Suntory set to price up to $4.8 billion IPO, bolstering M&A warchest

By Taiga Uranaka and Ritsuko Shimizu

TOKYO (Reuters) - Suntory Holdings Ltd's food and soft drinks unit is set to price on Monday an initial public offering that could raise as much as $4.8 billion, making it Asia's biggest IPO this year and bolstering the company's warchest for overseas acquisitions.

The IPO of the unit, Suntory Beverage and Food Ltd , is a test of investor appetite for new listings at a time of high volatility in Japanese stock markets. The benchmark Nikkei <.n225> has lost about 17 percent since hitting a 5-1/2 year high in late May.

The maker of Boss canned coffee will use the funds to ramp up its acquisition drive with a focus on fast-growing Southeast Asia, although it and Japanese peers like Kirin Holdings Co Ltd are facing intensifying competition for beverage-company acquisitions in that region.

"There are a host of enthusiastic buyers, and sellers tend to be bullish," said Masaaki Kitami, an analyst at Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co.

Suntory Beverage said last week that it had set an indicative range of 3,000 yen to 3,800 yen per share, a relatively wide band in reflection of the recent stock market volatility. About 40 percent of its outstanding shares are on offer.

At the top of the range, it would raise 470 billion yen ($4.8 billion) including the overallotment. That would be more than double the $2.1 billion raised by the infrastructure fund of Thailand's BTS Group Holdings Pcl , which has been the biggest IPO in Asia so far this year.

At that price, it would give Suntory Beverage a market capitalization of 1.17 trillion yen, behind Kirin's 1.6 trillion yen and Asahi Group Holdings' 1.2 trillion yen.

OVERSEAS EXPANSION

Privately held Suntory Holdings is led by President Nobutada Saji, the 67-year-old grandson of the company's founder. Although the company is known for its Premium Malt's beer and whisky, its non-alcoholic drinks unit Suntory Beverage generates half of the group's revenue.

Suntory Beverage said it expects its net profit to rise 50 percent to 35 billion yen and its revenue to increase 14 percent to 1.13 trillion yen this year. It has set a target for annual revenue growth of at least 5 percent over the next three years.

In Japan, Suntory is the second-largest soft drinks maker after Coca-Cola Co and the gap in their market share has been narrowing. "In terms of domestic share, Coca-Cola is 27.9 percent and Suntory 19.6 percent. The gap used to be much bigger," said Kazuhiro Miyashita, editor of a trade magazine.

Still, Suntory and its rivals see little room for growth in their saturated home market and have set their sights overseas in recent years.

Suntory acquired soft drinks maker Orangina Schweppes and New Zealand's No. 2 beverage firm Funcor Group, both in 2009. In 2011, it entered into a joint venture with Indonesian food and beverage group GarudaFood. Suntory has said that it is also eyeing the Middle East, Africa and Latin America through acquisitions.

But industry officials and analysts say that acquisitions, especially in Southeast Asia, are increasingly costly and difficult to execute.

Such concerns came to light earlier this year when Kirin lost the chance to buy Singapore-listed Fraser and Neave Ltd's (F&N) food and beverage business after Thailand's TCC Assets Ltd and Thai Beverage PCL successfully acquired the control of F&N.

Kirin sold its 15 percent stake in F&N to TCC Assets after a Thai beer baron won a two-month bidding war with an Indonesian group, a major setback for the Japanese company to gain quick access to the market. ($1 = 97.4750 Japanese yen)

(Reporting by Taiga Uranaka, Emi Emoto and Ritsuko Shimizu; Editing by Chris Gallagher)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/suntory-set-price-4-8-billion-ipo-bolstering-040509583.html

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Why Are Guys Afraid to Wear Speedos?

A man prepares to swim on bank of a canal in subzero temperatures in central Beijing, Dec. 7, 2012.

Photot by Petar Kujundzic/Reuters

Summer is here, and again I am seething with frustration. Why? Every year I scan the beaches for men in Speedos and every year I am disappointed. The ridiculous board-shorts trend shows no sign of waning. I had high hopes for change after last year?s Olympics, when the entire nation was gripped by the spectacle of those jackknifing water sprites in their micro-briefs. (Those preposterously teensy swim skivvies worn by Tom Daley et al could only be explained by some kind of harsh polyester-rationing scheme: ?Sorry, boys, but only 1 square inch of fabric per customer. Don?t worry. It is quite stretchy.?) I just assumed that, come this summer, one might see an increased willingness on the part of the U.S. male to embrace a little European savoir-faire. But, yet again, all I see are men in billowing shorts.

My interest is not entirely sordid. My primary motivation is, in fact, safety. Dudes are getting waterlogged, and dudes are sinking. In the course of my far-from-extensive research, I spoke to legendary West Coast swimwear magnate Mr. Turk. He shares my conviction that ?board-shorts aficionados are drowning because their swimsuits are so voluminous.? A California lifeguard pal of Turk?s has been obliged, on more than one occasion, ?to pull guys out of the surf because they get tangled up in huge baggy shorts.?

Drowning is not the only peril: Yes, I?m talking about gender misidentification. This past weekend I spotted two burly figures walking toward me wearing what I assumed were large peasant skirts. ?What made these two beefy, short-haired possibly lesbians decide to go topless?? I asked myself. Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be a couple of dudes with man boobs in garishly printed board shorts, prompting the question: Why do American men insist on concealing their willies ?neath yards of fabric?

If only Freud could have lived long enough to dissect the semiotics of Speedos. What would he have made of the U.S. male?s horror of being caught in a tiny swimsuit? (I use the word ?horror? advisedly. For my straight friends, the most traumatizing moments in HBO?s recent Liberace movie Behind the Candelabra occurred when Matt Damon, Mr. Bourne Identity, was forced to prance about in panty-size swim briefs.) I was raised in the U.K. and grew up thinking sassier swimwear was normal, but I then moved to the U.S. and became indoctrinated into the cult of Speedo shame. So I feel uniquely qualified to address this issue. I have, as it were, a foot in both gussets.

Clearly there is a class issue. WASPs don?t do Speedos?old money has no need to resort to gratuitous flesh exposure to achieve social currency. Butt cracks are banned at the country club. Nobody has ever come upon a cache of old Kennedy family snapshots and found images of Jack, Bobby, and Teddy strutting round Martha?s Vineyard in stretch velour leopard swim briefs (like the ones I once purchased at Frederick?s of Hollywood when I lived up the street in the early 1980s).

Speedo-wearing is also a cultural flashpoint. Revealing men?s swim garments are, for the U.S. consumer, irrevocably associated with ?foreigners? and, most terrifying of all, friends of Dorothy. However, there is something even more mysterious to this issue than the persistent fear of being mistaken for a bisexual Serbian cruise-ship croupier: American dudes are driven by a Wizard of Oz?like desire to ?curtain off? their genitals. They are impelled to gird up their loins with yards of fabric, thereby protecting?symbolically and literally?their reproductive equipment, while sinewy Spaniards, hard-body Greeks, bronzed Aussies, diverse Latin Americans, and pale squishy Brits take a reverse approach. These fellows prefer to wear swimsuits that say, ?In case you wondered, I am the proud possessor of male genitalia, and in case you don?t believe me, here it is!?

I argue that the Puritans who colonized America are to blame. There they go again, spoiling all our European fun with their exaggerated notions of modesty. If I run into any Puritans on Long Island this summer (stranger things have happened), I intend to give them a piece of my mind: ?Why do you persist in making dudes wear dirndl skirts while you allow their girlfriends to dress like vacationing strippers??

As The Soup?s Joel McHale says every week, ?Let?s talk about chicks, man.?

American women have never presented themselves with more over-the-top va-va-voom than they do now, especially on the beach. Bikinis have never been smaller. Hoochies have never been hotter. Tramp stamps have never been trampier. It?s obviously time for men to correct this inequity, join the partaay, and start channeling their inner Magic Mike ? or inner Borat.

Lastly, let me address the elephant in the Vilebrequin. I am talking about lard. Are most American dudes simply too fat to wear a Speedo? Is that what?s inhibiting men from embracing this comfy, functional garment? Does it only work if you are some Tom Daley-esque Adonis? Mr. Turk weighs in: ?Your moobs [man-boobs] and your widening gut are going to be visible either way. I say throw on a pair of groovy ?70s shades?like the guy in those Southern Comfort ads?and learn to strut in a nifty brief or a spiffy square-cut trunk.?

Source: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/doonan/2013/06/men_in_speedos_american_men_need_to_get_over_their_fear_of_wearing_swim.html

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The Boomerang Rocket Ship: Shoot It Up, Back It Comes

What in heaven's name is happening here?

We're in McGregor, Texas, surrounded by farms (and the ghost of Johnny Cash). There, on a launch pad, is a 10-story rocket ready to take off. Its engines ignite. Up it goes, higher, then higher, then higher still, until at 820 feet, something weird happens. It stops moving, hovers in the sky for about 15 seconds as if wondering what to do next. The wind is blowing, (you can see the smoke blowing off in one direction, so there's definitely a breeze up there) but it doesn't wobble, doesn't tilt, it just hangs there like a candle in the sky, and then, suddenly, it switches direction, and looking down, you can see it heading unerringly for a pinpoint spot on the ground below. It's going back to the exact spot where it began, hits its mark, "legs extended" and turns itself off, like a shy student going back to his seat in a classroom.

Why Build A Rocket That Goes Nowhere?

It's such an odd idea, a rocket ship that behaves like an elevator, an elevator, by the way, that doesn't go as high as the one they've got in the Empire State Building. What's being accomplished here?

Well, first off, this is a "student" rocket. It's practicing. On its first launch last year, it went up just eight feet; more recently it reached 262 feet, now 820, so it's doing better and better.

Second, it's a bottom stage booster. It's not the part of the rocket ship that goes into orbit; it's the part that gets things off the ground. In a normal launch, it would detach from the payload (and upper parts that might be carrying people) and either fall into the ocean and have to be retrieved, or drop down softened by a parachute to the ground, where it would be fetched and repaired. This one, as you've just seen, doesn't hurt itself. It just goes back home.

That's huge. Because rockets are exceedingly expensive. SpaceX, the private company that is building this booster (which they call "The Grasshopper") isn't sharing numbers, but while scanning the YouTube comment section, I learned that rockets like these can cost "about 60 million dollars." That's a pricey gizmo to keep dropping and repairing. To build one that doesn't need fetching and that's ready to go again as soon as you need it, must be an enormous money-saver.

What About The Extra Fuel?

It takes more fuel to power the booster to the ground. Up untill now, boosters just fall for free. What does it cost for the extra rocket fuel? SpaceX isn't saying, but common sense says when the rocket comes down, most of that fuel has been burned, so it is much, much lighter. I couldn't find any numbers, but I did find this bit of accounting from a self-described rocket engineer in the comments:

To put it in perspective, the cost of one of these rockets is about $60,000,000, and the total fuel cost for one trip is about $200,000. That means the cost of fuel is 0.3% of the vehicle.

Let's say you spread the vehicle cost over 100 launches in its working life (all LEO launches with 29,000lbs payloads) . That averages out to $20.76 per lb cargo (Space Shuttle was $8200 per lb).

If that's true, SpaceX is on its way to making routine space voyaging much cheaper. As for environmental costs, I worried a little about rocket exhaust. Burned rocket fuel throws off CO₂ and water vapor, I don't know how much, but on this second video, it looks like a lot. The underbelly view of the rocket rising and landing is pretty wild. Especially the elegant finish.

Curious Birds

Then there's that bird, the one you see in the first video about 11 seconds in, that swoops close for a look-see and then swooshes off. Maybe they should have loudspeakers at the launch site broadcast a couple of bangs to clear the flight zone.

The Neighbors

Local farmers, I figure, have to live with these launches; they might even love them. (I think I would. I imagine myself sitting in the living room and out the window there's a ten story object hanging in the air, slowly sinking down behind the cottonwoods. Most people have sunsets. I'd have rocket-sets, a rich roar followed by a deep quiet. I think I could get used to that.)

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013/04/30/180057507/the-boomerang-rocket-ship-shoot-it-up-back-it-comes?ft=1&f=1007

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Bizarre bone worms emit acid to feast on whale skeletons: Bone-melting substance drills opening for worms to access nutrients within dead whales

Apr. 30, 2013 ? Only within the past 12 years have marine biologists come to learn about the eye-opening characteristics of mystifying sea worms that live and thrive on the bones of whale carcasses.

With each new study, scientists have developed a better grasp on the biology of Osedax, a genus of mouthless and gutless "bone worms" that make a living on skeletons lying on the seafloor. In the latest finding, scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego describe how the wispy worms are able to carry out their bone-drilling activities. As published in the May 1 online edition of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B (Biological Sciences), Mart?n Tresguerres, Sigrid Katz, and Greg Rouse of Scripps detail how Osedax excrete a bone-melting acid to gain entry to the nutrients within whale bones.

"The acid presumably allows the worms to release and absorb collagen and lipids that are trapped in bone," said Tresguerres. "This model is remarkably similar to how mammals repair and remodel bone, however Osedax secrete acid to dissolve foreign bone and access nutrients."

In their report, the scientists describe a process in which the worms use a "proton pump" to secrete acid onto the bone. Tresguerres says similar acid-secreting enzymes exist in all other organisms, such as in human kidneys to handle blood and urine functions.

Because they lack mouths, bone worms must use an alternative method of consuming nutrients from whale bones. Bacteria that live symbiotically within the worms are involved in this process, however, the exact mechanism is not yet fully understood. Some evidence suggests that the symbiotic bacteria metabolize bone-derived collagen into other diverse organic compounds, and that the worms subsequently digest the bacteria for their own nutrition.

"The Osedax symbiosis shows that nutrition is even more diverse than we imagined and our results are one step closer in untangling the special relationship between the worm and its bacteria," said Katz, a Scripps postdoctoral researcher.

A 2011 study led by Rouse found that bone worms have primarily been found attached to whale skeletons, but they are capable of making a living on other bones as well, including fish. That finding supported a hypothesis that Osedax's bone-eating lifestyle may have evolved millions of years ago, even before the dawn of marine mammals.

To continue learning more about bone worms, the scientists plan to collaborate with colleagues at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in the coming months to collect and study additional bone samples with live worm specimens. They also plan to maintain live Osedax in aquaria at Scripps to study their physiology.

"Determining how Osedax gets into bones was the first challenge in understanding the nutrition of these bizarre animals," said Rouse. "Now we'd like to understand how they transport and utilize the nutrients that they have uncovered."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of California - San Diego.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Martin Tresguerres, Sigrid Katz, and Greg W. Rouse. How to get into bones: proton pump and carbonic anhydrase in Osedax boneworms. Proc. R. Soc. B., 2013 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.0625

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/HygXOw1sVKc/130501091900.htm

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The Whole of The Matrix in Just 60 Seconds

For the terminally impatient or those just short of time, here's everything that happens in The Matrix crammed into just 60 seconds of animation. More »

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Jimi Hendrix estate rolls out "People, Hell and Angels" studio set

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - If there were any doubts about the lingering force of fabled rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix more than four decades after his death, his latest single should put them to rest.

The single "Somewhere" went to No.1 on the Billboard Hot Singles sales in February. That bodes well for the latest posthumous album plucked from the Hendrix musical vaults, which producers say has stood up well to the test of time.

"People, Hell and Angels," to be released on CD this Tuesday, is billed as a collection of twelve previously unreleased studio performances by Hendrix, although some of the songs have emerged in other versions since his death at age 27 in 1970 from an accidental drug overdose.

The album arrives with the simultaneous release of newly struck mono vinyl editions of early Hendrix classic albums "Are You Experienced" and "Axis: Bold As Love."

The tracks on "People, Hell and Angels," were planned as a follow-up to the influential guitarist's chart-topping 1968 album "Electric Ladyland."

"After the huge success of the (Jimi Hendrix) Experience and those first albums, he wanted to branch out more, and the blues sound on this is just different from the others," said Janie Hendrix, Jimi's step-sister and president and CEO of Experience Hendrix, the company founded by the musician's father to oversee the star's estate.

"This new album is very important for all his fans as it really showcases his creativity and a different side to him," she told Reuters.

Feeling constrained by the limitations of the Jimi Hendrix Experience trio (which included drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding), the guitarist had already started working with an eclectic group of musicians.

They included the Buffalo Springfield's Stephen Stills, drummer Buddy Miles, saxophonist Lonnie Youngblood and bassist Billy Cox, with whom Hendrix had served in the U.S. military.

The resulting sessions, culled from 1968 and 1969, form the basis of "People, Hell and Angels," co-produced by Janie Hendrix, original engineer and mixer Eddie Kramer and long-time Hendrix historian John McDermott.

CREATIVELY FREE

"What we wanted to do with this new album is provide what we all felt are really compelling examples of Jimi's artistry and also his often-overlooked role as a producer," said McDermott, a long-time collaborator with Experience Hendrix on various Hendrix projects.

"He saw right away that guys like Buddy Miles and Billy Cox, with whom he later formed Band of Gypsys, brought a new approach and sound to his songs and music. And Jimi was always very free creatively. He wasn't afraid to serve the song," McDermott told Reuters.

McDermott cites "Electric Ladyland," which featured such diverse players as Stevie Winwood, Dave Mason and Chris Wood.

"Working in the studio was a totally different palette for him, compared with playing live," he said. "He could experiment with extra percussion, an additional guitar, organ - whatever he felt the track needed."

And while those tracks, which include such titles as "Earth Blues," "Baby Let Me Move You" and "Izabella," are now 45 years old, the audio quality is superb, because nothing beats analog tape for enduring sound quality.

"Jimi's masters were recorded before the era of mass-production that caused the archival nightmares of the Seventies, for example, where tapes lose their glue backing, (so) we've never faced that problem with the Jimi Hendrix library. His whole tape archive is in very good shape," McDermott said.

The new album is the latest in a slew of albums, films, tribute tours and books following Hendrix's death in 1970 in London. These materials far outnumber the three studio albums he released in his four-year career at the top.

"He's a timeless artist and the technology's finally caught up to what he was trying to do musically," Janie Hendrix said.

"People are still hungry for real music and good songs, and Jimi was a great songwriter and one of the greatest guitarists of all time," she said.

Every new generation regards Hendrix as a touchstone, said McDermott. "If you want to understand the role of rock guitar and listen to real virtuosity, then Jimi's the man.

"People react to the originals, and that's what he was, a true visionary whose music doesn't sound dated at all nearly half a century later," he said..

(Reporting By Iain Blair, editing by Jill Serjeant and Todd Eastham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/jimi-hendrix-estate-rolls-people-hell-angels-studio-145124825.html

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Teens with Learning Disabilities Benefit from Closer Relationships ...

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on March 2, 2013

Many kids with learning disabilities also face social and emotional challenges, which in adolescence can lead to depression, anxiety and isolation.

For these youngsters, more positive relationships with the significant adults in their lives ? including parents and teachers ? can improve learning and ?socioemotional? experiences, said?Michal Al-Yagon, Ph.D., of Tel Aviv University in Israel.

In a recent study, Al-Yagon reported that teens with learning disabilities were less likely to have secure attachment relationships to their mothers and teachers compared to peers without learning disabilities.

The study, found in the journal of Journal of Youth and Adolescence, suggests the absence of close and supportive relationships can harm a teens? social and emotional functioning. In turn, this void can contribute to behavioral problems including isolation, depression, and aggression.

?We found that more secure child-adult attachments may act as a protective factor during this developmental period, whereas insecure attachments are a risk factor? for social and emotional issues,?Al-Yagon said.

These results could help researchers design more effective interventions for children and adolescents with learning disabilities. Helping to strengthen their relationships with parents and teachers may decrease their emotional and behavioral problems.

Researcher say attachment theory, which describes long-term relationship dynamics, may explain how parental involvement, availability, and support can shape a child?s social and emotional development.

Insecure attachments are damaging to a child, hindering future relationships with peers, romantic partners and family members.

For this study,?Al-Yagon measured the socioemotional state and the security of attachments to parents and teachers for 181 adolescents with learning disabilities and 188 with typical development, all between the ages of 15-17.

Participants completed a series of questionnaires regarding their attachment to their mother and father, perceived teacher availability and rejection, loneliness, experience of positive and negative emotions and behavioral problems.

Adolescents with learning disabilities were discovered to have less secure attachments with significant adult figures compared to their non-disabled peers, which had a direct impact on their socioemotional state.

Within the disabled group, those who had more secure attachments to their mother and father, or who considered their teacher caring and available, exhibited fewer negative emotions, feelings of loneliness, and behavior problems ? all of which can interfere with learning.

Experts say these findings can help guide clinicians in developing effective treatment strategies.

Examples include family intervention techniques that focus on creating more secure attachments between parents and children, or school workshops to help teachers understand the needs of their learning disabled students and make more of an effort to include them in classroom activities, said Al-Yagon.

While social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties cannot be entirely avoided,?Al-Yagon believes that a little effort, care, and attention can go a long way toward helping learning disabled children and teens feel happier and more secure.

?Parents and teachers should be aware not just of academic difficulties, but also of socioemotional difficulties ? and work to treat them. They should not avoid or ignore issues such as depression or aggression, which are another dimension of the original problem,? she said.

Source: American Friends of Tel Aviv University

Mother and daughter spending time together photo by shutterstock.

APA Reference
Nauert PhD, R. (2013). Teens with Learning Disabilities Benefit from Closer Relationships. Psych Central. Retrieved on March 3, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/03/02/teens-with-learning-disabilities-benefit-from-closer-relationships/52087.html

?

Source: http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/03/02/teens-with-learning-disabilities-benefit-from-closer-relationships/52087.html

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More student loan debt progress and other news: Ceejay74&#39;s ...

March 1st, 2013 at 07:14 pm

Another payment hit NT's account where it hurts. $296 went to principal.

$1050 down, $5720 to go on the March debt goal.

$5239.89 of big-picture progress, so we just need $1447.11 more to meet the March benchmark.

***

I got freaked out that we were going to be withholding too much with our recent adjustments, because the IRS calculator didn't say how much we'd actually be netting each paycheck. I found a calculator at paycheckcity.com that gave us estimates, and sure enough we'd only be bringing in about $50 more per month. I wanted more like $300 per month, so I'm going to adjust mine and NT's back down. I claimed 4 exemptions last year and had adjusted it to 0, but I'm moving it back up to 3. The only way we can come close to breaking even on taxes is for me and NT to owe a bit, since some of AS's refund is refundable credits, not actual taxes paid. Hopefully this will come out right in our next paychecks.

***

We're starting the weekend grocery spending with MORE than the budgeted amount! This is because we only dipped into March a bit last month, and then our Amex rewards hit, which I always put back into the grocery budget. So we're starting the weekend with $389 instead of $375 (or less, which is usually the case. Smarter spending + potty training are already helping the budget!

Tomorrow's my birthday, so I've got some treats and drinks on the shopping list. I've determined we should only spend $170 of the $389 if we want to stay on track through the 15th. So, if groceries go over that, I'll pay for my own treats, but otherwise I can pay for them with grocery money.

Birthday plans are pretty mellow this year. I'm having a few friends over to eat and play videogames and chat. That's all I want (or have energy for!) this year.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comments ?

Source: http://ceejay74.savingadvice.com/2013/03/01/more-student-loan-debt-progress-and-othe_101388/

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Swiss vote on bosses' pay could hit offshore firms

BERLIN (AP) ? Foreign executives who moved their company headquarters to Switzerland to get better tax deals for their firms may find themselves paying the price for it this weekend.

A plan to crack down on excessive corporate pay packages is predicted to pass at the ballot box Sunday.

If the "Rip-off Initiative" succeeds, shareholders will be given the right to hold a binding vote on a company's compensation of executives and directors. This includes both base salary and bonuses.

It would also ban "golden hellos" and "golden goodbyes" ? one-time bonuses that senior managers often receive when joining or leaving a company which can run into millions of dollars.

Finally, the proposal pushes greater corporate transparency, for example by requiring that all loans to executives be declared to shareholders.

Breaching the rules could lead to a fine of up to six annual salaries and up to three years in prison.

The measure targets all Swiss-based companies ? homegrown and offshore alike ? as long as their shares are publicly traded. International companies like oil rig owner Transocean Ltd.; fire and safety company Tyco International Ltd., and a bakery conglomerate Aryzta AG would be treated just like Swiss banks UBS AG and Credit Suisse Group, food and drinks giant Nestle SA or watchmaker Swatch Group.

In Europe, some other countries such as the Netherlands and Denmark already have similar legislation allowing shareholders at least a binding vote on executive compensation. In the U.S. and Britain, however, such "say-on-pay" votes are non-binding.

The proposal has divided Swiss business groups, political parties and labor unions. But public opinion in Switzerland ? traditionally a haven for light-touch regulation and pro-business sentiment ? has been overwhelmingly in favor of the Rip-off Initiative.

A survey conducted mid-February by the respected polling group gfs.bern found 64 percent of voters in favor of the proposal, 27 percent against, 9 percent undecided, with anger at perceived corporate greed the driving force for voters backing the initiative.

As in the United States, public opinion toward executive pay is still shaped by the outrage at bank bosses who received million-dollar bonuses during the 2008 financial crisis, when ordinary investors were seeing their dividends slashed and the value of their shares fall sharply.

The campaign for a "Yes" vote recently got an unexpected boost when it emerged that the outgoing board chairman of Swiss drug maker Novartis AG, Daniel Vasella, was due to receive 72 million Swiss francs ($77 million) over five years as part of a deal to prevent him from going to a rival firm.

When Vasella ? facing public outrage ? dropped the deal, attention shifted to Edward Breen, the American chairman of Tyco, for reportedly earning 30 million francs last year.

Opponents of the initiative warn that approving it would damage Switzerland's competitiveness in the global economy and endanger jobs.

So far, no companies have publicly declared they would leave Switzerland if the referendum passes, said Brigitta Moser-Harder, a shareholder activist and backer of the proposal.

But Tyco is keeping its options open. "We await the outcome of the vote in Switzerland on Sunday and we will assess the impact at that time," company spokesman Brett Ludwig said Friday.

The Swiss proposal comes on the heels of a European Union decision this week to cap bankers' bonuses at one year's base salary except in the case of overwhelming shareholder approval.

The idea that shareholders should have a strong say in their company's affairs chimes with Switzerland's tradition of direct democracy. Voters in the country who collect 100,000 signatures can force a binding referendum on any issue.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-03-02-Switzerland-Bosses'%20Pay/id-857f61f613d4404fb1d332844e0c27c0

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Hot or not: Who is making moves in MMA?

Who had a great week in MMA? Who just wants this week to be over so they can go home and take a bubble bath? Read up on Cagewriter's hot and not list.

HOT: Women's MMA ? Riding a wave started by Ronda Rousey's championship win over Liz Carmouche, female fighters are now in the spotlight. The Rousey-Carmouche result made it all over television, and print and internet press. This opened the door for other fighters to get some press, like this Canadian piece on women's MMA.

HOT: Jose Aldo ? The featherweight champion didn't like that he was fighting Anthony Pettis. He spoke up about it, ticked off UFC president Dana White, but then got his demand. If he wins, he'll get to jump up to lightweight for a chance at that belt. Pretty good tantrum, huh?

NOT: Matt Riddle ? Getting in trouble with the UFC over using a banned substance is never good, regardless of reasoning or doctor's approval. Doing it twice in a row when the promotion is looking to trim 100 fighters from its roster? It means Riddle is looking for a job.

HOT: South Dakota ? Legislators in the Mount Rushmore State -- yes, that's its nickname -- saw through misguided comments comparing MMA to child porn and voted to regulate MMA. It opens the door for more safety in fights in their fights.

NOT: Backwards thinking on MMA ? Between the South Dakotan government officials being soundly dismissed and an editorial in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel being laughed off, it appears that MMA is moving past the days where ignorant people made comments about a sport they didn't understand.

Still taking a temperature: Brian Stann and Wanderlei Silva ? Both men are looking to rebound off of losses as they face off at UFC on Fuel 8 in Japan on Saturday. Which one will end up on the hot list next week?

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/hot-not-making-moves-mma-170054973--mma.html

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Megaupload founder suffers setback in U.S. extradition bid

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A New Zealand court ruled on Friday that the United States does not have to hand over all its evidence against Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom, a setback for the German national in a U.S. bid to extradite him for alleged online piracy, fraud and money laundering.

The Court of Appeal overturned a lower court ruling that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) should disclose all its evidence so Dotcom, released on bail last February, could fairly contest the case against him.

The FBI accuses Dotcom, who founded the Megaupload file-sharing site which housed everything from family photos to blockbuster films, of leading a group that netted $175 million since 2005 by copying and distributing copyrighted content without authorization.

Lower courts had ruled twice that Dotcom should have access to all material the FBI was basing its extradition case on.

The Court of Appeal said the U.S. government had a duty of "candor and good faith" in making an extradition bid, but a summary of the evidence held would suffice.

"It is for the requesting state to decide what information it wishes to put before the requested state in support of its request," the court said.

It said there were safeguards for any accused, such as the New Zealand courts and government seeking more information if they are not satisfied there is a prima facie case to be answered.

Dotcom maintains that Megaupload, one of the world's most popular websites before it was shut down in January last year, simply provided online storage services and should not be held responsible for stored content.

William Akel, one of Dotcom's lawyers, said an appeal to New Zealand's Supreme Court was being considered.

"How can you determine whether or not there has been compliance with candor and good faith if you don't know what documents are being relied on to support the case?" he said on Radio New Zealand.

Since the initial raid, the courts have ruled that search warrants used in the raid were illegal, unfrozen some of Dotcom's assets for living and legal expenses, relaxed restrictions of travel, and ordered extensive evidence disclosure.

A New Zealand government spy agency was also found to have illegally spied on him, bringing an apology from the prime minister, and opening the way for a damages claim.

Dotcom, who also goes by the name of Kim Schmidt, is a German national but with residency in New Zealand, which made it illegal to spy on him.

The extradition hearing for Dotcom and the other three defendants is scheduled to be held in August.

(Editing by Nick Macfie)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/megaupload-founder-suffers-procedural-setback-u-extradition-bid-053715859.html

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Activist Post: Gold and Silver Approved as Legal Tender by Arizona ...

Activist Post

Arizona may become the second state, after Utah, to recognize gold and silver as legal tender authorized for payments of debts and taxes.

The Arizona Senate voted Thursday to approve SB 1439 which allows businesses and the state government to accept payments in gold or silver.

The Legal Tender bill specifies that?legal tender in Arizona consists of all of the following:

1. Legal Tender authorized by Congress.?

2. Specie (containing gold or silver) coin issued at any time by the U.S. government.?

3. Any other specie that a court of competent jurisdiction rules by a final, unappealable order to be within the scope of state authority to make legal tender.

Currently all debts and taxes in Arizona and the rest of the United States are either paid with Federal Reserve Notes (dollars) which were authorized as legal tender by Congress, or with coins issued by the U.S. Treasury -- very few of which have gold or silver in them.
Although Article 1, Section 10 of the United States Constitution states that no state shall coin money; the same section stipulates that no state shall make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts. In that regard the sponsors of bill feel that it will simply respect the use of gold and silver as per the Constitution without "coining" its own money.

The law also exempts taxing the exchange of gold and silver into any other currency, and states that gold and silver as legal tender would not be "subject to tax or regulation as property other than money."

S.B. 1439 is legislation modeled after Utah's which was the first to pass and be signed into law. Several other states have introduced similar measures motivated by the dollar instability caused by the Federal Reserve's recent monetary policies.

Gold and silver have historically held their value compared to unstable dollars. The value of the U.S. dollar has plummeted 98% against gold in the last 100 years since the Federal Reserve took over as the U.S. central bank in 1913.

As the Federal Reserve continues debase the currency through persistent quantitative easing, many more states may be looking to cushion themselves against further declines by legalizing competing currencies like gold and silver in the near future.

Arizona's S.B. 1439 must still pass in the State House and be signed by Governor Jan Brewer before becoming law.

Read other articles by Activist Post Here

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Source: http://www.activistpost.com/2013/03/gold-and-silver-approved-as-legal.html

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No deal: Last-ditch meeting yields no new plan to avoid cuts (Los Angeles Times)

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Family Organic: 10 Fantastic Winter Playdate Ideas

Last week, I talked about ways to beat cabin fever when you are stuck at home. Today, I'm thinking about what to do to get out of the house in the winter. Here in New England, we're still a long way off from playing at the playground, but I'm not interested in sitting in my house for the next 3 months either. Here are some ways to get out and enjoy your winter fun. Some might be available near you, others might not, but hopefully we can all find something entertaining for ourselves and our little people on this list. It's always more fun to meet a friend and their kids too. Everyone has more fun that way!

1. Aquarium - We received a membership to the local aquarium as a birthday gift for the twins and it's been wonderful. Anytime we want to get out, we just head over there. It's stroller friendly for those with little ones. There is always something new and entertaining. The aquarium is educational, but more importantly, it's fun. Prices range widely, but if you plan to go multiple times, family membership is usually the best way to go.

2. Bounce - There are many small businesses that offer indoor play bounce houses now. You've probably been to them for a playdate or a birthday party. Usually they are pretty reasonably priced (and may offer military or bulk price discounts) and offer a great way for kids to have fun and get exercise during the cold winter months. Prices are generally between $5-$10 per child.

3. Mall Play area - Some malls now offer a play area for kids to blow off steam during shopping trips. They often have age restrictions, so you don't have too many 'big' kids in there knocking over the 6 and under crowd. These are great because they are FREE! Check out the malls near you to see if they have this option.

4. Indoor pool - If you are a member of a YMCA?or JCC, then you most likely have this option, some also allow you to pay a small fee to drop-in without joining. If not, check and see if your local parks and rec department has indoor swim times for families. It's lovely to get to play in the water and practice our swimming skills for summer. Prices vary, but keep in mind that the YMCA will work with you if your family can't afford a membership.

5. Public Library - Say it with me now: STORYTIME! I love storytime and so do my kids. Even without it though, the library is a great place to meet a friend and let the kids play. Most libraries have a children's department with books and toys geared to the younger crowd. Ours has a train set, a dollhouse, and a puppet show set. The kids have a blast playing there and there are comfy couches for the adults to relax on as well. If your local library doesn't offer a storytime, check Barnes and Noble's website, they offer storytimes in many of their locations as well. FREE!

6. Children's Museum - My kids always have a blast at Children's Museums. They are just the best for exploration and learning. We could spend our whole day there and still not get enough. Prices vary between $10 and $25 per person. Ask about military discounts (if you qualify) and check the website for specials and memberships.

7. A certain Mouse's House - This isn't my favorite place now, but when I was a kid, nothing beat good old Chuck E Cheese. If you are going, be sure to get some coupons ahead of time, you can usually find them online or in your local coupon inserts.

8. Science/Art Museum - You might not think an art or science museum is the best place to take little kids. However, if you check the websites of science and art museums close to you, you may see that they offer special programs for children of various ages. The science center near us even has a free day for families with multiples (twins, triplets, etc) - SCORE! Prices vary, check website for specials, discounts, and memberships.

9. Play Cafe - This may be my favorite one yet. Some genius entrepreneurs finally realized that what parents really want is a place that is safe and fun for kids to play and offers coffee, healthy snacks, and lunches for kids and adults. My kids and I are in love with Stay and Play near us and I bet there's a similar place near you. Between $5 and $10 per child (adults free), check website for specials and discounts.

10. Ice Skating - I haven't attempted this with the kids yet, mostly because I'm terrified that I will fall and take them out with me (I've never been accused of being coordinated). If you don't have your own skates, you'll need to rent them as well. Where I live, public skate and skate rental comes to $10 per person. You can also get a group discount if you schedule ahead of time, so get a group together and have a blast.

Source: http://familyorganic.blogspot.com/2013/02/10-fantastic-winter-playdate-ideas.html

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Nissan quarterly profit dives on China sales slump

A visitor inspects a Nissan SUV at a gallery inside the headquarters of Nissan Motor Co. in Yokohama, Japan, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. The Japanese auto maker suffered a 34.6 percent plunge in October-December profit to 54.1 billion yen (US$579 million) as global sales languished, especially in China, where anti-Japanese sentiment flared over a territorial dispute. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

A visitor inspects a Nissan SUV at a gallery inside the headquarters of Nissan Motor Co. in Yokohama, Japan, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. The Japanese auto maker suffered a 34.6 percent plunge in October-December profit to 54.1 billion yen (US$579 million) as global sales languished, especially in China, where anti-Japanese sentiment flared over a territorial dispute. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Visitors walk among old and new Nissan racing cars at a gallery inside the headquarters of Nissan Motor Co. in Yokohama, Japan, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. The Japanese auto maker suffered a 34.6 percent plunge in October-December profit to 54.1 billion yen (US$579 million) as global sales languished, especially in China, where anti-Japanese sentiment flared over a territorial dispute. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

A visitor inspects Nissan sports cars at a gallery inside the headquarters of Nissan Motor Co. in Yokohama, Japan, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. The Japanese auto maker suffered a 34.6 percent plunge in October-December profit to 54.1 billion yen (US$579 million) as global sales languished, especially in China, where anti-Japanese sentiment flared over a territorial dispute. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Visitors tour a gallery displaying old Nissan rally cars behind a transparent sign promoting its latest electric car at the headquarters of Nissan Motor Co. in Yokohama, Japan, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. The Japanese auto maker suffered a 34.6 percent plunge in October-December profit to 54.1 billion yen (US$579 million) as global sales languished, especially in China, where anti-Japanese sentiment flared over a territorial dispute. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Visitors inspect Nissan electric cars at a gallery inside the headquarters of Nissan Motor Co. in Yokohama, Japan, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. The Japanese auto maker suffered a 34.6 percent plunge in October-December profit to 54.1 billion yen (US$579 million) as global sales languished, especially in China, where anti-Japanese sentiment flared over a territorial dispute. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

TOKYO (AP) ? Nissan Motor Co. suffered a 35 percent plunge in October-December profit to 54.1 billion yen ($579 million) as global sales languished, especially in China, where anti-Japanese sentiment flared over a territorial dispute.

Quarterly sales dipped 5.3 percent from a year earlier to 2.2 trillion yen ($23.5 billion), Yokohama-based Nissan said Friday. Nissan's earnings fell short of the 61 billion yen ($652 million) profit forecast by a FactSet survey of analysts.

All the Japanese automakers have reported sales declines in China, where a territorial dispute set off anti-Japanese riots and boycotts in the last months of 2012. A slowdown in Europe added to Nissan's woes. Nissan also struggled in the key U.S. market, which was booming for rival Toyota Motor Corp.

Corporate Vice President Joji Tagawa acknowledged Nissan's performance had not reached its targets, but promised a recovery.

China sales in January showed some recovery and Nissan was also planning new models in the U.S., he told reporters.

Nissan's sales were strong in other parts of the world, including Brazil, the Middle East and Asia excluding China as well as Japan.

Nissan, based in the port city of Yokohama, stuck to its forecasts for a 320 billion yen ($3.4 billion) profit on 9.82 trillion yen ($105 billion) sales in the fiscal year ending March, despite the solid perk it is getting from a weaker yen.

Nissan, which makes the Leaf electric car, the Infiniti luxury model and March subcompact, gained 21.9 billion yen ($234 million) in operating profit for the latest quarter from the weakening yen. Earlier this week, the yen was a near three-year low against the dollar on expectations of super easy monetary policy under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"This should work as a plus for our business," Tagawa told reporters of the cheap yen. "The overly expensive yen is finally getting corrected."

Nissan left unchanged its global vehicle sales forecast for the fiscal year at 5.08 million vehicles, up 5 percent from the previous year, when Japanese automakers were hurt by parts supply disruptions caused by the earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Other Japanese automakers have also reported upbeat quarterly results, helped by the yen.

Toyota raised its fiscal year profit forecast after reporting its October-December profit jumped 23 percent to 99.91 billion yen ($1.09 billion). Toyota is now expecting annual profit of 860 billion yen ($9.3 billion). It had initially expected a 780 billion yen ($8.5 billion) profit for the fiscal year ending March.

Earlier this week, Mazda Motor Corp. raised its annual profit forecast to 26 billion yen ($278 million) from 10 billion yen ($107 million).

Tokyo-based Honda Motor Co.'s quarterly profit surged nearly 63 percent to 77.4 billion yen ($850 million), but it lowered its full-year profit forecast slightly because of sales losses in China.

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Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at www.twitter.com/yurikageyama

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-02-08-Japan-Earns-Nissan/id-c3fbf19b4dcd4492942640edfa170eab

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Spring Breakers Posters: Suited and Strapped!

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City cites Crime Lab data in funding innovative youth program ...

The city of Chicago will provide an additional $2 million to expand a violence reduction program that has been shown to be effective in research by the University of Chicago Crime Lab, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Feb. 7.

Emanuel made the announcement at a news conference where he described the city?s plans to invest in proven programs for at-risk Chicago Public School students to provide pathways to jobs, life skill training, guidance, and safe alternatives to drugs, gangs and violence. He praised the work of Crime Lab in identifying the effectiveness of the violence prevention program, Becoming a Man?Sports Edition (BAM).

?The greatest thing we can do as a city is give our children the support they need to succeed in the classroom, get jobs and build successful and enjoyable lives,? Emanuel said. ?We are investing in programs that have shown significant return on investments?they have reduced failing grades, reduced arrests, increased graduation rates, kept our youth out of gangs, and made a difference in keeping our most vulnerable children safe.?

Jens Ludwig, director of the Crime Lab and the McCormick Foundation Professor of Social Service Administration, Law and Public Policy at UChicago, said the city?s move shows the impact of violence-prevention studies. ?It is fantastic that the city is paying attention to what is effective in combating these problems.??

The new funding will allow 2,000 boys to take part in BAM, which Crime Lab has found to reduce arrests for violent crimes by 44 percent. About 600 boys currently take part in group counseling and mentoring in the program, which has partnered with the Chicago Public Schools and local nonprofits Youth Guidance and World Sport Chicago.

The Crime Lab study released last summer showed that during the program year, BAM reduced arrests for violent crimes by 8.1 arrests per 100 youth and reduced arrests for crimes, including vandalism, trespassing and weapons possession by 36 percent, or 11.5 arrests per 100 youth. The program also increased school engagement.

The Crime Lab study, by far the largest of its kind conducted, is unique because it was structured like a randomized clinical trial used to generate ?gold standard? evidence in the field of medicine. Such controlled studies remain rare in the area of crime prevention, and in social policy more broadly.

Becoming A Man?Sports Edition was developed and delivered by Youth Guidance and World Sport Chicago during the 2009-10 school year to more than 800 boys in 18 public elementary and high schools, mainly on the city?s low-income South and West sides.

Based on the success of the study, the Crime Lab is working with the University of Chicago Urban Education Lab, Youth Guidance, World Sport Chicago, the MacArthur Foundation and other philanthropic partners to develop a follow-up study that will provide BAM-Sports Edition along with intensive, small-group academic tutoring.

In addition to its impact on school engagement and violence involvement, the BAM-Sports Edition program also proved to be cost-effective. ?The program cost around $1,100 per participant, while its impacts on criminal behavior generated benefits to society that are valued on the order of $3,600 to $34,000 per participant, depending on how we measure the costs of crime,? Ludwig said.

Chicago Police Department data show that by far the most common homicide motive in Chicago is an ?altercation? that escalates into a tragedy, usually involving guns. The key idea behind BAM-Sports Edition is that correcting certain ?thinking errors? can help protect young people from becoming involved in impulsive behaviors, including violence.?

The program model uses group counseling and nontraditional sports activities to strengthen adolescents? social-cognitive skills, including self-regulation and impulse control, social-information processing (the ability to accurately infer the intentions of others), future orientation, personal responsibility and conflict resolution.

Source: http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2013/02/07/city-cites-crime-lab-data-funding-innovative-youth-program

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Villa Rental And Holiday Homes In India

Tour Operator India | Kerala Tour Packages | LTC Kerala Tour

Completely refurbished with great attention to detail and comfortably furnished, these cottages are ideal for a relaxing holiday at any time of year. You can not get much closer to Loch Tay than the picturesque conservation village of Kenmore sitting as it does at the end of Loch Tay where the River Tay begins its journey to the sea and is surrounded by magnificent mountain and forest scenery. The village has a shop, historic hotel, an acclaimed restaurant and golf course all within easy walking distance. The loch offers sailing, mooring, water sports and angling while the river offers white water rafting, canoeing, gorge walking and fishing. Mackays offers a large self catering cottage in Kenmore which was originally the home of the village policeman. All the way to the south western tip of Loch Tay and little beyond you find the village of Killin.

Nearby you may glimpse ruined castles and dramatic waterfalls but you can not miss some of Scotlands finest landscapes that fill every horizon. The village itself is thriving and welcoming community that make it a perfect base to discover the area. Mackays self catering Scotland has a charming semi-detached house forming part of a sympathetic conversion of a 200 year old stables courtyard, in a tranquil rural setting, one mile along a private road from Killin. The conservatory has wonderful views over Loch Tay to Ben Lawers and deer and red squirrels can often be seen in the shared mature grounds. There is a private patio with garden furniture to sit out and fully appreciate the lovely surroundings. Rajasthan, the land of kings & colors, is the largest state of India.

It has been one of the most popular states of this country when it comes to choose a great destination or tourism in India. The state encompasses most of the area of the vast Thar Desert Great Indian Desert. It is the only state India where you will have ample opportunities to treasure the charm of desert tourism and explore many historical towns and traditional villages in and around Thar Desert. A number of tourists from all over the world come to Rajasthan to explore the charm of the vast Thar Desert. The best and most recommended way to explore is either camel safari or jeep safari. Jodhpur Famed as the Blue City, Jodhpur is the second largest city of Rajasthan after the state capital Jaipur. Located on the edge of the Thar Desert, it is a prominent tourist destination featuring magnificent forts, elegant temples and beautiful temples.

Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jaswant Thada Memorial, Balsamand Lake & Palace and Mandore Gardens are attractions of the city. Tourists can enjoy camel safari to treasure desert excursion from this city. Jodhpur today is a must visit on Rajasthan travel and tours. Bikaner, famed as Camel Country, is a beautiful town located in stark land of the Thar Desert. It is administrative headquarters of Bikaner district. This beautiful city is today one of best tourist destination of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan featuring forts, palaces, temples, havelis, sand dunes, etc. Major attractions in this city include Camel Breeding Farm & Research Centre, Lalgarh Palace, Junagarh Fort and Fort Museum. Bikaner is also famous for snacks (namkeens) and sweets. An excursion to nearby villages of the desert by camel safari is an enjoyable experience.

Located in the middle of the Thar Desert, Jaisalmer (famed as the Golden City of India) is the best destination to visit on desert Rajasthan tours. It is a wonderful place where you will not only enjoy typical sightseeing of historical monuments but also explore & treasure the best charm of the Thar Desert. Nearby Sam Village and Khuri Village are popular among tourists visiting Jaisalmer. Travelers can enjoy camel safari ride to explore rippling sand dunes of the desert. Golden Fort, Jain Temples and Havelis are attractions of the city. Dubai package tour for you. It must be clear that this experience of Dubai will rejuvenate you and bring positivity in yourself and your near and dear ones.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Villa-Rental-And-Holiday-Homes-In-India/4423042

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Prince William fears Taliban sympathizers will target his family and ...

$5M spent to build "ring of steel" -- including a panic room

Concerned?Prince William?has thrown a ?ring of steel? around his wife?Kate Middleton?amid fears Taliban militants could target?them?and their unborn baby as revenge for comments that his brother?Prince Harry made about his?tour of duty in Afghanistan, royal sources have revealed to?Celebuzz.

Extra security measures are now being put in place at Wills and Kate?s Kensington Palace apartment ? close to Buckingham Palace ? before they move in later this year.

Plans for the lavish central London home include a $5 million bill for a bomb-proof double door to prevent intruders, rising bollards and CCTV. All windows are to have bullet-proof glass, there will be a ?panic? room and escape tunnel and a communications network will be protected by an elite SAS unit, palace sources confirmed.

An undisclosed sum, thought to run into several millions, is being spent on the Queen?s late sister Princess Margaret?s former apartment. All contractors are understood to have been sworn to silence under the Official Secrets Act in Britain,?prohibiting the disclosure of confidential material from government sources by employees.

Wills and Kate ? who confirmed their pregnancy last December, after Middleton, 31, was hospitalized for?hyperemesis gravidarum, a rare form of morning sickness ? are likely to move to Kensington Palace a couple of months after the baby is born.

And on-edge Wills has begged his brother Prince Harry to watch his words in the wake of the gaffe.

Harry recently made a series of comments about Afghanistan and the Taliban during a television interview on the front line, during which he loosely compared the act of war to playing a video game, among other things.

Now, brother Wills ? the future King ? has asked him to ?think about the implications of his words? and is urging him not to even give more interviews, one source said.

The royal insider revealed: ?Harry?s comments caused a fair bit of tension between him and Wills. He feels that talking is such a strong way about the Taliban has really made them prime targets.

?England boasts some of the most worrying terror cells in the world and so this is a real threat.?

The source added, ?Wills has asked his brother to not give anymore interviews on the subject and to keep a low profile in the next few weeks. He is praying that Harry?s outburst will not prompt an attack on his family.

?While Wills stands behind Harry a hundred percent, but he also now considers his commitment to his wife and new child just as important.?

The source continued:

He understands Harry?s comments, but feels it is time to bolt down the hatches at the palace. He is pulling out all the stops to keep his wife and child secure. There are many measures like the panic room and escape tunnel, which are not included in public records. Wills is using England?s Official Secrets Act and Royal power to make sure his home really is his castle.

Outspoken action man Harry was accused of handing a propaganda coup to the Afghan insurgents while filming scenes for a TV documentary.

During an interview, the grinning third in line to the throne referred candidly to killing Taliban and ?taking them out of the game.?

In an interview to mark the end of his four-month tour of duty in Afghanistan, the third in line to the throne confirmed he had been directly responsible for the deaths of one or more insurgents as a co-pilot gunner.

The prince said: ?Yeah, so lots of people have. The squadron?s been out here. Everyone?s fired a certain amount.?

In another interview on the BBC, he risked fresh criticism after talking about ?the taste of blood in your mouth? as he scrambled to his helicopter before a mission.

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Tunisia Islamists say no new gov't as crisis grows

Tunisians accompany the ambulance carrying the body of opposition leader Chokri Belaid, from his home to his father's home, Thursday Feb. 7, 2013 in Tunis. Tunisia's opposition parties on Thursday welcomed the government's move to dissolve itself in favor of a caretaker body following the shocking assassination of a leftist politician. The Wednesday assassination of prominent government critic Chokri Belaid plunged the country into one of its deepest political crises since the overthrow of the dictatorship in 2011. On ambulance can be read: Comrade Chokri Belaid (top), and Democratic National Party (below in red). (AP Photo/Amine Landoulsi)

Tunisians accompany the ambulance carrying the body of opposition leader Chokri Belaid, from his home to his father's home, Thursday Feb. 7, 2013 in Tunis. Tunisia's opposition parties on Thursday welcomed the government's move to dissolve itself in favor of a caretaker body following the shocking assassination of a leftist politician. The Wednesday assassination of prominent government critic Chokri Belaid plunged the country into one of its deepest political crises since the overthrow of the dictatorship in 2011. On ambulance can be read: Comrade Chokri Belaid (top), and Democratic National Party (below in red). (AP Photo/Amine Landoulsi)

A woman cries over the coffin of opposition leader Chokri Belaid, Thursday Feb. 7, 2013 in Tunis. Tunisia's opposition parties on Thursday welcomed the government's move to dissolve itself in favor of a caretaker body following the shocking assassination of a leftist politician. The Wednesday assassination of prominent government critic Chokri Belaid plunged the country into one of its deepest political crises since the overthrow of the dictatorship in 2011. (AP Photo/Amine Landoulsi)

People look at the flowers placed at the site, just outside his home, where opposition leader Chokri Belaid was killed, Thursday Feb. 7, 2013 in Tunis. Tunisia's opposition parties on welcomed the government's move to dissolve itself in favor of a caretaker body following the shocking assassination of a leftist politician. The Wednesday assassination of prominent government critic Chokri Belaid plunged the country into one of its deepest political crises since the overthrow of the dictatorship in 2011. (AP Photo/Amine Landoulsi)

Tunisians accompany the ambulance carrying the body of opposition leader Chokri Belaid, from his home to his father's home, Thursday Feb. 7, 2013 in Tunis. Tunisia's opposition parties on Thursday welcomed the government's move to dissolve itself in favor of a caretaker body following the shocking assassination of a leftist politician. The Wednesday assassination of prominent government critic Chokri Belaid plunged the country into one of its deepest political crises since the overthrow of the dictatorship in 2011. (AP Photo/Amine Landoulsi)

Tunisians accompany the ambulance carrying the body of opposition leader Chokri Belaid, his daughter Neyrouz is seen through the window, from his home to his father's home, Thursday Feb. 7, 2013 in Tunis. Tunisia's opposition parties on Thursday welcomed the government's move to dissolve itself in favor of a caretaker body following the shocking assassination of a leftist politician. The Wednesday assassination of prominent government critic Chokri Belaid plunged the country into one of its deepest political crises since the overthrow of the dictatorship in 2011. (AP Photo/Amine Landoulsi)

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) ? Tunisia sank deeper into political crisis Thursday, as the ruling Islamist party rejected its own prime minister's decision to replace the government after the assassination of a leftist politician led to a wave of angry protests.

The murder of Chokri Belaid, a 48-year-old secularist and a fierce critic of hardline Islamists as well as the more moderate ruling party, laid bare the challenges facing this nation of 10 million, whose revolution two years ago sparked the Arab Spring uprisings.

Because of its small, well-educated population, there were hopes Tunisia would have the easiest time transitioning from dictatorship to democracy. But instead Tunisia ? a staunchly secular state under ex-dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali ? is now a battleground pitting secularists, moderate Islamists, and hardline Islamists against one another.

The economy has struggled, power-sharing negotiations have stalled, and political violence is on the rise. The rejection of the prime minister's move to create a government of technocrats to guide the country to elections also made clear that divisions exist between hardliners and moderates within the ruling party, Ennahda.

Police used tear gas Thursday to drive off the few dozen protesters who tried to demonstrate in front of the Interior Ministry, averting a repeat of the large rallies that swept the capital hours after Belaid's assassination Wednesday.

But full-scale riots hit the southern mining city of Gafsa, where Belaid's Popular Front coalition of leftist parties enjoys strong support. The state news agency TAP also reported clashes in cities across the country, with police resorting to tear gas and warning shots. In the northwest town of Boussalem, demonstrators set fire to a police station.

The tension could escalate Friday. Dramatic turnout is expected for Belaid's funeral; coupled with a general strike called by the main labor union, the events raise the prospect of confrontations nationwide.

The police and army have been put on alert to prevent any outbreaks of violence and to "deal with any troublemakers" announced the presidential spokesman Adnan Mancer in a news conference late Thursday.

He added that police are questioning a possible suspect in the murder ? a member of Belaid's political party who was working as his chauffer and was witnessed speaking with one of the assailants before the politician was shot to death in his car outside his home Wednesday morning.

The latest events have raised fears Tunisia may not be an exception to the turmoil in the region, where several states are in a post-revolutionary phase.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the assassination and called for the reform process to go forward, saying "Tunisia's democratic transition should not be derailed by acts of political violence," U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

The situation has yet to degenerate to the point of Egypt, the scene of regular street battles between police and protesters and a total breakdown of trust between the Islamist government and the opposition. Tunisia's Islamists rule in coalition with two secular parties and must rely on consensus more than Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.

Ennahda was long repressed under the secular rule of Ben Ali, but after his overthrow in January 2011, the well-organized movement won subsequent elections. Overall, Ennahda is considered a moderate grouping. Hardline Islamists known as Salafis have come out against it.

Belaid's death came as relations between the government and the opposition had deteriorated, with talks on a government reshuffle going nowhere. To make matters worse, critics such as Belaid accused the government of relying on hired thugs to attack meetings of the opposition.

To ease tensions, Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali announced late Wednesday he would dissolve the government and form a new one of nonpartisan technocrats to manage the country until elections, giving in to the longstanding opposition demand.

On Thursday, however, the party's executive committee rejected the move and maintained that it was not going to toss away legitimacy it had gained in elections.

"The position of Ennahda is that the troika (the three-party ruling coalition) will continue to lead the country but it is open to a partial ministerial reshuffle," party spokesman Abdallah Zouari told The Associated Press. That is the same position the party had before the assassination and subsequent protests.

A high-level member of the party who asked to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the subject said the party was already in talks with its coalition partners and the opposition to resolve the crisis. The party has also bolstered its position in the constitutional assembly by allying with three other small parties, giving it a comfortable two-thirds majority of the 217-seat body.

"With this increase, Ennahda and its allies have a comfortable majority to confront calls doubting our legitimacy in the assembly," said Ziad Doulatli, a member of the party's ruling council. Opposition parties had suspended their participation in the body after Wednesday's assassination.

Opposition attacks on the governing coalition in the wake of the assassination may have gone too far, according to the Mancer, the presidential spokesman. He said some political figures were under investigation for inciting the army to deny the state's legitimacy ? without mentioning any names.

Belaid's family and associates blame Ennahda for complicity in his killing, but have not offered proof, and other opposition figures have claimed there is a list of potential targets. Ennahda denies any involvement.

"It is the Ennahda and no one else that killed him," the slain politician's father Salah Belaid at his home as mourners came to pay their respects. "He told me, 'Father, they are targeting me' ... most of the time he wasn't sleeping at his home."

In an autopsy attended by the country's chief prosecutor Wednesday night, the coroner removed three bullets from Belaid's body as well as pieces of glass from the car window the gunmen shot him through.

Opposition parties had hailed Jebali's attempt to form a new government as courageous. The year-old government has often been criticized for being unable to tackle the country's problems, chief among them high unemployment and an economy battered by Europe's financial crisis and too few tourists.

"It's a recognition of the need to totally change the government which is incapable of running the country," said Taieb Baccouche, secretary-general of the right-of-center Tunisia's Call party, one of the main opposition parties. "There has to be immediate consultation between all the parties involved to avoid unilateral decisions."

The country's largest labor union, the General Union of Tunisian Workers, called for a general strike on Friday in a clear expression of their opposition to the Ennahda government. A threat to call a general strike in December was defused by negotiations.

As one of the most organized groups in society and with a left-wing leadership, the UGTT, as it is known, has long been a counterbalance to Ennahda's formidable grass roots network. The last time it called a general strike, in 1978, riots erupted around the country.

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Associated Press reporters Oleg Cetinic in Tunis and Paul Schemm in Rabat contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-07-Tunisia-Attack/id-65c5b95d37114b839098bfbd949a5e0b

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