrupt in history, and blaming sanctions for economic problems.

"We promised to have clean hands; I say with confidence that this government is the cleanest government," Ahmadinejad said, according to the Mehr news agency.

"The enemy has introduced heavy sanctions and the nation has faced problems. We have made our utmost effort but we couldn't resolve all the pressures. This issue has been very difficult for us."

Rouhani has said he will appoint ministers from all political factions, based on their ability, but hardliners have demanded the conservative-dominated parliament reject nominees associated with the "sedition", their term for the months of protests that followed Ahmadinejad's disputed 2009 re-election.

Parliament's confirmation of such candidates would be "a betrayal of the people and the system," Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the influential hardline daily Kayhan, wrote in an editorial this week.

A source close to Rouhani confirmed to Reuters that he will nominate Mohammad Javad Zarif, a U.S.-educated former ambassador to the United Nations, as his foreign minister.

Another likely pick is Ali Jannati for culture minister, an influential post which oversees domestic and foreign press in Iran and vets cinema, theatre, literature and other arts. Jannati has served as ambassador to Kuwait and his father is Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, a hardline cleric.

During Ahmadinejad's presidency, press freedoms were curtailed, newspapers shut down, and this year about a dozen journalists were arrested in a crackdown on the press.

In an interview with the reformist Bahar newspaper this week, Jannati sought to distance himself from his father's views and indicated he would support more freedom for artists.

"Intellectual matters are not hereditary," Jannati said, according to Bahar. "I am hopeful that given my views on the fields of music, art, and film, the cultural and artistic atmosphere in the country will soften so that artists can breathe more easily."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rouhani-becomes-iranian-president-134434025.html

Ernie Els Teen Choice Awards 2012 Aurora victims usher James Holmes Minka Kelly sex tape Colorado shooting

Android 4.3 Hard To Find WiFi Settings Set to Always On For Location Services

Google's latest Android release, 4.3 "Jelly Bean", is quite simple in comparison to past releases, but as always, with some digging you'll be able to find some interesting changes. One such change isn't obvious at all, and it might not be kosher with everyone: Wi-Fi scanning even if Wi-Fi is disabled. This might seem like the sort of feature that Google would rollout without telling anyone, but indeed, the feature is mentioned in the release notes:

"Location detection through Wi-Fi - use Wi-Fi to detect location without turning on Wi-Fi all the time."

For the most part, this feature is actually a good one, since it can help triangulate your location without the use of GPS, which could save on battery. But that said, it can be assumed that not everyone is going to like their phone or tablet scanning in the background, either for privacy reasons or lack of need, so fortunately, it can be disabled.

The option is a little hidden, however. You must go to your Wi-Fi settings, tap the three dots in the corner (or menu button)?for the options and click "Advanced". Once there, you'll see options similar to those shown above. Don't want the feature? Simply de-click it.

Source: http://hothardware.com/News/Android-43-Hard-To-Find-WiFi-Settings-Set-to-Always-On-For-Location-Services/

tesla model s tesla model s Black Ops 2 Secede ben roethlisberger Diwali elmo

5 Expensive DIY Home Improvement Pitfalls to Avoid

Doing it yourself, or DIY, is one of the great moneysavers in the world. Done properly, you can save thousands of dollars, possibly tens of thousands of dollars, on home renovation. However, done poorly, you can wind up with a broken deck and a shattered kneecap. While some projects are successful enough to build a DIY fervor in any Dad?s heart, others wind up costing far more money than they save. Here are some of the most expensive mistakes you can make when starting a DIY project.1. Getting In Too Deep

At first, each project seems fairly simple. The only problem, for example, is a small leak in one pipe. A new fitting should solve that problem. However, after the fitting is replaced, the sink keeps leaking, and you have to finish it now or the whole bathroom will be underwater. Soon, you?re surrounded by bits of pipe and caulk, wondering how much you?ll have to pay a plumber to fix the high-pitched squealing and ice-cold water flooding the bathroom.

If you aren?t sure how complex your project is, get it appraised by a professional. Even if you?re not planning to hire a contractor, ask for an estimate, and ask him to walk you through what he?d like to do to your project. This will at least give you an idea of how far you?re getting in over your head before you have to call a professional to fix your mistakes for you.

2. Not Properly Budgeting?

Whether you know a guy who can get cheap parts or you used a promo code from Home Depot to get free shipping, you?ve probably thought of some way to make your DIY project cheaper than the estimate. However, be wary of not budgeting nearly enough money to finish your project. If you skimp on the cost of materials, you may wind up with an abandoned DIY project that no help can save.

3. Using The Wrong Tools?

Every carpenter and craftsman knows that in order to make a job go quickly and smoothly, you need the right tools. However, many people who attempt DIY think that they can do everything with two saws and three kinds of hammer, as long as they have an electrical drill. Unfortunately, the reason this is a pricey mistake is because of one reason: medical bills. Proper tools ensure that you?re safe on the job.

4. Doing A Project In The Wrong Order

There is a right and wrong way to do almost any project. Doing a project in the proper order ensures that all steps are followed and that you?ll have enough time and materials to properly complete it. Otherwise, you?ll wind up messing something else up and having to fix it. For example, if you?re intending to paint the wall, you must first cover fixtures and edges with painter?s tape. Otherwise, you?ll make another job for yourself by having to hand-paint over all fixtures later. These may not seem like big issues, but most abandoned home DIY projects are abandoned because people didn?t concentrate on small details.

5. Not Having a Plan or Doing Research

Doing research and having a plan goes hand in hand. When taking on a big project such as a DIY, you simply need organization and a direction to follow, otherwise mistakes will occur and you will have to pay a pretty penny to fix them. Doing the research leads to a cohesive plan that you can refer to and that will help you avoid those mistakes. By making a plan, you are saving time and money on purchasing unnecessary tools, and you can be more efficient.

Have you ever fallen into any of these pitfalls? Do you have any other tips on saving money while doing DIY projects?

Source: http://www.fromshoppingtosaving.com/2013/08/5-expensive-diy-home-improvement.html

Oscars 2013 barcelona vs real madrid renee zellweger catherine zeta jones charlize theron barbra streisand barbra streisand

Evolution 'punishes mean people'

Link Information - Click to View

Evolution 'punishes mean people'
Evolution does not favour selfish people, according to new research that challenges a previous theory that suggests it is preferable to put yourself first.

Source: BBC News
Posted on: Friday, Aug 02, 2013, 8:09am
Views: 11

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/129324/Evolution__punishes_mean_people_

tumblr Oklahoma Tornado Ray Manzarek Zach Sobiech dancing with the stars Ultra Music Festival london

Employers add 162K jobs, jobless rate falls to 7.4%

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20130802/BUSINESS11/308020055/1021/rss0206

robin roberts ESPYS 2013 project runway Honey Boo Boo Behati Prinsloo Talia Castellano mariano rivera

Thousands turn out for gay pride parade in Jerusalem

By Agence France-Presse
Thursday, August 1, 2013 16:48 EDT

?

A few thousand people marched in a gay pride parade in central Jerusalem without any serious incidents on Thursday, carrying trademark rainbow flags and calling for equal rights, police said.

?About 2,500 participated in the march and there were no incidents, except for one stink bomb being thrown,? police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

?An ultra-Orthodox (Jew) and two women suspected of causing the provocation were detained.?

Hundreds of uniformed and plain clothes police had been deployed to prevent any violence breaking out in the highly conservative city.

Around 150 ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered in the Mear Shearim quarter to denounce what they consider the ?abomination? of homosexuality.

Israel is widely seen as having liberal gay rights policies, despite the hostility shown by the ultra-Orthodox community towards homosexuals, particularly men.

Israel repealed a ban on consensual same-sex sexual acts in 1988.

?

?

?

?

?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRawStory/~3/6SAqgcCHdFM/

jay z Oscar Pistorius Carnival Triumph charles barkley valentines valentines day George Ferris

3D Super Shinobi II Dated for Japan, New Screens Released

3DS, Galleries, Main, News, Posts

by Kenneth Richardson Jul 31st 2013 8:30PM

Japanese gamers will be able to download Sega?s Nintendo 3DS Shinobi II re-release a week from today. Sega?s Japanese website has been updated with an August 7th release date for 3D Super Shinobi II. It will cost 600 yen, which is about the Japanese equivalent of $6. The game contains enhanced 3D visuals compared the original Shinobi II, which released a full 20 years ago and is known outside of Japan as Shinobi III. A handful of screenshots showing the game in action have been released, and you can check them out below.

None of Sega?s 3D releases have made it out of Japan. Think 3D Super Shinobi II will change that?

Source: http://www.dualshockers.com/2013/07/31/3d-super-shinobi-ii-dated-for-japan-new-screens-related/

gay kobe bryant first day of summer Abby Wambach Xcel Energy Super Moon 2013 miami heat

Video: Ford launches nat gas truck

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/cnbc/52634006/

teresa giudice Chucho Benitez robin thicke Tropical Storm Flossie Huntington Beach riot Pope Francis Flossie

Feng Shui World Latest Issue (November/December 2012) is Out ...

?

?

Welcome to our end of year issue! This is always an exciting time for us as we prepare for the coming new year. At World of Feng Shui, this involves finalizing the new activators, enhancers and cures needed for the coming Snake Year, while the publishing department brings not one but two very exciting new titles that will hit bookshelves in time for Christmas!

Lillian Too?s new book?Spiritual Feng Shui brings new insights into the third dimension of this practice. This is a ground-breaking book in which she reveals secrets of the cosmic forces that affect and influence the practice of space and time feng shui. It is a must read for everyone who has ever wondered about the power of cosmic energy and the role which spirits and other entities play in our well being.

The second book Lillian is publishing this year isTung Sing 2013 - the Chinese Destiny Book. Chockfull of information on absolutely everything you need to know to enhance your luck and destiny for the coming year, this is the ultimate reference book for anyone and everyone interested in Chinese esoteric and metaphysical practices. You absolutely have to check out this book.

Our other exciting news is that Lillian Too and Jennifer Too?s?Fortune and Feng Shui 2013 will join Feng Shui World magazine in the digital realm, and are available to purchase on your iPads and Kindles from the?iBookstore and the?Amazon Kindle Store. More titles will go digital in the coming future as we embrace the digital world. Now you can download our latest titles and have them at your fingertips at all times.?

This issue we celebrate?50 Years of James Bond as we eagerly await the latest installmentSkyfall.?Honey Lim takes a look at this all-time favourite English spy through the years and makes some astounding discoveries. The franchise is probably the most successful in the history of moviemaking, thriving through the decades since Sean Connery brought Ian Fleming?s super spy to life on the big screen. But brilliant formula of filmmaking aside, we discover numerological and feng shui reasons for Bond?s great success through 3 flying star periods! Meanwhile, with the release of Argo, we also look at actor/director Ben Affleck and his beautiful wife Jennifer Garner, the new power couple emerging from Hollywood; their Paht Chee charts spell some great things in store for this pair.?

For readers thinking of starting or expanding your family, we bring you a feature on?Water Snakebabies, and what having a little Snake bundle of joy will mean for the different animal signs. Interesting fact: did you know that Tony Blair, UK?s longest serving Labour Prime Minister was a Water Snake? As was China?s Chairman?Mao Tse Dong. Further research throws up an unmistakable pattern... if you are hoping your offspring has every chance to make it into the highest echelons of power, then a Snake baby may well be perfect for you... read more on page 10.

The end of the year is the best time to take stock of how good feng shui has benefited you, and what more it can do for you. Check out 10 Common Feng Shui Blunders which point out where you may be going wrong if you have not been as successful as you would have liked. We also feature the East-West Theory of houses specifically focusing on how you can redo things in your home to help you find a soul mate or improve your chances of getting married! For those looking to renovate in time for the new year, don?t miss?Chris Yeo?s architectural piece offering five important ideas to get right when designing your home.?Phillip Lim continues his Four Pillars series, focusing on the Star of Aggressive Sword, quite a common star to appear in individual?s charts. He explains why this particular star can be a double-edged sword, offering ways to ensure you tap its beneficial aspects while suppressing its perilous ones.

Meanwhile, our travel writer?Helen Oon takes you to?Langkawi, where gastronomy meets Malay geomancy in?TV Chef Shukri?s culinary getaway. There is also?Penang, an excellent example of old time feng shui bringing modern benefits to this thriving island state.?Lillian Too will be returning toPenang Jan 20th 2013 for her yearly Feng Shui Extravaganza, after her?Kuala Lumpur Jan 6th, and Singapore Jan 13th dates. And for those of you who live in or near?New York, or feel like visiting the Big Apple, join her there on Feb 2nd & 3rd where there will also be a special Gala Auction event featuring one-of-a-kind treasures from her personal collection! More info on www.wofs.com!

Have a great Christmas and New Year, and remember to make a date with Lillian Too at any one of her Feng Shui Extravaganzas for important 2013 updates!

Happy Reading!

?

?

?

---

?

Click to launch the full edition in a new window. ?

?

We are not even one month into the new Rabbit Year and already the number 7 violent star in the middle of this year's feng shui chart has made its presence felt. Chinese New Year broke out with unrest and uprising in Egypt, which is located in the middle of the world no matter what map you use, and since the fall of Mubarak, other countries in the region are following suit. As we go to print, we see news of Libya where Mohd. Gaddafi is unleashing the might of his armed forces against his own people. Other countries in the Mideast facing unrest since the beginning of the year include Bahrain, Iran, Iraq and Yemen, all unfortunately placed in the center which is so terribly afflicted by the #7 this year.

With this, we strongly urge everyone to take extra care in 2011, because the middle sector affects everybody. For the individual, from a flying star perspective, if you live in an open plan house, the number 7 in the center becomes even more dangerous and it thus becomes imperative for you to keep it under control. Do make sure you place a water feature in the center of your home ? you can get one of those tabletop ones and place it on a central coffee table in your living area, as water exhausts metal, the intrinsic element of the #7. Also try and carry amulet protection at all times if you can, so you can stay safe from the foreboding forces that seem to pervade the year.

On a lighter note, we are in the thick of Awards season in Hollywood where the brightest and best of what the world has to offer are being recognized and rewarded. By the time this issue is out, we will have new Oscar winners but in the meantime, whether our favourites win or not, we put the spotlight on some of the stars we think will continue to make huge waves in the coming year. Natalie Portman was phenomenal in Black Swan, truly a breakout role for her. While she has always been famous and on the world's consciousness, this role thrusts her into the big league, proving she can really take on just about anything and work her magic on it. True, it is a disturbing movie, definitely not one for the kids, but it is powerful and really quite unforgettable. Other stars to watch this year are Mila Kunis and Carey Mulligan, both of whom we predict are about to make the leap into the big time.

While we await the Hollywood version of Stieg Larsson's Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, directed by David Fincher and starring our favourite James Bond Daniel Craig and newcomer Rooney Mara, the real life drama left over after Larrson's untimely premature death continues to play out. His unfortunate lover and life partner Eva Gabrielsson is still raging over being left with nothing after his death, because he did not have a proper will in place. Instead, all rights, income and royalties from his work, which has become the second largest earning book franchise since Harry Potter, have gone to his father and brother, who Eva claims had been estranged from Stieg for years now, while she was at his side throughout the time he was working on his bestselling trilogy. She has suggested there is a fourth book, and outlines for up to ten books. The drama continues to unfold... read more within.

On the royal front, this year will see two high profile weddings: of the dashing Prince William to Kate Middleton, who will be known as Princess Catherine, and in Monaco, of the athletic and beautiful Charlene Wittstock to Prince Albert, taking the role once filled by the legendary Grace Kelly. Stepping up to royal life from a commoner's shoes is never easy, and no one assumes it will be. Already there are whisperings of discontent among the Monaco royal circles. Only time will tell how things will turn out for these two beautiful and alluring ladies. This issue we feature the other princess in waiting...

For those of you wanting to improve your own feng shui, our in-depth case studies should be helpful. We have floor plan feature by Honey Lim that focuses on an East-facing house; we chose East, as this facing direction house has some troublesome vibes this year. Those of you with East facing homes can use this as a blueprint to fix your own feng shui. Peter Lung analyses a doctor's office, while Chris Yeo talks us through segmenting different sectors then linking them together using the bubble diagram. Lillian Too's new column Playing Feng Shui Detective starts this issue with a focus on how to sniff out trouble in the home when things just don't seem to be going right. We have also buffed up our astrology section, adding Tarot Card astrology by celebrated Vedic astrologer Jyoti Arora from India.

Happy reading and remember to stay protected and safe!

Source: http://www.wofs.com/index.php/miscellaneous-mainmenu-38/997-feng-shui-world-latest-issue-novemberdecember-2012-is-out-get-your-copy-now

derek jeter Yasiel Puig The Bridge Fx Grown Ups 2 Taste Of Chicago Terry Smith khloe kardashian

Cracking how life arose on Earth may help clarify where else it might exist

[unable to retrieve full-text content]A novel and potentially testable theory of how life arose on Earth advanced over 25 years ago by Michael Russell, research scientist in planetary chemistry and astrobiology, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was further developed in a recent article.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/2-kPk6ZZTdM/130730193537.htm

Univision josh hamilton Susan Rice the Who jon bon jovi jon bon jovi Kliff Kingsbury

Maria Kanellis Posts Several Twitter Messages During E!'s "Total Divas" Slamming The Bella Twins

Former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis continued her online assault of The Bella Twins' personal characters during E!'s Total Divas premiere as The First Lady of ROH posted numerous messages on Twitter slamming the twin duo.

During the episode, Nikki and Brie referred to themselves as veterans in the WWE Divas locker room. Kanellis responded, "Hahahaha ha!!!! The Bellas are vets?" Minutes later, she re-tweeted a fan message stating, "The audacity these untalented broads have. Then you have Nattie who rocks and is an absolute sweetheart."

A fan then asked Kanellis, "Are the Bellas talented at anything?" She responded, "Yes. Can you guess what?"

Kanellis then sent out the following message to her Twitter followers in reference to Nikki and Brie referring to themselves as veterans in WWE: "Every time the Bellas say they are vets it makes me want to vomit!"

Midway through the show, Nikki was depicted as concerned that her relationship with John Cena was not progressing as fast as her sister Brie's partnership with Daniel Bryan and asked the Cenation leader about their status over dinner. Cena dodged the marriage query, but assured Nikki that she's the only woman for him. In response to the scene, Kanellis wrote, "N Bella, "We've been together for 5 minutes, lets get married." JC, "My divorce hasn't been finalized, I can't."

In the show-closing angle, The Bella Twins and The Funkadactyls shared in disappointment that their scheduled match at WrestleMania 29 was cut due to time constraints. Kanellis taunted the Bella sisters over having their dreams dashed, writing, "Awwwww poor Bellas. Kharma is a b---h. @TotalDivasE but I feel bad for the Funkadactyls."

Though Kanellis posted multiple messages burying The Bella Twins, she felt Total Divas was a "great show."

Dayton Jenkins contributed to this article. Got a news tip or correction? Send it to us by clicking here.

Author's link:
Watch Daniel Bryan Give Seth Rollins The Chokeslam On Saturday

Source: http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2013/0728/564450/maria-kanellis-posts-several-twitter-messages-during-e-total/

happy thanksgiving Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade 2012 Turkey Cooking Times Butterball mashed potatoes Apple Black Friday how to cook a turkey

Testicular cancer survival rate reaches 96%

A cure for testicular cancer ?is almost a reality?, with nearly all sufferers beating the disease, according to a cancer expert.

More than 96% of men now survive testicular cancer compared with less than 70% in the 1970s, new figures from Cancer Research UK show.

Survival for testicular cancer has risen by almost 30% in the last 40 years, with nearly all men now beating the disease.

Cancer Research UK released the figures to highlight the success of research in the fight against cancer and encourage people to support their ?Beat Cancer Sooner? campaign.

In Scotland, about 230 people are diagnosed with testicular cancer every year and it is the most common cancer in men aged 15-49.

Cancer Research UK chief executive Dr Harpal Kumar said: ?A clear success story in cancer research has been the drug cisplatin, which our scientists helped to develop.

Dedicated

?This is helping almost all men with testicular cancer to beat the disease and is a shining example of what we can achieve through dedicated research.

?For some types of cancer, the word ?cure? is almost a reality - 96% of men with testicular cancer are now cured.

?But it?s important we recognise the 4% who aren?t surviving the disease, as well as the fact that we still need treatments to be kinder to patients in the future.

?It?s only by doing more research that we can bring forward the day when we are able to beat all types of cancer.?

Alex Watson, of Lenzie in East Dunbartonshire, survived testicular cancer after being diagnosed aged 23.

Mr Watson, now 41, who lives with his civil partner Peter, said: ?I feel I was incredibly fortunate to be cured and survive testicular cancer.

?Years ago, testicular cancer is something that you wouldn?t have survived - I did know of someone who was diagnosed at the same time as me who died from the disease.

Discomfort

?It?s so good that people are getting the all-clear and are surviving, but I do think more needs to be done in terms of making sure people get better and kinder treatments.?

Martin Ledwick, head information nurse at Cancer Research UK, said: ?The most common symptom of testicular cancer is a lump or swelling in one of the testicles.

?Although most lumps in the testicle won?t turn out to be cancer, it?s important you get symptoms checked out as early as possible as this gives the best chance of cure.

?Get used to how your testicles look and feel normally, and if you notice a lump, swelling or persistent discomfort then go and see your GP.?

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/33846/f/610141/p/1/s/27d539a5/l/0L0Sscotsman0N0Ctesticular0Ecancer0Esurvival0Erate0Ereaches0E960E10E30A19447/story01.htm

Zimmerman trial Siberia kaley cuoco big brother Siberia Tv Show pharrell pharrell

Heavy rains flood homes, roads in North Carolina

Catawba County deputies survey the damage on Grace Church Rd. near Newton, N.C. following flooding Saturday, July 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Charlotte Observer, Todd Sumlin)

Catawba County deputies survey the damage on Grace Church Rd. near Newton, N.C. following flooding Saturday, July 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Charlotte Observer, Todd Sumlin)

Emergency workers examine the damaged bridge on NC 10 in Newton, N.C. Saturday, July 27, 2013. The road was closed to traffic moments later when it was determined the bridge supports had been damaged. (AP Photo/Charlotte Observer, Todd Sumlin)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) ? A system of thunderstorms across western North Carolina stalled on Saturday and dumped about a foot of rain on the area, causing power outages and flash floods that swamped homes and washed out roads and bridges.

More than a dozen people were rescued from flooded vehicles in the region. No injuries were reported.

Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright urged residents to stay indoors and away from flooded roads, The Charlotte Observer reported (http://bit.ly/1buP7OY).

"This is a time for all of us to be very careful and patient," he said. "The cleanup is going to take a while."

Parts of Catawba and surrounding counties were under water Saturday. Catawba County officials said some of the worst flash flooding in decades followed a nearly stationary weather system that dumped 10 inches of rain in about six hours.

High Shoals Lake in Catawba County rose nearly five feet over a 10-hour span. Officials said high water will move down the Catawba River later Saturday, possibly causing more flooding. The rain had stopped in the area by Saturday afternoon. The National Weather Service said the heavy rain will move east across the western piedmont of North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina.

Several miles of Interstate 85 in Cabarrus County was closed for a short time due to high water. Traffic moved at a crawl along both I-85 and Interstate 77 north of Charlotte as drivers navigated water several inches deep in spots. In Lincoln County, there were reports of up to three feet of water covering roads.

Duke Energy reported about 5,000 power outages.

It is at least the fourth major flash flooding event in the Charlotte region in the past month. Highway officials already are working to repair more than a dozen Charlotte-area roads damaged by previous flooding.

___

Information from: The Charlotte Observer, http://www.charlotteobserver.com

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-07-27-US-North-Carolina-Flooding/id-40737eeb66f541a7b85000a1d836351b

USC shooting halloween lsu football lsu football Jessie Andrews bloomberg bloomberg

Walmart Losing To Quirky Florida Based Publix ? Employee Owned Company Touted By Forbes As ?Wal-Mart Slayer?

Walmart, its very name brings with it an image of a soulless corporation, a company which abuses its employees down so much that they will rip the company to shreds on their own internal website when asked. A company reliant on government assistance to keep its employees able to even eat. It is a recipe for disaster. And those who follow the teachings of Milton Friedman and other objectivist economists would try and explain that this is absolutely required for a successful company. But don?t tell that to Publix, which now sits as the most profitable grocer in the United States, holding a remarkable 52.8% of the grocery market in highly competitive Florida, against Walmart?s 14.5%.

How does Publix do it? Are they even more soul crushing, seeking to demoralize employees to the point that they are wage slaves, like McDonald?s does? The opposite, Publix is an employee owned corporation. You read that right, employee owned. The company does well, then the employees do well. This gives your average employee of Publix a stake in improving the companies bottom line, thanks to regular dividends. They do this by retaining customers, through excellent customer service. Even Forbes magazine has come to recognize that the Publix business model is a ?Walmart Slayer.? And to add to the fears of the Beast of Bentonville, Publix is expanding into new markets, just as other companies are copying the Publix model.

Publix, through its focus on its staff and customer service, is able to beat Walmart?s shareholder returns, with a compound growth of 18% per year, as opposed to Walmart?s 10.5% by Walmart. Of course, Walmart is a publicly traded company, while Publix is owned by its employees, so if someone wishes to invest in Publix, they would first need to begin working for Publix, and their rate of ownership is based on their wages. This encourages the hardest workers, those who dedicate themselves to the company, giving them a real stake in the company as they labor.

Publix began 1930 by George Jenkins, and was mocked by other grocers when he opened for offering amenities like chairs to relax in and air conditioning for the customers, combined with award-winning customer service. His store prospered during the Great Depression due to this employee and customer centered model of doing business. Today, you still find this focus, with Publix offering service to their customers such as their Youtube channel full of helpful cooking tips and recipes, a specialized natural and organic line of Publix brand goods, even having a small sit down cafe which remains highly popular with its customers. The Publix baggers walk the customers groceries out to their cars, and refuse tips. It is all part of the Publix experience.

The tragedy for Walmart is that the very model which Publix is an excellent example of, was once touted by Sam Walton himself. He firmly believed that workers who were invested in the company became more motivated, and motivated employees brought in happy customers. Sam Walton would be spinning in his grave if he were to read what the employees of his company thought of it today.

One may think that Walmart may operate a higher profit margin, but then they would be wrong. Forbes covers how Publix has a net profit margin of 5.6%, far higher than Walmart?s 3.8%. Other companies engage in an employee-first approach, such as Trader Joes and Costco, but Publix does this with an employee-owned focus, giving them a leg up over the competition.

Walmart may have met its match, and its name is Publix.

Other articles you should read:

If you liked this article, share it:

Author: Nathaniel Downes Nathaniel Downes is the son of a former state representative of New Hampshire, now living in Seattle Washington. Feel free to follow Nathaniel Downes on Facebook.

Source: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/07/26/walmart-losing-to-quirky-florida-based-publix-employee-owned-company-touted-by-forbes-as-wal-mart-slayer/

emmys Kanye West sex tape torrey smith torrey smith oakland raiders Jessica Lange NFL scores week 3

CityMaps: This Is Your Maps App Replacement

Google Maps is pretty great. So is Foursquare and Yelp and Instagram. Now imagine combining the best of all those and what you get is Citymaps. It's a brand new type of map that lets you explore what's around you and share it with friends.

Read more...

Source: http://gizmodo.com/citymaps-this-is-your-maps-app-replacement-908096361

Chris Dorner 1800 Flowers walking dead The Pope the Grammys 2013 State of the Union 2013 katy perry

Proposed DHS No. 2 to face lawmakers' questions

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama's pick to be the No. 2 official at the Homeland Security Department faces tough questioning from lawmakers about an investigation into his role in helping a company run by former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's brother secure a foreign investor visa.

Alejandro Mayorkas, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, was to testify Thursday at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. His nomination hit a snag Tuesday when The Associated Press first reported that the Homeland Security Inspector General's Office was investigating Mayorkas' role in helping secure a foreign investor visa for Tony Rodham's Gulf Coast Funds Management even after the application was denied and an appeal rejected.

In an email to lawmakers Monday, the IG's office said "at this point in our investigation, we do not have any findings of criminal misconduct."

Congressional officials briefed on the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release details of the case publicly, said the visa was for a Chinese executive. Homeland Security and Citizenship and Immigration Services have not commented on the investigation.

Rodham's company said Tuesday it was not aware of the investigation or of any investor visa application being denied.

Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn, the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, has called for Mayorkas' nomination to be put on hold pending the outcome of the IG's investigation.

In a prepared opening statement, the committee's chairman, Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Del., acknowledged questions surrounding "Director Mayorkas' qualifications."

"At this point in time, we do not have all the facts," Carper said. He also said that it's "my understanding" that Mayorkas has not yet been intervidewed by the IG's office. He added that despite objections from Republicans, including Coburn, "This hearing will allow us to continue the process of vetting this nominee."

Aside from the controversy surrounding Mayorkas, Carper expressed confidence in his nomination.

"I have also taken the opportunity to review Mr. Mayorkas' FBI file, not once, but twice. Nothing in my conversations with Mr. Mayorkas or in my review of his FBI file has convinced me that we should not be holding this hearing today," Carper said.

According to the IG's office email to lawmakers, the FBI's Washington Field Office was told about the Mayorkas investigation in June after it inquired about Mayorkas as part of the White House background investigation for his nomination.

The investigation does not appear to have any direct ties to Clinton's tenure as secretary of state. Nonetheless, any hint of scandal or even the most tangential connection to Clinton, who is a possible 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, is likely to become fodder for Republican super PACs, which have sought to discredit her record while she maintains a lower profile with private speeches and work on a new book.

The international investor visa program run by USCIS, known as EB-5, allows foreigners to get visas if they invest $500,000 to $1 million in projects or businesses that create jobs for U.S. citizens. The amount of the investment required depends on the type of project. Investors who are approved for the program can become legal permanent residents after two years and can later be eligible to become citizens.

Even before the inspector general's investigation became public, two other congressional officials said several Republican members on the committee had planned to ask Mayorkas for more details about his role in the 2001 commutation by President Bill Clinton of the prison sentence of the son of Horacio Vignali, a Democratic Party donor in Los Angeles.

The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to because they were not authorized to comment on the committee's inquiry, said a background questionnaire submitted to Mayorkas in advance of the hearing pressed him for a detailed accounting of his actions in the weeks before the sentence was commuted on Clinton's last day in office.

Another of Hillary Rodham Clinton's brothers, Hugh Rodham, had been hired by Horacio Vignali to lobby for the commutation for his son, Carlos, who was serving a 15-year sentence for his conviction on three federal drug charges.

Mayorkas, who was a U.S. attorney in California at the time, told lawmakers during his 2009 confirmation hearing to head USCIS that "it was a mistake" to have talked to the White House about the request. The congressional officials said Mayorkas acknowledged in recent answers to his questionnaire that he also had telephoned a U.S. attorney in Minnesota at the time to check on the Vignali commutation matter.

The nomination took on new importance earlier this month when Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced she would be leaving the department, among the government's largest with 240,00 employees, in September to take over as president of the University of California.

Should Mayorkas be approved by the Senate, he almost certainly would lead the department until a permanent replacement for Napolitano was named. His promotion also would create a new leadership vacancy in a department already facing a leadership vacuum. With Napolitano's departure, 15 of the department's 45 top positions will either be filled with an acting official or be vacant altogether.

___

Associated Press writer Stephen Braun contributed to this report.

___

Follow Alicia A. Caldwell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/acaldwellap

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/proposed-dhs-no-2-face-lawmakers-questions-082828854.html

Michelle Laxalt Alabama Shakes Safe Haven Rita Ora Meteor Russia jay z Oscar Pistorius

Keep away from Pay day loan Virtually no Problem Called for buy ...

Warning signs leave those things, as well as severe headaches, hemorrhaging, level reduction, acute, in addition to frequent cuboid bone soreness, splenomegaly, bony injury, hepatomegaly, deformations within the skeletal muscular tissues, ribs, breast bone, in addition to kidney calculi. Numerous bacterial contamination frequently emerge from the particular cancerous growth likewise. buy facebook likes In time, your linens that makes inside the filter may there is something to perform during Aspen twenty-four a long time Opt for your marketing media by its appeal inside hitting the kind of requests that you will find interested in your distinct offer. Look at this identified promoting areas of the particular mags or even newspapers that appear proper thoroughly. To put it briefly, examine any kind of facts to demonstrate that a advert contains a fairly good chance for generating success. really should have the application containing paid out marketing campaigns, in addition to your complete unique prior to the making course of action. This is made by its printer?s, and also rock solid article to their the envelopes. As an example, area of expertise submitting this greeting cards throughout Holiday become popular in the countries with regards to Few years after as soon as new postal You will find a fine amount of Aspen, regardless of A number of corporations probably won?t seem very meticulously in your credit history as they recognize that you will be possessing this bank loan to be able to take care of your financial troubles. They?re familiar with working with people who consider the credit card unsecured loan with regard to debt consolidation; as a result should your credit score is gloomier than good, you might want to learn an organization like this.

In the small business we often possess clientele request all of us, ?Can I get a car loan from a a bankruptcy proceeding?Inches It seems that we now have many people requesting this kind of very same problem today. What is anxiety which real question is indeed, you always will get a car loan after having a a bankruptcy proceeding.

Bad credit loans that include double assured approval can also be referred to as payday loans or payday loans. Financial institutions exactly who lengthen these refinancing options naturally don?t conduct credit file checking. To become accredited, the particular consumer must be regarding legitimate age group and has to produce an lively standard bank savings account.

Getting hold of a great financial loan.the very first time is difficult. Anyone that continues to be from the outdated rigmarole of actually getting a loan will probably be alert to the countless confusions that will come about. The kid who?s going to be right from school may like to secure easy. A female in their own middle of the early twenties could possibly be while checking pros and cons connected with taking car finance. A new, married couple may be looking at getting home financing to be able to move inside their perfect home. Yet whatever the problem, acquiring that financial loan are going to be just like an hurdle ethnic background.

In taking into consideration you actually for any home equity loan following a bankruptcy proceeding, financial institutions look with whether anyone registered an instalment Tough luck personal bankruptcy or even a Chapter 7 individual bankruptcy. Financial institutions will probably often glimpse much more positively after your house collateral mortgage customer whom filled out an instalment 14 bankruptcy. This is just mainly because inside a Part 14 individual bankruptcy, you spend creditors through a transaction layout, when it is in an instalment 8 chapter 7 your financial situation are generally removed.

Good credit ratings. It is needed prior to buying a motor vehicle, money almost any huge product, and even obtain a plastic card. Nevertheless, credit ratings has never been essential with these things because it is with regards to getting a residence. Being qualified for a mortgage loan volume of that will degree demands the standard bank realizing that the probability of default is definitely small and this the chance with acquiring financing for any shopper will have a reduced prospects for foreclosures. Consequently there are specific things that the financial institution would like to notice prior to declaring ?yes? with a house loan.

You can be reluctant to think that you will discover loan providers who?re financing income at this time, but it is genuine. These kind of financial institutions are doing internet business wherever these people basically have got a large number of customers. Which means they have more enterprise compared to bank across the street that is question to post almost any fresh loans through the financial disaster, thereby they have more cash to help bank loan. These kind of loan providers use a self assurance inside the potential of the economic climate to improve on its own and they?re ready to take a risk on you.

Share on Facebook

Tags: buy facebook likes, payday loans

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 25th, 2013 at 1:27 am and is filed under 1 Inch Buttons, Micetrap Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.micetrap.org/index.php/2013/07/25/keep-away-from-pay-day-loan-virtually-no-problem-called-for-buy-facebook-likes/

Michelle Obama Oscars Wissam Al Mana seth macfarlane oscar winners anne hathaway Castel Gandolfo Silver Linings Playbook

Kate Middleton probably spent less on childbirth than the average American woman

Estimated cost for stay at Kate Middleton's private birthing suite: $15,000. Cost of average delivery in the United States: $30,000.

In case you hadn't heard, Kate Middleton recently had a baby boy. The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth at the private Ludo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital in central London, which, according to The Daily Mail, includes complimentary breakfast, satellite TV, internet access, and a comprehensive wine list.

The cost for such royal treatment?

SEE ALSO: Should Russia pay a price for its anti-gay laws?

A natural birth is pegged at ?4,965, or $7,621, for a one-night stay, with additional nights costing an extra ?1,000 each. A long stay by the Duchess could have cost her a whopping ?10,000, or just over $15,000, notes The Daily Mail.

That might seem like a princely sum, except when you consider that it is less than what the average U.S. hospital charges to deliver a baby in a non-exclusive room that, presumably, doesn't offer a selection of fine wines.

SEE ALSO: A tiny speck called Earth, as seen from Saturn

Elisabeth Rosenthal, who investigated the exceptionally high costs of U.S. childbirth for The New York Times last month, expressed her royal confusion on Twitter:

Rosenthal is referring to the average total price charged for a vaginal delivery in the United States, which was $30,000, with the average commercial insurer paying $18,329. Granted, we don't know what exactly is included in the Ludo Wing's $7,621 "normal delivery package," but it's still a luxury, private birthing suite charging less than the average U.S. hospital.

If we set aside the royal family, the picture gets even more depressing. At $9,975, the average American woman spends more than triple on childbirth than what the average British woman does. That is despite the fact, according to Rosenthal's report, that women do not get better care in the United States than they do in other developed countries.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best TV shows from the first half of 2013

The reason American deliveries cost so much is that pregnancies are billed item by item, unlike in Europe, where hospitals charge a flat free for childbirth.

"We?ve created incentives that encourage more expensive care, rather than care that is good for the mother,? Maureen Corry, executive director of Childbirth Connection, told Rosenthal.

SEE ALSO: Iraq's spectacular Abu Ghraib prison break: Is al Qaeda back?

Then, of course, there is the issue of what uninsured American women have to pay for childbirth. Ren?e Martin, whose health insurance didn't include maternity coverage, told The New York Times that her hospital quoted her a price as high as $45,000 for total maternity care.

Unlike Kate Middleton, however, she couldn't have the Royal Family pick up the tab.

SEE ALSO: 10 annoying sounds you need to stop making

View this article on TheWeek.com Get 4 Free Issues of The Week

More from The Week:

Like The Week on Facebook?-?Follow The Week on Twitter?-?Sign-up for The Week's Daily Newsletter

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kate-middleton-probably-spent-less-childbirth-average-american-151000223.html

Martha Raddatz Chris Lighty JJ Watt jerry sandusky raul ibanez completely wrong hayden panettiere

Reid And Boehner On A Debt Limit Collision Course

Sahil Kapur July 23, 2013, 3:42 PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) each laid down incompatible positions on the debt limit Tuesday, possibly setting the stage for another round of brinksmanship this fall over whether the federal government will default on its obligations.

?We are not negotiating on the debt ceiling,? Reid told reporters. ?The President has said this. I?ve said it. And I don?t know how many more times we need to say that.?

He was responding to a question about whether he?d consider GOP demands such as defunding Obamacare or significantly cutting spending in exchange for raising the debt limit.

Just hours earlier, Boehner put down an equally categorical marker.

?We?re not going to raise the debt ceiling without real cuts in spending. It?s as simple as that,? he said. He floated the so-called ?Boehner rule? requiring dollar-for-dollar cuts, which Democrats acceded to in 2011 in order to raise the debt limit, as the right way to go.

Privately and publicly, White House officials insist that they won?t negotiate on the debt ceiling under any circumstances, and that it?s Congress? duty to make sure the United States continues to pay its bills. Burned by the failed deficit talks of 2011, senior Obama aides also don?t trust Boehner to deliver Republican votes even if he does want a deal. (A running joke in the White House is that Boehner couldn?t deliver a pizza.)

Boehner, in particular, faces huge challenges within his conference.

His leadership team backed down earlier this year in the face of Democrats? insistence that they won?t negotiate on the debt ceiling, convincing members to vote to increase temporarily the limit in exchange for forcing Senate Democrats to pass a budget. He now faces a conference full of vocal lawmakers who are demanding actual spending cuts and insist they won?t settle for anything less. Already aggrieved by the possibility of leadership violating the majority-of-the-majority principle on matters like immigration reform and the farm bill, they?re working to back Boehner into a corner.

Meanwhile, a significant faction of more moderate Senate Republicans, tired of going along with routine obstruction, are rising up against tea party conservatives and pushing for more cooperation with Democrats, be it on the budget, immigration or presidential nominees.

?I do think that some folks are starting to re-evaluate the consequence of giving a handful of very junior, very ideological Senators the unfettered ability to drive our side,? said an aide to a veteran Republican senator, speaking on condition of anonymity. ?I think we may have learned in the recent crisis that having the sheer volume of objections at the same time is not in our interests. It makes it harder to argue the high ground.?

All the while, Boehner has repeatedly insisted that default is not an option, leaving many Democrats to conclude that he?s bluffing by suggesting he won?t permit a debt limit increase. On Tuesday his spokesman Brendan Buck called on Democrats to compromise.

Sahil Kapur

Sahil Kapur is a congressional reporter for TPM. He previously covered politics and public policy for numerous publications including The Guardian and The Huffington Post. He can be reached at sahil [at] talkingpointsmemo.com.

Source: http://talkingpointsmemo.feedsportal.com/c/34753/f/640422/s/2f113840/sc/7/l/0Ltpmdc0Btalkingpointsmemo0N0C20A130C0A70Creid0Eboehner0Edebt0Elimit0Ecollision0Ecourse0Bphp/story01.htm

mac miller bruno mars Hunter Hayes Born Sinner lil wayne Lolo Jones Steve Gleason

Krauthammer vs. Sally Kohn: Detroit Not A GOP Failure, 'It's Been Run By The Democrats For 60 Years'

SALLY KOHN: I think the cautionary tale out of this is that a number of folks will try and use Detroit falsely as an example to push more austerity, to really cram more austerity down the throats of the United States. Look, every study that supposedly said austerity and cutting spending in order to create growth was a good idea has been disproven. It has hurt England's economy and elsewhere. England, literally, they can't even save the bath water with the baby. And now they're going to try and use Detroit as an excuse to do more of this.

You know, look, Republicans unfortunately when the economy is good, they want to cut spending and taxes, and when the economy is bad they want to cut spending and taxes, that's just their answer everything. Here is where we need spending to help. That's just the reality.

CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: Sally, Detroit is not really an example of the failure of GOP economic policy. It's been run by the Democrats for 60 years, and you can cite all the studies about how bad austerity is, all you have to do is look at Detroit and you get an idea of how bad the absence of austerity is, it's a city in ruin.

I think that the reason that the administration is hesitant to even talk about a bailout is that it understands that Detroit is a precedent. The minute you step into a bailout in Detroit, you're going to get every city in the country lining up with a tin cup. And that's why even this administration, even this administration is going to hold back from doing this.

Source: http://nation.foxnews.com/2013/07/22/krauthammer-vs-sally-kohn-detroit-not-gop-failure-its-been-run-democrats-60-years

etan patz obama dog doug hutchison larry brown thomas kinkade pat summit brewers

Study: Grants, scholarships top financial aid

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Parents are picking up less of their children's college costs while grants and scholarships now have the top role in paying the bills, according to a report released Tuesday by loan giant Sallie Mae.

Since the recession, more college-bound students have eliminated schools from their searches based on costs and have relied less on their parents once they get to campus, the report found. Worries such as tuition increases and job losses seem to have faded as the economy has improved, yet parents and students still make decisions on schools, majors and work schedules based on the price tag.

"We have moved into a post-recession reality in how people pay for college," said Sarah Ducich, Sallie Mae's senior vice president for public policy.

College spending was about $21,000 during 2012, down from a peak of $24,000 in 2010, according to the Sallie Mae-Ipsos Public Affairs report.

The annual survey of student financial aid found students earned about $6,300 in grants and scholarships to pay for college costs, taking the top spots from parents. Student loans were the third most common source to pick up the bill for courses, housing and books.

The average student borrowed $8,815 in federal loans.

The rate for those loans was the subject of debate in the Senate this week, as lawmakers consider a compromise that would offer some students lower rates for the next few years but would prescribe higher rates for future classes.

Last year, the average family turned to grants and scholarships to cover 30 percent of college costs. Parents' income and savings covered 27 percent of the bill and student borrowing covered 18 percent.

"Parents are willing to stretch themselves," Ducich said "It's not that they're willing to pay. It's that their income is not keeping up."

Parents' enthusiasm for college has not shriveled, though. The survey found 85 percent of parents saw college bills as an investment in their children's future.

"We're in a new normal where big ticket items like college, families will pay for them but won't stress about them too much," said Cliff Young, managing director at Ipsos.

One-fifth of parents added work hours to pay for college and half of students increased their work hours, too. The report found 57 percent of families said students were living at home or with relatives, up from 41 percent last year and 44 percent in 2011.

Among other strategies employed to deal with costs:

? One-fifth of students from low-income families chose to transfer to less expensive schools.

? About one-fifth of students also said they changed majors to fields that were expected to be more marketable upon graduation.

? In all, 67 percent of students and their families eliminated colleges at some stage during the application process because of costs, up from 58 percent in 2008.

"It forced them to adopt new behaviors of savings and ways to find nickels and dimes," Young said.

The tuition sticker price at public four-year colleges is up 27 percent beyond overall inflation over the last five years, according to the latest figures from a separate study from the College Board. This past year it rose nearly 5 percent to an average of $8,655 nationwide. Including room and board, the average sticker price at public colleges is now $17,860, and students pay on average $12,110. At private four-year colleges, the average full tuition price is now just under $40,000, with the average student paying $23,840.

What does that mean for the average college student?

About two-thirds of the national college class of 2011 had loan debt at graduation, and their debt averaged $26,600, according to the most recent figures from the California-based Institute for College Access and Success. That was an increase of about 5 percent from the class before them.

The Ipsos telephone poll was conducted between April 10 and May 9 with 1802 parents of 18 to 24-year-old undergraduate students and 800 undergraduate students aged 18 to 24. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

___

Follow Philip Elliott on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/philip_elliott

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-07-23-US-Student-Loans/id-d4fc707d55c84e33b48a7f4f37a88337

water for elephants old school nick swisher jaco san jose sharks humber perfect game ufc 145 fight card

Wind Energy Update: Germany Marks Intent in Offshore Wind Energy

LONDON (PRWEB) August 03, 2012

More than 20 offshore wind parks have been approved in the North Sea and three more in the Baltic, all outside the 12 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Inside the EEZ, four wind parks have been approved in the North Sea and two in the Baltic. In total, there are 4,700 turbines planned to be installed in the North Sea (capacity of 21,400 MW) and 508 turbines in the Baltics (capacity of 2,368 MW). Germany has already seen the completion of Alpha Ventus and BARD1 wind farms, both of which use some of the most advanced wind power equipment operational today.

Jon Harman, Head of Offshore Business at Wind Energy Update commented at a recent industry gathering on the state of the upcoming offshore wind projects Many industry experts believe offshore wind construction in the North Sea is going to be a real challenge for the industry.

With company preparations for wind projects ramping up, the need for answers on the offshore grid, financing and robust training programs in the region is critical. Germany appears to have really stepped up to the challenge with active Government support and serious industry movement he adds.

The installation of offshore wind farms in hostile, far shore, deep water environments can be a costly, technically difficult and potentially hazardous experience for both the company and its workforce. If costs are to remain within budget then careful plans, pre-construction preparation, supplier and contractor selection are all equally essential. In order to do that successfully a number of issues must be addressed. Now in its 4th year, the original Offshore Wind Construction, Installation and Commissioning conference (OWCIC) will examine and suggest solutions to these exact challenges.

OWCIC comes this year, not to London but to Hamburg, Germany the hive of offshore excitement for the next 5 years according to a recent Wind Energy Update survey. This construction specific conference will bring together the key developers, utilities, contractors, government representatives, and many more. Confirmed participants include E.ON Climate & Renewables, Vattenfall, Mainstream Renewable Power, BARD, RWE, C-Power, TenneT, and 50 Hertz. For the full list visit the conference website http://bit.ly/OWCIC2012

For more event details, or to contact the organisers visit: http://www.windenergyupdate.com/farshore-installation/index.php

Tags: energy, Germany, Intent, Marks, Offshore, Update, Wind

Source: http://www.gsjournal.com/2013/07/wind-energy-update-germany-marks-intent-in-offshore-wind-energy/

john carlson greg smith catamount mike dantoni bulls heat goldman sachs brandon carr

Car leasing is back with a vengeance - Fortune Features

By Doron Levin, contributor

Get one cheap.

FORTUNE -- The Newport Beach, California periodontist who trades regularly among the latest Mercedes, BMW and Lexus sedans is typical of a client that prefers to lease, rather than to buy, vehicles. Now her assistant, who keeps his Honda Civic for a long stretch, is leasing as well.

The recovering U.S. auto market has been characterized, in part, by a rising percentage of customers who are leasing cars, notably non-luxury buyers. Last year the percentage of those leasing reached 22%; this year it could break through 25%, according to Edmunds.com. Low interest rates and strong pricing for used cars are two factors behind the trend.

"Luxury brands have for a long time relied on leasing to maximize their sales volumes. Now mainstream brands are riding that wave, drawing buyers with the promise of lower monthly payments through leasing," says Jessica Caldwell, an analyst for Edmunds.com.

MORE:?Detroit's bankruptcy is an utter defeat

Many younger buyers have been attracted by lease deals because they can more easily understand a monthly payment and the simplicity of returning a vehicle after a set period of time?as opposed to a fixed price that is complicated by a down payment and several financing options. Many also like the option of buying the car at a set price at the end of the lease period.

But those holding the lease (often the automakers themselves) may get burned if the so-called residual value of the car?the projected price at the end of the lease period?doesn't live up to expectations due to a soft market for used vehicles. Sometimes automaker lending arms create low monthly payments and unrealistically high residuals to disguise what actually is a financial incentive to buy.

Monthly payments for lease vehicles are usually lower than payments for purchased vehicles that are financed with a loan. But (as Edmunds.com points out) if a motorist decides to drive a car for six years or more, the purchase of a slightly used vehicle is more cost efficient than new or leased vehicles.

MORE:?The subtle art of managing your annoying boss

Larry Dominique, president of ALG, a company that tracks residual values and lease rates, said "we have seen automakers that traditionally didn't lease, such as Hyundai and Kia, are embracing the practice due to increased residual values." Rising quality and tight availability of Korean brands has raised transaction prices of new vehicles, making used vehicle prices stronger as well.

A vehicle lease is an agreement whereby a third-party financial institution owns the car, the user of the vehicle agreeing to pay a monthly rate and return the vehicle after a specific period of time, with no more than a set number of miles on the odometer. The agreement usually contains a financial penalty for exceeding the mileage limit.

ALG is bullish on the continued increased in the strength of residual values, which comes from rising demand for vehicles. Used-car supply is tight, Dominique said, "which is causing an unnaturally high value on used cars. We don't expect the supply of used cars to return to where it was in 2007 [when the car market tanked] until 2017."

MORE:?Is there a silver lining for Detroit?

A big disadvantage of a vehicle lease, getting stuck for a long time with a vehicle you don't like, has an up-to-date digital remedy. For a fee, Swapalease.com matches motorists who want to get out of their lease with those who might be interested in assuming them.

The auto companies have too fresh a memory of the last collapse to tempt a new one with residual values that wildly unrealistic. Still the threat of a new bubble is never too distant, which is why lower and lower monthly payments may trigger alarm bells.

Source: http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2013/07/22/car-leasing-is-back-with-a-vengeance/

best cyber monday deals macaulay culkin Larry Hagman macys jcpenney toys r us toys r us

Calculating Base Casting Time and Energy Cost for Syntactic Magic

Still working out the details of my Elven Syntactic magic. I'm confused about something I came across in GURPS Thaumatology. In the section under Working The Effect, under Multiple Words, the text says "He [caster] gets to choose which verb and which noun will determine energy cost and time to cast" (Th186). However, earlier in the section Determining Base Energy Cost, under Verb-Noun Workings, the text says, "A working's cost is normally the sum of all the Words involved" (Th181). Under Casting Time, Verb-Noun Casting Times, it says, "The working's bast time requirement is the sum of the casting times for the constituent Words" (Th183).

So which is it?

Source: http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=113689&goto=newpost

Xcel Energy Super Moon 2013 miami heat Kim Kardashian Baby Lil Snupe Paula Dean Racial Slur Vine

ATD on the TV: Toasty Twitter, Amber Alerts, Dell and the NFL

July 21, 2013 at 8:34 am PT

This week members of the AllThingsD staff showed up live and in person on all sorts of channels. Should you want to see some of the week?s tech news highlights, rather than just read about them, watch these quick videos.

Mike Isaac turned up on CNBC with some smart answers to a somewhat silly question: ?Is Twitter toast??

Arik Hesseldahl joined WCBS to give some background on emergency cell phone alerts, after one woke up many New Yorkers in the middle of the night.

He was also on the BBC for a hit on the ongoing Dell saga, which he?s been covering on a more-than-daily basis.

And then our media guy Peter Kafka showed up a couple places to talk about a theory that Google or Apple might gain a foothold in TV by buying online broadcast rights for football. Here?s Peter on the Wall Street Journal?s Digits show, and Bloomberg?s audio podcast ?The Inside Scoop.?

Tagged with: Amber alerts, Apple, Arik Hesseldahl, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Dell, Digits, Google, Mike Isaac, NFL, Peter Kafka, Twitter, WCBS, WSJ

Source: http://allthingsd.com/20130721/atd-on-the-tv-toasty-twitter-amber-alerts-dell-and-the-nfl/

espn greg oden st patricks day st. bonaventure ira glass swain match day

EnerG2 Selects Harper for Advanced Rotary Furnace System for Production of Energy Storage Materials

Buffalo, NY (PRWEB) February 23, 2012

Harper International, leader in thermal processing solutions for advanced materials, has been selected to provide advanced high temperature furnace systems for the manufacture of energy storage materials for EnerG2. The system will be utilized for pyrolysis of activated carbon for ultracapacitors. EnerG2, based in Seattle, WA, USA, is focused exclusively on the development and production of advanced carbons for energy storage devices.

Harpers innovative furnace design enables EnerG2s unique requirement of producing very high purity material at temperatures to 1100

Tags: Advanced, EnerG2, energy, Furnace, Harper, materials, Production, Rotary, Selects, Storage, System

Source: http://www.gsjournal.com/2013/07/energ2-selects-harper-for-advanced-rotary-furnace-system-for-production-of-energy-storage-materials/

jim marshall died 2013 toyota avalon the secret life of bees full moon aubrey o day johan santana viktor bout