Mishawaka, IN 2008 Ford Taurus X Used SUV Near South Bend, IN Near Elkhart, IN Jordan Automotive Group for $19,481

• Color: Black
• Stock#: DGA83452A
• Engine: 3.5L V6
• VIN: 1FMDK06W98GA40387
• Transmission: Automatic 6-Speed
• Odometer: 62,872 mi.
• Body Style: AWD SUV (4 Door)

125300|3366

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• Interior

• • Leather seats
  • Heated drivers seat
  • Heated passenger seat
  • 8-way power adjustable drivers seat

• Convenience

• • Compass
  • Bluetooth
  • Tachometer
  • Trip computer
  • Cruise control
  • Power steering
  • Power door locks
  • Driver memory seats
  • Tilt steering wheel
  • Power heated mirrors
  • Interior air filtration
  • Clock - In-radio display
  • Adjustable pedals - Power
  • External temperature display
  • Memory settings for 2 drivers
  • Power windows with 1 one-touch
  • Audio controls on steering wheel
  • Air conditioning with dual zone climate control

• Technical

• • 4 Doors
  • 263 horsepower
  • All-wheel drive
  • Automatic Transmission
  • 3.5 liter V6 DOHC engine with variable valve timing
  • Fuel economy EPA highway (mpg): 22 and EPA city (mpg): 15

• Safety

• • Passenger Airbag
  • Stability control
  • 4-wheel ABS brakes
  • Front fog/driving lights
  • Traction control - ABS and driveline
  • Head airbags - Curtain 1st, 2nd and 3rd row

• Exterior

• • Rear wiper
  • Privacy/tinted glass
  • Intermittent window wipers

Payment $395.00

Vehicle Price $19,481 $0 $19,481 Down Payment (%) 0.0 % 0 % 100 % Interest Rate 8.0 % 0 % 12 % Months 60 12 72

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Contact Us at (574) 259-1981
*The advertised price does not include sales tax, vehicle registration fees, finance charges, documentation charge of $15.00, dealer fees of $125.00 plus $1.50 tire tax and any other fees required by law. We attempt to update this inventory on a regular basis. However, there can be lag time between the sale of a vehicle and the update of the inventory.

EPA mileage estimates are for newly manufactured vehicles only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Before purchasing this vehicle, it is your responsibility to address any and all differences between information on this website and the actual vehicle specifications and/or any warranties offered prior to the sale of this vehicle. Vehicle data on this website is compiled from publicly available sources believed by the publisher to be reliable. Vehicle data is subject to change without notice. The publisher assumes no responsibility for errors and/or omissions in this data the compilation of this data and makes no representations express or implied to any actual or prospective purchaser of the vehicle as to the condition of the vehicle, vehicle specifications, ownership, vehicle history, equipment/accessories, price or warranties.

Source: http://www.jordantoyota.com/2008-Ford-Taurus-X-Mishawaka-IN/vd/11009575

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Despite Global Woes, Macquarie Still Likes Oil

Macquarie holds an "Outperform" rating on Royal Dutch Shell and BG Group. Despite geopolitical uncertainty, Jason Gammel, head of European oil and gas research at Macquarie, said that these oil stocks are ripe for investment as winter approaches.

Franz Aberham | Photographer's Choice | Getty Images

With tensions in Syria on the rise, the outlook for oil prices may look unstable. ?We?re looking for about $105 through the end of the year and probably into next year,? Gammel said. ?The oil market has essentially moved to the level of equilibrium right now.?

Beyond uncertainty in the Middle East, Gammel said the overarching concern in the sector is weak growth in China. He explained that Chinese demand for energy, the overall driver of the big bull market in oil prices, has significantly slowed over the past six months. ?We need to see Chinese demand numbers come back into the market,? he said.

While a significant increase remains to be seen, Macquarie expects Chinese oil demand to improve later in 2012. If this is the case, select oil stocks may be in a position to pop.

Gammel called BG [BG.-GB? Loading...? ? ? () ? ] the ?premier growth company? within Europe. Macquarie expects the stock to grow by 14 percent in 2013. It is anticipating an additional 8 percent growth per year through 2020. Macquarie has a $19.50 price target on the stock.

Royal Dutch Shell [RDS.A? Loading...? ? ? () ? ] is another European oil stock favored by Macquarie. ?Shell is a company that benefits from the oil price environment,? he said. ?They have good growth in the near term and very strong free cash flow yields.? Macquarie expects Shell to outperform with a 12-month price target of $25.50.

Gammel?s confidence in Shell may come as a surprise to investors. The oil company recently reported disappointing Q2 earnings of $5.7 billion. The miss was attributed to maintenance costs and shutdowns in the U.S. Gulf and in Australian Liquefied Natural Gas.

Earlier in the month, Shell also abandoned its bid for Cove Energy [COV-GB? Loading...? ? ? () ? ]which holds a promising stake in east African gas.

While these setbacks may signal weakness, Gammel remains confident in the stock and the management.

?I think on the missed M&A, that was actually an exercise in good capital stewardship on the management?s part,? Gammel said. He explained that Shell was getting into a bidding war that had reached a level that looked a bit too high for Cove. ?Backing away is good for the investor,? he added.

Gammel is expecting European gas producers to do well moving into the winter. ?We expect that the MMB can trade around the equivalent of $10 per MMBTU which is a pretty strong market,? he said.

Additional News: Chevron Earnings Top Views, Despite Lower Oil Prices

Additional Views: Global Oil Demand Not ?Collapsing,? Says Shell CEO

______________________________

CNBC Data Pages:

______________________________
Disclosures:

Jason Gammel does not have a position in Shell or BG Group.

Disclaimer

? 2012 CNBC.com

Source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/48404731?__source=RSS*tag*&par=RSS

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Romania PM demands president resign, row persists

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta demanded the president resign on Monday, saying he had lost all credibility, but Traian Basescu refused, indicating Sunday's referendum had not ended a feud which has delayed vital economic reforms.

The election bureau said turnout in the referendum, called by Ponta to seek support for Basescu's impeachment, was 46 percent - below the 50 percent needed to make it valid - though 88 percent of those who did vote, backed Basescu's removal.

The result - still to be confirmed by the Constitutional Court - lifted the leu currency, but meant the unresolved feud could dominate parliamentary elections in November and slow reforms linked to an aid deal backed by the International Monetary Fund.

"He (Basescu) will probably stay in Cotroceni (presidential palace), will have cars, villas and some profiteers around him who will continue to advise and praise him," Ponta said. "But for the Romanian people he stopped being a leader last night."

Basescu, a conservative whose perceived cronyism and support for economic austerity has made him unpopular, said he would not quit because the vote had shown that more than half of Romanians did not want to remove him. He had called for a boycott of the referendum.

The 88 percent vote for his impeachment, even on a low turnout, undermined Basescu's authority, but the result also reflected badly on Ponta's leftist Social Liberal Union (USL), the ruling party, analysts said.

"The political class was slapped by Romanians yesterday and it's time ... it understood that it can't go on without a minimum shred of consensus," said Sergiu Miscoiu of the political think tank CESPRI.

"Ponta's comments suggest he will continue with his belligerent attitude, which he may have learnt from Basescu," said Miscoiu. "There is a need for reconciliation if we want to clean up Romania's image and have somewhat functional institutions."

Basescu's role - he can block legislation once before being over-ruled by parliament, controls foreign policy and appoints the chief prosecutor and some judges - means he can delay but not stop reforms such as privatizations and health reforms.

CONCERN OVER REFORM DELAYS

The IMF will start a review of Romania's 5 billion euro aid deal this week, having delayed it until after the referendum, and may raise concerns over delays in cutting the budget deficit and carrying out longer-term reforms.

The European Commission had no immediate comment on the referendum result.

Brussels had accused Ponta of undermining the rule of law and intimidating judges in his drive to remove Basescu, and had insisted he respect the Constitutional Court's ruling that the referendum's validity depended on a 50 percent turnout.

The election bureau said it would send its final count to the Constitutional Court on Wednesday.

"(Ponta's) USL has the chance to repair some of the damage in the relationship with the EU by accepting the decision of the Constitutional Court without pushing for the removal of the president," said Otilia Simkova, analyst with Eurasia Group.

Brussels has had more success with Romania than with neighboring Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orban has often been at loggerheads with the bloc over issues like the independence of the central bank and the judiciary.

"Sadly those 8 million people (against Basescu) don't seem to matter. On the other hand, Ponta managed to do exactly the same thing as Basescu, split the country into two," said Iulian Manolescu, a 38-year-old economist.

The failed impeachment may damage the popularity of the USL, which remains favorite to win the parliamentary election in November, but may now be unable to secure an outright majority.

Basescu's survival eased some market concerns, because if he had lost there would have been two elections - presidential and parliamentary - in the next few months. The leu rose 1 percent in early trading, moving away from record lows against the euro, though dealers said gains could be short-lived.

(Additional reporting by Ioana Patran and Andreea Birsan, editing by Tim Pearce)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/romania-pm-demands-president-resign-row-persists-144222424.html

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Caring For A Loved One With Alzheimer's Disease | Elder Care ...

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Anyone who is a caregiver knows how physically, psychologically and emotionally draining caregiving can be. We strongly recommend you get help. Our most common sense tips are:

Arrange with family and close friends schedules to give YOU the primary caregiver, a break.

Learn about the Disease and its progressions.

Connect with the Alzheimer?s Association.

Learn about technilogical gadgets which can make things easier.

Get counseling if you are overwhelmed.

Share the responsibility the best you can.

Join a Caregiver Support Group and go, if not regularly, when you feel the need for extra support.

Meet with your Financial Planner and Elder Care Attorney to put the ?paperwork? in order to creat a plan which protects your assets and makes arrangements for longer term care.

Visit Day Care Centers and enroll your elderly loved one. If they resist, revisit every few months.

Read the ?36 Hour Day? and/or ?Passages in Caregiving?.

Plan on going to family events ? graduations, weddings and the like ? either with or without the person you are caring for. One parent at least should be there in the photos.

Hire help. There are many Home Care Companies. Interview a couple. If you don?t use them now, you?ll be connected should an emergency occur.

Keep your medical appointments, card or golf game.

Take Care of Yourself so You Can Keep Caring For Your Loved One.

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Source: http://www.bocahomecareservices.com/blog/caring-loved-alzheimers-disease/

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Plan the Perfect Pre-Wedding Party with Bachelorette Party Pros

(EMAILWIRE.COM, July 30, 2012 ) Livonia, MI -- A new website is offering brides-to-be and their Maids of Honor everything they need to ensure their bachelorette party goes as planned, by stocking a range of bachelorette party supplies that cater for every taste and theme. Whether naughty, nice, cheeky or just plain crazy, Bachelorette Party Pros is a one-stop-shop for all of your pre-wedding party needs.

Based in Livonia, Michigan, the company was established to fill a gap in the market identified by founder, Alyssa McIntyre, who had herself struggled to find enough choice in bachelorette party supplies when she organized events for her friends.

?I?ve organized so many bachelorette parties, I?ve now lost count of how many times I?ve scoured malls and the Internet for cute supplies and bachelorette party decorations. I firmly believe every bride deserves an unforgettable party to see her into married life, but I was often left disappointed by the choice of bachelorette party supplies and decorations on offer,? said Ms McIntyre.

?I decided to set up Bachelorette Party Pros so that women wanting to organize a great party could find everything they needed in one place. We have kept the feel of the site simple and elegant so visitors can browse without feeling rushed. There?s even a section on the site where organizers can download free party invites, bachelorette party games and favors ? there?s even a free cocktail recipe leaflet.?

As well as games and invites, party organizers can purchase supplies such as cups, plates and straws, jello moulds, tiaras, veils, sashes, boas and badges. The selections range from cute to downright raunchy ? with rude shot glasses, soaps and even toilet paper, all designed to raise a few eyebrows as well as a few giggles.

An amusing way for a party to stand out as quirky and fun, is by decking out in bachelorette party shirts ? whether you?re looking for a tank or a tee, the website has a shirt for everyone, including the Maid of Honor and the bridesmaids. Plus, they come in a range of colours and sizes, meaning you can really let your creativity run wild.

?I?m really proud of the site,? continued Ms McIntyre. ?It really does offer something for everyone regardless of party theme or budget. We have products to keep even the most demanding party organizers satisfied; we even cater for gay marriages and offer tips and advice to make sure every party we supply goes with a bang. Plus, we?re optimised for mobile devices so you can organize your party on the go.?

About BachelorettePartyPros.com:

Established to cater for the growing bachelorette party market, Bachelorette Party Pros sells party supplies, clothing and ephemera for even the most demanding and creative bachelorette party organizer. From cute and girly, to rude and raunchy and everything in between, the site offers hundreds of great products to guarantee partygoers have a night to remember. For more information, please visit http://bachelorettepartypros.com/

Source: http://emailwire.com/release/95871-Plan-the-Perfect-PreWedding-Party-with-Bachelorette-Party-Pros.html

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U.S. probes Enbridge Wisconsin oil pipe spill; line still shut

WASHINGTON/CALGARY (Reuters) - The U.S. pipeline safety agency launched an investigation on Saturday into an oil spill in Wisconsin on Enbridge Inc's network that briefly shut much of the company's pipeline system feeding Canadian crude to the U.S. Midwest.

Enbridge's 318,000 barrel per day Line 14 pipeline, which carries light sweet Canadian crude to Chicago-area refineries, was shut on Friday after an estimated 1,200 barrels of oil were leaked, and the Canadian company said on Saturday it did not have a restart time for the pipeline yet.

Two pipelines that had also been shut, the 400,000 bpd Line 61 and the 670,000 bpd Line 6A, had been returned to service on Saturday following the spill, however.

Enbridge said 180,000 bpd Line 13, which carries diluent from Chicago to Edmonton, Alberta, was also shuttered and would be restarted once it was confirmed it had not been impacted by the release.

The cause of the spill, which occurred almost two years to the day after another major spill in Michigan on a different section of the system, had yet to be determined but repairs on Line 14 -- part of the Lakehead pipeline system -- were expected to begin later in the day.

Enbridge Energy Partners said on Friday there was not yet a time frame for when flows would resume, and the cause of the spill had not yet been determined.

"(The U.S. Transportation Department's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) is investigating the cause of the Enbridge crude oil pipeline failure in Wisconsin," spokesman Damon Hill said in an email, adding that an inspector had been sent to the location of the pipeline failure.

Representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency were also on sight, Enbridge said. Line 14 is one of four lines that ship mainly Canadian crude via Lakehead, a 2.5 million bpd network that is the principal route for Canadian exports.

PREVIOUS SPILLS

The news will not help Enbridge build public trust in its network, which has come under scrutiny following several high-profile incidents, including a spill in Alberta last month and the massive leak in Michigan two years ago.

Just weeks ago, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board delivered a scathing report of Enbridge's handling of the July 2010 rupture of its Line 6B near Marshall, Michigan, which led to more than 20,000 barrels of crude leaking into the Kalamazoo River.

The NTSB said it found a complete breakdown of company safety measures, and that Enbridge employees performed like "Keystone Kops" trying to contain it. The rupture went undetected for 17 hours.

U.S. pipeline regulators fined it $3.7 million for the spill, their largest ever penalty.

The incidents have caused furor just as the company seeks approval for its C$6 billion Northern Gateway pipeline to Canada's West Coast from Alberta amid staunch opposition from environmental groups and native communities that warn against oil spills on land and in coastal waters.

Enbridge said Line 14 was a 24-inch diameter pipe that was installed in 1998, making it a relatively new line.

In most cases, smaller pipeline leaks can be repaired quickly allowing operations to resume pumping, although regulators may require significant work if they find any cause for alarm. Following the leak two years ago, the line was shut for over two months.

No injury was reported on Friday at the line, which is near Grand Marsh, Wisconsin, Enbridge said.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner in Washington and Jeffrey Jones in Calgary; Editing by Matthew Robinson, Russ Blinch and Anthony Boadle)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-probes-enbridge-wisconsin-oil-pipe-spill-line-002837236.html

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Bear Risk Management | Sustainable Business Forum

My lovely wife wants to take me camping next weekend. I?ve never been camping but understand camping was a part of her life before we met. I?ve explained that I am not averse to camping despite the dirt, cold, sleeping on the ground, canned beans,?raccoons, no wifi, poison ivy, bugs and bears. But am quite looking forward to it!

While looking for camp sites in central Ontario, Killbear Provincial Park seemed like the choice. With a name that includes the verb ?kill? and the noun ?bear? I imagine it must be safe! She began doing some research on tripadvisor.com and found the following comments from a few weeks ago.

The park and the water are outstanding, we would love to come back any time, but a threatening bear encounter will make us think twice.

I had my car lights spraying the site and direction of where the Bear was as we were tearing down we were loading the trunk ? I then heard a thud and crack and turned to see the Black Bear with its head in my trunk trying to get into the car?

?We had a bear snuffing and growling right outside of our tent and stamping its paws so hard the ground trembled. We left shortly after, and stayed at a hotel for the first night.

Immediately after reading these comments my beautiful wife decide against Killbear because the Bear Risk was too great. But is there more risk than other nearby site we were considering?

Being the risk manager that I am I was curious if the Bear Risk at Killbear was as ?extremely likely? as she would believe from these comments and did a quick assessment:

According to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources ?Since the early 1900s there have been fewer than 70 deaths in North American as a result of black bears?. ( I guess it only said ?killed?, there was no mention of how many people were de-gloved by bears.)

The same ministry provides a map to illustrate the density of bears in parts of Ontario. Killbear, and all the other sites we were looking at north of Toronto are located in the brown shaded area. Conclusion: Killbear should have the same number of bears as all the other sites so why not go there anyway!

Although we will do proper bear risk management when we camp like hide our food and clean up at night there is always a possibility there will be a bear. People do this all the time by assessing a risk based on limited information (see comments above) or emotion.

I say that if we jump to the?conclusion that bears will attack us next weekend just because people saw bears a few weeks ago, THEN THE BEARS WIN.

Assess your risks carefully and manage them accordingly.

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Source: http://sustainablebusinessforum.com/trevor-levine/61421/bear-risk-management

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Rip Out and Re-Build - about Home Improvement

Posted on July 28, 2012

There are many ways we can improve our homes, both with regards to the property value and how comfortable and happy you are with it. There are small improvements such as redecorating which can breathe a breath of fresh air to your surroundings but there are other home improvements that can have a greater effect on your home.

Larger home improvements include getting extensions or conservatories built and kitchen or bathrooms refitting. These improvements may fix problems with the home such as a dividing wall that you feel is making your rooms feel cramped. Getting major restructuring and renovations done can modernise and customise your home to your tastes but added work like this can also add some serious figures onto your property value.

The main draw for getting new kitchens or new bathrooms has been the customisation you can exact on the designs, adding appliances or features that you've always wanted or need. Kitchens are one aspect that has plenty of potential and scope for new ideas such as built in appliances, wine coolers, soft closing cupboards and drawers and chef styled cookers.

Bathrooms are similar, there are many modern baths, sinks and shower setups that have become very popular, one quirky addition to some bathrooms is a steam room which people have had fitted in their showers there are even bathrooms that have been converted to become wet rooms.

These two types of home improvements can be designed so that they all go together or follow the same style. In most cases you will only need to hire a designer and they can handle all of the details for you. They can present you with design ideas they may have and you can select or customise them yourself.

Building an extension or a conservatory can be a similarly large project, planning permission is required if you want to extend your property as in some cases you may not be permitted to extend such as being too close to a road. There is a certain percentage of your property's overall size that you can extend without needing planning permission from your local council although this may have already been used up by previous work completed.

With all the workers and fitters on the market you may need to keep a track of which ones are reliable and up to the task, you can do this by checking any customer reviews or finding out who had done the work at a friend or family member's home. They'll be able to recommend or warn you about any fitters that have done work for them and you're going to get an honest answer.

For Rate this Article:

• Article Tags: home improvements, remodeling
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Source: http://www.fokupers.org/507043-Rip-Out-and-Re-Build-Home-Improvements-for-2010.html

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Activists hope gay marriage debate will stir Japan

Koyuki Higashi is slim, articulate and intelligent, things that make a would-be wife attractive to many in Japan. But Higashi knows she will probably never marry because she is a lesbian.

Despite the increasing tolerance of gay marriage in much of the developed world, especially in Europe, and a gradual acceptance of the issue in more liberal states in the US, the subject is not on the radar in Japan or in many parts of Asia.

But when Barack Obama gingerly put his head above the election year parapet, announcing he was in favour of same-sex marriage, it lit a spark of hope on the other side of the Pacific in conservative Japan.

"Seeing the US president expressing his support for same-sex couples was like being told it was ok to be who we are," said Higashi, 27.

"Everyone now knows Obama supports same-sex marriage. The impact is so big, it's incomparable."

Her partner, 34-year-old Hiroko, who uses only one name, agreed.

"I was really happy to see Obama use his starpower in that way," she said.

Obama's pronouncement was preceded by a global campaign aimed at encouraging a stronger voice for gay rights.

His administration dispatched Mark Bromley, chair of advocacy group Council for Global Equality, to Japan in June -- gay pride month -- where he told reporters equality for same sex couples was an important tenet of human rights.

"(Hillary) Clinton was very elegant in saying that minorities can never fully protect themselves; minorities need majorities to find full protection and full acceptance," said Bromley, who has a 2-year-old daughter with his husband.

"That requires laws and political support, and social space."

Homosexuals in Japan welcomed the gesture, but, warned gay expat David Wagner, it was likely to disappear into the void.

"I doubt it will have much impact on other nations such as Japan where the will of the people rarely takes priority," said Wagner, who has lived in Japan for 25 years.

"Japan is clearly more tolerant than many places," he said, adding gays and lesbians in Japan are unlikely to encounter outright hostility, something he puts down less to acceptance than to a people who "are agnostic and tend to mix religions."

But "tolerance has limits in Japan," he said.

A week after Obama became the first sitting US president to back gay marriage, Higashi scored a little victory for the lesbian, gay and bisexual community in Japan when she confirmed with Tokyo Disneyland that same-sex couples could hold their wedding ceremonies at the theme park.

But the park warned that celebrations would have no legal standing because Japanese law does not recognise same-sex partnerships.

Nor does it recognise or give the same rights to any number of other family arrangements long considered acceptable in some countries.

Under rules that have changed little since World War II, married couples must use the same surname and women are barred from remarrying within six months of their divorce.

Any baby born within 300 days of a divorce is automatically the former husband's and children born out of wedlock have far fewer rights to inherit than their legitimate siblings.

Women can marry at 16; men must wait until they are 18; one divorcing parent must completely give up custody of their child, a rule that usually means an estranged father all but disappears.

The nation's divorce rate began climbing in the 1960s, after decades in which about 70,000 couples terminated their marriage each year.

In 2011, nearly 236,000 couples separated, according to welfare ministry statistics. Around 660,000 couples tied the knot in that year.

Shuhei Ninomiya, professor of law at Ritsumeikan University, said the imported debate over gay marriage may help, in the long run, to provoke discussion over how the family as an idea can adapt to the needs of 21st century Japan.

"The law is not designed for divorcing parents to communicate and share child custody after they separate," he said. "Under the law, marital diversity is largely denied.

"Discrimination against children born out of wedlock, stigmatising them because of their parents' marital status, has been justified to protect legitimate marriage."

"We need to hear Obama's support for same-sex couples as a broader message that forms of marriage can be colourful and different for each couple."

Hiroko said the gay marriage debate was an important one for everyone in Japan, where the pressure to conform to social norms is high.

"Both majority and minority groups should join hands, otherwise we cannot hope to see a change in the law," she said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/activists-hope-gay-marriage-debate-stir-japan-035350026.html

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Phelps survives scare as Games begin

Swimming legend Michael Phelps suffered a nervy start in his bid for Olympic history Saturday as the London Games swung into full-blown action with China claiming the first gold medal.

Kazakh cyclist Alexandre Vinokourov shocked hosts Britain in the men's road race, and tennis stars Roger Federer and Serena Williams made progress in the familiar surroundings of Wimbledon.

After Friday's lavish opening ceremony, the 30th Games got down to serious business with competition in 19 sports, from the far-flung rowing lake of Eton Dorney and across east London's Olympic Park.

In the pool, visited on Saturday by Queen Elizabeth II, Phelps needs just three medals to surpass Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina's all-time career record of 18.

But the defending champion just scraped into Saturday's 400m individual medley final by the skin of his teeth.

Phelps finished in 4min 13.33sec to grab the eighth and last spot in the final which takes place later Saturday, but sounded a defiant note afterwards despite his brush with disaster.

"A final spot is a final spot," Phelps said, while acknowledging he had been caught cold. "I didn't expect those guys to go that fast. I just wanted to try to get some good underwater, try to get some good times.

"You can't win the gold medal from the morning," he added.

American rival Ryan Lochte, who has established himself as a threat to Phelps in both the 200m and 400m medleys, was content to finish second in his heat behind South African Chad le Clos.

Le Clos's 4:12.24 was second-fastest of the morning, and Lochte was third-fastest of the day in 4:12.35.

In a major drama at the Aquatics Centre, reigning Olympic champion Park Tae-Hwan of South Korea was disqualified in the 400m freestyle for a false start -- before being reinstated hours later.

An appeal by the South Korean delegation was rejected by the competition referee, but world governing body FINA's jury of appeal overturned the disqualification on the advice of the its technical commission.

No explanation was given for the sudden about-turn, which keeps Park on course for his long-awaited showdown with Chinese star Sun Yang in Saturday's evening finals.

Chinese world number one shooter Yi Siling had the honour of claiming the first of the Games' 302 golds at the Royal Artillery Barracks in the women's 10m Air Rifle.

Yi defeated Poland's Sylwia Bogacka, with Yu Dan of China taking bronze.

"It's very exciting. Very happy. I'm very grateful to China. And to my mother and father who I love very much," Yi said.

Defending champion Pang Wei could make it a China double in the men's event later Saturday.

Russia's Arsen Galstyan won the men's under-60kg judo and Sarah Menezes took Brazil's first Olympic gold in the sport, in the women's under-48kg.

But the story of the under-48kg was Hungary's Eva Csernoviczki, who bounced back from being strangled unconscious in the quarter-finals to claim an unlikely bronze.

In the men's cycling, Britain's Tour de France heroes Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish were undone by a combination of tactical racing and some incisive, late attacks, finishing well off the podium.

South Korea enjoyed a golden start when sharpshooter Jin Jong-Oh won the Olympic men's 10m air pistol gold medal at London's Royal Artillery Barracks.

And New Zealand's Hamish Bond and Eric Murray set the third world record of the Games -- after legally blind archer Im Dong-Hyun's exploits on Friday -- in the men's pairs rowing.

But Saturday also witnessed the first failed drugs test of the Games after Albanian weightlifter Hysen Pulaku was suspended for taking the banned steroid stanozolol -- the same drug that cost Canada's Ben Johnson his 100m athletics gold at the 1988 Seoul Games.

"Of course, it is always a sad day when a cheating athlete is caught. We hope there will be no more, but the message is very clear: if you are doping we are going to catch you," said IOC spokesman Mark Adams.

Wimbledon champion Federer, seeking singles gold to go with his 2008 doubles title -- and 17 grand slams -- survived a scare before beating Colombia's Alejandro Falla in three sets.

Williams, cheered on by US First Lady Michelle Obama, crushed Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 6-1.

But US Open champion Samantha Stosur and Li Na, last year's French Open winner, were both rolled out of the All England Club with defeats to Carla Suarez Navarro and Daniela Hantuchova respectively.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/phelps-eyes-golden-start-olympics-first-full-day-102831865--oly.html

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Negotiation skills | If you want to start a real estate agency and a ...

Many real estate agencies can consider as the poor cousin to the sales and rental property in the Office also the management service. While this concept in residential real estate management can work, the same applies not in and with commercial or retail property. Commercial and retail property management is a poor cousin simply much to specialized and complex nothing.

Working as real estate agents, who manage a commercial or retail property you need to cover operating costs and a profit. Here, the fees are so important. Commercial or retail property management is very special; do not apply the simple rules of residential real estate.

If you want to run a real estate agency and a range of commercial real estate management, then the rules are here:

Employ good people for the commercial, and are to retail services. You need to specialize in intelligence and drive.

The commercial and retail of market knowledge and trends to collect, to help you understand what your Division and company building is required.

Make sure that all really understand what theyre doing that you deal with on commercial or retail real estate, and they trained, access to any deficiencies.

Charges reasonable, reflecting the complex and specific tasks of the property management contract

What are the fees for the management of commercial or retail real estate today? Low fees do not apply if you are serious and professional sales representatives. Thus, it is necessary, provide outstanding services to clients that you serve to justify your fee.

Here are some fees, your property management, commercial and retail real estate to check:

A base management fee should be set for the management of the property on a daily basis. Which included rent collection, management of revenue and expenditure, renter, leasing, management and maintenance management. A fee should be set for the negotiations on the different types of lease rent reviews and, when they become due. The rent reviews of different types are, paying it off fees for each set. Rent reviews are the most time consuming and should win the higher fees.

A fee for the negotiation of new leases and renewals of leases with sitting tenants should be set. It is customary to negotiate leases sitting with your tenants.

New leases with companies, your free space in the property is also an own fee. Create an hourly fee for special tasks that are outside of the normal managerial responsibilities. This can be from hour property participation, Court, project management and business planning or budgeting of the property once a year be present.

Retail real estate is property manager time given the nature of the tenancy mix and the operations of the property as a general observation far more sophisticated on the. When setting a fee for a retail property and give due regard to your Office and staff costs.

So if you make how much profit in your area commercial or retail property management carried out? The answer is running about 30-40% on your operational gross costs of the Division. There may be other fees in addition the key above to look at, so be aware, which must feature in the daily management, and what does the local real estate market. Discount to win not your property management fees to the business; a high-quality service requires a fair and reasonable fee.

Source: http://www.udkbkongresi.org/if-you-want-to-start-a-real-estate-agency-and-a-commercial.html

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Sempio Vinegar Drinks ? Korean-Products.com

Sempio Vinegar Drinks are fermented beverage with a wellbalanced combination of brown rice vinegar?s rich flavor and the refreshing aroma of the fruit mix.

The healthy Vinegar Drinks are made of natural unpolished rice and comes in six different types of tastes, including rubus & wild grape, pomegranate, prune, blackberry & blueberry, Schisandra chinensis & cactus.

All of these vinegar drinks can be enjoyed for dessert after diluting with water or salad dressing & sauce base. The Rubus & Wild Grape Vinegar Drink is a typical berry beverage containing a lot of polyphenol.

Pomegranate Vinegar Drink contains Mediterranean pomegranates. It provides a good blend of Vinegar Drink?s rich flavor and the refreshing aroma of the fruit mix. The Blackberry & Blueberry Vinegar Drink is made by using polyphenol-rich blueberries grown from the USA and Chile, which gain popularity as a Super Food worldwide.

The Schisandra chinensis & cactus Vinegar Drink is made by using Schisandra chinensis & cactus : a red Korean berry known to help improve blood circulation and recover from fatigue.

The Prune Vinegar Drink, using the American prunes, a good source of dietary fiber, is a low-calorie beverage that is 50% lower in calories than other fruit drinks.

?
? Sempio Foods Company
51-9 Pildong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea
Tel: (82-2)3393-5460~9 Fax:(82-2)2279-9849
Website: www.sempio.com/eng

If you want more information about ?Sempio Vinegar Drinks?, please contact us.
Korean-Products.com | Blog Magazine of Korean Products, brands, and goods

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Source: http://korean-products.com/2012/07/27/sempio-vinegar-drinks/

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5 Olympic things to know for Friday

LONDON (AP) ? Here's what to watch for at the London Olympics on Friday:

___

1. OPENING CEREMONY: A celebration of British culture, with a touch of Shakespeare, pop music, James Bond ? and even some farm animals. A huge worldwide audience will tune in for the extravaganza, which starts at 2000GMT (4 p.m. ET).

2. WHO WILL LIGHT THE TORCH? Bookmakers are now convinced it will be Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to break the four-minute mile. But is there another mystery contender?

3. WEATHER: Will the famous English rain blight the opening ceremony? It's been hot and sunny all week in the British capital ? but a little wet this morning.

4. REFEREE DIES: A Turkish boxing referee has been found dead in his London hotel room. It appears he suffered a heart attack. Autopsy results expected later Friday.

5. ROMNEY FALLOUT: What will Londoners make of Mitt Romney's implication that the city isn't ready for the games? Will it draw them together?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/5-olympic-things-know-friday-111114114--oly.html

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Dell's Increasingly Excellent Linux Adventures

The weather outside may be frightful, to adapt a phrase for the scorched and overheated world here in the Northern hemisphere, but there's no denying that July is turning out to be delightful for our favorite operating system. The latest news now is the apparent return of none other than Dell to the desktop Linux world.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/21bc9c76/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C757390Bhtml/story01.htm

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Sony rep confirms some 2011 Xperia handsets won't be tasting Google's Jelly Bean

Some of you might be familiar with Sony's earlier struggles to successfully (and in a timely manner) deliver Google's Ice Cream Sandwich to a slew of Xperia handsets. And, as we all know, Android 4.0's no longer the freshest treat around, thus the Walkman maker will now have to answer all the Jelly Bean questions to come. The first one to do so was a resident Sony mobile expert on the company's UK Facebook page, revealing that the Xperia Arc S and the itty-bitty Xperia Mini Pro won't be receiving the latest and greatest OS from Mountain View. Meanwhile, he also stated there's nothing buttery in the works for the elegant Xperia S, though he did say "ICS should now be approved" for the device. Perhaps this is a sign it's time to start looking for an upgrade, no?

Filed under: Cellphones, Software

Sony rep confirms some 2011 Xperia handsets won't be tasting Google's Jelly Bean originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Xperia Blog  |  Sony UK (Facebook)  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/27/sony-jelly-bean-update-for-xperia-handsets/

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Strobe lighting goggles shown to improve short-term memory, all-night ravers feel validated

Those goggles you see above aren't for stylish looks while playing dodgeball -- they're the keys to a potentially important discovery about short-term memory. Duke University's Institute for Brain Sciences found that subjects playing catch with goggles simulating strobe lights were noticeably better at memorizing information during tests, even a full day after playtime was over. It's not hard to see why: with a limited amount of time to see that incoming ball, participants had to more vividly remember brief scenes to stay on top of the game. We don't yet know if there's any kind of long-term boost, so don't get your hopes up that strobe lights are the shortcuts to permanent photographic memory. Still, the findings suggest that frequent nightclubbers might be on to something... or, at least, have a better idea of where they left their keys the morning after.

[Image credit: Les Todd, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences]

Filed under: Wearables, Science

Strobe lighting goggles shown to improve short-term memory, all-night ravers feel validated originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 19:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink New Scientist  |  SpringerLink  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/25/strobe-lighting-goggles-shown-to-improve-short-term-memory/

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Consultant to study ways to improve retail base in north, south ...

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama ? Huntsville officials want to?hire a consultant to develop a plan for marketing? areas of north and south Huntsville to retail developers.

The Shopping Center Group out of Atlanta, city officials announced this morning, will study the North Memorial Parkway corridor, the Jordan Lane corridor, the University Drive corridor in north Huntsville and the South Memorial Parkway corridor in south Huntsville.

The Shopping Center Group will provide ?a detailed market analysis of existing and potential retail for the areas,? and focus on ?opportunity sites,? according to a news release from the city.

?The completion of this retail recruitment study will allow us to further our efforts in the retail development of key areas within our community,? said Mayor Tommy Battle. ?Our economic development and planning departments will be using the results of the study to work with property owners, brokers, and retailers to recruit new business in these four strategic areas.?

Urban Development Director Shane Davis said the study will take about 90 days to complete and it will be updated through 2014.?

?We have major corridors that have suffered through the recession and a decade of road construction,? said Shane Davis, Director of Urban Development. ?We believe these corridors are still a vital part of our urban infrastructure, and we look forward to pursuing what might be possible.?

The $69,500 contract with The Shopping Center Group, to be paid in three installments over a two-year period, will be presented to the City Council on Thursday for approval.

Updated at 11:02 a.m. with details; updated at 8:03 a.m. Tuesday to include a photo gallery.

Article source: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/07/huntsville_officials_to_announ.html

Source: http://bamabusinessnews.com/consultant-to-study-ways-to-improve-retail-base-in-north-south-huntsville-4/

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NJ Lawmakers Seek To Force Judges To Make Health Insurance ...

By David Madden

TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) ? New Jersey legislators are wasting little time in seeking to change the state constitution, after the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled this week that judges could not be forced to contribute more for their own pensions and health care.

Legislators were expecting the high court to side with fellow jurists who called the move to increase those contributions ?an unfair adjustment to salary,? despite the fact that every other state employee is now paying more under legislative reforms.

So, state lawmakers have trotted out a proposed constitutional amendment, which got a public hearing in Trenton.

?Let the people decide that we are not diminishing judges? salaries when we mandate that they be treated like every other employee in this state,? says state senator Shirley Turner, one of the sponsors.

Both the state Senate and Assembly are expected to approve the resolution on Monday, which would put the question on the November ballot.

?

Source: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/07/26/nj-lawmakers-seek-to-force-judges-to-make-health-insurance-contributions/

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Fanny Wang 3100 Noise-Canceling Headphones Review: Phat Sound, Phony Fashion [Lightning Review]

If we've learned anything from Beats by Dre, it's that adding a little bit of style to a high-grade audio product goes a long way. The people will pay for it. But is there room for more than one purveyor of premium, fashionista cans? Fanny Wang intends to find out. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/CWzV7ivAu_Y/fanny-wang-3100-noise+canceling-headphones-review-phat-sound-phony-fashion

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Stradley Ronon Partner Presents CLE for The Commonwealth's ...

PHILADELPHIA (July 24, 2012) - Stradley Ronon partner Andrew K. Stutzman co-presented ?Commercial Creditors? Rights,? at a Continuing Legal Education seminar for lawyers of The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on July 19 in Harrisburg. The program considered rights and remedies for defaults in commercial financing arrangements of the Commonwealth and its various agencies and affiliated entities.

As chair of the firm?s mortgage & lending litigation practice, Mr. Stutzman oversees a team of lawyers who represent financial services and other clients in litigation involving consumer and commercial loan transactions.

About Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young ? www.stradley.com

Counseling clients since 1926, Stradley Ronon has helped private and public companies ? from small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations ? achieve their goals. With seven offices and more than 200 attorneys located throughout the mid-Atlantic region, Stradley Ronon is the only eastern Pennsylvania member of Meritas, the world?s largest affiliation of independent commercial law firms.

Source: http://www.jlns.com/legal-wire/2012/07/24/stradley-ronon-partner-presents-cle-commonwealth%E2%80%99s-finance-practi

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Panetta: Transition system for vets is 'overwhelmed'

Alex Wong / Getty Images

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, left, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki testify before the House Armed Services Committee and House Veterans' Affairs Committee on July 25, 2012 in Washington, D.C.

By Rebecca Ruiz, NBC News

The system designed to assist service members transitioning from active duty to civilian life is "overwhelmed," Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta told legislators in a?historic Congressional hearing on Wednesday.

The hearing, in which Panetta and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki testified about both departments' capabilities to successfully transition service members, was the first time both the House Armed Services and Veterans? Affairs committees met jointly.

---

Among legislators' concerns were VA's claims backlog, the lengthy wait for active-duty wounded warriors to secure disability retirement and the effectiveness of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), which is meant to help service members plan for a post-military career and better understand their benefits.

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"The reality is that not all (service members) are getting the kind of care and benefits they should get," Panetta said. The expected? draw down of at least 80,000 soldiers in the coming year will strain transition services as well, he said. "This system is going to be overwhelmed ? it's already overwhelmed."

If the Department of Defense is subject to sequestration cuts as part of across-the-board deficit reduction, the Army may have to trim its forces by an additional 80,000 to 100,000 service members. The president has promised that VA would be exempt from sequestration, but Shinseki told legislators that the exemption might not cover administrative costs.

"We all know there is a surge of veterans returning home, and it has become apparent that DoD and VA are straining to meet the challenge of providing a successful transition for these men and women," Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans? Affairs, told NBC News.

In the past four years, Miller said, the claims backlog has ballooned and wait times for appointments, particularly for combat-related psychological disorders, have extended into months. In addition, a single electronic medical record that could be used between VA and DOD remains five years away.

As of July 21, more than 915,000 claims were pending with the VA, two-thirds of which have been in process for more than 125 days.

Shinseki testified that the backlog was due in part to recent decisions to award claims in three new categories -- Vietnam-era Agent Orange illness, post-traumatic stress disorder and Gulf War illnesses. In his written testimony, Shinseki said that VA plans to eliminate the backlog in 2015 with a goal of processing all claims within 125 days.

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Injured or wounded service members who want to medically retire from the military, which would grant them full medical benefits and monthly compensation, also face long delays. As of May 2012, more than 26,000 service members had open cases; in the Army, where service members wait the longest, claims were processed in average of 427 days.

That includes time spent for rehabilitation and medical care, Shinseki said, but both departments were tasked by Congress with expediting and streamlining the disability retirement system several years ago, and the goal for processing cases is 295 days.

Panetta said that as the two bureaucracies work together in unprecedented ways to improve the transition process for service members, there still remains a "lot of built in resistance to adapting and changing the way we do things."

"Things are going to have to change," he said.?

Rebecca Ruiz is a reporter at NBC News. Follow her on Twitter here.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/25/12933508-panetta-to-congress-transition-system-for-veterans-is-overwhelmed?lite

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