User:ArabelleRasmussen550 - ShareSource Wiki

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There are several excellent websites that provide a huge selection of cars, vans and trucks for under you could expect, including late model and low mileage cars. These auctions are sponsored through the local police department or sheriff office and also the cars can be purchased to get a fraction with the original price. They might choose from the several SUVs, minivans or trucks which are on sales during car auction and thus, accommodate their budget needs using what they have in your mind. Auto auctions sell all sorts of vehicles at rock-bottom prices towards the highest bidder. Come in Ready - The list of cars up for auction in Florida will not be indexed by public announcements in newspapers like the Florida Today, Florida Times-Union, or Florida Keys Keynoter. They provide you with the important points Cars Auction you may need including the place that the auctions are, dates, phones numbers, etc.

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) government entities is just not concerned on setting up a margin such as a car dealership would be. Some reasons include tax evasion, discontinuance of paying installments to banks and other private financial organizations, and others. It is just like getting the own car from your dealership. You can inspect your vehicle ahead of the auction and assess its value and the rate because of it. Getting a Used Car from Government Auctions - Potential car buyers could also find a good deal planning to seized auto auctions. You won't need to panic about costly repairs after some research, and you'll have a dependable car that is going to last for a long time in the future.

These amazing costs are possible since there are no seller's fees, interest or finance charges linked to buying the car. A lot of buyers get caught out with this one!If you've found the auction and also you comply with some of the tips and apply wise practice when you attend any impounded car auctions you need to come forth with a fantastic bargain!. Here are the things you have to know about the used motor car auctions:. If a deal appears too good really was, it really is, even at car auctions. Whether you need a vehicle yourself and usually do not wish to spend a good deal, otherwise you are trying to find vehicles for business use, these auctions offer some of the best values inside market. Despite of this, there isn't any complications in bidding on a vehicle.

They can actually bid for the item of the choice at higher prices because they've got higher buying capacity. Let's face it, my own mail to shell out money, and time, fixing up cars to resell, and government auctions have the ability to skip the repairs altogether. In this case, you may manage to start the bid for less money as opposed to auction's beginning bid. If your fact is 'yes' why not attend another seized car auction locally. Also, another type of buyers during car auctions would be the type that holds an exclusive interest into certain cars and it is searching for cars that she or he could improvise or modify to match personal needs. If you choose, you can also enjoy the thrill of auctions in real time through your computer.

Source: http://wiki.sharesource.org/User%3AArabelleRasmussen550

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Downtown Sports Bar accused of racial discrimination

A Raleigh man said he was refused entrance and then assaulted by employees of The Downtown Sports Bar, located at 410 Glenwood Ave., the morning of Sunday, June 30 because of his race.

Raleigh native and recent Morehouse College graduate Jonathan Wall said he was enjoying a night downtown with a friend when he was initially refused entrance to the bar because he was not a member. After eventually gaining entrance, he said the bartender approached him and told him to buy a drink or get out of the bar. Wall said he refused to buy a drink and was waiting for a friend to come back from the restroom before leaving the establishment when a bartender got physical, roughly escorting him out.

Wall and Alicia Vick, his attorney, said the bar employees' behavior was clearly discriminatory, as other patrons were allowed entrance without presenting member IDs, and employees did not confront white patrons without drinks.

?As I?ve talked to my friends and others about this incident, I?ve realized I?m the not the first to speak out about this treatment; I?m just the first person who has been listened to," Wall said at a June 22 press conference held June 22 at the Capitol building. ?I want what we have right now?a dialog about racial discrimination in the 21st century and what we can do to solve it both here and throughout the nation and world.?

The Downtown Sports Bar has issued a written statement saying Wall was asked to leave because he was not a member or guest.

?Mr. Wall was not roughed up or improperly treated. Mr. Wall was not the subject of racial discrimination,? the statement said.

Vick said there was no evidence that the bar was, in fact, a private club until shortly before Wall's press conference. At that time, Downtown Sports Bar owner Tom Murphy said the establishment has roughly 7,500 members, which includes all the bar?s Facebook and email contacts.

According to the city of Raleigh's business licensing office, the city does not certify clubs as private or public.

"In Raleigh, businesses do not have to deal with the city to designate themselves as a private or public club," James Brown, senior account receivable specialist for Raleigh's business license office, said. "We did not know of the issue until we saw the WRAL report."

Vick remains convinced the incident was inspired out of racial hate.

?The facts as we know them show that some members of our community have crossed the line from making minorities simply feel unwanted to clearly and unequivocally showing that certain individuals are not wanted or valued because of the color of their skin,? Vick said during the press conference.

While Vick said a lawsuit is ?not out of the realm of possibility,? Wall and others are organizing a rally Saturday to protest the bar.

Wall thanked his supporters on Facebook June 30.

?You all have no idea how impactful your kind words of encouragement have been," Walls said. "It means a lot to know that I have such great and widespread support moving forward."

Wall?s message was first posted online as a letter last week and gained momentum through social media sites. The case has since gained national attention after Wall appeared in a CNN segment Monday morning.?

Source: http://www.technicianonline.com/news/downtown-sports-bar-accused-of-racial-discrimination-1.2745750

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Egypt President-elect Mohamed Morsi joins Tahrir Square protest

Los Angeles Times

CAIRO ? President-elect Mohamed Morsi of Egypt joined tens of thousands of protesters in Tahrir Square on Friday to celebrate his victory and keep pressure on the nation's ruling generals to restore the parliament and hand power over to a civilian government.

Morsi's appearance in the sweltering square defied the ruling military council and came before his scheduled swearing-in Saturday as the first freely elected president in the country's history. But much of his authority has been curtailed by an army that has seized legislative and executive powers to prevent Islamists from controlling the government.

"Revolutionaries, we will continue the path," said Morsi, who ran as a candidate for the Muslim Brotherhood. "We will go on ... to a civil state, a constitutional state, a modern state."

Morsi entered the square after Friday prayers to show solidarity with secular revolutionaries and activists who worry that his presidency will not meet the democratic ideals of the rebellion that toppled Hosni Mubarak last year. In recent speeches, Morsi, an American-educated engineer, has promised a commitment to civil liberties for women, Christians and other non-Muslims.

On Friday, he repeatedly stressed sovereignty and unity and he spoke of reviving Egypt's ancient glory with new strides in research, industry and development. In a reference likely to chafe relations with the Washington, Morsi said he would work to free Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, serving life sentences in North Carolina after being convicted for planning terrorist attacks in the U.S. in 1995.

The mention of Rahman appeared not to be in the text of his speech; it came during Morsi's pledge to release protesters and other civilians held in Egyptian military custody. The president, looking down at posters of the sheik, said he would make "all efforts to free" prisoners, including Rahman.

Morsi will take the oath of office before the Supreme Constitutional Court, the same body that this month dissolved the Islamist-dominated parliament over voting irregularities. The disbanding of parliament, where the president is usually inaugurated, has moved the ceremony to the court. Activists oppose the venue, saying it validates a corrupt institution loyal to the army's efforts at weakening the new government.

"A full revolution or nothing. Down, down with military rule," protesters chanted amid banners and T-shirts emblazoned with Morsi's image. "We, the people, are the red line."

Morsi has been pressing the generals to restore the parliament and repeal a constitutional amendment that gives the army presidential powers, including the approving a national budget, overseeing the military leadership and declaring war. Legal battles over these issues and the drafting of a constitution are expected to play out over weeks and months as Morsi and the military each maneuver for authority.

His visit to the square ? the epicenter of the uprising that deposed Mubarak ? was a symbolic move to remind the army that Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood can rally thousands to the street. That, however, is the strongest challenge the new president can summon against an entrenched old guard that appears unwilling to bow to a new political order.

"I will be with you. I will work for you," Morsi said to a cheering crowd. "My doors will never be closed I welcome you."

jeffrey.fleishman@latimes.com

Special correspondent Reem Abdellatif contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/la-fg-egypt-tahrir-morsi-20120630,0,915197.story?track=rss

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As networks faltered, Obama had to wait for good news (Los Angeles Times)

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2013 Smart fortwo electric drive | Auto Insurance Information - Yes

Smart fortwo electric drive

12 June 2012 - this date marks the starting signal for the first real alternative to the usual refuelling stops. With the launch of the new smart fortwo electric drive, in future smart customers can enjoy even more fun at the wheel of an attractively priced vehicle that has the familiar compact dimensions - as a coup? or a cabriolet. The most important feature distinguishing it from its siblings with conventional engines is the fact that it does not produce any emissions on the road. With its 55kW electric motor the smart fortwo electric drive accelerates from 0-60 km/h in 4.8 seconds, and with a maximum speed of 125 km/h driving pleasure is also guaranteed on urban motorways. The 17.6 kWh battery enables the urban two-seater to travel approximately 145 kilometres in city traffic without producing any local emissions. The new sale&care model makes opting into electric mobility particularly attractive: it offers customers an opportunity to buy, finance or lease the vehicle at an attractive price and to rent the battery for a monthly fee.

Extensive experience and customer feedback from various electric mobility projects were integrated in the further development of the smart fortwo electric drive. Ever since 1998 the smart has been revolutionising urban mobility like no vehicle before it. Compact, agile, environmentally friendly and stylish - it has evolved from a practical small car to a lifestyle product and has long become a familiar sight on the roads of cities around the world.

From the summer the smart fortwo electric drive will start winning wide-ranging buyers in more than 30 international countries for its innovative and forward-looking drive concept.

Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of smart, says "The smart fortwo was designed for an electric drive right from the start as our customers to date have already been able to experience for themselves in their daily use of this vehicle. We have taken their feedback and wishes very seriously. The new smart fortwo electric drive represents a completely new dimension of zero-emission driving pleasure at a price that is really attractive."

The new model is fitted with a 55 kW magneto-electric motor - the first product from the EM-motive joint venture founded together with Bosch - ensuring that it is as agile and lively as ever.

With torque of 130 Newton metres it accelerates powerfully from 0 to 60 km/h in 4.8 seconds, and thanks to better acceleration in the higher speed range it can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.5 seconds as it has much more tractive power than its predecessor.

This makes for speedy driving and overtaking. The battery-electric two-seater smart fortwo now has a higher top speed of 125 km/h, as well. That is putting it on a par with the combustion-engined smart - also on the motorway.

A battery from the joint venture "Deutsche ACCUmotive" with Evonik Industries is fitted in the new smart fortwo electric drive for the first time. With capacity of 17.6 kWh the lithium-ion battery enables 145 kilometres of pollutant-free driving fun. In addition to the higher battery capacity clear improvements have been made to the efficiency of the drive system, resulting in a greater range. When completely empty it takes a maximum of seven hours to fully charge the battery at a household socket or charging station on the electricity systems of most countries i.e. overnight.

Quick charging in less than one hour

For the feasibility of quick charging it is possible to optionally equip the car with a quick-charging function. The 22 kW on-board charger enables a completely empty battery to be fully charged in less than an hour. A power cable is needed for this which is used to connect the vehicle to a public quick-charging station or a "wallbox" at home or work.

smart will offer this in future in cooperation with SPX, one of the world's leading suppliers of technology solutions in the fields of energy and automotive as a global installation and service partner, and with KEBA, a specialist for innovative E-charging infrastructure and wallboxes. If a customer decides to install a wallbox at home or work the smart Sales department will contact SPX. SPX will examine the local conditions, make an individual offer, and after a purchase decision, arrange for installation of the wallbox from KEBA. The wallbox is standardised and can of course also be used to charge vehicles from other manufacturers, for example if there is a mixed fleet.

There are two different types of wallbox: Basic and Connected. Both variants can be used for the quick charging of a single vehicle, or several vehicles one after the other. For private customers who want to charge up quickly and easily at home, a Basic wallbox is the perfect solution. It provides quick charging up to 22 kW and can be used both indoors and outdoors. The Connected wallbox also provides internet connectivity once linked up to the customer's web connection.

Furthermore, the Connectivity Plus system is an ideal solution for fleet customers. It enables up to 16 Connected wallboxes to be linked up to the "fleet server". This fleet server then enables several vehicles to be charged at once, all controlled intelligently and automatically. For example, certain vehicles can be given priority or a load limitation can be set. SmartCharging is also possible: economical charging and charging with green electricity (if the utility company provides the relevant data). This is financially advantageous to customers as they always have full control over their charging. The relevant charging cables are of course also available from SPX.

Attractive introduction to electric mobility

The smart fortwo electric drive makes opting into electric mobility very attractive with a new marketing concept. With the sale&care model customers can buy, lease or finance the vehicle at an attractive price and rent the battery. The rental costs include regular maintenance and, if necessary, quick battery replacement. smart also has a solution for all those who want to buy the entire vehicle.

In Germany the price for the vehicle with the sale&care model is ?18,910 inc. VAT for the coup? and ?22,000 for the cabrio. As well as this there is the standard battery rental charge of ?65 including VAT in all sale&care markets. In view of the low operating costs electric driving is therefore a very attractive form of individual mobility.

National promotion programmes in many countries and various mobility benefits such as the use of special lanes or exemption from city congestion charges are further advantages of electric driving. With the attractive sale&care package and the significant technological advancement of the smart fortwo electric drive smart offers its customers affordable driving pleasure in daily use based on the environmentally friendly drive.

smart also has an attractive offer for customers who want to buy or lease the complete vehicle with the battery: including VAT the new smart fortwo electric drive costs ?23,680 as a coup? and ?26,770 as a cabrio.

Since the International Motor Show in Frankfurt anyone interested has been able to register on www.smart.com with no obligation to receive all the latest news on the new electric smart. In some markets, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the UK customers have been able to make advance reservations for a vehicle online - and these customers will be among the first owners of the new smart fortwo electric drive. A four-figure number of reservations has already been received - and a five-figure number of people have even registered on the smart website.

Fill up on renewable energies

Electric vehicles cut down greenhouse gases on a sustained basis, especially when they are powered by renewably generated electricity. This is why the company is supplying as much additional energy generated by wind power to the German grid as is needed to run all new electric smarts sold in Germany - thus supporting the ambitious climate targets of the EU. The energy needed for this is supplied by a new wind power plant on the A9 motorway, which Daimler has acquired in order to supply additional power generated from a completely renewable source to the grid on time for the launch of the new electric smart. Within the framework of this initiative Daimler is deliberately not taking up support measures from the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). With nominal output of 2.3 megawatts per year the onshore wind energy plant type Enercon E82 will generate enough green electricity to run the approximately 2,500 smart fortwo electric drives initially sold in Germany. Any power required over and above this could also be covered with electricity from wind power, without EEG funding.

A fresh green and even more colours

With a larger radiator grille featuring the electric drive logo, stylish LED daytime driving lights below the headlamps, wider door sills and several modifications to the rear the new model is much more dynamic than its predecessor. The new E-smart comes in all smart colours and colour combinations that are also available for the diesel and petrol models.

The new colour fresh green is a particularly visible manifestation of electric driving fun. The electric drive design package comprises crystal white bodypanels and white alloy rims, tridion cell and mirror caps painted in electric green and numerous green accents in the interior, which form an attractive contrast to the black seats.

Those looking to give their vehicle an even more exclusive touch can choose from the range of options offered by smart BRABUS tailor made - with an even greater choice of colours and materials.

Perfectly equipped

As to be expected the new smart fortwo electric drive features extensive equipment. A highlight is the fully automatic air conditioning with pollen filter and pre-entry climate control. When it is connected to the power supply the vehicle can be automatically pre-cooled or pre-heated as required for a programmed departure time. A new feature is the possibility to start the pre-entry climate control via the internet or a smartphone at any time. The standard equipment furthermore includes electric windows, a leather steering wheel, leather gear knob, the audio system basic, power steering, 9-spoke alloy wheels and a luggage compartment cover. In addition to the standard solid roof, a glass roof and a cabrio version are available. The trip computer - also a standard feature in the electric smart - shows journey information including the remaining range. And like the predecessor model the two round instruments show the battery state-of-charge and the energy used and recuperated. In addition, the smart fortwo electric drive can be equipped with a navigation system and a 3-spoke leather steering wheel.

Clever app for infotainment with smartphones

smart is the first car brand to develop its own drive app for the iPhone?. Together with the smart kit and cradle for the iPhone? the cult phone becomes a multimedia trip computer that is optimised for the smart fortwo in terms of function and design. The smart drive app for the iPhone has all the important features needed whilst driving: phone calls via hands-free system, your own extensive music collection, internet radio and a clever navigation system with a special smart touch. There are also smart extras - for example the Car Finder that will guide you back to wherever you parked your car.

The new smart drive app for the iPhone is simple to operate, for example thanks to extra-large buttons. The new app therefore makes urban mobility even easier and more fun - the declared objective of the smart philosophy.

Two new elements developed by smart make the two-seater car and the iPhone a perfect team:

??? The smart cradle for the iPhone with control unit and microphone serves as a stylish and functional holder. It charges the iPhone and also functions as a hands-free system using the loudspeakers of the smart radio for sound output and automatically muting it when phone calls are made
??? The smart drive app for the iPhone is the world's first drive app on the market to be developed by a car brand. It combines all the features needed on the road in a single app. All the functions are extremely easy to use thanks to extra-large buttons and extra-large letters

Always know how far you can go: connected services

The smart drive app for the iPhone can be supplemented with further functions tailored to the smart fortwo electric drive. However, the current state-of-charge or the SmartCharging charge configuration can also be conveniently controlled and managed via a web portal from a home computer or with any modern smartphone.

The Vehicle Homepage offers every smart fortwo electric drive customer a chance to visualise the range on an interactive map with 3D views.

All the destinations that can be reached with the current battery charge are displayed. The public charging stations within reach can also be seen at a glance. If a desired destination is further away than the available range the Vehicle Homepage can be used to quickly check how long the battery still needs to be charged for to reach it. Among other factors, the depiction of the range considers the topography and the route profile. The intuitive graphic depiction that can be combined with 3D views and satellite images is an attractive feature. Furthermore, the vehicle itself can also become active: information on the charge status and range can be sent by email or Twitter messages for example. The driver is notified as soon as the desired range can be reached with the current charge.

Intelligent charging

The smart fortwo electric drive can be connected to the internet at home via a standard powerline adapter (Homeplug AV) for SmartCharging. After entering the planned departure time in the vehicle or the web portal the vehicle will be fully charged in a battery-saving and economical way. The smart fortwo electric drive also makes charging at public stations easy. With Plug&Charge the vehicle identifies itself as soon as it is plugged into a compatible charging point and the charging process is settled automatically.

"Electric history at smart"

With the start of the first electrically driven test fleet in 2007 in London smart also took on a pioneering role in the area of electric mobility when 100 smart fortwo electric drives took to the roads of the British capital - with great success.

With the introduction of the second generation in 2009 the smart fortwo electric drive was ready to take to the roads. The electrically driven avant-gardiste from Stuttgart was introduced in 18 markets. The objective was to gather as much experience as possible about how customers use and charge electric vehicles. The huge demand exceeded all expectations. Instead of the planned 1000 vehicles more than 2000 smart fortwo electric drives were produced in Hambach. This means that smart has one of the largest fleets of electrically driven vehicles on the roads worldwide and a trove of customer experience and wishes that have been input in the new smart fortwo electric drive.

A higher top speed and better acceleration at speeds above 60 km/h were right at the top of the customers' list of priorities. However, contrary to prevailing opinion the range wasn't the crucial point from the perspective of the test customers. The vast majority of users confirmed the results of surveys which say that people drive approximately 30 to 40 kilometres per day on average in urban areas and they expressed great satisfaction with the range of their smart.

Technical specifications

??? Electric motor: Magneto-electric synchronous motor from EM-motive
??? Continuous output: 35 kW
??? Maximum output: 55 kW
??? Max. torque: 130 Nm
??? Battery: Lithium-ion battery from Deutsche ACCUmotive
??? Battery capacity: 17.6 kWh
??? Maximum speed: > 120 km/h
??? Acceleration
??????? 0-60 km/h: 4.8 s
??????? 0-100 km/h: 11.5 s
??? Range (NEDC): 145 km
??? Charging time (0-100%)
??????? domestic socket: 7h (without wallbox), 6h (with wallbox)
??????? 400V: Less than 1h

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Coverage for most people, a scramble for states

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Supreme Court settled the legal argument over health care Thursday. Now people in the United States will find out if President Barack Obama's overhaul can work as advertised to provide coverage to millions of uninsured while also keeping costs in check.

If it works, the U.S. will move closer to other economically advanced countries that for years have guaranteed health insurance to their citizens. If the plan falters, expect endless political wrangling over the nation's problems with high medical costs, widespread waste and millions of uninsured people.

"My hope is we will have access to health care for our whole family that we can actually afford," Vicki McCuistion, one of 6.7 million uninsured Texans, said after learning of the Supreme Court decision.

At the White House, Obama renewed that promise, though the answer may not be fully known for years.

Republicans from presidential candidate Mitt Romney to lawmakers on Capitol Hill will keep pushing to repeal what they deride as "Obamacare," but the focus now quickly shifts from Washington to the states.

While health insurers, big hospitals and major employers have spent the last two years carrying out early provisions of the law and planning for many that are yet to come, states are all over the lot.

Although they are expected to play a crucial role in carrying out the law, only 14 states, plus the District of Columbia, have adopted a plan for doing so.

Hoping the Affordable Care Act will be overturned, Republican governors and legislatures have resisted setting up new insurance markets that are a linchpin of the legislation, and that could turn into a problem for the whole country.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners expects only about half the states to be ready to set up new health insurance markets, set to open for business in 2014. If states aren't ready, the law calls for Washington to step in and run things.

State plans for the markets, called exchanges, are due to the federal government by this fall. In states that fail to go ahead, Washington will run the exchange, which is supposed to provide one-stop shopping for health insurance, steering middle-class households to private plans and low-income people to Medicaid.

"States are going to have to make a pretty quick decision on exchanges," said North Dakota's insurance commissioner, Adam Hamm, a Republican. Most state legislatures have gone out of session, though governors may call lawmakers back.

The court ruling threw a new wrinkle into the decision that may give some states an incentive to hold back on expanding Medicaid coverage.

More than 8 in 10 people in the country have health insurance, so the vast majority are in compliance with the coverage requirement now validated by the court. The justices said new penalties for those who ignore the insurance mandate are authorized under the taxing powers of Congress.

For most of the uninsured, the ruling offers the promise of guaranteed coverage at affordable prices. Lower-income and many middle-class families will be eligible for subsidies to help pay premiums starting in 2014.

There's also an added safety net for everyone, insured and uninsured.

Beginning in 2014, insurance companies will not be able to deny coverage for medical reasons; they also cannot charge more for people with health problems. Those protections, now standard in most big employer plans, will be available to all, including people who get laid off or leave a corporate job to launch their own small business.

Older people benefit from the law through better Medicare coverage for those with high prescription costs, and no copayments for preventive care. But hospitals, nursing homes, and many other service providers may struggle once the Medicare cuts used to finance the law really start to bite.

Illegal immigrants are not entitled to the new insurance coverage under the law, and will remain one of the biggest groups uninsured.

Obama's law is by no means the last word on health care.

Experts expect costs to keep rising, meaning that lawmakers will have to revisit the thorny issue perhaps as early as next year, when federal budget woes will force them to confront painful options for Medicare and Medicaid, the federal programs that cover seniors, the disabled, and low-income people.

Even some supporters of the law acknowledge that it's only a first installment: get most people covered, and then deal with the problem of costs.

The health insurance's industry top lobbyist said the ruling relieved one big concern for insurers ? that the mandate would be struck down. But the companies are still worried about costs.

"Without universal participation you have no incentive to purchase coverage until you are sick, and that is not an insurance system," said Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans. "Now it's time to turn all the attention toward affordability." The industry continues to fight taxes and other requirements in the law.

In contrast to the states, the vast health care industry is better prepared. When the law passed in 2010, insurers, hospitals and major employers immediately started planning to carry it out. Many of the changes called for in the law were already being demanded by employers trying to get better value for their private health insurance dollars.

"The main driver here is financial," said Dr. Toby Cosgrove, CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, which has pioneered some of the changes. "The factors driving health care reform are not new, and they are not going to go away."

___

Online:

Health care interactive: http://hosted.ap.org/interactives/2012/healthcare

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Tropical Storm Debby drenches Florida's Gulf Coast (+video)

Tropical Storm Debby, its accompanying winds and rains brought flooding to parts of Florida. Rick Scott, the state's governor, declared a state of emergency. The storm is expected to travel further inland as the week progresses.?

By Kevin Gray,?Reuters / June 25, 2012

Convenience store employee Lindsey Bennight watches floodwaters surround the store where she works in Crawfordville, Fla. Tropical storm Debby hit land with wind and rain.

AP Photo/Dave Martin

Enlarge

Tropical Storm Debby lashed parts of Florida with driving rains and high winds on Monday, threatening to trigger more flooding and tornadoes as it hovered off the state's northern Gulf of Mexico coast.

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With tropical storm-force winds extending outward up to 230 miles (370 km) from its center off the northwest coastal town of Apalachicola late Monday afternoon, forecasters said Debby menaced a broad swath of inland territory with flash flooding from torrential downpours.

Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency and a tropical storm warning was in effect along much of the Gulf coastline, from the Florida Panhandle down through the central west coast.

"Because of the broad impact of Tropical Storm Debby, virtually every county in Florida could be affected," Scott said in a statement announcing the statewide emergency.

"Some communities are already grappling with flooding, wind damage and electrical outages," said Scott, who ordered all state agencies, including the

Florida National Guard, to provide any necessary assistance requested by local governments.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Debby, the first named storm of 2012 to move into the Gulf of Mexico, was packing top sustained winds of about 45 miles per hour (72 kph) and forecasters predicted little change in strength over the next couple of days.

Over the weekend, the storm idled about a quarter of U.S. offshore oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico, based on figures issued by U.S. offshore regulators.

But on Monday, big offshore Gulf of Mexico drillers like BP Plc and Royal Dutch Shell began returning staff to offshore platforms.

Torrential Rainfall?

Forecast models show Debby making landfall along the northern Florida Gulf Coast by Thursday. It could dump more than a foot (30 cm) of rain in some areas of the state, with isolated amounts of more than two feet (64 cm) in north Florida, the hurricane center said.

Flash flood warnings were in effect for many areas and the Florida Division of Emergency Management has cautioned that inland flooding is associated with more than half the deaths from tropical cyclones in the United States over the last 30 years.

Steady rainfall spurred by Debby is expected to extend to southern areas of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

Florida officials said the storm has left an estimated 35,000 people without power and forced the closure of a four-mile (six-km) bridge spanning Tampa Bay that connects the city of St. Petersburg with the Bradenton area.

The hurricane center also warned that more tornadoes were possible in parts of Florida and southern Georgia.

On Sunday, Debby spawned twisters that killed a woman, badly injured a child and wrecked homes in central Florida in rural Highlands County, according to an emergency management official.

Florida's Pinellas Country was also hit hard, with flash flooding in some areas and at least 20 houses with roofs that were partially or fully blown off during a tornado-like storm on Sunday.

In Alabama, rescuers continued a search on Monday for a swimmer who is presumed dead after he went missing off the Gulf Coast near Orange Beach on Sunday.

Debby is expected to continue veering away from the U.S. Gulf waters that are home to about 20 percent of U.S. oil and 6 percent of natural gas output. And the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, which unloads about 1 million barrels per day of U.S. crude oil imports from giant tankers, said it was set to resume operations on Monday, after shutting Sunday due to rough seas.

But U.S. regulators said on Monday that Gulf of Mexico oil and gas operators had shut in 44.1 percent of daily oil and 34.8 percent of daily natural gas production because of Tropical Storm Debby, a near doubling of the oil total from Sunday.

Though Debby's track was still uncertain, the hurricane center said it could re-emerge and gain strength over the western Atlantic Ocean by next weekend.

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The State Of Product Management In India, 2012 | Confianzys ...

With rising interest in product management in India, and a growing awareness of the value of the discipline, we decided to conduct a study on the state of product management in India: what activities are product managers involved with, what their biggest challenges are, and how they are equipping themselves on the road to product success.

The survey was administered online using a structured questionnaire, and we received responses from 100 practicing product managers (PMs) across companies of different sizes, all of whom had attended a training workshop delivered by Confianzys. ?A small number of in-depth interviews were also conducted with product managers (who had not attended a Confianzys training workshop.)

Here are some of the key inputs and insights from the Confianzys State of Product Management in India, 2012.

What is Product Management?

Currently, the four key deliverables owned by the PM function were business case, market requirements document (MRD), market plan and product roadmap. This is good news because it indicates that product managers in India are beginning to spend adequate time on defining the right problem, rather than rushing towards solutions for the wrong ones.

In the majority of cases (68%), product management resides in the marketing (43%) or engineering (19%) or other functions when it should be a corporate function (only 32%).

Clearly, even companies that have created a space for product management are yet to internalize the benefits of giving it a key role in the organization.

What challenges do PMs face?

A large number of product managers (45%) felt that their recently launched product could have been more successful in the market. ?It is worthwhile looking at this figure in the context of the challenges that PMs felt applied to them.

The key internal challenges faced can be divided into 2 kinds ?

(a) 45% of PMs agreed to role definition and role implementation related challenges (poorly defined, poorly supported by executive management, poor quality of internal interactions)

(b) 55% of PMs agreed to knowledge related challenges (lack of tools, process, strategy and methodology)

As for external challenges, 69% of the respondents felt that conducting market research, validating market opportunities, articulating market needs and prioritizing customer needs were ones that applied to them.

Another issue that emerged was that 75% of the PMs did not use any scientific pricing methodology.

Overcoming challenges in product management

Almost 45% of respondents felt that market driven methodology, tools and structured PM processes helped them in overcoming the challenges. Another 21% opted for better skills.

These indicate the need for of PM training in the Indian market. Given that many product managers move into the space from engineering, there is value in learning to become market-centric and approach product management in the right way.

81% of respondents felt that they needed immediate improvements in market opportunity identification, customer needs understanding and process adoption.

From the qualitative data obtained, it also emerges that there is a lack of tools and skills to understand customers, or specific aspects such as customers in a particular geography, changing customer preferences or developing a voice of customer program.

From the Confianzys State of Product Management in India, 2012 study, we can conclude that there is a growing awareness of what a product manager?s role in the organization is. At the same time, this is not yet supported in many companies with a clear mandate from executive management.

Further, there is a clear felt need for skill upgrading in the PM space, with respondents articulating that they need more understanding of the PM process and in the areas of evaluating market opportunities and understanding customer needs in their respective industries.

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Is it possible to refinance your 1st mortgage if your combined 1st and ...

I bought my home in the fall of 2005 for $ 285000 with a 80/20 loan. The 80 is interest only for 5 years and the 20 is fixed. My home was valued over $ 300000 at the time so after being there 6 months I refinanced the 2nd to included my personal debt, so I could write off the interest while paying everything down. The loan is at $ 308000 currently, but now the house is only valued at $ 236000 (making it worse my neighbor has the same house and quick saled it for $ 207000 last month). I have 2 years before the 1st mortgage will add principal at a variable rate. The bank said the payment could go up $ 200 to $ 800, not to exceed 10% per year. They also said they won?t refiance the 1st because the combined loans exceed the value. I have excellent credit and what to keep it that way. I have never missed a payment, but with a yearly increase in my mortgage at those rates I will go broke. What can I do to fix it before it?s too late?

I don?t think you can. I mean someone somewhere may be willing to do it, but if you owe more than your home is worth combined the apprisal will not go through for both. I don?t know what to tell you. I?m sorry your in such a finanical pickle though.

...answered June 27, 2012 @ 3:41 am

It?s extremely important to understand that with a little time and the right approach getting the absolute best mortgage refinancing is not a huge problem.Companies/businesses that arrange financial products of this nature usually are very profitable and it?s a good idea to remember where all the money is generated from. You, the customer are the root of their profits.

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Once you need to finance the buying of your own home with a mortgage, it?s very important that you do your research properly and understand all of the variables. When it is essential that you get the absolute best mortgage refinancing-enter into some research and groundwork on your own because the Internet can equip you with an absolute pot of gold of very helpful data when it is essential that you get the best mortgage refinancing.

...answered June 27, 2012 @ 4:34 am

You can not combine the two if more than the value of your home, why not just refi the 1st into a fixed rate, 90% of the financial crisis ie foreclosures are because of ARM?s. And trust me, I work in a real estate investment firm and I buy houses every day for the mortgage balance so people don?t get foreclosed on and 99% of those people have ARM?s. Just try to refi the 1st, if not, start making higher payments now to try to adjust for thedifference. Good Luck.

...answered June 27, 2012 @ 5:25 am

A very difficult position
Both you and the bank would benefit by extending the interest only provision for a further term. The bank is in a worse position then you are because the loan exceeds the security so they will lose a large amount if they are forced to seize and auction your home.
I think you should try to work out a restructuring of amounts and interest with the bank that enables you to keep your home and reduce the bank?s losses.

Inform them of your expectations and ask them for a proposal that will fit with your income.

...answered June 27, 2012 @ 5:52 am

I think you are SOL. The FHA might have done it if the balance of the 1st was

You probably are worried too soon and possibly for no real good reason. The market may come back before the 1st starts to adjust. In two years, no one can predict what will happen.

Check the index and the margin. The indexes are down even over what they were 12 months ago. If we are in a recession, chances are they will not go up sharply.

I have heard that congress is supposed to be working on more mortgage reform to allow the agencies to refinance some existing loans that may fall into the same category you are in.

Remain calm. Keep your ears open. Can you pay down the 2nd agressively? That might be the best bet to put you in a position to refinance your first in the future. You might even be able to convert the 2nd to an unsecured loan. Yeah, you would give up the interest deduction, but if it made it possible to refi the 1st and that is the greater need it could be worth it.

Good luck

...answered June 27, 2012 @ 6:43 am

I have to agree with Dale on this, don?t panic. At this time, there?s really nothing you can do beside sell and even that puts you at a significant loss. The good this is that the 2nd is fixed, it could be worse, it could be variable. I don?t even think you could refi the first for two reason, one, you?d still be upside down or 100% on the first, and two, I highly doubt the holder of the second will subordinate, especially is they see what your home is worth. You are correct in wanted to keep your credit, so I would do what you can to pay off the second mortgage as quickly as possible, then apply those payments to the first. You have two years for the interest only to adjust, hopefully the market is more stable and you can make a better assessment of the situation 6 months before the arm resets. good luck

...answered June 27, 2012 @ 6:55 am

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Gaza militants fire rockets at Israel, army says

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Univision, Latin Recording Academy sign deal for Latin Grammys

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5 Ways to Increase Your Productivity | Business 2 Community

People often cite prioritization as a personal area of improvement. This is interesting, because we prioritize every day, every hour and every minute of our lives, so you think we would be good at it by now! At work, we not only have to prioritize OUR goals but we need to keep in mind those of our clients, coworkers and managers. In this post, I want to share with you some of the tricks I use to keep my priorities straight, and to more efficiently get work done.

First, and this is the hardest one, you need to accept that everything is NOT going to get done, at least not when you would ideally like it to. However, if you consider the following tips you will be better suited to meet your goals and the expectations of others.

• Understand the goal ? It is important to realize that your goals may differ from your clients, coworkers and managers. From the outset of a project, make sure to clearly define your goal(s) for all parties, so there is no confusion down the line.
• Create a plan and stick to it ? Following a plan will allow you to be in control of meeting your goals. If you have to work extra hours or meet with a busy coworker, factor that into your plan.
• Don?t multitask - This is a tough one for most of us but multi-tasking is perhaps the biggest detriment to productivity. Harvard Business Review released a study in 2010 that found multitasking can lead to as much as a 40% drop in productivity.
• Be Honest ? If you don?t think it can get done on time then it most likely will not. It is better to address delays as soon as they arise and in the long term, you will gain trust amongst your team.
• Be Realistic ? It is not that you don?t want to complete every task that gets thrown at you but sometimes, you just can?t. Take on only what you can handle; it is worse to commit to something and not get it done than it is to set real expectations that may not be to the liking of your client, coworker, etc.

Most importantly, these tips should help you to meet your goals and expectations without raising your stress level. By understanding the goals of your position and your company at large, you can create a plan that meets these goals. If you are honest, realistic and minimize multi-tasking, sticking to your plan will be reasonable and ultimately fulfilling.

What do you think? What are some tricks that you use to prioritize and achieve your goals? I?d love to know!

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A Second Take on Meeting the Press: From an up-close look at Rachel Maddow's sneakers to an in-depth look at Jon Krakauer's latest book ? it's all fair game in our "Meet the Press: Take Two" web extra. Log on Sundays to see David Gregory's post-show conversations with leading newsmakers, authors and roundtable guests. Videos are available on-demand by 12 p.m. ET on Sundays.

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Unfortunately, We Now Have To Speculate About What's Wrong With Google CEO Larry Page...

Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Google CEO Larry Page has a mysterious ailment that caused him to miss last week's shareholder meeting.

Google says this ailment will also cause Larry to miss (or at least not speak at) Google's big developer conference this week and Google's earnings call in a few weeks.

Meanwhile, Larry Page last posted to his Google+ account on May 25th, nearly a month ago.

Google's explanation of the situation is merely that Larry has "lost his voice."

Larry's own explanation to his Google troops is that there is "nothing seriously wrong."

And we all obviously hope that nothing is seriously wrong.

But coming as it does on the heels of the tragic sickness and death of Steve Jobs, which was preceded by Apple's absurdly vague and sugar-coated statements along the way, everyone can be forgiven for worrying that it's deja vu all over again.

And, as inappropriate and intrusive as it might seem to be, everyone can also be forgiven for wondering what might be wrong with Larry.

Google could just tell us what's wrong with Larry, so we wouldn't have to speculate. But, for some reason, Google is choosing not to do that. So we have no choice but to speculate.

In fact, given Larry's importance to Google and the tech industry and Google shareholders, it would be irresponsible not to speculate. Because if it turns out that something is seriously wrong with Larry--or if what is currently not serious becomes serious--we will all feel like idiots for not having learned our lesson from Steve and Apple.

(Not that having the full details about Steve's situation would have changed things. He still would have died way too young.? But at least the time and energy devoted to the perfectly reasonable speculation about Steve's health could have been spent on more important things.)

I think Google should tell us exactly what's wrong with Larry. Given Larry's importance to the company, I think it's the fair and right thing to do.

But given that Google has decided not to do this, here's some of the early speculation...

Larry Page is only 39. He appears to be in robust health. He is "prematurely gray," which some armchair physicians worry is a possible sign of a thyroid problem, possibly thyroid cancer.

"Thyroid cancer," though, would presumably qualify as a "serious" problem. Unless it was very minor thyroid cancer. So there is some concern that it might be that.

Lots of people are wondering whether Larry smokes. I doubt he smokes (he seems to be a health nut), but this would also be helpful information to know.

Amir Efrati and Joann Lublin of the Wall Street Journal talked to a doctor and came back with three other things that might be wrong with Larry.? Encouragingly, they're all much less serious than thyroid cancer:

• "acute laryngitis, a viral infection that causes inflammation of the vocal cords and requires resting one's voice for at least week or two,"
• "Muscle tension dysphonia, which occurs when the muscles around the larynx, or voice box, are too tight and causes a person to use excess tension while speaking. Voice therapy is often required for such an ailment."
• "Some people who naturally produce an unusual-sounding or hoarse voice may develop benign lesions that grow on the vocal cord... Surgery is sometimes required to remove the growths."

If the problem is any of those things, we're mystified as to why Google won't tell us that.

Is there something embarrassing or uber-private about having "acute laryngitis"?

Again, we very much hope that there isn't anything seriously wrong with Larry. We hope he gets well soon. In the meantime, unfortunately, we'll just have to speculate.

SEE ALSO: Corporate Profits Just Hit An All-Time High, Wages Just Hit An All-Time Low

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Congress Needs to Get Busy

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Privacy deal could dent Facebook's revenue

? Thomas Hodel / Reuters / REUTERS

A Facebook logo on a computer screen is seen through a magnifying glass.

By Roland Jones

Facebook has hit a potential stumbling block in its efforts to make money from its more than 900 million active users.

The social network has agreed to pay $20 million to settle a lawsuit in California claiming?it?publicized?that some of its users had ?liked? certain advertisers?but didn't?pay the users, or give them a way to opt out.

The so-called ?Sponsored Story? feature on Facebook is essentially an advertisement that appears on the site and includes a member?s Facebook page and generally consists of another friend?s name, profile picture and a statement that the person ?likes? that advertiser.

The agreement in California could potentially complicate Facebook?s efforts to accelerate advertising revenue, experts say.

Ever since the company went public last month, critics of the website have said it faces challenges when it comes to drawing in revenue because its users are sensitive to Facebook using their personal information to generate money, and because the website?s advertising is not obtrusive enough to grab the attention of users.

?The fact is the advertisements are not irritating users,? said Rob Enderle, an analyst with Enderle Group. ?Advertisers are not getting value because Facebook does not want to upset its users.?

Enderle notes that Facebook?s non-traditional forms of advertising -- using features such as ?Sponsored Stories,? or allowing advertisers to establish product-focused pages -- are not having the same effect as more established forms of advertising, which by their nature are conspicuous and direct.

Indeed, a Reuters/Ipsos poll earlier this month showed four out of five Facebook users said they have never bought a product or service as a result of advertising or comments on the social network site. And in mid-May General Motors very publicly yanked $10 million in Facebook advertising, saying paid advertising on the site isn?t effective.

Changing the ?Sponsored Stories? feature could cost Facebook $103.2 million, economist Fernando Torres? analysis of the revenue each ad brings to the site estimated. And, according to the lawsuit, Facebook?s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said the value of a ?Sponsored Story? advertisement is at least twice and up to three times the value of a standard Facebook ad that doesn?t include a friend endorsement.

But Facebook executives shouldn?t be too despondent, according to Larry Chiagouris, a marketing professor at Pace University's Lubin School of Business. He notes that, in general, academic studies show consumers are willing to reveal more about themselves than privacy advocates would have us believe.

When given a choice, people would rather give up a bit of privacy to get something for free than pay for a service and have their privacy protected, he said.

?Facebook is going to do just fine, because most of its users don?t care much about their privacy,? Chiagouris said. ?Privacy advocates tend to be people on the fringe -- who by the way in some cases have legitimate concerns; it?s just that those concerns are not necessarily shared by the masses.?

A recent examination of the accounts of 1 million Facebook users by Secure.me, a company that offers privacy services to social networks users, showed?nearly 9 out of 10 Americans share information about themselves that can be abused. Slightly fewer Europeans share such sensitive information, the company?s research found.

To continue to entice users to share their personal information on Facebook the website needs to be clear about what its users are giving up, Chiagouris added.

?They still have the largest community of people anywhere on the planet, and that?s worth a great deal,? he said. ?But they need to find a way to provide some sort of tiered service, and not through lots of privacy settings most people don?t make good use of. Facebook is constantly changing them, adding more confusion. They really have harmed themselves in that regard.?They just need to be more transparent and simple about it.?

Another upbeat sign for Facebook is its share price, which has rallied 27 percent since hitting a post-IPO low of $25.87 on June 5.

California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris said Friday that Facebook has become the seventh company to agree to give people advance warning if its mobile applications take personal information from their mobile phones and devices.

Reuters contributed to this report.

If you'd made a bold call and bought then, you'd actually be making money from Facebook, with Howard Lindzon, CEO of Stocktwits.

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