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The European "Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications" that regulates the ways websites can track users, is coming to sites which serve European users, which covers plenty out there. The Directive requires that sites disclose the use of cookies on their site and allows visitors to opt-in to their use. It could be an immediate turn-off for users, but it's here to stay. On Saturday, May 26, the UK implements the first phase of the law, so website owners are scrambling to ensure they are in compliance (assuming they even know about it). As we've said before, we think it's dumb and will make it much harder on European startups. The first requirement of the UK law is that sites do an audit to determine what cookies are used on their site. The Directive asks them to identify two types of cookies: those it deems "strictly necessary" and those that are not. The problem is that most sites have no idea what cookies it might be serving to users. However, US-startup CloudFlare is about to launch a service which will tell site what cookies they are serving and a way to control them: CloudFlare Audit + Control.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Americans' low use of healthcare services has proved a boon to health insurers over the past two years, reducing medical claim costs and raising profits. The growing view on Wall Street is that those days are over.
A series of first-quarter earnings disappointments for health insurers in the past month has damped hopes for a repeat of the profit windfalls that led to huge stock gains in 2011.
After digesting the reports, many investors fear that medical claims costs are poised to rise. That stands to keep industry shares in check until the investors are sure of the direction of consumer trends.
The sector "could be dead money for some time," said Tim Nelson, a healthcare analyst with Nuveen Asset Management. "There's not going to be the big upside and the big series of beats ... I think investor sentiment will stay cautious until at least the second half of the year."
The Morgan Stanley Healthcare Payor index of insurers has fallen about 12 percent since bellwether UnitedHealth Group Inc kicked off the reporting season last month. That compares with a roughly 5 percent drop for the S&P 500 index.
Last year's lift resulted from the companies' enrolled members using significantly fewer services than the insurers had priced into their plans for employers. Some of that -- such as fewer doctor visits or non-emergency procedures like hip replacements -- stemmed from high unemployment rates, while many Americans who had jobs were unable to cover rising out-of-pocket costs for copayments and deductibles.
But as hiring improves, even slightly, and the country's economic troubles seem more tractable, companies such as Aetna Inc, UnitedHealth and Cigna Corp are telling analysts they are assuming use of healthcare services will rise this year.
"At the minimum, the stocks themselves are in a holding pattern until the second-quarter earnings season in July," said Les Funtleyder, a portfolio manager with Miller Tabak. "Investors are going to be holding their breath to see whether or not the utilization rates we saw coming off of (the first quarter) were just individual data points."
Goldman Sachs analyst Matthew Borsch had downgraded the sector to "neutral" from "attractive" in February based in part pressure on profit margins from price competition.
More recently, Borsch pointed to a "tougher earnings environment" for health insurers, saying cost trends are "no longer a source of positive surprise for most companies."
CONTRARY VIEW
One major uncertainty looms over the sector: the Supreme Court's ruling on the U.S. healthcare overhaul law, expected in late June. Some anticipate a short-term health insurer rally should the court strike down the entire law, which could spare the industry the costs and risks of extending healthcare coverage to millions more Americans.
And some analysts say evidence of more frequent trips to the doctor or hospital is lacking. Even if a slight increase in healthcare use is in the works, they argue, insurers have accounted for it with higher-priced plans.
"A lot of the hospitals are talking about how certain procedures are growing ... but at the same time they are being offset by declines in other areas, so as a whole I don't think it's increasing," said Leerink Swann analyst Jason Gurda. He said near-term business prospects for the sector are still positive.
Richard Evans, a founding partner of boutique investment research firm SSR, sees a silver lining if employment improves. Health insurers may see enrollment increases as a result, with new members who tend to be healthier and therefore need fewer services.
"We actually think that the improving economy, which is signaled by improving utilization, is actually bullish for the commercial HMOs," Evans said. "The market just has got (the stocks) 180 degrees wrong on how to trade them on utilization."
Medical costs increased about 7 percent a year for most of the decade, but growth slowed to 3.9 percent in 2010 and 4.5 percent last year, according to Goldman Sachs, which looked at data for employer-based insurance plans.
A rebounding U.S. economy could drive up demand for healthcare services, as Americans who gain more job security also feel increasingly at ease using their health benefits.
But another theory is that Americans, who now bear a greater share of costs for healthcare, are making a permanent shift to using fewer healthcare services.
The portion of Americans aged 45 to 64 who delayed or skipped medical care due to cost rose from about 9 percent in 2000 to nearly 15 percent in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate was similar for 18 to 44-year olds.
CAUTIOUS CALCULATION
Health insurers may also be cautious about making definitive statements about cost trends at this point in the year, because many insurance claims tend to lag quarterly reporting dates.
"Given the billing cycle and the nature of this business, they can't sit there and say through 90 days we know exactly what utilization is doing," said David Heupel, a healthcare analyst with Thrivent Investment Management.
Health insurers set aside a certain amount of reserves each quarter to pay for claims from prior periods, which can come in 90 days or more after services are provided. If costs of those claims end up being lower, companies can record the reserves as profit.
For example, Aetna, the No. 3 U.S. health insurer, initially forecast an 8 percent increase in the cost of claims for 2011 but ended the year with a 5.5 percent increase. The discrepancy between projected and actual costs boosted profits.
For a graphic on Aetna's costs, profits, see: http://link.reuters.com/buv38s
Aetna said last month that healthcare trends stabilized and growth rates were not slowing any more. The company said its claims from the fourth-quarter and earlier basically matched what it had expected. Wall Street had expected Aetna to realize a gain and report higher profits for the first quarter of 2012.
For 2012, Aetna forecast a 6.5 percent increase in -- about one percentage point above last year's total. About 70 percent of Aetna's cost forecast generally is related to prices from providers and manufacturers -- or unit cost -- with the remaining from utilization. Aetna expects unit cost increases to stay basically stable -- up 4.5 percent to 5 percent this year after rising about 5 percent in 2011.
Utilization, however, is expected to rise 1.5 percent to 2 percent this year, from about 0.5 percent last year.
The company expects more costs from physician office visits as well as outpatient services, such as emergency room visits and certain surgeries.
"It's kind of barely trembling the needle, is my interpretation of what these companies are describing," Jefferies & Co analyst David Windley said of the use of health services. "The likelihood that you get significant earnings bonuses from prior period development is much lower."
(Reporting By Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Michele Gershberg)
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LONDON (AP) ? Skepticism over the ability of European Union leaders to cobble together a plan to kick-start the region's faltering economy and deal with its crippling debt crisis hit stock markets hard Wednesday and sent the euro skidding down to near 21-month lows against the dollar.
Leaders of the 27 EU countries are to meet in Brussels later for a summit that will focus on Europe's economic woes and Greece's political crisis. An election in Greece on June 17 is widely considered to be a referendum on the country's membership of the euro and that's caused big jitters in the markets over the past couple of weeks.
"The market remains focused on the uncertain European situation, with today's European leaders meeting doing little to ease market worries," said Nick Bennenbroek, an analyst at Wells Fargo Bank.
In the early part of the week, there had been some hope that the summit might make progress towards shoring up Europe's defenses against financial turmoil. Any enthusiasm appears to have vanished with Germany's continued refusal to back the idea of jointly-issued eurobonds. Proponents of eurobonds say they could help mitigate the crisis by spreading debt risk across the single currency zone.
"Hopes for today's EU summit have been well and truly chucked out of the window, as the Germans once again state their firm opposition to eurozone bonds as a means of solving the crisis," said Chris Beauchamp, market analyst at IG Index.
In Europe, Britain's FTSE 100 was 1.9 percent lower at 5,304, while Germany's DAX lost 1.7 percent to 6,326. The CAC-40 in France was 2.1 percent lower at 3,019.
The euro was also under pressure, trading 0.5 percent lower at $1.2588 ? its lowest level since August 2010.
Wall Street opened lower too, with the Dow Jones industrial average down 0.7 percent at 12,416 and the broader S&P 500 index 0.6 percent lower at 1,308.
Europe's battle to contain its debt crisis, now well into its third year, is likely to remain the focus of attention all the way up to and beyond the Greek election.
The main concern is that political parties that are against the terms of the country's bailout package winning will win the election. If Europe then cuts off its funding to Greece, the country may face a messy exit from the euro, raising concerns among investors that other countries might follow. Some analysts say a Greek exit would herald the beginning of the end of the euro and could slam the global economy.
Another big worry for investors is a slowdown in Chinese growth, compounded by a reluctance of Chinese companies to borrow because of uncertainty about the economy.
Those concerns dented sentiment earlier in Asia. Japan's Nikkei 225 index tumbled 2 percent to close at 8,556.60, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.3 percent to 18,786.19 and South Korea's Kospi lost 1.1 percent at 1,808.62.
Oil prices were near seven-month lows as they tracked equities and amid hopes that the standoff between Iran and western powers over the country's nuclear program may be ending. Iran has agreed to allow the U.N. nuclear agency to restart an investigation into its nuclear program. Benchmark oil for July delivery down 50 cents at $91.35 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
____
Pamela Sampson in Bangkok contributed to this report.
SANAA, Yemen (AP) ? Yemen's military launched an attack Thursday on an al-Qaida hideout in the country's south as part of a wider offensive, killing 35 militants, the Defense Ministry said.
The attack came four days after al-Qaida claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on a military parade rehearsal in the capital, Sanaa. The bombing killed 96 Yemeni soldiers. Funerals for 67 of the soldiers were held on Thursday.
The Defense Ministry said that in its attack, the Yemeni military took control of Wadi Banaa Arab, near the town of Jaar, another al-Qaida stronghold.
Since May 12, Yemen's military has been pushing an offensive against al-Qaida, aiming to uproot the militants from territory they overran during more than a year of internal political turmoil in Yemen. Casualties have been high on both sides.
Troops backed by warplanes and artillery, as well as armed tribesmen, battled al-Qaida militants, mainly in Abyan province in the south, aiming at regaining control over the provincial capital, Zinjibar.
Yemen's al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula is considered one of the group's most dangerous branches. The impoverished country was the launching pad for three foiled al-Qaida attacks on U.S. targets.
The United States has thrown its support behind Yemen's new president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who has vowed to combat al-Qaida as a top priority.
On Thursday, a U.S. Congressional delegation met with Hadi in Sanaa, according to a statement issued by Hadi's office.
Yemen's longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down in February as part of a U.S. backed power transfer deal that gave him immunity from prosecution in return for relinquishing power.
A portrait of it's president is dividing South Africa. The country's ruling party, the ANC, went to court to get the painting banned because it shows him naked from the waist down. The artist's aim was to satirize President Zuma's sex life. NBC News reporter Rohit Kachroo reports on this highly charged debate.
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One of the subjects that comes up often as we advise our clients in marketing luxury real estate is the fine line between specializing in the top tier of the marketplace and not wanting to alienate previous clients whose home sold in the mid price range, our clients are concerned that they may come accross as too pretentions or aloof. Inherent in that concern is a misconception of the meaning of luxury, because it is often associated with elitism and conspicuous consumption, whereas we firmly believe that this is a limited perspective because there is luxury in simple pleasures, for example, the luxury of tasting the first crop of sweet corn.
Corn on the cob is a quintessential American food of summer. The first crop is here at our Farmers' Market in Santa Barbara, It reminds us of Richard Rodgers' song, Oh, What A Beautiful Morning, from the quintessential American musical Oklahoma, written in 1943. Here is our favorite excerpt about corn.
There's a bright golden haze on the meadow, There's a bright golden haze on the meadow, The corn is as high as an elephant's eye, An' it looks like its climbin' clear up to the sky.
Chorus: Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day, I've got a wonderful feeling, Everything's going my way.
HAPPY WEDNESDAY, WE WISH THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING YOUR WAY
Cheers, Ron & Alexandra
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New means of safeguarding world fish stocks provenPublic release date: 22-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Elinor Elis-Williams press@bangor.ac.uk 44-124-838-3298 Bangor University
Powerful and versatile new genetic tools that will assist in safeguarding both European fish stocks and European consumers is reported in Nature Communications (DOI 10.1038/ncomms1845 22/05/12). The paper reports on the first system proven to identify populations of fish species to a forensic level of validation.
With up to 25% of fish catches being caught illegally across the world, and with an estimated cost to Europe of up to 10 billion by 2020, the EU were eager to address the problems facing the European fishing industry. One major initiative was to fund the EU project behind the latest development: a three year, four million Euro pan-European project, called "FishPopTrace" led by Bangor University, UK.
The EU has already introduced a law requiring any fish sold in the EU to be identified with the species and region of origin on the label from 2011. The same regulation explicitly requires EU Member States to undertake pilot studies of novel traceability tools by 2013 to test the authenticity of this labelling. Furthermore, awareness and take up of the product is already in hand. In the UK, DEFRA have recently announced that they are to begin a pilot project to introduce the tools and train their own staff and the UK fishing industry to collect, manage and store the samples to forensic standards. .
Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries, Richard Benyon said: "Illegal fishing is not just theft from responsible fishermen and fishing communities it has a devastating impact on the fish in our seas and oceans. I'm delighted to see a project as innovative and revolutionary as FishPopTrace come to fruition. Protecting our seas and our honest fishermen from this abuse would be a remarkable achievement and I am confident that this technology will prove highly valuable in efforts to achieve sustainable fisheries globally."
Prof Gary Carvalho who headed the FishPopTrace EU consortium behind the new validation tools explains:
"A major existing problem is that it has not previously been possible to prove the exact origin of any particular fish, and in some circumstances, particularly with processed or cooked fish, it can be quite difficult even to identify the species, let alone its source of origin.
"We set out to develop a method that could be used throughout the food supply chain and across the fish industry, and have shown its effectiveness in four common European species, Atlantic Cod, Atlantic Herring, Common Sole and European Hake: each threatened by overfishing and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The tools can be used to identify or compare a set of pre-identified genetic markers within fish samples at any point in the consumer chain from net to plate, and to trace the fish back to their region of origin or breeding group. Such DNA-based tools can be used in tandem with existing technologies such as conventional labels, but importantly provides an independent and robust method for ad hoc tests of authenticity".
"This tool is also highly flexible. We have already identified the markers to separate populations of fish at large geographic scales, but the new methodology is powerful enough to identify fish from much smaller spatial scales, such as North Sea and Baltic cod. Moreover the system can be further developed for any fish species as required.
Far from being a punitive measure, the ethos behind the use of such tools is to assist the fishing industry, providing greater assurance of the population of origin and conservation status of the catch. The tool has application in validating various eco-certification and eco-labelling systems currently in use, but which are typically un-validated. Those charged with ensuring conservation and sustainability of our fish stocks will have a far greater ability not only to identify populations at risk or thriving but also a forensically validated system that can be used to test authenticity at any point in the supply chain to enforce the relevant legislation.
Last but not least, consumers will be able to purchase fish, confident in the knowledge that they are buying or eating the product described on the label or the menu and that their purchases are from sustainable fish stocks.
With the results validated, once rolled out, we can expect a greater number of cases to be brought before European courts, with the forensic evidence to support them, in much the same way that forensics is used as evidence in human crimes.
Carvalho concludes: "Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has had a major role in the overexploitation of global fish populations. Improving this technology and spearheading its application in Europe, these new tools provide a new way forward for managing global fish resources, will revolutionise origin assignment and become highly valuable tools for fighting illegal fishing and mislabelling worldwide.
###
Further details / comment:
Prof Gary Carvalho, Professor of Molecular Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University 01248 382100 e-mail: g.r.carvalho@bangor.ac.uk
Bangor University Press Office 01248 383298 press@bangor.ac.uk
Editor's Notes:
1. FishPopTrace is an international project aiming at the construction of a Pan-European framework, built on advanced technologies, for product traceability and policy related monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) in the fisheries sector.
Pursuing a holistic approach, FishPopTrace can contribute to fisheries management and conservation measures in line with the global attempt to move towards sustainable fisheries. It is a collaborative project involving 15 research groups (from the EU, Norway and Russia), specialized in fish population genetics, molecular biology, proteomics, microchemistry and biochemistry, experts in wildlife forensics, stakeholders of the fisheries industry and, as a scientific consultant, a senior staff member of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). FishPopTrace was launched in March 2008 under the umbrella of the EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Further details:
http://fishpoptrace.jrc.ec.europa.eu/about
2. Gene assisted markers or SNPs (pronounced 'snips') were used to identify each population group, providing 'minimum markers with maximum power'- that is, genes were identified that were unique to each individual location group-and in some cases these could be very few in number. These are then sought to identify or trace a fish to a particular population group. The approach relies on a centrally accessible SNP ('snip') database maintained by the European Commission Joint Research Centre. On public release, any end user will be able to produce a test tailored to a specific control and enforcement group or product certification scenario. The flexibility allows high levels of validation for forensic use or cheaper less detailed tests for other commercial purposes, such as eco-labelling. Speed can be of essence in other scenarios such as fisheries enforcement- and this can be catered for accordingly.
3. Commercially important fish populations have been overexploited and require rebuilding (according to FAO The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010 and Worm B et al Rebuilding Global Fisheries, Science 352 (2009) and IUU ( Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishing poses a major threat to sustainable fisheries, constituting approximately one fifth of the global catch ( "Estimating the global size of illegal fishing" PLoS ONE, Agnew et al.., 2009,& "Closing Loopholes: getting illegal fishing under control" Science 328, Flothmann et al., 2010).
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New means of safeguarding world fish stocks provenPublic release date: 22-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Elinor Elis-Williams press@bangor.ac.uk 44-124-838-3298 Bangor University
Powerful and versatile new genetic tools that will assist in safeguarding both European fish stocks and European consumers is reported in Nature Communications (DOI 10.1038/ncomms1845 22/05/12). The paper reports on the first system proven to identify populations of fish species to a forensic level of validation.
With up to 25% of fish catches being caught illegally across the world, and with an estimated cost to Europe of up to 10 billion by 2020, the EU were eager to address the problems facing the European fishing industry. One major initiative was to fund the EU project behind the latest development: a three year, four million Euro pan-European project, called "FishPopTrace" led by Bangor University, UK.
The EU has already introduced a law requiring any fish sold in the EU to be identified with the species and region of origin on the label from 2011. The same regulation explicitly requires EU Member States to undertake pilot studies of novel traceability tools by 2013 to test the authenticity of this labelling. Furthermore, awareness and take up of the product is already in hand. In the UK, DEFRA have recently announced that they are to begin a pilot project to introduce the tools and train their own staff and the UK fishing industry to collect, manage and store the samples to forensic standards. .
Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries, Richard Benyon said: "Illegal fishing is not just theft from responsible fishermen and fishing communities it has a devastating impact on the fish in our seas and oceans. I'm delighted to see a project as innovative and revolutionary as FishPopTrace come to fruition. Protecting our seas and our honest fishermen from this abuse would be a remarkable achievement and I am confident that this technology will prove highly valuable in efforts to achieve sustainable fisheries globally."
Prof Gary Carvalho who headed the FishPopTrace EU consortium behind the new validation tools explains:
"A major existing problem is that it has not previously been possible to prove the exact origin of any particular fish, and in some circumstances, particularly with processed or cooked fish, it can be quite difficult even to identify the species, let alone its source of origin.
"We set out to develop a method that could be used throughout the food supply chain and across the fish industry, and have shown its effectiveness in four common European species, Atlantic Cod, Atlantic Herring, Common Sole and European Hake: each threatened by overfishing and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The tools can be used to identify or compare a set of pre-identified genetic markers within fish samples at any point in the consumer chain from net to plate, and to trace the fish back to their region of origin or breeding group. Such DNA-based tools can be used in tandem with existing technologies such as conventional labels, but importantly provides an independent and robust method for ad hoc tests of authenticity".
"This tool is also highly flexible. We have already identified the markers to separate populations of fish at large geographic scales, but the new methodology is powerful enough to identify fish from much smaller spatial scales, such as North Sea and Baltic cod. Moreover the system can be further developed for any fish species as required.
Far from being a punitive measure, the ethos behind the use of such tools is to assist the fishing industry, providing greater assurance of the population of origin and conservation status of the catch. The tool has application in validating various eco-certification and eco-labelling systems currently in use, but which are typically un-validated. Those charged with ensuring conservation and sustainability of our fish stocks will have a far greater ability not only to identify populations at risk or thriving but also a forensically validated system that can be used to test authenticity at any point in the supply chain to enforce the relevant legislation.
Last but not least, consumers will be able to purchase fish, confident in the knowledge that they are buying or eating the product described on the label or the menu and that their purchases are from sustainable fish stocks.
With the results validated, once rolled out, we can expect a greater number of cases to be brought before European courts, with the forensic evidence to support them, in much the same way that forensics is used as evidence in human crimes.
Carvalho concludes: "Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has had a major role in the overexploitation of global fish populations. Improving this technology and spearheading its application in Europe, these new tools provide a new way forward for managing global fish resources, will revolutionise origin assignment and become highly valuable tools for fighting illegal fishing and mislabelling worldwide.
###
Further details / comment:
Prof Gary Carvalho, Professor of Molecular Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University 01248 382100 e-mail: g.r.carvalho@bangor.ac.uk
Bangor University Press Office 01248 383298 press@bangor.ac.uk
Editor's Notes:
1. FishPopTrace is an international project aiming at the construction of a Pan-European framework, built on advanced technologies, for product traceability and policy related monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) in the fisheries sector.
Pursuing a holistic approach, FishPopTrace can contribute to fisheries management and conservation measures in line with the global attempt to move towards sustainable fisheries. It is a collaborative project involving 15 research groups (from the EU, Norway and Russia), specialized in fish population genetics, molecular biology, proteomics, microchemistry and biochemistry, experts in wildlife forensics, stakeholders of the fisheries industry and, as a scientific consultant, a senior staff member of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). FishPopTrace was launched in March 2008 under the umbrella of the EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Further details:
http://fishpoptrace.jrc.ec.europa.eu/about
2. Gene assisted markers or SNPs (pronounced 'snips') were used to identify each population group, providing 'minimum markers with maximum power'- that is, genes were identified that were unique to each individual location group-and in some cases these could be very few in number. These are then sought to identify or trace a fish to a particular population group. The approach relies on a centrally accessible SNP ('snip') database maintained by the European Commission Joint Research Centre. On public release, any end user will be able to produce a test tailored to a specific control and enforcement group or product certification scenario. The flexibility allows high levels of validation for forensic use or cheaper less detailed tests for other commercial purposes, such as eco-labelling. Speed can be of essence in other scenarios such as fisheries enforcement- and this can be catered for accordingly.
3. Commercially important fish populations have been overexploited and require rebuilding (according to FAO The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010 and Worm B et al Rebuilding Global Fisheries, Science 352 (2009) and IUU ( Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishing poses a major threat to sustainable fisheries, constituting approximately one fifth of the global catch ( "Estimating the global size of illegal fishing" PLoS ONE, Agnew et al.., 2009,& "Closing Loopholes: getting illegal fishing under control" Science 328, Flothmann et al., 2010).
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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.
One-year old Sage is at the petting zoo for the first time in his life, and he clearly loves the goats as he?s petting and hugging every single one of them.
CANNES, France (Reuters) - Brad Pitt's latest movie paints a bleak picture of the broken American dream, blending a violent but comic gangster story with overt criticism of politicians' failure to address the economic crisis.
"Killing Them Softly" takes place in an unspecified U.S. city which has borne the brunt of the financial collapse -- houses are abandoned, shops are shuttered and petty criminals and mobsters alike are struggling to get by.
The movie, co-produced by Pitt, is in the main competition at the Cannes film festival this year, and has its red carpet world premiere on Tuesday.
Pitt plays ruthless hitman Jackie Cogan, brought in by a syndicate of mafia bosses to eliminate a group of thieves who raid a high-stakes poker game.
The title derives from his insistence on avoiding unnecessary pain and suffering when he carries out his killings.
It features gangster movie mainstays Ray Liotta and James Gandolfini, and reunites Pitt with New Zealand-born director Andrew Dominik after the two collaborated on "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford".
The political message of the film is unavoidable. News channels play in the background in bars and on the radio in cars, and the topic of debate is invariably the financial crisis, political failure, greed and shattered dreams.
Barack Obama, John McCain and George W. Bush appear on the 2008 campaign trail making promises to address the economy and preserve the ideals on which the country was built.
In a scene at the end, Cogan launches a scathing attack on Thomas Jefferson, the main author of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, whom he accuses of being a liar and hypocrite.
"I live in America and in America you're on your own," Pitt's character declares. "America's not a country, it's just a business."
NOT ANTI-OBAMA
At a news conference following a press screening of the film, Pitt said he did not want Killing Them Softly to be seen as an attack on President Obama.
"I lean more towards the left and I want to understand my own bias and so I am not opposed to characters that have different views from yourself," he said.
"I think very highly of him (Jefferson) actually.
"We are playing people with very specific opinions. We are clearly living in our country at a time of great divide and so I'm interested in those other arguments that are ... certainly not mine."
He spoke of a "toxic" political divide in the United States where "it's more about the party winning the argument than about the issues themselves. It's a serious, serious problem."
Pitt did not seem surprised when questions turned from the film and its political message to his personal life.
He told journalists that his fiancee Angelina Jolie was not in Cannes, quelling rumors that the Hollywood power couple would appear together on the red carpet.
Asked when they planned to get married, he replied: "We have no date. We actually really, truly have no date. Certainly date-wise it's absolutely rumor.
"And I'm still hoping we can figure out our marriage equality in the States before that date," he added, referring to his support for same-sex marriage countrywide.
Liotta, best known as a nasty mobster, said it made a welcome change to be on the receiving end of a cinematic beating. In Killing Them softly he plays the likeable Markie, who is framed and subsequently punished for the poker heist.
"What I really liked about it was I'm usually the one beating people up so it was nice to go the other way and have them beat me up, it was really a nice change.
"The hardest part was letting those two guys beat me up because I know I can take them. That's the roughest part, these little shrimps beating me up."
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, one of four players facing suspensions for their alleged roles in the alleged Saints bounty system, addressed the media after Tuesday?s OTA practice in Cleveland.
And Fujita left no doubt regarding his position on the situation.
?That is not true,? Fujita said of the league?s contention that he helped fund a pool of money that went to players who knocked opponents out of games, via Scott Petrak of the Chronicle-Telegram.
Still, Fujita is not yet ready to delve into details.
?Unfortunately for a lot of us, we?re on public trial,? Fujita said.? ?But I?m just going to stick with my previous statements and, listen, there will come a time when I?ll be ready to share everything, but now is not the time.?
His concern is more than the money he?ll lose during a three-game suspension.? ?Listen, my reputation is a lot more valuable to me than three game checks, and my track record speaks for itself,? Fujita said.? ?It?s our word against theirs and that?s frustrating, but the reality is that I know what actually happened and that?s why I can stand by those statements.?
Given the public nature of the accusations, with the NFL releasing only summaries of information and snippets of raw evidence in support of serious allegations against Fujita and the other three players, it would be nice if the NFL would be more specific about the things the league believes happened.
It also would be nice if one or more of the players would tell their side or the story, sooner rather than later.
We understand that, for strategic reasons, the players need to keep their cards close to the vest, in order to enhance their chances to win the appeal, wherever and whenever it may occur.? But if Fujita truly doesn?t care about the three game checks, he should just spill his guts now and tell his story.
After giving the league the benefit of the doubt when the story first emerged on March 2, since it was clearly against the league?s obvious interests to peel back the curtain and admit that one of the NFL?s flagship franchises was cheating, we?ve become far more skeptical about the league?s claims.? The persistent refusal of the league to produce evidence coupled with troubling inconsistencies between the league?s description of the two items that have become available (the Anthony Hargrove declaration and the Mike Ornstein email) have given rise to a legitimate concern that the league has clear evidence of a pay-for-performance system, clear evidence of cartoonish locker room talk regarding bounties, but zero evidence that anyone ever acted upon the urgings to try to inflict injury ? or that anyone ever actually received a dime for doing so.
At this point, we?ll take whatever evidence we can get.? And if the league won?t tell the story in chapter-and-verse detail, here?s hoping Scott Fujita or Anthony Hargrove or Will Smith or Jonathan Vilma or Sean Payton of Gregg Williams or Joe Vitt or Mickey Loomis will.
For those who love figures along with want to have a positive impact in the industry planet, a profession in accountancy and payroll government could just be the thing. While using the monetary scandals associated with the previous couple of years figuring consequently prominently available entire world, firms have not been keen on ensuring that these people hire responsible staff members. Subsequently, the vocation prospective buyers if you are on this subject look really encouraging. Consequently in case you have in mind getting into this company globe, a great way to do so is usually to sign up for the Human resources in addition to Payroll Government Level Program.Combining practical knowledge with software training, Accounting and Payroll Administration Diploma Programs will prepare you for fulfilling jobs with responsibility. Fortunately, the responsibility of these positions is acknowledged in the form of attractive pay ? up to $54 an hour in some cases.Accounting and payroll employees can expect to be key players in some of the following duties:· Coordinating administrative procedures · Delegating workloads in addition to taking care of deadlines · Administering procedures along with policies · Setting up in addition to coordinating company solutions · Organizing functioning financial constraints · Maintaining and matching products ranges pozycjonowanie · Getting ready files along with stories, and also study materials as well as correspondenceA standard degree or diploma software will last forty four days. At the conclusion with this time, Sales and also Payroll Supervision Diploma or degree graduates will frequently additionally come to be members on the Canadian Payroll Affiliation ? an additional extra that can help which has a work lookup. The particular training fill with regard to Accounting along with Payroll Current administration Level Packages can obviously include business lessons, however will likely typically have a very sturdy focus on computer software ability, due to the fact software program has become such an inclusive element of the organization earth. Students can expect to consider the subsequent classes throughout their studies: · Microsoft Phrase · ?microsoft? Surpass · Microsoft PowerPoint · Microsoft Admittance · Merely Information technology · QuickBooks · ACCPAC · Bookkeeping as well as basic principles regarding information technology · Realizing the actual payroll method · Personal analysis along with controlTraining is usually really ?hands on? while using software package shown preceding, ensuring that graduates use a sturdy sensible grasp on the methods they?re going to need to have when currently employed. Together with computer software abilities in addition to techie knowledge, Sales along with Payroll Administration Degree Programs likewise placed a focus on command. The theory should be to train individuals to always be capable employees ? and also reliable professionals and also superiors who?re secure leading squads. In case you?re looking for the fulfilling profession that contains volumes and accountability, plus the likely for you to direct clubs and also have an actual impression at companies of all dimensions, contemplate a great Information technology and also Payroll Supervision Diploma or degree Method. The item simply just will be the clever option for you personally.
The allure of investing in a property, no matter if it?s an agricultural land or an upscale apartment in Melbourne, is quite easily acceptable and logical. People would choose to invest in something they can actually see and touch, rather than a theoretical proposition that offers to later on produce captivating profits. As such, the Australian government does everything in its power to try and stimulate these investors to maintain the market moving and, consequently, the economy alive.
Part of that campaign is because of negative gearing. Investors who acquire negative-geared properties borrow cash (quite often up to 80 to ninety percent of the property charge) from loan providers as a way to purchase their targeted asset. Revenues from that property-in most cases leased-does not in fact cover the interest on the money that has been borrowed. Most investors exploit this investment idea to basically attain tax breaks on their earning. For investors who are heavily leveraged, they have the chance to decrease personal tax assuming their interest installments exceed their rental proceeds.
By the way, negative-geared properties that are afflicted with losses are tax deductible not only in Australia, but in New Zealand and Canada too.
Property investment on negative-geared properties gives prospective and aspirant landlords the opportunity and time to get back losses by enjoying some tax break from the government. Besides the earning produced by the property, the interest paid on the debt is likewise tax deductible. Payments related to the ongoing maintenance or care of the property are also tax deductible. Such deliverance from expenses is a boon to investors who may not keep very much money in the bank as most experienced property investors.
Investing in properties is likewise another form of savings for persons who prefer to go past the typical savings account in a bank. It?s a substitute to sewing wads of cash into the mattress or storing extra income in a coffee tin. Even if there is remarkable support for negative-geared properties, there are also few oppositions. Even so, the arguments have reached a stalemate, and so for now the tax breaks and incentives are still in place.
Supporting properties ? as with every investment-isn?t free of its risks. Carrying out some reliable investigation on the property to be purchased, getting the obligatory documents required to increase tax deductions, and balancing the benefits and drawbacks of property investing must come into play before giving any decisions and applying for that loan. Dedicated real estate Melbourne groups present comprehensive services for many investors hoping to make an income out of properties. Investors should seek out their support on future purchases to protect whatever financial investment is made.
Looking to find the best deal on Real Estate News and Real Estate Needs, then check out this site.
The mankind's mind is a fantastic enigma to researchers and spiritual minds alike. We believe that we know some of the things that cause this part of our body work and we are fairly sure that we may never know all of the nuances of this complicated organ. This part of our body based on the Dr Eric Amidi reviews I have read on the teachings of quantum physicist Dr. Eric Amidi can affect not only our physical actions but our destinies too.
The Dr. Eric Amidi reviews that demonstrate to us his writings bring us the knowledge that this quantum physicist believes that the law of attraction is applicable in most all situations. He also believes in the power of the subconscious and conscious mind working as whole to make the desires of the person turn into a a reality.
Dr.
Eric Amidi tries to instruct people that you have to vividly visualize the things that you desire. You cannot merely imagine wishing something like a new car. Dr. Eric Amidi reviews reveal that you have to know the specific car you desire. You have to know everything about the car you are desiring and you have to let your conscious thoughts to impress your subconscious thoughts to what you are wanting. You can then allow the two parts of your mind act in unison to help you materialize the dream of the automobile you are imagining.
He moreover says to the individuals that read his books and listen to his lectures that positive thinking will be the best way to gain things. If you believe that you will likely never stand a chance of acquiring the business of your dreams then your subconscious mind will practically undermine you when you seek to get that job. You will do things such as showing up to the interview late or ill prepared to speak with the person in charge. Dr. Eric Amidi articles tell us that this is our subconscious minds way of materializing what our conscious mind considers to be the fact.
In other terms if you say to a child repeatedly that they are good, and they are kind and they are important, they will feel good, kind and important. When the time comes for them to react to an issue or a tough situation their subconscious will guide them into responses that are good, kind and worthy of an important individual. If you say to the same child they are stupid, they are inapt, and they are unworthy, then when it is time for them to react to a problem their subconscious will stop them from responding in positive ways because they will act the way they think they trulyare.
Dr. Eric Amidi has a lot of wonderful views on how we can put our subconscious to work for us. All of his reviews confirm that we have to change a few things about ourselves in order to achieve the level of success that we desire in life.
Desmond Hatchett of Knoxville, Tenn., doesn't deny fathering 30 children, by 11 mothers no less -- instead, he's pleading with the state to help him out with child support.
Hatchett, just 33, appeared in court this week to make his case, WREG-TV reported.
Holding a minimum wage job, Hatchett already gives half his pay to the children's mothers but because he has a minimum wage job some moms get just $1.49 a month in support.
The children range in age from toddlers to 14.
"I had four kids in the same year. Twice," he said in explaining how he set the paternity record for Knox County.
WREG noted that Hatchett had not broken any laws fathering so many children, and that the state had no means to require him to stop.
Melissa Gibson, an assistant supervisor with the Knox County child support clerk's office, told the Los Angeles Times that she wished something could be done.
"If there's something out there like that, I'm unaware of it," Gibson said, then added: "It definitely needs to be."
It was not clear what the next steps in Hatchett's appeal to the state would be.
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Thinking about starting a roleplay, but don't have the idea completely finished? Post it here, not in the main OOC forum! Saint Seiya roleplay
This roleplay takes place in different timeline. All gold saints revived by Athena. Somehow, the time crashed and messed. They met their ancestors from Lost Canvas. Would they work together or fight? They have to figure out who was messing with their time.
Whatever.
Interested?
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One of the most important things to remember about commercial real estate is that this market ebbs and flows wholly separate of any other type of real estate. An office building and a house, for example, are valued and sold based on different criteria. Learn all about commercial real estate in this article.
Before placing your commercial property on the market, you should take the time to have it inspected by a professional inspector. If they find anything wrong with the property, you should have it fixed immediately. Make sure to use professionals to do the repairs so that you do not have to worry about the buyer?s inspector finding anything wrong with the property.
When doing commercial real estate investments, you are required to have a down payment. In addition to this, you will also need earnest money, points, and closing costs. be sure to have your own money when you want to invest in property, as banks are less likely to loan you a full sum to cover the cost, and more likely to loan you a fraction of the sum.
Take the time to review your commercial real estate policy or pay for it in the big picture. It is important to inspect every aspect of the policy so that you know you are getting what you want. If you don?t, it is a possibility you will end up with a property you regret buying.
Investing is a better idea than accumulating commercial properties. Making an investment will result in profit or income. If you purchase a property that does not make profit or income then you accumulated a property. Pop to oil delivery Mount Joy for in-depth information.
It is important to think like a professional in commercial real estate. Understanding that commercial real estate brings in a larger cash flow with multi-residential properties is key. For example: renting an one home property does bring in sufficient cash flow, but renting out a large complex of properties ie. apartments, brings in a lot more.
Hire a trustworthy commercial property broker to find your new location. You will save time and money as he will do most of the groundwork. His unique knowledge of the local market and its participants can prove very useful in negotiating the terms of your new lease agreement. A small up front expense can make a lot of difference on the long run.
It has been a long hard road, but you are now the proud owner of a commercial property. By now, you certainly have decided what or who will be using the piece of real estate. Go ahead, celebrate. Celebrate the fact that you have accomplished a major goal.
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Posted by admin in car loan on 05 19th, 2012 | no responses
As economic hardship continues to keep Americans struggling with monthly budgets, looking to affordable?auto loans?can mean the difference between staying in the green or going deeper into debt each month.
A resource that borrowers are turning to more frequently are credit unions, like?Pentagon Federal Credit Union,?to keep them practical and savvy when financing a car.
Buying a new or used car is a commitment that should not be taken lightly. Depending on the stage you?re in at the moment ? whether you?re buying a car for the first time or simply want to take advantage of lower auto loan rates, you?ll have varying needs.
A common misconception is that?dealership financing?is the only route available for consumers, when in fact, credit unions are a practical and cost-effective approach to driving away in your dream car.
Pentagon Federal Credit Union is a great example of a credit union where you can find a number of smart auto loan options. They serve a range of needs that ensure you?re not paying extra for your vehicle unnecessarily.
New Auto Loans
Pentagon Federal Credit Union?auto loans for new vehicles have flexible terms that compliment different monthly budgets and incomes, based on qualifying credit. Current rates for?new auto loans?are:
1.99% APR* up to 60 months
3.49% APR* for 61-72 months
Additionally, up to 100 percent financing is available and applying for credit union auto loans is made convenient via Pentagon?s online application form. at times, borrowers can receive a decision instantly, so you can make the right decision about your auto loan without delay.
Apply for an auto loan from Pentagon Federal Credit Union
This expeditious process by Pentagon Federal Credit Union provides?qualified borrowers with pre-approved auto drafts, so that when you?re negotiating for your new car, you can demonstrate to sellers that you?re a serious buyer. the credit union offers up to?$70,000 in financing for new vehicles, so consumers have a wide range to work with, if needed.
Used Auto Loans
For those who are interested in remaining frugal with their car purchase by considering a used car, credit unions also have affordable rates on pre-owned cars. With?used auto loans, members of Pentagon Federal Credit Union still benefit from low auto loan rates like 1.99% APR for up to a 60-month term, in addition to the existing savings just by buying used.
As with the process involved when applying for a new vehicle, Pentagon?s used auto loans can be requested via their online application for up to $70,000 in financing. Unlike other institutions, Pentagon Federal Credit Union has no restrictions on what make or model year borrowers finance for, and can even get pre-approved if they qualify.
Refinance Auto Loans
If you currently feel stuck with an inflated interest rate from an existing auto loan, a credit union can get you and your finances out of this rut. It?s never too late to save yourself hundreds of dollars with a 1.99% APR auto loan rate for 60 months or a 3.49% APR interest rate for?refinance auto loans?of 61-72 month terms.
Refinancing your auto loans through Pentagon Federal Credit Union can save money by lowering monthly payments and reducing the overall interest you?ll owe over the life of the loan. you can even refinance up to 100 percent of the purchase price and receive an immediate decision on whether or not your qualify.
Saving Money on Auto Loans
Interest rates on auto loans vary from institution to institution, so keeping yourself aware of current rates and the offers available is key when financing a vehicle. Some Americans erroneously believe that undergoing pre-approvals or refinancing is too tedious a task, but with credit unions like Pentagon Federal Credit Union borrowers have a lot more to gain by taking a few minutes to do their homework.
BEIJING ? A blind Chinese activist whose escape from a rural village set off a diplomatic tussle between Beijing and Washington was hurriedly taken from a hospital to the airport Saturday to board a plane for the United States.
Chen Guangcheng told The Associated Press that he had left the hospital where he'd been staying and was at Beijing's international airport. He said he expected to leave on a flight late Saturday afternoon for Newark, New Jersey, outside New York City.
"Thousands of thoughts are surging to my mind," Chen said by phone from the airport, sounding hurried but calm. To his supporters and others in the activist community, Chen expressed gratitude and indicated that he hoped to return.
"I am requesting a leave of absence, and I hope that they will understand," he said.
The departure of Chen and his family to the United States would mark the conclusion of nearly a month of uncertainty and years of mistreatment by local authorities for the self-taught legal activist who made a daring escape from abusive house arrest in his village last month.
His supporters welcomed his imminent departure. "I think this is great progress. We are happy about it," said U.S.-based rights activist Bob Fu. "It's a victory for freedom fighters."
Chen sought the protection of U.S. diplomats at the American Embassy in Beijing, triggering a diplomatic standoff days ahead of unrelated high-level talks on global hotspots and economic imbalances led by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. After days of negotiations, the sides announced an agreement in which he and his family would be allowed to travel to the United States for him to study.
The departure of Chen, his wife and two children seemed hastily arranged and entirely orchestrated by Chinese and American officials with no apparent input from the activist.
Chen said he was informed at the hospital just before noon Saturday to pack his bags and get ready to leave. Officials did not give him and his family passports or inform them of their flight details until after they got to the airport.
Seeming ambivalent, Chen said that he was "not happy" about leaving and that he had a lot on his mind, including worries about retaliation against his extended family back home.
"I hope that the government will fulfill the promises it made to me, all of its promises," Chen said. Such promises included launching an investigation into abuses against him and his family in Shandong province, he said before the phone call was cut off.
Chen and other activists fear authorities in Shandong province will punish Chen's extended family for his audacious escape. Chen's nephew, Chen Kegui, is accused of attempted murder after he allegedly used a kitchen knife to attack officials who stormed his house after discovering Chen Guangcheng was missing.
Chen Guangcheng had been awaiting permission to travel to the U.S. to take up an invitation to study law at New York University after he left the embassy on May 2 and was hospitalized for treatment for injuries sustained during his escape.
The State Department has said that U.S. visas for Chen, his wife and children are ready for them to travel to America. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Saturday that it had no comment on Chen's planned departure.
The 40-year-old Chen is emblematic of a new breed of activists that the Communist Party finds threatening. Often from rural and working-class families, these "rights defenders," as they are called, are unlike the students and intellectuals from the elite academies and major cities who led the Tiananmen Square democracy movement.
A self-taught legal activist, Chen gained recognition for crusading for the disabled and fighting against forced abortions in his rural community. But he angered local officials and was convicted in 2006 on what his supporters say were fabricated charges. After serving four years in prison, he then faced an abusive and illegal house arrest.
Nanjing activist blogger He Peirong, who was instrumental in helping Chen escape from house arrest, said she was "very happy" to hear that Chen and his family were on their way to the United States.
"I hope that this will be a good beginning," said He, who was detained for several days by police for helping Chen. "I hope that they will all be well and safe."
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Associated Press writer Charles Hutzler contributed to this report.
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Public release date: 22-May-2012
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