Analysis: Egypt violence has its roots in the economy

Asmaa Waguih / Reuters

Protesters use slingshots to launch stones at police in Cairo, Tuesday.

By Ayman Mohyeldin, Correspondent, NBC News

News analysis

CAIRO ? Egypt?s recent days of violence have focused attention on its political crisis ? but the underlying cause remains an economy on the brink of collapse.

Rising prices of basic goods like bread, sugar and gasoline coupled with high rate of unemployment and a lack of social justice has created a lethal and combustible cocktail.

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Poor education, youth disenfranchisement, unemployment and poverty have created a reservoir of resentment between the young men leading the protests and the government.

Add to this mix a stagnant political reform process and the lack of confidence in basic government services, including justice, and you can understand the frustration among many Egyptians.

Every few months there is an explosion of violence. The flames are put out by promises of reform or sometimes sheer exhaustion on the part of the protesters but the spark ? deep and serious socio-economic problems ? remains and that's why we see a repeat.

A state of emergency is imposed on three cities in Egypt. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.

On Wednesday, Egypt?s President Mohammed Morsi was on a day trip to Germany despite the fragile security situation in his country.

Turbulent years
The urgency of his mission ? to secure economic assistance and assure the international community that this crisis is resolvable ? underlines the deeper problems fueling the country?s cyclical unrest.

The immediate trigger for this week's clashes was a convergence of emotion surrounding the second anniversary of the revolution and anger at the passing of a death sentence on 21 defendants on trial following a soccer stadium riot last year.

With each round of violence, the call for Mohamed Morsi to step down continues. ?But most of the country just wants stability - with or without Morsi. Egypt has undergone two of the most turbulent years in its modern history.

The majority of Egyptians will tell you what they want is to feel physically and financially secure. The country is still a few years away from achieving that security.

There is a serious lack of leadership from either the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated government or the so-called opposition, whose divisions and failure to connect with the demands of the street is making it increasingly irrelevant. The opposition carries no political clout, even if its grievances are legitimate.

Time and money
Morsi has several options to resolve this crisis. Most are short-term measures that could defuse some of the anger and mistrust that has built up between his regime and the opposition and the protesters.

/

On the second anniversary of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, huge crowds take to the streets in five cities.

Longer-term measures to ease social pressures, particularly among the country?s youth, will take time and money ? including international investment.

Egyptians tried the ballot box, but have not yet seen the change they yearn for.? So they are turning to the street to express their dissatisfaction.

Until the government finds a way to absorb and deal with the root cause of people's issues, unrest will continue putting yet more strain on the fragile economy.

In short, this is a race against time in which Egypt, first under the rule of the military, and now under the Muslim Brotherhood, has already wasted two years.

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/30/16773099-egypt-violence-is-rooted-in-the-economy-not-just-politics?lite

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Giffords makes emotional plea as lawmakers confront gun violence

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, grievously wounded in a 2011 mass shooting, made an emotional plea on Wednesday for Congress to take action to curb gun violence in the aftermath of last month's Connecticut school massacre, urging lawmakers to "be bold, be courageous."

Wearing a red jacket and speaking haltingly, Giffords appeared as the first person to testify before the first congressional hearing on gun violence since the December 14 incident in which a gunman shot dead 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

Responding to outrage across the country following the Connecticut massacre, President Barack Obama and other Democrats are seeking the largest gun-control package in decades.

"This is an important conversation for our children, for our communities, for Democrats and Republicans," Giffords, who survived a head wound in an assassination attempt last year in Tucson, Arizona, told the Senate Judiciary Committee. Six people were killed and 13 wounded in the incident.

"Speaking is difficult. But I need to say something important," she told the senators. "Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying - too many children. We must do something. It will be hard. But the time is now."

Accompanied by her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, she concluded: "You must act. Be bold, be courageous. Americans are counting on you. Thank you." She did not take questions from the committee.

Kelly also testified. The couple recently founded Americans for Responsible Solutions, a group intended to combat gun violence.

"Gabby and I are pro-gun ownership. We are also anti-gun violence. And we believe that in this debate, Congress should look not towards special interests and ideology - which push us apart - but towards compromise, which brings us together," Kelly told the senators.

Others set to testify include National Rifle Association Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre, whose group is an influential opponent of gun restrictions.

Obama's proposals to curb gun violence include reinstating the U.S. ban on military-style "assault" weapons, limiting the capacity of ammunition magazines, and more extensive background checks of prospective gun buyers, largely to verify whether they have a history of crime or mental illness.

Republicans and some pro-gun Democrats envision a more modest package. It is unclear whether there is sufficient support in the Democratic-led Senate and the Republican-led House of Representatives to pass any gun restrictions beyond improved background checks.

POLITICAL REALITY

The calls for gun control - so prominent during the emotional days following the shootings in Connecticut - will face political reality in Congress.

The committee chairman, Senator Patrick Leahey, made clear whatever measures would be considered to rein in gun violence, there would be no move to erode the fundamental right of Americans to own a gun, which is protected under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

"Americans have the right to have guns in their home to protect their family," he said.

Americans must come together on the issue, Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, added.

Most Republicans and some Democrats in Congress favor gun rights and represent constituents who do as well. The NRA has called any attempt to restrict weapon sales an assault on Americans' constitutional right to bear arms.

In recent days, some Republican lawmakers have joined Democrats in emphasizing better background checks of gun buyers, rather than Obama's plan to ban the sale of rapid-firing assault weapons like the one used in the Connecticut shootings.

The NRA's plan for securing schools has revolved around putting armed guards on campuses. In a statement released Tuesday that he plans to give before the Senate panel on Wednesday, LaPierre sounded a familiar refrain of gun-rights supporters, calling on better enforcement of existing gun laws rather than new laws.

"We need to look at the full range of mental health issues, from early detection and treatment, to civil commitment laws, to privacy laws that needlessly prevent mental health records from being included in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System," he said.

Federally licensed firearms dealers are required to run background checks for criminal records on gun buyers. But the government estimates that 40 percent of purchasers avoid screening by getting their guns from private sellers, including those at gun shows.

The White House's plan would require screening for all prospective buyers.

The background check provision is generally regarded as the gun-control measure most likely to receive bipartisan support, but even it could face some difficulty.

Although Obama's Democrats hold a 55-45 edge in seats in the U.S. Senate, the president's call to revive the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 faces an uphill fight.

(Editing by David Lindsey and Will Dunham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/amid-questions-senate-begins-hearings-gun-control-115838971.html

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Hot Dog Marketing Online - ShoeMoney Internet Marketing Blog

A lot of people call me ?The Hotdogman.? I got my nickname from working in the food business, just like Shoemoney. Last week, all the buzz at Affiliate Summit West was about Shoemoney?s book, Nothing?s Changed But My Change, The Shoemoney Story. I picked one up at the Summit and read it on my flight home, it was a pretty good read and a great American Dream kind of tale. I met up with Jeremy on the exhibit hall floor and we had a chat. As it invariably does, the conversation swung around to hot dogs. Since I am The Hotdogman, I guess that?s a good thing; I have branded myself well in the internet marketing world.

As we were talking, Jeremy remarked that being a hot dog vendor and an internet marketer have a lot of similarities. We tossed that idea around for a minute or two, and the more I thought about it, the more I thought he was right. I was a hot dog truck owner and operator for 6 years and I started fiddling around with blogs, the internet, and affiliate marketing back in 2007 when a particularly harsh winter kept the truck closed for a few months.

That?s when I started The Hot Dog Truck, a blog about ?the life and times of a Hotdogman.? I started monetizing my site with Adsense (thanks in part to a certain blogger?s famous photo), did a lot of paid posting, and began experimenting with affiliate marketing. My wife thought I was wasting my time, but she changed her tune when I used my first few months blog earnings to take the family to Las Vegas to visit her folks! She?s been on board with my ?online thing? since. Six years later, the hot dog truck is gone, but the website remains. I also have a stable of 20 or so niche sites and I do freelance writing.

Hot Dogs and Marketing

My transition from hot dog man to The Hotdogman online was fairly easy, I have always been a decent writer and I was in sales since I was ten years old. Marketing online was understandable and doable for me. I decided to give the internet marketing thing a serious whirl when a series of bad luck left me essentially disabled for nearly a year; I got Lyme Disease, bad blood clots, and I broke my knee! The immobility this caused lent itself to spending my days at the computer. I sold my hot dog truck and dove right in to creating websites and marketing various products online.

My first ventures were geared toward what I know, most notably hot dogs. I sold hot dog related courses and products across a series of websites with success. When I was doing this, I?d think back to what made me successful in the hot dog business and applied what I could. The most notable similarity between online marketing and selling hot dogs is the autonomy for the entrepreneur. Both businesses can be one man (or one woman) ventures. As many people who read this know, there is nothing quite like working for yourself. You don?t have to answer to a boss, you do things your own way, and you reap all the financial rewards from your ventures.

Going into the hot dog business is a low investment proposition. Even a shiny new hot dog cart can be bought for less than three grand; if you buy used, that number goes lower. Compared to opening a brick and mortar restaurant, starting up a hot dog cart is short money. The same is true for starting out in internet marketing. I got started with eight bucks and a free host. As time went on, I invested in premium WordPress themes, an email program, more domains, private servers, and other tools, but other than that first eight bucks, I never paid for any of that stuff ?out-of-pocket.? Investments into my growing online ?empire? always came from profits. I don?t know any other legitimate business you can start for eight bucks!

The Hot Dog Cart Principle in Online Marketing

Starting in the hot dog business is a bit more complicated than buying a cart, setting up shop, and hanging out a sign. There are some regulations involved and you need the appropriate permits. You also need to sell. If nobody knows you?re there, you won?t sell any hot dogs; you need to market your business. That involves getting out to the businesses nearby and giving them an incentive to stop by and try your chow. Theoretically, once someone takes a bite of your delicious hot dogs, they?ll tell their friends and co-workers and you?ll be off and running.

The same goes for online marketing. Like any business, there are rules and regulations to follow, so you need to know them before you get started. You could have the best offer or product in the world, but nobody will buy it unless they know about it. Just setting up a website and hoping won?t get you any sales. You need to use proven methods for generating traffic, the online equivalent of letting people know about your offer. Just like offering a free hot dog to get people to try you out, you can offer incentives to take a look at your offer. Think about it, how many free e-books have you downloaded? (I like mine with mustard and relish).

Whether you?re selling hot dogs or an online product, you still need to provide value to your customer. A good hot dog man will have premium hot dogs, fresh rolls and condiments, and he?ll serve them up HOT for a fair price. A good online marketer will have a quality offer or product that gives the customer what they?re looking for, whether it?s a product to solve a problem, an entertaining book, or a deal on the latest gadget, there has to be value for the customer at the right price or else you?re spinning your wheels.

Both businesses are scalable, too. I know many successful hot dog vendors who have moved on to managing multiple carts and trucks and even opened full-on restaurants. The concept is fairly simple and easily duplicated, you just need to find the right people. Online marketing is the same. Once you have a system and a set of processes in place, you can expand and duplicate your business. Hiring the right people is key here too. Make sure you hire and work with people who have complimentary skill sets. I started with one website, now I have more than 20 and I have people I call on for certain tasks that I just am not good at.

Notice in that previous paragraph ?the right people? came up a number of times. Whether you?re selling hot dogs or pitching the latest hot info product, having good people to work for/with you is key. A crappy employee can bring down any small business pretty quick if left unchecked. Whether that employee is serving food that?s under cooked or servicing online customers with an inconsistent attitude, the bad apple can be a killer. Conversely, good people can boost your business. An enthusiastic, friendly vendor brings people back to your cart. A savvy employee who ?gets out there? and helps boost business, whether it?s with good follow through or promotion through their social media networks, can be a great asset to any business.

Not ready to leave the security of a paycheck to start a business? Start part-time! Hot Dog vending can be started as a part time venture. Just work weekend events or find opportunities to set up shop within your existing schedule. The same goes for an online business. You can start on your living room couch! Spend a few hours a day building your business; you?ll know when you can transition to full-time in either venture.

Fun is Good too

Online marketing and hot dog vending are fun businesses. I was always cutting it up with my customers at my hot dog truck and I made many new friends in the six years I was in the business. Hardly a week goes by that I don?t run into an old customer. I?ve even made some good business connections from my old hot dog contacts! Online marketing is fun too. While many relationships are forged online, the same principles apply. Treat people well, be nice, offer good products and service and you?ll make new friends. The one thing online marketing has going for it in the fun department over the hot dog business is industry events. Parties at online marketing conferences ROCK! Hot dog events I?ve attended have been small; while they were fun and informative, there were never open bars in fancy nightclubs with go-go girls!

It all boils down to one thing: good old American entrepreneurship. Despite the woes afflicting our nation right now, entrepreneurship is alive and well in the US of A. Many of the hot dog vendors I encounter on a regular basis are in the business due to corporate downsizing. They chose the hot dog biz for many of the same reasons I listed here. The same goes for online marketing. Many people are content to moan about the economy and wring their hands in despair. The folks who decide to do something about it, whether they start slinging hot dogs or selling stuff online REFUSE to let macro circumstances dictate their future. No matter what the economy looks like, people still need a good, cheap lunch and they?ll continue to by all sorts of products online. Entrepreneurs who decide to capitalize on opportunities will always find success if they go about it the right way.

The most important thing any entrepreneur can do is get started NOW! No business gets started by thinking about it. If you want to sell hot dogs, start scouting locations, research carts, and learn about your business. If you want to get going in the online marketing game, start learning the basics (I hear Shoemoney has a course or two about that). You can have a website up in an hour or two. I know many online entrepreneurs who built a website in one night and were doing business the very next day. Don?t fall into the ?paralysis by analysis? trap, if you want to start a business, START NOW!

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Justin recommends you check out these amazing posts:

1. Perception is Everything (or ?Fake It ?Til You Make It?)
2. Men (And Women) Of Honor ? In An Industry That Does Not Have Much
3. The Perfect Business

Source: http://www.shoemoney.com/2013/01/30/hot-dog-marketing-online

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Ringadoc Raises $1.2M From Founders Fund?s FF Angel To Connect Doctors With Patients On-Demand

Ringadoc has a pretty big vision: To be the "frontline of primary care," to let anyone and everyone pay a flat fee to instantly talk to a real doctor at any hour of the day. In pursuit of perfecting on-demand medicine, the startup announced today that it has raised $1.2 million in seed financing, led by Founders Fund's seed vehicle, FF Angel. The raise marks the close of the second half of its seed funding, following the $750K the startup announced last June from Founders Fund, bringing its total to just over $1.2 million.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/_AjSzEckp5U/

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Girl, 8, found locked in small, wooden cage

Police arrested a mother and her boyfriend after they found an 8-year-old girl with a brain disorder locked in a homemade cage at their New Mexico home. KTSM's Jessica Munoz reports.

By Zelie Pollon, Reuters

Police in New Mexico found an 8-year-old girl locked in a cage in a darkened mobile home, authorities said on Tuesday, adding that they charged the girl's adoptive mother, who had gone to the movies, with child abuse.

Cindy Patriarchias, 33, and her boyfriend, Edmond Gonzales, 37, were arrested after police found the caged girl on Friday evening, Las Cruces Police Department spokesman Dan Trujillo said.

He said police, acting on a tip from the woman's estranged husband, found the girl in the corner of a bedroom locked inside the cage, about 4 feet high, slightly more than 2 feet wide and about 5 feet long.

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The homemade wooden structure had two latches and a baby crib mattress on the floor, Trujillio said.

He said Patriarchias had been charged with one count of negligent child abuse while Gonzales was charged with one count of negligently permitting child abuse. Patriarchias was released on bond on Tuesday but her boyfriend was still being held Wednesday, authorities said.

Las Cruces Police Department / AFP - Getty Images

Cindy Patriarchias, 33, and Edmond Gonzales, 37, are charged with leaving Patriarchias' 8-year-old adoptive daughter in a cage while they went out to see a movie.

The girl was seen by medical personnel but showed no visible signs of physical abuse. She apparently suffers from microcephaly, a condition in which the head or cranial capacity is abnormally small, Trujillo said.

He said detectives did not know why the girl was left locked in the cage. She and three of Patriarchias' other children had been placed in state custody, he said.

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/30/16769952-nm-couple-arrested-after-8-year-old-girl-found-locked-in-cage?lite

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Gain yards and win big with CBS Sports Network. Enter here for details and a cha...

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Source: http://www.facebook.com/CBS/posts/124675221039718

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1 in, 2 out: Simulating more efficient solar cells

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Using an exotic form of silicon could substantially improve the efficiency of solar cells, according to computer simulations by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and in Hungary. The work was published Jan. 25 in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Solar cells are based on the photoelectric effect: a photon, or particle of light, hits a silicon crystal and generates a negatively charged electron and a positively charged hole. Collecting those electron-hole pairs generates electric current.

Conventional solar cells generate one electron-hole pair per incoming photon, and have a theoretical maximum efficiency of 33 percent. One exciting new route to improved efficiency is to generate more than one electron-hole pair per photon, said Giulia Galli, professor of chemistry at UC Davis and co-author of the paper.

"This approach is capable of increasing the maximum efficiency to 42 percent, beyond any solar cell available today, which would be a pretty big deal," said lead author Stefan Wippermann, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis.

"In fact, there is reason to believe that if parabolic mirrors are used to focus the sunlight on such a new-paradigm solar cell, its efficiency could reach as high as 70 percent," Wippermann said.

Galli said that nanoparticles have a size of nanometers, typically just a few atoms across. Because of their small size, many of their properties are different from bulk materials. In particular, the probability of generating more than one electron-hole pair is much enhanced, driven by an effect called "quantum confinement." Experiments to explore this paradigm are being pursued by researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., as well as at UC Davis.

"But with nanoparticles of conventional silicon, the paradigm works only in ultraviolet light," Wippermann said. "This new approach will become useful only when it is demonstrated to work in visible sunlight."

The researchers simulated the behavior of a structure of silicon called silicon BC8, which is formed under high pressure but is stable at normal pressures, much as diamond is a form of carbon formed under high pressure but stable at normal pressures.

The computer simulations were run through the National Energy Research Scientific Supercomputing Center at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, which granted the project 10 million hours of supercomputer time.

The simulations demonstrated that nanoparticles of silicon BC8 indeed generate multiple electron-hole pairs per photon even when exposed to visible light.

"This is more than an academic exercise. A Harvard-MIT paper showed that when normal silicon solar cells are irradiated with laser light, the energy the laser emits may create a local pressure high enough to form BC8 nanocrystals. Thus, laser or chemical pressure treatment of existing solar cells may turn them into these higher-efficiency cells," said co-author Gergely Zimanyi, professor of physics at UC Davis.

###

University of California - Davis: http://www.ucdavis.edu

Thanks to University of California - Davis for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126503/__in____out__Simulating_more_efficient_solar_cells

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Surfer rides amazing wave, but was it a new record?

Hawaiian big-wave surfer Garrett McNamara will go to any lengths to chase a massive swell. On Monday that pursuit took him back to Praia do Norte, a tiny coastal village about 60 miles north of Lisbon, Portugal, where he got pulled into a massive wave that has the entire surfing world in awe.

What's remarkable about the wave McNamara rode Monday is how much bigger it appears than his record-breaking ride at the very same spot back in November of 2011. That 2011 ride is currently recognized as the Guinness World Record for the largest wave ever surfed.

The decision to give McNamara that record was a controversial one, as it was ruled a single foot bigger than the 2008 record set by Mike Parsons at Cortes Bank, a wave that breaks 100 miles off the coast of Southern California. Naturally, the debate over whether McNamara's wave was truly worthy of the honor raged.

Related:Garret McNamara not to blame in Cortes Bank controversy

At issue was the questionable method of measuring the wave, which is a problem that faces the judges every year during the annual Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards. The XXL Awards are the most prestigious honors for big-wave surfers, thanks mostly to the judging panel comprised of experienced big-wave legends, leading surf forecasters, and experienced photographers, all of whom examine all the evidence that exist for each ride to pinpoint a measurement.

VIDEO:Watch McNamara's world record ride from 2011

"The hard part isn't locating the top of the wave," says Bill Sharp, director of the XXL Awards. "It's finding the bottom of it, because that's the point where you start measuring from. The challenge is photos and video can both be deceiving depending on the angle of the shot, the size of the lens used, and even stuff like mist and water color."

The latest example is McNamara's wave from Monday. At first glance, it looks incredibly massive. Bigger, even, than his 2011 ride. But will it hold up under scrutiny?

"It's hard to say," says Sharp. "We should be seeing video of it in the next week or so, and that will be a lot more revealing because it allows us to see where and when the surfer reaches the bottom."

So what do you think? Where's the bottom of this beast? Is it a new record? Weigh in.

More on GrindTV
VIDEO - Watch skier Chuck Patterson escape a huge Hawaiian avalanche
VIDEO - Big-wave surfers share the spoils at the Mavericks Invitational
PHOTOS - Blizzards, blankets, and icy white beaches: all part of surfing in Maine

Source: http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/50833/did+garrett+mcnamara+just+break+his+own+world+record/

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Toyota Prius Dominates Green Vehicle List ? Alex Hetherington ...

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Toyota?s 2013 Prius line dominates this year?s Greenest list, an automotive ranking by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

The Toyota Prius C, a compact version of the Prius with a 85 kmpg city and 74 kmpg highway efficiency, received the highest green score with 58 points.

The original Prius, Prius plug-in hybrid and the Honda Civic hybrid rounded out the vehicles with the five highest green scores.

This year, conventional vehicles were largely pushed off the Greenest list by hybrid-electic, plug-in hybrid-electric and all-electric vehicles. The Scion Iq and SmartForTwo are the only non-hybrid, non-plug-in vehicles to remain on the list.

The Greenest list analyses vehicles based on their ?green score,? which incorporates tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases.

Source: Environmental Leader (17/01/2013)

Tags: Alex Hetherington, cars, consumption, dominates, efficient, Emissions, Energy, Fuel, Gas, Green, greenest, Greenhouse, highest, Honda Civic, hybrid, list, Prius, score, sustainability, Toyota, vehicle
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Source: http://www.alexhetheringtonsustainabilityblog.com/?p=3550

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Who are these guys at QB in Super Bowl?

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? No Tom Brady. No Aaron Rodgers. No Ben Roethlisberger. Not a Manning in sight.

Super Bowl has a pair of fresh faces at quarterback, bona fide nobodies as far as the NFL title game goes. One will leave New Orleans as football's newest star.

For Colin Kaepernick and Joe Flacco, this is new territory. And, of course, exactly where they want to be.

"To be AFC champs feels good," Flacco said Monday. "We move on now to this challenge."

Flacco, the only quarterback to win a playoff game in each of his first five NFL seasons, will lead the Baltimore Ravens into Sunday's matchup against the NFC-winning San Francisco 49ers and Kaepernick, a backup for most of his two seasons.

It's the first time in a decade that the big game doesn't feature one of the big five household names in the glamour position.

You can't get much fresher than quarterbacks who never have gotten this far before.

"At the start of the season, I was just hoping to get on the field some way, somehow," said Kaepernick, the backup for Alex Smith, who took the 49ers to the conference final last season.

He got that chance after Smith sustained a concussion on Nov. 11, and hasn't seen the bench since.

Win this one and he'll have a piece of history, joining a heady quarterback club that includes Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Steve Young, who guided the 49ers to five NFL titles ? a victory every time they played. No. 6 would tie the team with Roethlisberger's Pittsburgh Steelers ? a record for most Super Bowl wins.

A second-round draft pick in 2011 out of Nevada ? not exactly Alabama ? Kaepernick has the shortest pro resume of any Super Bowl quarterback. It's impressive, nonetheless. His legs (181 yards rushing against Green Bay, a record for the position) and his arm (105.9 passer rating in the postseason) are the main reasons San Francisco is in its first NFL title game in 18 years.

"Anybody that is out there on the football field, you want to see them produce and get results," left tackle Joe Staley said. "With Colin, his first couple of starts, you did not know what to expect because we had not seen him out there as a starting quarterback. He did amazing and he has all season, as well as the playoffs. I think it was one of those things where we saw him in practice and we just wanted to see how he was going to handle the situation in the games. He has done that."

Still, he's new to this environment and that hardly seems to faze Kaepernick.

"One thing I've always said about him from the start is he comes off as a guy that has a lot of confidence," said center Jonathan Goodwin, who won a Super Bowl snapping for Drew Brees and the Saints three years ago. "I'm not just saying that. You can feel it by the way he acts and talks."

Flacco has that air of certainty, too, but at least it's built on a more substantial foundation, including an 8-4 mark in the playoffs, with six road wins ? the most for any quarterback, Montana and Young included. That goes for Baltimore's John Unitas, too.

Nobody is comparing Flacco to them just yet, except for the self-belief he brings to the job.

"You naturally become more of the guy when you spend a number of years in the league," he said at the Ravens' first Super Bowl news conference Monday. "As a quarterback, it's my job to lead from Day 1."

As a five-year starter, that's exactly what Flacco did after Baltimore drafted him out of Delaware ? yep, not exactly Alabama.

As has become the custom in the NFL, Flacco represents the high draft pick who steps behind center early in his career and, usually, stays there. Both Mannings did it, as did Roethlisberger. Just this season, the top two picks in the draft, QBs Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, were anointed starters at the outset and played sensationally.

Now Flacco and Kaepernick try to join those big-name quarterbacks who own all those Super Bowl rings.

"We try to pass tests every day," Flacco said.

That's how you become a Super Bowl quarterback.

___

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

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/guys-qb-super-bowl-201058643--nfl.html

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'Storage Wars' Lawsuit: A&E Strikes Back at Claims Show Is Fake

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - A&E says in a legal filing that former "Storage Wars" star David Hester concocted a "tabloid-worthy drama" when he claimed the series was faked. In response to a lawsuit he filed last month in Los Angeles Superior Court, A&E said the complaint was groundless and a "transparent attempt to distract from the issues."

Hester alleged unfair business practices, among other claims. He said the show sometimes planted objects in the storage units that contestants bid on in hopes of finding discarded treasures.

A&E's response focused on its defense that the unfair business practices portion of Hester's complaint cannot go forward, partly because he cannot prove a probability of winning the suit. The network says he also cannot prove he suffered sustained injury.

Hester claimed in his suit that he was fired after he complained that elements of the show were staged. His lawsuit claims that, in one instance, A&E planted a stack of newspapers reporting singer Elvis Presley's death. In another instance, Hester said, a BMW minicar was found under a pile of trash.

In Thursday's motion to strike, however, A&E says that Hester was let go after the network complained that he improperly used its trademarks, and after Hester attempted to renegotiate his contract.

Now, A&E says, Hester is trying to obscure the facts by painting himself as a crusader for truth.

"In a transparent attempt to distract from the issues - and maximize any potential recovery - Plaintiff's complaint tries to convert a garden-variety breach of contract claim into a tabloid-worthy drama, in which Hester portrays himself as a crusading whistleblower," the response reads.

A&E also claims Hester is no victim, but in fact took part in "salting" storage units with valuable items.

The network is also seeking compensation from Hester for its attorneys' fees and court costs.

In his suit, Hester claims to have suffered more than $750,000 in damages from what he claims was his wrongful firing.

Hester's attorney has not yet responded to TheWrap's request for comment.

(Pamela Chelin contributed to this report)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/storage-wars-lawsuit-e-strikes-back-claims-show-180247453.html

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Q&A: How to Set Up Twitter Lists - NYTimes.com

Recent Posts

January 29

Q&A: Reading Google Books on an iPhone

Even if you have an Apple iPhone, you can still shop for books with it in Google's online store.

January 29

Q&A: How to Set Up Twitter Lists

Twitter's Lists feature lets you set up customized groupings of the people and sites you follow.

January 28

Q&A: Fixing Flash Player Settings

If a Facebook game will not work properly in the Firefox browser, check the settings for the Adobe Flash Player software that works with the browser.

January 28

App Smart Extra: More Ways to Record With Your Smartphone

You can turn your smartphone or tablet into a digital voice recorder with a variety of apps.

January 27

App Smart Extra: On the Slopes

It's cold outside. Here are more apps for skiers and snowboarders.

Archive

About Gadgetwise

Gadgetwise is a blog about everything related to buying and using tech products. From figuring out which gadget to buy and how to get the best deal on it to configuring it once it?s out of the box, Gadgetwise offers a mix of information, analysis and opinion to help you get the most out of your personal tech.

Contributors

J.D. Biersdorfer answers reader questions about computer-based technology.

Warren Buckleitner reviews children?s technology ? gadgets, apps, toys and software.

Damon Darlin is The Times's Technology Editor.

Roy Furchgott covers cellphones, smartphones, mobile applications and accessories.

Gregory Schmidt writes about consumer gadgets, apps and accessories.

Source: http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/29/qa-how-to-set-up-twitter-lists/

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PFT: Eagles' unlikely to decide on Vick soon

Reuters

While it?s true that the Philadelphia Eagles won?t be dumping quarterback Mike Vick before $3 million of his $15.5 million base salary becomes fully guaranteed on February 6, the Eagles won?t be taking their time in deciding whether Vick will be moving along.

The plan, as we understand it, will unfold like a flow chart.

Step one, new Eagles coach Chip Kelly will study film in an effort to decide whether he wants Vick or Nick Foles or someone else to be the team?s quarterback.

Step two, if Kelly decides that he definitely wants Vick, will be to try to work out an alternative arrangement that entails Vick making less than $15.5 million.? The amount the Eagles are willing to pay will be determined in large part by how badly Kelly wants Vick.? There?s a chance, in theory, that Kelly will want Vick badly enough to bite the bullet and pay the full amount.

There?s also a chance Vick will want to play for Kelly badly enough to take a proverbial haircut on his promised pay.

Step three, if it?s determined that Kelly doesn?t want Vick or that Vick won?t accept whatever reduced contract the team is offering, will be to try to trade Vick to another team that would pay him more than the Eagles are willing to pay ? and that would also give the Eagles value in return for the 2010 comeback player of the year.

Time is of the essence on all steps, because if the Eagles are going to maximize trade interest and trade value, they need to do it before teams make other plans at quarterback, by signing for example a free agent.? It?s expected that the Eagles will head to the Scouting Combine with an action plan, with the hopes of getting an agreement in principle with a new team well before March 13, when trades will become finalized.

Complicating a potential trade is that a new team would have to pay Vick $15.5 million this year or persuade him to take less.

If the Eagles can?t trade Vick and if they can?t work out a new deal with him, that?s when things will get interesting.? If Vick shows up for the start of the offseason workout program in April and drops a dumbbell on his foot or pops an Achilles while running at the practice facility, the Eagles will owe him the full amount of his salary if/when he lands on injured reserve.

The Eagles could be tempted to try to block Vick from the facility, like the Titans did several years ago with the late Steve McNair.? But McNair ultimately won his grievance on that issue, and the Eagles would be tiptoeing into dangerous territory if they try to freeze Vick out.

That approach also would counter the team?s new effort to treat its players with a higher level of respect and dignity, an approach that G.M. Howie Roseman seems to be adopting in the wake of the departure of former team president Joe Banner.? (This presumes that there was a problem under Banner; some with the Eagles may be trying to sell the idea that there was.? The Mike Patterson debacle would tend to counter the idea that everything is fine and dandy now.)

Regardless, while the Eagles aren?t worried about next week?s deadline, they?ll be operating on internal deadlines that will prevent this from lingering deep into the offseason.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/29/decision-on-michael-vick-likely-not-coming-soon/related/

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The Elephant in the Living Room | Global Looking Glass Magazine

If you are like most Americans, you have a pet. In the majority of American states ? thirty to be exact ? residents are allowed to own exotic pets. In nine of these states, no license is required to have them.

Exotic pets encompass a wide variety of animals, ranging in size from tiny turtles to elephants. They can be purchased at exotic animal trade shows, pet stores, and over the Internet ? some for not much more than the cost of adopting a kitten. Getting these animals is easy, but letting go of them can be extremely difficult and dangerous.

The documentary The Elephant in the Living Room follows Tim Harrison, a Dayton, Ohio Public Safety Officer, as he rescues exotic pets and their owners from one another. Throughout the film, set predominantly in Ohio, Harrison captures loosed exotic pets ? including venomous snakes, big cats, crocodiles, and monkeys ? and finds new homes for them in rescues, zoos, and shelters, where they then face overcrowding. Harrison exposes the practices at trade shows and auction houses on hidden cameras. He goes to the nation?s largest exotic pet auction in Mount Hope, OH. There, children are shown holding venomous snakes in small plastic containers, and parents are seen asking their kids if they want to take home an alligator.

Harrison meets a man named Terry and his two beloved full-grown African lions while helping wrangle Terry?s large male lion, Lambert. The lion has become loose and is attacking cars on a major highway. Terry refuses to let his animals go, even though Harrison tells him that if his lions harm or kill someone, they will end up being put down.

Eventually, Terry is in over his head, with a litter of cubs to care for. In failing health and mourning the loss of his favorite lion, Lambert (who died in a freak electrical accident), Terry finally allows Harrison to remove and find new homes for the wild cats in his possession.

The Elephant in the Living?Room shows both sides of a hot topic: people who love their animals and really believe they are doing the right thing by keeping them, and those who must clean up when exotic pets go loose or act upon natural instincts. ?Everyone wants a tiger cub, but no one wants a tiger,? says Harrison. The documentary includes news reports of exotic animal sightings all over the U.S., and facts about exotic animal ownership in this country. It points out that America has very few exotic animal ownership laws. The Elephant in the Living Room raises big questions about animal ownership and care, as well as the issue of public safety. ?There are no happy endings when someone tries to have a big cat as a pet,? Harrison says.

Officer Harrison

In a June 2008 interview with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Harrison talked about the documentary he helped film director Michael Webber create. ?I hope that it will wake people up to the reality of the exotic animal industry and change their minds about the way that these animals are portrayed and disrespected. I also hope the film will raise public awareness to the inherent danger to humans in raising these deadly animals in our homes?.People need to learn to enjoy animals in the wild, not in their living rooms.?

?

Director Michael Webber

Article Written By: Emily Wages and Judy Rich

Photos courtesy of The Elephant In The Living Room

Source: http://www.globallookingglass.com/2013/01/29/the-elephant-in-the-living-room/

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Japan's Retail Sales Remain Tepid In December As Economy Struggles To Emerge From Recession

The December sales were lower than the 1.3 percent gain witnessed in November. However, it was higher than analysts' expectation of 0.3 percent in December.?

The data released Wednesday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed that Japan?s retail sales, which measure the change in the total value of inflation-adjusted sales at the retail level, rose 0.1 percent from November, when it fell 0.1 percent.

Sales of large retailers were flat in comparison to December 2011, after gaining 0.9 percent the previous month. However, the sales grew 0.7 percent, if stores not surveyed last year were taken into consideration.

Japan?s gross domestic product contracted 3.5 percent in the third quarter of last year in comparison to the previous quarter owing to weak global demand and the low domestic consumption indicating a deepening of recession in the world's third-largest economy.?Besides, exports were seen falling for the seventh consecutive month in December.

However, economists are optimistic of a rebound in the economy in the second quarter, as the U.S. and China markets show signs of recovery.

?Japan?s economy will probably head back to a gradual recovery from this quarter as external demand rebounds, while the government?s stimulus may lend support from the second quarter,? Azusa Kato, an economist at BNP Paribas SA in Tokyo, told Bloomberg before the report was released.

In November, it was reported that Japan?s manufacturing activity contracted to a seasonally adjusted 1.7 percent - much worse than the analysts? expectation of a 0.5 percent decrease.

The continued shrinking of the manufacturing activity is seen increasing the likelihood of a sharp contraction in the economy.

Earlier this month, the government announced a 10.3 trillion yen ($113 billion) fiscal stimulus to revive the economy weakened by a soft global demand and sluggish domestic spending.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/japans-retail-sales-remain-tepid-december-economy-struggles-emerge-recession-1047824

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Japan to launch 4K TV broadcast in July 2014 | Rapid TV News

Louise Duffy | 28-01-2013

Japan's Government is slated to launch the world's first 4K TV broadcast in July 2014, approximately two years ahead of schedule, to help drive demand for the ultra high-definition TVs.

The Asahi Times said the service will begin from communications satellites, followed by satellite broadcasting and ground digital broadcasting.

The 4K TVs, which boast four times the resolution of current high-definition TVs, are now on sale from Japanese makers including Sony, Panasonic and Sharp. Other manufacturers include South Korea's LG Electronics.

Communications Ministry officials hope to revive Japan's domestic electronics appliance industry by launching 4K early. Consumer demand for TVs has dropped sharply since the conversion from analogue to digital finished in March 2012.

Source: http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2013012826060/japan-to-launch-4k-tv-broadcast-in-july-2014.html

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Hire PHP Programmer To Boost Your Business Online ? Hire Expert ...

In this modern world, where internet acts as the key for online presence, the business patrons are always looking out for dynamic and enriched websites, compatible with multiple browsers. With the advancement of technology, today, we find that PHP has transformed completely, added with numerous advanced and interactive features like elaborated shopping cart solutions, in-built SEO, flexibility, scalability and other functionalities.

To get the maximum benefit, and explore the vast potential of PHP framework for web development, it is essential for any businesses to hire PHP programmers. An efficient PHP programmer not only creates a good platform for the online business, but also assists in enhancing the brand value of your product or services in the market. Due to this, the demand of professional PHP developer is increasing day by day, and we can say that it has become a necessity in order to get enriched web apps.

Different Things PHP Developers Can Do:

• Increase the performance of your business web site. They can make your site more interactive with many advanced features.
• They possess thorough knowledge about HTML, AJAX, MY SQL, and other languages, thereby capable of integrating various intelligent features in PHP framework.
• They provide optimal solutions through innovative ideas and by utilizing latest technologies. They can remove errors, migrate programs within applications and break up some complex issues, etc, while working on your PHP development projects.
• An efficient developer helps in structuring the project and ensure that it improves your existing business status. Additionally, they can add new features like CMS, Forum, and collaborate different sector data, while sketching effective plans for high-end web solutions.
• They are capable of integrating CRM software solutions, catalog browsing, product browsing, proper content management system, social networking applications, template designing, etc.

Well, it is apt to hire PHP developer for the different things they are capable of carrying out. Whether you are looking to set up a shopping cart, personal website or blog, you need to hire a PHP developer for an effective outcome!

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Source: http://hireexpertdev.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/hire-php-programmer-to-boost-your-business-online/

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Website Hosting for Little Business - ???????, ??????

29 Jan 2013

Before web is purchased by you hosting services for the small business take a peek at these five things. Don?t be the one to get burned! Find out about things that produce a web hosting company stay above the rest!1. PriceObviously, the initial thing you must base your web hosting decision off of may be the value. You ought to definitely compare the prices of a number of the most effective web hosting companies to have an idea of just what a fair cost for web hosting is. Hosting prices modify frequently so it?s probably that the prices have changed since the time this short article was actually written. First, do a few searches on the web to see which organizations are giving the best prices, discounts and solutions for your smaller businesses. When looking at web hosting charges you must appear for discounts the web hosting business offers for new members and for members who pay for bundles of hosting assistance up front.Introductory web hosting discounts range anywhere from paying only one dollar for the first month of one?s hosting to having no buyer discounts at all. Most serves offer discounts if you buy their services in a large amount a couple of months or years at a time. Some organizations also offer discounts to new customers. Make certain you do your hosting company pricing analysis before you make your final decision, it is first thing you will cut costs on. Worst case scenario, you don?t just like the hosting services and stop the service. That is one penny wasted.2. Customer Service and SupportThe next thing you should consider is the quality of customer support. That quality is frequently neglected or diminished for cheaper regular prices. Don?t get this to mistake! Among the only companies and most readily useful a web hosting business can provide for the small business is great customer care. All things considered, a hosting company without a separate customer care team is just a number of areas full of wires and hosts. Dependable hosting companies provide 24/7 customer support and are usually friendly and willing to support whenever you want of the day. Ensure the company you decide on offers great customer service and support for your business! The service is really what you are spending money on. Also make sure you look on line for reviews and see what others assert about their services.3. Service DiscountsAnother element you must consider is whether or not the hosting company gives you free credit for website marketing companies. Most people don?t look at this before they determine a web hosting company. Don?t overlook this! Nearly all web hosting businesses offer coupons and discounts for popular website marketing services, most of the moment these coupons offer free service just for registering with the hosting organization! A number of the most readily useful web hosting companies offer coupons at no cost search engine marketing from massive media websites like Google, Bing and Facebook. I have seen companies offer up to $300 dollars in free promotion credit to customers.Do maybe not miss out on a couple hundred dollars worth of free advertising for your small company! Your business might be trying to sell the very best, most interesting product on the planet but then you definitely are not likely to make any income if nobody understands your business exists. Advertising your site is the key to being successful. In addition, some businesses also offer money-back guarantees for a specific period of time to be able to let you consider their services risk-free. Free things are always a nice little bonus.4. Quantity of ServicesYou should also go through the variety of services your site host will provide for you centered on what your online business will be doing. The number of solutions the businesses offer will often be slightly different. If you anticipate starting an e-commerce company, make sure the hosting organization provides services that can make it easier for you to get your items online and available for customers to buy. Some web hosting organizations are entirely dedicated to hosting customers with e-commerce who desire e-commerce sites. This is yet another time where in fact the business web hosting evaluations are very important. Once more, make sure reviews are browsed by you before you select any service online, including web hosting services.If you intend to take up a blog, make sure the business offers things like your blog that can be supported by databases and free robotic WordPress puts. If you intend on starting an e-commerce internet site make sure they offer safe checkout and allow you to just take credit card payments. Many web contains offer services like e-mail accounts and layouts for your site at no extra cost so don?t place too much focus on standard services like these. Think of what your business goals are and look for companies that are unique to your what your little business options on performing in the future.5. Disk Space and BandwidthFinally, you should look at the quantity of disk space and bandwidth that the web host offers. Most web businesses gives more than to you enough room to host your internet site so don?t be worried about this unless you plan on saving a massive number of large files or making massive databases. The one thing you really need to look at is each month simply how much bandwidth the hosting company provides your organization. Bandwidth is basically a way of measuring simply how much individual traffic your website are designed for. It may possibly want should you not have after the maximum bandwidth is exceeded.A large amount of companies offer hosting options with infinite bandwidth which permits your website to take care of all the traffic enough bandwidth your website will not be around to your customers. The final thing to check out is the uptime percentage rate. That is generally a measure of how often your website is likely to be available on the web. All serves encounter unexpected problems or require sometime to complete machine maintenance therefore it is very important to always check this uptime price. A 99.9% uptime promise implies that a hosting company guarantees that your internet site is going to be viewable by people on the web 99.9 percent of the time. Be extra cautious if a web hosting company does not have an uptime assurance.

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Source: http://katalogas.link-bin.eu/website-hosting-for-little-business-5-things-to-consider-before-you-buy/

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Video: Buy sushi, get a manicure at glitzy new drugstores

>>> prescription, develop some photos. remember those days? times have changed. kristen dahlgren explains. good morning.

>> reporter: good morning. i'm here down on wall street . looks like i'm in an upscale supermarket complete with a sushi chef. that is just one of the surprises here. it's the hip new sushi bar, juice joint, liquor and cigar store and hot hollywood salon all rolled into one. this is definitely not your grandfather's drugstore.

>> anything i can do back here?

>> no.

>> reporter: in new york, chicago and lmplths a., the company that owns walgreen's has opened new glitzy stores.

>> you can get smoothies, sushi. i can get my diapers, wipes.

>> reporter: some aren't used to the idea of buying diapers and sushi in the same place. but for others --

>> i've gotten sushi here, made-to-order sandwiches, espresso bar .

>> reporter: hollywood a-listers helped to open the l.a. store. and jim cramer happened to stop by while we were shooting.

>> there isn't anything i've looked for that they don't have.

>> reporter: they say the idea is to provide a high-end shopping experience at all levels.

>> one of the first things you'll see when you walk into our store is obviously strong architectural design .

>> hi. thanks for dropping into the store.

>> reporter: from the virtual assistant that helps guide you to the automated perfume bar, technology is on full display.

>> if you've ever bought makeup at a drugstore, you know how tough it can be. not being able to try anything on. here they have the virtual makeover station. you're wondering how you would look in something like blue eyeshadow, take a picture, scan the product and there you go. if your look still needs help, there's a hair salon , and you can get your shoes shined.

>> get your eyebrows waxed. not that i did, but --

>> reporter: if all that just makes your head spin , don't forget, can you still get good, old-fashioned headache medicine here. i have to admit i was one of those sushi skeptics but did have some for lunch the other day. not bad and i didn't even have to walk around the corner to get any pepto bismol .

>> anywhere jim cramer goes --

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50613863/

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workplace safety management; warehouse inspection checklist

?

Adversaries of comprehensive warehouse safety programs argue that they pose too great of a demand on current employees, create a potential need for dedicated personnel, and leach off of resources needed for more imminent, tangible tasks. Seeing is believing; therefore, reactivity typically takes precedence over proactivity since well-defined tasks pose a sense of urgency. Nonetheless, such proactivity could prevent both tragic consequences to affected parties in an accident and crippling financial liabilities to a company that has neglected to enact and sustain safety protocols.? Formulating a checklist and routinely assessing compliance to established standards is a relatively effortless way to ensure that safety is paramount to your warehouse.?

?

Personal Safety

?

Proper training, visual graphics, first aid supplies and communication are paramount in ensuring that people?personnel or customers?are sufficiently advised of potential hazards. As Voltaire said, ?common sense is not so common?: stating the obvious is the best way to protect others, as well as yourself.

? Clean all spills immediately upon their occurrence and/or use proper hazard cones to ward individuals away from the area. One of the most common causes of accidents results from unattended spills.

? Designate pedestrian walkways as well as areas that people are prohibited to walk, unless authorized.?

? Use appropriate signage to instruct people of the following: directions throughout a warehouse, hazard symbols, forklift traffic, gantry cranes, and requirements for moving heavy items. This list is not all-inclusive since it varies by warehouse to warehouse, but it targets common issues.

? Use proper methods for retrieving items high in warehouse racking (e.g. forklift) and do not allow persons to climb the racking.?

? Maintain accessible safety equipment (safety glasses, eye wash stations, respirators, etc.) in required areas.

? Use proper ?Exit? signs and require that all persons use man doors, instead of walking under open garage doors.

?

Fire Safety

?

Fire safety relies heavily upon logistics: evacuation coordination and accountability. It?s critical to protect property, but it?s of utmost importance to ensure all peoples? lives are safe.?

? Make sure all points and paths of egress, including fire doors, are well marked.?

? Establish and practice an evacuation plan where each individual is assigned to a pre-designated outdoor staging area. Ensure a lead is appointed to each staging area with a list of all individuals that must be present.

? Formulate a safety committee; regularly ensure members are trained in first aid and CPR.?

? Ensure that the appropriate quantity and spacing of fire extinguishers exists in your warehouse and that they?re properly charged. Verify that sprinkler system is operable.

? Test fire alarms regularly.

? Keep flammable items an appropriate distance from sources that would facilitate combustion. Utilize the NFPA 704 ?fire diamond? and educate personnel on its meaning.

?

Material Handling Safety

?

? Provide MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) for chemicals and materials, if applicable.

? Utilize the HMIS (Hazardous Material Identification System).

? Educate personnel on the proper disposal of various hazardous substances and be sure that necessary cleaning and disposal supplies are equipped in designated places throughout the warehouse, in addition to making sure that you have all the equipment needed for handling? dangerous goods storage.? Also, use concealed containers to discard sharp objects (e.g. knife blades).

?

Electrical/Mechanical Safety

?

? Utilize OSHA?s lockout-tagout procedures on any piece of equipment that poses a hazard and must not be run.

? Display proper hazard symbols (e.g. sharp edges, electrical shock) on machines and electrical items such as breaker boxes and transformers.?

? Make certain that proper safety gear and attire is worn by operators and that tools/machines are used solely for their intended purposes.?

?

Forklift Safety

?

? Wear the manufacturer provided seat belt and do not leave forklift until stopped and parked. Retain key at all times.

? Travel in designated forklift lanes and only when forks are lowered; never park a forklift with the forks raised. This is a prime instance for personal injury.

? Reduce speed, utilize horns, and yield to pedestrians at all times.

? Do not exceed weight limit on the forklift.?

? Only use forklift for its intended purpose.

?

Safety should be the main concern of any business that owns a warehouse, since taking care of employees is a key to a successful and prosperous business. Use these guidelines to prepare and implement an inspection checklist and you?ll be sure to increase safety awareness in your warehouse.?

Source: http://www.blog4safety.com/2013/01/workplace-safety-management-warehouse-inspection-checklist-for-your-business-guest-post/

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Several Australian towns flooded, 4 people killed

People use umbrellas to fend off the rain as they walk through a park in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Torrential rain over the weekend flooded several towns in eastern Australia, and three deaths were reported. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

People use umbrellas to fend off the rain as they walk through a park in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Torrential rain over the weekend flooded several towns in eastern Australia, and three deaths were reported. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

In this image made with a slow shutter speed, a man uses an umbrella to fend off the rain as he walks on a street in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Torrential rain over the weekend flooded several towns in eastern Australia, and three deaths were reported. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

A man use an umbrella to fend off the rain as he walks through a park in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Torrential rain over the weekend flooded several towns in eastern Australia, and three deaths were reported. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) ? Thousands of Australians huddled in shelters Tuesday as torrential rains flooded cities and towns in the northeast, killing four people and prompting around 1,000 helicopter evacuations.

With floodwaters expected to peak in most of the worst-hit areas later Tuesday, officials were rushing to move those in the highest-risk areas to safety.

In the hard-hit city of Bundaberg, 385 kilometers (240 miles) north of Brisbane, rescue crews plucked 1,000 people to safety after the river that runs through town broke its banks, sending fast-moving, muddy water pouring into streets and homes. Around 1,500 residents fled to evacuation centers, while patients at the local hospital were being airlifted to Brisbane as a precaution.

"Listen to the roar of the water ? that's not helicopters," Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said. "You see a lot of locations where there are literally sort of rapids. There's white water out there, so it is very dangerous."

Queensland residents and officials were being particularly cautious, after floodwaters from heavy rain in late 2010 and early 2011 left much of the state under water in the worst flooding Australia had seen in decades. The 2010-2011 floods killed 35 people, damaged or destroyed 30,000 homes and businesses and left Brisbane, Australia's third-largest city, under water for days.

The current flood crisis was not as severe, though some areas in northern New South Wales were hit by more than half a meter (about 20 inches) of rain, State Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Steve Pearce said. Four people have died, including a 3-year-old boy who was hit by a falling tree in Brisbane.

"We're expecting flash flooding, we're expecting trees to be brought down, wires to be brought down by these winds," Pearce said. "We're expecting a very challenging 24 hours in front of us."

In the New South Wales city of Grafton, 600 kilometers (370 miles) north of Sydney, 2,500 people were ordered to leave their homes as the Clarence River continued to rise.

"We are in a dangerous situation that requires a timely response and I think the best thing to do is to evacuate," said Richie Williamson, the mayor of Clarence Valley Council.

The flooding was caused by the remnants of a tropical cyclone that also caused severe weather including tornadoes and created sea foam that came ashore on the Queensland coast. The foam covered roads in places, causing traffic to be diverted. Elsewhere, beach-goers waded into the bubbles to pose for photographs.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-01-28-Australia-Flood/id-1b7bb0d919954c00a9345b1f8bc30fc9

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Preserve CIA prisons as evidence, lawyers for 9/11 suspects ask

GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - Lawyers for five alleged 9/11 conspirators who claim they were tortured in secret CIA prisons have asked a U.S. military judge to order that the prisons be preserved as evidence.

The issue is one of more than two dozen on the docket for a week of pretrial hearings set to begin on Monday in the war crimes tribunal at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base in Cuba.

The defendants include Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the hijacked plane attacks that killed 2,976 people on September 11, 2001, and four other prisoners accused of training and aiding the hijackers.

Defense lawyers also asked the judge to order the U.S. government to turn over all White House or Justice Department documents authorizing the CIA to move suspected al Qaeda captives across borders without judicial review and to hold and interrogate them in secret prisons after the September 11 attacks.

President George W. Bush announced in 2006 that the 9/11 defendants were among a group of "high-value" captives sent to Guantanamo from the secret prisons.

The CIA has acknowledged that Mohammed was subjected to the simulated drowning technique known as waterboarding, and the defendants said they were also subjected to sleep deprivation, threats, and being chained in painful positions.

The defense lawyers will argue that their clients' treatment was illegal pretrial punishment and constituted "outrageous government misconduct" that could justify dismissal of the charges, or at least spare the defendants from execution if convicted.

"By its nature, torture affects the admissibility of evidence, the credibility of witnesses the appropriateness of punishment and the legitimacy of the prosecution itself," the defense lawyers wrote in court documents.

At least one potential witness was also held in the CIA prisons and his treatment could raise questions about the admissibility of his testimony, said James Connell, defense attorney for Mohammed's nephew, defendant Ali Abdul-Aziz Ali.

The chief prosecutor, Brigadier General Mark Martins, said the prosecution does not plan to introduce any evidence obtained from the defendants or anyone else via torture, cruelty or inhuman treatment - which is prohibited by U.S. law and international treaty.

ABU GHRAIB PRISON

The judge presiding over the 9/11 trial, Army Colonel James Pohl, ordered in 2004 that the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq be preserved as a "crime scene." He was at the time presiding over the trial of U.S. military police officers accused of torturing and photographing prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

Iraq was then under U.S. occupation. It was unclear whether Pohl had authority to order the preservation of the CIA prisons, whose location the government has kept secret, arguing that disclosure could threaten U.S. national security and put allies at risk.

Polish prosecutors are investigating allegations that one of the sites was in Poland, and there is evidence the CIA set up others in Romania, Lithuania and Thailand, according to reports by the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

But before the court considers the CIA prisons, it will hear issues such as whether attorney-client communications are being improperly monitored and censored at Guantanamo and how to handle sensitive but non-classified data such as medical records.

Mohammed and his nephew are Pakistani citizens. The other defendants are Yemenis Walid bin Attash and Ramzi Binalshibh and Saudi Mustafa al Hawsawi.

They have been in U.S. custody for a decade but there are still numerous legal and evidentiary issues that must be resolved before their trial begins on charges that include murder, hijacking, terrorism and attacking civilians.

"We are inching methodically toward judgment day," Martins said.

(Editing by Kevin Gray and Christopher Wilson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/preserve-cia-prisons-evidence-lawyers-9-11-suspects-083009892.html

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Markets brush off weak US consumer survey

LONDON (AP) ? An unexpectedly-weak U.S. consumer confidence survey Tuesday failed to dent the positive tone in markets in the run-up to a series of key U.S. economic indicators.

Markets remained higher despite a soft reading from the Conference Board survey of consumer optimism. Its monthly index fell to 58.6 points, its lowest level since November 2011, amid concerns over U.S. politicians' ability to agree on a budget.

But many analysts brushed off the survey as a potential one-off, arguing the drop was due to an increase in the payroll tax agreed at the start of the year between the White House and Congress.

"Smaller paychecks are hurting consumer confidence but higher home and equity values, and eventually stronger job growth, should help buffer the pain," said Jennifer Lee, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets.

In Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares rose 0.7 percent to close at 6,339.19, while Germany's DAX gained 0.2 percent to 7,848.57. The CAC-40 in France rose 0.1 percent to 3,785.82.

In the U.S., the Dow Jones industrial average was up 0.4 percent at 13,938.61 while the broader S&P 500 index rose 0.3 percent to 1,504.82.

Markets are likely to be at the mercy of U.S. economic indicators for the rest of the week. Many stock indexes around the world have hit multi-year highs and the Dow Jones industrial average is not far off its all-time peak, achieved in 2007 just before the financial crisis started baring its teeth.

One of the reasons why markets have enjoyed such a strong start to the year is optimism over the U.S. economy. Over the coming days, investors will be inundated with a raft of figures, culminating on Friday with the monthly nonfarm payrolls report for January. The payrolls figures often provide the markets direction for a week or two after their release.

There's a lot to get through before Friday, though, most notably on Wednesday when the U.S. Federal Reserve concludes its latest two-day policy meeting. At their last meeting, there were signs that some rate-setters were poised to bring an end to the era of super-loose monetary policy.

"The Fed statement tomorrow is likely to be the most eagerly anticipated news of the week," said Rebecca O'Keeffe, head of investment at Interactive Investor.

Earlier in Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.4 percent to 10,866.72 but Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped less than 0.1 percent to 23,655.17.

Japanese banks surged on expectations they will beat earnings for the fiscal year 2012, the Nikkei newspaper reported. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group advanced 3.8 percent. Mizuho Financial Group gained 2.9 percent and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group rose 4.4 percent.

The positive tone was evident in other markets, too, with the euro 0.2 percent higher at $1.3478. In the oil markets, the price for a barrel of crude was $1.18 higher at $97.62 in New York.

____

Pamela Sampson in Bangkok contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/markets-brush-off-weak-us-consumer-survey-154908085--finance.html

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