Friday, November 30, 2012
Incase EO Roller Review: The Stylish Gadget Suitcase That Might Crush Your Gadgets
First-ever hyperspectral images of Earth's auroras: New camera provides tantalizing clues of new atmospheric phenomenon
ScienceDaily (Nov. 29, 2012) ? Hoping to expand our understanding of auroras and other fleeting atmospheric events, a team of space-weather researchers designed and built NORUSCA II, a new camera with unprecedented capabilities that can simultaneously image multiple spectral bands, in essence different wavelengths or colors, of light. The camera was tested at the Kjell Henriksen Observatory (KHO) in Svalbard, Norway, where it produced the first-ever hyperspectral images of auroras -- commonly referred to as "the Northern (or Southern) Lights" -- and may already have revealed a previously unknown atmospheric phenomenon.
Details on the camera and the results from its first images were published November 29 in the Optical Society's (OSA) open-access journal Optics Express.
Auroras, nature's celestial fireworks, are created when charged particles from the Sun penetrate Earth's magnetic field. These shimmering displays in the night sky reveal important information about the Earth-Sun system and the way our planet responds to powerful solar storms. Current-generation cameras, however, are simply light buckets -- meaning they collect all the light together into one image -- and lack the ability to separately capture and analyze multiple slivers of the visible spectrum. That means if researchers want to study auroras by looking at specific bands or a small portion of the spectrum they would have to use a series of filters to block out the unwanted wavelengths.
The new NORUSCA II hyperspectral camera achieves the same result without any moving parts, using its advanced optics to switch among all of its 41 separate optical bands in a matter of microseconds, orders of magnitude faster than an ordinary camera. This opens up new possibilities for discovery by combining specific bands of the same ethereal phenomenon into one image, revealing previously hidden details.
"A standard filter wheel camera that typically uses six interference filters will not be able to spin the wheel fast enough compared to the NORUSCA II camera," said Fred Sigernes of the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Norway. "This makes the new hyperspectral capability particularly useful for spectroscopy, because it can detect specific atmospheric constituents by their unique fingerprint, or wavelengths, in the light they emit."
These spectral signatures can then reveal subtle changes in atmospheric behavior, such as the ionization of gases during auroras. This form of multispectral imaging also will enable scientists to better classify auroras from background sky emissions and study the way they cluster in the atmosphere.
A New Phenomenon
On Jan. 24, 2012, during the inaugural research campaign of NORUSCA II, a major solar flare jettisoned a burst of high-energy particles known as a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). The CME eventually slammed into Earth's magnetic field, producing magnificent auroras and a chance to fully test the new camera.
The researchers were able to image the aurora in unprecedented clarity through a layer of low altitude clouds, which would have thwarted earlier-generation instruments (see Image 1). The camera also revealed something unexpected -- a very faint wave pattern of unknown origin in the lower atmosphere (see Image 2). The wave pattern resembles "airglow" -- the natural emission of light by Earth's atmosphere. Airglow can be produced by a variety of known sources, including cosmic rays striking the upper atmosphere and chemical reactions. Its concurrent appearance with the aurora suggests that it may also be caused by a previously unrecognized source.
"After the January CME, we think we saw an auroral-generated wave interaction with airglow," said Sigernes. This would be an entirely new phenomenon and if confirmed, would be the first time airglow has been associated with auroras.
"Our new all-sky camera opens up new frontiers of discovery and will help in the detection of auroras and the understanding of how our Sun impacts the atmosphere here on Earth. Additional development and commissioning will also hopefully verify our intriguing first results," concludes Sigernes.
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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/NnP1uPSdwfc/121129111839.htm
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Thursday, November 29, 2012
Save $50 on a Samsung Galaxy Camera from Daily Steals
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Amnesty urges Kuwait not to crack down on protests
KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwaiti authorities must allow protesters to gather peacefully and express their views without the threat of arrest, Amnesty International said ahead of an opposition march over voting rules planned later this week.
Protesters plan a march in central Kuwait on Friday, on the eve of parliamentary elections which the opposition is boycotting in protest.
Opposition politicians and youth protest groups say new voting rules introduced by Kuwait's 83-year-old ruler by decree in October are an attempt to skew the December 1 election in favour of pro-government candidates.
The emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, says the voting system is flawed and that the changes are constitutional and needed for the sake of Kuwait's "security and stability".
"Protesters must be allowed to peacefully assemble to voice their views without hindrance or fear of arrest and such gatherings should be permitted to form into marches or other types of peaceful protest," London-based Amnesty said in a statement posted on its website.
Kuwait's prime minister said on Monday that the planned protest march had been given permission to go ahead, in a step which could ease tensions ahead of the vote.
Kuwait allows the most dissent among the Gulf Arab states and its citizens often hold rallies in a designated area outside parliament. But recent protest marches in the streets beyond have been broken up by police using tear gas, smoke bombs and baton charges.
Authorities are keen to prevent the kind of unrest Kuwait experienced on October 21, when thousands of demonstrators tried to reach government headquarters in the largest march and were forcibly dispersed by police.
"The right to protest and freedom of speech are enshrined in Kuwait's constitution," Information Ministry official Tareq al-Mezrem said in response to the Amnesty statement.
ADVANCE NOTICE OF PROTESTS
He said advance notice of large marches needed to be given and that protesters had followed this process correctly for the sanctioned November 30 rally.
"While the government respects the rights of citizens to raise their voices, we call upon them to respect the law and protest peacefully," he added.
The new voting system is aimed at ensuring fair representation in parliament and bringing Kuwait "in line with other democracies," he said.
Kuwait has the most open political system in the Gulf Arab region with an elected parliament that has legislative powers and the power to question ministers. The emir has the final say in state matters, selects the prime minister who in turn picks a cabinet, with the top posts held by ruling family members.
Amnesty said users of social media should also be able to enjoy protection whether they support or oppose the government, as long as they did not incite racial hatred or violence.
Sheikh Sabah is on a state visit to Britain this week and Amnesty called on Prime Minister David Cameron to tell the emir that Kuwait "needs to avoid a crackdown."
"The Kuwaiti authorities need to call a halt to increasing restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly."
Several people, including politicians, have been arrested for remarks deemed to undermine the status of the emir.
The most prominent was Musallam al-Barrak, a former parliamentarian who polled strongly in the last elections in February. He made remarks about the emir at a public rally.
Earlier this month four Kuwaitis were arrested for making remarks about the emir on Twitter that were also deemed illegal.
Amnesty reiterated a call on Kuwait to drop the charges against Barrak, as well as others held either for making remarks about the emir or for taking part in demonstrations.
(Reporting by Sylvia Westall; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/amnesty-urges-kuwait-not-crack-down-protests-185939891.html
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Can We Stop Modern-Day Mad Scientists?
It's hard to stop a bad idea with enough money behind it?even rogue science on the high seas.
A hundred years ago chemical and biological weapons had no regulation because they were new ideas, according to Jason Blackstock, a physicist and international relations scholar at the Institute for Science, Innovation and Society at Oxford. Fifty years ago the first rules for human-subject research were put in place.
Identifying the people who are likely to do this, or have done it in the past, could be a good way to prevent mad science.
The New Yorker recently called George the first geo-vigilante,"implying he fought for justice when the system failed us. But was he frustrated in his pursuit of knowledge or just exploiting a loophole?
Russ George, a wealthy American businessman with a history of big, controversial ideas, launched his latest one this October: dumping 200,000 pounds of iron sulfate into the North Pacific. His aim was to spur a huge plankton bloom, which would absorb carbon dioxide in photosynthesis and then sink to the ocean floor. George was attempting to engage in ocean fertilization, the idea that seeding the sea in this way creates those organic blooms that sequester carbon when they sink.
Plenty of scientists have bandied about the idea of ocean fertilization?it's one of the most common proposals for geoengineering, or engineering the earth to protect civilization from climate change. But George didn't write a scientific paper about the implications of fertilizing the Pacific Ocean with iron. He just went out and did it, with the backing of the Haida Salmon Restoration Corporation, a First Nations group in Canada that was hoping an improvement in the ocean would also improve the salmon numbers they depend on.
This wasn't George's first attempt at unilateral geoengineering. But his solo action has outraged scientists, who have spent years studying not only the potential benefits but also the potential negative consequences of hacking the earth. All of which leads us to ask: What's to stop modern-day mad scientists?
Rules on the Books?
A hundred years ago chemical and biological weapons had no regulation because they were new ideas, according to Jason Blackstock, a physicist and international relations scholar at the Institute for Science, Innovation and Society at Oxford. Fifty years ago the first rules for human-subject research were put in place.
But newer sciences have yet to spawn a hard set of rules. Consider the current state of fields like genetically modified foods, says Blackstock, which have widely varying national regulations but no international protocols. Or take nanotech: "[In] Michael Crichton's novel with little robots talking over and eating the world [Prey], they are things that could be pretty damaging if released into the environment, but we just don't know," he says. "So there are still a lot of big questions for what should be allowed and what shouldn't be."
Geoengineering is so new, and its consequences so big, that there is no set of laws to deal with it yet. "Right now there is no system for that," says Lisa Speer, Director of the International Oceans Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council. More rogue scientists and businessmen could be motoring through those loopholes in the near future. "I think we're likely to see more and more of these ideas," Speer says.
George has already drawn attention for plankton-centric attempts to engineer the climate. "The Weatherbird, his previous escapade, was widely criticized," says Speer. Country representatives ratified a treaty of the London Protocol on May 1, 2008, that was prompted by the Weatherbird experiment. Dumping a bunch of experimental stuff in international waters violates these rules, but it's not clear what happens next. At best, it's questionably legal, but no expert would call it definitely illegal. One could potentially avoid any punishment by calling it legitimate scientific research and exploiting the vagueness of that phrase. Plus, the rules are murky in international waters, as any keen observer of Bond villains knows. International protocols and moratoriums like the ones on ocean dumping exist, but enforcement has to be carried out by the country where a vessel in violation originated.
The amount of iron sulfate George dumped into the ocean was only a drop in the bucket on a global scale, says Ken Caldeira, an atmospheric scientist of the Carnegie Institution for Science's Department of Global Ecology. "The sewage waste coming into the oceans from coastal towns around the world, I'm sure that's going to be orders of magnitude bigger than what Russ George did. Humans are adding nutrients to the oceans in large quantities every day, knowingly. Of all the damage that humans did to the oceans on that day, Russ George was probably a millionth of that."
For Caldeira, it's the fact that George conducted his experiment in secret rather than the actual amount of iron he dumped that's really troubling. And that's what has bigger implications for the future. "Experiments like this make people realize that there are holes big enough you can literally drive an ocean liner through them," Blackstock says.
Spotting Rogue Scientists
Identifying the people who are likely to do this, or have done it in the past, could be a good way to prevent mad science.
The trouble is, you only know about these experiments beforehand if public funding requires transparency or if the directors choose to tell other scientists and the community at large. "This is not the sort of thing the public should find out about after the fact," says Blackstock.
When people are informed of experimental intent before the fact there's a resulting back-and-forth of environmental impact assessments and the airing of grievances. The Spice project in the U.K., another geoengineering experiment designed to pump water and, ultimately, sulfates into the upper atmosphere to try to block part of the sun's light and thereby cool the planet, was suspended before it began a year ago because public reaction worried funders. In another experiment, called LOHAFEX, the scientists modified their iron dumping location in the Southern Ocean after getting feedback from the German science ministry. (The project was put on hold for two weeks because the ministry had reservations, and during that time the lead scientists chose a stable eddy that would trap most of the new carbon and, hopefully, mollify the German government.)
Mad or Just Frustrated?
The New Yorker recently called George the first geo-vigilante,"implying he fought for justice when the system failed us. But was he frustrated in his pursuit of knowledge or just exploiting a loophole?
"Scientists still aren't sure what they can and can't do," Blackstock says. "You do end up in cases where somebody says, you know what, I'm just gonna go do it, even within the U.S. What Russ George has done is taken that to an extreme. A big extreme."
"Ten years ago everything in geoengineering looked like a mad-scientist idea," he continues. "Frankly, I still wake up some days and see this stuff and I go, seriously?we must be nuts. I mean, spraying aerosols into the upper atmosphere to cool the planet?this is terraforming. This is science fiction. And yet it is really a question... of how they go about it, not the idea itself."
Blackstock suggests two criteria for judging geoengineers. First, is their experimental design solid? And second, are they working toward the public good? (Caldeira advocates the classic "follow the money" rule for the second point.)
In George's case, the risks were small: Even though he dumped 200 times more iron than any previous experiment, Caldeira says, George's experiment would have to be done at a much, much larger scale to have any noticeable effect on the atmosphere. It wasn't particularly useful as a proof-of-concept test, either. Blackstock says: "There ain't no way that they're collecting enough data to make an experiment of this scale worthwhile, with that small number of people and resources."
As for following the money, George is a self-professed scientist, but most publications call him a businessman, and he stood to make a profit from ocean fertilization with carbon credits. Ostensibly, geoengineering could work toward global public good as well, if it manages to offset climate change without doing more harm in the process.
And that's why some researchers worry about Bond villains and billionaires going rogue. Whether geoengineering can really combat climate change?and do so without horrific unintended consequences?is an ongoing, contentious debate. But it's one that a mad scientist with enough money could circumvent.
"With geoengineering, the experiments are in themselves benign but could lead somewhere we don't want to go. There's no consensus," Caldeira says. "If we're willing to transform huge swaths of the ocean from quasi-natural ecosystems to managed-ocean ecosystems you could maybe offset a few percentage points of the climate-change problem, but I think that most informed observers would say that the tradeoffs aren't there. The potential for harm exceeds the potential benefits."
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10 Things to Know for Wednesday
FILE - This July 14, 2012 file photo shows Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi laugh during a photo opportunity at their meeting at the Presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt. The US has been here before with Egypt, praising its leader for championing Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts while expressing deep concern over his commitment to democracy at home. But with options limited, the Obama administration is keeping its faith in President Mohammed Morsi. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)
FILE - This July 14, 2012 file photo shows Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi laugh during a photo opportunity at their meeting at the Presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt. The US has been here before with Egypt, praising its leader for championing Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts while expressing deep concern over his commitment to democracy at home. But with options limited, the Obama administration is keeping its faith in President Mohammed Morsi. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)
FILE - In this Nov. 21, 2012, file photo, President Barack Obama speaks about the Thanksgiving holiday in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. The White House said Tuesday, Nov. 27, that the president plans to make a public case this week for his strategy for dealing with the looming fiscal cliff, traveling to the Philadelphia suburbs Friday as he pressures Republicans to allow tax increases on the wealthy while extending tax cuts for families earning $250,000 or less. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
In this Oct. 1, 2012 photo, Kayla Saucedo, an 8th grader at Anson Jones Middle School, uses her new ID card to check out a book in the library in San Antonio, Texas. The San Antonio school district's website was hacked over the weekend to protest its policy requiring students to wear microchip-embedded cards tracking their every move on campus. A teenager purportedly working with the hacker group Anonymous said in an online statement that he took the site down because the Northside school district "is stripping away the privacy of students in your school." All students at John Jay High School and Anson Jones Middle School are required to carry identification cards embedded with a microchip. They are tracked by the dozens of electronic readers installed in the schools' ceiling panels. (AP Photo/San Antonio Express-News, Bob Owen) RUMBO DE SAN ANTONIO OUT; NO SALES
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about Wednesday:
1. WHY THE WHITE HOUSE IS STICKING WITH MORSI
The Egyptian leader ? despite questions about his commitment to democracy ? remains a key American partner in brokering peace between Israel and its neighbors.
2. DEMOCRATS' LATEST STANCE: NO CUTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY OR MEDICARE
As the clock ticks on the "fiscal cliff," many in the party ? emboldened by the election ? no longer want to consider cuts that once were on the bargaining table.
3. WHERE WEDNESDAY'S POWERBALL JACKPOT RANKS
The $500 million pot is the second-highest in lottery history, behind only the $656 million Mega Millions prize in March.
4. SUSAN RICE'S PROSPECTS GROW CLOUDY
The would-be secretary of state will meet with two more GOP senators Wednesday amid fresh concern about comments she made after the Benghazi attack.
5. YEARNING TO SERVE ON THE FRONT LINES
Four women sue to overturn a Pentagon rule barring females from being assigned to ground combat units.
6. HOW DROUGHT AND RISING TEMPERATURES ARE AFFECTING THE GREAT LAKES
Water levels have fallen to near-record lows on Lakes Michigan and Huron.
7. U.N. ON VERGE OF RECOGNIZING PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD
The U.S. and Israel strongly oppose the resolution, which would add weight to Palestinian claims for a state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.
8. AMERICANS UPBEAT DESPITE LOOMING BUDGET MELTDOWN
Consumer confidence rose in November as home values increased and gas prices fell.
9. A NEW TECHNOLOGY TO TRACK STUDENTS' WHEREABOUTS
Microchips embedded in ID cards ? a purported safety measure ? will be "the next wave" in schools, one expert says.
10. SIN CITY'S LATEST ATTRACTION
Las Vegas is building a zip line that will spit tourists out of an 11-story slot machine and send them hurtling five blocks.
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Afghans protest against death sentence for soldier who killed French troops
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Source: www.hizb.org.uk --- Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Students protest at death sentence for Abdul Saboor when western Troops are not executed for civilian deaths Hundreds of Afghan students have demanded the release of an Afghan soldier sentenced to death for killing five French soldiers, in a rowdy protest that was a reminder of hostility to western forces and the central government in many parts of Afghanistan. Abdul Saboor was given the death penalty by a military court for opening fire on French forces during a joint operation in eastern Kapisa province in January. The deaths contributed to France?s decision to withdraw its Troops early, and highlighted the growing problem of insider attacks by Afghan police and soldiers against the foreign soldiers training them. The shootings have become one of the biggest challenges for Nato commanders in Afghanistan. This year so far more than 60 foreigners have been killed in 45 such attacks, around 15% of military deaths in the country. The rising trend has pushed the United States to restrict contacts with Afghan Troops and raised questions about the long-term future of the training mission. Afghan forces have suffered similar or higher losses to attackers from inside their own ranks, and have stepped up screening procedures to try to limit what they see as treacherous attacks. But about 500 university students who blocked the main highway between the capital Kabul and the eastern hub of Jalalabad for more than an hour on Monday morning ...
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Saturday, November 24, 2012
Limited-edition White Nook Simple Touch lands at $79 this Black Friday
Another decent discount on Barnes & Noble's entry-level e-reader means you can now get the sans Glowlight Nook Simple Touch for just under $80. This prices it below to Amazon's (ad-free) basic e-reader but above the $50 price tag that Target's announced. However, this limited-edition Nook is encircled with a white border, which at least sounds a little more festive -- we haven't managed to snatch a glance at one just yet. Barnes & Noble says that it'll remain at this price for as long as in-store stocks last, but bare a thought for your transatlantic cousins, who are paying the same amount, but in pounds, for an identical e-reader.
Continue reading Limited-edition White Nook Simple Touch lands at $79 this Black Friday
Source: Barnes & Noble
Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/fRNuxH6KyvQ/
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Friday, November 23, 2012
AIA: Architecture Billings Index increases in October, Highest in Two ...
Note: This index is a leading indicator primarily for new Commercial Real Estate (CRE) investment.
From AIA: Architecture Billings Index Positive for Third Straight Month
Billings at architecture firms accelerated to their strongest pace of growth since December 2010. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the October ABI score was 52.8, up from the mark of 51.6 in September. This score reflects an increase in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 59.4, compared to a mark of 57.3 the previous month.
?With three straight monthly gains ? and the past two being quite strong ? it?s beginning to look like demand for design services has turned the corner,? said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. ?With 2012 winding down on an upnote, and with the national elections finally behind us, there is a general sense of optimism. However, this is balanced by a tremendous amount of anxiety and uncertainty in the marketplace, which likely means that we?ll have a few more bumps before we enter a full-blown expansion.?
? Regional averages: South (52.8), Northeast (52.6), West (51.8), Midwest (50.8)
? Sector index breakdown: multi-family residential (59.6), mixed practice (52.4), institutional (51.4), commercial / industrial (48.0)
emphasis added
Click on graph for larger image.
This graph shows the Architecture Billings Index since 1996. The index was at 52.8 in October, up from 51.6 in September. Anything above 50 indicates expansion in demand for architects' services.
This increase is mostly being driven by demand for design of multi-family residential buildings - and this suggests there are more apartments coming (there are already quite a few apartments under construction . New project inquiries are also increasing. Note: This includes commercial and industrial facilities like hotels and office buildings, multi-family residential, as well as schools, hospitals and other institutions.
According to the AIA, there is an "approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending" on non-residential construction. This suggests some increase in CRE investment next year (it will be some time before investment in offices and malls increases significantly).
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Torres form vital for Benitez at Chelsea
By STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer
Associated Press Sports
updated 12:39 a.m. ET Nov. 22, 2012
LONDON (AP) -Rafael Benitez's surprise appointment as interim Chelsea manager will be seen by many as a short-term fix ahead of the likely hiring of Pep Guardiola next summer.
However, if Benitez is able to get the best out of struggling striker Fernando Torres - like he did in the pair's fruitful days at Liverpool - the 52-year-old Spaniard could find himself around for longer than just this season.
Out of management since being fired by Inter Milan in December 2010, Benitez begins life Thursday as Chelsea's ninth coach under ruthless Russian owner Roman Abramovich with a lengthy to-do list awaiting him. Indeed, one of his first tasks will be handling the fallout of the racism case involving referee Mark Clattenburg, with the Football Association close to making a decision whether to charge the official with abusing a Chelsea player during a match.
What could define Benitez's tenure at Stamford Bridge, though, is his handling of Torres - the 50 million pound ($81 million) gift bestowed on the club by Abramovich in January 2011. Carlo Ancelotti and Andre Villas-Boas couldn't find a way of accommodating the Spain international and Roberto Di Matteo's axing of the player for Tuesday's 3-0 loss at Juventus in the Champions League proved to be one of the Italian's last acts as manager.
Benitez has already shown he has a better idea than most about how to squeeze the best displays out of Torres. Under Benitez at Liverpool, he scored 33 goals in 46 matches in his first, stellar season at Anfield. Over the next two seasons, Torres scored 41 times in 70 games.
It's no surprise, then, that Torres last year called Benitez "the most important coach in my career."
If Benitez can make Torres tick once again, particularly with playmakers like Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar feeding the striker, Chelsea could yet become the feared attacking unit so craved by Abramovich.
"The owner and the board believe that in Benitez, we have a manager with significant experience at the highest level of football, who can come in and immediately help deliver our objectives," Chelsea said in a statement presenting Benitez as the new manager until the end of the season.
As the only true striker in Chelsea's squad following the departure of Didier Drogba last summer, Torres is integral to the team's success this season. He has proved to be a shadow of his old self since making the big-money move to west London, lacking confidence in front of goal and with his own technique, yet managers have felt compelled to persist with Torres because of Abramovich's vast outlay on him.
So far this season, Torres has scored seven goals in 19 games and more is expected of him.
Some in the British media are suggesting Di Matteo paid the price for not implementing a distinctive attacking philosophy after guiding Chelsea to a first Champions League title in May.
Benitez isn't known for being the most attack-minded of managers, however. In his first title-winning season at Valencia, in 2001-02, his team scored just 51 goals scored in 38 games. Similarly, his Liverpool teams were better known for their organization more than their flair.
As many managers have discovered down the years at Chelsea, Abramovich wants both trophies and quality football. That explains why Guardiola, the former Barcelona coach, is widely viewed as his No. 1 choice.
Not even winning the Champions League, supposedly the holy grail for Abramovich, was enough to keep Di Matteo on board.
"I am extremely proud of the successes and trophies that we were able to bring to the club in recent months," said Di Matteo, who also won the FA Cup last season during his spell as interim coach before being taken on full-time in June.
"Lifting Chelsea's first Champions League trophy, in Munich, was the best achievement in club history and without doubt the highlight of my career to date, both as a player and manager. It is a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life."
As well as coaxing the best out of Torres, Benitez will need to sort out a back four that looks unsteady without the calming influence of the injured John Terry and must also decide how long to persist with the 34-year-old Frank Lampard in midfield.
Chelsea's situation in the Premier League, and even in the Champions League, isn't so gloomy, though.
In the league, the team is third, just four points off leader Manchester City - Benitez's first opponent Sunday. And in Europe, Chelsea can still advance if it beats FC Nordsjaelland and Juventus loses to Shakhtar Donetsk, not an improbable scenario.
If Torres can regain his form under his old mentor, Chelsea could yet play a central role in both competitions and give Benitez a chance of staying on beyond next summer.
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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More newsWhat's next for Beckham?
??SportsTalk: The MLS Cup will be the last game David Beckham plays for the L.A. Galaxy. What's his next move?
Getty ImagesPST: Tons of tentacles in Beckham departure
PST: David Beckham splitting amicably with the Galaxy after six strong seasons is hardly the checkered flag at the finish line. There are tons of tentacles branching out on this one.
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49926785/ns/sports-soccer/
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Why must we buy? Black Friday's powerful pull
Shoppers stand in line outside a Best Buy department store before the store's opening at midnight for a Black Friday sale, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in Arlington, Texas. Despite a surge of resistance as the sales drew near, with scolding editorials and protests by retail employees and reminders of frantic tramplings past, Black Friday's grip on America may have been proven stronger than ever. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Shoppers stand in line outside a Best Buy department store before the store's opening at midnight for a Black Friday sale, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in Arlington, Texas. Despite a surge of resistance as the sales drew near, with scolding editorials and protests by retail employees and reminders of frantic tramplings past, Black Friday's grip on America may have been proven stronger than ever. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
In this Nov. 21, 2012, photo, Black Friday shoppers Ryan Seech, right, Dylan Loeb, center, and Dalas Loeb, left, stake out their front of the line position at a Best Buy in West Mifflin, Pa. The Childhood friends have camped out at Best Buy for four years straight. This year, they arrived a full week early, with a tent, sleeping bags, deodorizing mist sprayer, propane heater and battery power for their gadgets. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Shoppers rummage through a pile of sweaters on sale at a J.C. Penney store, Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, in Las Vegas. Despite a surge of resistance as the sales drew near, with scolding editorials and protests by retail employees and reminders of frantic tramplings past, Black Friday's grip on America may be stronger than ever. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Karen Jefferson, left, chats with Michelle Phan as they wait outside a Best Buy store in Raleigh, N.C., on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. The two had been camped out since Wednesday evening, missing Thanksgiving dinners with family in hopes of getting great deals on flat-screen televisions. (AP Photo/Allen Breed)
A crowd gathers as security guards break up a fight between shoppers waiting in line just as the doors open for Black Friday shopping at Target, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in Bowling Green, Ky. Despite a surge of resistance as the sales drew near, with scolding editorials and protests by retail employees and reminders of frantic tramplings past, Black Friday's grip on America may be stronger than ever. (AP Photo/Daily News, Alex Slitz)
BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (AP) ? Gravy was still warm. Dallas Cowboys were still in uniform. Thanks were still being given across the country as the pilgrimages to the stores began, heralding a new era of American consumerism.
Lured by earlier-than-ever Black Friday sales, people left Grandma and Grandpa in search of Samsung and Toshiba. They did not go blindly: In dozens of interviews, people acknowledged how spending has become inseparable from the holidays. Older folks pined for the days of Erector Sets and Thumbelinas while in line to pay iPad prices. Even some younger shoppers said it felt wrong to be spending money instead of quality time on Thanksgiving.
"But we're still out here," said Kelly Jackson, a paralegal who was standing inside a Best Buy store in the Pittsburgh suburbs, a 32-inch television ($189) in her cart. It was a consolation prize: Despite four hours on line, she missed the cheaper 40-inchers ($179) that she had heard about while listening to Internet radio.
Jackson's resignation was common among those who flocked to capitalism's temples for the consumer equivalent of genuflecting. Many said that this Black Friday bled into Thursday crossed a line, that merchants should not intrude like this. Christmas is about the message of Jesus, the feeling went ? not about the gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Yet amid these protests, people still talked about feeling powerless beneath the moment ? as if they had no choice but to shop.
"You have to have these things to enjoy your children and your family," said Jackson's friend Ebony Jones, who had secured two laptops ($187.99 each) for her 7 and 11 year olds.
Why must we buy? To demonstrate our love for others? To add a few more inches to our televisions? To help America recover from a vicious recession that itself was born of the desire for more?
Such questions make Jones wince. "It shouldn't be that way, but in a sense there's no way around it," said Jones, a nurse. "Everything ends up with a dollar amount. Even your happiness."
Retailers have long capitalized on the holiday season's perfect storm of emotion and tradition. "We all want to be loved, we all like to give love," says Roger Beahme, director of the Center for Retail Innovation at the Wake Forest Schools of Business. Through a flood of advertising on TV, radio and newspapers, he says, retailers can create emotions.
"Will Rogers said it's the art of convincing people to spend money they don't have on something they don't need," Beahme says. Although advertising can serve useful purposes, he says, "there's some truth to that."
Many embrace the feeling ? and have, in accelerating ways, for a generation and more. Without legions of believers, Black Friday never would have gotten this bold. Despite a surge of resistance as the sales drew near, with scolding editorials and protests by retail employees and reminders of frantic tramplings past, Black Friday's grip on America may have been proven stronger than ever this year.
"It's all part of the holiday ? part of the tradition," said Dennis River, a truck driver who was in line for a television at the Walmart in Beaver Falls, a small community outside of Pittsburgh. Last year, he went out alone at midnight Thursday. This year, he brought his wife and daughter. They were in place by 7 p.m.
"You get up in the morning, cook, do your dinner and your football, then you go shopping," River said. "It's the new thing now. Everyone's afraid of change."
"If they wanna have sales today," he said, "I'm gonna go shopping today."
Walmart's cavernous store is always open, but the deals began at 8 p.m. As with most big retail stores, a police car was parked near the Beaver Falls store entrance. A uniformed officer was at the door, near a stand holding maps to "featured products" such as bikes, cookware, sheets, video game consoles, and eight different TVs.
The witching hour approached. Yellow CAUTION tape cordoned off the bargains and funneled a few thousand supplicants through aisles of ignored items ? yarn, shower curtains, party hats, clocks. Balloons printed with dollar signs followed by low numbers floated above the treasures.
As the cell phones struck eight, a din arose. Excited voices mixed with the sound of boxes dropping into metal shopping carts. The balloons danced as people dug into stacks of leather ottomans ($29) and 5-by-5 foot bins of $5 DVDs.
The temperature climbed. An old man inched through the throng using a folding chair ($11.88) as a crutch. Traffic jammed. Complaints and a few curses echoed.
"I'm not an angry person, but I was angry for the 20 minutes I was in there," Danyel Coyne, a college student, said as she loaded a child booster seat ($12.98) into her trunk.
She and her boyfriend, Mike Yanke, had not come to shop. They needed a spare car seat to take Yanke's daughter back to Pittsburgh. Yet Yanke still had bought a red, battery-powered convertible ($129) at his dad's request.
"I wouldn't say Black Friday has taken over," said Dave Davies, a music producer who was part of the national parade of TVs (his was 50 inches and $399). "Shopping IS the holiday. That's all people care about ? what are you gonna get?"
For some, the items themselves can even take a back seat to the simple act of shopping.
Childhood friends Jesse Bredholt, Ryan Seech and a few other buddies have camped out at Best Buy for four years straight. This year, they arrived a full week early, with a tent, sleeping bags, deodorizing mist sprayer, propane heater and battery power for their gadgets.
They had no idea what they would buy. That was not the point.
For this group of single men in their early 20s, part of a generation who mark the passage of time by their first cell phones and video games, the point is spending time with each other at the source of the products that have always defined their lives.
"Our family is here," said Bredholt, who works for a health-care company. "With five guys on one mattress, you gotta be family."
Karen Jefferson, 49, also has found family on line at Best Buy, beyond her husband and three children. She was there Wednesday, seated on a folding chair, clutching a rolled-up circular.
"I'm missing Thanksgiving, and my husband thinks I'm crazy," said Jefferson, who works at a mortgage insurance company. "But I do this every year . because I enjoy meeting people and the people that come when I do. I mean, you see the same people year after year. And I do get some very good deals."
What about studies that have shown better deals are available at other times of the year?
"Oh, really?" Jefferson said. "You just think, Black Friday! Oh, my gosh, that's the deal of the year."
"Maybe that's something I need to look into," she continued. "Because, I mean, if these aren't good deals, then what are we DOING then?"
__
Jesse Washington can be reached at http://twitter.com/jessewashington or jwashington(at)ap.org.
___
AP National Writer Allen Breed in Raleigh, N.C., contributed to this report.
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Thursday, November 22, 2012
Home Improvement Tips You Should Check Out
Contrary to popular belief, you can make necessary home improvements without having to spend a lot of time or money. Adding some pictures to the walls, new carpeting or area rugs or even adding fresh, new towels to your kitchen and bathrooms can give you the updated look you want. Read the following article and discover some great tips on how you can improve the look of your home.
If you want to do some home improvement, it is important to have space for accumulated debris. Demolition produces a huge mess, and it will need a place to go. You need to know where you will put all of your debris so that it is out of the way.
Take care of the bubble that has been haunting you in your vinyl! If there is a bubble in one of these floors, you can slice it open and let the air out. This gets the floor flat again. Glue it down after you cut into it to make it stay down. In order to properly do this, you should use glue that comes already loaded inside a syringe.
Make improvements to your home's windows. Replace old windows. Double hung windows should be used in any home improvement projects. Although initially this may cost you a little money, you can save some money in the end with a reduced bill. New windows can increase the security of your home. If money is of concern, you can also look to either changing out your curtains or repainting your frames to develop a different look.
Installing hand railings can improve the safety and beauty of your home. Perfect spots for railings include platforms, decks, entrance ways, balconies, sidewalks and stairways. They will also help keep elderly people and children much safer. You can build or purchase railings in a variety of materials, including copper, steel, wrought iron, cables, wood and even glass. Choose railing that go with the look of your home for the best fit.
If you are beginning a renovation in your kitchen or bathroom, make sure to shut off the water supply to those rooms before beginning work on any plumbing or fixtures. You may think this is an obvious step, but it is not uncommon for homeowners to forget, causing serious damage and greater expense.
Any time you hire a professional, make sure that the contract includes a guarantee. Your contract with your contractor represents your entire agreement. Verbal promises or guarantees will be insufficient to help you get your contractor to work with you if you have problems with your home improvements. It is important that you know that the work is guaranteed and that you also know the duration of the guarantee.
In order to free up floor or tabletop space, it's a great idea to hang a television from a wall-mounted bracket instead of using a ordinary stand. Doing this type of project might only require about 30 minutes.
If you want your ceiling to look like it is higher, you can use these two very easy tricks. You can put in a floor lamp, or even paint some stripes around your walls. By putting this in a room, you will make an optical illusion in your home. Eyes will follow these lines and make the ceilings look higher than they are.
As stated earlier, just having a few tips under your belt can help you improve your home's market value within a reasonable budget. Use the information you have learned and incorporate it into your next home improvement project, ensuring a profitable sale.
Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Home-Improvement-Tips-You-Should-Check-Out/4278589
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Lazy Writing | SachaGreif.com
I recently launched?Sidebar, a new project (more about that another day). Sidebar simply gives you the 5 best design links of the day. So as part of the curation process, I get to see a lot of design-related content.
And reading all this content, I can?t help but see a trend: lazy writing.
What do I mean by this? I mean blog posts that do not require their author to do any research, talk to anybody, or (god forbid) leave their chair (kinda like the post you?re reading right now, in fact!).
Low-Calorie Blogging
You probably come across these articles every day. They feel right, but you don?t actually gain any knowledge from reading them. They?re basically the blogging equivalent of talking about the weather around the water cooler.
I?m not saying there?s no place for light, fluffy content. After all I?m not above writing an opinion piece or 10 myself. But we might be taking things too far: lately I feel like I can spend the whole day reading, yet not have learned a single new thing.
If at least these pieces were fun to read, that?d be something. But the rules of social media mean that everybody has to be nice all the time. So nobody wants to actually have an opinion or take the risk of being funny, lest they be misinterpreted and lose precious followers.
The Missing Links
Also, remember those things called ?links? we used to have? Those things that were the foundation of the Internet? Whatever happened to them?
These days, linking to whatever you?re talking about takes too much work.?Imagine that, having to actually find at least one specific example to back up your point! (note: this is the part where I would link to an article that doesn?t contain any links, but I don?t want to single out anybody? so just browse through Svbtle).
Good Writing Should Be Work
So instead of producing page after page of bland content, I wish more bloggers tried things like:
- Show, don?t tell: Don?t just tell me what you think about app design, but also show me what you did?about it.
- Be an expert: Tell me what makes you an expert. What are your credentials? Why should I care what you have to say?
- Speak from experience: And even if you?re not an expert, I?d rather hear about your personal experience than your personal theories.
- Do something: I know this will sound crazy, but have you thought about actually doing something and then blogging about it?
- Provide examples: If you can back your opinion up with hard data, now we?re talking. And?if you can?t come up with stats, at least include some examples that illustrate what you?re talking about! I know, taking, cropping, and uploading screenshots is a pain in the ass? so just stop being so lazy!
- Give actionable advice: We get it, you?re smart and know a lot about design. But so what? How does that impact my life? So how about providing actionable next steps so that reader can take action?
- Have an opinion: if you can?t do any of that, at least don?t just write for writing?s sake. Stand for something! Who cares if you?re wrong, at least it?ll move the conversation in a new direction.
While this post is?admittedly?not informative by any means, I hope that by embracing that last rule I will at least help generate new ideas (or maybe just get flamed?).
P.S. As it turns out, it?s surprisingly easy to find pictures of cats sleeping at a computer.
Source: http://sachagreif.com/lazy-writing/
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Clarify Existing Business Strategies | www.lacarmelaweb.com.ar
Implementing internet home based business strategies must be a creative art. It is a frame of mind that requires intuition and intellectual flexibility. Great internet work from home business strategies are just like having that partner where everything they touch turns to gold but what your location is always in complete control. Developing business strategies offers the knowledge and understanding had to generate and implement such a strategy.
And truth be told -- choosing the perfect business partner or even the right business partner may help your company be successful beyond your wildest dreams. Create a guide for internet home based business strategies for business growth and success using these goal-setting and planning tips. Use them to boost profits and also to learn the insider strategies to maximize your profits quicker. Business strategy, which refers to the aggregated operational tips for single business refers to the way in which a small business competes in its chosen arena. Businesses come and go. Failure is nearly expected and newcomers give up before they will really even knew beginning your practice.
Strategic management further involves both conceptual and analytical thought processes. It is planned and emergent, dynamic, and interactive. Strategic management is necessarily a 'repetitive learning cycle' rather than a linear progression towards a clearly defined final destination. Marketing identifies lifestyles, analyze behavior, implement strategies and measure results. By utilizing a marketing and advertising article archive it is possible to find which time-tested small business marketing strategies can function for you. One internet work from home business strategy is to check market. Is your marketing too aggressive you aren't aggressive enough?
Business gifts are among the best types of advertisement. Gifts with company logos are thought to be promotional tools in the current business world. Today most of the companies give business gifts to advertise the brand name of the business empire. Diaries, calendars, pen stands, pencil box, calculators along with other electronic devices with company logos are some from the most popular presents.
is amongst the easiest and affordable strategies to rewarding employees and prospective clients. There are a huge assortment of gifts that could be chosen to reward clients and employees.
Market Research will include strategic planning, using surveys while keeping focused groups while analyzing customer demographics to produce a marketing plan within a solid strategic business plan for treatments for small business. Information technology allows marketers to deal with each individual becasue it is own market, market of one. Concentration of customer focus is very important. Get near the customer. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and its particular many variants became an integral tool that sustained this trend. Customers expect immediate service that is customized with their needs, and will also be prepared to pay a premium price correctly. Focus on customer retention. Have you lost good customers it's not necassary to have lost? Customer Service is among the most critical factors to make a business successful these days.
If you are you looking for more information in regards to blue ocean strategy visit flevy.com/
Source: http://www.lacarmelaweb.com.ar/content/clarify-existing-business-strategies
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Raw Five-Point Preview: Nov. 19, 2012
All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. ? 2012 WWE, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This website is based in the United States. By submitting personal information to this website you consent to your information being maintained in the U.S., subject to applicable U.S. laws. U.S. law may be different than the law of your home country. WrestleMania XXIX (NY/NJ) logo TM & ? 2012 WWE. All Rights Reserved. The Empire State Building design is a registered trademark and used with permission by ESBC.
Source: http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2012-11-19/five-point-preview
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Tuesday, November 20, 2012
5 Year-End Tax Tips for 2012 | Credit.com News + Advice
Taxes are my personal finance Achilles heel. Every year, I promise myself I?ll be better organized than the last. With freelance income and a rental property ? in addition to the usual stuff (mortgage and charitable deductions, for example) I generate a fair amount information that needs to be sorted and organized so that my accountant can do his job.
If there ever were a time to get on top of your tax situation, this year is it. No one knows exactly what changes will occur next year, but with the looming crisis of the fiscal cliff, as well as tax benefits like the protection against taxes resulting from certain cancelled real estate debt set to expire at the end of the year, taxpayers and tax professionals can expect to be grappling with a multitude of changes.
For the average taxpayer, what are some year-end tax moves?
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?Forty percent of taxpayers are living paycheck to paycheck,? says Lisa Greene-Lewis, CPA and TurboTax blog editor. For them, every penny they can save in taxes counts. Here are some top moves:
Don?t Miss Charitable Deductions
Monetary donations to your favorite charities are always welcome, of course. But there are other tax deductions that may be available to you. ?If you are volunteering for a charity then you can deduct your cost of travel which can include miles, airfare, and hotel as long as it?s directly related to the charity and it?s not personal,? says Greene-Lewis. In 2012, the volunteer mileage rate was 14 cents/mile. You must itemize to take advantage of charitable donation deductions, and you must volunteer or donate to a qualified charity.
Cleaning out your closet may also entitle you to a tax deduction, if you donate those items to a qualified charity. Figuring out how much to deduct for your used clothing or household items can be tricky, though. To help, TurboTax offers a free tool called It?s Deductible that allows you to track deductions of cash or goods throughout the year.
Maximize American Opportunity Credit In 2012
The American Opportunity Tax Credit was a centerpiece of 2009?s stimulus bill,? says Karla Dennis, Enrolled Agent and CEO of Cohesive Tax. She goes on to explain, ?The newest education tax break expanded the Hope Credit, supplying a credit of up to $2,500 of the cost of tuition and related expenses. Up to $1,000 from the credit could return to the taxpayer as a refund.?
But this tax break may not be around much longer. ?The American Chance Credit was initially meant to end in 2010, but it was extended until 2012. Nevertheless, this could be the credit?s final year. Congress wants ways to cut the federal deficit, and letting tax breaks expire is a way to save some dollars. If you have eligible education costs, make sure you claim the American Chance Credit as soon as you can.?
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Defer Income ? or Don?t
The usual tax advice is to try to defer income to the following year. For example, ?If you did really well at work and you are expecting a bonus but it will move you up to a higher tax bracket, you may want to ask your employer to defer that bonus until January,? says Greene-Lewis. Or self-employed individuals may be able to hold off billing clients until early 2013.
However, this year you may want to rethink that advice. ?Impending tax rate modifications will make accelerating income in 2012 the exception to the traditional tax adage of deferring income,? Dennis warns. ?The top income tax bracket in 2012 is 35 percent. If Congress doesn?t act, the highest tax rate could go to 39.6 % in 2013. So in case you are in the leading income tax bracket, you might want to accelerate earnings into 2012 and pay taxes at a lower rate.?
The National Society of Accountants urges taxpayers to ??Run the numbers? for regular tax liability and AMT (alternative minimum tax) liability, and possibly explore if certain deductions should be more evenly divided between 2012 and 2013, and which deductions may qualify, or will not be as valuable, for AMT purposes.?
Prepare for the 1099-C Tidal Wave
Early next year, taxpayers will start receiving 1099-C form reporting ?cancelled? debt for 2012. The IRS estimates over 5.5 million of these forms will be filed. Taxpayers must include Cancellation of Debt Income (CODI) in their gross income unless they can show that they meet specific requirements that allow them to exclude it. One of the main exclusions, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, is set to expire at the end of this year unless Congress extends it. Given other more pressing issues, there is concern that it will expire.
What does that mean for taxpayers? Those who are trying to sell their home through a short sale and believe they qualify for that exclusion, which allows up to $2 million in debt to be excluded from income (for married couples), should try to complete the sale before year end. If they can?t, however, it?s still possible they may qualify for the insolvency exclusion which does not expire.
In addition, any taxpayers who settled a debt this year for less than the full amount due shouldn?t wait until they receive a 1099-C to act. Read our series on options if you receive a 1099-c and use the worksheet in IRS publication 4681 to find out if you qualify to exclude that amount from your 2012 income.
[Related Article: Just Received a 1099-C? Don't Freak Out!]
Take a Casualty Loss Deduction
If you were a victim of one of many of the natural disasters that swept the country this year ? tornadoes, floods, fires, or more recently, Hurricane Sandy ? you may be entitled to a casualty deduction. But be forewarned: not everyone who had unreimbursed losses will qualify. ?Tax relief for casualty losses generally are limited to those with the unfortunate confluence of poor insurance coverage, low adjusted gross income (AGI), and good documentation,? warns Rob Clarfeld, CPA, CFP?, and the Founder and CEO of Clarfeld Wealth Strategists and Financial Confidantes? in a blog post at Forbes.com.
As the IRS explains:
Generally, you may deduct losses to your home, household goods, and motor vehicles on your federal income tax return. However, you may not deduct a casualty or theft loss that is covered by insurance unless you filed a timely insurance claim for reimbursement. Any reimbursement you receive will reduce the loss. If you did not file an insurance claim, you may deduct only the part of the loss that was not covered by insurance.
You figure the amount of your loss using the following steps.
????? Determine your cost or other basis in the property before the casualty or theft.
????? Determine the decrease in fair market value (FMV) of the property as a result of the casualty or theft. (The decrease in FMV is the difference between the property?s value immediately before and immediately after the casualty or theft.)
????? From the smaller of the amounts you determined in (1) and (2), subtract any insurance or other reimbursement you received or expect to receive.
????? Apply the deduction limits, discussed later, to determine the amount of your deductible loss.
Even then you don?t get full credit for those losses because you have to reduce each casualty or theft loss by $100 ($100 rule) and then further reduce the total of all your losses by 10% of your adjusted gross income (10% rule). Still, for those who lost so much to this year?s disasters, this tax deduction may provide a measure of relief as they try to recover.
What are you doing to prepare for big tax changes in 2013? Share your strategies in the comments below.
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Image: 401kcalculator.org, via Flickr
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Source: http://blog.credit.com/2012/11/5-year-end-tax-tips-for-2012/
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Apartments in Japan ? some things to remember ? Real Estate ...
Renting isn?t easy. It leaves your pockets almost empty so you?re going to have to prepare financially for renting a place out.
There are various payments to make during the process:
Chukai Tesuryo (real estate agent?s fee) ? this is non-refundable and is typically one month?s rent.
Shikikin ? a security deposit, typically two or three months? rent
Reikin ? is a mandatory payment to the landlord that is often the same amount as the original deposit. However, reikin can be the equivalent of six months (or more) of rent, but is typically the same as one to three months of rent. This money is considered a gift to the landlord and is not returned after the lease is canceled.
Tetsukeikin (reservation fee) ? This is the real estate agent?s way of making sure that you?re serious about the deal. It is refunded as soon as you sign the contracts.
Older places sometimes waive the key money. However, they will charge a commission fee equal to 1.05 of the monthly rent. Exceptions depend on the area and the type of place you?re renting. Most apartments are unfurnished, and because of this, you?re going to need more money to furnish your apartment. But one good thing to remember is that the amount of shikikin and reikin are often negotiable.
Let?s say you?re financially stable and have saved enough to pay for those fees. The next thing you have to ensure is a guarantor. This is basically a co-signer to the rental agreement. It is much better to have a close Japanese friend as your guarantor, also because most rental contracts are in Japanese and it would be much better if you have someone who can help you understand the terms and conditions to avoid confusion. Agents listed on realestate.co.jp do specialize in dealing with foreigners but you will find some cases where the landlords simply don?t want to deal in English.
Your guarantor has to be someone with a good credit history. Sometimes, your employer may volunteer to act as your guarantor. But there are also private companies known as hoshonin-gaisha that can act as your guarantor for a fee.
TIPS AND WARNINGS?
?
- Inquire on multiple apartments. Remember that paying key money and other fees is pretty heavy, but paying twice is worse.
- Once you find a potential apartment, consider not only the fees or the amount you?re going to spend, but also the surroundings. Safety is one of the things you should keep in mind, another is amenities. Some buildings will have the basic amenities and there are those that already come with air-conditioning and heating with the basic amenities.
- Take note of any defects, from floor to roof. These things are expensive if they have to be replaced.
- When it comes to contracts, be sure that you understand all the terms and conditions before signing it. Be sure that you pay your rent on time because this can be a good negotiating tool that may help you change the terms of your lease later.
- Real estate agents will show you an apartment once the current tenant has moved out. It is much better to visit the apartment during the day to get a good look at things.
With a little patience, you?ll manage to find a nice place to live. The worst thing you could do is to get stuck in an apartment you don?t like.
Tokyo Apartments For Sale | Tokyo Apartments For Rent | Real Estate Japan
Source: http://www.realestate.co.jp/2012/11/19/apartments-in-japan-some-things-to-remember/
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Difference Between Free And Paid Web Hosting Service | My Six ...
There exists many confusion inside of the market place about what FTP Information site Hosting is. Its often perplexed when using the FTP support put to use for Blog Internet hosting.
Even providers like Network Systems dont get it. Youll unearth them and a lot of many others marketing and advertising their Online business Internet hosting support as FTP Resource site Internet hosting.
Even though they both utilize the same solution to transfer information (File Transfer Protocol), the actual solutions are highly different.
Precisely what is FTP Site Hosting??
FTP Internet page Hosting is regarded as a service that enables one person to reveal and exchange big files with a good number of others by way of the world-wide-web via using a safe, web based file storage plan.
A key element advantage of FTP Webpage Hosting is the fact that the file transfer operation in actual fact bypasses a consumers email service. This means that the user don?t has file measurement and/or file kind limitations.
As an illustration: Shall we say Im a distributor and its the finish of the month. I would like to deliver my once a month profits studies out to my eight regional gross sales administrators. Even so, I cant send the files by way of email since their measurement is simply too sizeable and they?re in a very .ZIP file format.
What do I do? Its simple and easy! I employ an FTP Internet page Hosting support that allows me to set up a few different safe file folders on line, a person for each of my profits reps.
When Im executed starting the folders, which commonly requires about five-minutes, I purely add the person product sales stories to each regional professionals safe file folder. They will then download the files/reports at their leisure.
In the earlier mentioned instance, just one consumer might be capable to manage all their online FTP files and folders from any home computer connected to the on-line world. Additionally, given that each and every in the from the internet FTP folders is password guarded, they might not really have to bother about a single profits rep. accessing an alternative reps. material.
What?s the predominant big difference involving FTP Web site Internet hosting additionally, the FTP program utilized for Webpage Hosting?
With FTP Web-site Hosting, an user may have involving two plus a thousand FTP accounts. Every account are often password safeguarded and the information, folders, and accounts could in fact be managed from any computer containing an internet connection.
This kind of program is manufactured for transferring files amongst an individual and/or business enterprise and a multitude of individuals and/or establishments.
However, the FTP service second hand for Online site Internet hosting ordinarily is composed of the solitary FTP account which is made use of by a webmaster or web site designer to transfer (upload) files to your websites.
The amount of does FTP Online site Hosting charge?
Your expense for FTP Resource site Internet hosting is usually a fraction within the expenditure of sending files through typical means these as Fed-X, UPS, as well as US Postal Program.
On top of that, when sending information by using FTP Blog Internet hosting, there isn?t any pickup and delivery expenses, no broken shipments, and no misplaced mass media! Also, it is possible to access, add, and obtain your information from any Internet connection.
You may count on to pay for between $3.50 each week and $55.00 for each thirty day period for important FTP Web page Hosting program. Various of your provider companies dont require a contract, which means it is possible to terminate the services anytime with no need of experiencing earlier termination service fees.
Also, large amounts of the providers will allow you to test their service well before you subscribe. This is often pleasant considering that if you dont like the assistance, you dont pay.
Why would someone demand a lot more than one FTP Internet site Internet hosting account?
For people who have substantial information you reveal with numerous purchasers and vendors, youre a decent candidate for FTP Blog Hosting.
By possessing several accounts and currently being able to password secure every account, it is easy to ship & receive information to & from your valued clients and vendors devoid of worrying about any just one of them seeing the many others documents.
The types of firms that typically use FTP Online site Internet hosting are engineering firms, designers, transcriptionists, printers, lawyers, artists, developers, medical practices, and businesses that have a must securely transfer sizeable documents by using online.
How do I acquire a fantastic FTP Internet site Hosting corporation?
Now that you understand the differences between FTP Web site Hosting also, the FTP services utilized for Web-site Hosting, you must select a service that fits your needs.
How do you do it? Its relatively easy! The most effective destination to start looking is Google (). Just style from the phrase FTP Web site Internet hosting as well as a list of firms offering the FTP assistance will be displayed. Easily work your way by way of the list and identify the providers that offer the type of service that fits your needs the most suitable.
Reseller Web Hosting gives excellent answers when it comes to Internet Hosting Jargon Defined Part 1. Visit the url for additional data!
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