Hours from "fiscal cliff," Washington still awaits deal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Congress comes back on Monday without a deal to avert the "fiscal cliff" and with only a few hours of actual legislative time scheduled in which to act if an agreement materializes.

Negotiations involving Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell appeared to offer the last hope for avoiding the across-the-board tax increases and draconian cuts in the federal budget that will be triggered at the start of the New Year because of a deficit-reduction law enacted in August 2011.

A Republican Senate leadership aide described discussions between McConnell and Biden as "good talks," saying they lasted late into Sunday evening.

Meanwhile, some Republicans said progress could be better served by open debate rather than "backroom" discussions.

"What we ought to do is put a bill on the Senate floor and let people actually offer amendments and vote on it. We shouldn't be here waiting for people to cut deals in backrooms," Senator John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, said on "The Early Show" on CBS.

"The American people ought to be able to watch the discussion and debate and how people vote on various issues," he said.

A jolt from the financial markets could also prod the parties into action, as it has occasionally in the past.

"I believe investors will show their displeasure" at the lack of progress in Washington, said Mohannad Aama, managing director at Beam Capital Management, an investment advisory firm in New York.

Despite the uneven progress in Washington, U.S. stock index futures edged higher on Monday, setting up Wall Street to break a five-session losing streak. Stocks could still fall though on Monday when the cash markets open if there is no sign lawmakers are making headway on a deal.

Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate had hoped to clear the way for swift action on Sunday. But with the two sides still at loggerheads in talks, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid postponed any possible votes and the Senate adjourned until Monday.

The main sticking point between Republicans and Democrats remained whether to extend existing tax rates for everyone, as Republicans want, or just for those earning below $250,000 to $400,000, as Democrats have proposed.

Also at issue were Republican demands for larger cuts in spending than those offered by President Barack Obama.

Hopes for a "grand bargain" of deficit-reduction measures vanished weeks ago as talks stalled.

While Congress has the capacity to move swiftly when motivated, the leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate have left themselves little time for what could be a complicated day of procedural maneuvering in the event of an agreement.

House Speaker John Boehner has insisted that the Senate act first, but that chamber does not begin legislative business until about noon Monday.

OTHER BUSINESS ALSO ON AGENDA

And the cliff is not the only business on the House agenda. Farm-state lawmakers are seeking a one-year extension of the expiring U.S. farm law to head off a possible doubling of retail milk prices to $7 or more a gallon in early 2013.

Relief for victims of Superstorm Sandy is waiting in line in the House as well, though it could still consider a Senate bill on assistance for the storm until January 2, the last day of the Congress that was elected in November 2010.

Expiring along with low tax rates at midnight Monday are a raft of other tax measures effecting tens of millions of Americans.

A payroll tax holiday Americans have enjoyed for two years looks like the most certain casualty as neither Republicans or Democrats have shown much interest in continuing it, in part because the tax funds the Social Security retirement program.

The current 4.2 percent payroll tax rate paid by about 160 million workers will revert to the previous 6.2 percent rate after December 31, and will be the most immediate hit to taxpayers.

A "patch" for the Alternative Minimum Tax that would prevent millions of middle-class Americans from being taxed as if they were rich, could go over the cliff as well. Both Republicans and Democrats support doing another patch, but have not approved one.

At best, the Internal Revenue Service has warned that as many as 100 million taxpayers could face refund delays without an AMT fix. At worst, they could face higher taxes unless Congress comes back with a retroactive fix.

After Tuesday, Congress could move for retroactive relief on any or all of the tax and spending issues. But that would require compromises that Republicans and Democrats have been unwilling to make so far.

Obama said on Sunday he plans on pushing legislation as soon as January 4 to reverse the tax hikes for all but the wealthy.

(Editing by Christopher Wilson and David Brunnstrom)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fiscal-deal-stalls-clock-ticks-deadline-000951431--business.html

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GMing and You or So you?ve decided to play God.

Hi I?m Bosch and I?ve been GMing for quite a while although not here, over this time I?ve developed a few ideas and pointers to help me stagger through an RP and hopefully give everyone a good time (much like a good brothel owner). In this article I?m going to share my thoughts on RPing. I?m not saying I?m totally right or that my tips will work all the time but just whats worked for me.

Before we begin though I?d like to clear up a few definitions.

An RP.

A Role Play which is the whole reason we are here. Notice that it?s not a RPG as in a Role Playing Game. I draw a distinction because ?Game? implies competition which I feel it not the point of an RP. To me an RP is about a group of people telling a story from the point of view of multiple characters. You can disagree with me but I believe that good RPs are more about cooperation than competition.

A GM.

This stands for Game Master and I wish there was another term for this like ?story leader? or ?coordinator? as it fits the role better. The name is a nod to the early of Table Top RPGs where one person would present situations for the other characters to react to. For are uses it the person running the show who comes up with the world and administrates the RP.

Should I be a GM?

Yes, GMing is fun and a great way to meet lots of RPers, I think everyone should give it a go at least once if just to see what it?s like.
Being a GM takes three things an Idea, Dedication and Communication. Much like a tripod if you?re missing one the whole thing is guaranteed to fall over.

World Building

Without a doubt this is the most important thing you will do as a GM because it?s what attracts people to your RP and what keeps them there. I find it helps to think in terms of Genres and where they overlap. So maybe you want to do a crime RP but in a Sci-Fi Setting or a Modern Fantasy RP with comedy elements. The reason thinking in terms of genre is a good thing is it makes it easier to explain your RP quickly to potential RPers.

Once you have settled on a general theme it?s time to put your mark on it. You need to work out the politics, history, groups technology, magic, races and everything else that goes into your world.

For the purposes of this Guide we?re going to use an example RP that I?m literally making up as we go along. It?s a Sci-FI Vampire Hunter RP called BloodCell. See just in that sentence you already have an idea what?s going on.

Plot

The Plot is very important but secondary to world building as the plot can vary wildly from what you planned to what happens, this is because of RPer involvement. In my opinion the RP should start with a big event, a murder or an attack or a wedding, something dramatic that immediately gives the RPers something to do. Nothing kills an RP faster than the ?getting to know you phase? where characters just parrot the information on their CS. Start strong and kick off the RP with a bang.

The second important thing to note is as the GM the plot is your character and all other concerns are secondary. It?s your job to get the RP through and finished. That means you must be willing to sacrifice characters for the good of the story. Sometimes you can have fun with this. For example write a full CS for a character, big them up in you first three or four posts and then kill them. I mean really kill them dramatically and brutally, this is often a good way to introduce an antagonist, who odds are you will be playing.

The Third most important thing is that you have a plot that is an ensemble thing. Do not have a main character. Firstly if the main person leaves your screwed, secondly it will give too much control to a single RPer, you?re the GM so you are in control. Thirdly it means the other RPers are bored and reduced to glorfied NPCs. Nobody likes this.

So subplots are important. That basically means making sure everybody has something to do. We?ll come back to this below.
Ok so if we return to our example RP BloodCell we know we?re going to have Vampires. But I don?t really like the sparkly kind of Vamps, I like the pure evil variety. So maybe Vampirism has become an epidemic which has led to the founding of evil Vampire extremist groups. So we need something to fight these terrorist Vampires.

Werewolves?

Too clich?d.

It?s a Sci-Fi setting so why not Cyborgs or robots like Ghost in the Shell?

This could work as both groups will have impressive strength which will led to impressive fight scenes while neither are entirely human which could give the more philosophical RPers something to sink their teeth into (Ha Ha.. sink their teeth into.. see it?s about vampires and they bite people you know, with their teeth... nevermind). Additionally maybe the vampires are genuinely discriminated against adding another layer for thoughtful RPers to explore.

Thinking about how people are going to approach your RP is key to developing a good plot and World.

Drumming up some business.

The Interest Check (Int Chk) should give a brief outline of the RP?s world, plot and comparable works.

So the Int Chk for BloodCell could read like this.

In the Year 2051 Vampirism has become an epidemic with afflicted individuals forming their own subculture and feeding off the living. Faced with a disaster the government forms the AVUs or Anti Vampirism Units to seek out and destroy Vampiric activity. The members of the AVU ex humans turned into Cyborgs designed to hunt and kill Vampires.

This RP will follow a unit of AVU called the BloodCell as they track down a groupl of Vampires believed to have taken part in a terrorist action.

The RP will be similar in nature to Ghost in the Shell, Day Breakers and Blade Runner.

The Title for the Int Chk topic should be a briefer description.

Sci-Fi Vampire Hunter RP

Remember to bump it when you want more RPers.

What about Roleplayers Wanted?

In my experience you get less hits with the Roleplayers Wanted section but every little helps.

Remember to frame to topic title in terms of Role Players wanted.

Looking for RPers to play Cyborg Agents in a Vampire Hunting Agency.

Then provide a link to the Int Check.

Remember to bump it whenever you need more RPers.

Time to Make an RP?

Unfortunately I can?t tell you what the magic group size is as it varies depending on RP type. What I would suggest is take on at least two more RPers than you feel you need. This is because RPers are possibly the biggest flakes you will meet in any walk of life at a few will disappear in the first few posts. At least if you have more than you need the drop outs won?t be felt as keenly.

Once you?ve a good size group it?s time to Click the create new Roleplay button.

Creating an RP.

Hells horses that?s a lot of little boxes. In this section I?ll give a brief run through of those boxes.

To help we?re going to use our fictional RP BloodCell. Anything in italics is what goes into the field.

Name
BoodCell

Descprition
The RP is set in 2051 and the planet is facing an epidemic of Vampirism and terrorist actions. The Vampires are treated as second class citizens and have formed their own subcultures. While most are peaceful some have begun feeding off the living and fighting for Vampire control of the planet. Faced with a potential war against an undead foe the government forms the AVUs or Anti Vampirism Units the seeks out and destroys Anti-Human Vampiric activity. The members of the AVU ex humans turned into Cyborgs designed to hunt and kill Vampires.

The RP group will be playing the members of a AVU called BloodCell thats has been tasked to investigate some disturbing reports...
(A rehash of the Int check is acceptable)

Tags
Original, Vampire, Sci-Fi. Put whatever you feel is relevant just make sure you stand over your decisions for example If I was use the word Magic that would be wrong because magic dosen?t feature in the RP and will lead to confusion.

Setting
The BoodCell Universe. I always had trouble with this question but I guess it?s if you have a successful RP setting you can set other RPs in the same setting but tell a different story.

Character approval.
I always say yes to approval because you don?t want any random asshole rocking up and getting their sticky mitts on your RP.

Is this role play original?
The answer should always be yes, but sadly some people make fanfiction RPs, if your RP is a fanfiction deal (this includes RPs set in the same universe but featuring none of the characters) you need to tick no. I?ll discuss my feelings on Non Original RPs below.

Rules.
In this section you lay out the laws. Things to consider are what is acceptable sexual and violent content, what is the minimum number of posts per week, is there a post word count (you should never have a word count on posts, sometimes a post needs to be a one liner), grammatical standards (remember not everyone received the same level of education as you, speaks the same language as you or has the same mental facilities as you. So long as they can write a good understandable story then live and let live.) etc.

Introduction.
In this section you want to introduce the RP in much the same way as you did in the Int Chk. Provide a brief description for people just browsing.

Press submit and you?re done.

First steps.

The way this site is set up you must have an active character in an RP to be able to create OOC topic. So go create your character. Keep in mind your character is really the Plot or the RP it?s self, that?s your baby so ensure the character you create is important enough to drive the plot in the opening posts, the ?big bad? and ?quest giver? are often good choices. Odds are you?ll have multiple characters but you just need this one so you can make topics and get to administrating.

Once you have created your character go make a new topic in the OOC title like ?The World Of BloodCell? or ?The BloodCell Primer? or ?The BloodCell Bible?. You want to get across that this is where the World is explained.

In this topic you describe the world, groups technology social structure of the world you constructed, before you were trying to entice people by providing enough info without overloading them. Now is the time for sensory overload, include everything you came up with during the World Building phase.

Now you need to go back to the Introduction of your RP and ensure this ?Bible? topic is linked to the introduction so people browsing will know you put in the time world building. There is nothing worse than an RP that the GM put no thought into especially when it?s high concept.

You could also put your world building on the intro page but I feel it looks cluttered. That?s just personal taste.

Bible maintenance will become very important in the opening days as RPers join and ask questions you never considered. A popular one is post apocalyptic currencies because nobody every thinks about it, freaks out trying to do something original and inevitably winds up using bottle caps.

Character Sheets

The character sheet system here is pretty comprehensive but if you require additional information just request it in the introduction.
You should view character sheets as tryouts, if an RPer can?t write a good CS odds are they won?t be able to write a good post. Additionally if they make no mention of the world you built or use very generic terms maybe you should question how closely they are going to read the posts of others. Your RP needs players to be successful but one good RPer is worth twenty poor ones.
Additionally try to take a chance on Newbies, if they have a quality CS give them a shot.

If you do refuse a CS it?s always nice to say way and offer constructive criticism. You don?t have to be harsh but be honest and let people know it?s nothing personal.

First posts.

These are all about setting the scene and letting people establish their characters. Here is where you want to describe your big event that will kick off the RP. Excitement will be high at this point so you want to capitalise on that.

For Example BloodCell could start off with a group of Vampires taking hostages including an AVU member (perhaps you could take this character and make them a bit of a Billy Badass). The RPers are scrambled to take care of it but before they can get there the Vamps detonate an explosive device killing all inside. Including your Billy Badass character in an ?opening episode? plot twist.

Oh no. The RP kicks off and the characters have to chase down leads across your Sci-Fi world, maybe mop up some surviving Vamps or provide first aid to survivors. The important thing is everyone has something to do.

You could also set up a couple of throw backs. Maybe Billy Badass survives the explosion, gets turned and comes back later as a Vampire Cyborg with a grudge. This is something good GMs are able to do, they leave little lose threads that can be picked up later in the story, sometimes they come off, other times they don?t. People tend to remember the ones that work out though and it can give the impression you have a grand masterplan when you actually got lucky. Given the interactivity of RPing and quality of the story, credibility can be somewhat stretched and your RPers won?t call bullshit if plots get dropped or merged into others. Often these things develop organically, maybe a one shot character turns out to be popular with RPers so next time you were going to use a faceless NPC use the popular one.

Another thing you want to do (if you are this way inclined) is try to set the theme in your first few posts if you going mega happy RP crack a lot of Jokes in the opening posts or if you want the opposite write like a depressed Raymond Chandler.

So that?s setting up an RP, now we?ll look at keeping one going.

The OOC

If you view this as hosting a party I find it makes more sense. It?s your job to make sure everyone is having a good time, getting introduced to each other and feel they can drop into the OOC just for a chat or to shoot the shat. You can do a couple of forum games here, discuss the plot, talk about whatever. The point is you?re trying to make friends (which is kind of the point) a group of RPers that can do this are more likely to stick together through the lean times. Its your job to provide the initial spark but pretty soon people will just be interacting normally.

The other purpose is announcements. Maybe there has been a pretty dramatic development in one of the posts. Make sure to point out something big has happened as some people only skim and might miss out. You should also praise people have wrote particularly well as the RPers deserve it. To you the whole thing is planned in your head, to them they have to get inside your head and then translate that into a post. It also gives other RPers an idea what you looking for.

PMs

I like mysteries and I like surprises as I assume others do as well. Therefore if I have an important plot point to drop on someone I do it via PM and collaborate with other RPers in an effort to surprise other RPers. I also encourage RPers to do this amongst themselves as I like being shocked when a Plot takes an unexpected turn. For example when an RPer makes their character fail to complete a goal is a beautifully awesome for me as I have to adapt the story on the fly. It keeps things interesting. Unfortunately few RPers get this and will often be worried it makes their character look weak. I never understood this ?Prison Yard? mentality, we?re playing make believe on the internet at the end of the day, it?s ok to take chance.

The other side of PMs is keeping the rabble in line. I?ve found a PM is way more effective method of pulling someone up than going public on the OOC. Publicity just leads to bruised egos and toys being thrown out of the pram it?s much easier to drop a quick PM and keep things nice and civil.

In this last section I?m going address some General Questions.

Nobody is joining my Amazing RP?

First off keep the Int Chk and Roleplayers wanted sections active by bumping them. Secondly ensure they are neatly designed and well written. A poorly written block of text is sure to put people off.

If you have friends on the site, PM them to see if they fancy getting involved, if you have RPers signed up get them to recruit their friends.

If none of this works maybe it?s time to look at your idea, is it original ? Have you made it clear what is happening? Have you made it seem like there is something to do?

What?s the deal with originality?

My RPs are always original, sure they may be influenced by other works but most times they are a amalgamation of lots of influences. Using the BloodCell example it?s pretty obvious where I picked up ideas (Van Helsing in Blade Runner after making a quick stop at Deus Ex) the advantage to having my own setting is I?m not constrained by cannon or existing characters. Consider why there are no James Bond RPs, the chaos over who plays Bond would be crazy. Instead we have spy RPs that are heavy on Women and Tuxedos, James bond in everything but name.

In addition Original RPs are better because it means the GM has taken time to invest in something they believe in. This indicates a certain level of motivation and Dedication.

Any tips and tricks for GMing?

GMs love giving people choices but sometimes wuss out on consequences. Lets say in our example RP an RPer has a choice between saving two RPers, only one can be saved. Some would see this as a binary choice. A or B. Good RPers will see many more. Maybe their character says ?Screw this, I hate both these jerks.? And leaves the room. Maybe the character says take me instead. Maybe they try to save both and everyone dies. The point is you have got to be brutal with the consequences of these decisions.

It?s vital you make it clear from the get go that you plan to have situations like this where one character can completely screw over another (in the name of drama) and that death is very likely. Some people might get annoyed their character dies but always keep in mind your allegiance is to the story, if that pisses some people off along the way so be it, but when it?s all said and done and you?ve run an awesome RP people will want to be involved with your next one.

Of course it?s only fair to allow RPers to come back with another character.

Another Idea is to take a break from traditional types of RPs maybe fantasy has become stale why not try something else. Additionally you could try RPing in different ways. An example of this would be an RP I?m running where instead of traditional posts I give people jobs and they write how the job is completed in the form of a short story. Creativity is number one here, if you can imagine it give it a go.

So that?s it, maybe it was all stuff you knew or maybe you think I?m full of BS or maybe it helped out and you have more questions. Whatever your thoughts please post below and I?ll try to answer.

Oh, BloodCell isn?t an RP I ever intend to make so if anyone thinks they can make it work feel free to take it. I?m just not sure the world is ready for Cyborg Vampires.

Your Pal Bosch.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/Dj-7p05UlFU/viewtopic.php

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Clippers win 17th in row, finish December at 16-0

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, left, goes up for a shot as Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter, of Turkey, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, left, goes up for a shot as Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter, of Turkey, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Clippers center Ronny Turiaf puts up a shot as Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, right, gestures after a Clippers basket as guard Chris Paul approaches during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors, left, puts up a shot as Los Angeles Clippers center Ronny Turiaf defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, left, struggles for the ball with Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? After their 17th consecutive victory gave them a perfect month, the Los Angeles Clippers finally paused to admire their achievement.

"We got something extremely magical going on," said Caron Butler after the Clippers beat the Utah Jazz 107-96 on Sunday night to become the third team in NBA history to record a perfect month.

"When we win we usually jump up and down once or twice," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "Tonight we let them jump and down three or four times, so everyone had their fill."

The Clippers went 16-0 in December to join the 1995-96 San Antonio Spurs, which included Del Negro, and 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers as the only teams to go undefeated in a month. Their franchise-record winning streak is the longest since Boston won 19 in a row four years ago.

"I am amazed because I haven't done it since I've been in the league," said seven-year veteran Chris Paul, whose 19 points and nine assists helped his team maintain the league's best record at 25-6.

Butler led the Clippers with 29 points despite not playing in the fourth quarter and made all six of his 3-pointers, including five in the opening period. Jamal Crawford scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. Blake Griffin piled up five fouls and was held to seven points after getting double-teamed.

"That shows our depth," Paul said. "Our bench stepped up amazing. On any given night it can be another guy."

The streak isn't talked about among the players and coaches. But it's a popular topic among everyone else.

"That's an incredible record to have," Utah's Derrick Favors said. "They've got 17 straight wins and they're playing hard. I know there's a lot of pressure on them to try to keep it up, and they're going to keep coming out and keep playing the same way."

Actually, it's just the opposite, according to Griffin, who said the last month "is the most fun I've ever had playing basketball."

"You don't really think about it that much. We're having a blast," he said about the streak. "It's not like it's one of these things where it's so much pressure."

Al Jefferson scored 30 points ? one off his season high ? to lead Utah, which fell victim for the third time during the Clippers' streak. The Jazz lost 116-114 on Friday when the Clippers rallied from 19 points down, and they were beaten 105-104 on Dec. 3, both times at home.

"It's frustrating," said Gordon Hayward, who had 16 points. "Knowing that they're a good team and knowing that we're always right there with them, knowing that we need to keep on playing good for 48 minutes."

The Jazz lost their third in a row and seventh in the last nine games.

"We can't make any mistakes against them, especially on their home floor because they make you pay for it," Jefferson said.

Crawford keyed a 10-5 run to open the fourth, highlighted by a 3-pointer and a fast break pull-up jumper that helped the Clippers extend their lead to 89-81. Paul and Griffin didn't join the second unit until 5:55 remained and Utah had closed within four on a basket by Favors.

That was as close as the Jazz got. The Clippers made 9 of 10 free throws down the stretch and their defense held Utah to one field goal in the final 3:38.

"It was a grind-it-out game, nothing pretty about it," Crawford said. "We got us a nice thing going and we got to keep it going."

Los Angeles stretched its lead to 71-59 in the third quarter, when Butler scored 10 of their first 17 points.

From there, the Jazz closed on a 17-8 run to pull to 79-76 going into the fourth. Utah briefly took its first lead since early in the game when Jefferson scored over Lamar Odom, but the Jazz committed two costly turnovers in the final 49 seconds.

Paul got fouled and made both free throws, and then Matt Barnes stole the ball from Jamaal Tinsley and fed Paul on the break. He missed but Crawford was there to tip it in and restore the Clippers' lead.

"We haven't been playing our best basketball the last few games," Utah coach Tyrone Corbin said. "We're playing hard, but we've got to be a little smarter and not make the kind of mistakes we made down the stretch."

The Clippers shot 62 percent en route to a 54-45 halftime lead, with Butler scoring 17 points in the first quarter. Utah led briefly to start the game when Jefferson scored eight of their first 13 points.

NOTES: Los Angeles improved to 11-3 at home. ... The Jazz fell to 6-13 on the road. ... Clippers F Ronny Turiaf says his right elbow is "messed up." He said he hurt it a couple games ago when he felt discomfort while boxing out. ... Odom's ankle is bothering him. ... The Clippers haven't lost since Nov. 26 at home against New Orleans.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-31-Jazz-Clippers/id-da52fb16f32a4072852871afb5e9fb0e

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Pentagon Readying 800,000 for Furloughs (WSJ)

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Off brand Android GSM Phone ?

HowardForums is a discussion board dedicated to mobile phones with over 1,000,000 members and growing!

For your convenience HowardForums is divided into 7 main sections; marketplace, phone manufacturers, carriers, smartphones/PDAs, general phone discussion, buy sell trade and general discussions. Just scroll down to see them!

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Source: http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1786767-Off-brand-Android-GSM-Phone?goto=newpost

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Snowstorm hits Northeast, parts of Ohio

NEW YORK (AP) ? A widespread winter storm dumped snow over the Northeast and parts of Ohio on Saturday, just days after the regions were hit by another storm moving from the nation's midsection.

The National Weather Service expected up to a foot of snow in parts of southern New England, with the heaviest snowfall possibly in Providence, R.I., and Boston, which declared parking bans to allow snow removal vehicles to clean the streets. Winter storm warnings were in effect in parts of those states and in Connecticut.

New York City and Philadelphia saw a mix of rain and snow as the storm moved in from the west. In Ohio, Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati saw about 2 to 5 inches of snow by Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service said.

"Expect those accumulations to kind of work their way northeastward through much of New York state and much of New England," weather service meteorologist Brian Hurley said.

Drivers throughout the regions were warned to be cautious. Officials lowered the speed limit on much of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, about 300 miles from the Ohio state line to east-central Pennsylvania, from 65 mph to 45 mph.

About 20 vehicles piled up in a storm-related chain-reaction crash on Interstate 93 in New Hampton, N.H., police said, and five people were injured.

In Albany, N.Y., a regional jet skidded into a snow bank at the airport and became stuck, temporarily stranding passengers en route to Chicago. The 65 United Airlines passengers and crew members were put on a bus and sent back to the airport. There were no injuries, and the incident didn't cause any other flight delays, airport authority spokesman Doug Myers said.

Flights at Philadelphia's airport, mostly arrivals, were delayed about an hour, spokeswoman Stacy Jackson said.

Parts of southern Indiana saw 6 to 8 inches of snow from the storm, some in areas that had received more than a foot from a blizzard earlier in the week.

That blizzard was part of a storm system that dumped more than a foot of snow in some places and has been blamed for at least 16 deaths. It also spawned more than a dozen tornadoes in Alabama, the National Weather Service said.

But Saturday's snow wasn't as heavy as that of the previous storm, the weather service said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/weeks-2nd-snowstorm-hits-northeast-parts-ohio-003451577.html

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Sweater knit by Myanmar's Suu Kyi sells for $49K

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) ? A hand-knit woolen sweater made by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has sold at an auction in Myanmar for $49,000.

A Myanmar-based radio station won a bidding war for the sweater during an auction Thursday night held by Suu Kyi's opposition party. The bidding started at $6,000.

Suu Kyi knitted the sweater ? a red, green and blue V-neck ? almost 30 years ago when she was living in England and raising her two children, said Ko Ni, a close aide.

"She made it when she was busy working, studying and taking care of her children," Ko Ni told The Associated Press on Friday. "She wants to send the message that people should not stay idle but be diligent."

Suu Kyi, a 67-year-old former political prisoner and winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, has become Myanmar's biggest celebrity as the country transitions from a half-century of military rule. She is generally guarded about the family she left behind in England.

The Oxford graduate was raising two young sons with her late British husband when she returned to Myanmar in 1988 to nurse her dying mother. As daughter of the country's independence hero, Gen. Aung San, who was assassinated in 1947 when she was just 2, Suu Kyi found herself thrust into the forefront of pro-democracy protests against the military regime.

Over the next two decades, she became the world's most famous political prisoner and won the adoration of her people, who call her "Amay Suu" ? or "Mother Suu," partly because she chose to stay with them over her own children. She declined opportunities to leave Myanmar, fearing she would not be allowed to re-enter.

Since her release from house arrest in 2010, Suu Kyi has reunited with her sons and completed a stunning trajectory from housewife to political prisoner to opposition leader in Parliament.

The sweater's proud new owner said it was worth the money.

"It is priceless because the sweater was made my 'Amay' herself," said Daw Nan Mauk Lao Sai, chairwoman of Shwe FM radio station.

"I bought the sweater because I value the warmth and security it will give," she said, adding that she plans to hang it up in the station's office for the whole staff to see. She said the 41,500,000 kyat, or $49,000, spent on the sweater was for a good cause.

The auction was part of a fundraising concert organized by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party to raise money for education of poor children in Myanmar, an impoverished Southeast Asian nation also known as Burma.

___

Associated Press writer Jocelyn Gecker in Bangkok contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sweater-knit-myanmars-suu-kyi-sells-49k-053222490.html

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Japan's New PM Tours Crippled Fukushima Nuclear Plant (Voice Of America)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273757820?client_source=feed&format=rss

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New Years Eve Party: 7 Family Fun Ideas & Crafts

Credit: Martha Stewart

New Years Eve means party time ? and even if you?re just staying home for a low-key family party, you can still have a great time with these 7 easy and FREE crafts and ideas!? Here are 7 FUN & FREE ways to celebrate New Years Eve and make sure that 2012 goes out with a BANG!

PARTY DECORATIONS:? Make a banner out of leftover tinsel garland glued to cardboard numbers.? Easy and sparkly!? You can also make your own countdown ball/disco ball by stringing white Christmas lights around a ball and hanging it from the ceiling.

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TOILET PAPER ROLL CONFETTI POPPERS: Fill toilet paper rolls with confetti and wrap in tissue paper or construction paper.? Tie the ends with ribbons.? Pull the paper on both ends to release the confetti.

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BALLOON COUNTDOWN: Blow up enough balloons so that you can pop one each hour of the countdown.? Write the hour on each balloon and let the kids take turns!? You could even get creative and put a prize or confetti in each one.

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Party Food: Bake a ?Clock Cake? to help countdown the hours in a yummy way ? and set out lots of finger foods that the kids will like.

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PLAY DRESS UP!? My family started dressing up for New Years Eve years ago ? and not in the strict sense of the word either.? I make my hubby wear that too-tight-vest that I think makes him look like one of the ?Newsies? and I put on some crazy formal gown that I?d never get a chance to wear otherwise? My kiddos come out of their rooms in clothes ranging from ?Date-Casual? to ?Head-To-Toe-Cowboy? to ?Batman?.? Addie, once ?dressed up? as a dinosaur for New Years Eve!

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COUNTDOWN BAGS:? Make a bag for each hour with a few activities or prizes inside!? More ways to pass the time: We put on music and just let the kids do their thing.? Or challenge your family to a Video-Game Face-Off, Charades, balloon-volleyball, board games, or just watch movies.

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NOISEMAKERS:? You can make this cute noisemaker craft using plastic cups filled with beans, buttons, rice or other smal items.? Let the kids decorate them to pass the time.? When the midnight hour arrives (or, about 10 o?clock for the kiddos) we usually go outside and bang pots and pans and blow horns together shouting ?HAPPY NEW YEAR!? to the neighborhood.? You can also pop bubble wrap that you received in all those holiday packages ? and shoot silly string at each other.

Whatever you do with your family to ring in the New Year, just have fun with it!?

Source: http://www.time2saveworkshops.com/new-years-eve-party-7-family-fun-ideas-crafts/

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How Not 'Awesome' Was Lisa Jackson at the EPA?

After almost four years of guiding controversial decisions on fracking, the Keystone XL pipeline, and coal, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is stepping down. Now, the hunt is on for a new director who won't be able to please anyone.

RELATED: EPA Passes New Fracking Rules

Jackson?the EPA's first African American chief and a chemical engineer by training?wrote in a statement, "I will leave the EPA confident the ship is sailing in the right direction, and ready in my own life for new challenges, time with my family and new opportunities to make a difference." President Obama said in a?separate?statement:?

Under her leadership, the EPA has taken sensible and important steps to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink, including implementing the first national standard for harmful mercury pollution, taking important action to combat climate change under the Clean Air Act and playing a key role in establishing historic fuel economy standards that will save the average American family thousands of dollars at the pump, while also slashing carbon pollution.

Congressional Republicans, however, won't be sad to see her go. Caught between their hostility toward regulation and the Obama administration's lack of emphasis on climate change, Jackson was unable to nix the Keystone XL oil pipeline, a planned route for bringing tar sand oil from Canada down to Texas. When confronted on the issue, Jackson simply said that holding conversations about the project is "awesome." She also wasn't able to get the EPA to take meaningful action on hydraulic fracturing, even after?the agency found evidence that the practice contributes to groundwater pollution.?

RELATED: EPA Proposes First Fracking-Related Pollution Rules

Among her successes, Jackson can count a rule limiting mercury emissions in coal-fired plants and the doubling of fuel efficiency standards.?It remains to be seen whether the EPA's deputy administrator?Robert Perciasepe?who looks prepped to take the reigns in the interim and potentially as full-time Administrator later on?can do any better.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/not-awesome-lisa-jackson-epa-163849334.html

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Clippers roll past Celtics 106-77

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Matt Barnes tied his season high with 21 points off the bench, Chris Paul had 11 assists and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated Boston 106-77 on Thursday night, becoming the first team to win 15 consecutive games since the Celtics four years ago.

Fellow reserve Jamal Crawford added 17 points, Blake Griffin had 15 points and Caron Butler 14 to help the Clippers improve the NBA's best record to 23-6.

Kevin Garnett scored 16 points for Boston, which never led in dropping to .500 at 14-14 with its fifth loss in seven games. Paul Pierce and Jeff Green added 12 points each to go with 10 apiece from Jason Terry and Rajon Rondo.

Boston's winning streak extended to 19 games in 2008-09.

Barnes had the Clippers' first five points in a 9-0 run that opened the fourth quarter and boosted their lead to 90-67. Willie Green briefly played; otherwise the Clippers' other starters rested to close out the game.

The Celtics were held to 10 points in the final 12 minutes.

Garnett had six points in the third when the Celtics were narrowly outscored 22-20, but still trailed 82-67. The Clippers' 9-0 run pushed their lead to 21 points before Boston went on a 10-4 run, including 3-pointers by Courtney Lee and Rondo to end the quarter.

The game got chippy at times. In the third, Jared Sullinger was called for a flagrant-1 foul for grabbing the front of Griffin on his way up to dunk. Then Butler and Pierce emerged from a big mass both holding onto the ball, leading to a jump ball. In the first, Rondo was lying on the ball and Paul tried to take it out from under him on the sideline, leading to a testy moment.

The Celtics cut their deficit to four points early in the second quarter ? the closest they came after the opening quarter ? with consecutive 3-pointers by Terry and Lee before the Clippers' second unit rebuilt the double-digit lead the starters had created. Crawford scored 13 points for Los Angeles, highlighted by a fast-break floater and a rainbow 3. He scored the final four points to keep the Clippers ahead 60-47 heading into halftime.

The Clippers came roaring out of the opening tip, outscoring the Celtics 24-9.

NOTES: The Clippers are assured of finishing December as their best month ever with two games remaining, including the second half of a back-to-back at Utah. They've already surpassed the franchise record for most wins in a month, bettering the old mark of 12 shared by the 1974-75 Buffalo Braves and the 1991-92 Clippers (which included Celtics coach Doc Rivers). ... Boston fell to 5-9 on the road. ... The Clippers' last loss was on Nov. 26 at home against New Orleans. ... Justin Bieber (who had Paul's young son sitting on his lap), Billy Crystal and Olympic 200 sprint champion Allyson Felix were among the Clippers' 67th consecutive sellout crowd.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/clippers-roll-past-celtics-106-77-062716724--spt.html

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Good Examples Of Autoresponder Html Templates For Business ...

By Lisa Jane Foreman

An autoresponder is defined as a program that helps company owners collect contact details from inquiring clients and then instantly follow-up email queries by sending recently constructed messages over daily durations. There are many ways to use autoresponders in business; for instance, they can provide suitable information regarding a specific item, like educational guides, tips on use as well as associated offers, after a client buys that merchandise. They could also be used to notify loyal patrons about present and forthcoming promotional offers, bargains or sales. For those who are in the business of coaching, autoresponder emails may also be used to deliver training materials and modules either as free items or even as a paid service.

There are numerous advertising companies on the internet that include autoresponders as part of their services. But because of the great number of service providers to choose from, getting a great associate in online marketing could be overwhelming. For company owners who are planning to use auto responders for business, one of the main functions that must be looked at is convenience. Not all business owners are tech-savvy and as such, an excellent solution must be convenient, even for those with minor Web or computer abilities. You certainly shouldn?t need to contact a designer just so you can compose messages to be delivered by an auto responder.

In addition to convenience, autoresponders must also provide varied options for customizing e-mail messages. Autoresponder emails are usually in HTML layout; even so, this does not necessarily mean that the user must have in-depth know-how in HTML programming to create an email. A solution for this gap in knowledge is to offer HTML themes that are easy to alter based on the company?s design. A good example of autoresponder html templates should include several themes for a variety of purposes, such as event invitations, newsletters, coupons and campaigns. Furthermore, a good HTML template must also be fully customizable-vital components like text, fonts and font sizes, layout, and image material must be easy to alter as you want.

Emails sent by auto responders must also be certified with the latest bulk email legal guidelines and the CAN-SPAM Act to make sure that each email basically reaches the sender and is not classified as spam email. This is usually a particularly significant function when selecting auto responder solutions because efforts invested on establishing messages will be squandered if the email ends up in the spam or trash mail folder.

Autoresponders must be used in any company?s arsenal of marketing programs; specifically because a growing number of users are utilizing the web for business. The power of autoresponders in business may not be stressed enough; they are probably the simplest and most practical method for entrepreneurs to instantly and constantly connect with customers, both new and old.

Having a solution that can help you in improve your business is certainly a great experience. Therefore, you may use Autoresponders this is a useful tool that can provide you utmost results. Knowing a good example of Autoresponders HTML themes can help you create an amazing site for your online business.

Source: http://www.earnextracash.biz/articles/good-examples-of-autoresponder-html-templates-for-business-enterprise-utilization?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=good-examples-of-autoresponder-html-templates-for-business-enterprise-utilization

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Property market booms in 2012 with no bust in sight until 2016 ...

2012 has been very good for the Philippine property market, backed by a glowing economy, overseas Filipino remittances, and business process outsourcing (BPO) as main drivers to a development boom.

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Despite fears of a bust, there is an overwhelming confidence among government officials and indsutry stakeholders holding on to the belief that there is no end to what is now happening in the market.

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?We have previously noted that a major driver of this growth is the demand for office space due to the strong outlook of the BPO sector,? Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told reporters in a briefing on the third quarter GDP in late November. ?

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?Also, favorable economic conditions led more individuals to purchase residential properties,? the Economic Planning chief added. He pointed out that the property market posted ?strong expansion? this year, as ?major players... Ayala Land, SM Prime Holdings and Megaworld posted double-digit revenues in terms of real estate and rent of commercial spaces.?

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All-time low interest rates could also spur a reality shift toward a country of homeowners from a nation of renters, an industry insider noted. The ripple-effect could also lead to changes in the real estate market, inclduing the rise in green buildings and the call for the development of the silver market that caters to senior citizens and retirees.

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Nation of owners

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Change is happening, a ?democratization? in the real estate sector ?based on low interest rates and financing schemes,? Rick Santos, chairman and CEO of real estate services and advisory firm CBRE Philippines told GMA News Online.

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Global property manager, broker, and marketeer Colliers International noted the growing demand to property ownership will be sustained largely by ?the younger age set?? a trend developers are already catering to with major player Century Properties expanding into the ?affordable market? that includes its P4.1-billion The Residences at Commonwealth

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Data from global real-estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle Leechiu (JLLL), 129,920 residential units are currenly available in Metro Manila, of which 3,690 are high-end at P120,000 per sqm and the rest are mid-range at P50,000-P110,000 per sqm.?

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The bulk of condominium units developed in 2012 were in the P1.5 million-P3 million and P3 million-P6 million per unit range, with the lower range expected to account for 56 percent of the total by 2018.

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This year, most residential condominium developments were concentrated in the Metro Manila's Pasig, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, and Makati areas, each receiving around 20 percent of total developments. Makati put up the most high-end to luxury condominium units at 6,099.

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Metro Manila has a 54-percent share of existing retail supply, which is projected to drop to 52 percent next year.?

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The rental average of ground floor and upper levels now stand at P1,028 per sqm in Metro Manila and P700 nationwide.

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What housing bubble?

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Despite the general trend of rising prices, ?There is no bubble in the Philippine property development market, because what is built is leased,? was JLLL's fearless assessment.

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The housing bubble that struck the US in the mid-2000s ? the subprime mortgage mess that spurred the global economic depression ? after banks began offering home loans left and right, even to high-risk borrowers with no financial backing to pay the amortization on the houses, which were then reassessed below fair market value and resold at a lower price.

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Such scenario has nil chance of plaguing the country ? at least until the next handful of years ? said JLLL associate director for markets Philip A?onuevo, adding that ?the holding power of Filipino buyers is longer.??

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The Philippine economy, which clocked at 7.1 percent in Q3 2012 ? the fastest in Southeast Asia ? helped boost confidence and investments among property suppliers and buyers and leasing companies, a trend JLLL swears would likely last until the next presidential election in 2016.

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Cause for optimism

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Washington DC-based Urban Land Institute (ULI), which advocates responsible use of land and creating sustainable communities, found much cause for optimism in the Philippine property sector. Its survey on emerging real estate trends in the Asia Pacific raised Manila by six notches to 12th among 22 cities in terms of investment prospects for 2013. Manila also ranked ninth in city development prospects.

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In retail property buy/hold/sell recommendations, 40 percent of respondents urged a buy, 51 percent a hold, and 9 percent a sell.?

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Among leading Asia Pacific cities, Manila was judged ?generally good,? with ULI noting that markets have ?performed well in the past couple of years as a result of a growing economy, a transparent and business-friendly government, and the country?s ongoing success ? an ?eye opener? ? in attracting foreign clients in its [BPO] facilities.?

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The survey also cited the large casino development in Pasay City as an impetus to development and boosting tourism ? once completed.

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However, the bar on foreigners' ?holding majority land ownership... continue to deter international investors.? Ample liquidity from domestic sources is also dampening the need for locals to partner with aliens.?

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JLLL's A?onuevo urges the government to incentivize firms to head south or north as an option to decongest the increasingly cramped and disaster-vulnerable Metro Manila.

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JLLL national director for markets Lizanne Tan noted Cebu was the leading business location after Metro Manila, with rents nearing those in the National Capital Region except for Makati, but with lower salaries.?

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Foreign investment opportunities

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ULI's study found opportunities for foreign investors in the gaming and BPO sectors. ?Both present large opportunities,? ULI said, ?with the latter accounting for some 70 percent of new office take-up in Manila.?

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JLLL also reported that BPOs were still the top buyers of office space in 2012. In the first 11 months of 2012, demand grew 18 percent to 425,000 sqm year-on-year.

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Non-BPOs bought 100,000 sqm or 25 percent of current demand, said Sheila Lobien, JLLL director for project leasing.

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She said average Grade A rents in Bonifacio Global City and the Makati central business district have risen 15 to 20 percent since 2009 ?due to a high level of leasing activity across all districts? that include Alabang, Ortigas, Eastwood, Pioneer, and Araneta Cyberpark.

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Global City is becoming the hot location, with multinational Coca-Cola and homegrown Aboitiz Group ?bracing for expansion and moving to new corporate space,? A?onuevo noted. The Philippine Stock Exchange would move to its headquarters there in 2016.

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The massive entertainment district development in the Manila Bay Area has inspired tourism-geared development. In May, JLLL tracked 10,536 hotel rooms in the pipeline from 2011 to 2016, and 5,000 more have since been added in six months.

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A?onuevo said growth areas to look out for include the privatized Food Terminal Complex and the University of the Philippines area on Commonwealth Avenue.

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The silver market

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In November, the Retirement and Healthcare Coalition formed by the European, American, Japanese, and Korean chambers of commerce urged local property developers to look into developing for the ?growing ?silver market.?

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By 2030, 25 percent of the world?s population will be comprised of retirees, many of them ?looking for homes outside their own countries,? said Coalition executive director Marc Daubenbuechel.

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Agence France-Presse reported that the Philippine Retirement Authority already counts nearly 21,000 retirees, mostly Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese and Japanese, in its retirement incentive program. But the Philippines is behind Malaysia and Thailand when it comes to aggressively pursuing second-home silver buyers. ? BM/VS, GMA News

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/287917/economy/business/property-market-booms-in-2012-with-no-bust-in-sight-until-2016

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New York City faces $811 million budget gap in FY 2014: report

(Reuters) - New York City faces an $811 million budget shortfall in fiscal year 2014 and lowered revenue projections in part because of Superstorm Sandy, the city's Independent Budget Office said on Thursday.

The city's tax revenue collections are likely to grow by just 3.4 percent in fiscal 2014 to $44.8 billion. That figure is $347 million lower than the IBO projected in May, it said.

The dimmer outlook is due to slower expected economic growth, particularly in the banking and securities industries, the IBO said. Near-term losses from Sandy, which ripped into the East Coast on October 29, also dampened projections for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2013.

In June, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City Council agreed on a $68.5 billion fiscal 2013 budget that spared 20 fire companies from closing and increased funding for day-care and after-school programs.

To close the projected budget gap, the city is likely to cut spending further and raise fees and fines, among other measures, according to a financial plan proposed by Bloomberg in November.

That plan includes cutting 1,340 jobs through 2014, mostly through attrition, the IBO said.

The city also expects to save $230 million in 2014 by borrowing and refinancing outstanding bonds at low interest rates.

GAP IS SMALL, BUT LABOR PROBLEMS LOOM

Even so, the gap -- which amounts to 1.6 percent of projected revenues -- is small enough to be closed largely through normal year-end accounting procedures, said IBO head Ronnie Lowenstein.

The city has not set aside money for a possible settlement in ongoing negotiations with organized labor, she said.

"There is, at this point, no money set aside in the city's labor reserve to pay retroactive wage and salary increases," she said.

Nearly all of the city's unions have been working without a current contract. The teachers' contract ran out in October 2009.

Under one settlement scenario, the city could owe wages and back pay of more than $5 billion through June 2013, the IBO's report said.

STORM COSTS UNCERTAIN

Before Sandy slammed into the U.S. East Coast, the IBO forecast the gross city product to grow at an annualized rate of 1.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 and 1.2 percent in the first quarter of 2013.

Now, the city's economic output is likely to shrink by 1.0 percent at the end of 2012 and rebound with growth of 1.9 percent in the beginning of 2013 as storm victims repair homes and businesses, the IBO said.

It said Wall Street's importance as an economic driver for the city is expected to continue waning, as it has since the recession.

The financial sector will account for 26.1 percent of aggregate wage growth during from 2013 to 2016 -- compared to pre-recession levels of nearly 60 percent.

Yet New York City could be on track to gain nearly 480,000 payroll jobs from the end of 2009 through late 2016, which would be the greatest employment expansion since 1950, the IBO said.

Medicaid and public pensions cost increases are expected to slow. But spending on debt service payments and health and other benefits will rise, the IBO said.

The city's general obligation bonds are rated AA by Fitch Ratings and Aa2 by Moody's Investors Service.

(Editing by Leslie Gevirtz)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/york-city-faces-811-million-budget-gap-fy-215747424.html

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J.R. Smith Buzzer Beater: Knicks Edge Suns, 99-97, After Two Difficult Jumpers (VIDEO)

PHOENIX -- J.R. Smith sank a baseline 21-footer at the buzzer after a Phoenix turnover with a second to play, giving the depleted New York Knicks a 99-97 victory over the Suns on Wednesday night.

Smith's tough jumper from 15 feet had tied it at 97 with 10.6 seconds left. Then, after the turnover, Jason Kidd inbounded to Smith, who got the shot off as he sailed toward the out of bounds line. Smith scored 27 and Kidd 23.

Jared Dudley had a career-high 36 for Phoenix, including two free throws that put the Suns ahead 97-95 with 34.5 seconds to go.

New York was without the NBA's No. 2 scorer Carmelo Anthony (hyperextended knee) and Raymond Felton (sprained finger), both hurt in the Christmas day loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles.

The Knicks said X-rays on Felton's right fifth finger revealed a fracture and the next course of action will be determined after his return to New York.

The Suns lost Goran Dragic in the final seconds of the first half when he was undercut by Smith on a layup attempt and fell hard to the floor. Dragic had bruises to his hip, back and wrist. Smith was called for a flagrant foul on the play.

Chris Copeland and Tyson Chandler added 14 points apiece for the Knicks.

Dudley, whose previous high was 33, was 11 of 17 shooting, 5 of 8 on 3s, and 9 of 9 at the foul line. Marcin Gortat added 13 points for the Suns, who lost their third in a row.

New York led 54-44 at the half and stretched it to 68-54 when Smith made a fadeaway, falling-down 19-footer with 7:13 left in the third. Dudley responded with a 3-pointer and the Suns were off on a 20-4 outburst. Another 3 by Dudley tied it at 72 with 2:10 to go, and Shannon Brown, who made just one of his first 7 shots, scored on a fast-break layup to put Phoenix ahead 74-72 with 1:23 left in the quarter.

It was knotted at 76 entering the fourth.

Dudley was fouled by Copeland on a 3-point try and made all three free throws to put Phoenix up 90-86 with 5:19 left, but Smith scored the next four, Kidd sank a 3 and Copeland made a 21-footer in a 9-0 spurt that had the Knicks up 95-90 with 3:34 left.

After a scoreless 1:28, Sebastian Telfair made a 3, then Brown sank a 20-footer to tie it at 95 with 1:15 remaining.

Smith missed a jumper from the top of the key 52 seconds from the finish and the Suns got the ball. Dudley was fouled on a drive to the hoop and made both free throws to make it 97-95.

But Smith, with P.J. Tucker all over him, sank a fade-away from just outside the free throw line with 10.6 seconds remaining to tie.

Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry called a 20-second timeout but the play broke down and, when Telfair tried to hit Marcin Gortat for a back-door layup, the ball was knocked back into the backcourt. Telfair chased it down but wound up stepping out of bounds with a second on the clock.

After a timeout, Kidd tossed the inbounds pass to Smith, who got the shot off, again over Tucker, from just inside the 3-point line. It went in and he was mobbed by his teammates.

The Knicks were missing a little over 43 points per game without Anthony and Felton, the first game this season that New York had been without both of its top two scorers. Rasheed Wallace also was out with a sore left foot.

Notes: The Knicks complete their brief three-game trip west at Sacramento on Friday. ... New York has lost two in a row only once this season. ... Michael Beasley, a big part of the second-half surge, missed Sunday's home loss to the Clippers due to illness.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/27/jr-smith-buzzer-beater-knicks-suns_n_2367990.html

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Too Old Todream to outsmart Lenson Peter in Boxing Day Standard ...

Too Old Todream to outsmart Lenson Peter in Boxing Day Standard at Sittingbourne

Lenson Peter becomes very pacey when getting a clear passage. The brindle dog is standing in the first trap, which gives him an ideal opportunity to take an early advantage.

The red box will also help him avoid a nudge from the neighbours. So, there is plenty going for him and therefore, the bookies have given him the best starting price.

Nevertheless, those who are interested in betting should make a look around. Lenson Peter got bumped from the same draw last time. He is unlikely to make the best advantage of this favourable situation. Moreover, he would be short of confidence following an embarrassing loss at the hands of Roseville Bullet just a few days ago.

According to our calculations, Too Old Todream is way better option. The black dog is in better form. He also knows how to perform well even in case of mess. His recent two victories are enough to show how talented he is.

On December 9^th, the S. Mavrias-trained took the first prize despite getting bumped early on. He displayed another marvellous act in mid December, when sealing a comfortable 1?-length triumph even after getting bumped early in the race.

Having bagged two tough wins, the son of Hades Rocket is flushed with pride. So, he could easily complete a hat-trick. Besides the above-mentioned pair, there are four quality hounds in the pack.

Their names are: Kingsmill Super, Verdun Richie, Seek The Cash, and Balintagart Bell. The race will be very exciting, because every hound is determined to unleash his best to get the first prize worth ?300.

Verdun Richie is looking to apply plenty of early pressure. The black dog needs to run like a demon to play a role after finishing at bottom of the table last time around. Balintagart Bell has scope for improvement. The black bitch clinched an easy 1-length win over 450 metres in mid December.

Kingsmill Super needs to make early moves, and only the best effort would save him from embarrassment. Similarly, Seek The Cash will have to counter early moves. He should go wide and avoid any inside crowding. We wish the best of luck to all the contestants.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and do not reflect Bettor.com?s editorial policy.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Too-Old-Todream-to-outsmart-Lenson-Peter-in-Boxing-Day-Standard-at-Sittingbourne-a211187

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Storm delays thousands of fliers; tips to get home

NEW YORK (AP) ? A massive winter storm is disrupting travel plans for tens of thousands of fliers trying to get home after Christmas. Snow, thunderstorms, sleet, tornados and high winds have grounded planes in the nation's midsection and are expected to slow operations on the East Coast.

Delays racked up in the morning from Dallas to Indianapolis to Chicago. By 11 a.m. EST Wednesday, more than 600 flights nationwide had been scrapped, according to flight tracking site FlightAware.com.

More cancelations are likely throughout the day, with Washington, New York and Philadelphia expected to see the largest problems. For instance, wind gusts at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport could exceed 50 mph Wednesday night, according to FlightAware.

Passengers are pretty much at the mercy of Mother Nature and the airlines. But there are a few things they can do to improve their odds of getting home quickly.

? If you miss your connection, the airlines will automatically rebook you on the next available flight. However, with flights at near capacity, the next open seat could be several days away. Two years ago, some Christmas fliers had to wait nearly a week to get home.

? If you're unhappy with your rebooked flight, get in line to speak to a customer service representative. But also, pick up the phone and call the airline directly, go onto the airline's website and even consider sending a Tweet.

? Consider buying a one-day pass to the airline lounge. It's a nice place to relax away from the crowd and there are usually free drinks and small snacks. But the real secret to the lounges is that the airline staffs them with some of its best ? and friendliest ? ticket agents. The lines inside will be much shorter and these agents are magically able to find empty seats where nobody else can. One-day passes typically cost $50.

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Scott Mayerowitz can be reached at http://twitter.com/GlobeTrotScott .

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/storm-delays-thousands-fliers-tips-home-150746546--finance.html

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Yen falls, Nikkei surges as Japan gets a new government

TOKYO (Reuters) - The yen fell to a 20-month low against the dollar on Wednesday, buoying the benchmark Nikkei stock average to nine-month highs, as Japan swore in a new prime minister eager to pursue drastic stimulus steps to drive the country's economy out of deflation.

Asian shares and other assets were capped in thin holiday trade, with investors focusing on the fate of U.S. negotiations to avert a budget crunch looming at the end of the year.

Markets in Singapore <.ftsti>, Malaysia <.klse>, Indonesia <.jkse>, the Philippines <.psi> and South Korea <.ks11> reopened on Wednesday after closing on Tuesday for the Christmas holiday.

Hong Kong and Australia remain closed on Wednesday. Europe also will not trade, but U.S. markets reopen later in the day.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan <.miapj0000pus> was little changed. Shanghai shares <.ssec> were flat, but stayed in positive territory on the year after a 2.5 percent jump on Tuesday erased 2012 losses. It is set for a first annual gain in three years. South Korean shares <.ks11> ended nearly flat.

Shinzo Abe, whose party won a landslide victory in an election earlier this month, was elected Japan's premier on Wednesday. Abe, who is expected to appoint his cabinet later Wednesday, is calling for a mix of aggressive monetary policy easing and big fiscal spending to beat deflation and rein in the strong yen.

He has kept up pressure on the Bank of Japan to be more drastic and adopt a 2 percent inflation target to beat deep-rooted deflation, pushing the yen to a 20-month low of 85.38 yen on trading platform EBS on Wednesday. Traders eyed the dollar's 2011 high of 85.53 yen as the next target.

The euro rose as high as 112.55 yen on EBS, just below its 16-month high of 112.59 yen hit on December 19.

The weaker yen has bolstered hopes for better earnings from Japanese companies and underpinned the Nikkei, which has gained some 18 percent since mid-November when the election was scheduled, fuelling expectations for Abe's party to win. The yen has lost nearly 8 percent against the dollar in the same period.

The Nikkei <.n225> closed at a nine-month high with a 1.5 percent gain. <.t/>

"Most foreign funds have added Japanese shares and there are fewer participants today, but there still is a reason for the Nikkei to rise," said Hideyuki Okoshi, general manager at Chibagin Securities. "Not only exporters but investors are buying other stocks which could benefit under the new government."

Japanese government debt prices fell, with the 10-year bond futures hitting a three-month low of 143.65 in active trade. Ten-year JGB yields rose 1.5 basis points to 0.780 percent, matching a six-week high hit on December 19.

"We continue to see equities going high, so the pressure is on the long end of the JGB curve. For the short end of the curve, we continue to see the BOJ ease aggressively, so there is no change in that," said Tadashi Matsukawa, head of Japan fixed income at PineBridge Investments.

Minutes of the BOJ's policy-setting meeting in November, released on Wednesday, showed that some board members said the central bank must act decisively, without ruling out any policy options, if the outlook for the economy and prices worsens further.

"FISCAL CLIFF" RISK

The dollar was expected to stay firm this week as the U.S. fiscal impasse is likely to continue to sap investor appetite for risky assets and raise the dollar's safe-haven appeal.

Ten-year U.S. Treasury notes held steady in price to yield roughly 1.776 percent in Asia, little changed from late U.S. trade on Monday. The U.S. bond market was closed on Tuesday for Christmas.

"I think there is about a 50 percent chance of the cliff being avoided at the year-end through an agreement of some kind, even if it turns out to be just a short-term postponement," said Tomoaki Shishido, a rate analyst for Nomura Securities in Tokyo.

A U.S. official said on Tuesday that President Barack Obama may return to Washington from his Hawaiian holiday as early as Wednesday evening to address the unfinished negotiations over the "fiscal cliff" of some $600 billion in automatic spending cuts and tax increases set to start on January 1.

If the United States falls off the fiscal cliff, economists warn that the world's largest economy could plunge into recession and drag global economies down as well.

Data out of Asia on Wednesday underscored fragile global growth.

Exports in Thailand, Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, rose nearly 27 percent in November from a year ago, but that reflected recovery from flooding in late 2011 and not growth in global demand.

South Korea's key consumer sentiment index held steady in December from November and stood below the neutral point for a fifth consecutive month, diminishing hopes of a quick economic rebound.

Gold edged lower on Wednesday on uncertainty over the fiscal cliff, but a weaker yen sparked a rally in bullion futures on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM).

Brent crude climbed above $109 per barrel on Wednesday in thin trade, with investors hoping for a last-minute deal to avoid a U.S. fiscal crisis. U.S. crude futures also inched up 0.4 percent to $88.94.

(Additional reporting by Ayai Tomisawa and Dominic Lau in Tokyo and Masayuki Kitano in Singapore; Editing by Richard Borsuk)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/yen-falls-japan-forms-government-supporting-nikkei-001445158--finance.html

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