Paul Foreman, a native of Granbury, Texas, and a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, began his literary career in the winter of 1970 with the publication of Hyperion, a poetry journal co-edited with his wife, poet Foster Robertson, and friend Judy Hogan. In 1971, Foreman, a writer himself, founded Thorp Springs Press (TSP) in Berkeley to provide an outlet for unpublished writers. While Foreman welcomed unsolicited submissions, he sought contributions from writers he admired and respected that might otherwise never make it into print. Foreman initially focused on publishing poetry, fiction, and drama, but over time branched out to publish essays, historical correspondence, and translations. As a Texan, Foreman championed the work of Texas writers and their unique literary sensibilities.
During TSP?s two decades of operation, Foreman relied upon a community of friends and acquaintances from California, Texas, and across the country. This network of authors, small press publishers, and magazine editors helped him sell TSP books to independent bookstores, advertise TSP publications, and discover new writers outside the San Francisco Bay area. Foreman?s dedication to this community lead to his involvement with COSMEP, the Committee of Small Magazine Editors and Publishers, a formal organization of small presses. Foreman presided as Chair of the Committee from September 1978 to late 1979.
Foreman?s biggest success as a publisher came in 1974 with the publication of The Grassman: a Novel by California writer Len Fulton. (Fulton continues to operate his own press, Dustbooks, which publishes The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses as well as other small press publications.) Other notable TSP titles include The New Populism by 1976 Presidential candidate Fred R. Harris, Goliah: a Utopian Essay by Jack London, Letters from the Hill Country: the Correspondence between Rebekah and Lyndon Baines Johnson, and Foreman?s own Sugarland.
In 1976, Foreman made several attempts to get funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and applied to the federal government to declare TSP a non-profit organization. While the press eventually received several thousand dollars from both state and federal agencies, non-profit status was never granted. TSP remained in Berkeley until the spring of 1978 when Foreman and family moved to Austin, Texas. In 1979, Foreman opened the Brazos Book Shop which carried mostly small press publications. In Austin, Foreman continued his involvement in the small press community, staging poetry readings, organizing workshops, and speaking about his work as a writer and small press publisher.
After publishing nearly 100 books and journals, Foreman closed the Brazos Book Shop, and TSP ceased operations during the early 1990s.
Just hours after Syrian forces bombed a line of starving residents waiting for bread, reports came out that the government used chemical weapons on the city of Homs, a rebel-held city in Western Syria.
There has been no official confirmation yet, but if these reports are true, it may force the U.S. to intervene.
The U.S. said in August that such a move by the Assad regime would constitute a "Red Line" and shift its military position. Obama amplified the warning again in early December when news of chemical weapons preparation came out of Syria.
Now it's clear even the American public considers it unacceptable: a?Washington Post poll out last week states 63 percent of Americans support military involvement against Syria if chemical weapons are used.
All of this makes the most recent reports out of Homs even more concerning.
While there is no official confirmation, The Times of Israel reports that at least?six rebels are dead and 60 injured after opposition forces say "poison gas bombs" were dropped on the town of Homs.
Al Jazeera reports seven people have died in Homs after inhaling a poisonous gas "sprayed by government forces in a rebel held Homs neighborhood."
There is video here?on YouTube?via Al Jazerra from ?a field clinic in the city? of exposed victims explaining and exhibiting their reported symptoms.
From Al Jazeera:
Activists also told Al Jazeera that scores of others were affected in al-Bayyada neighbourhood. Side effects reported include nausea, relaxed muscles,?blurred vision, and breathing difficulties.
Residents said they did not know the nature of the gas sprayed.
"The situation is very difficult. We do not have enough facemasks. We don't know what this gas is but medics are saying it's something similar to Sarin gas," Raji Rahmet Rabbou, an activist in Homs, told Al Jazeera.
This Google+ page claims to have the names of those killed so far in the attack.
Haaretz reported that they spoke to a Syrian activist who says government jet fighters dropped the "poisonous material" on Homs.
However, there has still been no official confirmation of the attack. We also don't know exactly what gas was used in the attack, though some people believe that it may be chlorine.?Iris Mentus at?American Jihad Watch twitter stream?posted that the gas may be chlorine at about 7 p.m. yesterday evening.
The Chechen Center, a self-described "pro-Russian newspaper also indicated that the gas may be chlorine. It tweeted "Parts of Syria are currently under chemical attack. Most reports seem to indicate chlorine attacks similar to those in Iraq in 2007."
If it is chlorine, it should be easy to determine. It moves in a green cloud, has a strong odor and is water soluble. The last part is good news for anyone on the receiving end of chlorine because covering the nose and mouth with a wet cloth goes a long way to diminishing the danger. U.S. Army manuals direct those exposed to chlorine to "Mask and Move"
While not the most lethal chemical weapon, chlorine's?psychological effects following an attack are legendary.?And for a rebel group already on the edge of exhaustion, hunger, cold, and despair there's no doubt that will be the case in Syria if the attacks are in fact genuine.
The following video is one of two posted on Al Jazeera English and the one not requiring proof of age due to its graphic content.? WARNING: Content is still difficult to watch.
However, also be aware of when you need to call in a professional. This article should help you determine what types of repairs you can do yourself, cheaply and easily, and what types of improvement projects require specialized skills.
Freshen up your kitchen with flowers and fruit. You can add a pop of energy to your kitchen with a bouquet of new flowers or an arrangement of colorful fruit. Your kitchen will seem brighter and more inviting immediately. Seeing a vase of fresh flowers on even the dullest of days will instantly improve both the kitchen pest control charlotte nc and your mood!
You must always make sure that any company you hire to do home improvement work is insured by calling their insurance company yourself. Unscrupulous contractors may try to present an expired insurance card in order to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners.
When deciding on a home renovation, think about your local curcumstances. For instance, if your area is windy, you may want to avoid a deck. If your renovation doesn?t make sense given your location, it may not add much value to your home.
Planning is the most important step in any home-improvement endeavor. Decisions about cost, changes to be made and how much time it will take should be made before any work is done. It will save time and keep the project from going over budget.
Installing a bar in a basement can turn out to be a fun home improvement project. Putting in a bar can allow you to make your basement more personal. However, if the decision is made to build the bar, it can improve the home.
You need to give a thought to the context of your neighborhood before you engage in extensive remodeling work. A house that has a style completely different from those surrounding it may be problematic. On the other hand, a remodeled home that includes design-appropriate details will be more likely to sell.
As you make renovations, consider using granite tiles instead of a slab. Granite slabs can cost more than $5000. Do the same space in tile and the price drops to around $300. That way, you can achieve the granite look at a bargain price.
Make sure your contractor listens to you. It is important that they do the task that you asked them to do. Some contractors are highly competent but want to do things their own way, discounting your input. Ask your contractor to repeat what you said back to you so that you know he understands.
Determine the amount of time you will be spending inside your house. If you are not planning on making it your permanent home, do not spend a lot georgia pest control of money there. Necessary repairs should always be made, but upgrades can always be left to the next owner.
Some home improvement projects require experience and specialized training and should not be attempted by amateurs. Follow the guidelines that are outlined in this article and realize that not every home improvement job is a DIY.
Posted on December 23 2012 - 10:00 AM - Posted by: Doug Brady | Follow Doug on Twitter!
Were the Hollywood academy to hand out Oscars for roles in this fiscal cliff drama, the winner of the Best Charlatan award would not be in much doubt. Corporate America, take your bow.
Say this for the Republicans and Democrats: Both sides are fighting over principles. Nothing so generous can be said for the bulk of America?s corporate chieftains, whose agenda lately has been to stick it to everyone else.
As the negotiations have rolled on, a growing collection of CEOs and big-business lobbies have fallen in line with President Obama?s cry to raise income taxes on those making more than $250,000. To listen to these CEOs, this is the ultimate self-sacrifice. ?I would pay more in taxes? in a budget deal, explained the noble Honeywell CEO? Dave Cote, but it would be worth it to ?put the economy on a sounder footing.?
We?ll see how much more Mr. Cote?s personal accountants ultimately allow him to pay. Meanwhile, the virtuous poses appear to be cover for a bigger game.
CARACAS, Venezuela ? Venezuela's government said Saturday that President Hugo Chavez's condition is becoming increasingly stable as the socialist leader recovers from a cancer-related operation in Cuba.
Vice President Nicolas Maduro said ruling party member Cilia Flores gave him the update on Chavez's recovery upon her return from the communist-led island.
"Each day that passes, his recovery is more stable and he's receiving the best treatment," Maduro told a crowd of government supporters in Yaracuy state.
Chavez underwent surgery Dec. 11, about two months after being elected to another six-year presidential term. It was his fourth cancer-related operation since June 2011.
Complications following the latest surgery and Chavez's silence since the procedure have thrown into doubt whether he will be able to return to Venezuela for his Jan. 10 inauguration.
National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello said earlier Saturday that ruling party lawmakers, who hold a majority in the legislature, won't call a new presidential election if Chavez can't return from Cuba in time for the swearing-in ceremony.
"That's not going to happen," he said.
Cabello's statement pointed to an impending legal dispute that would likely be resolved by Venezuela's Supreme Court, which is packed with justices appointed by pro-Chavez lawmakers.
Opposition leaders argue that the constitution does not allow for a president's inauguration to be postponed.
On Thursday, Maduro said Chavez has been with his family resting while receiving treatment for a respiratory infection.
In addition to the infection, the 58-year-old Chavez also suffered bleeding during the operation, which the government said was promptly stanched.
Rain soaks parts of a memorial to the Newtown shooting victims in the Sandy Hook village of Newtown, Conn., Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. The shooter, Adam Lanza, walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Dec. 14, and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children, before killing himself.? (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Rain soaks parts of a memorial to the Newtown shooting victims in the Sandy Hook village of Newtown, Conn., Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. The shooter, Adam Lanza, walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Dec. 14, and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children, before killing himself.? (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy, center, stands with other officials to observe a moment of silence while bells ring 26 times in Newtown, Conn., Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in honor of the 26 adults and children who were killed last Friday during the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Officials including Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy observe a moment of silence on the steps of Edmond Town Hall while bells ring 26 times in Newtown, Conn., Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. The chiming of bells reverberated throughout Newtown, commemorating one week since the crackle of gunfire in a schoolhouse killed 20 children and six adults in a massacre that has shaken the community and the nation. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
While their son Jake Hockley stands between them, Nicole Hockley and her husband Ian Hockley touch their heads together at the end of a funeral service for their son Dylan Hockley in Bethel, Conn., Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. Dylan Hockley, 6, was killed when Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Dec. 14, and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children, before killing himself. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Sarah Baroody holds her daughter Sophia's hand and cries while observing a moment of silence as bells rang 26 times in Newtown, Conn., Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. The chiming of bells reverberated throughout Newtown, commemorating one week since the crackle of gunfire in a schoolhouse killed 20 children and six adults in a massacre that has shaken the community and the nation. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) ? He was the awkward, peculiar kid who wore the same clothes to school every day.
He rarely spoke and even gave a school presentation entirely by computer, never uttering a word.
He liked tinkering with computers and other gadgets, and seemed to enjoy playing a violent video game, choosing a military-style assault rifle as one of his weapons.
New details about Adam Lanza emerged Friday, as the nation paused to mark one week since he slaughtered 20 first-graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.
Multiple funerals and visitations were held Friday, and at the hour of the attack, 9:30 a.m., a bell tolled 26 times, once for each victim killed at the school.
Lanza also fatally shot his mother before blasting his way into Sandy Hook, and killed himself after the school massacre.
In high school, Lanza would slither through the hallways, awkwardly pressing himself against the wall while wearing the same green shirt and khaki pants every day. He hardly ever talked to his classmates.
"As long as I knew him, he never really spoke," said Daniel Frost, who took a computer class with Lanza and remembered his skill with electronics. Lanza could take apart and reassemble a computer in a matter of minutes
Lanza seemed to spend most of his time in the basement of the home he shared with his mother, who kept a collection of guns there, said Russell Ford, a friend of Nancy Lanza's who had done chimney and pipe work on the house.
Nancy Lanza was often seen around town and regularly met friends at a local restaurant. But her 20-year-old son was seldom spotted around town, Ford and other townspeople said.
The basement of the Lanza home had a computer, flat-screen TV, couches and an elaborate setup for video games. Nancy Lanza kept her guns in what appeared to be a secure case in another part of the basement, said Ford, who often met her and other friends at a regular Tuesday gathering at My Place, a local restaurant.
During the past year and a half, Ford said, Nancy Lanza had told him that she planned to move out West and enroll Adam in a "school or a center." The plan started unfolding after Adam turned 18.
"She knew she needed to be near him," Ford said. "She was trying to do what was positive for him."
Ford said Nancy Lanza didn't elaborate on what type of services she wanted her son to receive. He said she made fewer appearances at the restaurant in recent months.
Mark Tambascio, owner of My Place, said Nancy Lanza described the same plan to him, saying she might move to Washington State.
Back in high school, Frost recalled, someone brought in a video game called "Counter-Strike," a shooting video game in which players compete against each other as either terrorists or counter-terrorists.
Lanza "seemed pretty interested in the game," Frost said, and would play it with other students. He remembers the weapons Lanza chose: an M4 military-style assault rifle and a Glock handgun.
Authorities said Lanza used a military-style assault rifle and carried handguns during the rampage at the school. They still have no clear reason why Lanza would lash out at defenseless first-graders and their caretakers.
State police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said a final report on the investigation could be months away.
A moment of silence was held Friday in remembrance of those killed at the school. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy gathered with other officials in rain and wind on the steps of the Edmond Town Hall as the bell rang. Similar commemorations took place across the country.
Also on Friday, the National Rifle Association called for armed police officers to be stationed at schools. Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the nation's largest gun-rights lobbing group, said at a Washington news conference that "the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."
LaPierre blamed video games, music and videos for exposing children to violence.
The founder of a video game website said he expects tens of thousands of players of online shooter games to participate in a 24-hour cease-fire that started at noon Friday. Antwand Pearman, founder of GamerFitNation, said the cease-fire is meant to show respect for those killed in the Newtown shooting. He said video games don't cause violence.
___
Associated Press writers Matt Apuzzo in Washington and Pat Eaton-Robb in Newtown contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The FBI said on Friday it captured one of two bank robbers who escaped this week from a high-rise jail in downtown Chicago by rappelling to the street using a makeshift rope and hailing a cab to get away.
Joseph Jose Banks, 37, was taken into custody without incident late on Thursday night in an apartment complex on the city's north side, said FBI spokeswoman Joan Hyde.
Banks appeared subdued during his brief appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sidney Schenkier on Friday. Banks was shackled at the hands and legs and dressed in an orange jump suit like the one he was wearing when he staged the daring escape with his cell mate early Tuesday morning.
He is charged with escape from federal custody.
Banks waived his right to a detention hearing. He will be put in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Correctional Center from which he escaped, according to Beau Brindley, Banks' attorney.
Banks and his cell mate, Kenneth Conley, escaped from the MCC early on Tuesday morning. The pair apparently broke a window in the cell they shared, squeezed through the opening and lowered themselves nearly 20 stories to the street, authorities said.
They made their rope from bed sheets and dental floss, according to local media reports.
The FBI said that, based on videotape evidence, agents believe the pair hailed a taxi a few blocks from the jail after making their escape.
Banks was convicted of armed robbery this month, and Conley pleaded guilty to bank robbery in October. Both men were set to be sentenced early next year.
According to a federal affidavit, Banks and Conley were present during a physical head count at the jail at 10 p.m. Monday.
But jail employees arriving for work Tuesday morning saw what appeared to be a rope hanging from a window on the south side of the building. When a physical head count was conducted inside the facility, neither Banks nor Conley was present.
Conley is considered armed and dangerous, the FBI said.
Escape carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
(Reporting by James B. Kelleher and Mary Wisniewski; editing by Jim Marshall)
LONDON (Reuters) - Prince William and his pregnant wife Kate will spend Christmas Day with her parents, their office said on Saturday, in a break with the tradition of royals joining The Queen at her country estate at Sandringham.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will celebrate in private with Carole and Michael Middleton at their home in the village of Bucklebury, about 50 miles (80 km) west of London.
"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will spend Christmas Day privately with the Middleton family," a St James's Palace spokesman said.
The couple's decision was taken with the approval of the Queen. They are expected to visit Sandringham, in eastern England, for part of the Christmas holiday.
Kate, 30, who married the second-in-line to the throne in April 2011, spent four days in hospital this month with an acute form of morning sickness.
Members of the British royal family usually spend Christmas at Sandringham and stay until February, following a custom set by Queen Elizabeth's father and grandfather. Kate and William spent Christmas there last year, meeting scores of well-wishers.
The Middletons are likely to join millions of Britons in watching Queen Elizabeth's annual Christmas broadcast, a tradition that her grandfather George V started in 1932.
For the first time, the monarch has recorded her television broadcast in 3D. It will be shown at 1500 GMT on December 25.
(Reporting by Peter Griffiths; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Every year, over 1,000 young women try out for the chance to sit on the Rose Parade's Royal Court -- a tradition that began in 1905 and became a permanent part of the Rose Parade in 1929.
This year, Vanessa Natalie Manjarrez of Mayfield Senior School was named Queen of the 2013 Rose Parade, themed "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" The six princesses that will sit with her on the royal court are:
Kate Alice Benuska, 17, of Maranatha High School
Tracy Italia Cresta, 17, of La Salle High School
Victoria Sophia McGregor, 17, of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy
Nicole Cherie Nelam, 17, of Pasadena High School
Sonia Marie Shenoi, 17, of San Marino High School
Madison Michelle Barili Teodo, 18, of La Canada High School
The teens were put through a month-long interview process that evaluated them based on their personality, poise, public speaking ability and scholastic achievement. In addition to appearing at the 2013 Rose Parade, the court is also expected to represent the Tournament of Roses at over 150 community events.
In return, the local beauties receive a scholarship, new wardrobe and hair and make up services. For the parade, the Royal Court will wear gowns designed by Tadashi Shoji and crowns and tiaras made by Mikimoto.
Those interested in applying for the 2014 Rose Court will have to wait until September 2013 for the interviews to begin again. Applicants must be unmarried and not previously married women without children. They must also be legal Pasadena residents, a full-time student and be between 17 to 21 years old. To learn more about eligibility requirements, check out the Pasadena Tournament of Roses site.
Check out photos of past Royal Courts.
1906 Queen Elsie Armitage Court
1907 Queen Joan Woodbury Court
1908 Queen May Sutton
1911 Queen Ruth Palmer
1913 Queen Jean King Harrison
1914 Queen Mabel King Fitch
1923 Queen May Mcavoy
1925 Queens Float
1926 Queen Fay Lanpheir On Float
1928 Queen Harriet Sterling On Float
1930 Queen Holly Halsted With President C. Hal Reynolds
1931 Queen Mary Lou Waddell Court
1933 Queen Edwards Court
1934 Queen Treva Scott Court On Float
1936 Queen Barbara Nichols
1938 Queen Cheryl Walker Royal Court
1943 Queen Mildred Miller And Court
1945 Queen Mary Rutte Wallace
1947 Queen Norma Christopher
1949 Queen Virginia Bower Court
1952 Queen Nancy Thorne Court
1953 Leah Feland
1954 Barbara Schemidt
1955 Queen Marilyn Smuin
1959 Royal Court
1960 Queen Margarethe Bertelson
1965 Queen Dawn Baker
1966 Queen Carole Corta
1967 Queen And Court
1970 Queen Pamela Dee Tedesco
1974 Court On Float
1975 Queen Robin Carr
1980 Queen Julie Raatz Boyer
1982 Rose Queen
1986 Queen Aimee Richelieu
1998 Rose Parade
The 80th Rose Queen, Purdy Tran, of Arcadia, Calif., and her Royal Court wave to the crowd as they ride down the 109th Tournament of Roses Parade route in Pasadena, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 1, 1998. (AP Photo/Susan Sterner)
1999 Rose Parade
The 81st Rose Queen, Christina Farrell and Princess Chaitali Gala of Arcadia, Calif., along with the Royal Court, wave to the crowd as they ride down the 110th Tournament of Roses Parade route in Pasadena, California, Friday, Jan. 1, 1999. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
2000 Royal Court
The 2000 Tournament of Roses RoyalCourt, from left, Lauren Beattie, Caitlin Bogert, Mariasol Pena, queen Sophia Bush, Kellie Handy, Grace Chen and Carol Huang, poses for a photo during a ceremony in Pasadena, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1999. Bush, who was crowned the 82nd Rose queen, and her court will reign over the 2000 New Year's Day festivities, including the 111th RoseParade and the Rose Bowl football game. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
2004 Royal Court
The 86th Rose Queen, Megan Chinen, center, holds a bouquet of red roses as she and her Royal Court, from left, Christina Mills, Laura Stassel, Stephanie Barnes, Katherine Koch, Erinne La Brie and Natalie Matsumoto pose for a photo after Chinen was named the 86th Rose Queen Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003, in Pasadena, Calif. Chinen and her Court will attend nearly 100 public and media functions during their reign, including the 115th Rose Parade and the 90th Rose Bowl game on Jan. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
2006 Royal Court
The seven members of the 2006 Tournament of Roses Royal Court were announced Monday, Oct. 10, 2005, in Pasadena, Calif., at Tournament House from a group of 33 finalists. As ambassadors of the Tournament of Roses, the Royal Court members will attend more than 150 community and media functions during their reign, leading up to the 117th Rose Parade on Jan. 2, 2006 and the National Championship Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 4. From left are: Rachel Geragos, 17, Altadena, Flintridge Preparatory School; Lorri Bowman, 17, Altadena, Marshall Fundamental High School; Carolyn Loo, 17, San Marino, San Marino High School; Eliza Walper, 17, San Marino, Polytechnic School; Alyssa Jones, 18, Arcadia, Pasadena City College; Camille Clark, 17 , Pasadena, La Salle High School; and Michelle Corral, 18, San Marino, Flintridge Preparatory School. (AP Photo/Todd Wawrychuk)
2007 Rose Parade
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: The Rose Queen & Royal Court float members wave on the parade route at the 118th Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 2007 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
2009 Rose Parade
The 2009 Rose Queen Courtney Chou Lee, 17, center waves from her float with her RoyalCourt along Colorado Blvd. during the 120th RoseParade in Pasadena Calif., Thursday, Jan 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
2010 Rose Parade
Rose Queen Natalie Innocenzi, top left, rides with her royal court on their float as they move along Colorado Blvd. during the 121st Rose Parade in Pasadena Calif., on Friday, Jan 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Following the cancellation of the US House of Representatives vote on ?Plan B?, which would have raised taxes on some wealthy Americans, fiscal cliff worries have grown and a risk aversion can be seen across markets in today?s trading.
However, following a sudden drop to 1.3190, the Euro has managed to reverse about half of the early session sixty point loss against the US Dollar. The only piece of news that might have been responsible for the Euro uptick were the comments from EC Vice President Olli Rehn. Rehn said that further French Budget cuts aren?t essential, according to Le Monde. Euro climbed to 1.3230 following the comments.
Also in France, PM Hollande said unemployment will continue to rise, but there is no recession. French consumer confidence was reported at 89.0 in December, up from November?s 88.0 consumer confidence.
In Germany, consumer confidence dropped to a yearly low of 5.6. The German Finance Ministry reported today in a monthly report that it expects a rebound after the first quarter of next year, and that figures show an unfavorable start to Q4. Neither release had significant effect on currency trading.
In the UK, economic growth in Q3 was revised lower in a final estimate and public debt for November was higher than expected. However, the Sterling did not sustain any losses, possibly because of an unwinding of declines that followed the overnight US news.
Euro is currently trading slightly above 1.3200 in currency markets. The pair might next see resistance by an 8-month high set at 1.3308, and support could be provided by the former resistance around 1.3158.
Founder of children?s designer clothing boutique Half-Pint Chic and mum of two, Nicole Frost, give us her top 5 winter must haves.
UK (PRWEB UK) 19 December 2012
The winter chill is upon us, which makes it all the more important to wrap your little ones up warm!
Founder of children?s designer clothing boutique Half-Pint Chic and mum of two, Nicole Frost, give us her top 5 winter must haves:
The statement - hat and mitts
?No winter wardrobe is complete without a fun matching hat and glove set. This fleece lined Alpaca mittens and hat set by Egg by Susan Lazar will go with many jackets and coats. The mits also have a removable braided tie that connects the pair so you can be sure not to be going home minus one glove."
The ultimate winter party frock
"Party season is upon us finally so you can?t go wrong to invest in a pretty frock which you can accessorise differently to meet any special occasion. Half Pint chic has a beautiful burnt orange dress by Il Baule de Elianne that really carries that summer feeling into winter and is 100% cotton, perfect with a pretty matching bolero."
The snuggly slogan jumper
"Enough of boring jumpers, slogans are back again. We have gorgeous cashmere Baby Rock jumpers by designer Oscar and Valentine will keep those little shoulders and arms snug all winter and they make for great Christmas gifts."
The clever coat!
"No matter where you go this winter, a coat will follow you everywhere. If you are shopping for a new coat wax jackets are in this year and great for creating a British country look. Get more wear out of a coat by choosing one that lets you detach the hood or lining so you can add and take away layers as and when you need.Half Pint Chic offers Eddie Penn puffas are great at keeping those little bods warm."
The statement party jacket
"A great little number to dress up shirts and turtlenecks for parties. If you want to dress up an outfit just add one of these elegant jackets to denim jeans to create a chic hollywood look. The ?Non -Smoking ? jacket by celebrity favourite Tom and Drew is a perfect piece for special winter dos."
Half-Pint Chic has teamed up with a number of high end fashion retailers to offer trendy party wear, perfect to kit the little ones out for those last minute Christmas and New Years Eve parties.
Half Pint Chic offers exclusive designer clothing at just a fraction of the RRP. All you have to do is sign up free at http://www.halfpintchic.com and get access to hundreds of great offers!
Lakshmi Mittal is the head of the largest steelmaker in the world, ArcelorMittal. It is a company he built up through many savvy acquisitions. As a result, Mittal is one of the richest men in the world. He also has a global perspective second to none, having run businesses in many different countries.
So when he said he may invest in a steel plant in Alabama, I listened. ?Mittal Upbeat on U.S. Growth Prospects,? a Financial Times headline reads. This is man who could put a steel plant almost anywhere in the world. For him to say the U.S. is among the most appealing is saying something?
In an interview with that paper, Mittal said: ?There?s an improved picture for housing starts, and automotive demand seems to be rising. If you look at the U.S. economy in general, then you see a good story.?
The FT sums up:
?U.S. manufacturing is poised to reap the benefits of cheaper energy, propelling the world?s largest economy into a growth phase, according to Lakshmi Mittal? [He] said that the new shale-based deposits in the region made him ?much more optimistic? than he was two years ago about the prospects for the U.S. economy.?
These are themes we have touched on before. Just before Thanksgiving, I wrote a piece to you called ?Four Reasons To Remain Optimistic,? which talked about good stories developing in the U.S. economy. I got quite a few emails pushing back on that idea.
On my recent trip to Nicaragua, I spoke at my publisher?s Rancho Santana Sessions conference. I trotted out the more optimistic theme there too. I talked about the ongoing housing and banking recovery. I mentioned the energy revolution and nascent manufacturing revival. I got push back in Nicaragua, too. Lots of people seem to want to believe the country is screwed and, well, forget it.
Investors don?t think that way. No one ever created a fortune thinking that way. There are always opportunities. Always.
Now, I want to be careful here, because it is easy to get pinned as some sort of flag-waving idiot that doesn?t get what is going on. I get it. I get the debt levels, the fiscal crisis, the creeping socialism (and creeping fascism) and all the rest. Still, to use that as an excuse for not investing is, as oil tycoon Paul Getty once said, ?only an excuse for not trying.?
We have been through worse.
Take the 1950s. I?ve been reading The Best of I.F. Stone. Izzy Stone (1907-89) was a great journalist and editorialist most famous for his influential newsletter, I.F. Stone?s Weekly. In the 1950s, the threat of nuclear war hung over the landscape like a bright moon on a starless night, and Stone has several editorials on the issue. At the time, mainstream papers talked about what to do if such an attack occurred. U.S. News & World Report carried a story, ?If Bombs Do Fall.? Life magazine ran a story, ?How You Can Survive Fallout.? It must?ve been pretty tough to think about investing with all that going on.
We could roll back further, let?s say to 1939. What a disaster the world looked like then. War in Europe. A Great Depression at home. Yet as we now know, many fortunes had their seeds in the ground before or during this time. Stone?s editorials, which span three decades, show how this ball of ours has always been full of serious troubles. And yet?
During my talk, I quoted from an entertaining little book called The Very Very Rich and How They Got That Way by Max Gunther. I like it for its pugnacious attitude toward those wet blankets who want to quash any idea of getting rich. I like Gunther?s punchy prose, though his book is a superficial book on many levels. Anyway, Gunther writes:
?The men in this gallery? made their colossal fortunes in our own economic era or in recently phased-out eras that were not grossly different from our own. Each took the economic environment as it existed in his day and instead of letting it walk on him as most of us do, he grabbed it by the neck and beat it into submission? The supremely wealthy have always done that and always will. No matter what the environment was like, some men have figured out how to beat it. There is, it turns out, always a way.?
Keep in mind Gunther published this book in 1972 ? which again, was another one of those periods with lots of macro worries. And Gunther makes a good point here why you want to invest with those proven owner-operators I love to talk about so much. The owner-operators are the ones who tend to figure out a way. They are the ones you want to invest alongside. (It doesn?t work all the time, of course. Nothing does. But I?d rather play the game this way than invest in some faceless company run by suits who own no stock save what they get through stock options.)
There are always big problems, too. But if you never play the game, you have no chance. My friend Eric Fry, who is co-editor of The Daily Reckoning and also spoke in Nicaragua, used the analogy that investment ideas are like trains ? ?They arrive and they depart,? as he said. Some arrive on time, some late. Some never arrive, or depart.
I extended that metaphor by saying that there are crowded trains and nearly empty trains. You get better deals traveling on less crowded trains and get where you want to go all the same. I tried to encourage people to take the less crowded trains.
I?m not saying life and investing are going to be easy. (And I?m not bullish on the stock market overall, only on specific opportunities. I?m agnostic on the market as a whole.) In the end, there is no escaping another crisis of some sort.
Timing is the thing. And if you take the long enough view, the survival rate for everything drops to zero. At some point, the sun will burn out and that will end the story here for good. But I?ve never seen the point of taking such an apocalyptic ? and paralyzing ? worldview.
I am reminded of that witty investor Marty Sosnoff. ?This is like Venice slipping gently but proudly into the mud over 400 years,? he wrote. ?In the end, the mud wins, but there have been some memorable masked balls in between.? (This is from Humble on Wall Street, a true pleasure to read and one of my favorite finance books). Or as the great speculator Jesse Livermore once said: ?It?s true you can?t take it with you, but you can sure as hell use it until you go.?
So to finish where I began: If you told me I could pick only one country to invest in, I?d pick the U.S. (Fortunately, I don?t have to make that choice, and there are plenty of wonderful places to invest overseas, too, as I?ve written much about.) I?m with Lakshmi Mittal. There are some good stories emerging here in the US of A, despite the problems.
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Still short of a "fiscal cliff" deal with the White House, top House Republicans are laboring to rally their rank-and-file behind an alternative plan that would prevent looming tax increases for everyone but those earning over $1 million a year.
House Speaker John Boehner's so-called Plan B, which is aimed at letting GOP lawmakers vote to prevent New Year's Day tax boosts on more than 99 percent of taxpayers, was getting a cool reception from conservatives reluctant to boost anyone's taxes, raising questions about whether it could pass the GOP-run House. Even if it could survive in the House, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., declared it dead in his chamber, and the White House rejected it as well.
After a day of maneuvering, there was still no easy bipartisan pathway to heading off hundreds of billions worth of broad tax increases and budget-wide spending cuts due to be triggered in early January ? the "fiscal cliff." Economists generally agree that unless they are defused, the steep, abrupt tax boosts and budget cuts probably would shove the economy back into recession.
"The real cliff comes when the markets react, and they will at some point, if we're not serious about deficits," Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said.
The backup plan by Boehner, R-Ohio, would do nothing to head off deep cuts in defense and domestic programs scheduled to begin taking effect in January. And it contains none of the spending reductions that both President Barack Obama and Boehner have proposed in their efforts to strike a compromise.
"The speaker is trying to get as much leverage as he can to deal with the president," said Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., describing the pressure Republicans were hoping it would put on the White House. But he added that he wasn't sure the plan was the best way to get that leverage.
"I'm still trying to figure that out," Boustany said.
Others were more supportive. Rep. Patrick Tiberi, R-Ohio, said Plan B would let Republicans vote to protect as many people as possible from tax hikes while leaving Democrats with the blame if it failed.
If the Senate decides not to vote on the House bill or ignores it, "That's not our problem," Tiberi said. "The ball's in Harry Reid's court."
Besides letting tax rates rise only on incomes exceeding $1 million, Boehner's Plan B also would boost the top rate on capital gains and dividends from their current 15 percent to 20 percent for earnings over $1 million, preventing higher increases. It would continue current tax levels on inherited estates ? less than Obama wants ? and prevent the alternative minimum tax from raising taxes owed by 28 million middle- and upper-class families.
Boehner unveiled his backup plan on Tuesday. He did so even though he and Obama have come tantalizingly close to finding a politically palatable combination of revenue increases and budget savings that could slice around $2 trillion from projected federal deficits over the coming decade.
Both sides say those efforts will continue.
Obama has reduced his demands for tax increases to $1.2 trillion over 10 years, to be imposed on incomes exceeding $400,000 annually. In so doing, the president abandoned his campaign season insistence that he would raise taxes on individuals earning over $200,000 and couples making more than $250,000.
Boehner has boosted his revenue offer to $1 trillion, including raising income tax rates on incomes over $1 million. That is a major concession from the leader of a party that has made opposition to higher rates a fundamental tenet for a quarter century.
"I think it's a mistake for the Republican Party," said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a leader of House conservatives. "So that's what I think a lot of members are struggling with."
Obama has also departed from his party's orthodoxy by proposing smaller annual cost-of-living increases for Social Security recipients. The new formula for measuring inflation would affect other benefit programs as well and push more people into higher income tax brackets.
The president's embrace of a plan that would over time cut Social Security benefits has aroused outcries from liberal groups that defend programs for the elderly and poor and that generally support Democrats.
"I promise you, seniors and their families will notice" the benefit reductions, said Pamela Tainter-Causey, spokeswoman for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, one of scores of groups mobilizing opposition to the proposal.
Obama also was pushing for extended unemployment benefits and billions in spending aimed at stimulating the economy.
The president says his plan would cut spending by $1.2 trillion over a decade, including saving $400 billion from health care benefits that could include Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for the poor.
Boehner wants deeper Medicare savings. And he says Obama is more unbalanced, seeking $1.3 trillion more in taxes and $930 billion in lowered spending.
Besides lingering disputes with the president, the speaker's efforts to reach an accord with Obama face another difficulty ? uncertain support from Boehner's own lieutenants. One opponent was the influential Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the party's defeated vice presidential nominee, said a House GOP aide. The aide was not authorized to publicly discuss the situation and spoke only on the condition of anonymity.
___
Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor, Jim Kuhnhenn and Stephen Ohlemacher contributed to this report.
Retirement Community Hairdresser Burglarized Residents' Apartments, Police Say
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:55 PM
Updated
today at 6:40 PM
TOWN AND COUNTRY, Mo. (KMOV) ? A hairdresser for a Town and Country retirement community is accused of using a master key to steal more than $85,000 worth of items from seven apartments over a five-week stretch in 2011.
Kerri Spink, 39, was charged Wednesday with first-degree burglary, six counts of second-degree burglary and three counts of felony stealing.
Police said Spinks stole a master key to rooms at the Garden Villas Retirement Communit in the 13500 block of S. Outer 40 Rd.
Between Sept. 27 and Nov. 12, 2011, authorities said Spinks used the key to break into seven apartments and steal valuables, including cash, collectible coins, jewelry and Sterling silver. The items valued a total of $85,487. Police said the jewelry valued at $50,620 was later recovered.
She is also suspected of removing a necklace from a victim while working on her hair.
According to a police report, Spink broke into an apartment when the resident was home, but left without taking anything.
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World Trade Center rescue, recovery workers have had increased incidence of certain types of cancerPublic release date: 18-Dec-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jean Weinberg jweinberg@health.nyc.gov 347-396-4177 JAMA and Archives Journals
CHICAGO Among rescue and recovery workers exposed to the dust, debris, and fumes following the World Trade Center terrorist attack, there was an increased incidence of prostate and thyroid cancers and multiple myeloma, although it is not clear how big a factor medical screening and non-WTC risk factors contributed to these increases, according to a study in the December 19 issue of JAMA. The authors did not find a statistically significant increased incidence for all cancer sites combined, and note that the findings on the three cancers that did increase should be viewed with caution for several reasons, including that they were based on a small number of cancers, multiple comparisons, and a relatively short follow-up time.
"The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) on September 11, 2001, claimed more than 2,700 lives and exposed hundreds of thousands of people to dust, debris, pulverized building materials, and potentially toxic emissions, resulting in short- and medium-term health effects," according to background information in the article. The dust, smoke, and aerosols were complex mixtures of volatile chemicals and respirable particulate matter and contained known and suspected carcinogens. "The presence of carcinogenic agents raises the possibility that exposure to the WTC environment could eventually lead to cancers."
Jiehui Li, M.B.B.S., M.Sc., of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, New York, and colleagues conducted a study to evaluate cancer incidence among WTC rescue/recovery workers and volunteers and those not involved with rescue/recovery work. The observational study included 55,778 New York State residents enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry in 2003-2004, including rescue/recovery workers (n = 21,850) and those not involved in rescue/recovery (n = 33,928), who were followed-up from enrollment through December 2008. Within-group comparisons using various models also assessed the relationship between intensity of World Trade Center exposure and selected cancers.
Cancer cases were identified through linkage with 11 state cancer registries. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, and sex were computed with 2003-2008 New York State rates as the reference, focusing on cancers diagnosed in 2007-2008 as being most likely to be related to exposure during September 11 and its aftermath. The total and site-specific incidence rate differences between the study population and the New York State population in 2007-2008 also were calculated.
Through December 31, 2008, 1,187 incident cancers were reported among the 55,778 eligible enrollees. Of these 1,187 cancers, 439 (37 percent) were diagnosed among rescue/recovery workers and 748 (63 percent) were among participants not involved in rescue/recovery. The median (midpoint) age at diagnosis across all cancer sites was 57 years. For all sites combined, cancer incidence was not significantly different from that in the reference population during either the early period (enrollment through 2006) or the later period (2007-2008). The researchers found that of the 23 cancer sites investigated, 3 had significantly elevated incidence during the later period: prostate, thyroid, and multiple myeloma. Of these 3, thyroid cancer also was significantly elevated during the early period.
"No increased incidence was observed in 2007-2008 among those not involved in rescue/recovery. Using within-cohort comparisons, the intensity of World Trade Center exposure was not significantly associated with cancer of the lung, prostate, thyroid, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or hematological cancer in either group," the authors write.
"Given the relatively short follow-up time and lack of data on medical screening and other risk factors, the increase in prostate and thyroid cancers and multiple myeloma should be interpreted with caution. The etiological role of WTC exposures in these 3 cancers is unclear. Longer follow-up of rescue/recovery workers and participants not involved in rescue/recovery is needed with attention to selected cancer sites and to examine risk for cancers with typically long latency periods."
###
(JAMA. 2012;308(23):2479-2488; Available pre-embargo to the media at http://media.jamanetwork.com)
Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.
Please Note: For this study, there will be multimedia content available, including the JAMA Report video, embedded and downloadable video, audio files, text, documents, and related links. This content will be available at 3 p.m. CT Tuesday, December 18 at this link.
To contact co-author Steven D. Stellman, Ph.D., M.P.H., call Jean Weinberg at 347-396-4177 or email jweinberg@health.nyc.gov; or Marcus Liem at 347-396-2919 or email mliem@health.nyc.gov.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
World Trade Center rescue, recovery workers have had increased incidence of certain types of cancerPublic release date: 18-Dec-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jean Weinberg jweinberg@health.nyc.gov 347-396-4177 JAMA and Archives Journals
CHICAGO Among rescue and recovery workers exposed to the dust, debris, and fumes following the World Trade Center terrorist attack, there was an increased incidence of prostate and thyroid cancers and multiple myeloma, although it is not clear how big a factor medical screening and non-WTC risk factors contributed to these increases, according to a study in the December 19 issue of JAMA. The authors did not find a statistically significant increased incidence for all cancer sites combined, and note that the findings on the three cancers that did increase should be viewed with caution for several reasons, including that they were based on a small number of cancers, multiple comparisons, and a relatively short follow-up time.
"The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) on September 11, 2001, claimed more than 2,700 lives and exposed hundreds of thousands of people to dust, debris, pulverized building materials, and potentially toxic emissions, resulting in short- and medium-term health effects," according to background information in the article. The dust, smoke, and aerosols were complex mixtures of volatile chemicals and respirable particulate matter and contained known and suspected carcinogens. "The presence of carcinogenic agents raises the possibility that exposure to the WTC environment could eventually lead to cancers."
Jiehui Li, M.B.B.S., M.Sc., of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, New York, and colleagues conducted a study to evaluate cancer incidence among WTC rescue/recovery workers and volunteers and those not involved with rescue/recovery work. The observational study included 55,778 New York State residents enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry in 2003-2004, including rescue/recovery workers (n = 21,850) and those not involved in rescue/recovery (n = 33,928), who were followed-up from enrollment through December 2008. Within-group comparisons using various models also assessed the relationship between intensity of World Trade Center exposure and selected cancers.
Cancer cases were identified through linkage with 11 state cancer registries. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, and sex were computed with 2003-2008 New York State rates as the reference, focusing on cancers diagnosed in 2007-2008 as being most likely to be related to exposure during September 11 and its aftermath. The total and site-specific incidence rate differences between the study population and the New York State population in 2007-2008 also were calculated.
Through December 31, 2008, 1,187 incident cancers were reported among the 55,778 eligible enrollees. Of these 1,187 cancers, 439 (37 percent) were diagnosed among rescue/recovery workers and 748 (63 percent) were among participants not involved in rescue/recovery. The median (midpoint) age at diagnosis across all cancer sites was 57 years. For all sites combined, cancer incidence was not significantly different from that in the reference population during either the early period (enrollment through 2006) or the later period (2007-2008). The researchers found that of the 23 cancer sites investigated, 3 had significantly elevated incidence during the later period: prostate, thyroid, and multiple myeloma. Of these 3, thyroid cancer also was significantly elevated during the early period.
"No increased incidence was observed in 2007-2008 among those not involved in rescue/recovery. Using within-cohort comparisons, the intensity of World Trade Center exposure was not significantly associated with cancer of the lung, prostate, thyroid, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or hematological cancer in either group," the authors write.
"Given the relatively short follow-up time and lack of data on medical screening and other risk factors, the increase in prostate and thyroid cancers and multiple myeloma should be interpreted with caution. The etiological role of WTC exposures in these 3 cancers is unclear. Longer follow-up of rescue/recovery workers and participants not involved in rescue/recovery is needed with attention to selected cancer sites and to examine risk for cancers with typically long latency periods."
###
(JAMA. 2012;308(23):2479-2488; Available pre-embargo to the media at http://media.jamanetwork.com)
Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.
Please Note: For this study, there will be multimedia content available, including the JAMA Report video, embedded and downloadable video, audio files, text, documents, and related links. This content will be available at 3 p.m. CT Tuesday, December 18 at this link.
To contact co-author Steven D. Stellman, Ph.D., M.P.H., call Jean Weinberg at 347-396-4177 or email jweinberg@health.nyc.gov; or Marcus Liem at 347-396-2919 or email mliem@health.nyc.gov.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
On 14 December 2012 the Ministry of National Development (MND) announced the Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme for the first half of 2013. A total of 23 residential, two commercial, four hotel, and three mixed-use sites were announced. These sites could potentially yield a total of about 14,000 private residential units (6,900 on the confirmed and 7,100 on the reserve lists respectively), including 3,100 Executive Condominium (EC) units, and 3.4 million square feet of commercial space. The amount of supply announced is similar to that announced in 2H12, and the four GLS Programmes before that.
Large upcoming supply of residential units?
The majority of the sites are located in the Rest of Central Region and Outside Central Region, which should lead to the development of relatively more mass market sites. The URA has collated a total of 93,800 private housing units (including about 9,800 EC units) that will be constructed over the next few years, with about 43% or 40,000 of those (including 3,400 EC units) still yet to be sold.
Based on the URA data collated by PropertyMarketInsights.com, residential completions will peak in 2015 at 23,667 units based on the private residential supply pipeline, or a 47% increase over the completion expected in 2013. Despite this, the government has kept the land supply relatively constant, perhaps in an effort to prevent the perception of a squeeze in the supply of land that could lead to higher prices.
?but demand is strong as well
While the large increase in supply sounds scary, it is worth pointing out that demand has been very strong so far this year as well.
Year-to-date till November 2012 there has been an estimated total transaction volume of 37,597 units, comprising 24,970 developer and 12,627 secondary sales (Figure 1.1.5b). This is 118% of the annual average of 31,826 units. If demand going forward continues to be as strong as it has in the past couple of years then the upcoming supply could well be absorbed without any weakness in the market.
A weak November could be bad news for 2013
But if November sales are anything to go by, sales could weaken into 2013. In November 2012, the estimated total residential transaction volume was 2,278 units, comprising 1,266 developer and 1,012 secondary market sales. The total, developer and secondary market sales fell by 44%, 52% and 29% respectively on a month-on-month basis, in what is a seasonally strong period for fourth quarter property sales. The fall was partly due to a fall in new launches by developers, but the secondary market was also weak.
The supply outlook is much healthier for commercial property, with only 359 thousand square feet of space on the confirmed list, which is negligible versus the 13.2 million square feet of office and 6.7 million square feet of retail space in the pipeline.
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Public release date: 18-Dec-2012
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