Lights2you Takes Heat Off Rising Electricity Costs with the Latest in Energy-Efficient Lighting

Sydney, Australia (PRWEB) July 16, 2012

Consumers are feeling the heat as the new carbon tax, which took effect on July 1 of this year, adds a punishing 20 percent to power costs according to the Energy Users Association of Australia (EUAA). The Federal Coalition hopes to bring reprieve to consumers by aiming to repeal the carbon tax if they win the next election. While residents and business owners wait for that to happen, Lights2you offers a practicable solution today. The Sydney-based lighting specialist recently introduced its line of energy-efficient lighting options, which include LED downlights, glass crystal LED pendants, and a whole new range of indoor and outdoor lighting.

The online lighting specialist remarks, Lights2you has an extensive range of lighting fixtures for both indoor and outdoor use. Our indoor range caters to every room under the roof with specialized bathroom lighting, bedroom lighting and living room lighting through downlights, spotlights, pendants, oysters and wall lights. Lights2you also has a large range of table and floor Lamps to compliment your unique d

Tags: Costs, Electricity, EnergyEfficient, Heat, latest, Lighting, Lights2you, Rising, Takes

Source: http://www.gsjournal.com/2012/12/lights2you-takes-heat-off-rising-electricity-costs-with-the-latest-in-energy-efficient-lighting/

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Al-Qaida in Yemen offers bounty on US ambassador

Yahya Arhab / EPA, file

The Yemen branch of al-Qaida has put out a bounty on U.S. Ambassador Gerald Feierstein, shown earlier this month at a military conference in Sanaa.

By Rania El Gamal, Reuters

The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida has offered a bounty for anyone who kills the U.S. ambassador to Yemen or an American soldier in the impoverished Arab state, a group that monitors Islamist websites said.

Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) said it was offering 3 kilograms (more than 105 ounces) of gold for the killing of Ambassador Gerald Feierstein, the U.S. ambassador based in Sanaa, the U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group said, citing an audio released by militants.

---

AQAP also offered to pay 5 million rials ($23,350) to anyone who kills any American soldier in Yemen, it said.

Citing the audio, SITE said the offer was put out as being valid for six months and was made "to encourage our Muslim Ummah (nation), and to expand the circle of the jihad (holy war) by the masses."

Suspected al-Qaida attack kills 26

AQAP, made up mostly of militants from Yemen and Saudi Arabia, is regarded by the United States as the most dangerous branch of the network founded by Osama bin Laden.

In September, AQAP urged Muslims to step up protests and kill U.S. diplomats in Muslim countries over a film denigrating the Prophet Mohammad, which it said was another chapter in the "crusader wars" against Islam.

The film provoked an outcry among Muslims, who deem any depiction of the Prophet as blasphemous and triggered violent attacks on embassies in countries in Asia and the Middle East.

Four U.S. officials, including the ambassador to Libya, were killed in the aftermath. The Pentagon said it had sent a platoon of Marines to Yemen after demonstrators stormed the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa.

A U.S. ally, Yemen is struggling against challenges on many fronts since mass protests forced veteran leader Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down in February after decades in power.

Key al-Qaida figure killed

President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government is trying to re-establish order and unify the army.

Washington, which has pursued a campaign of assassination by drone and missile against suspected al-Qaida members, backed a military offensive in May to recapture areas of Abyan province. But militants have struck back with a series of bombings and killings.

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/31/16265283-al-qaida-in-yemen-offers-bounty-on-us-ambassador?lite

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Lenders in debt battle as they plan HMV revival

By Neil Craven, Financial Mail On Sunday

PUBLISHED: 17:22 EST, 29 December 2012 | UPDATED: 17:22 EST, 29 December 2012

HMV?s lenders plan to block efforts by turnaround fund Apollo to buy the firm?s debt as they plot a revival of its fortunes.

Music industry sources said Apollo Global Management had been planning to buy the retailer?s debt, which would give it control of HMV.

Apollo has already acquired ten per cent of the debt and must now negotiate with about six banks.

Bruised: HMV in Central London

However, the lenders are understood to be reluctant to sell their loans too cheaply and are still hopeful that HMV can survive without a takeover.

A source said: ?There is a feeling among the banks that they have come this far, so let?s see it through.?

?

Financial Mail reported in June that restructuring firms were looking to take over the debt as a cheap way of gaining control of HMV. Its stock market value is only ?8.6million and the debts are ?176million.

The restructuring firms believe they can overhaul HMV more efficiently off the stock market.

That could mean closing unprofitable stores and making deals with landlords over leases. Next month, HMV faces crunch talks with banks.

It warned just before Christmas that it could miss looming financial targets.

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Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/news/article-2254598/Lenders-debt-battle-plan-HMV-revival.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

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Fiscal cliff stumble could doom California's budget recovery

The total link site for the news and information junkie: Libertarianism. Property Rights. Government Corruption. Chicago Mob. Struggle Against Socialism. Union Corruption. Pension Meltdown. Blacked Out History. New York Mob. Higher Education rip-offs. Housing Crash. Rent-seeking. Obama-Chicago Democratic Machine. Gun Control Monopolists. The Ron Paul Revolution. Organized Crime...Other Politically Incorrect matters of interest.

Source: http://nalert.blogspot.com/2012/12/fiscal-cliff-stumble-could-doom.html

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21 missing Pakistani policemen found shot dead

Pakistani volunteers carry a wounded bus passenger following a blast in Karachi, Pakistan on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. The blast that ripped through the bus set the vehicle on fire and reduced it to little more than a charred skeleton, killing scores of people and left many injured. Police were trying to determine whether the explosion was caused by a bomb or a gas cylinder, said police spokesman. Many buses in Pakistan run on natural gas. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Pakistani volunteers carry a wounded bus passenger following a blast in Karachi, Pakistan on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. The blast that ripped through the bus set the vehicle on fire and reduced it to little more than a charred skeleton, killing scores of people and left many injured. Police were trying to determine whether the explosion was caused by a bomb or a gas cylinder, said police spokesman. Many buses in Pakistan run on natural gas. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Pakistani volunteers carry a wounded passenger following a blast in Karachi, Pakistan on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. The blast that ripped through the bus set the vehicle on fire and reduced it to little more than a charred skeleton, killing scores of people and left many injured. Police were trying to determine whether the explosion was caused by a bomb or a gas cylinder, said police spokesman. Many buses in Pakistan run on natural gas. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Pakistani volunteers help a critically injured passenger on his way to a hospital following a blast in Karachi, Pakistan on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. The blast that ripped through the bus set the vehicle on fire and reduced it to little more than a charred skeleton, killing scores of people and left many injured. Police were trying to determine whether the explosion was caused by a bomb or a gas cylinder, said police spokesman. Many buses in Pakistan run on natural gas. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) ? Twenty-one tribal policemen believed to have been kidnapped by the Taliban were found shot dead in Pakistan's troubled northwest tribal region early Sunday, government officials said.

Officials found the bodies shortly after midnight in the Jabai area of Frontier Region Peshawar after being notified by one policeman who escaped, said Naveed Akbar Khan, a top political official in the area. Another policeman was found seriously wounded, said Khan.

The 23 policemen went missing before dawn Thursday when militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons attacked two posts in Frontier Region Peshawar. Two policemen were also killed in the attacks.

Militants lined the policemen up on a cricket pitch late Saturday night and gunned them down, said another local official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion fell on the Pakistani Taliban, who have been waging a bloody insurgency against the government for the past few years. The tribal region is the main sanctuary for the Taliban in Pakistan.

On Saturday, an explosion ripped through a passenger bus at a terminal in the southern city of Karachi, killing six people and wounding 52 others, some of whom were in critical condition, said Seemi Jamali, a doctor at the hospital where the victims were being treated.

Police were trying to determine whether the blast, which reduced the bus to a charred skeleton, was caused by a bomb or a gas canister that exploded, said police spokesman Imran Shaukat. Many buses in Pakistan run on natural gas.

Karachi has a long history of political, ethnic and sectarian violence. It is also believed to be home to many Taliban militants who have fled U.S. drone attacks and Pakistani army operations in the country's northwest.

Also Saturday, a government official said authorities are investigating allegations that cough syrup has killed 33 people over the past three days in eastern Pakistan, the second time in recent months medicine is suspected of causing multiple deaths.

The deaths occurred in the city of Gujranwala and nearby villages, said local official Abdul Jabbar Shaheen. Another 54 people thought to have consumed the syrup are also being treated at city hospitals. Officials believe the victims drank the syrup to get high, he added.

Tests show the victims' stomachs contained dextromethorphan, a synthetic morphine derivative used in cough syrup that can have mind-altering effects if consumed in large quantities, said Shaheen. Investigators are trying to determine if the victims drank too much syrup, or whether there was a problem with the medicine itself, he said.

Twenty-three people died in the nearby city of Lahore in November after drinking bad cough syrup sold under the brand name Tyno. They were also described at the time as people who consumed the drug to get high.

Shaheen said the cough syrup involved in the incidents in and around Gujranwala was not sold under a single brand. He said some people in the city make cough syrup to sell specifically to drug addicts, and officials are trying to arrest them.

Officials temporarily closed one Lahore-based pharmaceutical company whose cough syrup was found in the possession of some affected in Gujranwala. They are investigating whether it caused any of the deaths, said Shaheen.

_____

Associated Press writers Adil Jawad in Karachi, Pakistan, and Zaheer Babar in Lahore, Pakistan, contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-29-Pakistan/id-1a096737f9e448a4bcf09db626c51766

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After Newtown, Americans want their guns, with some restrictions

(Reuters) - Nearly seven in 10 Americans support the idea of placing strong or moderate limits gun ownership following the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a Reuters/Ipsos poll said on Thursday.

But laws that permit citizens to carry concealed weapons or use lethal force for protection while in public were just as popular, the poll said.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll, which surveyed 1,477 Americans online between December 23 and 27, highlighted the difficulty U.S. policymakers face in devising ways to curb gun violence: gun control laws enjoy fervent support in the abstract, but laws preserving specific gun ownership privileges are also well liked.

The poll results come roughly two weeks after police say 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, using a semi-automatic weapon to kill 20 first graders and six school staff members. Ahead of the rampage, he had killed his mother, Nancy Lanza, in their home five miles away. Lanza killed himself as police arrived at the school.

It was the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history after the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia, which left 32 dead.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey found that 48 percent of respondents agreed that "gun ownership should have strong regulations or restrictions." Meanwhile, 69 percent and 68 percent either strongly supported or somewhat supported laws allowing law-abiding citizens to get a concealed-weapon permit and "laws allowing citizens to use deadly force to protect themselves from danger in public places," respectively.

Some restrictions on gun ownership enjoyed even more support than concealed carry rights. Nearly nine in 10 Americans favored laws requiring background checks before someone purchases a gun, and just over seven in 10 favored limits on the number of guns someone could purchase in a particular time frame.

But nearly four in 10 Americans said they supported allowing law-abiding citizens to bring a firearm into a "church, workplace, or retail establishment," according to the poll. Several states currently ban guns in such places.

An equal number said they were "very concerned" about increased purchases of semi-automatic weapons following the shooting in Connecticut, further illustrating the dissonance.

The latest poll results echoed attitudes expressed by Americans surveyed immediately after the Newtown massacre and differed sharply from Reuters/Ipsos polls conducted prior to it. The share of Americans supporting strong limits on gun ownership rose by 8 percentage points to 50 percent in the days after the shooting.

The poll's findings had a credibility interval, which is similar to a margin of error, of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.

(Editing by Dan Burns and David Gregorio)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/newtown-americans-want-guns-restrictions-232939287.html

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Close supervision could result in constructive discharge claim ...

It?s only natural for managers to monitor the performance of an employee following a leave of absence to ensure that the employee falls smoothly back into the swing of things. There is a fine line, however, between monitoring performance and intensely scrutinizing it. If a manager crosses that line and the employee quits because of it, your organization could be on the hook for constructive discharge. Here?s how.

Intolerable working conditions?

A supervisor suggested to a salesperson that she take time off under the FMLA to work through personal issues. She initially refused, but caved under the supervisor?s pressure.

When she returned to work two weeks later, the supervisor and the district manager kept close tabs on her performance. The employee alleged that they met frequently with her to discuss her performance, required her to meet 100% of all sales quotas, and required her to sign a written commitment promising to win specific accounts. The meetings interfered with her ability to do her job because they took place during selling hours. Her requests for assistance went unanswered, as were the questions she asked during sales meetings. Her supervisor told her that he would rather help salespeople who wanted to be successful.

She complained to her supervisor, and later HR, that she felt singled out because other employees with similar numbers were not subjected to the same scrutiny. Her complaints were not investigated, and her transfer request was denied. The district manager told her that transfers were only available to ?successful? employees.

Forced to quit?

The employee quit and headed to court, accusing the company of retaliating against her for taking FMLA leave. An appeals court ruled that it was possible a jury could find that a reasonable person could have found the employee?s working conditions so intolerable she was forced to quit because she:

1. believed her job was in jeopardy;
2. was repeatedly told that her performance was unacceptable;
3. wasn?t provided support to perform her job when she requested it;
4. was held to higher standards than her co-workers; and
5. was ignored when she attempted to improve her situation by filing an internal complaint and asked for a transfer. (Strickland v. United Parcel Service, Inc.)

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European shares steady, euro climbs as "fiscal cliff" push awaited

LONDON (Reuters) - World shares and the euro edged higher on Thursday as U.S. lawmakers prepared to resume negotiations to avoid a fiscal crunch, while the yen hit a two-year low on the prospect of drastic monetary easing.

President Barack Obama will try to revive budget crisis talks which stalled last week when he returns to Washington on Thursday after cutting short his Christmas holiday in Hawaii.

In a sign that there may be a way to break the deadlock, Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner urged the Democrat-controlled Senate to act to pull back from the so-called "fiscal cliff" and offered to at least consider any plan the upper chamber produced.

European shares <.fteu3> were up 0.3 percent and heading back towards last week's 19-month high at 1300 GMT as trading resumed after the Christmas holiday break.

The MSCI global index <.miwd00000pus> was also up 0.3 percent ahead of what was expected to be a flat open on Wall Street. Japan's Nikkei had earlier hit a 21-month high, amid signs the country's authorities are preparing to ease policy considerably.

"The majority view is that a solution will be reached on the 'fiscal cliff' in a timely fashion," said XBZ European equity options broker Mike Turner.

"Most people are taking a neutral stance, as opposed to trying to second-guess the outcome of the U.S. talks," he said.

Economists warn that the "fiscal cliff" of higher taxes and spending cuts worth $600 billion and set to kick in from January, could push the world's largest economy into recession, dragging other countries with it.

YEN SLUMP

Such concerns underpinned the dollar as the fiscal impasse continues to sap investor appetite for risky assets, raising the dollar's safe-haven appeal.

Against the Japanese currency, the dollar at 85.87 yen reached its highest since September 2010, with investors accelerating their yen sales after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his newly formed government would pursue a bold monetary policy, a flexible fiscal policy and a growth strategy to encourage private investment.

The yen has now fallen roughly 10.5 percent versus the dollar in 2012, its biggest annual drop since 2005. At the same time Japan's benchmark Nikkei is now up 22 percent for the year.

"The present yen weakness is related to the new government, which seems devoted to push through both fiscal and monetary policy changes and take direct measures to weaken the yen," said Richard Falkenhall, currency strategist at SEB in Stockholm.

"Yen weakness could very well continue. We see the yen as extremely over-valued considering the weak fundamentals we see in Japan," he added.

The euro, which has been supported in recent weeks by an improvement in the outlook towards the euro zone, climbed 0.4 percent to $1.3266.

French consumer confidence data helped consolidate the rise as it rose unexpectedly in December to the highest level since August despite increased concerns about rising unemployment.

Things appeared less certain in Italy though. Morale among manufacturers rose slightly for the second month in a row but broader business morale fell to its lowest level on record.

NO PANIC

While focus will be firmly on the budget discussions in Washington, economic data due at 1330 GMT includes weekly initial jobless claims where little change is expected, and the Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index for November.

In commodity markets, London copper rose 1.7 percent to a one-week high of $7,945.25 a metric ton after some positive data from China, the world's top copper buyer whose economy is now a key driver of global growth.

Profits earned by China's industrial companies jumped 22.8 percent in November from a year ago, accelerating from October's 20.5 percent, Beijing reported. "People are hopeful that China's economy will recover next year," said Zhang Ao, an analyst at Minmetals Futures.

The U.S. wrangling hung over oil and gold, however. Brent crude slipped back below $111 a barrel although the Chinese data, unrest in the Middle East and hopes that the new Japanese government's policies would spur demand, helped limit the drop.

Gold fell $4.58 an ounce to $1,654.91. It has come off a 4-month low of $1,635.09 struck last Thursday, but remains below a record high of around $1,920 hit in September 2011.

With bond investors also focusing on Washington, German government bond futures were little changed at 144.72.

Analysts believe that even if a U.S. compromise is not reached before year end - as initially expected - budget measures could be agreed in January and enforced retroactively.

"Safe-haven assets (such as Bunds) should remain supported as long as the fiscal cliff debate remains unsolved. But there is no sense of panic. The market has come to some sort of understanding that the end of December is not an extremely hard deadline," said Commerzbank rate strategist Rainer Guntermann.

(Additional reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; and Anooja Debnath; Editing by Giles Elgood)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-fiscal-woes-cap-asian-shares-yen-stays-002854146--finance.html

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Four FREE Health and Fitness Kindle Books!!

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Source: http://mycouponlady.com/four-free-health-and-fitness-kindle-books/

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Biologists identify proteins vital to chromosome segregation

Dec. 24, 2012 ? New York University biologists have identified how a vital protein is loaded by others into the centromere, the part of the chromosome that plays a significant role in cell division. Their findings shed new light on genome replication and may offer insights into the factors behind the production of abnormal numbers of chromosomes.

Their findings appear in the latest issue of the journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers focused on the organization and functioning of the centromere, which is responsible for chromosome segregation -- a process that ensures that replicating cells receive a complete copy of the genome. Disruption of this process can lead to the production of an abnormal number of chromosomes -- a condition evident in 90 percent of cancer cases.

To explore the mechanics of the centromere, the researchers examined fission yeast. This species of yeast is a model organism in cell biology because its chromosome replication and the regulation of its centromere are similar to that of humans.

In the PNAS study, the researchers focused on a protein, CENP-A, present in both humans and fission yeast. They specifically examined how it is incorporated into the centromere during cell division in order to better understand its role in this process.

Their results identified that a trio of proteins -- Dos1, Dos2, and Cdc20 -- work together to assemble CENP-A at centromeres as they duplicate. They further observed that any disruption of this process subsequently places this vital protein outside of the centromere -- thereby preventing it from performing its role of ensuring proper chromosome segregation.

"CENP-A is the engineer of the centromere," explained Fei Li, an assistant professor in NYU's Department of Biology and the study's senior author. "Without this protein, the centromere simply can't function."

Li noted that many forms of cancer have been linked to malfunctioning CENP-A.

"Hopefully, these findings can contribute toward the development of improved strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer," he added.

The study's other co-authors were: post-doctoral fellows Marlyn Gonz?lez and Haijin He, Siyu Sun, an NYU graduate student, and Chen Li, who obtained her masters degree from NYU in 2012.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by New York University, via Newswise.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. M. Gonzalez, H. He, S. Sun, C. Li, F. Li. Cell cycle-dependent deposition of CENP-A requires the Dos1/2-Cdc20 complex. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1214874110

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/DJZ1fcgCSYQ/121226080342.htm

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Jenne Expands Avaya&#39;s Radvision Scopia Offering for Resellers | IT ...

Providing Training Through Jenne University and a Range of Dedicated Pre- and Post-Sales Support

First Classes on Innovative Videoconferencing Technology Solutions Begin on January 21st and Will Cover Scopia Solution for Video Communications

AVON, OH?(Marketwire ? Dec 27, 2012) ? ?Jenne, Inc., a leading value-added distributor of IP telephony, audio and video conferencing, unified communications, data networking and IT security products, announced that it is now providing comprehensive training on the Avaya video portfolio, beginning with a course on the Avaya Scopia solution and taking place next month at Jenne University. Jenne, which is now an Avaya Connect Value Add Distributor, has also completed the stringent requirements of the Authorized Avaya Learning Partner (AALP), with access to Avaya Learning training and materials.

In addition to being an authorized distributor for the entire Scopia product line, Jenne is also currently offering comprehensive support services on the entire Scopia portfolio, including pre- and post-sales support, configuration services, installation and implementation services as well as full contract renewal management services.

Jenne University will be offering ?Avaya Scopia Solution for Video Communications? at its state of the art training facilities in Avon, OH. The class will take place on a quarterly basis, with the first session scheduled for January 21-25, 2013. Avaya?s Scopia product portfolio provides comprehensive and powerful visual communications solutions that allow advanced voice, data and video conferencing. Next month?s course is designed for systems engineers and IT managers and offers a comprehensive overview on features, operations and benefits of the Scopia solution. Following the course, students will be able to:

• Identify Scopia endpoint functionality and?capabilities
• Match Scopia components to various deployment?scenarios
• Install and configure Scopia endpoint?components
• Create and manage a conference
• Install and configure the MCU, Scopia desktop,?and Scopia Management Suite
• Troubleshoot the Scopia solution with component?logs and network traces covering call failures, endpoint to MCU calls,?point to point calls, PathFinder issues and video/audio issues

?Avaya?s Scopia videoconferencing solutions present an enormous opportunity for resellers serving all sizes of markets, and by offering these innovative products in combination with top-notch training through Jenne University, we are helping Avaya Connect partners take advantage of a business opportunity and to be more competitive,? commented Jim Karaffa, director of training and technical services, Jenne. ?As an Avaya Authorized Learning Partner, we have worked very closely with Avaya to implement what we consider to be the best certified training and support capabilities available in distribution for the Scopia solution, being able to fully certify our students here at Jenne University via the PearsonVue testing process adds a distinct advantage to our offering.?

Radvision, an Avaya Company, has been a leader and innovator in the development of videoconferencing technology and solutions for the past 20 years. Since last September, Jenne began distributing the entire Scopia portfolio, helping Avaya Connect partners increase their ability to deliver comprehensive video communications solutions to a broad range of end-users in the SMB, mid-tier and enterprise markets.

?With its immediate stock availability, training offering and comprehensive product support, Jenne is able to offer a multi-dimensional Scopia solution,? commented Karl Soderlund, vice president, Americas Channel Sales, Avaya. ?Its new course on Scopia video conferencing will help Avaya Connect partners deliver an expanded range of high-quality communications experiences to their customers, while providing resellers new revenue opportunities through enhanced real time collaboration solutions.?

Thousands of enterprises around the world already rely on the Scopia solution, which is known for its rich interoperability and interconnectivity for any standards-based video-enabled device, regardless of the communication network. Scopia is an end-to-end video communications solution that includes multi-point conferencing units, firewall traversal, desktop conferencing and management for voice, video and data. The system can be used to connect meeting rooms, desktop users and mobile users in a variety of setups ranging from SMB environments to large-scale, distributed network deployments.

The Scopia product portfolio is among the most innovative and value-based videoconferencing solutions in the market and includes such features as:

• Desktop and mobile video conferencing solutions that fully support iOS and Android devices, as well as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives
• The only system on the market (Scopia XT5000) to incorporate dual 1080p/60fps live video and content, H.264 High Profile and H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC)
• The Scopia Executive solution supports multi-party conferencing for impromptu group meetings and includes a high resolution LED display for detailed content sharing
• The simplest and most affordable SMB video solution combining HD video room system capabilities with the market?s highest capacity embedded MCU for multi-party conferencing, desktop and mobile video collaboration, along with integrated firewall traversal
• Comprehensive video management delivery, control and scheduling for robust, easy-to-use conferencing with deployments including Scopia as well as third-party systems
• Extremely high UC connectivity capabilities, high UC connectivity with interoperability provided between any standards-based video enabled device, along with Avaya and other market leading unified communications solutions

Avaya Connect partners interested in learning more about the new Scopia course being offered through Jenne University should contact Erica Butler at (800) 422-6191, extension 3130 or email hidden; JavaScript is required. Partners who are interested learning more about the Avaya Scopia product solution should contact Jenne sales at (800) 422-6191.

Source: http://itresellerworld.com/2012/12/27/jenne-expands-avayas-radvision-scopia-offering-for-resellers-2/

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Dangers of Obesity Heart Liver Disease High Blood Pressure ...

Certified Medical Exercise Therapist, Weight Loss Specialist

www.EvansvilleWeightLoss.com

Through the dangers of heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease, and other related diseases, obesity is killing almost 1,000 Americans every day. That?s over 300,000 people who could have lived longer, more healthful lives. Simply put, the dangers of obesity to your health and happiness cannot be overstated. Obesity is killing you!

Definition of Obesity

The medical community considers total body fat when determining obesity. By comparing one?s height and weight to the standardized Body Mass Index (BMI), health care professionals can determine whether or not you are obese. Obesity is from 30% BMI to 39.9% BMI. Morbid obesity begins at a BMI of 40%. That?s a weight of about 235 for a person who is 5?4? tall and a weight of about 280 for a person 5?10? tall.

Dangers of Obesity

While these figures may seem like some arbitrary standard, there are some very real dangers of obesity. Some of the illnesses and dangers of obesity are the following:

Heart Disease
More technically known as coronary heart disease (CHD), this illness is the leading cause of death in the United States. In CHD, fatty materials build up on the walls of the arteries causing blockages and elevated blood pressure thus placing undue strain on the heart. The dangers of heart disease ultimately result in a heart attack and, in many cases, death.

Diabetes
An imbalance in one of the regulatory systems in the body, diabetes is a disease that affects over 20 million Americans. Many factors, most notably obesity, often lead to diabetes. People afflicted with the disease must make fundamental changes in their eating habits, day to day activities and can be dependent on insulin.

Liver Disease
Liver disease is a collection of conditions, disorders, and infections that affect the cells, structures, and tissues of the liver, causing liver damage or stops liver functioning altogether. Alcohol is often blamed but obesity can also lead to non-alcohol fatty liver, a deadly disease through the accumulation of triglycerides and cholesterol. The proper functioning of the liver is vital to almost every other process in the body and liver disease has a profound effect on one?s ability to lead a normal life.

Stroke
The lack of sufficient blood flow to the brain can lead to a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or ?stroke.? Similar to the blockages formed in CHD, plaque builds up on the inside of the arteries feeding the brain thus causing an interruption in the necessary nutrients. Life changes immediately for stroke victims. Some form of physical disability affects 75% of those who have suffered from a stroke.

The Bottom Line

Obesity is a real problem with real ramifications. Obese people suffer from more physical and mental health problems than their thinner counterparts and enjoy a significantly reduced quality of life.

Losing weight need not be difficult, time consuming nor painful. The Advanced Anti-Aging and Weight Loss Clinic utilizes state of the art techniques and technology to help you lose weight quickly and safely. Not only can the friendly medical professionals help you achieve a healthier and happier life, you will also look better and feel better!? Call today to schedule your no-charge consultation at 812-858-9800 or for more info go to www.EvansvilleWeightLoss.com

Source: http://www.nationalnewstoday.com/health-and-fitness/is-obesity-killing-you-dangers-of-heart-disease-high-blood-pressure-liver-disease-evansville-newburgh-in.php

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A big hand for the little lady (Powerlineblog)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273163017?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Marvel's Peter Parker in perilous predicament

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? After 50 years of spinning webs and catching a who's who of criminals, Peter Parker is out of the hero game.

But Spider-Man is still slinging from building to building ? reborn, refreshed and revived with a new sense of the old maxim that Ben Parker taught his then-fledgling nephew that "with great power, comes great responsibility."

Writer Dan Slott, who's been penning Spidey adventures for the better part of the last 100 issues for Marvel Entertainment, said the culmination of the story is a new, dramatically different direction for the Steve Ditko and Stan Lee-created hero.

"This is an epic turn," Slott said. "I've been writing Spider-Man for 70-plus issues. Every now and then, you have to shake it up. ... The reason Spider-Man is one of the longest running characters is they always find a way to keep it fresh. Something to shake up the mix."

And in the pages of issue 700, out Wednesday, it's not just shaken up, it's turned head over heels, spun in circles, kicked sky high and cracked wide open.

Parker's mind is trapped in the withered, decaying dying body of his nemesis, Doctor Octopus aka Otto Octavius. Where's Doc Ock? Inside Parker's super-powered shell, learning what life is like for the brilliant researcher who happens to count the Avengers and Fantastic Four as friends and family.

The two clash mightily in the pages of issue 700, illustrated by Humberto Ramos and Victor Olazaba. But it's Octavius who wins out and Parker is, at least for now, gone for good, but not before one more act of heroism.

Slott said that it's Parker, whose memories envelop Octavius, who shows the villain what it means to be a hero.

"Gone are his days of villainy, but since it's Doc Ock and he has that ego, he's not going to try and just be Spider-man, he's going to try to be the best Spider-Man ever," said Slott.

Editor Stephen Wacker said that while Parker is gone, his permanence remains and his life casts a long shadow.

"His life is still important to the book because it affects everything that Doctor Octopus does as Spider-Man. Seeing a supervillain go through this life is the point ? trying to be better than the hero he opposed," Wacker said.

"Doc has sort of inspired by Peter's life. That's what I mean when he talks about the shadow he casts," he said.

The sentiment echoes what Uncle Ben said in the pages of "Amazing Fantasy" No. 15, Slott said.

Editor Stephen Wacker called it a fitting end to the old series, which sets the stage for a new one ? "The Superior Spider-Man" early next year ? because it brings Peter Parker full circle, from the start of his crime-fighting career to the end.

"In his very first story, his uncle died because of something he did so the book has always been aimed at making Peter's life as difficult as possible," Wacker said. "The book has always worked best when it's about Peter Parker's life, not Spider-Man's."

And with Octavius influenced by Parker's life ? from Aunt May to Gwen Stacy to Mary Jane ? it will make him a better person, too.

"Because Doctor Octopus knows all of those things and will make decisions on what he saw Peter going through," Wacker said. "In a way, he gets the ultimate victory as he becomes a better hero."

___

Follow Matt Moore at www.twitter.com/MattMooreAP

___

Online:

http://bit.ly/V4q8FT

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/marvels-peter-parker-perilous-predicament-144441688.html

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Can we prohibit moonlighting? ? Business Management Daily ...

Q. Some of our full-time employees have told us that they are looking for part-time jobs to make extra income. We?re worried about how this will affect their performance at our company. Can we prohibit them from working for other employers after-hours?

A. There is no state or federal law that prohibits employees from simultaneously working for more than one company. However, employers are free to institute their own policies on employee moonlighting. There are a number of reasons a company might decide to institute such a policy.

For instance, employers might want to minimize the work its employees perform for their competitors, especially if they are concerned with protecting trade secrets and other sensitive business information. It?s for this reason that many employers require their employees to sign noncompete agreements.

Employers might also be concerned that an employee will use its tools or equipment while working for another company.

Finally, some employers may be concerned that their employees will not be able to devote enough energy or attention to their jobs if they are working part time for another company.

If you plan to have employers sign noncompete agreements in order to protect confidential information or intellectual property, keep in mind that the Texas Supreme Court has expanded the enforceability of such agreements in the past several years.

Like what you've read? ...Republish it and share great business tips!

Attention: Readers, Publishers, Editors, Bloggers, Media, Webmasters and more...

We believe great content should be read and passed around. After all, knowledge IS power. And good business can become great with the right information at their fingertips. If you'd like to share any of the insightful articles on BusinessManagementDaily.com, you may republish or syndicate it without charge.

The only thing we ask is that you keep the article exactly as it was written and formatted. You also need to include an attribution statement and link to the article.

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Source: http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/33799/can-we-prohibit-moonlighting

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Democratic senators want ban on assault weapons

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Democratic lawmakers and independent Sen. Joe Lieberman said Sunday that military-style assault weapons should be banned and that a national commission should be established to examine mass shootings in the United States.

The proposals were among the first to come from Congress in the wake of Friday's school shooting in Newtown, Conn. Gun rights activists remained largely quiet on the issue, all but one declining to appear on the Sunday talk shows. Meanwhile, Democrats vowed action and said it was time to hear from voters ? not gun lobbyists ? on how to prevent the next shooting.

The time for "saying that we can't talk about the policy implications of tragedies like this is over," said Rep. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who won a Senate seat in the November elections.

President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats haven't pushed for new gun controls since rising to power in the 2008 national elections. Outspoken advocates for stricter laws, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, say that's because of the powerful sway of the National Rifle Association.

But advocates also say the latest shooting is a tipping point that could change the dynamic of the debate dramatically. Feinstein, D-Calif., said she will propose legislation next year that would ban big clips, drums and strips of more than 10 bullets.

"It can be done," she said Sunday of reviving the 10-year ban that expired in 2004.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Obama could use executive powers to enforce existing gun laws, as well as throw his weight behind legislation like Feinstein's.

"It's time for the president, I think, to stand up and lead and tell this country what we should do ? not go to Congress and say, 'What do you guys want to do?'" Bloomberg said.

Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut who is retiring, supports such a ban but said there should also be a national commission to scrutinize gun laws and loopholes, as well as the nation's mental health system and the role that violent video games and movies might play in shootings. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois said he would support such a panel, adding that it was time for a "national discussion" that included school safety.

"This conversation has been dominated in Washington by ? you know and I know ? gun lobbies that have an agenda" Durbin said. "We need people, just ordinary Americans, to come together, and speak out, and to sit down and calmly reflect on how far we go."

Congress has frequently turned to independent bipartisan commissions to try to solve the nation's worst problems, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Iraq war and the failing economy. But ultimately, lawmakers are often reluctant to act on the recommendations of outsiders, especially if they think it will cost them support in their home states.

Still, Lieberman defended the idea of a national commission as the only way to ensure that the "heartbreak and anger" of the Connecticut shooting doesn't dissipate over time and that other factors beyond gun control are considered.

"We've got to continue to hear the screams of these children and see their blood until we do something to try to prevent this from happening again," he said.

Gun rights advocates appeared reluctant to make their case against tougher gun laws while Connecticut families and the nation were still in the earliest stages of grieving. David Gregory, the host of "Meet the Press," said NBC invited all 31 "pro-gun" senators to appear on Sunday's show, and all 31 declined. All eight Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee were unavailable or unwilling to appear on CBS' "Face the Nation," host Bob Schieffer said.

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, was the sole representative of gun rights' activists on the various Sunday talk shows. In an interview on "Fox News Sunday," Gohmert defended the sale of assault weapons and said that the principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School, who authorities say died trying to overtake the shooter, should herself have been armed.

"I wish to God she had had an M-4 in her office, locked up so when she heard gunfire, she pulls it out and she didn't have to lunge heroically with nothing in her hands. But she takes him (the shooter) out, takes his head off before he can kill those precious kids," Gohmert said.

Gohmert also argued that violence is lower in cities with lax gun laws, and higher in cities with stricter laws.

"The facts are that every time guns have been allowed ?conceal-carry (gun laws) have been allowed ? the crime rate has gone down," Gohmert said.

Gun control advocates say that isn't true. A study by the California-based Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence determined that seven of the 10 states with the strongest gun laws ? including Connecticut, Massachusetts and California ? are also among the 10 states with the lowest gun death rates.

"If you look at the states with the strongest gun laws in the country, they have some of the lowest gun death rates, and some of the states with the weakest gun laws have some of the highest gun death rates," said Brian Malte of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Murphy spoke on ABC's "This Week." Lieberman, Durbin and Gohmert spoke on "Fox News Sunday." Bloomberg and Feinstein spoke on NBC's "Meet the Press."

___

Associated Press writer Josh Lederman contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/democratic-senators-want-ban-assault-weapons-193340839--politics.html

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Creative Writing Prompts - Learn How to Develop ... - Contact Blog

Creative writing prompts are something that can help you develop creative writing abilities in you. You can develop your inherent talent of writing in a better manner using writing prompts.

Develop Your Writing Abilities:

Not everybody is capable of writing creative stuff. It is something that one is born with. However, you can develop your talent if you think that you have got that potentiality in you. With right exercise or training, you can develop your aspect of creative writing and nothing can serve this purpose better than writing prompts.

What is the Writing Prompt All About?

If you are not familiar with the term "writing prompt", then you will think that what it is all about. Well, it is simply an idea or a phrase you can use as a starting point to write your stuff. In other words, it is a technique or a way to get started with to let your innate creativity unfold. If you are not sure that you are having some kind of writing ability, then these prompts can help you bring out your latent or potentiality.

How Do Writing Prompts work?

Writing prompts are not something that will tell you how to write and what type of words you should employ into your writing. All depends on you how to translate your ideas, thoughts and feelings into creative writing. The prompts just provide you with a starting point to expressing your imagination. They are a great help especially when you are feeling blocked or empty of inspiration. When you use prompts, your mind will learn to anticipate what the prompt might have been, and it helps in filling in the gaps.

Reflecting on Your Past Writing:

It is very crucial to have confidence in you that you are capable to write creatively. And for that reason, you should reflect on your past writing. Find out some of your past writing stuff and assess them which will help you learn that the creativity you are talking about, you are capable of. Even from your immature works, you can learn the instances of your creative potentiality.

Believe in You and Start Writing!

Once you realize that there is a creative writing potentiality in you, you can start writing straightforward. You can develop your ability slowly and gradually. You can also read some pieces of creative writing to get the ideas. But using creative writing prompts, you can give your writing a brilliant head start!

Source: http://contactcollective.blogspot.com/2012/12/creative-writing-prompts-learn-how-to.html

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Taylor Swift 'Became This Girl' In 'I Knew You Were Trouble' Video

She was '100 percent in,' director Anthony Mandler says of Swift's role in her dark new clip.
By James Montgomery

Taylor Swift in "I Knew You Were Trouble"
Photo: Big Machine Records

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1698950/taylor-swift-i-knew-you-were-trouble-video-director.jhtml

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So Which Boyfriend Is Taylor Swift Singing About Now?

Driving in the rural town of Veazie, Maine, after midnight, a woman accidentally hits what she thinks is an oversized cat. She puts the unconscious animal in her car and drives several miles. In the town of Bangor, Maine, the cat regains consciousness.?That?s when the...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/boyfriend-taylor-swift-singing-now-223942381.html

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9 Things I'll Miss About Apple Maps

Did you hear? Google Maps is back in the App Store, which means we can finally officially pretend that whole Apple Maps disaster never happened. Still, there are a few things I'm going to miss about Apple Maps. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/SYvC790gmr8/9-things-ill-miss-about-apple-maps

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First Round Debuts A ?Common Application? For Student Engineers To Apply For And Find Jobs At Portfolio Companies

First Round Capital has steadily evolved from an early-stage investment firm to a full agency that provides tools and services beyond funding that portfolio companies can use. The firm offers a Yelp-like database of business providers, which includes 1,500 ratings and reviews for over 500 service providers, including those in payroll, phones, and more. First Round also just launched HackPR, a platform for companies and reporters to quickly and efficiently connect on press coverage. Today, the firm is debuting a ?common application? so university students can apply for summer internships (and full-time jobs) at First Round's 170-plus companies with just one application. You can access the application here.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/PAKxrLdByA8/

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A Caregiver&#39;s Guide to Navagating the Healthcare System ...

When you or I take on the care of a loved one, we can expect to learn all kinds of new skills and tasks.? One of these will be to manage the medical appointments, bills and needs of a loved one suffering from a disorder or a disease.? Many diseases that require a person to require care also render them unable to remember important details or do simple tasks by themselves.? Therefore all these tasks will fall to us as the caregiver.? But navigating the complicated medical system can be confusing, and we may need some basic help to better understand the process.

Before A Hospital Stay

If the loved one we are caring for is ill, there is a good possibility that there will be hospital stays involved in the process.? Part of dealing with the hospital in the best way is making sure that we are prepared for the stay.? Doing the things listed below will help to ensure that a hospital stay is seamless and smooth for both caretaker and loved one.

• Finalize rides to and from the hospital.
• Find someone to constantly be with the loved one in the hospital.
• Plan sleeping arrangements for the caregiver.
• Reserve hotels if you live far from the hospital.
• Finalize details at home such as pet care and bill paying.
• Have a base for contact information of other family and friends.

The more prepared we are to deal with these situations, the better the hospital stay will go.? No patient loves to be in the hospital, but being prepared helps to lessen some of the anxiety our loved ones will feel.

Doctor Visits

When we care for loved ones who are ill, there are lots of doctor visits involved.? And as the caregiver, we are responsible for transportation to and from the visit, and for remembering any pertinent information that is given at the appointment.? One way to alleviate the chaos that can come from a large amount of information is to create a personal health record for our loved ones.? A personal health record is a file that contains all the medical information need for the sick individual.? Make it readily accessible to all medical professionals who are in charge of the patient.? Include the following in the personal health record:

• Health history
• Medication allergies
• Any diagnosis or symptoms
• Previous appointment notes
• Any other pertinent information

Make sure that the patient signs a release to give you access to all their medical information before you create a personal health record, and make sure to bring it to each and every appointment.? This is especially important when our loved ones see several different doctors in several different facilities.? Keeping up on all the information is essential to the health of our loved ones.

After The Doctor

Once our loved ones are done with their appointments, and it?s time to take them home and get them settled, we may lose focus of all the information we were given at the appointment.? It?s important to make the most of the doctor visit and to be prepared to record all the information we learn.? Consider asking some of the following questions during the visit:

• Do I have the necessary refills for medication?
• When can I contact the doctor, and what are the clinic?s hours?
• Who should I call for an emergency?
• What should I do if there are side effects from the medication?

Don?t be afraid to ask questions of the doctor.? It?s important that we take the time necessary to feel comfortable with all the steps we have to take to keep our loved ones healthy.

When we visit the doctor, it?s also important to make sure that we are not wasting the time of the doctor and his staff.? If we can come prepared with a list of questions that we are concerned about, we are better able to optimize the time we spend with the doctor and his medical staff.

Ask For Help

It?s important as we take on these new tasks that we not let the medical system overwhelm us.? Within the system there are caring individuals who are willing to help us with any questions we may have, and oftentimes finding them is just a matter of asking the right person.? Don?t be afraid to ask for help and to be inquisitive; the health of our loved ones could very well depend on the information we receive.

Connect:

Authored by:

Lauren Hill

Lauren Hill is a freelance writer specializing in a broad range of topics from parenting to alternative healthcare.? She is a wife and mother of two incredible kids.? She spends her free time blogging at www.laurenqhill.com

?

See complete profile

Source: http://healthworkscollective.com/lauren-hill/70626/caregivers-guide-navagating-healthcare-system

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mutrasubi: VYSUALYZE: Arts & Entertainment | "The Website for the ...

Posted by C.Jay McGruder on Dec 7, 2012 in People On The Move | 1 comment

?I took a few years off of doing photography and graphic art. When I started again recently, everything seemed a bit weird. My artistic vision was still there, but it all took a while to get back into place?? ~CRUZ

?

MEET CRUZ LEACOCK PHOTOGRAPHER/CREATOR OF WWW.VYSUALYZE.COM??

?I am an artist living in Philadelphia, PA! My chosen mediums are photography and graphics arts. I was educated in both fields from several different outlets including classroom training and self teachings. After I learned all the technical aspects I could, I threw them away and began creating art only the way I visualized. Growing up in the Philadelphia school system, I felt uncultured as a student and completely unprepared for life, much less college. I was desperately looking for something to inspire and fill me with passion. I took several different courses in college including communications, education, computer science and business but nothing could hold my attention until I started taking art classes. My first two being Photography and Art History. It opened a new world to me and I became engulfed in photography and graphic design. My photos have been featured in several local papers and a few exhibits but the majority was personal work for myself and others.?

Cruz takes a pause to?sip his hot Starbucks coffee on?this raining Saturday?morning at Philadelphia International Airport .? He sits?next to?me dressed comfortably with his black hoodie over?his head as I only have a?breif time to chat with him?before my plane boards. Happy he?agreed to meet with me on such?short notice and time constraint he continues to speak articulately in a fluent manor about himself?

?My purpose? To be able to spread the gift of artistic expression to youth and individuals who are trying to find a greater purpose and beauty in their everyday lives. As children in school and even adults of all ages, society portrays an image of absolute success; a doctor, an entertainer, a lawyer, an athlete. Being an artist, a world changer, a self expressionist is just as important. When you share your gift of art with others, you change lives. I believe through art and self expression you find the person you want to be and discover how you want to change the world. I plan to spread my word by creating local art galleries and a foundation that supports art programs catered to my purpose. Most importantly, by continuing to create my art because that?s my way of changing the world.?

Cruz makes the above statement while I was?on?a recent layover in Philly, PA.? This ?Photogragher & Website Creator met up with me for a quick coffee chat in between my planes.? You can read the bulk of?our conversation below:

CJM: Congratulations on the lanching of www.vysualyze.com

CRUZ: Thanks CeeJ!?The site is?finally?up and open for the business of sharing art and culture online. Everything is a bit bare so far but definitely check out my site. Thank you in advance for the support and?I hope?everyone reading this will?become a frequent viewer of??www.vysualyze.com?community.

CJM: Do you consider yourself a trend setter?

CRUZ: No, I don?t! I think when someone is a true artist, being a trend setter should be the last thing on their minds. I think it jeopardizes complete artistry. I know that my work is a reflection of myself and my visions. When you are lucky enough to find your passion and you give yourself completely to it, it becomes greater than a trend but a movement. Movements lasts forever!?

CJM: When did you decide you wanted to be a photographer?

CRUZ: I decided to become a photographer after the first image I produced in the dark room back in 2000. When I saw that image, which is my photograph of the street on a rainy day, I was blown away. The fact that I could take this picture of a moment in time I thought was beautiful and make it ?come to life? again made me feel alive. I was searching in my life for something I could connect with. This felt right in my heart. I knew I had to give it my all.

CJM: Are there any black photographers who specifically has an influence on your work?

CJM: What inspires you to take pictures?

CRUZ: Darkness, sorrow and everyday life. To me, these three things go hand and hand. I see darkness and sorrow in my everyday life. It may sound negative to some people but it?s a thing of beauty and truly inspiring to me. I can see so clearly in darkness and sorrow; my visions, other people, reality, my subjects. My job after that is to interpret it so others can see it through my art.

?

??Beauty can be found anywhere. Even in puddles on the streets of New York. Photographer Ira Fox shows just how beautiful they can be with his series Reflections.? CLICK HERE

CJM: How do you find your subjects to photograph?

CRUZ: My subjects always start in my head. I visual a theme, a person or object very abstractly most times. I take that foundation of my thought and when I get in front of it with my camera, that?s when my mind starts to race and that subject and idea in my head become clear and I capture what was there from the beginning but never saw completely.

CRUZ: Main main focus right now is www.vysualyze.com?now but I can never say specifically until it is actually happening because things always start out not so very clear to me until I am in front my found target with my?camera. One thing I do want to work on is a self connecting portrait series. I have this vision of the way people see themselves when they aren?t self aware. Its a developing idea that I want to really soak up a lot of my time doing because I feel like its going to be something that is defining for me artistically and personally.

I looked at the time on my cell phone and realize it was very close to time for me boarding my plane back to Houston. I finish up with this question as we stood and I before I turned off my portable tape recorder?

Just as quickly as this chat had started it was summed up in the words of true Photographer?

??In a FLASH!? ~C.JAY

Source: http://www.cjmcgruder.com/2012/12/07/vysualyze-arts-entertainment/

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Source: http://ygefop.posterous.com/vysualyze-arts-entertainment-the-website-for

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Source: http://mutrasubi.blogspot.com/2012/12/vysualyze-arts-entertainment-website.html

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Source: http://lasoebap.posterous.com/mutrasubi-vysualyze-arts-entertainment-the-we

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Report: Jackie Chan suggests Hong Kong curb rights

HONG KONG (AP) ? Jackie Chan suggests in a recent interview that protests should be restricted in the freewheeling Chinese city of Hong Kong.

The action star lamented that Hong Kong has become a city of protests, where people "scold China, scold the leaders, scold anything, protest against anything.

"There should be regulations on what can and cannot be protested," Chan told the Southern People Weekly, which published his comments Wednesday. He didn't say what kinds of protests he thought should be restricted.

The star of movies such as "Rush Hour" and "Rumble in the Bronx" triggered a backlash three years ago with similar comments on the need to restrict freedom in his hometown.

A former British colony, Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997 and is now a semiautonomous region. Residents are fiercely proud of the Western-style civil liberties they enjoy that are not seen on the mainland, including the freedom to demonstrate.

The city has been the scene lately of a rising number of protests by people upset with their Beijing-backed leader, Leung Chun-ying, a lack of full democracy and worries about Beijing's growing influence on the city.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in July to protest after Leung took office.

In 2009, Chan sparked outrage among lawmakers in Hong Kong when said he said, "I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not." He also said he was "beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled."

A representative for Chan did not respond to request for comment.

Southern People Weekly is part of a media group controlled by southern Guangdong province's Communist Party and known for its lively reporting.

____

Online:

Southern Weekly article (in Chinese): www.nfpeople.com/News-detail-item-4019.html

Follow Kelvin Chan at Twitter.com/chanman

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/report-jackie-chan-suggests-hong-kong-curb-rights-071445310.html

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