Suit claiming Hebrew National hot dogs not kosher dismissed

NEW YORK (Reuters) - ConAgra Foods Inc has won the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by consumers claiming the company's Hebrew National hot dogs and other products are not kosher.

U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank in St. Paul federal court ruled on Thursday that he does not have jurisdiction over a dispute that he described as "intrinsically religious in nature."

Eleven consumers filed the lawsuit last May, asserting that ConAgra misled customers into believing that its products were kosher according to "the most stringent" Orthodox Jewish standards by including a symbol on its packaging.

The lawsuit alleged that ConAgra's contractors, meat processor AER Services Inc and kosher supervisor Triangle K, failed to follow proper religious procedures. The plaintiffs sought unspecified damages and an injunction against the labels as well as class-action status for consumers who have bought Hebrew National products since 2008.

But Frank said he was constrained by clear Supreme Court precedent barring civil judges from resolving faith-based disputes.

"Any judicial inquiry as to whether defendant misrepresented that its Hebrew National products are "100% kosher" (when Triangle K, an undisputedly religious entity, certified them as such) would necessarily intrude upon rabbinical religious autonomy," Frank wrote.

He noted that ConAgra, the only named defendant in the lawsuit, is a secular entity, while the plaintiffs chose to leave Triangle K and AER out of the lawsuit.

"It is Triangle K and its Orthodox rabbis who make such determinations," Frank said. "Naturally, therefore, this court cannot determine whether defendant's Hebrew National products are in fact kosher without delving into questions of religious doctrine."

Hart Robinovitch, the plaintiffs' lawyer, did not immediately return a call for comment on Thursday evening.

In a statement, ConAgra spokeswoman Becky Niiya said the company has "always stood by our kosher distinction and status."

"We know how important kosher quality is to our consumers, and we look forward to continuing to make Hebrew National 100% pure kosher beef franks and other kosher offerings," she said.

The case is Wallace et al v. ConAgra Foods Inc, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, No. 12-01354.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax; Additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel; Editing by Bob Burgdorfer)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/suit-claiming-hebrew-natl-hot-dogs-not-kosher-005925753--finance.html

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What Do You Know? Carter May Have Called It Right On Israel After All

Posted by Bob Lord

About 5 or 6 years ago, President Carter wrote Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid, which immediately drew scathing criticism from the AIPAC crowd, led by Alan Dershowitz. Dershowitz found a handful of inaccuracies in the several hundred points President Carter made. President Carter acknowledged the few mistakes he made, but the media onslaught was so ferocious that his book never received a fair review.?

I've always thought history ultimately will be kind to President Carter. I'm still in the minority, but this may bring my view closer to vindication. The documentary, Gatekeepers, directed by Dror Moreh, an Israeli, has been nominated for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar. Here's how Huff Po describes Gatekeepers:

Moreh's film, which was nominated for a Best Documentary Feature Oscar, features surprisingly candid interviews with six retired directors of Israel's domestic spy agency, the Shin Bet, and offers a sobering look into the targeted killings behind Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. It has sparked a collective soul-searching for many both in Israel and the United States.

"There is something that I felt while I am here in America, that most of the majority of the Jewish population here are cherishing Israel," Moreh told HuffPost Live host Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, adding that American Jews look to Israel as a post-Holocaust "safe haven." Moreh argues that this had led the American Jewish population to the "wrong conclusion...that they have to support Israel no matter what."

Moreh said this point of view is actually "damaging the state of Israel."

Then, Moreh concludes by pretty much validating all that Carter had to say:

"They don't understand that we are going towards an apartheid country," Moreh added. "By not criticizing it, by accepting everything Israel does politically and especially towards the conflict, they are damaging their own goal, to protect the state of Israel as a safe haven for them."

It's almost like Moreh read Carter's book.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BlogForArizona/~3/4_i2USlI5dE/maybe-carter-called-it-right-on-israel-after-all.html

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Previously unknown mechanism of memory formation discovered

Jan. 30, 2013 ? It takes a lot to make a memory. New proteins have to be synthesized, neuron structures altered. While some of these memory-building mechanisms are known, many are not. Some recent studies have indicated that a unique group of molecules called microRNAs, known to control production of proteins in cells, may play a far more important role in memory formation than previously thought.

Now, a new study by scientists on the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute has for the first time confirmed a critical role for microRNAs in the development of memory in the part of the brain called the amygdala, which is involved in emotional memory. The new study found that a specific microRNA -- miR-182 -- was deeply involved in memory formation within this brain structure.

"No one had looked at the role of microRNAs in amygdala memory," said Courtney Miller, a TSRI assistant professor who led the study. "And it looks as though miR-182 may be promoting local protein synthesis, helping to support the synapse-specificity of memories."

In the new study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the scientists measured the levels of all known microRNAs following an animal model of learning. A microarray analysis, which enables rapid genetic testing on a large scale, showed that more than half of all known microRNAs are expressed in the amygdala. Seven of those microRNAs increased and 32 decreased when learning occurred.

The study found that, of the microRNAs expressed in the brain, miR-182 had one of the lowest levels and these decreased further with learning. Despite these very low levels, its overexpression prevented the formation of memory and led to a decrease in proteins that regulate neuronal plasticity (neurons' ability to adapt) through changes in structure.

These findings suggest that learning-induced suppression of miR-182 is a main supporting factor in the formation of long-term memory in the amagdala, as well as an underappreciated mechanism for regulating protein synthesis during memory consolidation, Miller said.

Further analysis identified miR-182 as a repressor of proteins that control actin -- a major component of the cytoskeleton, the scaffolding that holds cells together.

"We know that memory formation requires changes in dendritic spines on the neurons through regulation of the actin cytoskeleton," Miller said. "When miR-182 is suppressed through learning it halts, at least in part, repression of actin-regulating proteins, so there's a good chance that miR-182 exerts important control over the actin cytoskeleton."

Miller is now interested in whether or not high levels of miR-182 accumulate in the aging brain, something that would help to explain a tendency toward memory loss in the elderly. She also notes that other research has shown that animal models lacking miR-182 had no significant physical or cellular abnormalities, suggesting that miR-182 could be a viable target for drug discovery.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by The Scripps Research Institute.

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Journal Reference:

1. E. M. Griggs, E. J. Young, G. Rumbaugh, C. A. Miller. MicroRNA-182 Regulates Amygdala-Dependent Memory Formation. Journal of Neuroscience, 2013; 33 (4): 1734 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2873-12.2013

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/H2eASbQsbTI/130130121545.htm

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Consumer Electronics Daily News: Nikon Introduces Two COOLPIX ...

Today, Nikon Inc. introduced both the COOLPIX AW110 and COOLPIX S31, two innovative yet durable compact cameras for those who want to preserve every fun and action-packed moment as well as share them with friends and family. Waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof1, the rugged AW110 is built to handle the elements, whether hiking up a mountain, hitting the slopes or riding the surf. Nikon's newest tough camera also offers built-in Wi-Fi? connectivity2 for sharing, Full HD 1080p video capabilities and a slew of advanced features that adventurers covet, including GPS and underwater shooting modes.

The COOLPIX S313 provides the reliability that allows every member of the family to preserve their own special memories. Complete with fun shooting modes and a simple yet intuitive user interface, the resilient S31 is a family camera that can be confidently carried to the pool or around the jungle gym.

The Nikon COOLPIX AW110: Durable Performance for the Outdoor Adventurer

The COOLPIX AW110 is the ultimate point-and-shoot camera for the outdoor enthusiast that demands exceptional image quality and sharp, clear HD video from a compact body. Ready for the toughest conditions, this rugged camera sports a fun and innovative feature set designed to capture, preserve and share every moment of a user's active lifestyle. Waterproof (up to 59 feet), shockproof (up to 6.7 feet) and freezeproof (down to 14 degrees F), the AW110 is a versatile and feature-rich companion, above and below sea level.

GPS technology is also enabled, allowing a traveler to track his or her adventure from beginning to end, down to the exact longitude and latitude where an image or video is captured.

The COOLPIX AW110 also features built-in Wi-Fi? connectivity2, allowing the image data transfer of any outdoor adventure to compatible smart devices for upload to social networking services or sharing with friends and family through the Wireless Mobile Adapter Utility2 application. Wireless remote camera control is also possible using a compatible smartphone or tablet when using the application.

Beneath its rugged exterior, the AW110 features a 16-megapixel backside illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor that helps create sharp, beautiful images and HD video even in challenging lighting conditions. The camera also has a NIKKOR 5x optical zoom lens with lens-shift Vibration Reduction (VR) that allows the photographer to get close up to a subject from a distance, as well as the ability to record Full HD (1080p) movies with stereo sound.

The COOLPIX AW110 features a 3-inch, OLED display for easy menu access and precise image preview, alongside an intuitive graphic user interface (GUI) that makes it easy to navigate several fun and intelligent shooting modes, including Easy Auto Mode and the Smart Portrait System, while Special Effects can be easily applied to still images and HD video.

The Nikon COOLPIX S31: Every Family Member Can Capture Beautiful Images

Ready for every precious family moment, the 10.1-megapixel COOLPIX S31 allows every family member young and old to capture beautiful photos with ease, whether on vacation or at the pool. Housed in a compact, durable body that is waterproof (up to 16.5 feet), shockproof (up to 3.6 feet) and dustproof1, this point-and-shoot takes the worry out of photography regardless of the setting or situation. Clear and precise images or HD video are made possible with the help of a 3x optical zoom (29-87mm equivalent) NIKKOR lens, and a dedicated video record button creates an effortless transition from stills to video.

A 2.7-inch LCD display supports an enhanced easy and intuitive graphic user interface (GUI) that allows for simple navigation and several shooting and playback modes designed to make photography simple and fun when using the S31. The camera allows the user to instantly show off his or her favorite family moments using unique playback options including in-camera slide shows and photo albums. Image editing and playback filter effects can also be applied to both stills and video, offering the opportunity to add a personal touch to every family memory.

Pricing and Availability:

The COOLPIX AW110 will be available in Orange, Black, Camouflage and Blue in February 2013 for a suggested retail price of $349.95. The COOLPIX S31 will be available in White, Blue, Pink, Brown and Yellow, also in February 2013, for a suggested retail price of $119.95.

?

Source: http://www.cedailynews.com/2013/01/nikon-introduces-two-coolpix-models.html

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The Super Bowl trophy: where Tiffany meets the NFL?

1 hr.

Brian A. Shactman , CNBC

Outside of the NHL's Stanley Cup, the Vince Lombardi Trophy might be the most recognized trophy in all of sports.

That much you probably already knew. What you probably didn't know: The prize for winning the Super Bowl is seven pounds of sterling silver, handcrafted by jewelry icon Tiffany.

Tiffany, a $4 billion company, has made every Lombardi Trophy dating back to 1967. As the story goes, the original design was sketched on a cocktail napkin in front of then-NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle.

Tiffany and the NFL might seem like an odd match, but it's not.

"The core mission of the company is to celebrate important moments in people's lives," said Tiffany executive Tom O'Rourke, who has overseen the company's trophy business for almost eight years. "I can't imagine a more important moment for an athlete than receiving the championship trophy on the field after a victory."

The silver itself has a street value of about $3,500. But, if you add in the high-end labor to make it (there is no?glue! and its symbolism, the value is a little more difficult to assess.

"I would tell you that the trophy itself is priceless," O'Rourke said. "Whatever monetary value is?assigned to the trophy doesn't accurately present the work the athletes have put into it."

The NFL is a customer and does pay for the trophy.

More from CNBC: The NFL's 10 best cheerleading squads 2013

Sources tell CNBC that the Tiffany trophy business, which includes everything from Major League Baseball to PGA golf, is modestly profitable but probably with smaller margins that the rest of its jewelry business.?

The NFL trophy is made in a workshop nestled into a distribution center in Parsippany, New Jersey.

"It's like the turn of the century with some of the machines and equipment used," O'Rourke noted.

As you might imagine, the size of the silver sheets is much larger than the average piece used for Tiffany jewelry. Actually, the only place the company has been able to procure sheets of high-grade silver big enough for the Vince Lombardi Trophy is in Italy.

After the silver arrives in New Jersey, the four-month process begins. Old-world terms like blacksmithing, spinning and chasing are following by the final polishes and engravings.

"It's made by local craftspeople that are employing crafts and skills from the 1800s," O'Rourke explained.

Then, the trophy goes to the Hall of Fame for display and returns for a touchup before journeying to the big game itself.

"It does come in a blue box," O'Rourke joked. "Actually, the reality is that the trophy will be in blue felt in a secure box ? not a traditional Tiffany box."

After the game, the winning team enjoys the trophy for a while before returning it to Tiffany for a cleaning and a final engraving.

Sometimes, it's a little worse for wear.

"The biggest issue is always the champagne," O'Rourke said.

The biggest party offender??Reportedly, the New Orleans Saints after winning in 2010.

? 2013 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/super-bowl-trophy-where-tiffany-meets-nfl-1B8163906

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Watch Five Huge Power Station Towers Collapse in Super Slow Motion

Few things are as satisfying as watching a building get demolished. Bonus points for if it's a gigantic structure, like Texas Stadium, or, say, four water cooling towers for a power plant. Their crumble and fall was shown in slow motion by our old friends the Slow Mo Guys. [YouTube] More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/HkF38y1aXgs/watch-four-huge-power-station-towers-collapse-in-super-slow-motion

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The First Panorama From the Top of the Tallest Building in the World

Gizmodo friend Gerald Donovan has sent us an amazing 2.6 GB, 360-degree panorama from the very top of the highest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. You know, where Tom Cruise perched to be closer to Xenu and look out over all of us lousy, pill-popping humans. It'll take your breath away. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Hsdr2Z5EN6I/the-first-panorama-from-the-pinnacle-of-the-highest-building-in-the-world

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With The Help Of Citizen Cartographers, Google Launches More Detailed Map Of North Korea

Google Maps is not only a strong product, it’s a strong platform. With its Map Maker tool, people from around the world can participate in making Google’s maps more detailed, accurate and up-to-date. This is exactly what happened for North Korea’s maps, Google announced today. Google’s Senior Product Manager of Map Maker, Jayanth Mysore, discussed what went into these new detailed views: To build this map, a community of citizen cartographers came together in Google Map Maker to make their contributions such as adding road names and points of interest. This effort has been active in Map Maker for a few years and today the new map of North Korea is ready and now available on Google Maps. As a result, the world can access maps of North Korea that offer much more information and detail than before. We know this map is not perfect ? one of the exciting things about maps is that the world is a constantly changing place. We encourage people from around the world to continue helping us improve the quality of these maps for everyone with Google Map Maker. From this point forward, any further approved updates to the North Korean maps in Google Map Maker will also appear on Google Maps. Here’s a before and after look at North Korea, with more details popping up thanks to the Map Maker community: We recently reported exactly how Google is managing its Map Maker community, giving them badges for accomplishments and adding more detail to make Google Maps better. While this community isn’t fully relied upon for Google Maps, it is definitely an important part of the entire system. With everything that goes into making Google Maps the most powerful service of its kind, companies like Apple who are trying to do the work on their own definitely have some catching up to do. Right now, Google allows people from 200 different regions to participate in the editing of the Maps product. Without sounding like a huge downer, this is also probably way safer than a Google Street View truck driving around in North Korea at this point.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/vadWBm4V1jQ/

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Graph Search - Social Media Today

Facebook took another step toward becoming its own web universe when it launched a search engine for shared content. This move challenges the future relevance of search engines like Google, as well as review sites such as Yelp and Foursquare.

The aim of ?graph search? is to assist the Facebook community in finding information more easily about what other Facebook users have shared on the network. It uses the indexed information generated within the Facebook universe to generate search information. It will allow people to find others by their interests, location or career. So if you like water skiing you can find other people that live nearby that also like water skiing, which will in turn allow you to make new connections with other people who share similar interests with you. Alternatively you can search for people nearby who like Chinese food and see what restaurants they have ?liked,? and read their comments.

This graph search engine is designed to give Facebook users the ability to sort information by topics and interests with the added advantage of keeping its users within the Facebook community instead of sending them to search engines or review sites for the information they seek. "Graph Search is designed to take a precise query and return to you the answer, not link to other places where you might get the answer," Mark Zuckerberg explained, highlighting some of the issues of a typical Web search.

Graph Search (beta) version rolls out Tuesday on a limited basis to users. This version will be able to handle queries based on people, photos, places and interests.

It is anticipated that results will be displayed based on importance, so a restaurant with more likes could possibly show up toward the top of the list that is generated by the search. Check-ins could also have an impact on where a place is positioned on the list, emphasizing the importance and need for businesses to be actively involved on Facebook and ensuring that their Page is relevant, engaging and up-to-date.

Facebook also partners with Microsoft's Bing social search engine to fill in some of the gaps where Graph Search cannot supply the information. Facebook does stress that Graph Search is not a web search, but this can be seen as the first step in that direction, because when the product is fully operational it will give many Facebook users an incentive to stay within the Facebook community instead of spending time on other social media and search sites.

Source: http://socialmediatoday.com/social-tonic/1188841/facebook-graph-search-one-step-closer-becoming-its-own-internet-universe

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PlayerScale Says Its Gaming Infrastructure Is Being Used By 100M ...

PlayerScale, which provides a range of backend services for game developers, is announcing today that its platform now has more than 100 million players.

Since PlayerScale is building the infrastructure rather than the games themselves, it?s unlikely that many of those 100 million actually think of themselves as ?PlayerScale users,? or are necessarily aware of the platform at all. Nonetheless, the announcement suggests that PlayerScale?s tools are being used by a broad audience of gamers. (CEO Jesper Jensen told me that users create in-game profiles and log in through Facebook, so while it?s possible that there are a few ?repeats,? for the most part these are unique users.)

The company?s offerings include integration with payments systems, multiplayer support, in-game chat, data management, and player matchmaking. It?s supposed to work on console, browser-based, PC/Mac, and mobile games. Jensen said the company focuses on ?the convergence of content from these sectors ? mobile, social and casual.?

PlayerScale is now being implemented across 4,000 games from more than 2,600 game developers, including SGN (Social Gaming Network, which has put a big emphasis on cross-platform development), Con Artist Games and 505 Games. One of the big goals, Jensen said, is to allow developers to focus on the creative aspects of game development, rather than the backend infrastructure.

The company was founded in 2011. It is self-funded and cash-flow positive.

PlayerScale? develops software infrastructure for cross-platform gaming. Their backend software gives gaming publishers and aggregators the ability to scale titles across casual, social and mobile platforms in a rapid and seamless manner. The PlayerScale software incorporates a data analytics tool that provides developers with information to understand user behavior and track users and revenue across mobile and web-based properties, giving developers the ability to increase monetization and rapidly introduce new games into the market. PlayerScale supports Flash, Unity 3D,...

? Learn more

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2013/01/28/playerscale-100-million/

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UK: Specific threat to Westerners in Somaliland

LONDON (AP) ? British diplomats say that there is a specific threat to Westerners in the Somaliland region of Somalia and have urged any British citizens in the area to leave immediately.

In a statement emailed to reporters Sunday the British Foreign Office did not go into any further detail as to the nature of the threat but noted that "kidnapping for financial or political gain, motivated by criminality or terrorism" was a threat throughout the country.

The new warning comes only days after Western governments urged their citizens in the Libyan city of Benghazi to leave in response to what was described as an imminent threat to Westerners.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uk-specific-threat-westerners-somaliland-141850754.html

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Buy Now: All Apple MacBook Air Laptops Are $200 Off At Best Buy ...

?

If you?re in the market for a new laptop and you?re a fan of Apple products, you?re in luck. As The Verge and Business Insider reported, Best Buy is having a huge $200 off sale on all MacBook Air Laptops. It?s causing a bit of an uproar as Apple products are rarely, if ever, allowed to be discounted by retailers.

Even this past Black Friday 2012, Apple only discounted its MacBook Air laptops by $100. The new MacBook Air?s are rumored to be coming out in June 2013, so perhaps Apple is allowing retailers to clear merchandise. Either way, it?s good for business owners and consumers.

Here are your MacBook Air options:

The Verge also reported that at one point, Amazon matched Best Buy?s price for the $799 11-inch MacBook Air model, but it doesn?t seem to be the case anymore.

If you?re interested, you better hurry as the sale ends today or while supplies last. Good luck and happy shopping! Let us know in the comments below if you picked one up.

For more small business resources, follow?Firmology?on?Twitter?or?LinkedIn.

To contact the writer on this story: Philip Nowak in Chicago at?philip.nowak@firmology.com. Please?contact us?if you?d like to?submit a small business innovation story or small business tech startup, product or service.

Written by Philip Nowak

Philip Nowak is the founder of Firmology, a?news?and information media company focused on helping small businesses grow through?small business technology?and innovation.?You can find Philip on?Google+,?Twitter,?LinkedIn?and?Quora.

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Source: http://www.firmology.com/2013/01/26/buy-now-all-apple-macbook-air-laptops-are-200-off-at-best-buy/

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Next-Gen Video Format H.265 Is Approved, Paving The Way For High-Quality Video On Low-Bandwidth Networks

The ITU has approved a new video format that could bring 4k video to future broadband networks, while also making streaming HD video available even on bandwidth-constrained mobile networks. The H.265 standard, also informally known as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), is designed to provide high-quality streaming video, even on low-bandwidth networks.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/T2LR_gSLuig/

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The Young and the Restless - Small Business News - January 21-25 ...

By Brian Halligan on January 25th, 2013

Filed under: Accounting, eCommerce, Leadership, News, Planning, Workforce

What?s the matter with kids today, what with their innovation and their desire for employee engagement? The news for this past workweek was concerned primarily with young people,?their penchant for unique ideas and?entrepreneurialism, and how to hire good workers just like them. As a former young person myself, I?m proud of where these new entrepreneurs are headed. And I hope that BuildMyBiz can play even the smallest part in their success.

Aspiring entrepreneurs know the importance of fostering innovation
A lot?s been said about the generation gap between Baby Boomers and Millenials. As a poster child for Generation X, I tend to stand on the sidelines and watch rather than get involved. But when it comes to innovation, you can?count me with the ?kids.? According to Deloitte?Touche?Tohmatsu Limited, 78 percent of younger employees believe in the sharing and developing of unique ideas for driving and expanding company operations.

IRS ?Where?s My Refund?? Update
Tax return overachievers, pay heed. The IRS will not process your paper or electronic tax return before January 30. The Where?s My Refund page has also been updated with information on new features for this useful tax-time tool.

Is employee engagement a strong focus among small businesses?
A study by Dale Carnegie and MSW Research found that only 29 percent of employees feel engaged by their companies. While I work for Paychex, not paychecks, if you know what I mean, what can smaller businesses do to improve their employee engagement?

Ignoring social media can be bad for small businesses
According to Zeno Group, a large number of company leaders do not focus on the social media reputation of their businesses.?That may sound familiar to you, if you?ve read??Aspiring entrepreneurs know the importance of fostering innovation.? In fact, 71 percent of big company executives are aware of their companies? social reputations, while only 55 percent of local merchants said the same. Find out how you can help close that innovation gap.

Could small business blogs be successful?
Of course they could!??When done right, a blog will establish you as an expert in your field, and create a degree of familiarity and trust with your prospects.? Technorati wrote. How do you make that happen? Ask Forbes, which provided helpful tips for developing a blog for your business.

Focusing on small business success tips for 2013
The countdown has ended, the ball has dropped. New Year?s was almost a month ago. And business owners are diving into strategies and actions to make their businesses more successful in the new year. If you?re looking to cut costs and improve efficiency, Offers.com recently released a report highlighting tips for small businesses and how they can make 2013 their best year yet.

Younger professionals more likely to follow their entrepreneurial dreams
Almost half of entrepreneurs around the world are between 25 to?44 years old, says the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. These young professionals, and a few who might?be better?described as young at heart, share a strong focus on their goals and the motivation to achieve them. As for the rest of humanity, you?re not entirely excluded from the party. ?We see people participating in entrepreneurship at all ages,? according to Donna Kelley, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Babson College.

How can small businesses find the right workers for hard-to-fill positions?
Anyone who has ever hired an employee has most likely rued the decision at some point. Fortunately, you can avoid the ruing (not to mention the suing)?by getting better at wooing the right employees. Small Business Trends recommends some strategies for effective hiring, like, for example, making use of social media. Yes, I?m looking at you, ?Ignoring social media can be bad for small businesses.?

Tags: news recap, small business news, bhalligan, mkrossi ?

Source: http://buildmybiz.com/blog/small-business-news-january-21-25-2013/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=small-business-news-january-21-25-2013

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Smokers face hefty health insurance hikes - The Spokesman-Review

WASHINGTON ? Millions of smokers could be priced out of health insurance because of tobacco penalties in President Barack Obama?s health care law, according to experts who are just now teasing out the potential impact of a little-noted provision in the massive?legislation.

The Affordable Care Act ? ?Obamacare? to its detractors ? allows health insurers to charge smokers buying individual policies up to 50 percent higher premiums starting next Jan.?1.

For a 55-year-old smoker, the penalty could reach nearly $4,250 a year. A 60-year-old could wind up paying nearly $5,100 on top of?premiums.

Younger smokers could be??

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Associated Press photo

A woman smokes a cigarette during a break from work in downtown Chicago. The Affordable Care Act allows health insurers to charge smokers buying individual policies up to 50 percent higher premiums starting next Jan.?1.
(Full-size photo)

WASHINGTON ? Millions of smokers could be priced out of health insurance because of tobacco penalties in President Barack Obama?s health care law, according to experts who are just now teasing out the potential impact of a little-noted provision in the massive?legislation.

The Affordable Care Act ? ?Obamacare? to its detractors ? allows health insurers to charge smokers buying individual policies up to 50 percent higher premiums starting next Jan.?1.

For a 55-year-old smoker, the penalty could reach nearly $4,250 a year. A 60-year-old could wind up paying nearly $5,100 on top of?premiums.

Younger smokers could be charged lower penalties under rules proposed last fall by the Obama administration. But older smokers could face a heavy hit on their household budgets at a time in life when smoking-related illnesses tend to?emerge.

Workers covered on the job would be able to avoid tobacco penalties by joining smoking cessation programs, because employer plans operate under different rules. But experts say that option is not guaranteed to smokers trying to purchase coverage?individually.

Nearly one of every five U.S. adults smokes. That share is higher among lower-income people, who also are more likely to work in jobs that don?t come with health insurance and would therefore depend on the new federal health care law. Smoking increases the risk of developing heart disease, lung problems and cancer, contributing to nearly 450,000 deaths a?year.

Insurers won?t be allowed to charge more under the overhaul for people who are overweight, or have a health condition like a bad back or a heart that skips beats ? but they can charge more if a person?smokes.

Starting next Jan. 1, the federal health care law will make it possible for people who can?t get coverage now to buy private policies, providing tax credits to keep the premiums affordable. Although the law prohibits insurance companies from turning away the sick, the penalties for smokers could have the same effect in many cases, keeping out potentially costly?patients.

?We don?t want to create barriers for people to get health care coverage,? said California state Assemblyman Richard Pan, who is working on a law in his state that would limit insurers? ability to charge smokers more. The federal law allows states to limit or change the smoking?penalty.

?We want people who are smoking to get smoking cessation treatment,? added Pan, a pediatrician who represents the Sacramento?area.

Obama administration officials declined to be interviewed for this article, but a former consumer protection regulator for the government is raising?questions.

?If you are an insurer and there is a group of smokers you don?t want in your pool, the ones you really don?t want are the ones who have been smoking for 20 or 30 years,? said Karen Pollitz, an expert on individual health insurance markets with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. ?You would have the flexibility to discourage?them.?

Several provisions in the federal health care law work together to leave older smokers with a bleak set of financial options, said Pollitz, formerly deputy director of the Office of Consumer Support in the federal Health and Human Services?Department.

First, the law allows insurers to charge older adults up to three times as much as their youngest?customers.

Second, the law allows insurers to levy the full 50 percent penalty on older smokers while charging less to younger?ones.

And finally, government tax credits that will be available to help pay premiums cannot be used to offset the cost of penalties for?smokers.

Here?s how the math would?work:

Take a hypothetical 60-year-old smoker making $35,000 a year. Estimated premiums for coverage in the new private health insurance markets under Obama?s law would total $10,172. That person would be eligible for a tax credit that brings the cost down to?$3,325.

But the smoking penalty could add $5,086 to the cost. And since federal tax credits can?t be used to offset the penalty, the smoker?s total cost for health insurance would be $8,411, or 24 percent of income. That?s considered unaffordable under the federal law. The numbers were estimated using the online Kaiser Health Reform Subsidy?Calculator.

?The effect of the smoking (penalty) allowed under the law would be that lower-income smokers could not afford health insurance,? said Richard Curtis, president of the Institute for Health Policy Solutions, a nonpartisan research group that called attention to the issue with a study about the potential impact in?California.

In today?s world, insurers can simply turn down a smoker. Under Obama?s overhaul, would they actually charge the full 50 percent? After all, workplace anti-smoking programs that use penalties usually charge far less, maybe $75 or $100 a?month.

Robert Laszewski, a consultant who previously worked in the insurance industry, said there?s a good reason to charge the?maximum.

?If you don?t charge the 50 percent, your competitor is going to do it, and you are going to get a disproportionate share of the less-healthy older smokers,? said Laszewski. ?They are going to have to play?defense.?

? Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/jan/25/smokers-face-hefty-health-insurance-hikes/

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Go forth and tweet! Pope launches smartphone app

? Tony Gentile / Reuters / REUTERS

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he leads his Angelus prayer from the window of his private apartment in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican January 20, 2013.

By Reuters

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict urged Catholics on Thursday to use social networks like Twitter and Facebook to win converts, as he launched his own smartphone app streaming live footage of his speeches.

The websites - often associated with endless postings of idle gossip and baby photos - could be used as "portals of truth and faith" in an increasingly secular age, the pontiff said in his 2013 World Communications Day message.

"Unless the Good News is made known also in the digital world, it may be absent in the experience of many people," the 85-year old Pope said in the a letter published on the Vatican's website.

The Holy See has become an increasingly prolific user of social media since it launched its 'new evangelization' of the developed world, where some congregations have fallen in the wake of growing secularization and damage to the Church's reputation from a series of sex abuse scandals.

The Pope himself reaches around 2.5 million followers through eight Twitter accounts, including one in Latin.

Belying his traditionalist reputation, the Pope praised connections made online which he said could blossom into true friendships. Online life was not a purely virtual world but "increasingly becoming part of the very fabric of society," he said.

Social networks were also a practical tool that Catholics could use to organize prayer events, the pope suggested. But he called for reasoned debate and respectful dialogue with those with different beliefs, and cautioned against a tendency towards "heated and divisive voices" and "sensationalism".

The websites were creating a new "agora", he added, referring to the gathering spaces that were the centers of public life in ancient Greek cities.

The speech coincided with the launch of 'The Pope App', a downloadable program that streams live footage of the pontiff's speaking events and Vatican news onto smartphones.

Pope Benedict's embrace of new media responds to the Church's concern that it is invisible on the internet.

The Vatican commissioned a study of internet use and religion prior to the pope's Twitter debut, which found the majority of U.S. Catholics surveyed were unaware of any significant Church presence online.

(Reporting by Naomi O'Leary; editing by Andrew Heavens)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

More Digital Life:

Some smartphones have GPS capability that many apps need in order to function, but if you forget that your location is turned on for social media apps like Twitter, you could be sharing your location with complete strangers. TODAY.com's Kyle Michael Miller reports

Source: http://digitallife.today.com/_news/2013/01/24/16680552-go-forth-and-tweet-pope-sees-social-networks-as-portals-of-truth?lite

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Verizon Expands Shared Data Plans Into Business - NYTimes.com

With its new shared data plans, Verizon Wireless is succeeding at pushing consumers to spend more money on wireless data. So why not roll out those plans to businesses?

The company says that?s just what it is doing. Its shared data plans for small businesses, which debuted on Thursday, will allow up to 25 lines to share a single pool of data, along with unlimited voice minutes and text messages.

Small businesses will get to pick from three data pools: 30 gigabytes for $225, 40 gigabytes for $300, or 50 gigabytes for $375 a month. An additional fee is charged for each device on the account.

Analysts have pointed out that Verizon?s shared data plans can be expensive for consumers, especially those who don?t own that many wireless devices. The consumers who get the most value from these plans are high-income families who own many devices and use lots of data. Given that small businesses have many employees that use multiple devices, they may actually benefit from shared data plans.

Source: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/25/verizon-expands-shared-data-plans-into-business/

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It's Almost Time For Science Online 2013 - Get Your Dancing Shoes Ready!

By Carin Bondar?| January 24, 2013 |??

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?Tis the time of year when science geeks from far and wide are packing their bags for the most ridiculously wonderful conference known: Science Online. I, for one, am gearing up for several days of connecting with many of my favorite people on the planet, of learning and sharing, of eating and drinking and of doing a little dancing. If you haven?t seen the music video that I created about last year?s conference, have a boo here:

For those of you coming to the conference, I hope you will take part in this year?s video. We will be taking science to a new level with our version of Gangam Style. I?ve already assigned parts to many of you, including the incredible Baba Brinkman who will be providing our rap and lyrics. No interested participant will go un-noticed! Anyone who wants to jump in front of my camera is absolutely welcome. I also welcome those of you at any of the Watch Parties to send me footage of your groups dancing. You are all important members of the science online community!

So friends, as we are packing our bags this weekend ? please remember to toss in that pair of sparkly dance shoes you thought you?d never wear. Perhaps it?s that 70?s jumpsuit hiding in your closet, a crazy pair of sunglasses, a wig or a really big hat. You will need them next week.

See you all soon!

About the Author: Carin Bondar is a biologist, writer and film-maker with a PhD in population ecology from the University of British Columbia. Find Dr. Bondar online at www.carinbondar.com, on twitter @drbondar or on her facebook page: Dr. Carin Bondar ? Biologist With a Twist. Follow on Twitter @drbondar.

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The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

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Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=3c827d3671215d7bdf30603867c9cced

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Smooth sailing seen ahead for Kerry as State Department pick

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At least one of President Barack Obama's national security picks is likely to win approval easily from the U.S. Senate - his nominee for Secretary of State, John Kerry, whose confirmation hearing will be conducted by a committee he has led for four years.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on Thursday.

Obama nominated the Massachusetts senator to succeed Hillary Clinton as the country's top diplomat last month, after Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, withdrew from consideration amid scathing Republican criticism of her handling of a September attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

As the replacement for a potential nominee seen as controversial, the five-term U.S. senator and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee is expected to sail through the confirmation process. He could start his new job early next month.

While voicing deep concerns about Rice and Chuck Hagel and John Brennan, Obama's nominees to be Secretary of Defense and director of the Central Intelligence Agency, senators have expressed few worries about Kerry.

"He has this nomination in part because of his good relations with the Senate and the fact that he can sail through the Senate, that's why he is there rather than Susan Rice," said James Mann, author-in-residence at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.

Senate aides said this week they did not foresee last-minute obstacles to Kerry's confirmation.

The Massachusetts Democrat is likely to face questions about Benghazi at the hearing, a day after Clinton spent more than 5-1/2 hours testifying on Capitol Hill about the incident.

Clinton will introduce Kerry at the hearing.

Republican Senator John McCain, who was one of the loudest critics of Rice, joked about Kerry's hearing. He said this week the Foreign Relations Committee looked forward to "interrogating" Kerry.

"We will bring back, for the only time, waterboarding to get the truth out of him," McCain quipped at a news conference.

SYRIA, IRAN, ARMS CONTROL

But Kerry, who has been seen as a dutiful Obama supporter, can expect some pointed questions. He opposed the Iraq War and has served as a special emissary for Obama in delicate areas like Pakistan and Afghanistan, where he traveled in 2009 to help convince President Hamid Karzai to agree to a runoff election.

As a senator, Kerry visited Damascus repeatedly prior to the outbreak of Syria's devastating civil war and was a proponent of U.S. re-engagement with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Republicans are expected to grill Kerry about how Washington can deal with everything from a possible power vacuum to Assad's potential use of chemical weapons.

Republicans likely will quiz Kerry about his approach to Iran. Hardliners have criticized him for failing to seek tougher sanctions to discourage the Islamic Republic from pursuing its nuclear program.

Kerry, in prepared opening remarks for the hearing, signaled he was ready to keep the pressure on Tehran.

"The President has made it definitive - we will do what we can to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. I repeat here today: our policy is not containment," he said.

"I will work to give diplomacy every effort to succeed. But no one should mistake our resolve to reduce the nuclear threat."

Mann, the author of "The Obamians," a 2012 book on Obama's international policy, said Kerry may also be queried on arms control after helping pass the New START treaty during Obama's first term. Some Republicans were concerned that the nuclear arms control deal did not demand enough of Russia.

But none of that is expected to derail his nomination.

The Yale-educated son of a foreign service officer, Kerry, 69, has been a specialist in foreign affairs for years. In the 1960s, he differed from most of his well-heeled peers by enlisting in the U.S. Navy and serving two tours of duty in the Vietnam War.

He broke from - and enraged - the military establishment by becoming a prominent anti-war demonstrator after returning home. Bitter personal attacks over that role helped cost him the presidency in 2004.

But such concerns now seem a relic of the distant past.

Several Senate Republicans suggested their longtime colleague Kerry as a more desirable alternative as they expressed doubts about Rice last year, and Kerry in his opening remarks said he was ready to reach across the aisle.

"People all over the world are looking to the United States for leadership," Kerry said. "But it becomes near impossible if we ourselves replace our credibility and leverage with gridlock and dysfunction."

Kerry, one of the richest members of the Senate thanks to his second wife's fortune, already cleared up one concern.

He and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, have agreed to divest nearly 100 separate investments in the United States and abroad if he becomes the country's top diplomat.

(Editing by Warren Strobel, Cynthia Osterman and Jackie Frank)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/smooth-sailing-seen-ahead-kerry-state-department-pick-060504627.html

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Williams loses to Stephens; Federer advances

Sloane Stephens of the US celebrates after defeating compatriot Serena Williams in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Sloane Stephens of the US celebrates after defeating compatriot Serena Williams in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Serena Williams of the US reacts during her quarterfinal match against compatriot Sloane Stephens at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Sloane Stephens of the US hits a forehand return to compatriot Serena Williams during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

La estadounidense Serena Williams parece expresar frustraci?n en el partido contra su compatriota Sloane Stephens el mi?rcoles 23 de enero de 2013 cuando vio terminado su paso dominante en los torneos major. (Foto AP/Andrew Brownbill)

Serena Williams of the US hits a forehand return to compatriot Sloane Stephens during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) ? Serena Williams was only thinking out loud when she muttered this Australian Open had been "the worst two weeks."

Not long after a courtside microphone picked up those comments during her quarterfinal with 19-year-old American Sloane Stephens, things got a whole lot worse.

Stephens outplayed Williams, whose movement and serves had been slowed by a back injury, and beat the 15-time Grand Slam champion 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. It marked Williams' first loss since Aug. 17, and her first defeat at a Grand Slam tournament since last year's French Open.

Four-time Australian Open winner Roger Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam champion, looked for a while like he might join Williams on the sideline. But Federer eked out a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3 win over 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a match that lasted 3 hours, 34 minutes.

Federer, who broke Tsonga in the fourth game of the deciding set, converted his fifth match point while serving after Tsonga saved four match points in the previous game. Federer, who advanced to the semifinals for the 10th consecutive year at Melbourne Park, will play U.S. Open champion Andy Murray on Friday.

"I thought he played very aggressive," Federer said. "I love those four-set or five-set thrillers and I was part of one tonight."

Murray beat Jeremy Chardy of France 6-4, 6-1, 6-2. The other men's semifinal has defending champion Novak Djokovic playing David Ferrer on Thursday

Williams' downer of a Grand Slam Down Under started badly when she turned her right ankle in her opening match at Melbourne Park.

"I've had a tough two weeks between the ankle ... and my back, which started hurting," Williams said. "A lot of stuff."

While Williams packed for home ? she and sister Venus have also lost in doubles ? Stephens advanced to her first Grand Slam semifinal Wednesday night against defending champion Victoria Azarenka.

The top-seeded Azarenka beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-1 in the early quarterfinal at Rod Laver Arena. Maria Sharapova, who has lost only nine games in five matches, plays Li Na in the other semifinal.

Williams hurt her back in the eighth game of the second set and things got progressively worse. She yelled at herself on several occasions, and smashed a racket into the court, earning a $1,500 fine from tournament officials.

"I was running to the net for a drop shot," said Williams, describing the injury. "As I went to hit it, it was on the backhand. I even screamed on the court. I totally locked up after that."

She reiterated after the match that her injuries had made this Australian Open difficult for her.

"Absolutely, I'm almost relieved that it's over because there's only so much I felt I could do," she said. "I've been thrown a lot of (curve) balls these two weeks."

Stephens has coped well this week, and the magnitude of her accomplishment only hit her while she was warming down after the match.

"I was stretching, and I was like, 'I'm in the semis of a Grand Slam.' I was like, 'Whoa. It wasn't as hard as I thought,'" she said. "To be in the semis of a Grand Slam is definitely a good accomplishment. A lot of hard work."

The No. 29-seeded Stephens hadn't been given much of a chance of beating Williams, who lost only four matches in 2012 and was in contention to regain the No. 1 ranking at age 31.

Williams' latest winning streak included a straight-set win over Stephens at the Brisbane International this month.

Stephens wasn't even sure that she could beat Williams until she woke up Tuesday.

"When I got up, I was like, 'Look, Dude, like, you can do this.' Like, 'Go out and play and do your best," she said.

Williams walked around the net to congratulate Stephens, who then clapped her hand on her racket and waved to the crowd, a look of disbelief on her face.

Stephens has said she had a photo of Williams in her room when she was a child, and had long admired the Williams sisters.

"This is so crazy. Oh my goodness," Stephens said, wiping away tears in her post-match TV interview. "I think I'll put a poster of myself (up) now."

Azarenka, with her most famous fan Redfoo sitting in the crowd wearing a shirt reminding her to keep calm, overcame some early jitters to beat Kuznetsova.

After dropping serve in a long fourth game that went to deuce 10 times, Azarenka recovered to dominate the rest of the match against Kuznetsova, a two-time major winner who was floating dangerously in the draw with a No. 75 ranking as she recovers from a knee injury.

Azarenka's American rapper friend returned from a concert in Malaysia to attend the quarterfinal match.

Wearing a red sleeveless T-shirt that read "Keep Calm and Bring Out the Bottles," the name of his next single, Redfoo stood, clapped and yelled "Come on, Vika!" during the tight first set.

Williams' loss was a boost for Azarenka, who lost all five head-to-heads against the American in 2012 and is 1-11 in their career meetings.

Tsonga said he was in a "bad mood" because he lost despite playing a good match against Federer.

"I was solid. I was there every time," he said. "I just gave my best today, so I'm proud of that."

The 25-year-old Murray had his service broken for only the second time while serving for the match. But he broke back immediately to clinch a quarterfinal victory.

Murray discounted comments in the British media that he was upset with an almost full schedule of day matches while Federer was given cooler night slots on Rod Laver Arena.

"The scheduling for me is part and parcel of playing in really any tennis tournament," Murray said. "It's tough to make the schedule perfect for every single player."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-01-23-TEN-Australian-Open/id-7745d6dceee74f43a75e697e8daea129

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What Obama Wants and What Congress Will Give Him

President Obama offered a passionate defense of a progressive agenda in his inaugural address Monday, laying out the legislative priorities for the next four years that will likely be echoed in his State of the Union address next month. That includes unfinished business from his first term, such as immigration (which has a future in Congress) and climate change (which doesn?t). There was a pledge to protect the rights of gay citizens to marry (which may be decided by the Supreme Court) and to reduce the waiting time to vote (which may be decided by the states).

The people who hold the key to the president?s vision are the members of Congress with whom he will have to work. Here?s a look at how they might respond to his legislative proposals:

Climate change and sustainable energy: ?We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations,? Obama said, rehashing failed pieces of his first-term agenda. ?Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms," he added. Obama tried to push a sweeping cap-and-trade climate bill through Congress in his first term, but it died in the Senate in 2010. Since then, cap-and-trade has become politically toxic and is considered dead on arrival in Congress. The only way Obama could take action would be by using his executive authority to roll out controversial environmental regulations that would cut carbon pollution from existing coal plants. But that would generate massive push-back from industry and Environmental Protection Agency critics on Capitol Hill. At least Obama acknowledged that the path to sustainable energy ?will be long and sometimes difficult.?

Immigration reform: The president has made no secret of the fact that he is going to make comprehensive immigration reform a top priority of his second term. There is some bipartisan support, especially in the Senate, for legislation, but several sticking points remain. Lawmakers disagree on whether there should be a path to citizenship or merely legal status for illegal immigrants, and whether it should be presented as a comprehensive bill or several smaller pieces of legislation. And for immigration reform to pass in the House, Speaker John Boehner might have to violate the Hastert rule and bring legislation to the floor without the majority backing of his conference. Obama voiced support for one specific policy, arguing that immigration reform would be incomplete ?until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country.? Easing the path to citizenship for high-skilled workers enjoys broad bipartisan support in the House and Senate, but will get caught up in the debate about the size of legislation.

Equal pay for women:??For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts,? Obama said Monday. In 2009 Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, and with so much else on the agenda now, it?s hard to imagine the president expending much more energy on this issue in the next four years, let alone Congress. To wit, Republicans?last year blocked the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would have beefed up protections for women in the workplace. The law has long been considered problematic in the business community because it would open employers up to lawsuits for situations that may not be well defined, like the definition of "fair pay."

Voting reform: Obama said that the country?s ?journey? would not be complete "until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote.? It?s also a pledge he made during his acceptance speech on election night, telling the voters who waited in long lines that ?we have to fix that.? But the president is largely powerless to invoke change on this issue because the nitty-gritty of the voting process is the jurisdiction of state and local governments. Although some Democrats, including Sens. Barbara Boxer of California and Chris Coons of Delaware, introduced legislation to address long wait times, those efforts are likely to be blocked by a generation of Republicans elected on the promise to protect the 10^th Amendment and states? rights.

Gay rights: Obama said that his work would not be complete ?until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law -- for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.? The administration will go head-to-head with Congress this year on the issue of gay marriage. Nearly two years ago, Obama ordered the Justice Department to stop defending the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. Boehner announced shortly thereafter that the House of Representatives would take up defense of the law. A lawsuit, United States v. Windsor,has made its way to the Supreme Court, which has scheduled arguments for March. An affirmation of the administration?s position could pave the way for Obama to move more aggressively on gay marriage, which he now supports. If the courts do not back up his decision to no longer defend DOMA, he is unlikely to get sufficient support from Congress to repeal the law. Any further efforts to boost workplace protections for gays and lesbians in discrimination statutes have been blocked in Congress so far.

Unspoken agenda:?The irony is that Obama spent more time talking about issues he will have a hard time moving the needle on than the issues sitting on his near-term agenda. Among them, several more rounds of fiscal battles that threaten to crowd out Obama?s second-term agenda won only passing reference.?Obama said, ?We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit? before defending Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid as commitments that strengthen the country. He offered perhaps one hint the he could be more likely to cut Medicare than insurance subsidies when he said, ?we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.?

Also absent from Obama?s remarks was any mention of guns, although he did say that Americans' won?t be complete until all children, including those from Newtown, know they are cared for. Education and investments in infrastructure similarly got short shrift, and health reform received no explicit shout-out even though its implementation is likely to be among the most significant changes that occur during his second term.

One word that could dominate the first 100 days of Obama?s second term was not even mentioned once: debt.?

?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-wants-congress-him-134649948--politics.html

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