Thursday, November 29, 2012

Countering the new horsemen of the apocalypse

Nuclear war, climate change, lab-created viruses and out-of-control machines need to be understood, but there are risks to lumping threats together

CALL them the modern horsemen of the apocalypse: nuclear war, climate change, doomsday viruses and out-of-control machines. These are the subjects of the proposed Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER), which this week attracted much media attention. "We're talking about threats to our very existence stemming from human activity," says Martin Rees, a cosmologist at the University of Cambridge who wants to found the centre with philosopher Huw Price and Skype inventor Jaan Tallinn.

These new horsemen map quite readily onto the portrayals of war, famine, pestilence and death. Perhaps that's because they're only the latest manifestation of age-old anxieties about the fate of the human race. So is the CSER just the respectable face of doom-mongering?

Events that would entirely eradicate humanity are hard to envisage (New Scientist, 3 March, p 36), but the 20th century saw the advent of technology that could seriously threaten human life as we know it - nuclear weaponry - and the 21st might well see the emergence of more. So the end of the world is now more conceivable than ever - although there's no particular reason to expect it imminently (garbled Mayan prophecies notwithstanding). And Rees is right to say that we don't pay enough attention to the huge, rare risks that might bring it about. Setting them out and sizing them up is worthwhile.

But do we need a centre to bring together specialists in such disparate fields? It's not clear what is to be gained by lumping together, say, nuclear war - whose risks are relatively well understood and contained - and rapacious AI, whose key mitigant may be software design rather than weapons inspections. Why not include genuinely existential natural risks, such as Earth-crossing asteroids? And then there's the potential for robust climate change analysis to become associated with as yet speculative "Terminator studies".

We won't know unless we try it. And the effort might bring fresh perspective to a world full of people who still fret that the LHC will spawn a world-destroying black hole - while they stubbornly ignore the clear and present dangers of climate change.

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Israel detains Gaza fishermen for sailing too far out to sea

With 47 percent of the popular vote, Mitt Romney may become the president of nothing more than Ironystan. Yes, the final general-election tally is trickling in and, as fate would have it, Romney's total might look more like that mythical number after all. Well, according to David Wasserman of the Cook Political report, it's more like 47.49 and dropping, which, of course rounds down to 47 ? the same percentage of Americans?he said were moochers and takers in a video?that was one of the nails in the coffin of his presidential campaign.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israel-detains-gaza-fishermen-sailing-too-far-sea-124918770.html

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Zebra Chases Pony in Parking Lot, Hapless Humans Give Chase With Lassos

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/11/zebra-chases-pony-in-parking-lot-hapless-humans-give-chase-with/

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GOP divide surfaces early in 2014 Senate contest

WASHINGTON (AP) ? That didn't take long.

The fissures within the Republican Party that some say cost the GOP control of the Senate have resurfaced just three weeks after the election. This time conservatives are targeting a popular veteran congresswoman from a storied West Virginia political family making a bid for Democrat Jay Rockefeller's Senate seat in 2014.

Within an hour of Shelley Moore Capito's announcement of her candidacy, the influential and conservative Club for Growth branded her as the "establishment candidate" whose record in Congress of supporting prominent bailouts has led to bigger government. Capito just won her seventh term to Congress, securing about 70 percent of her district's vote. Her father, former Gov. Arch Moore, for years was the chief political rival of the man she hopes to replace in the Senate.

The new head of the Senate's GOP campaign arm, Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas, dismissed the criticism from the right ? "I don't see this as damaging to her cause" ? but it's far from inconsequential in the Republicans' bid to retake the Senate.

Moran hasn't officially taken over as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee yet, but he already finds himself defending a potential nominee who's widely popular in her state while trying to avoid alienating influential players on the party's right flank.

Downplaying the impact of the Club for Growth's criticism of Capito, Moran said Tuesday his committee hasn't made a decision on how heavily involved it will be in West Virginia's Republican Senate primary two years from now.

"Shelley Moore Capito is a known quantity in West Virginia," he said. "Her voting record is acceptable to the majority of West Virginians in her district for a long period of time. I don't see this as damaging to her cause."

Rockefeller, 75, has not said whether he'll seek a sixth term in the Senate, but Capito has the name recognition and fundraising ability to mount an effective campaign against an incumbent.

The Club for Growth wasted no time listing what it believes are her numerous faults. They likened her to candidates such as Rick Berg of North Dakota and Rep. Denny Rehberg of Montana, saying that while they were supposedly the most electable of the Republican candidates, they lost Senate races in Republican-leaning states.

"Her candidacy will undoubtedly be cheered by the GOP establishment, and dire warnings will be issued against any 'divisive' primary challenges, lest other candidates hurt Capito's chances of winning," said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. "The problem is that Congresswoman Capito's record looks a whole lot like the establishment candidates who lost this year."

But many of the Club for Growth's candidates in recent elections also have stumbled badly. Richard Mourdock lost in Indiana after bouncing veteran Sen. Richard Lugar in the primary. In the 2010 elections, the organization threw its considerable financial backing behind Sharron Angle in Nevada and Ken Buck in Colorado, both losers to vulnerable Democratic incumbents.

Moran said the criticism of Capito from the Club for Growth was not unexpected.

"This is going to be decided not by the NRSC and not by the Club for Growth; it's going to be decided by the people of West Virginia," he said.

In the last election cycle, Democratic leaders in Washington didn't mind playing favorites during the primaries, heavily recruiting candidates they thought had the best chance of winning, while shunning some they did not see as formidable. GOP leaders, in contrast, sat back as their potential nominees fought it out.

Moran said figuring out the NRSC's role in the coming primaries will take a couple of months, and said his organization will play a role in some states.

"It's a state-by-state issue," he said.

Democratic officials, meanwhile, are enjoying the sideshow of a potential GOP split already in the works.

"Their argument is correct that the handpicked Republican establishment candidates did just as poorly as the more tea-party candidates," said Matt Canter, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "It's hard to argue with them in that respect."

Canter said the establishment candidates stumbled in part because of their efforts to appeal to tea party supporters and strong anti-government organizations such as the Club for Growth. He said an outsider might find it easy to defeat Capito, because GOP primaries in West Virginia typically do not attract a lot of voters.

"It would be very easy for a right-wing candidate to get the votes needed to win," Canter said.

Republican strategist Ron Bonjean said he would have preferred for the Club for Growth to have waited to see if a viable alternative to Capito emerges before attacking her. With Mitt Romney easily winning the state, Republicans figure to have a strong shot of winning the Senate seat in 2014.

"She's the best that state has to offer at this point," Bonjean said. "There's not a deep bench of Republican candidates who can immediately step into the fold, who can take on Sen. Rockefeller. Going after a female Republican right now when we lost the women's vote is not necessarily the wisest political move either."

Chocola said supporting fiscal conservatives such as Jeff Flake in Arizona and Ted Cruz in Texas, both Senate winners this month, is the best way back for the GOP.

"They are the future of the Republican Party," he said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gop-divide-surfaces-early-2014-senate-contest-075553887--election.html

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Excellent Tips And Advice For Effective E-Mail Marketing - Businesses

Have you used e-mail marketing but not seen the results you were promised? Maybe you are interested in taking advantage of this useful tool, but don?t know where to start? This article was written just for you! The piece that follows includes great tips for composing email messages sure to boost sales and build relationships.

Use passive and active feedback to enhance e-mail marketing efforts. You can get active feedback from your target audience by asking what people think of your emails. Passive feedback is generally not seen by the readers. There are many software tools available that will track the clicked links on your email messages.

The emails you send out should entice your customers. Your customers are more likely to deal with you if there is some type of incentive involved. For example, you can offer free shipping on purchases over a certain minimum dollar amount for those who click on a certain link and place an order on your site.

TIP! Keep the graphics to a minimum in your emails. There are some email services and programs which block or are unable to display images, so you are restricting your audience if you rely on them too heavily.

It?s extremely important to send your marketing emails with a personalized touch. Personalization goes beyond sending an email with the recipient?s name stuck into the greeting line. Use every piece of information your subscribers give you. Separate your subscribers into small groups that have common interests. Create different messages for these different groups.

Change up the format of your emails to give them a touch that?s personal. If you typically use HTML formatting for your messages, then occasionally use plain text formatting instead. If you write these well then you can actually provide a really intimate and simple message that can make people feel comfortable with looking at and purchasing your products.

Be sure that every email address you have is valid. Don?t waste time receiving email addresses, only to get a message that the address was invalid. It simply wastes precious time!

TIP! Using organic marketing strategies is the best way to develop your email list. You should never buy or rent an email address list.

Try out more than one email format. The top of the emails should always contain the most interesting and important information. Try out different approaches to see what gives you the best reaction. After you have identified which format is most effective, you should continue utilizing it. This helps your customers form expectations about future emails and lets them easily find the information they?re looking for.

E-mail marketing is a great way to market your business. Like everything else though, it only works when used in the right way. As a result of reading this article, you can make e-mail marketing a success for your company. Use what you?ve learned here, and the results will make themselves apparent quite quickly.

TIP! Good layout is key to email marketing success. Though graphics may be tempting to use, spam filters are more likely to block them.

Source: http://elektrotehnickifakultet.com/excellent-tips-and-advice-for-effective-e-mail-marketing.html

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More Online Marketing Advice That Will Maxmize Your Profits ...

TIP! Provide free gifts to go along with purchases of your services and/or products to help customers feel respected. Many times, making sure customers are taken care of is left off the list of strategies in Internet marketing.

If you are really serious about success, you have to be really serious with your efforts in Internet promotion. It simply can?t be avoided. Your company could rise or fall based solely on your whether you have implemented a sound Internet marketing strategy. Ahead are some great suggestions for building a successful Website marketing plan that will lock in your success.

TIP! Entice your customers with discounts for shopping with you. For example, you can offer your customers a 10 percent discount on all orders over $200.

Consider marketing your website as some sort of social club or gathering rather than a simple business website. Facebook and other forms of social media have shown us that people like to communicate. This will also keep people interested in your site. Make membership special by offering widgets that link back to your site as part of the membership package. This is a fabulous way to advertise.

TIP! Always include your keywords in your internal links. Keep your viewers on your site by giving them links to other informational content you have on your site.

Web marketing needs to be taken seriously and researched well. This will help you to find someone to admire and emulate, in a sense. Many of these same people have advice columns or will advise you personally for a fee. When choosing a system for internet marketing, make sure it suits your work style. Success may come slowly at first, but over time you will become better at affiliate marketing.

TIP! You should include a page that has information or videos about the product you are selling. Having information like this about the product available will make people feel more comfortable making the purchase.

Post a video of yourself using the product you?re selling. This allows the customer to see you utilizing the product. Demonstrate all the features of your products and test them extensively. For maximum exposure, post your video on Youtube, your website, blog and any niche forums that allow video submissions.

TIP! It is important to include mobile marketing in your business plan. A great option is to offer texts when there are specials from your site for people to see.

Take advantage of social media websites such as Facebook or Twitter and integrate them into your marketing strategy. These sites allow you to stay in constant touch with your customers, and allow an easy way to contact them to let them know about promotions or updates. Just be sure not to promote too much with tweets and comments. Instead, be sure to provide your readers with posts that are helpful and insightful.

TIP! Try to include a variety of specials available only to people who purchase when they are checking out. For instance, a customer may add one of three specified products to the order at half-price as a ?thank-you? for their business.

To make your internet business a success, take the time to evaluate the competition. Check out what other businesses are doing, and see what improvements they need to make. Find out what areas of service your competition doesn?t provide that you do and highlight these differences on your site.

TIP! Empowering your customers to feel that they make a difference to your business helps them feel invested and valued as a customer. This is an effective marketing strategy.

Start off your website marketing efforts on the small side. Having a reasonably large site is good, but search engines are more likely to rank your site well if it has around ten or twenty thousand pages.

TIP! Your internet marketing plan can include a well-written, public relations page about your business. Add articles that could be used in magazines and newspapers.

Blog frequently to make good use of affiliate marketing. A continuing blog also stands as testament to the enduring value of your products. In addition, you will eventually attract more visitors to your website because you are, in effect, expanding the reach of your website and increasing your search engine rating.

TIP! A frequently asked questions section on your webpage can help you solve the most common customer problems while promoting your products. Ask and answer relevant questions, and incorporate your products into some of your answers.

When promoting your business with online marketing, carefully monitor the information you are offering consumers. The content should be valuable to your customers, and it should be different from content on other sites. You want to put new content on your website so that visitors can learn something new.

TIP! Most advertisements that are short and sweet get the most attention, and therefore are the most successful. Emphasize how little time is needed to place an order, how fast the order is shipped, or how quickly they can expect to see results from the use of your product or service.

One interesting way of doing internet marketing for your site is taking advantage when it comes to image searches. When you add relevant pictures to your site, you will be able to get visitors who are searching for the photos you provide. Visitors who might just be looking for information sometimes end up looking through your site. That makes you more popular and breeds familiarity for your brand.

TIP! Encourage new visitors to your site with a $1 promotion. This will build a ton of buzz for your business.

It is important to use descriptive captions with any images or pictures that you post. The text in these descriptions should include keywords that are relevant to your site in order to increase your search engine results. Giving all of your images appropriate, descriptive captions can make a noticeable difference in your search engine results page standing.

TIP! Use vivid language and images to catch people?s attention. Pad your descriptions with enticing adjectives.

Learn how to use HTML tags. Your important content is indicated by these tags and will be displayed in bold. Search engines see this emphasized content and give it more weight when judging the quality and relevance of your page. Use these tags wisely, and make sure to emphasize the keywords you really want to promote.

TIP! If you?re trying to gain more views on your website, and do better in search engine results, you have to provide unique and original content. Customers want to visit the best website that will fill their needs, and successful websites offer something different from their competitor?s websites.

The database that utilizes customer relationship management software ensures that your Website marketing strategies are more successful. It can help you see past successes and guide you in the ways that your business and marketing strategies should be going. Then, you can tailor your communications to showcase accessories or products that are similar to those that customers have already bought from your business.

TIP! Do you offer a reward system for people who regularly buy your products? This will help you establish a good image for your company and get your customers to order more than once. This is they type of business practice that will drum up chatter about you.

Marketing on the Internet is essential to any business today that wants to be successful. Anyone doing business online can not afford to ignore it. You can make sure your firm maintains a strong Internet presence by taking advantage of these hits and using the art of Website marketing.

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Florida Keys New Year's Eve to Feature Lighthearted 'Drops' and Fireworks

Seconds before midnight, a super-sized red high heel carrying the elaborately gowned Sushi is to be lowered at the Bourbon St. Pub/New Orleans House complex.

Seconds before midnight, a super-sized red high heel carrying the elaborately gowned Sushi is to be lowered at the Bourbon St. Pub/New Orleans House complex.

Revelers in Islamorada can welcome 2013 with the midnight

Revelers in Islamorada can welcome 2013 with the midnight "drop" of a glittering 7.5-foot replica sailfish at Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina at Holiday Isle.

At Key West's Historic Seaport, a pirate wench begins her descent from the top of a tall ship's mast as cannons boom.

At Key West's Historic Seaport, a pirate wench begins her descent from the top of a tall ship's mast as cannons boom.

FLORIDA KEYS ? New Year's Eve partiers unwilling to endure cold-weather festivities, such as the traditional "ball drop" in New York's Times Square, can find exuberant celebrations and far warmer temperatures in the Florida Keys.

Key West revelers can choose from three lighthearted takeoffs on the Times Square gala as midnight approaches Monday, Dec. 31.

Thousands of people are expected to ring in the New Year by watching a gigantic conch shell, the symbol of the Florida Keys, descend from its supports to the flat roof of Sloppy Joe's Bar, 201 Duval St. Festivities are emceed by a rooftop host and, as a huge clock counts down the seconds to midnight, the manmade shell begins to descend. Sloppy Joe's live music rounds out the revelry. Visit sloppyjoes.com.

At the Bourbon St. Pub/New Orleans House complex, 724 Duval St., renowned female impersonator Sushi is to star in festivities for the 15th consecutive year. Seconds before midnight, a super-sized red high heel carrying the elaborately gowned Sushi is to be lowered from the complex's balcony toward the cheering crowd below. Live entertainment by female impersonators and others adds a seasonal spice. Visit bourbonstpub.com.

In Key West's Historic Seaport, New Year's Eve revelry celebrates the island's colorful seafaring heritage. Just before midnight, a pirate wench is to begin her descent from the top of a tall ship's mast as cannons boom. Seaport attractions also include live music, dancing and festivities at the Schooner Wharf Bar. Visit schoonerwharf.com.

Revelers in the sport-fishing capital of Islamorada can welcome 2013 with the midnight "drop" of a glittering 7.5-foot replica sailfish at Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina at Holiday Isle, mile marker (MM) 84 oceanside. Free and open to the public, the event features live music from Anchor Atlantic on the property's Atlantic Ocean beach and a big-screen television showing New York's Times Square festivities as well as the "sailfish drop" from the sixth floor of the Tower Building. For information, call 305-433-9935.

Islamorada visitors can enjoy midnight fireworks on the beach at Pierre's Restaurant and Morada Bay Beach Caf?, MM 81.6 bayside. Live music and cocktails available for purchase are to add to the celebration, but coolers are not allowed. In addition, reservations are being accepted for a gala five-course dinner at Pierre's. Call 305-664-3225 to reach Pierre's or 305-664-0604 for Morada Bay Beach Cafe.

Islamorada's Cheeca Lodge & Spa, MM 82 oceanside, also is staging a New Year's Eve celebration and midnight fireworks display. Attractions include live music, dancing on the beach and a four-course gourmet dinner. For more information, costs and reservations, call 305-517-4580.

In Key Largo, a New Year's Eve fireworks extravaganza is to illuminate the sky above Blackwater Sound. The sparkling display is hosted by bayside restaurants Sundowners, Se?or Frijoles, Cactus Jack's, Gus' Grille at the Marriott Key Largo Bay Resort and the Caribbean Club, all located around MMs 103-104. Tables fill quickly, so partiers are advised to arrive early. Visit keylargofireworks.com.

Florida Keys events calendar: fla-keys.com/calendarofevents
Florida Keys visitor information: fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS
Social: Facebook ? Twitter ? YouTube

Posted On: November 21, 2012

Source: http://www.fla-keys.com/news/news.cfm?sid=8567

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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

vincentsmit0: Health-and-Fitness:Diseases-STDs Articles from ...

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Monday, November 19, 2012

'Lincoln' director Spielberg speaks in Gettysburg

GETTYSBURG, Pa. (AP) ? With his new film about the 16th president in theaters, two-time Academy Award winning director Steven Spielberg was to make the keynote address during ceremonies that celebrate the 149th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address."

Spielberg's remarks at Soldier's National Cemetery in Gettysburg on Monday were to be accompanied by a recitation of the famous speech by a Lincoln re-enactor. Sixteen citizenship candidates from 11 countries were scheduled to take the oath of allegiance.

The event at Gettysburg National Military Park was expected to take about an hour, and was free. Previous speakers include presidents Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower, and former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.

Carl Sandberg, in his biography of Lincoln, said it was a speech that conveyed the message that democracy was worth fighting for.

"It had the dream touch of vast and furious events epitomized for any foreteller to read what was to come," Sandberg wrote. "His cadences sang the ancient song that where there is freedom men have fought and sacrificed for it, and that freedom is worth men's dying for."

Gettysburg is where the U.S. military was able to stop an invasion of the North by Confederate troops under Gen. Robert E. Lee, a major turning point of the American Civil War. The 150th year since that battle will be marked in 2013, particularly around the battle's anniversary in early July.

"Lincoln," which stars Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role, concentrates on the period leading up to the president's assassination in 1865.

Lincoln gave the three-minute speech, which famously begins with the phrase, "four score and seven years ago," at the dedication of the cemetery four months after the battle.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lincoln-director-spielberg-speaks-gettysburg-072344382.html

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Animal Sounds 2012 HD (Education)

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Animal Sounds 2012 HD $299Buy Now own it want it
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Game descriptions:
Cute Animal Sounds for the smallest children and a nice puzzle with as a reward the animal sound for the slightly older children.

Choose in the start screen ?Start Sound? or ?Start Puzzle?.

If you choose ?Start Sound? you will see a picture of an animal. If you press the cloud button you will hear the sound of that animal. By swiping you get another animal.

If you choose ?Start Puzzle? you will see a picture of three different parts of animals. You can swipe through the parts to find the complete animal. If you find the complete picture you get as a reward the corresponding animal sound. Do you want to hear the sound again, press the ?Play Sound? button. This button works only when the animal is completed. If you want another animal you can swipe again until the following animal is completed.

There are 16 different animals.

Have fun ...

Info:
Animal Sounds HD

Developed by:
Guido van Herten 2012


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Elder Laws for the Protection of Elderly | Grupo Legal Advice

One of the most important areas of legal practice is the elder law. This area is focused on issues that concern the growing aging population. It is divided into three major categories: estate planning and administration; Medicaid, disability and other long-term care issues and; guardianship, conservatorship and commitment matters that involve fiduciary administration. Also under the category of elder law are areas such as wills; trusts; elder abuse, neglect and fraud; retirement planning; social security benefits; consumer protection; nursing homes and in-home car, advocacy of right and; discrimination among others.

It was in 1965 when the Older American Act, a law that provides protection to elderly was signed by President Lyndon Johnson. This law has created the Administration on aging which is a division under the Department of Health and Human Services. Moreover, with this law, grants are provided for different States specifically intended for research, demonstration and training projects in the field of aging. In its 1972 and 2000 Amendments, a National Nutrition Program for the elderly and the National Family Caregiver Support Program were added respectively. The latter was focused on helping hundreds of thousands of family members who encounter difficulties in caring for their ill or disabled elder loved ones.

Particularly concerned about elderly laws is Marcia Pevey Lawyer from Houston. She is well aware of the fact that elderly aside from children are the most vulnerable group to exploitation and abuse. Because of this, she actively participates in safeguarding the rights of the elderly for several years now. As technically defined, elder abuse is an intentional or neglectful act that is detrimental to people aged 60 and above which may be done by strangers or caregivers and the family members themselves. Such abuses are comprised of physical, emotional, sexual, financial, verbal and psychological acts. Legal experts like Marcia Pevey Houston Attorney note that the usual abuse of elderly are physical harm by care givers and their own children.

It is not just the legal professionals who are responsible for stopping the abuse of elderly, even normal citizens should be aware of these issues and they have to act on it. Through education and seminars, information dissemination about elderly abuse and proper care of the elderly can raise the awareness of people and alert the authorities about these exploitations. With these efforts, it is hoped that there will be a decrease in the number of abused elderly and more programs will be initiated to protect the aging group.

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Source: http://www.cpgrupolegal.com/298/elder-laws-for-the-protection-of-elderly.html

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Top 5 Uses for Hot Peppers, Unknown Beauty of Kazakhstan, Lady Gaga Cake Twitter Picture and more

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Sunday, November 18, 2012

How will the FARC-Colombia peace talks impact Latin America?

Ridding Latin America of the FARC could mean a better business climate, reduced tensions between Colombia and its neighbors, and space for the rise of a new left in Colombia.

By Sara Miller Llana,?Staff Writer / November 18, 2012

Dutch rebel Tanja Nijmeijer from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia speaks during a press conference with fellow member of the FARC negotiating team Ivan Marquez, center right, and Jesus Santrich, second from right, at the headquarters of the Cuban agency Prensa Latina in Havana, Cuba, last Tuesday.

Jorge P?rez/Prensa Latina/AP

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If the Colombian government succeeds in reaching a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), it will put to an end one of the longest standing armed conflicts in the world.

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Successful talks, the second round of which are set to kick off tomorrow in Havana, Cuba, would have huge implications for Colombia, which has suffered nearly a half-century of civil strife, and be a clear boon to the administration of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. But it would also have wide-reaching consequences for the region as a whole economically, politically, and even in terms of security.

Any agreement would be complicated, and not immediate. But ridding Latin America of the FARC could mean a much better business climate, not just in rural Colombia where the FARC have their stronghold but for the region overall. It could reduce tensions between Colombia and its neighbors, Venezuela and Ecuador. And it could allow a new left to rise in Colombia, which would bolster the trend across the region. Could it even have an impact on crime levels in Mexico and Central America? Some say yes.

?You would be ending the last internal armed conflict in the region,? says Adam Isacson, a leading expert on security in Colombia at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). ?That changes the entire climate of how the region is perceived.?

Rallying around Colombia

Latin America has rallied around Colombia as it sets out to reach peace with the FARC, a Marxist rebel group that emerged in 1964. The FARC,?which is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, has waged war for nearly five decades against the state. Later, their fight also targeted fierce paramilitaries that rose to counter the FARC but who are equally responsible for putting civilians in the middle of crossfire. The FARC have been accused of everything from bombings in Bogota and other cities to high-level kidnappings, including US citizens.

Amid the violence on all sides, tens of thousands have been killed, and some 4 million people have been displaced.

The FARC?s operational strength was dramatically weakened under former hardline President Alvaro Uribe. President Santos, who served as Mr. Uribe's defense minister and assumed office in 2010,?put the idea of ending the conflict at the center of his agenda. This is not the first time peace has been tried in Colombia: Talks have broken down three times before, most recently a decade ago.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/z-9501KPbEw/How-will-the-FARC-Colombia-peace-talks-impact-Latin-America

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Tulane president: Katrina taught New Orleans not just to rebuild, but to reimagine

By Scott Cowen

During the height of Hurricane Sandy, Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel remarked that the storm was "New Jersey?s Katrina," a phrase that has a double resonance for me. As president of Tulane University for the past 15 years, I was in New Orleans during Katrina and its long aftermath. I?m also a Jersey boy, born and bred in Metuchen, and spent my summers as a youth on Long Beach Island. The images of destruction on the nightly news ? drowned neighborhoods, uprooted trees, personal belongings floating down the street ? activated two sets of memory. For me, as for so many others, this storm really hit home.

After Katrina, I remember that we defined success as, first, survival, and then a quick return to normal, but we soon came to realize there was no "normal." As Gov. Chris Christie recently said, you have to come to terms with "a new normal." The familiar fabric is gone: whole neighborhoods reduced to rubble, landmarks swept away, mud and debris everywhere. So what else did we learn?

One urgent truth: Many major American cities are becoming more like New Orleans. NOLA may be a city built largely and famously below sea level, but New York City is now only two to three feet above that mark and the subway system?s tunnels are below that. A few days after Sandy, MSNBC?s Rachel Maddow stood in front of a map of the United States, pointing out that most of the population centers of our country are perched along the coasts. Given climate change ? rising seas and warmer waters ? we can expect more severe weather, more hurricanes and more floods. We?re all vulnerable. Even Wall Street can drown, as can cultural and physical icons such as the Atlantic City boardwalk. The top priority in the aftermath is to secure the physical safety of our communities. If we don?t, nothing else will matter.

Beyond physical protection, the larger question is what to rebuild, what to transform and what to abandon. Take Staten Island, hard hit by Sandy, there were many deaths and it was one of the last places where help arrived. Do you re-create it or change it? Paved with concrete, Staten Island lacks protection ? wetlands and dunes are a thing of the past and there?s no natural barrier to the force of a superstorm. Do you rebuild Staten Island as it was, or reimagine a transformed borough that is stronger and better than before the hurricane hit? And, farther afield, do you simply not rebuild the most fragile beachfront areas along the Jersey Shore? As with Katrina, Sandy will force decisions that are hard and painful.

Leadership is crucial, and it?s the federal government that needs to step up, at least in the immediate aftermath. Cities and states can?t do it alone. No sense revisiting the political infighting in Louisiana and Washington, D.C., after Katrina, when people suffered unnecessarily.

The point is, Sandy showed us something vastly different: the president, governors and mayors working shoulder-to-shoulder to get response and rescue missions going; National Guard trucks rumbling into Hoboken a day after the storm, rescuing 20,000 people from the second floors of flooded homes; and distribution of food and supplies. No relief effort is perfect, and far too many communities have gone without power for far too long, but the recovery is in motion. When there?s political will and alignment of purpose, there?s a way.

Still, you can?t just move on to the "new normal," sweeping aside the grief and suffering of the aftermath. People need to preserve cultural legacies and personal history. They need the restoration of hope and belief. In New Orleans, the touchstone was Mardi Gras and other celebrations that define our city ? and express communal joy and meaning. In Sandy, I think a powerful locus of meaning is the coast itself: the beaches and the boardwalks, the Ferris wheels and cotton candy, and summer days that live forever.

In the end, it?s communal resolve that ultimately will make the difference. In New Orleans, ordinary citizens have been most responsible for revitalizing this iconic city. These residents displayed unbelievable resilience and fortitude, reimagining New Orleans as a stronger and better city than before Katrina. What New Orleanians demonstrated was truly government by the people. I have no doubt my friends in the Northeast will have the courage to do the same ? not only to rebuild, but to reinvent their communities.

Scott Cowen is president of Tulane University. He and his collaborator, Betsy Seifter, are writing a book on post-Katrina New Orleans as a model for urban revitalization.

MORE HURRICANE SANDY COVERAGE



Source: http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2012/11/tulane_president_katrina_taugh.html

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Sports Writer Chris Singleton: How about those Terriers? Vandebilt got big plays...

McGuire's late TD lifts Vandebilt to 20-15 win

bayoupreps.com

With its season on the line, Vandebilt Catholic's football team had to dig deep and produce big plays late in the fourth quarter of Friday's Class 4A regional round game against Franklin Parish.[

Source: http://www.facebook.com/houmatoday/posts/242860129177028

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Saturday, November 17, 2012

GW Researcher receives grant to study parasitic worm role in bile duct cancer in Southeast Asia

GW Researcher receives grant to study parasitic worm role in bile duct cancer in Southeast Asia [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 16-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Lisa Anderson
lisama2@gwu.edu
202-994-3121
George Washington University

WASHINGTON (Nov. 16, 2012) Paul Brindley, Ph.D., professor of microbiology, immunology, and tropical medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, was the recipient of a $1.7 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study the behavior of a parasitic worm, rampant in Southeast Asia, known to cause infections that contribute to liver cancer.

The idea for his project, titled "Role of Live Fluke Granulin in Cholangiocarcinogenesis," was introduced to Brindley several years ago by a Thai postdoctoral student. In Thailand, the student had seen a disproportionately large amount of instances of a specific type of bile duct cancer, not common in the Western Hemisphere. It was discovered that this type of bile duct cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, is brought on by a parasitic worm that lives in uncooked fresh water fish, often present in traditional dishes in the region. The worm thrives in Southeast Asia due to unsanitary practices and conditions. The cancer caused by the worm usually results in death.

"With this grant we will research how a parasite could cause cancer," said Brindley. "What is it doing in someone's liver or bile ducts that's turning otherwise normal tissue into a tumor?"

The worm, which is large enough to be seen without a microscope, releases a product called granulin while navigating through the human body. In humans and other mammals, granulin is used to stimulate cells to grow and divide in order to heal a cut or a wound. When a worm secretes granulin, it seems to enhance a tumorigenic environment.

"In an evolutionary sense, we don't see the value to a parasite of causing a tumor to grow around it," said Brindley. "If a person dies, the worm dies, too. Why would a worm induce a tumor?"

Over the next five years, Brindley's research team in the U.S., Australia, and Thailand will be focused on the effect this granulin secretion has on a human's liver cells. While a difficult hypothesis to prove, Brindley and his colleagues suggest that because there is a wound or lesion where the worm has passed, the worm intends to repair the damage it's causing by releasing granulin. That way, in a few days the worm could return to the same place and eat the cells again. If proven, a drug or medical treatment may be developed to help with the effects of granulin on tissue growth.

###

To interview Dr. Brindley, please contact Lisa Anderson at lisama2@gwu.edu, 202-994-3121.

About the School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Founded in 1825, the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) was the first medical school in the nation's capital and is the 11th oldest in the country. Working together in our nation's capital, with integrity and resolve, the GW SMHS is committed to improving the health and well-being of our local, national and global communities. www.smhs.gwumc.edu


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


GW Researcher receives grant to study parasitic worm role in bile duct cancer in Southeast Asia [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 16-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Lisa Anderson
lisama2@gwu.edu
202-994-3121
George Washington University

WASHINGTON (Nov. 16, 2012) Paul Brindley, Ph.D., professor of microbiology, immunology, and tropical medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, was the recipient of a $1.7 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study the behavior of a parasitic worm, rampant in Southeast Asia, known to cause infections that contribute to liver cancer.

The idea for his project, titled "Role of Live Fluke Granulin in Cholangiocarcinogenesis," was introduced to Brindley several years ago by a Thai postdoctoral student. In Thailand, the student had seen a disproportionately large amount of instances of a specific type of bile duct cancer, not common in the Western Hemisphere. It was discovered that this type of bile duct cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, is brought on by a parasitic worm that lives in uncooked fresh water fish, often present in traditional dishes in the region. The worm thrives in Southeast Asia due to unsanitary practices and conditions. The cancer caused by the worm usually results in death.

"With this grant we will research how a parasite could cause cancer," said Brindley. "What is it doing in someone's liver or bile ducts that's turning otherwise normal tissue into a tumor?"

The worm, which is large enough to be seen without a microscope, releases a product called granulin while navigating through the human body. In humans and other mammals, granulin is used to stimulate cells to grow and divide in order to heal a cut or a wound. When a worm secretes granulin, it seems to enhance a tumorigenic environment.

"In an evolutionary sense, we don't see the value to a parasite of causing a tumor to grow around it," said Brindley. "If a person dies, the worm dies, too. Why would a worm induce a tumor?"

Over the next five years, Brindley's research team in the U.S., Australia, and Thailand will be focused on the effect this granulin secretion has on a human's liver cells. While a difficult hypothesis to prove, Brindley and his colleagues suggest that because there is a wound or lesion where the worm has passed, the worm intends to repair the damage it's causing by releasing granulin. That way, in a few days the worm could return to the same place and eat the cells again. If proven, a drug or medical treatment may be developed to help with the effects of granulin on tissue growth.

###

To interview Dr. Brindley, please contact Lisa Anderson at lisama2@gwu.edu, 202-994-3121.

About the School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Founded in 1825, the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) was the first medical school in the nation's capital and is the 11th oldest in the country. Working together in our nation's capital, with integrity and resolve, the GW SMHS is committed to improving the health and well-being of our local, national and global communities. www.smhs.gwumc.edu


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/gwu-grr111612.php

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5 health problems linked to energy drinks - Mother Nature Network

Concerns over the potentially harmful effects of energy drinks, especially when they?re combined with alcohol, have been growing in recent years.

?

A story in the New York Times on Nov. 15 added to that concern, noting that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received reports of 13 deaths linked to 5-Hour Energy, an energy drink. The drinks contain about 215 milligrams of caffeine, the equivalent of about two cups of coffee.

?

Here, a rundown of five worrisome health issues that have been linked to downing stimulating drinks:

?

Heart problems

In recent years, the company that markets 5-Hour Energy has filed about 30 reports with the FDA of serious injuries associated with its products, including heart attacks, according to the New York Times story.

?

And in 2007, a 28-year-old Australian man suffered cardiac arrest after consuming eight cans of an energy drink, containing 80 mg of caffeine each, over seven hours. The patient did not have a history of chest pain.

?

Caffeine and other compounds in energy drinks can boost heart rate and blood pressure, said Dr. John Higgins, associate professor of medicine at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston.

?

Caffeine can cause heart cells to release calcium, which may affect heartbeat, leading to arrhythmia, Higgins said. The drinks may also disrupt the normal balance of salts in the body, ?which has been linked to arrhythmia as well.

?

However, there is not enough evidence to say unequivocally that energy drinks cause heart problems. More research is needed to determine the amount of energy drinks people need to consume in order to experience these negative effects, Higgins said.

?

The risk of miscarriage

The FDA has also received one report linking a miscarriage to consumption of 5-Hour Energy.

?

Studies examining the effects of caffeine on miscarriage have been mixed. A 2006 study of more than 1,000 pregnant women found that those who consumed more than 200 mg of caffeine per day (from coffee, tea, soda or hot chocolate) were about twice as likely to have a miscarriage compared with pregnant women who did not drink caffeine. However, a study published in 2008 found no link between caffeine consumption (regardless of the amount) ?and the risk of miscarriage at 20 weeks of pregnancy.

?

Because study findings have not been conclusive, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises that pregnant women limit caffeine consumption to 200 mg per day.

?

An increased risk of alcohol injury and dependence

Studies suggest that combining alcohol and energy drinks can be dangerous.

?

Although caffeine is a stimulant, research suggests it does not "counteract" the sedating effects of alcohol. There is concern that mixing alcohol and energy drinks may keep people awake for a longer period of time, allowing them to consume more alcohol than they ordinarily would, according to an editorial published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

?

A 2011 study of about 1,100 college students found those who downed energy drinks frequently were about 2.5 times more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence than those who did not consume energy drinks. The link may be due to the practice of mixing alcohol and energy drinks, or drinking caffeine to recover from a hangover, according to the JAMA editorial. It could also be that caffeine's effects on the brain play a role in addiction, the editorial says.

?

Risk of drug abuse

Another study of 1,060 students found that energy drink consumption in the second year of college was associated with an increased risk of prescription drug abuse (use of stimulants or prescription painkillers without a prescription) in the third year of college.

?

One explanation for the link "is that energy drinks, like prescription drugs ? might be regarded by some students as safer, more normative, or more socially acceptable than using illicit 'street' drugs," the researchers wrote in a 2010 issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine.

?

Impaired cognition

Although some students rely on energy drinks to pull all-nighters to study for exams, there?s some evidence that the excessive levels of caffeine in the drinks impair cognition. A small 2010 study found that drinking moderate amounts of caffeine, about 40 mg, improved performance on a test of reaction time, but drinking higher amounts ? equivalent to the levels found in a (250 ml) can of Red Bull, or 80 mg ? worsened performance on the reaction test.

?

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Related on MyHealthNewsDaily:

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This story was originally written for MyHealthNewsDaily and was republished with permission here. Copyright 2012 MyHealthNewsDaily, a TechMediaNetwork company.

Source: http://www.mnn.com/food/beverages/stories/5-health-problems-linked-to-energy-drinks

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Nova Scotia MP says Alberta's oil would be welcomed in Atlantic provinces

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - A Liberal MP from Nova Scotia has paid a visit to the oilsands, saying that Alberta may be having struggles in accessing foreign markets but the province's crude is always welcome in the East.

Halifax West MP Geoff Regan says environmental concerns appear to be stalling approval of the Keystone XL pipeline to Texas and the Northern Gateway pipeline which would ship through B.C. for export to Asian countries.

But Regan says the struggling economies of the Atlantic provinces would be encouraged by the notion of bringing Canadian oil eastward, where residents rely on Middle Eastern imports.

Calgary's TransCanada Corp. (TSX:TRP) is studying the possibility of shipping as many as one million barrels a day of western crude to eastern refineries.

To do so, it would convert part of its natural gas mainline partly to oil service. CEO Russ Girling has called the project both technically and economically feasible.

Company officials have also said they don't expect to see a big environmental pushback because eastern Canadians are keenly aware of how such a plan would positively affect fuel prices where they live.

Regan also says competitive wages in the oilsands could put pressure on companies back east, such as Irving, to offer a bigger paycheque for skilled workers.

"The tradespeople will be saying, `do I want to go home and work for $10 an hour less plus take a haircut on my benefits?' " said Regan.

"I think they're going to have to be competitive. Some people will want to stay home but still, when the opportunities still exist out here I think they're real and that's something that will have to factor in."

Regan also said there's a national benefit in terms of security of the oil supply.

"I think there is a strong interest in Atlantic Canada and in Eastern Canada generally in the idea of having access to Canadian oil," he said.

"The fact of the matter is that if there's a connection to the East coast, one of the important benefits of that for Alberta and for the oilsands is that you get the international price."

(CFVR)

Source: http://feeds.canada.com/~r/canwest/F264/~3/z6E0tbMROtY/story.html

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Friday, November 16, 2012

NYC GOV: 5,000 Tickets to Macy?s Thanksgiving Day Parade will go to New Yorkers Impacted by Hurricane Sandy

@THECULTUREOFME - NYC GOV: 5,000 Tickets to Macy?s Thanksgiving Day Parade will go to New Yorkers Impacted by Hurricane Sandy

Post Office record loss hits $15.9 billion. Retiree benefits to blame.

Post office record loss reached $15.9 billion for the year, with more losses expected in 2013. Heath benefits for retirees accounted for the bulk of the post office record loss.?

By Hope Yen,?Associated Press / November 16, 2012

The entrance of a United States Post Office is seen in Manhasset, New York in this August 2012 file photo. The Postal Service posted a record net loss of $15.9 billion in fiscal 2012. Much of the post office record loss was due to massive payments the mail agency could not make but still must account for in financial statements.

Shannon Stapleton/Reuters/FIle

Enlarge

The struggling U.S.?Postal?Service?on Thursday reported a record loss of $15.9 billion on the year and forecast more red ink in 2013, capping a tumultuous year in which it was forced to default on billions in payments to avert bankruptcy.

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The financial losses for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 were more than triple the $5.1 billion loss in the previous year. Having reached its borrowing limit, the mail agency is operating with little cash on hand, putting it at risk in the event of an unexpectedly large downturn in the economy.

"It's critical that Congress do its part and pass comprehensive legislation before they adjourn this year to move the?Postal?Service further down the path toward financial health," said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, calling the situation "our own?postal?fiscal cliff."

Much of the red ink in 2012 was due to mounting mandatory costs for future retiree health benefits, which made up $11.1 billion of the losses. Without that and other related labor expenses, the mail agency sustained an operating loss of $2.4 billion, lower than the previous year.

Donahoe said the post office has been able to reduce costs significantly by boosting worker productivity. But he said the mail agency has been hampered by congressional inaction on a?postal?overhaul bill that would allow it to eliminate Saturday mail delivery and reduce its $5 billion annual payment for future health benefits.

"We cannot sustain large losses indefinitely. Major defaults are unsettling," said Donahoe, who made clear that the?Postal?Servicewould now be profitable had Congress acted earlier this year.

Earlier this year, the post office defaulted on two of the health prepayments for the first time in its history.

The?Postal?Service, an independent agency, does not receive tax money for its day-to-day operations but is subject to congressional control.

The Senate passed a?postal?bill in April that would have provided financial relief in part by reducing the annual health payments and providing a multibillion-dollar cash infusion, basically a refund of overpayments the?Postal?Service?made to a federal pension fund. The House, however, remains stalled over its own legislation that would allow for aggressive cuts, including an immediate end to Saturday delivery.

It remained unclear whether House leadership would take up the?postal?bill in its current lame-duck session. Rural lawmakers are resisting action, worried about closures of?postal?facilities in their communities. Congress is focused now on a Jan. 1 deadline to avert across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts known as the "fiscal cliff."

While urging quick congressional action, the?Postal?Service?acknowledged the uncertainty in its legal filings on Thursday, which anticipate that Congress will fail to act. But Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and is a sponsor of the House bill, has said he believes?postal?legislation can be passed this year.

"The U.S.?Postal?Service?is clearly marching toward a financial collapse of its own," said Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., a sponsor of the Senate bill. "I am hopeful that now that the elections are over, my colleagues and I can come together and pass?postal?reform legislation so that a final bill can be signed into law by the end of the year."

Overall, the post office had operating revenue of $65.2 billion in fiscal 2012, down $500 million from the previous year. Expenses climbed to $81 billion, up from $70.6 billion, largely due to the health prepayments. The annual payment of roughly $5.6 billion had been deferred for a year in 2011, resulting in a double payment totaling $11.1 billion that became due this year. The?Postal?Serviceis the only government agency required to make such payments.

The post office also has been rocked by declining mail volume as people and businesses continue switching to email and other online options in place of letters and paper bills. The number of items mailed in the last year was 159.9 billion pieces, a 5 percent decrease. Much of the decline came in first-class mail.

On the plus side, the mail agency reported that its fast-growing shipping?services, which include express and priority mail, grew by 9 percent, helping to offset much of the declining revenue from first-class mail. Donahoe said package volume also is expected to jump by 20 percent this holiday season compared to the same period last year, boosted by increased consumer purchases on e-Bay, Amazon.com and other Internet shopping sites.

Joseph Corbett, chief financial officer for the?Postal?Service, said the mail agency expects to operate for the first half of next year with about four days of cash reserves, a low amount which he described as unheard of for any well-run business. Cash levels dipped perilously close to zero last month before bouncing higher due to a surge in election-related mail. In all, campaign mailings and mail-in ballots helped bring in $500 million, a new high and roughly double the amount in the 2008 election year.

"We are far short of liquidity," Corbett said.

Fredric Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, blamed Congress for mandating the annual health prepayments in 2006, which have contributed significantly to the?Postal?Service's?financial woes. But he suggested that lawmakers might be wiser to act on legislation next year, rather than acting too hastily. His union is opposed to the current version of the House bill, which gives the?Postal?Service?wide leeway to close post offices and make employee cuts to balance its budget.

"Rather than rushing through a flawed bill in a lame-duck session, the new Congress should start over in January and develop constructive legislation that fixes pre-funding. That would eliminate the biggest drain on?postal?finances," Rolando said.

Last month, the post office said it will increase postage rates on Jan. 27, including a 1-cent increase in the cost of first-class mail, to 46 cents. The rate increase, which is tied to the rate of overall inflation, will make only a small dent in financial losses.

The?Postal?Service?also originally sought to close low-revenue post offices in rural areas to save money, but after public opposition, it is now moving forward with a new plan to keep 13,000 of them open with shorter operating hours.

Without legislative changes, it said, annual losses will exceed $21 billion by 2016.

"If Congress fails to act, there could be?postal?slowdowns or shutdowns that would have catastrophic consequences for the 8 million private sector workers whose jobs depend on the mail," said Art Sackler, co-coordinator of the Coalition for a 21st CenturyPostal?Service, a group representing the private sector mailing industry.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/vcwbnTytqBY/Post-Office-record-loss-hits-15.9-billion.-Retiree-benefits-to-blame.

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