Auto Insurance Quotes Comparison ? Steps to Excellent Car - Bnr.Co

Automobile insurance coverage is certainly essential and very advantageous. Essential, as in most areas it is mandated by law that all car owners have it and helpful because as customers, this is a way to be protected against loses and liabilities that could be incurred in accidents. With this in thoughts, it is of utmost importance that we get the very best offer achievable from insurance organizations. There are a handful of crucial points that want to be noted in order to accomplish this.

Collect and Evaluate. Just before getting something, it is important to survey the industry, get information on the distinct costs and delivers in order to make the right choice on exactly where it is greatest to purchase the item. This also applies to insurance coverage for automobiles. You need to be capable to make an auto insurance coverage quotes comparison from the prices that are provided by different companies. This ensures that you are not shortchanged or offered the raw end of the deal by an insurance coverage provider.

Also, another benefit of understanding the rates of distinct organizations is that you may use it as a tool shop for an even far better deal. This permits you to get in touch with insurance coverage businesses and ask if they can offer anything far better than the initial quote that you received. Most auto insurance coverage businesses have competitive tendencies, and often lower quotes to match competitors.

Credit Counts. Always bear in mind that aside form the situation of the car you are getting insurance coverage for, a single of the principal considerations for the quote you obtain is your credit rating and record. Make certain that your credit record is correct and have any errors corrected promptly so it does not have an effect on your automobile insurance rate. Probabilities are, the larger your credit score, the better your auto insurance coverage quote will be.

Ask Concerns. When you happen to be nearing the final stages of picking an insurance organization based on the initial info you gathered from your auto insurance quotes comparison make positive to get in touch with the ones at the leading of your list straight as an alternative of going by means of an agent. Ask concerns that will give you the answers you want to finalize your choice. These can contain queries regarding any coverage that can be deleted from your quote, such as rental or roadside assistance or discounts that might be availed like prior coverage or property owners. Also, get assurance from the company representative that your auto insurance coverage policy will not lapse for any purpose as extended as your payments are in order.

If you are conscious of these crucial reminders whilst scouting for an insurance policy for your automobile, odds are you will be able to deduct a considerable quantity on its general price. Once you?ve purchased the insurance, keep in mind that how effectively you drive and how a lot you pay focus to the upkeep of your automobile will also make a huge difference the subsequent time you make an auto insurance coverage quotes comparison to renew insurance coverage.

Source: http://www.bnr.co/autos/auto-insurance/auto-insurance-quotes-comparison-steps-to-excellent-car-insurance-coverage-prices/

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Cyber Monday shopping? Don't forget the baseball tix!

If you're looking for the perfect gift for the baseball fan in your family, the Spokane Indians have just what you need.

The Spokane Indians are proving it's never too early to think about baseball season! If you order by December 19th, you can get a family pack of tickets, good for four reserved bench seats on four fireworks nights next summer. And, if you can't wait that long to show your Indians spirit, they're throwing in four Indians hats and four logo baseballs - all for the stocking-friendly price of $99.

Click here to read more about the offer and to order your pack of tickets today!

Source: http://southhill.kxly.com/news/85503-cyber-monday-shopping-dont-forget-baseball-tix

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Content Management Systems And The Art Of Web Designing ...

In web designing, how a website looks is not all that matters. It is also important to make sure that the content of the website, such as images, posts, and links are carefully managed in order to keep the website working properly. This is especially important for businesses who make use of various online advertising and marketing strategies. Companies that rely on internet marketing and commerce often find success if their website becomes popular and receives a large number of visits from potential clients on a daily basis. Apart from regularly featuring interesting, innovative and informative content, an effective business website should also have the support of a content management system, or CMS, in order to work efficiently.

Content management in relation to web designing is essentially defined as the set of processes and technologies that support the collection, managing, storing and publication of information on a given website. For many website design companies, content management systems are an integral part of their business processes. In a number of countries, business are starting to become more aware of the benefits of having CMS services sourced from independent providers. Many CMS companies offer a full range of online marketing and advertising solutions that cater to a whole host of industries. Whether the business is about selling used cars or providing services such as online education or web hosting services, CMS website design companies can help boost sales numbers exponentially.

Many CMS companies provide companies several advantages. For instance, using CMS to manage their websites saves time and effort. Instead of having to upload files using an FTP server, clients can simply log in to their CMS user interface and post their content there. The same holds true if they simply want to make certain changes on their website. Another benefit using the services of CMS companies is the support that is available from the community. There are so many CMS enthusiasts out there that open source plug ins are being developed everyday. Almost all of the CMS companies make it easy to store important details because all the content and the data are stored in a database. All the client needs to do in order to secure and backup their data is to export them. It is even possible to track what content is published, schedule the publishing dates, and automatically remove outdated content. CMS web design companies also make it easier to change the design elements of a website without having to use any HTML codes, because they can use templates to change the different parts of the website such as the header, the sidebars, and the footer, very quickly with minimal effort.

Many companies who engage in online marketing and ecommerce call on the services of CMS Saudi Arabia in order to improve their website's performance. With the influx of web services that are becoming available to more people across the world, more companies are turning to CMS services in order to maximize their website's marketing and advertising potential.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Content-Management-Systems-And-The-Art-Of-Web-Designing/4284294

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Source: http://nysebome.posterous.com/content-management-systems-and-the-art-of-web

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Source: http://nathanielosborne97.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/content-management-systems-and-the-art-of-web-designing.html

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Study links improved consumer welfare to increased prescription drug advertising efforts

ScienceDaily (Nov. 26, 2012) ? More people are better off thanks to the impact of an influx of direct-to-consumer advertising spending than they would be without those marketing efforts, according to a study recently published by Jayani Jayawardhana, an assistant professor in the University of Georgia College of Public Health.

The multi-year study focused on advertising efforts surrounding cholesterol-reducing prescription medications. Jayawardhana found increased levels of consumer welfare due to direct-to-consumer advertising than when compared to situations without this type of marketing. Her research, which was published in the International Journal of Industrial Organization, concludes that such efforts also spurred under-diagnosed patients to seek medical treatment.

Federal deregulation of prescription drug marketing in 1997 lowered cost barriers and enabled manufacturers to advertise prescription drugs without including a detailed summary of the product. Since the relaxation of those rules, advertising spending from pharmaceutical companies has increased by more than 200 percent.

Jayawardhana, a health economist in the college's department of health policy and management, said her study was the first to provide an analysis of consumer welfare that demonstrated a connection to the increased marketing expenditures. It also adds further support to existing academic research suggesting that direct-to-consumer advertising efforts lead to a more informed and more inquisitive consumer, which could lead to better health outcomes.

"Let's say you see a commercial for Lipitor, and you suspect that you have high cholesterol, so you come and ask for that drug from the physician," Jayawardhana said. "For whatever reason, the doctor may assume that isn't the best drug for you, and you get prescribed Zocor instead. The point isn't that you didn't get the drug you saw on the commercial but rather that you came to the doctor and got treatment for your condition, which leads to welfare improvement."

Because of the role of physician in the decision-making process, pharmaceutical companies have to market their drugs to the two purchasing agents involved -- the consumer and the physician.

"When you see an advertisement for something like Coke, the intent is to give you an incentive to go buy the product," she said. "But with the prescription drug market, the consumer is not the final decision maker. You have to go through a gatekeeper in the physician."

Jayawardhana's research indicates those advertising efforts-to both consumers and physicians-are paying off. In addition to heightened consumer awareness, targeted advertising toward physicians has both an informative and persuasive effect on the selection of the drug.

Jayawardhana, who holds master's and doctoral degrees in economics from the University of Virginia, said critics of the federal deregulation have suggested the marketing spending boom could lead to a myriad of harmful results-such as patients requesting and receiving inappropriate drugs or higher dosages than necessary from their physician.

While such incidents may be possible, it is difficult to recognize such outcomes in the data. However, because physicians act as gatekeepers for prescription drugs and consumers have limited access to advertised products, such negative outcomes may be scarce, she said.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Georgia. The original article was written by Johnathan McGinty.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Jayani Jayawardhana. Direct-to-consumer advertising and consumer welfare. International Journal of Industrial Organization, 2012; DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2012.09.001

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/QQklV6g9QhE/121126164407.htm

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Vettel wins F1 title again; Button takes Brazil GP

El piloto alem?n de Red Bull Sebastian Vettel, centro, festeja con miembros de su equipo despu?s de obtener el tricampeonato de F?rmula Uno en la pista Interlagos de Sao Paulo, Brasil, el domingo 25 de noviembre de 2012. (Foto AP/Andre Penner)

El piloto alem?n de Red Bull Sebastian Vettel, centro, festeja con miembros de su equipo despu?s de obtener el tricampeonato de F?rmula Uno en la pista Interlagos de Sao Paulo, Brasil, el domingo 25 de noviembre de 2012. (Foto AP/Andre Penner)

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany, top, sprays champagne on his teammates after the Brazil's Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Vettel overcame a first-lap crash to clinch his third straight Formula One championship title on Sunday, finishing sixth in an incident-filled Brazilian Grand Prix won by Jenson Button under pouring rain.(AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso. left, of Spain, sprays champagne on teammate Felipe Massa, of Brazil at the podium of the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel, of Germany, overcame a first-lap crash to clinch his third straight Formula One championship title on Sunday, finishing sixth in an incident-filled Brazilian Grand Prix won by Jenson Button under pouring rain. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

Red Bull driver Mark Webber, left, of Australia, looses control of his car after colliding with Sauber driver Sergio Perez of Mexico, right, during the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain goes briefly off the track during the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

SAO PAULO (AP) ? Sebastian Vettel found himself spinning around on the track just after the start, watching helplessly as other cars whizzed past him. His Formula One title hopes seemed to be drifting away with them.

It was only the start of Vettel's problems Sunday in what he called the toughest race of his career. But he overcame all of them and came away with the only prize that mattered ? his third straight championship title.

Vettel shook off a first-lap crash and other difficulties to finish sixth at the Brazilian Grand Prix, good enough to protect his lead over challenger Fernando Alonso and become F1's youngest three-time champion at age 25.

"Everything that could go wrong went wrong," he said.

Jenson Button of McLaren won the race at Interlagos, with Alonso second and Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa third. Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, F1's most successful driver, finished seventh in his final race after 19 seasons.

But they were all overshadowed by Vettel, who had to overcome a poor start, the early crash, a damaged car, a broken radio, a botched pit stop and pouring rain.

"Just look at the stuff that went wrong. It was for sure the toughest race," Vettel said. "We kept believing. It was never game over."

Vettel appeared in big trouble after he was bumped shortly after the start and spun. He dropped to last place before he could turn his car around and begin a difficult pursuit. But he steadily worked his way up the field despite a slightly damaged car and no radio communication.

"You are the man, you are a triple world champion," a team official told Vettel on the radio after he crossed the line, without being able to listen to the driver's response.

Vettel is the first driver with three titles in a row since Schumacher won five straight from 2000-04. The only other driver to win at least three consecutive championships was Juan Manuel Fangio from 1954-57.

"It's difficult to find the right words," Vettel said. "It's unbelievable. I'm still full of adrenaline. It was an incredible race."

Schumacher was the first to congratulate Vettel, having just bid his own farewell to the sport. Minutes before the race, he lapped the track with a flag with the words "Thank You." He used the radio to thank the mechanics and engineers he has worked with as well as his fans watching on TV.

The 43-year-old German is retiring for the second time after struggling in his return with Mercedes. He had ended his career after the 2006 season and managed only one podium finish after retuning in 2010, at the European GP in July.

Schumacher is leaving F1 with numbers unmatched by any other driver. He retires with the most wins (91), pole positions (68), fastest laps (77) and most podium finishes (155).

Vettel needed to finish fourth or better to clinch the title regardless of Alonso's result. The Spaniard would have a chance to overtake the German only by finishing on the podium. He looked to have the advantage after a superb start and a chaotic first lap, but in the end couldn't erase Vettel's 13-point lead in the standings.

Lewis Hamilton was leading in his final race with McLaren when Nico Hulkenberg crashed into him while trying to pass on a slippery track with 17 laps to go. Hamilton received a standing ovation from his McLaren team when returning to the garage.

"Mixed emotions, but I'm happy," he said.

While the race was filled with drama and potentially title-deciding swings, it had an anticlimactic finish behind the safety car after Paul Di Resta crashed just before the final lap. That meant Vettel could simply cruise safely toward the title.

It rained on and off throughout the race, making conditions difficult and forcing drivers to come in and out of the pits several times.

"It was more or less was what we wanted, mixed conditions," Alonso said. "But it was one of the most difficult races we ever drove. You feel you are with the wrong tire on every lap. It was a risk to crash and have an accident on every lap. Obviously you are not in control of what your rivals do. We were hoping for a little miracle."

And for a while, they had reason to believe in one.

Alonso moved from seventh to fifth after the first corner, while Vettel dropped from fourth to seventh. Vettel then was hit from behind by the Williams of Bruno Senna and spun at the end of the back straightaway, dropping to last place after sitting backward on the track with several cars having to go around him.

Moments later, Alonso passed Massa and Vettel's Red Bull teammate Mark Webber at the same time to move to third.

But the Spaniard lost a position after locking his front tire and briefly running off the track at the first corner. Vettel ? without significant damage to his car ? began making his way back to the front, easily passing the slower cars near the end of the pack. He was already sixth by lap 15.

Alonso briefly had the title in his hands again after more rain fell with 14 laps to go. Red Bull lost time while putting the wet tires on Vettel's car, dropping him to 11th place while Alonso moved into third. But after all cars pitted, Vettel was in sixth place, enough to keep the title. Alonso moved to second after passing Massa, but he needed Vettel to drop a few more spots.

Hamilton started from the pole and kept his spot for a few laps before being overtaken by teammate Button on the sixth lap, and Hulkenberg got past the British driver on Lap 18.

Hamilton, who will replace Schumacher at Mercedes next season, retook the lead with 22 laps to go, but was hit by Hulkenberg when the Force India driver came in too hard to make the pass.

___

Follow Tales Azzoni at http://twitter.com/tazzoni

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-11-25-CAR-F1-Brazilian-GP/id-0b6354bce98f4b2695cf9cbe9d3d619d

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IRS | 2013 | important | adjustments | IRA | retirement | contribution ...

IRAs & workplace retirement plans have higher contribution limits.
Presented by Peter Miralles, CFP?CIMA?CLU

The IRS has set annual contribution limits for IRAs, 401(k)s and other retirement plans higher for 2013, and made other important adjustments for inflation as well. Here is an overview of some notable changes just announced.

The 2013 IRA contribution limit: $5,500. This is a $500 increase from 2012, and it applies to both Roth and traditional IRAs. The IRA catch-up contribution limit for those 50 and older remains $1,000.^1,3

The 2013 contribution limit for 401(k), 403(b), TSP & most 457 plans: $17,500. For the second year in a row, we see a $500 increase. The catch-up contribution limit on these plans for participants 50 and older remains $5,500.^1,2

The phase-out range on Roth IRA contributions has increased. It starts $5,000 higher in 2013 than in 2012 for married couples filing jointly ($178,000-$188,000) and $2,000 higher for single filers and heads of household ($112,000-$127,000).³

The phase-out range on deductible contributions to traditional IRAs has risen. In 2013 it increases by $1,000 for single filers ($59,000-$69,000) and $3,000 for married couples filing jointly ($95,000-$115,000), provided the spouse making the contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan. If not, the deduction is phased out if the couple?s income is between $178,000-$188,000 ? up $5,000 from 2012.^1,3

The annual gift tax exclusion rises to $14,000 next year. The IRS has kept this at $13,000 for several years; no more. In 2013, a taxpayer can gift up to $14,000 each to as many different people as he or she wishes, tax-free.⁴

You may be able to deduct a greater portion of LTCI premiums. For 2013, the deductible portion of eligible long term care insurance premiums that may be included as medical expenses on Schedule A rises. The new limits are $360 for taxpayers 40 or less, $680 for taxpayers aged 41-50, $1,360 for taxpayers aged 51-60, $3,640 for taxpayers aged 61-70, and $4,550 for taxpayers age 71 or older.^4,5

The kiddie tax exemption increases to $1,000. It was set at $950 in 2012.⁴

The foreign earned income exclusion rises to $97,600. That is a $2,600 increase over 2012.⁴

In addition to these 2013 IRS adjustments, Social Security recipients will see a 1.7% rise in their benefits next year.²

Peter Miralles is a Representative with Cambridge Investment Research and may be reached through http://awc2.com/ or at 678-680-5300.

This material was prepared by MarketingLibrary.Net Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please note ? investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment.

Citations.
1 ? benefitslink.com/src/irs/IR-2012-77.pdf [10/18/12]
2 ? money.cnn.com/2012/10/18/pf/taxes/401k-contribution-limit/4021136.html [10/18/12]
3 ? www.bankrate.com/financing/taxes/saving-more-for-retirement-in-2013/ [10/18/12]
4 ? blogs.wsj.com/totalreturn/2012/10/18/irs-announces-2013-inflation-adjustments/ [10/18/12]
5 ? blog.oregonlive.com/taxes/2012/01/are_long-term_care_premiums_de.html [1/17/12]

tagged as 401k, financial planning, investing, IRA, IRA contribution, IRS, retirement, stock market, tax, tax law Posted in financial planning,investing

Source: http://atlantawealthconsultants.com/important-irs-adjustments-for-2013/

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Hobbits, superheroes put magic in NZ film industry

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) ? A crate full of sushi arrives. Workers wearing wetsuit shirts or in bare feet bustle past with slim laptops. With days to go, a buzzing intensity fills the once-dilapidated warehouses where Peter Jackson's visual-effects studio is rushing to finish the opening film in "The Hobbit" trilogy.

The fevered pace at the Weta Digital studio near Wellington will last nearly until the actors walk the red carpet Nov. 28 for the world premiere. But after "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" hits theaters, there's more work to be done.

Weta Digital is the centerpiece of a filmmaking empire that Jackson and close collaborators have built in his New Zealand hometown, realizing his dream of bringing a slice of Hollywood to Wellington. It's a one-stop shop for making major movies ? not only his own, but other blockbusters like "Avatar" and "The Avengers" and hoped-for blockbusters like next year's "Man of Steel."

Along the way, Jackson has become revered here, even receiving a knighthood. His humble demeanor and crumpled appearance appeal to distinctly New Zealand values, yet his modesty belies his influence. He's also attracted criticism along the way.

The special-effects workforce of 150 on "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy a decade ago now numbers 1,100. Only five of Weta Digital's workers are actual employees, however, while the rest are contractors. Many accept the situation because movie work often comes irregularly but pays well. Union leaders, though, say the workers lack labor protections existing in almost any other industry.

Like many colleagues, Weta Digital's director, Joe Letteri, came to New Zealand in 2001 to work on the "Rings" trilogy for two years. The work kept coming, so he bought a house in Wellington and stayed.

"People come here because they know it's their chance to do something really great and to get it up on the screen," he said in a recent interview.

Jackson, who declined to be interviewed for this story, launched Weta in 1993 with fellow filmmakers Jamie Selkirk and Richard Taylor. Named after an oversized New Zealand insect, the company later was split into its digital arm and Weta Workshop, which makes props and costumes.

Loving homages to the craft are present in Weta Digital's seven buildings around the green-hilled suburb of Miramar. There are old-time movie posters, prop skulls of dinosaurs and apes, and a wall of latex face impressions of actors from Chris O'Donnell to Tom Cruise.

Its huge data center, with the computing power of 30,000 laptops, resembles a milk-processing plant because only the dairy industry in New Zealand knew how to build cooling systems on such a grand scale.

Little of Weta's current work was visible. Visitors must sign confidentiality agreements, and the working areas of the facilities are off-limits. The company is secretive about any unannounced projects, beyond saying Weta will be working solidly for the next two years, when the two later "Hobbit" films are scheduled to be released.

The workforce has changed from majority American to about 60 percent New Zealanders. The only skill that's needed, Letteri says, is the ability to use a computer as a tool.

Beyond having creativity as a filmmaker, Jackson has proved a savvy businessman, Letteri says.

"The film business in general is volatile, and visual effects has to be sitting right on the crest of that wave," Letteri says. "We don't get asked to do something that somebody has seen before."

The government calculates that feature films contribute $560 million each year to New Zealand's economy. Like many countries, New Zealand offers incentives and rebates to film companies and will contribute about $100 million toward the $500 million production costs of "The Hobbit" trilogy. Almost every big budget film goes through Jackson's companies.

"New Zealand has a good reputation for delivering films on time and under budget, and Jackson has been superb at that," says John Yeabsley, a senior fellow at New Zealand's Institute of Economic Research. "Nobody has the same record or the magic ability to bring home the bacon as Sir Peter."

"You cannot overestimate the fact that Peter is a brand," says Graeme Mason, chief executive of the New Zealand Film Commission. "He's built this incredible reputational position, which has a snowball effect."

Back in 2010, however, a labor dispute erupted before filming began on "The Hobbit." Unions said they would boycott the movie if the actors didn't get to collectively negotiate. Jackson and others warned that New Zealand could lose the films to Europe. Warner Bros. executives flew to New Zealand and held a high-stakes meeting with Prime Minister John Key, whose government changed labor laws overnight to clarify that movie workers were exempt from being treated as regular employees.

Helen Kelly, president of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, says a compromise could easily have been reached. She says the law changes amounted to unnecessary union-busting and a "gross breach" of employment laws.

"I was very disappointed at Peter Jackson for lobbying for that," she says, "and I was furious at the government for doing it."

Weta Digital's general manager Tom Greally compared it to the construction industry, where multiple contractors and mobile workers do specific projects and then move on.

Animal rights activists said last week they plan to picket the premiere of "The Hobbit" after wranglers alleged that three horses and up to two dozen other animals died in unsafe conditions at a farm where animals were boarded for the movies. Jackson's spokesman Matt Dravitzki acknowledged two horses died preventable deaths at the farm but said the production company worked quickly to improve animal housing and safety. He rejected claims any animals were mistreated or abused.

Jackson's team pointed out that 55 percent of animal images in "The Hobbit" were computer generated at Weta. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have asked Jackson in the future to create all his animals in the studio.

Controversies aside, the rise of Weta and the expat American community in and around Miramar is visible in everything from a Mexican restaurant to yoga classes. On Halloween, which in the past was not much celebrated in New Zealand, hundreds of costumed children roamed about collecting candy. Americans gave the tradition a boost here, but the locals have embraced it.

The National Business Review newspaper estimates Jackson's personal fortune to be about $400 million, which could rise considerably if "The Hobbit" franchise succeeds. Public records show Jackson has partial ownership stakes in 21 private companies, most connected with his film empire. He's spent some of his money on philanthropy, helping save a historic church and a performance theater.

For all his influence, Jackson maintains a hobbit-like existence himself, preferring a quiet home life outside of work. In the end, many say, he seems to be driven by what has interested him from the start: telling great stories on the big screen.

___

Follow Nick Perry on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nickgbperry

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hobbits-superheroes-put-magic-nz-film-industry-054242009.html

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Arafat's remains said to be exhumed Tuesday

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) ? The remains of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will be exhumed Tuesday as part of a renewed investigation into his death, a Palestinian investigator said Saturday.

Arafat died in November 2004 in a French military hospital, a month after suddenly falling ill. Palestinian officials claim he was poisoned by Israel, but have not presented evidence. Israel has denied such allegations.

Earlier this year, the detection of a lethal radioactive substance in biological traces on Arafat's clothing sparked a new investigation. Tests were inconclusive, and experts said they need to check his remains to learn more.

On Tuesday, Swiss, French and Russian experts will take samples from Arafat's bones, said Tawfik Tirawi, who heads the Palestinian team investigating the death. They will examine the samples in their home countries.

Arafat will be reburied the same day with military honors, but the ceremony will be closed to the public, Tirawi told a news conference.

He did not specify when results would be announced but said the probe could take months.

Earlier this month, workers began prying open the concrete-encased tomb in Arafat's former government headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

The Palestinian Authority, the self-rule government in the West Bank, had hesitated before agreeing to exhume the remains, in part because of cultural and religious sensitivities.

Since mid-November, the gravesite has been surrounded with a blue tarpaulin and roads leading to the Arafat mausoleum were closed. Arafat is still widely revered in the Palestinian territories, and Palestinian officials said they don't want the process observed by media and others.

The new probe into his death began this summer, after a Swiss lab discovered traces of polonium-210, a deadly radioactive isotope, on clothes said to be Arafat's. The clothes were provided by Arafat's widow, Suha, and given to the lab by the Arab satellite TV station Al-Jazeera. Separately, Mrs. Arafat asked the French government to investigate, while the Palestinian Authority called in Russian experts.

Arafat's death has remained a mystery for many. While the immediate cause of death was a stroke, the underlying source of an illness he suffered in his final weeks has never been clear, leading to persistent conspiracy theories that he had cancer, AIDS or was poisoned.

Many in the Arab world believe Arafat, the face of the Palestinian independence struggle for four decades, was killed by Israel. Israel, which saw Arafat as an obstacle to peace, vehemently denies the charge.

There is no guarantee the exhumation will solve the mystery. Polonium-210 is known to rapidly decompose, and experts are divided over whether any remaining samples will be sufficient for testing.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/arafats-remains-said-exhumed-tuesday-103656983.html

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Web design: KDR Creative Media - The Rod "Muniklip" Mosby Blog ...

If you have a business in Surrey that that you want to set up, you would know by now that the World Wide Web is one of the more formidable platforms through which you can market your services or products and at the same time get in touch with a better audience market than you ever thought was possible. Today, with the support of a website and basic marketing, you will have a way to set up your business on the net and drive your sales through the roof. When you choose for a web site design in Surrey to build up your online presence, you can be sure to get the best of what money can purchase.

Many a times, small business people decide to choose for a cheaper route and obtain web design companies in Surrey to design substandard sites for them. This in turn reflects poorly of their business and creates a sense of unprofessionalism about the business which they manage. If you are thinking about setting up a web site design for your small business in Surrey, then it really is strongly suggested that you seek professionals to manage your site. By the end of the day, you would need exactly what you are paying for and selecting for a professional web site design company in Surrey would be the perfect way to start it. If you do decide on buying a low priced design, you are only creating a chance for your company to sink. Most clients are impressed by having an online company just if they see a professional and well organized design on their service web site. Defectively constructed sales pages and product or sales descriptions directly affects business. It is therefore imperative that you select for a web site design firm in Surrey to be careful of your needs in a professional manner that can be depending on your requirements.

There are a number of web site design Surrey businesses that offer their services at substantially affordable rates. These types of organizations design web pages in HTML/CSS. Which means that you could have not a lot of control on the development of your pages. The moment you add a brand new service or product to your online business catalogue, you would need to shell out money again to have the web site updated. If you do not mind spending money over and over again, then you can go for it. Nevertheless, if you are looking at saving up on finances in the long run, you would be satisfied to know that very few web site design studios in Surrey that can offer you with a whole content management system which you can use to update your products and services.

The best content management system (CMS) available today is WordPress. WordPress promises to give you absolute get a handle on over your sites in order that you can update it whenever and wherever you want. Web site design companies in Surrey will design the CMS according to your specifications and provide you with log-in information to the WordPress CMS. The moment you opt for a web site design in Surrey to be careful of your small enterprises web design, you may also want to opt for marketing. SEO is a complicated marketing strategy which only a few Surrey web site design companies have already been in a position to understand. With the aid of search engine optimization (Search Engine Optimization), you will be able to control the search engine placements of your online business. This basically means that individuals that search for the products or services on leading search engines such as for instance Google, Bing and so on are certain to get to see your website first before anyone else's.

To help determine what SEO is, only search it. Finally, when all is prepared, a web site design Surrey Business will allow you to set up a PPC (Pay Per Click) campaign. Through the PPC campaign, you will be able to generate more visitors to your WordPress site and transform them in to sales. There are always a couple of technicalities with a PPC campaign which web site design companies for small businesses in Surrey should be able to assist you with. Fact of the subject is that good websites usually do not cost the planet earth. They have been affordable to a certain degree. When it comes to obtaining a complete and comprehensive online CMS to manage your website for you, give your complete flexibility in updating, modifying and adding products and marketing your site on the internet, spending around APS1,500 seems just like quite a good deal. As soon as you put up a CMS WordPress web site, you are certain to think it is favorable to your business in terms of its operations and financial returns. Mike Boulton works at wey2creative internet site design and optimisation in Weybridge, Surrey web design surrey. Content managed web sites beginning with 1,500 pounds.

Source: http://muniklip1.blogspot.com/2012/11/web-design-kdr-creative-media.html

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blog ? Art of Im - Make Money Online | Free Traffic Building | Internet ...

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Click Image To Visit SiteIf you?re an affiliate marketer and you rely primarily on Google to get traffic and make sales, you know one thing is for certain. You want to have a clean and clear layout with easy to use navigation that looks professional and is also simple for you to edit and update on the backend! I ??

Hey, it?s Jackson here. What an amazing week it has been! Rob and I attended the Clickbank Exchange in New York City this week (although we BARELY made it to the airport ? we flew out from the Philippines during a monsoon that drowned hundreds of people and submerged most of Manila, the capital city). ??

If you?re a complete newbie struggling to get your foot in the door of internet marketing, then this will sound familiar: You get an email from some guru, telling you another guru has this awesome product/software that you can make money online in like 3 clicks or 7 days You think to yourself ?awesome! This ??

I have both good news and bad news to tell you. So since I like leaving on a high, let?s start with the BAD news? Google has been very busy lately working with a LOT of new updates to their algorithm. As we should all know by now their ?war on web spam? has now ??

Every once in a while you come across a course that everyone is talking about and for some reason you can?t help but wonder why. Well Mark Ling?s Affiloblueprint 3.0 is one of those courses and let me explain to you in detail what it?s all about. Here?s a little background information about Mark Ling?s ??

On April 24, Google rolled out its dreaded Penguin update and this time the update seemed to primarily target off-page factors ? especially the quality of the links pointing at your site. If Penguin found low-quality links pointing to you, you probably got penalized. This is a radical shift in the way Google evaluates websites. ??

If you?re a regular reader of this blog, you?re probably aware that I live in the Philippines. I moved here from Las Vegas a few years ago to enjoy the benefits of living in a low-cost tropical paradise, and to build up my internet marketing business. A couple of weeks ago, one of my IM ??

Have you ever wondered how some of these internet marketers are able to release product after product, software after software and give you bonus after bonus? I?m not talking about the low quality marketers either (you know the guys who sell you stuff that was obviously created by an outsourced worker for $50.00). I?m talking ??

Hey folks, Jackson Lin here. Remember how a few posts ago, I said I?d show you a NINJA technique of getting backlinks to your money site that Google actually likes?that?s 100% hands-free for you? Well, I?m ready to? Read more?

No related posts.

Source: http://incbizzmarketingtips.com/1205/blog-art-of-im/

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Canada's third quarter GDP growth seen falling sharply

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's economy likely expanded at a disappointing annualized rate of 0.9 percent in the third quarter, hurt by weaker demand for the country's exports and the drag of a rapidly cooling housing market.

The median forecast in a Reuters survey of 25 analysts was less than the Bank of Canada's already modest 1 percent forecast and well below what is needed to absorb the economy's unused slack.

Such a pace is likely to keep the central bank from raising interest rates anytime soon.

Just last month, a Reuters poll showed analysts were expecting third quarter growth of 1.7 percent.

But forecasts fell sharply following a string of weak data releases. These showed a surprise contraction in August growth, fewer exports, a cooling housing market and temporary disruptions in the oil sector.

"International headwinds weighed heavily on Canadian economic output, with exports down 8.6 percent in the quarter, a third consecutive quarterly loss. Domestic demand was likely constrained by tighter mortgage insurance rules put in place on July 9," TD Bank economist Diana Petramala said in a research note.

In its October Monetary Policy Report, the Bank of Canada said it expected third-quarter growth of 1.0 percent, slashing its previous forecast of 2.0 percent. Growth in the second quarter was just 1.9 percent.

Only 11 of 25 economists in the Reuters survey saw third-quarter growth of at least 1.0 percent.

The central bank believes that the economy's potential output grows by 2 percent a year. Anything less than that adds to unused capacity and in theory reduces inflationary pressure.

The latest forecasts reflect fragile business and investment sentiment globally, as fears about Europe's debt crisis have flared up again, while the U.S. budget impasse threatens to push the world's largest economy back into recession.

A report last week from Conference Board of Canada showed business confidence in Canada fell in the third quarter for the second time in a row.

The Bank of Canada painted a brighter picture for the next two quarters, seeing growth pick up to 2.5 percent in the fourth quarter and 2.6 percent in the beginning of 2013. However, many analysts think a rebound will take even longer.

"While we largely agree with the (Bank of Canada) on Q3, their 2.5 percent call for Q4 is looking mighty optimistic," Benjamin Reitzes, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said a note to clients. "Following the unexpected drop in August GDP, the September rebound looks to be modest at best ... that would provide a weak handoff to Q4."

For September, the economists saw minimal growth of 0.1 percent after a 0.1 percent decline August.

Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney has retained his bias towards increasing interest rates, but said rate increases have become "less imminent" as the economy slows.

As a result, most of Canada's primary dealers - the institutions that deal directly with the Bank of Canada as it carries out monetary policy - expect the central bank to hold off raising interest rates until late next year or 2014.

(Editing by Jeffrey Hodgson and Andre Grenon)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/canadas-third-quarter-gdp-growth-seen-falling-sharply-202345647--business.html

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Google Play, developers slash prices on apps and media for Thanksgiving weekend

If you've taken advantage of the myriad Black Friday deals on mobile devices and PCs, you're probably looking for content to feed the technology beast. Google and app creators are pulling out all the stops to make sure that beast stays full: Google Play has discounts throughout the Thanksgiving weekend for just about every format on offer. Android apps are the highlight, with SwiftKey 3, Shadowgun and Documents To Go on the list of those with grander price cuts, although there's some definite bargains to be had in media. Among the picks are price drops on books like The Hobbit, movies like The Big Lebowski and Serenity, and music from the likes of Diana Krall and Kendrick Lamar. We can't possibly mention every offer here, so check our links for some of the larger deals.

Terrence O'Brien contributed to this report.

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Portable Audio/Video, Tablets, Internet, Mobile

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Source: Google Play (1), (2)

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/EpP0sfemYpc/

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9 more Iraq, Afghan war veterans joining Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Nine veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be part of next year's freshman class in the House of Representatives.

Their numbers give veterans' groups assurance that Congress will still have important advocates in their corner.

But the overall number of veterans in Congress has been declining. For example, Congress in 1977 and 1978 had more than 400 veterans among its 535 members. About 100 veterans will serve next year in Congress.

Tom Tarantino is chief policy officer at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans for America. He says the freshmen vets have wide-ranging political views, but their shared experiences can help overcome differences in dealing with issues like high unemployment rates among younger vets and access to education and disability benefits.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/9-more-iraq-afghan-war-veterans-joining-congress-140652303.html

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95% Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel

All Critics (61) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (3)

Her life, and her work, transcended what we think of as "fashion." Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel celebrates a unique and uniquely determined woman.

Many people remember some of Diana Vreeland's famous pronouncements ("I adore pink! It is the navy blue of India!") but few remember actually hearing her speak. The documentary Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel takes care of that.

For fashionphiles and pop culture vultures, there's much to devour.

Diana Vreeland is both history lesson and sentimental love letter to a fashion titan.

Legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland was the consummate dreamer, a romantic who never looked back and propelled society forward.

A feast for fashion-history buffs and anyone who applauds unstoppable eccentricity.

She wanted you to look and look again, and this film is full of images which make you do just that.

There's something marvellously comic about her, an effect reinforced by her refined yet raucous baritone voice.

This pleasurable documentary is jammed packed with images from magazines, photoshoots and newsreels of a life well lived, but also lots of historical footage of the life Vreeland imagined she had too.

...more of an energetic and affectionate sketch than a revealing portrait of this oversized personality, but one has to wonder if the woman who celebrated glittering surfaces would have wanted it any other way.

This fascinating documentary reveals that Vreeland (who died in 1989, aged 86) was an original: a dynamic woman with energy to spare and an infectious lust for life

What makes this such a joy to watch is not just the timeline of fashion highlights, but Vreeland's unique perspective on life.

The filmmakers have done a fine job corralling so many fantastic tales from Vreeland's life.

"Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel" is an intriguing portrait of a true original; you only wish the movie had half the color and verve of its subject.

A lively movie, and in the case of its appearance-obsessed subject, it feels right that all it does is skim the surface.

[Vreeland's] influence on twentieth-century culture was large, and it's celebrated here with affection, dedication and skill--but very little critical detachment.

Though unwilling to dig too deeply into what seems an imperfect private life, it still serves as a splendid introduction to a unique personality.

A poignant portrait of an inveterate iconoclast who couldn't help but push the envelope.

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Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diana_vreeland_the_eye_has_to_travel_2012/

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Benefits of Selecting Energy-Efficient Windows - Superior Pro Home ...

Last updated 4 hours 20 minutes ago

Windows can make all the difference in the look and feel of your home. Besides their obvious role in providing natural light, windows can affect your home?s energy efficiency. Depending on the type of glass, coating, and quality of installation, your windows could provide dramatic energy savings.

In this video, you?ll discover how a new generation of windows and technology make it easy to save energy in your home. Get an inside look at how different window treatments are created, such as Low-E glass. You?ll also learn how to read window ratings and what the U-Factor and solar heat gain coefficient number indicate about a window?s energy performance.

If you?re interested in reaping the benefits of energy-efficient windows, consult with the professionals at Superior Pro Home Improvement. We offer quality installation and replacement services to residents in the greater Atlanta area. Call us today at (678) 951-8770 to learn about our selection of Energy Star rated products.

Source: http://www.superiorpropaintersatlanta.com/596268/2012/11/21/benefits-of-selecting-energy-efficient-windows.html

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Deere has downbeat 2013 outlook, and shares fall

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ? Tractor maker Deere & Co. is taking a cautious view of 2013, as drought and economic uncertainty hold back spending in some of the world's biggest farm economies.

Also, its most recent quarterly profit missed analysts' expectations. Deere shares fell $3.16, or 3.7 percent, to close at $82.83 Wednesday.

Deere is the world's largest maker of agricultural equipment, like the bright green tractors and combines that prowl farm fields during planting and harvest seasons. Its fortunes rise and fall with those of farmers.

In recent years, that's been a booming business as strong crop prices have put money in farmers' pockets. But there were signs of a slowdown in farm spending in Deere's outlook for the fiscal year that began this month.

And with the so-called "fiscal cliff" of potential tax increases and spending cuts looming in the U.S., Deere is cautious about big spending projects.

Deere expects agriculture sales in the U.S. and Canada to be flat for the year, as farmers continue to recover from a major drought in 2012. It predicted farmers will have $402.5 billion in cash receipts for 2013 ? down by $2.5 billion from Deere's August prediction ? but still higher than in 2012 or 2011.

It also predicted that European sales would be flat to down 5 percent, and little changed in Asia. It expects 10 percent growth in South America. Overall Deere predicted that worldwide equipment sales will rise 5 percent for the year.

Labor expenses are rising, too. Deere hired 5,000 more people this year to support its growth. And it will have spent $480 million shoring up its pension plans in fiscal 2012 ? $5 million more than it had expected ? and will spend some $550 million in the current fiscal year.

Still, it predicted a fiscal 2013 profit of $3.2 billion, slightly above the expectations of analysts polled by FactSet. It said prices for its equipment will rise 3 percent for the year, on top of a 4 percent gain in the fourth quarter.

In the quarter that ended Oct. 31, Deere's net income rose 2.7 percent to $687.6 million, or $1.75 per share. Revenue rose 14 percent to $9.79 billion. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected earnings of $1.88 per share. A year ago Deere's net income was $669.6 million, or $1.62 per share.

Equipment sales rose to $9.05 billion, topping analysts' forecasts of $8.93 billion. Sales were strong in the U.S. and Canada, rising 26 percent for the quarter. Elsewhere, sales fell 2 percent. Sales of agriculture and turf equipment rose 16 percent, while construction and forestry equipment sales rose 7 percent.

In addition to farm equipment, Deere makes construction and forestry equipment such as backhoes, excavators, riding mowers and leaf blowers, making the company sensitive to movements in the global economy.

Deere is holding off on big spending projects as much as possible until January because of economic uncertainty, said Chief Financial Officer Rajesh Kalathur on a conference call.

"As the economics now become clearer, we may modify our plans. We will pull levers and cut down on investments if the scenario worsens, and we may accelerate our plans" if economies turn more positive, he said.

For the full fiscal year, Deere earned $3.07 billion, or $7.63 per share, up from $2.8 billion, or $6.63 per share, during the prior year. Revenue rose 13 percent to $36.16 billion for the year.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/deere-downbeat-2013-outlook-shares-fall-203057465--finance.html

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Catholic college's completion coaching with prior-learning credits

The College of Saint Scholastica, a Roman Catholic institution located in Duluth, Minn., wants to help working adults earn degrees with a hands-on approach to granting credit for learning gained outside the classroom, including through massive open online classes (MOOCs).

?I?m really intrigued by this so-called disruptive technology,? said Larry Goodwin, Saint Scholastica?s president. ?It does seem to provide at least the possibility of making the higher education business model less expensive.?

The new degree completion program, which is in a pilot phase, is aimed at students who hold some college credit but have failed to earn a degree ? some 40 million Americans. Every adult student in the program at Saint Scholastica will be assigned a faculty member or staff counselor who will serve as a ?completion coach? to help them along the way.

College officials said they will count up to 96 credits from elsewhere toward a bachelor's degree. Those credits could include transfer credits earned at a community college or other four-year institution. But they could also be credits students earn by proving their prior learning through a portfolio -- a detailed record of that learning -- or by passing tailored tests or commonly used examinations. Students must earn a minimum of 32 credits from Saint Scholastica, with some of those credits counting toward general education and major requirements.

The private college?s ambitious approach to prior-learning assessment is a reminder that nontraditional, online institutions like Western Governors University and the University of Maryland University College aren?t the only ones trying to stay a step ahead of potential game-changers in higher education.

Like community colleges and regional public universities, a growing number of private colleges have ramped up their experiments with the big three disruptions: competency-based learning, prior-learning assessment and fledgling attempts to issue credit for MOOCs.

Some, like Liberty University, which does prior-learning assessment, and Southern New Hampshire University, which is pushing the envelope on competency-based learning, have built their own online brand. But others, like Saint Scholastica, are relying on mostly on transfer credit issued by their on-ground campuses.

The college is a member of the Council of Independent Colleges. Richard Ekman, the council?s president, said several other member institutions have made similar strides of late, including Centenary College in New Jersey, Saint Leo University and Southern Vermont University.

Those efforts can be controversial, however. Faculty members are often skeptical about handing out college credit for learning that occurs somewhere else. And that can be a particular challenge at private colleges, where there is typically an emphasis on general education requirements and a holistic approach to learning. Small private colleges are often attached to their identity and mission, for good reason.

Ekman said he has concerns about how much of a degree comes from prior-learning assessment. The federal government and regional accreditors require that a minimum of 25 percent of credits counting toward a degree were earned for classes at the issuing college.

?I worry a lot about the coherence of degrees,? Ekman said. ?There?s got to be an informing philosophy of education.?

Value and Prior Learning

Goodwin said the college is taking a thoughtful, faculty-led approach to determining its still-evolving stance on prior-learning assessment. For example, he said faculty members were considering how, and if, tests could be designed to measure learning in MOOCs. And they are working on how to incorporate portfolio-based methods, as well as the possibility of using oral exams to get ?inside the student?s heads.?

Perhaps most importantly, Goodwin said the college would seek to incorporate its ?moral compass? and Benedictine ethos in prior-learning assessment. And that will be made easier through what he hopes will be a distinctively high-touch model of coaching.

?That kind of an approach allows us to include our values,? said Goodwin. ?I want us to try to hold onto that.?

Saint Scholastica is hardly a neophyte when it comes to serving adult students, which make up about half of its total enrollment of 4,000\. (The college offers some master?s degrees alongside its bachelor?s programs.) Although the University of Minnesota has a branch campus in Duluth, Saint Scholastica is a big fish in the Rust Belt city. During economic downturns it has been popular with out-of-work adult students who want training for a new start.

That regional role is evident in the college?s description of its ?CSS Complete? program, which it describes as being designed to help 100,000 Minnesotans who left college without a degree over the last decade.

One key for the prior-learning assessment push to take off at Saint Scholastica is its price point. Most adult students are unlikely to be attracted by a full sticker price of $30,000 in tuition and fees. But with prior-learning credits, a bachelor?s degree could cost as little as $25,000, according to the college.

On its website Saint Scholastica describes how a hypothetical student could spend $8,500 on 60 credits earned at community colleges and $500 for successfully passed College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams, which would be worth 12 credits. Then the student could spend $1,500 on "challenge" exams at Saint Scholastica for prior-learning, also worth 12 credits, $1,500 on a 12-credit portfolio assessment, and then $12,640 on 32 credits of coursework. That means the college would only receive $15,640 of the estimated total cost of $24,000 for the degree. The details and business model for that pathway are still being hashed out, however, Goodwin said.

The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is a national leader on standards for prior-learning assessment. The group also runs a portfolio service called LearningCounts.org. Chari Leader-Kelley, vice president for Learning Counts, said private colleges that are increasing their prior-learning assessment offerings are often tuition driven, and are also mindful of changing demographics. Saint Scholastica, for example, is in a region that lacks the fertile student populations of the South and West.

Colleges that will succeed with adult students seeking prior-learning credits need to be mindful of how those students fit in on campus, Leader-Kelley said.

?Programs offered in isolation without taking into account the changes in culture, service delivery and faculty support will likely struggle,? she said via email.

Source: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/11/19/catholic-colleges-completion-coaching-prior-learning-credits

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Leaked docs on UN summit to control the Internet | Darker Net

Leaked documents have been made available ? see below ? on proposals and other items for the World Conference on International Telecommunications, where delegates of the International Telecommunication Union, an arm of the United Nations, aim to agree on just how the Internet can be controlled once and for all.

Here are the leaked documents from the conference, courtesy of ?WCITLeaks?.

They cover:
a) the agenda and papers for the World Conference on International Telecommunications summit (and documents that relate to preparatory meetings over the last two years),
b) documents relating to the ITU, http
c) documents relating to the Telecommunication/Information and Communication Technology Policy Forum, scheduled to meet in Geneva in May 2013,
d) resources and news on the above

The conference takes place in Dubai, between 3-14 December. Here are documents on the official ITU website. The International Telecommunications Regulations under review are here.

The measures being considered by the Conference, together with the country-by-country measures outlined below (examples from the USA, the UK, Australia and France) clearly indicate that what is now needed is a parallel Internet that will not be under the control of any legislation or government or global authority and will enable information to remain free. Those who have the skills and knowledge to help facilitate such a resource ? presumably via a collaboration of anons and leaks sites and offshore hosts ? are urged to do so as a matter of urgency. (Before that happens, here is a guide on how to stay anonymous online.)

Cyber-snooping measures being enacted in four countries:

On US Internet snooping

For an update on what has happened with CISPA (legislation designed to remove all legal barriers that prevents Internet companies from giving your communication and information to the government) click here.

There is also the FBI?s Going Dark program, whereby police can place surveillance cameras on private property without a search warrant.

In September, 2012, the US House of Representatives voted to reauthorize the 2008 FISA Amendment Act (FAA), but not without attracting criticism from some very concerned parties. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a legal brief warning, ?Under the FAA, the government can target anyone ? human rights researchers, academics, attorneys, political activists, journalists ? simply because they are foreigners outside the United States, and in the course of its surveillance it can collect Americans? communications with those individuals.? For more, click here.

Also, a new order, Presidential Policy Directive 20 (PP20), aims to ?finalize new rules of engagement that would guide commanders when and how the military can go outside government networks to prevent a cyberattack that could cause significant destruction or casualties.? For more on this, click here.

On UK phone, email and social network monitoring:

As earlier revealed by Darkernet, legislation will allow GCHQ to monitor all web activity, emails, online chat, Skype and VOIP calls within as well as in and out of the UK. The facility will involve the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and be headed by ex-MI6 boss, Charles Farr whose background is found here. The facility will cost ?650m, initially, and will see a link up with similar facilities in the USA and Australia. Here is the UK Government plan and here is the wider context. Here are the technical aspects. Here is an article on the role of GCHQ in this facility.

Here is a link to the Communications and Data bill. For a general overview on the related Patriot Act by ZDNet, click here. To see the MoD?s cyber strategy upon which all this is based, click here.

Also, see how the UK Police grabs location data from everyone?s mobile phones.

And what about social network snooping? Well, for some time GCHQ has been gearing up for this and earlier this year advertised for ?data mining experts? to develop new search technologies that can trawl the social networking sites to gather intelligence. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest: all of them could be the source of valuable intelligence that the UK?s intelligence agencies want to know about. And they won?t just be looking at UK traffic. For more on this, click here.

On Australian phone, email and Internet monitoring:

The plan is for telephone and internet data of every Australian to be retained for up to two years and intelligence agencies like ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) to be given increased access to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. These plans were first revealed in a discussion paper, released by the Attorney-General?s Department earlier this year. To find out more, click here and here and here.

There is also new legislation that will significantly expand the surveillance powers of ASIO to monitor anyone overseas, including Australian citizens, who are considered a threat to ?national economic well-being?, ?security? or ?foreign relations?. For more, click here. To see the details of the legislation, click here.

It is also worth noting that according to the Australian journal, Crikey? ?In response to a question from Phillip Ruddock? AGD [Australian Attorney-General Department] had discussed forcing offshore-based encryption providers to disclose encryption keys with other governments. In the event governments are able to negotiate such ?mutual assistance? agreements with each other, encryption using decentralised systems like Tor will be the only solution for anyone wishing to preserve basic privacy.?

You can download a recent Australian Govt doc, ?Security Inquiry?. See also an analysis of Attorney-General Roxon?s plans re cyber snooping.

On French legislation to censor the Internet

Last year it was revealed that an executive order was drafted that would give the French government the power to arbitrarily censor any content or service on the Net. By implementing article 18 of the law for the Digital Economy of June 21st, 2004, the French government is proposing to give to several of its ministries the power to order the censorship of online content that harms or otherwise puts at risk public order and security, the protection of minors, of public health, national defence, or physical persons.

The above covers just four countries. Internet control and monitoring is, of course, already in place in authoritarian/repressive regimes, such as China, Bahrain, Syria and so on?

Posted from the darker net via Android.

Source: http://darkernet.in/leaked-docs-on-un-summit-to-control-the-internet/

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