Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/3ow1CkVZIRk/
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Monday, December 31, 2012
The 10 Most Important Gadgets of 2012
Crude oil: Prices likely to be firm
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Except as otherwise disclosed in this Privacy Policy, we will use the information you provide us only for the purpose of responding to your inquiry or in connection with the service for which you provided such information. We may forward your contact information and inquiry to our affiliates and other divisions of our company that we feel can best address your inquiry or provide you with the requested service. We may also use the information you provide in aggregate form for internal business purposes, such as generating statistics and developing marketing plans. We may share or transfer such non-personally identifiable information with or to our affiliates, licensees, agents and partners.
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collection.If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter and promotional communications, you may opt-out of receiving them by following the instructions included in each newsletter or communication or by e-mailing us at michaelw(at)wn.com
The security of your personal information is important to us. We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the personal information submitted to us, both during registration and once we receive it. No method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100 percent secure, however. Therefore, though we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
If we decide to change our e-mail practices, we will post those changes to this privacy statement, the homepage, and other places we think appropriate so that you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it.
If we make material changes to our e-mail practices, we will notify you here, by e-mail, and by means of a notice on our home page.
3. Third Party Advertisers
The advertising banners and other forms of advertising appearing on this Web site are sometimes delivered to you, on our behalf, by a third party. In the course of serving advertisements to this site, the third party may place or recognize a unique cookie on your browser. For more information on cookies, you can visit www.cookiecentral.com.
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As we continue to develop our business, we might sell certain aspects of our entities or assets. In such transactions, user information, including personally identifiable information, generally is one of the transferred business assets, and by submitting your personal information on Wn.com you agree that your data may be transferred to such parties in these circumstances.
Source: http://article.wn.com/view/2012/12/31/Crude_oil_Prices_likely_to_be_firm/
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Sunday, December 30, 2012
Little Republican support for Hagel for Defense post-senator
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The FBI is still searching for one of two convicted bank robbers who escaped last week from a high-rise jail in downtown Chicago by lowering themselves on a makeshift rope nearly 20 stories to the street. Kenneth Conley, 38, and his cellmate, Joseph Jose Banks, 37, escaped from the Metropolitan Correctional Center early on the morning of December 18. The pair apparently broke a window in the cell they shared, squeezed through the opening and lowered themselves to the street. They then hailed a cab to make their getaway. ...
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/little-republican-support-hagel-defense-post-senator-144117535--business.html
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Ask Engadget: best barebones workstation chassis?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Charles, who's capping off the year with a fine question about DIY PC chassis. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"I work in motion graphics and it's upgrade time. I'm a DIY and Windows nut, so I'm looking to build my own tower, but the cases are all so horrible! I don't need a plastic window, or something that looks like it was designed by aliens -- just something that's sharp, solid, good looking and has a respectable airflow. Is that too much to ask?"
Well, we trawled our brains (as well as a fair chunk of the internet) looking for some classy chassis, and this is what we found:
- Corsair's Obsidian 550D may have a plastic window, but otherwise it's a monolithic piece of imposing black metal that won't ugly up your office.
- Coolermaster's Silencio 650 is hewn from diamond-cut aluminum and drops the plastic window, and given the company's heritage, should have excellent airflow.
- Finally, there's the Lian-Li PC-A71F, which can only be described as terrifyingly sleek.
But what about you all? Let's cap the year off with some stylish PC cases, peace and goodwill to everyone and a very happy New Year to you, the Engadgeteers.
Filed under: Desktops
Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/bu81h6u1Srk/
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Spire: A free sci-fi eBook for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, Apple iPad, iPhone
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Saturday, December 29, 2012
State Dept. warns of travel hazards in Haiti
WASHINGTON (AP) ? The State Department has issued a revised Haiti travel advisory, warning Americans planning to travel to the Caribbean island nation about robbery, lawlessness, infectious disease and poor medical facilities.
"U.S. citizens have been victims of violent crime, including murder and kidnapping, predominantly in the Port-au-Prince area. No one is safe from kidnapping, regardless of occupation, nationality, race, gender, or age," the department said.
The new travel warning was released Friday to replace a less strongly worded advisory issued in June.
In recent months, travelers arriving in Port-au-Prince, the capital and largest city, on flights from the United States have been attacked and robbed after leaving the airport. This year, at least two U.S. citizens were shot and killed in robbery and kidnapping incidents, the State Department said.
"Haitian authorities have limited capacity to deter or investigate such violent acts, or prosecute perpetrators," the department said.
The State Department also noted that while the incidents of cholera have declined, the disease persists in many areas of Haiti. Medical facilities, including ambulance services, are particularly weak.
"Thousands of U.S. citizens safely visit Haiti each year, but the poor state of Haiti's emergency response network should be carefully considered when planning travel. Travelers to Haiti are encouraged to use organizations that have solid infrastructure, evacuation, and medical support options in place," the department said.
___
Online:
Haiti Travel Warning: http://tinyurl.com/bnrfqtx
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/state-dept-warns-travel-hazards-haiti-102654744.html
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How to Improve Business Internet Exposure in Social Media Sites ...
In this era of popular social media platforms on the web, individual professionals as well as companies promote business online using various social media platforms. Here is a list of social media guidelines that business owners can use and implant in their social media approach to make sure that their business presence on social media platform attain web dispersion and reaches a large set of viewers productively.
Shortlist Social Media Platform: One of the principal mistakes most business owners do is the lack of a social media tactic before starting out on such social media promotions. Planning corporate social media expansion agenda can make the distinction between having merely a social media presence as compared to a promotional activity that truly brings in new customers. Companies are advised to find out which social media platform suits their requirements and has the most likely number of possible as well as obtainable clients. For example If most of your clients are on Twitter or Pinterest, having a enthusiastic approach more attentive towards those particular media platforms must be integrated.
Interactions Responses: Another big blunder most trade establishments make is to barrage their social media page with a congregation of information devoid of any communication between the supporters and the business group. Redistribution of business information must be reasonable by having an existent interactive assembly of planning that can help the group weigh up patron feedback and likely areas to improve. Having one on one dealings with patrons not only improves the public relation aspects but also makes the brand work more professionally by optimistic utterance of opinion of content clients who interrelate with other followers.
Interactive Video Tools: The use of video is one extremely ignored tool when it comes to increasing social media promotions. Generating a committed video channel is recommended for merchandise range while enlightening important updates to clients. The same videos can be communal on other media platforms like Twitter and Linkedin by tagging friends and old clients that have been having the same query as answered
Tweet With a Human Element:?Most small business owners obligate sin of redistributing mechanical feeds as tweets on their official twitter accounts. Make room for authentic individual interaction with your faction on twitter and unearth a sense of balance between personal and official tweets. Memorize social media works mutually and just toting up company related information may not get you a great deal of followers. Adding a human stroke not only promotes more dynamic interaction connecting the company and the group but also makes getting new followers an easy breeze.
Observe Followers:?Observing follower trends and behavioral pattern online is one of the principal advantages that companies can use to grow successful products. Keeping a hand on consumer pulse and their requirements and troubles with obtainable products and services can be hugely significant while mounting new products. Maintaining a company follower?s blog and twitter lists can create a database to reach all your trendy clients and followers for future updates and announcements.
About The Author: Kate is a writer/blogger. She loves writing, traveling and reading books. She is a contributor for ReputationChanger.com Reviews
Source: http://www.lainformacionrd.net/improve-business-internet-exposure-social-media-sites/
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Friday, December 28, 2012
Humane society of Midland County works to give animals new ...
Read?more: Local, Community, Humane Society of Midland County, Dogs, Adoptions, Dog Adoptions, Pets
The Humane Society of Midland County introduced two furry friends Friday.
Bella and Karma stopped by the NBC25 studio.
Both dogs are up for adoption and can be found online at the HSOMC's?website.
The HSOMC is working to find homes for all of the animals in the shelter by New Year's.
Many families have decided to "pay it forward" over the holidays and sponsor another pet by paying for its adoption fees.
Source: http://www.minbcnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=841670
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And the Mobile Nations 2013 CES Experience in Las Vegas winners are...!
Alright folks, it's time to announce the 6 lucky people that will be joining NVIDIA and Mobile Nations at CES 2013!
We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all of the members that submitted an entry. We really appreciate all of the time and effort everyone put in, and the response was quite overwhelming.
So, getting down to business... after much debate and discussion, we have selected 6 stand out entries. These folks will join the Mobile Nations and NVIDIA crews in Las Vegas for CES 2013!
Congratulations to... *drum roll*
?
Robert Brown
Marques Brownlee
Rich Cermele
Michael Colvill
TJ Hardin
Martin Reisch
?
Congrats to Robert Brown, one of the 6 stand out entries we received!
(You've got to see it. Hit play.)
We're ALL looking forward to meeting you, hanging out with you, and doing all sorts of other fun stuff at CES. We will be in touch with our 6 lucky picks shortly to arrange all of the travel, hotel and CES pass details!
Congratulations again to our selections! We will see you in Las Vegas!
 |  |
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/8OYGzok_wMo/story01.htm
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Singer Brandy Norwood Engaged!
Singer Brandy Norwood Engaged!
Brandy Norwood was the recipient of an awesome Christmas gift this year…a diamond engagement ring! The 33-year-old singer and “Moesha” star is engaged to marry music mogul Ryan Press! A source revealed the Christmas proposal, stating, “They are thrilled and happy and Brandy feels this is so right.” Brandy had made no secret of her ...
Singer Brandy Norwood Engaged! Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News
Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2012/12/singer-brandy-norwood-engaged/
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PFT: Big decisions face Giants in offseason
ReutersWell, it?s officially over.
With an eight-game gap and one week of games left, MDS and yours truly disagree on only five games.? Which means that, even if MDS sweeps, I?ll still be three games ahead.? (Math continues to be my strong suit.)
Of course, if I sweep I?ll finish with a 13-game lead.? And based on the five disagreements, I think I will.
Read on to see our picks and our takes for the final week of the regular season.? It all re-sets to 0-0 for the playoffs, at which time MDS will have a chance to exact revenge.? Or to fail again.
Last week, I was 11-5 and MDS went 10-6.? For the year, I?m now at 157-82-1, good for 65.4 percent.? MDS is 149-90-1, which keeps him at 62.0 percent.
Buccaneers at Falcons
MDS?s take: The Falcons wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, but they say they?re playing to win in Week 17. They shouldn?t have much trouble winning against the Bucs, who have collapsed at the end of the season.
MDS?s pick: Falcons 34, Buccaneers 13.
Florio?s take:? The Bucs haven?t been the same team since they nearly beat the Falcons in Tampa.? The Falcons are still trying to prove that they?re one of the best teams in the league.
Florio?s pick:? Falcons 27, Buccaneers 17.
Jets at Bills
MDS?s take: Football fans, the Greg McElroy-Ryan Fitzpatrick quarterback matchup you?ve all been waiting for is finally here. Fitzpatrick will throw a couple of touchdown passes in what may be his final start in Buffalo.
MDS?s pick: Bills 20, Jets 10.
Florio?s take:? The Jets have folded the tents, even though the circus is still in town.? Buffalo celebrates the news of a new lease with a home win to end the season, just in time for plenty of changes.
Florio?s pick:? Bills 27, Jets 14.
Ravens at Bengals
MDS?s take: At first glance this might look like a big game, matching up two playoff teams. But with the Bengals locked into the No. 6 seed and the Ravens highly likely to end up with the No. 4 seed, neither of these teams has a lot to play for. I think the Ravens, however, will be a little more motivated to build on the momentum from last week?s win over the Giants and will take this one.
MDS?s pick: Ravens 21, Bengals 14.
Florio?s take:? This meaningless game has plenty of meaning for the Bengals, who need to convince themselves that they can beat the Ravens, in order to obtain the confidence that they can do something else they haven?t done in an even longer time ? win in the playoffs.
Florio?s pick:? Bengals 27, Ravens 20.
Bears at Lions
MDS?s take: In 2000, the Lions were 9-6 heading into Week 17 and needed only to beat the 4-11 Bears to make the playoffs. Instead, the Bears pulled the upset and Lions owner William Clay Ford cleaned house and began the disastrous Matt Millen era. This year it?s the 9-6 Bears who need to beat the 4-11 Lions to have a shot at the playoffs. I?ll take the Lions to get their revenge in an upset.
MDS?s pick: Lions 28, Bears 24.
Florio?s take:? Rodney Harrison declared while watching the Lions lose to the Falcons that Detroit?s body language suggests the Lions have quit.? The Bears haven?t.? Sometimes, it?s that easy.
Florio?s pick:? Bears 24, Lions 10.
Texans at Colts
MDS?s take: The Texans are playing for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, while the Colts are already locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC. Houston has more to play for and is a better team and will win this one going away.
MDS?s pick: Texans 36, Colts 17.
Florio?s take:? The Texans have never won in Indianapolis.? They need it this time more than ever.? But the Colts will have coach Chuck Pagano back, and even if the Colts leave so much on the field that it will make it harder to win in the playoffs, they?ll leave it all on the field to beat the Texans.
Florio?s pick:? Colts 27, Texans 23.
Packers at Vikings
MDS?s take: This is the biggest game played in Minnesota since Brett Favre led the Vikings to a divisional playoff win over the Cowboys three years ago. Unfortunately for Vikings fans, they?re hosting a Packers team that?s peaking at the right time. I like Aaron Rodgers to lead the Packers to a high-scoring win.
MDS?s pick: Packers 35, Vikings 27.
Florio?s take:? The Vikings are playing for a postseason berth.? The Packers are playing for a bye.? The Packers remain the better team, and they have every reason to demonstrate that on Sunday.? To the delight of the Bears.
Florio?s pick:? Packers 34, Vikings 21.
Dolphins at Patriots
MDS?s take: A win probably won?t be enough to earn New England a first-round playoff bye, but the Patriots will be motivated to try ? and to wash out the bad taste of back-to-back disappointing performances, in a loss to the 49ers and a close win over the Jaguars.
MDS?s pick: Patriots 41, Dolphins 14.
Florio?s take:? The Pats still have a crack at a bye.? That?s all the incentive they need to take out the Dolphins for the second time this month.
Florio?s pick:? Patriots 34, Dolphins 17.
Panthers at Saints
MDS?s take: It?s a meaningless game for both teams, but that doesn?t make it a bad game: Both of these teams have been playing good football in recent weeks, despite falling short of the playoffs. I like the Panthers to keep their winning streak going and make a statement that they?re a team to keep an eye on in 2013.
MDS?s pick: Panthers 24, Saints 21.
Florio?s take:? New Orleans is trying to finish on a high note.? And they are succeeding.
Florio?s pick:? Saints 34, Panthers 10.
Eagles at Giants
MDS?s take: The Eagles quit on Andy Reid months ago. The Giants have looked in the last couple weeks like they quit on Tom Coughlin. Both of these teams are slouching toward the end of the season, but the Giants have more to play for.
MDS?s pick: Giants 14, Eagles 10.
Florio?s take:? The Giants are playing for pride, along with a sliver of hope that they could make it to the playoffs if enough other teams lose.? If the Giants find a way in, there?s a pretty good chance they won?t lose again.
Florio?s pick:? Giants 27, Eagles 20.
Browns at Steelers
MDS?s take: This game is meaningless, and I?m tempted to pick the Browns on the theory that the Steelers will be feeling a hangover from their disappointing Week 16 loss. But the Browns have gone in the tank over the last couple of weeks, and at this point I?m not sure I?d pick them to win on the road against anyone.
MDS?s pick: Steelers 17, Browns 9.
Florio?s take:? The Browns haven?t swept the Steelers since 1988, 11 years before the current edition of the Browns was born.? With rampant changes looming in Cleveland, the Steelers still have enough gas in the tank to avoid getting punked by the franchise they?ve owned since 1999 (even though the Browns are now technically owned by a guy who still owns a chunk of the Steelers).
Florio?s pick:? Steelers 20, Browns 10.
Jaguars at Titans
MDS?s take: Last time the Titans suffered a humiliating blowout loss and were called out by their owner, they responded by winning the next game. I think they?ll do it again.
MDS?s pick: Titans 24, Jaguars 14.
Florio?s take:? Bud Adams isn?t happy with his coaching staff.? He?ll be slightly less unhappy after Sunday, but still unhappy enough to clean house.
Florio?s pick:? Titans 27, Jaguars 16.
Chiefs at Broncos
MDS?s take: Knowing they need to win in order to earn a first-round playoff bye, the Broncos will pound the Chiefs, who have nothing to play for other than the first pick in next year?s draft ? which Kansas City will earn by losing.
MDS?s pick: Broncos 27, Chiefs 10.
Florio?s take:? With 10 straight wins each by at least seven points, the Broncos could be the best team in the playoff field.? They?re definitely good enough to continue chasing a bye week.
Florio?s pick:? Broncos 34, Chiefs 10.
Raiders at Chargers
MDS?s take: With Norv Turner virtually assured of being fired after the game, his team will send him out a winner in an AFC West contest that doesn?t really matter for much of anything.
MDS?s pick: Chargers 24, Raiders 10.
Florio?s take:? Norv Turner has one last chance to change the owner?s mind.? It won?t matter.
Florio?s pick:? Chargers 24, Raiders 10.
Cardinals at 49ers
MDS?s take: San Francisco will shake off Sunday night?s thrashing in Seattle to clinch the NFC West.
MDS?s pick: 49ers 28, Cardinals 3.
Florio?s take:? The Niners are on the brink of squandering the NFC West title that we were ready to hand them back in September.? If they can?t beat the Cardinals and Brian Hoyer at home, San Fran doesn?t even deserve to be in the playoffs.
Florio?s pick:? 49ers 31, Cardinals 13.
Rams at Seahawks
MDS?s take: No one wants to play the Seahawks right now. They?re destroying everything in their paths. The Rams will be no different.
MDS?s pick: Seahawks 45, Rams 7.
Florio?s take:? The Seahawks, who lost their first round of NFC West games, have been exacting revenge in a big way.? They finish the job on Sunday.
Florio?s pick:? Seahawks 41, Rams 17.
Cowboys at Redskins
MDS?s take: In the biggest game of the day, the Cowboys will ride Tony Romo and Dez Bryant to a high-scoring win. I suspect that Robert Griffin III is hurting more than he?s letting on and won?t be able to move as effectively as he did in the Redskins? Thanksgiving win over the Cowboys. Dallas will take the NFC East crown.
MDS?s pick: Cowboys 31, Redskins 28.
Florio?s take:? For the second straight year, the NFC East title game returns to prime time in Week 17.? For the second straight year, the home team advances.? For the second straight year, the Cowboys come up short.
Florio?s pick:? Redskins 24, Cowboys 21.
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The Reality Of Modern Politics, We Go After Each ... - Right Wing News
Written By : Kathleen McKinley
December 26, 2012
So, a White Plains newspaper, The Journal-News, published the names and addresses of every licensed pistol permit holder in three New York counties.
Just unbelievable. It just proves the?sanctimonious self righteous attitude of liberals like the publisher and reporters that see the ends justifying the means of their agenda, even if it invades the privacy of citizens. She honestly thought that creating an interactive map with the names and addresses of gun owners, as if they are like sexual offenders, was a great idea.
Well, what goes around, comes around in the age of new media. This blogger decided to post names and addresses of the editor, and anyone who is associated with the story. ?On CNN this morning she is showing no remorse, she says people have a right to know who has gun in their neighborhood.
See how politics works now? We used to go after each other?s candidate. Now, we go after each other.
Even Jim Brady said on CNN that publishing the names of gun owners was the wrong way to go, but we don?t listen to level heads anymore.
I can just imagine these counties now. Angry gun owners calling the editor and reporters at their homes, and neighbors refusing to be friends anymore with someone who owns a gun.
It is all so sickening. It was sickening to use the deaths of children for a political agenda to begin with, forcing law abiding citizens to defend their Second Amendment rights at at time when they only wanted to be silent and honor those who had died.
Now, this smug elite media type decides she knows best, and is going to ?out? all the gun owners.
She should be ashamed. Anyone who participates in calling or invading the privacy of ?another person, on either side in this, should also be ashamed.
I realize the social media makes it easy to go after people we disagree with, but that doesn?t make it right.
It. Isn?t. Right.
I know there is much frustration. One side believes something completely different than the other, but as a civil society we sit down and we talk it out. We don?t resort to Junior High meanness.
I am about fed up with all of politics. I?ve never been as SICK of it in my life as I am now, and I have been in it ALL my life.
This is the time we should be focused on our families. We should be focused on our country getting through this terrible economic time, and terribly sad time.
Focus on what matters. Don?t focus on anger, pettiness, and self righteousness.
The media needs to decide what it is going to be in the future. Is it going to be what it is supposed to be? Reporting fairly both sides? Or is it going to continue to promote a liberal agenda? Because as long as it does the latter, then other news organizations will pop up, like Fox News, that reports on the conservative side, and we have no unbiased reporting whatsoever.
So, decide media. It?s up to you.
If the liberals current political fight continues as ?divide and conquer,? then I congratulate them. They are winning. They won the Presidency that way, and they continue to win that way.
But what a price America is paying for that. Neighbor against neighbor. Friend against friend. Brother against brother.
Again, Congratulations.
Source: http://www.rightwingnews.com/uncategorized/the-reality-of-modern-politics-we-go-after-each-other/
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avast! Internet Security 7.0.1474 Build 766 | HDm Gate
Download avast! Internet Security 7.0.1474 Build 766
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Saturday, December 22, 2012
Former Singapore banker arrested in U.S. over Olympus fraud
SINGAPORE/NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former Singapore banker was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday and accused of helping "liquidate" hundreds of millions of dollars in an accounting fraud at Olympus Corp , one of the biggest corporate scandals in Japan's history.
Chan Ming Fon, a one-time bank vice president, is the latest former executive and the first from outside of Japan to become ensnared in the $1.7 billion accounting cover-up at the camera and medical equipment maker.
The company has admitted it used improper accounting to conceal massive investment losses under a scheme that began in the 1990s.
Court papers in the United States said Chan was paid $10 million by Olympus or entities controlled by Olympus for his role in the fraud. The case against Chan was filed in a federal court in New York.
"The defendant had a direct role in the secret liquidation of hundreds of millions of dollars of Olympus investments. He then waged a six-year campaign to conceal that misdeed by lying, certifying to auditors that the investments still existed years after liquidation," said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge George Venizelos.
Olympus declined to comment.
Chan's arrest comes after three former Olympus executives pleaded guilty in September to charges related to the fraud.
Chan, a Taiwan national, was interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations this week, U.S. authorities said. He is being held in custody ahead of a scheduled appearance in a federal court in Los Angeles on Friday.
The former banker at Commerzbank
Commerzbank and Societe Generale could not be reached for comment.
Chan, 50, is currently listed as a director of three Singapore companies, GIT Capital, GIT Consulting and SJ New Energy.
OLYMPUS STRUGGLE
The accounting fraud at 93-year-old Olympus was exposed in October 2011 by chief executive Michael Woodford, who was fired after he questioned dubious deals that were later found to have been used to hide losses.
The three former executives who pleaded guilty had been identified by an investigative panel, commissioned by Olympus, as the main suspects in the fraud seeking to delay the reckoning from risky investments made in the late-1980s bubble economy.
Former chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, former executive vice president Hisashi Mori and former auditor Hideo Yamada said they inflated the company's net worth in financial statements for five fiscal years to March 2011. They are awaiting sentencing.
Revelations of the huge accounting fraud have revived calls for more outside scrutiny of its boardrooms but have failed to trigger sweeping corporate governance reforms similar to those introduced a decade ago in the wake of U.S. scandals such as at Enron.
Forced to re-issue several years of financial statements, Olympus has been left financially weakened, and it booked a loss of $581 million in the year to March 31. Its shareholder equity to total assets has dipped as low as 2.2 percent, well below the 20 percent level regarded as a minimum for stability.
The liquidity crunch has prompted it to accept $592.49 million from Sony Corp in return for an 11.46 percent stake and an agreement to set up a joint venture to develop medical equipment. The two companies on Friday said that plans to establish that company had been delayed as they wait regulatory approval overseas.
Olympus shares in Tokyo dipped 1.4 percent on Friday compared with a 0.8 percent fall in the benchmark Nikkei 225 index.
TRAIL OF INTRIGUE
Chan's family in Singapore could not be reached for comment on Friday. A neighbor, who described the family as "avid piano players," said they kept to themselves. Nobody answered the door at GIT Capital's office in downtown Singapore.
An investigative panel report, commissioned by Olympus last year, mentioned a banker but used only the name Chan. It said the banker was an outside collaborator who first met Olympus executives Yamada and Mori in 1998.
At the time "Chan" was working at Commerzbank in Singapore, but resigned in 2000, it said. After leaving Societe Generale in 2004, the report said Chan formed his own company where he continued to work for former Olympus executives.
A statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York said Chan was a former bank vice president, without naming the firm.
It said that from 1995-2004 he was employed as an executive at two financial institutions, and his primary responsibilities at one of them was to service accounts maintained by Olympus and entities that Olympus controlled.
The complaint said that in 2005 Chan established an entity in the Cayman Islands called SG Bond Plus Fund.
Until about 2010, Chan submitted false and misleading documents to Olympus's outside auditor regarding hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of assets purportedly maintained by Chan at SG Bond for the benefit of Olympus, it said.
Chan had actually transferred the assets to a British Virgin Island-based entity controlled by Olympus, the complaint said. ($1 = 84.3900 Japanese yen)
(Additional reporting Rachel Armstrong and Saeed Azhar in Singapore; Tim Kelly and Nathan Layne in Tokyo; Editing by Gary Hill and Jeremy Laurence)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/taiwanese-man-arrested-u-olympus-probe-012627339--finance.html
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How to De-Stress this Holiday Season
By Martha Beck
Are you looking forward to the season ahead with shivers of anticipation? Or just shivers? Martha Beck can save you untold aggravation, angst, time and money by persuading you not to do the things you don't want to do.
List Your Holiday Traditions
Take a few minutes to write down every holiday custom you feel you should follow. Start with family patterns, but don't end there. Offices and friendships have their own traditions.
Choose to Enthuse
Looking over your list, visualize each activity. Notice how your body reacts. Do you tense or relax, feel like smiling, snarling or weeping? What creates a genuine sense of enthusiasm? True enthusiasm makes us feel divine, whether we take that as a religious reality or simply a wonderful emotion. The holy days are the best times to focus on real enthusiasm, the inner source that lightens and sanctifies our lives all year.
Apply The Three Bs
Once you've figured out which traditions you love, eliminate the ones you don't. I suggest the Three Bs: Bag it, barter it or better it. Bagging is simple: If you don't love to do it, and you don't have to do it, don't do it. To barter a task, find someone who loves doing what you hate, and who dislikes something you like; then swap services. Traditions that can't be bagged or bartered can usually be bettered. If you're tired of shopping but really want to choose gifts yourself, use catalogs or the Internet.
Manage That Uneasy Feeling
As you read over the preceding paragraphs, you may have felt resistance. This is what I call social dissonance, the conditioned reaction to breaking a group rule. It's the primary force that keeps us obeying the demands of others. Tolerating this dissonance without reacting is the key to maintaining control of your life during the holidays and beyond.
Be Yourself, Don't Explain Yourself
You don't have to prove that your preferences are right, theirs wrong. Differences are inevitable and acceptable -- attempting to persuade someone to value the same things you do just perpetuates conflict. Simply hold your ground. Kindly tell everyone that you're observing a set of customs that work for you.
Wait 'Em Out
Every group has its own form of punishment. It may be that you are one of the unlucky minority of humans whose social groups are so rigid they won't tolerate your decisions, but this can be its own gift. You'll be free to create and follow traditions that take you to the places where you'll find your tribe. Far more likely, though, using the season to practice living authentically will transform your holidays without causing too much ruckus in your world.
Yes, you may ruffle more than turkey feathers. Your loved ones may fuss and fume, but guess what? They'll get over it. They'll probably even like it, once they see the payoff: the joyful version of you.
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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/22/how-to-de-stress-holiday-season_n_2296086.html
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Friday, December 21, 2012
Jodie Marsh does what she does best, posts bikini pictures on Twitter
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Engel, crew?thought they would die in Syria
NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and his crew believed they would not make it out of Syria alive during their five days of captivity, Engel said Thursday.
"There was no doubt that these were violent people and that they could have executed us at any time," Engel told NBC News' Savannah Guthrie in an interview Thursday night on "Rock Center."
Engel, 39, and his team disappeared shortly after crossing into northwest Syria from Turkey on Dec. 13.?He and his team had already been captured as his last taped report from Aleppo was appearing on "NBC Nightly News" that evening.?
The network had not been able to make contact with them until learning that they had been freed ?Monday.?The final member of the team, Ian Rivers, who provides technical support for NBC News, crossed safely from Syria into Turkey early Wednesday.
The network said there was no claim of responsibility, no contact with the captors and no request for ransom during the time the crew was missing.
After entering Syria, Engel and his team were abducted and tossed into the back of a truck before being transported to an unknown location believed to be near the small town of Ma'arrat Misrin. During their captivity, they were blindfolded and bound but otherwise were not physically harmed, the network said.
Watch World News videos on NBCNews.com
But their captors submitted them to what Engel called "psychological torture," leading them to believe that they were doomed. From time to time, "they were making us choose which one of us would be executed," he said.
Asked whether they ever thought they were going to die, all five men raised their hands. "Every day," Engel said.
Early Monday evening local time, the prisoners were being moved to a new location in a vehicle when their captors ran into a checkpoint manned by members of the Ahrar al-Sham brigade, a Syrian rebel group. There was a confrontation, and a firefight ensued. Two of the captors were killed, while an unknown number of others escaped, the network said.
Ghazi Balkiz, an NBC News producer, said that was the most nerve-racking time of all.
"I don't want to suffer to find out that this was not really happening," he said. "That would have been devastating."
Engel and his team were unharmed. Engel and several other members of the team remained in Syria until Tuesday morning when they made their way to the border and re-entered Turkey, the network said.
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First groups get invitations to inaugural parade
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Spouses of those serving in the armed forces, military and civilian colleges, gay musicians, service dogs trainers and a drill team from President Barack Obama?s hometown are among the diverse groups that were invited Tuesday to participate in next month?s inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee has started sending out invitations to groups nationwide to march behind Obama from his swearing in at the Capitol to the White House on Jan. 21.
The first wave selected includes the marching band from Miami University of Ohio, the alma matter of GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan where first lady Michelle Obama spoke during the final weekend of the campaign. Also selected was the Virginia Military Institute, a traditional performer in inaugural parades.
Others include Military Spouses of Michigan, the Lesbian and Gay Band Association of St. Louis, Chicago?s South Shore Drill Team and marching bands from Little Rock Central High School and Washington?s Ballou Senior High School.
?The talented groups chosen to participate in the inaugural parade reflect the spirit, values, and diversity of our great nation,? Obama said in a statement.
The application process was run by the military, beginning in October before the election and continuing through the end of last month. The Joint Task Force ? National Capital Region is charged with supporting inaugural ceremonies and reviewed about 3,000 online applications to make sure they met minimum requirements before presenting about 300 applicants to the Presidential Inaugural Committee for final selection.
The process included members of military bands reviewing video and audio files of performances to judge the skill of marching bands, musical acts and drill teams. Other applicants included floats, silent marching groups, dancers and other performers.
?As you can imagine, everybody wants to participate,? Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington told reporters at a briefing Wednesday.
More than 20 groups were invited Tuesday, with the committee still reviewing applications and planning to continue to invite others on a rolling basis to represent all 50 states.
Among those chosen in the first wave was Canine Companions for Independence, a Virginia-based nonprofit that provides free assistance dogs to people with disabilities. ?We couldn?t be more excited,? said Susan Lee Vick, the group?s national director of development. She said their marching team may include puppies in training and graduate teams of veterans and their animals, because supporting wounded warriors is a major focus. ?We feel that marching in the parade gives us a chance to really express our commitment and that value.?
Committee officials say they don?t have a specific target size for the parade, but about 130 groups with close to 15,000 participants were selected in 2009. This time organizers say the parade is expected to be smaller, keeping with plans to downsize the overall size of the event from his historic first inauguration, when a record 1.8 million people packed the National Mall.
Inaugural parades are a time-honored tradition following the president?s swearing in, beginning with the local militias that accompanied George Washington from his Virginia home to New York, where his inauguration was held in 1789. Thomas Jefferson charted the modern day route in 1805 when he rode a horse to the White House after being sworn in for his second term, followed by a spontaneous procession of local workers and a Marine Band. President Dwight Eisenhower had the longest parade in 1953, lasting about five hours, compared with about two hours for more recent events. President Jimmy Carter walked along Pennsylvania Avenue during his parade, which has since become traditional practice for the presidents as they begin their new terms.
The parade shuts down one of Washington?s main thoroughfares, and involves the temporary removal of all street lights along the Pennsylvania Ave. route.
Costs of the parade are covered by the Presidential Inaugural Committee?s fundraising. Participants must pay their own travel costs to attend, but the committee said it is trying to help them find affordable accommodations at a time when many Washington hotels are booked or charge inflated rates.
Obama begins his second term at noon on Sunday, Jan. 20, and is planning a private swearing in at the White House with limited press coverage. His public inauguration will be on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Monday, Jan. 21, since the ceremony is not traditionally held on Sundays.
Obama is kicking off the inaugural weekend by asking Americans to participate in a National Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 19. He plans to end the festivities with a special prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday, Jan. 22.
?The beginning of President Obama?s second term will be marked by the acknowledgement and celebration of the role of people of faith in American life,? Presidential Inaugural Committee spokeswoman Addie Whisenant said in a statement Tuesday announcing the prayer service. ?President Obama?s own faith has played an integral role in his life, his commitment to service and his presidency, and this important tradition will celebrate the values and diversity that make us strong.?
The Presidential Inaugural Committee has yet to announce details of some other inaugural events, including the number of official balls the president plans to attend. Organizers have said there will be fewer parties than the 10 Obama had four years ago and that they will all be held at the Washington Convention Center.
___
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Source: http://thegrio.com/2012/12/20/first-groups-get-invitations-to-inaugural-parade/
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Thursday, December 20, 2012
Mekong dam threatens wildlife, jobs
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Cambodian government intends to build new hydroelectric dam
- Conservation International believe current plan needs more consideration
- Livelihoods and rare wildlife could be irreparably harmed by new project
- 3-S river basin supports 1.1 million people
Editor's note: Tracy A. Farrell is the Senior Technical Director of the Greater Mekong Program and Director of the Freshwater Initiative for Conservation International. Farrell served as Dean for the School for Field Studies and was also a Visiting Professor/Instructor for Virginia Tech's Department of Forestry.
(CNN) -- Last month the Cambodian government announced their plans to build a dam on one of the Mekong River's most important tributaries, the 3-S River Basin, in 2014. This was declared just five days before the government of Laos held their ceremony to launch the construction of the controversial Xayaburi dam, the first dam to be built on the lower Mekong River.
Conservation International along with other conservation groups working in the region are extremely concerned by this move and have requested a delay on this decision to allow time for research to better understand the trade-offs between power generation and the dam's impacts, and the opportunity to offer sustainable alternatives for Cambodia's economy.
In Cambodia today only about 5% of infrastructure projects go through the Ministry of Environment's Environmental Impact Assessment process, and when they are completed, they often do not include detailed studies of the full range of environmental impacts.
Such considerations are crucial for the Greater Mekong region's development pathway and will ensure that these countries are protecting yet utilizing their natural assets for the benefit of their people, their economy and the environment.
The 3-S River Basin (Sekong, Sesan and SrePok Rivers), borders Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, and supports 20% of the Mekong River water flows, ensuring food and water security for millions of people living in the basin. It also contains some of the region's most unique and rare biodiversity including yellow cheeked gibbons and Asian arowana (dragon fish), among many other endangered and charismatic species.
The biodiversity underpinning the ecosystem productivity and life that has thrived for thousands of years is in danger.
Tracy A. Farrell
Principally our concern is for the people who rely on the water flows of the lower Mekong River for their food, health, income and other essential livelihood securities. This includes the people who live in the 3-S River Basin, the 1.1 million people that depend on the Tonle Sap and another 60 million people living on the Mekong Delta.
Our economic concern is that dams on the Lower Mekong will likely reduce the productivity of the region's agriculture and aquaculture industries, particularly in Cambodia and Laos, and plunge them back into even more severe poverty then they currently suffer.
A recent assessment of the 42 dams proposed for the river basin found that they are likely to produce substantial changes to the natural fluctuation in the seasonal flow. This would have severe impacts on the natural delivery of nutrients and other critical aspects that are required for agricultural and fisheries productivity.
In Cambodia fish provide 85% of the population's protein needs and an essential source of fat. Right now the Cambodian per capita in-take of fats is the lowest in Southeast Asia and the most essential of these, the omega-3 fats which come from fish, are the least available. If there was a reduction in fish populations, nutrition and health will decline on a national scale and further deepen Cambodia's current situation of severe poverty.
The biodiversity underpinning the ecosystem productivity and life that has thrived for thousands of years is in danger. Of all the various impacts on the horizon as a result of this development, the most serious is the potential for major changes to the migration patterns of fish. A recent environmental impact assessment of the Lower Sesan 2 dam concluded that the impacts on fish populations will be very severe.
Dams on the Lower Mekong will likely reduce the productivity of the region's agriculture and aquaculture industries, particularly in Cambodia and Laos.
Tracy A. Farrell
As approximately 66% of the Mekong fish species are migratory their passage will be blocked by the dam in its current design which will seriously reduce the reproduction rate and overall fish populations downstream will be reduced.
If this traditional migration is hindered it could lead to a serious decline in fish reproduction which will unbalance the delicate food chain on which this ecosystem depends. This has already happened in other dam developments globally, due to lack of adequate planning and understanding of the dams effects.
Before the construction of the Pak Moon dam in Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand, the waterway contained over 250 species of fish. This plummeted over 80% when the dam began operation, and a decade later, through extensive government investment to restock the river, the species number is still less than half the original amount. More than 20,000 people have been affected by this loss of fish. This dam was anticipated to have a production capacity of 136 megawatts, but it can barely generate 20 megawatts during high-demand months.
Conservation International support the development of electricity generation for domestic consumption and export as these are critical components of development for Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. We believe that the Greater Mekong region has the potential to become a world leader by pursuing an innovative, low carbon, green development pathway that will foster economic growth and create opportunities for its people, while conserving the natural environment.
However, this region needs integrated hydro-power development and conservation planning so that the trade-offs between energy production and other ecosystem services, particularly those vital for the survival of the people that depend on them, are better understood before such dams are developed.
A delay will allow for the delivery of decision support tools that can explain how different scenarios, such as variances in the dam location, design and operation will influence their impacts. Careful consideration must be made now of the potential impacts of this, and other dams being considered for the 3-S River Basin, to avoid serious losses and to form a positive solution for the people of the lower Mekong, their energy needs and the environment on which they depend.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Tracy A. Farrell
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/18/opinion/opnion-mekong-river-dam/index.html?eref=edition
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Will the world end on December 21, 2012? What we know and don't know about forecasting natural disasters
Dec. 19, 2012 ? Based on interpretations of the ancient Maya calendar, some people are predicting the world will end on December 21, 2012, Others believe that instead of doomsday and destruction, the day will mark a new era for humanity and will be a time for celebration.
Such beliefs aside, what we know with certainty is that Earth has a tremendous capacity to generate natural disasters on any day of any year. For this reason, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists continue to look for ways to better forecast a wide range of natural hazards and protect our communities.
Let's take a closer look at the state of the science -- what we know and what we don't know -- about our ability to forecast natural disasters.
Can We Predict Earthquakes?
Despite claims to the contrary, no reliable short-term earthquake prediction method has ever been developed. Nor do scientists expect to develop a method in the foreseeable future.
However, based on scientific data, probabilities can be calculated for future earthquakes. For example, comprehensive assessments of long-term earthquake rates in California tell us there is roughly a 2-in-3 chance that a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake will strike in the next 30 years in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Within the state of California as a whole, earthquakes this large are virtually certain (a 99% probability) in that same time frame.
USGS scientists are also working with university colleagues to gather objective and quantitative information on which to base shorter-term earthquake forecasts. This work includes developing better methods to quantify changes in probability based on recent earthquake activity. For example, scientists are looking at the probability for a larger earthquake after an initial earthquake. They are also developing approaches to communicate these probabilities that will be most effective at supporting appropriate decision making.
Learn more about USGS earthquake forecasting and hazards research (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/). You can also visit the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program website (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/) or visit our earthquake myths website (http://www.usgs.gov/faq/index.php?action=artikel&cat=120&id=1658&artlang=en).
Signs of Volcanic Unrest
The United States is home to 169 active volcanoes, many of which could erupt at any time. Fortunately, volcanoes generally show signs of unrest hours, weeks and months before they erupt. Changes in gas emissions, swelling of a volcano, and swarms of small earthquakes are signs that a volcano is awakening. All of these changes can be detected with proper monitoring equipment.
The USGS National Volcano Early Warning System (http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/publications/2009/nvews.php) is designed to detect these signs of unrest at the earliest stages. The USGS issues warnings and alerts of potential volcanic hazards -- including imminent or ongoing eruptions, ash fall forecasts, and when eruptions have ended -- to responsible emergency-management authorities and those potentially affected. These warnings prevent episodes of volcanic unrest from becoming volcanic disasters.
Learn more and see current alerts and status for volcanoes in the United States by visiting the USGS Volcano Hazards website (http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/).
Landslide Hazard Potential
Landslides occur in all 50 states and pose a significant risk in many areas. Scientists know landslides are likely on the west coast during its rainy season from November to March, during spring and summer thunderstorms in the western mountain states, and during hurricane season along the east coast. People at especially high risk for landslide damage are those living on or below steep hill slopes.
Wildfires can lead to flash flooding and debris flow, as vegetation is removed that would have served as a stabilizing factor and the remaining burned soil is less able to absorb rainwater. Landslides can also occur from earthquakes, volcanic activity, changes in groundwater, or disturbance and change of a slope by human-made construction activities.
USGS scientists produce maps of areas susceptible to landslides and identify what sort of rainfall conditions will lead to such events. The USGS is working with the National Weather Service on a prototype Debris Flow Warning System (http://www.usgs.gov/homepage/science_features/debris_flow_ca.asp) to help provide forecasts and warnings about what areas are at imminent risk of having a debris flow or mudslide when rainfall thresholds are met.
For more information, visit the USGS Landslide Hazards Program website (http://landslides.usgs.gov/). Report your landslide experiences and sightings at the new USGS "Did You See It?" website (http://landslides.usgs.gov/dysi/).
Tracking Wildfires
Wildfires are a great concern when there is a lack of precipitation, particularly during the summer months when the weather becomes hot and dry. When there is no water, wildfires can spread very quickly and can be hard to control. Climate change and the resulting hotter and arid conditions are expected to significantly increase wildfire frequency and severity.
The USGS plays an integral role in preparing for and responding to wildfires (http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2006/3015/). The USGS provides tools and information before, during and after fire disasters to identify wildfire risks and reduce subsequent hazards. By looking at previous wildfires, scientists can learn more about ignition sources, burn severity, patterns, season of burning, and fire size. The USGS also provides real-time geospatial support for firefighters during the events. This includes up-to-the minute maps and satellite imagery (http://eros.usgs.gov/) about current wildfire extent and behavior.
Hurricanes, Storms, Floods and More
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November, with September as the peak time when they are most likely to strike. But hurricanes and tropical storms can hit at other times as well.
NOAA is responsible for monitoring and issuing warnings for hurricanes and tropical storms. The USGS works with NOAA and provides information on associated coastal vulnerability and change (http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/). Before, during and after these events, the USGS assesses the likelihood of beach erosion, overwash, or inundation. Scientists also measure storm surge and monitor water levels of inland rivers and streams.
Flooding from storms is another concern, as is drought from lack of rainfall. The USGS conducts real-time monitoring of the nation's rivers and streams, and you can visit USGS WaterWatch (http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/) to see whether river levels are higher or lower than normal. You can also use USGS WaterAlert (http://water.usgs.gov/wateralert/) to receive texts or emails when water levels at a specific streamgage exceed certain thresholds. The National Weather Service relies on timely and accurate USGS data to issue flood warnings, and the partnership between the two agencies runs deep. Together, the USGS, the National Weather Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are also developing flood inundation maps (http://wim.usgs.gov/FIMI/FloodInundationMapper.html) that show, street by street, block by block, and hour by hour exactly where the flood waters will be.
Monitoring Magnetic Storms
What is a magnetic storm? The sun is always emitting a wind of electrically charged particles that flows outward into space. If these concentrations of solar wind are directed towards Earth, then the magnetic field of Earth in space (the magnetosphere) can be disturbed, sometimes for days.
Large magnetic storms can cause loss of radio communication, affect global-positioning systems, damage satellite electronics and cause electrical blackouts. Damaging storms occur about 4 times a decade, with smaller events occurring more frequently. Magnetic storms can be detected up to 2 days in advance by monitoring the sun. They come in all sizes, but the largest storms tend to occur when sunspots (concentrations of magnetic energy on the surface of the sun) are most numerous.
The monitoring of "space weather" conditions is a responsibility of several U.S. government agencies, including NOAA, NASA, and the U.S. Air Force. The USGS has the unique responsibility of monitoring geomagnetic activity at Earth's surface, close to where most of the effects of magnetic storms are actually realized. Learn more and view near-real time conditions (http://geomag.usgs.gov/realtime/) of the magnetic field.
Be Prepared, Every Day
The question to consider on December 21, 2012, and every day is: Have I done everything I can to ensure that my family and I are prepared, should a disaster strike? This includes preparing and practicing your emergency plan and building a disaster supplies kit (http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit) with food, water and basic needs. Natural disasters will continue to occur, on any given day, but a more informed scientific understanding can lead to better preparedness and safer communities.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by U.S. Geological Survey.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
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Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k4G09xuv6oE/121219160334.htm
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