Journal News excerpt from Latimer mailer prompts war of words ...

An excerpt from a 2010 Journal News article is used in a new, pro-George Latimer mailer funded by Senate Democrats that is now heading to Westchester County homes. The quote points out that the Rye Assemblyman ?favors a tax cap and relief from state mandates.?

It doesn?t mention, however, a seemingly pertinent piece of information: Latimer voted against the state?s 2 percent property-tax cap in 2011.

Latimer, a Democratic Assemblyman now running for state Senate, opposed the bill that created the now-implemented tax cap, explaining at the time (and ever since) that he didn?t believe enough was done concurrently to free local government?s from state-mandated costs, such as Medicaid payments.

The campaign of Latimer?s Republican opponent, New Rochelle developer Bob Cohen, pounced on the mailer.

?I have never seen such a blatantly dishonest mailer in my career,? Cohen spokesman Bill O?Reilly said in a statement.

Senate Democrats, however, defended the mailer and said the use of The Journal News excerpt was not misleading, noting that Latimer has consistently spoken out on the need to pair the property-tax limit with meaningful relief for local governments.

Latimer released a web video on his position on the tax cap last week, in which he quotes Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino (ironically, also a client of O?Reilly) as saying ?a property-tax cap without mandate relief is like running up a credit card debt on a fixed income.? (You can watch that video here.)

?Cohen and his extremist allies can try to lie and distort the facts but the truth is only George Latimer has provided tax relief to the people of Westchester,? Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy said in a statement.

The original article?from the Oct. 14, 2010 edition of The Journal News, when Latimer was running for re-election in the Assembly?notes that Latimer said he ?favored sweeping changes in the way education and health care are funded by shifting away from property taxes,? but supports ?tax cap and relief from state mandates? in the shorter term.

Latimer, meanwhile, has found himself on the receiving end of about a dozen direct-mail campaigns within his district, leading him to release a letter last week saying they ?ruthlessly? misrepresent his record and accusing Cohen of spreading ?negative lies.?

You can find the original Latimer mailer here, and read the full statements from Senate Democrats and the Cohen camp after the jump.

Senate Democrats spokesman Mike Murphy:

?The fact of the matter is George is the only candidate in this race that has actually cut taxes for Westchester. As Chair of the County Legislature he lowered taxes by 8% including overseeing the largest property tax cut in County history. He currently has legislation to permanently repeal the MTA Payroll tax, cut over burdensome local mandates and has legislation to continue to lower taxes on the people of Westchester. Cohen and his extremist allies can try to lie and distort the facts but the truth is only George Latimer has provided tax relief to the people of Westchester.?

Cohen spokesman Bill O?Reilly:

?I have never seen such a blatantly dishonest mailer in my career.
Mr. Latimer actually doctors a Journal News quote to suggest that he supported Governor Cuomo?s property tax cap and mandate relief efforts?when he voted against that tax cap and took a walk on Governor Cuomo?s Tier 6 mandate relief bill.

?That?s not even the half it it: Mr. Latimer raised property taxes 46% as a county legislator?more than anyone else running for office in Westchester?yet he incredulously claims in his mail piece that no one has fought to lower taxes more than he. He then suggests he is a leader in the fight against the MTA Payroll Tax?a tax he helped create!

?George Latimer has more than jumped the shark here; he has insulted the integrity of the voters and the democratic process itself. He mailed a piece of literature rife with untruths.?

?

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Source: http://statepolitics.lohudblogs.com/2012/09/26/journal-news-excerpt-from-latimer-mailer-prompts-war-of-words/

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Need to revamp FTA funds: study - The Nation

FTA

PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION September 27, 2012 1:00 am

The International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD) yesterday raised the idea of restructuring the two funds, one under the Agriculture Ministry and the other under the Commerce Ministry's responsibility.

The Commerce Ministry has been allocated a budget of Bt70 million to develop a marketing strategy for products while the Agriculture Ministry has been handed Bt100 million to develop farm production. They have worked alone instead of together to ensure mutual development.

The funds are aimed at upgrading the agricultural and industrial sectors. However, they should be restructured and need more budget allocations for long-term development, the ITD says. The institute's research found that affected farming and industries that have applied for FTA Fund support have had to wait at least four months and as much as three years to receive assistance. The budget for each project approval is also quite low as each fund has only about Bt100 million to support many industries each year.

Watcharas Leelawath, deputy executive director of the ITD, said the budget that the government has allocated for the FTA Funds was quite small compared with other funds it supports.

"Inevitably, Thailand and other countries are moving ahead with market liberalisation. The free trade will not create only benefits but also challenges and threats for some industries. Thus the government should focus its plan and budget to help develop impacted farmers and enterprises to ensure their competitiveness," he said.

The government has allocated about Bt100 million to the Agriculture fund and Bt70 million to the Commerce fund.

The study urged the government to integrate the operations of the two FTA Funds to develop the whole supply chain of each industry rather than separately develop farming, production and marketing.

Watcharas said the government should consider converting the FTA Funds into a public organisation so that they will have more flexibility and ability to earn their own income.

Wimon Punkong, chief of research at the ITD, said many sectors still needed the government's continued support to ensure their competitiveness under seamless trade.

Many industries such as garment making and farming are losing their edge because of cheaper products from other countries, especially China. The government needs to increase the efficiency of its FTA Funds to ensure smooth operations.

The seamless market will not only affect enterprises, but could also cause lay-offs. The government should provide measures to alleviate the impact on enterprises and workers that could be affected by the FTA.

Among the many FTAs that Thailand has with partner countries, the two with Australia and New Zealand are highly challenging for Thai dairy and beef cattle producers, the ITD said. The FTA with China has affected farming, garments and electrical appliances.

Somboon Hotrakool, president of the Electrical and Electronics Institute, said the FTA Funds should emphasise the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, as they are hit the hardest by the free flow of cheap products from other countries, especially China.

The funds must be allocated to develop product standards in terms of function and design, as well as to help set standards for monitoring the quality of imported merchandise under the FTAs.

During the past several years, the industry has been allocated a budget of Bt5 million from the FTA Funds to develop the product standards of 30 SMEs.

Prattana Prucsasri, president of the Kamphaeng Saen Beef Cattle Association, said Thai beef cattle were at high risk of being wiped out by the Thailand-Australia FTA as duties are scheduled to be gradually reduced to zero by 2020, starting from 51 per cent before this FTA.

The FTA Fund has already helped set up a central market for beef trading, but has not supported the operating costs of about Bt5 million.

Latest stories in this category

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Need-to-revamp-FTA-funds-study-30191187.html

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Copywriting Tips For A Fruitful Online Career | Writing and Speaking ...

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Source: http://bensonm47.typepad.com/blog/2012/09/copywriting-tips-for-a-fruitful-online-career-writing-and-speaking.html

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Food Standards Agency - Updated warning on Czech spirits ban

These are the affected brands:

• AB Style Tuzem?k
• Alb?nsk? Borovi?ka
• La?sk? Tuzem?k
• Likerka Drak Original Tuzem?k
• Likerka Drak Original Vodka Jemn?
• Meru?ka
• ?vestkov? vodka
• Vodka Lunar
• Wodka Frederic

Han?ck? Vodka has been removed from the list because it is not counterfeit.

Until the Czech authorities confirm that the issue has been resolved, the FSA is advising travellers not to bring back bottles of the local ?hard liquor? as they could contain potentially lethal levels of methanol. The Czech authorities have also imposed a ban on the marketing, distribution and export of the spirits to countries outside of the Czech Republic, including online. There have been no reports of the products being imported into or on sale in the UK.

Source: http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2012/sep/czech-ban

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Mitt Romney Allegedly Puzzled By Airplane Windows

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/09/mitt-romney-allegedly-puzzled-by-airplane-windows/

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How To Find A Home Improvement Service | Furniture Cowboy

Our home is the only place where we will really unwind after a difficult day at work, and everybody want to have the coziest and most cosy environment for our family. Since everyone knows that progress is rarely ending, a lot of people enjoy making their places better in any probable way they can.

Everyone is aware as to how affordable DIY home improvement can be, but the real question here is: should you even do the do-it-yourself yourself? Well, it actually depends on the circumstances. There are many questions you must ask yourself first before you start on your DIY do-it-yourself project.

Have you got the essential skills to do the project?

Hazardous DIY jobs, such as in depth electric wiring roles, under-the-house plumbing jobs, and roofing tasks that require one to climb on a high or steep roof should all be avoided, since these types of jobs customarily must have safety gears and tools or an expert ability that majority of laymen don?t have. The risks connected aren?t worth taking, and these jobs should be handled by executives.

Do you have available time to finish the task?

You can do your home improvement undertaking after work or over weekend, but you need to ask if you can use your free time for more handy and significant goals like hanging out with your friends. Remember that there?s an attached price to your spare time.

Expertise, Experience and Equipment

A few of the more difficult tasks would need the 3 Es: expertise, experience, and equipment to complete the job. Unless you are keen to spend a serious period of time just to learn the tools of the trade, especially when artistry is involved, there?s a big possibility that you will make an amateurish-looking work. This is mainly true for projects, like raised-panel cabinets.

There?s always this triumphant feeling if you can complete your DIY renovation undertaking from starting to end, but you need to also realize the usefulness facet of it in order to avoid frustration and regret at the day's close.

A web business index can be highly useful in finding a web business catalog.

To discover a home improvement service in your neighborhood, visit this Australian online business directory

Source: http://www.furniturecowboy.com/how-to-find-a-home-improvement-service/

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EbonySafiyyah: RT @TheFinalCall: From Atlanta to Africa: @LouisFarrakhan continues to lead the FOI in the streets of America spreading peace http://t.c ...

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://twitter.com/EbonySafiyyah/statuses/246769498709966850

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Huawei: Australia law could exclude China firms

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) ? An official of Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei Technologies said Friday he is concerned that new Australian laws to protect communication networks from cyber-attacks could exclude companies from tendering for work simply because they're Chinese.

Huawei's Australian subsidiary was last year barred on security grounds from working on a national broadband network that is now under construction.

Its chairman John Lord told a parliamentary committee hearing on the proposed law that Australia could lose its competitive edge if it excluded companies from sensitive projects based on their nationality alone.

The hearing comes in the same week that the U.S. House Intelligence Committee quizzed Huawei and ZTE Corp. executives as part of a yearlong probe into whether the Chinese companies pose a threat to U.S. national security.

Huawei denies it poses any threat. China's second largest private company with branches in 140 countries issued a report on cyber security last week that included a pledge never to cooperate with spying in a fresh effort to allay concerns in the United States and elsewhere that threaten to hamper its expansion.

Lord said he was concerned that one of the Australian committee's purposes, according to its official instructions, was to examine ways to mitigate the "risks posed to Australia's communications networks by certain foreign technology and service suppliers." Those suppliers were not named.

"It singles out certain foreign technology and service suppliers and then alludes almost a country-of-origin connection," he said.

"There is an opportunity there for legislation to be used wrongly and to limit participation and competition," Lord said.

Lord said the government had never explained its reasons for banning Huawei late last year from working on its 4.6 billion Australian dollar ($4.9 billion) rollout of a fiber optic network that will be among the world's fastest.

"We were disappointed we were not given a chance to answer any concerns that may have led to that decision," Lord said.

The government has confirmed the decision was made on security grounds, but has refused to elaborate.

David Wang, Huawei's director of business development in Australia, told the committee the Australian government had initially invited Huawei to tender. Huawei was officially told it was on a short list of two before it was banned, Wang said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2012-09-14-Australia-Huawei/id-b8cfcf4ffec94022b615be2c5480de36

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Apple to release iOS 6 on 19 September 2012

CBR Staff Writer Published 13 September 2012

The new OS will be available for free download

Apple wil release its revamped mobile operating system, iOS 6 for free download form 19 September 2012.

Following the release, customers with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, fourth-generation iPod Touch, iPad 2 or third-generation iPad can upgrade their devoces with iOS 6 for free, the iPhone maker said.

According to Apple, iOS 6 will allow Notification Center to post to Twitter as well as Facebook and offers Safari Web browser with new fullscreen landscape mode.

The new OS's iCloud Tabs feature will allow iCloud to list the opened Safari tabs among devices operating the iOS 6 or OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.

Apple said that the VIP feature in the Apple Mail in Mountain Lion will redirect the user to the iOS 6 Mail app, further allowing the VIP lists to be synced between devices.

Features of the new OS also include Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar in addition to Passbook, which will allow users to attain all required passes at one place.

The new Siri features, comprising support for more languages, easy access to restaurant recommendations and movie listings, will launch apps via voice.

Apple also revealed that iOS also features redesigned iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore apps which facilitates navigation.

Source: http://opsys.cbronline.com/news/apple-to-release-ios-6-on-19-september-2012-130912

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CSN: Cutler cracks, points fingers at teammates

September 14, 2012, 12:35 am

GREEN BAY, Wisc. ? The Bears? organization this offseason gave Jay Cutler the weapons he wanted. GM Phil Emery gave him big wide receivers. The line got back the right tackle he was without last year. Emery got a big backup running back.
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In the end, however, in a game that is defined most often by turnovers, no amount of personnel jiggering can make up for incompetence under center.
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Cutler suggested by performance and action that the apparent positive steps he made over the last two-plus years ? winning his last six starts, a 19-8 record in his last 27 regular-season games ? may yet be more illusion that hard fact.
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Under pressure, both from the moment as well as the Green Bay Packers defense, Cutler cracked. He threw four interceptions to defensive backs that he suggested earlier this week would be unable to match up with the Bears? bigger receivers.
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The problem, however, wasn?t the receivers.
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"It's the same old Jay,? safety Charles Woodson told ESPN?s Rachel Nichols afterwards. ?We just need to be in position. Jay will throw us the ball."
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Cutler simply does not appear to grasp the overall.
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He threw fits as well as interceptions. When center Roberto Garza was late snapping the ball on a first-quarter play, resulting in a delay of game flag, Cutler showed Garza up by petulantly simulating the leg stomp he?d done to signal for the ball.
?
He made it apparent how displeased he was with protection breakdowns that contributed to seven Green Bay sacks, yet took no responsibility for holding the ball to the point where he appeared to have lost his nerve and just didn?t want to throw it to receivers he has maintained will win one-on-one matchups.
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He defended his actions, with a terse ?No? to a question whether he had lost any cool or composure at any time in the game.
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?I care about this,? Cutler said. ?This isn?t a hobby for me. I am not doing this for my health. I am trying to win football games and get first downs.
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?When we are not doing the little things, doing things the right way consistently, I am going to say something. If they want a quarterback who doesn?t care, they can find someone else.?
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And somewhere, as fingers are being pointed but no thumb, the question comes to mind: So why would the Denver Broncos have let go of a 26-year-old supposed franchise quarterback and traded him to Chicago?

Tags: Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Charles Woodson, Roberto Garza, Phil Emery

Source: http://www.csnchicago.com/football-chicago-bears/bears-talk/Cutler-pointing-fingers-but-no-thumb?blockID=773063&feedID=661

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Reds to host Angels in 1st interleague opener

One of baseball's traditional home openers will have an innovative twist next season.

The Cincinnati Reds will host the Los Angeles Angels on April 1, becoming the first teams to start their seasons with an interleague matchup. The Reds, the first professional team, celebrate opening day with a parade and have opened all but four seasons at home.

Major League Baseball announced its 2013 preliminary schedule Wednesday, with several format changes caused by the shift of the Houston Astros to the American League. A National League franchise for its first 51 seasons, the Astros start AL play on April 2 when they host cross-state rival Texas.

Houston moves from the NL Central to the AL West, creating six divisions of five teams each. Under a move announced last November, the Astros will become only the second team since 1900 to switch leagues, following Milwaukee's entry to the NL for the 1998 season.

Because there will be 15 teams in each major league for the first time, interleague play is necessary nearly every day. Since its inception in 1997, interleague play had been concentrated mostly during periods in late May and June.

Eleven of the 15 series on the final weekend of the regular season, Sept. 27-29, will involve division rivalries. The exceptions have the Yankees at Houston, Milwaukee at the Mets, Detroit at Miami and Washington at Arizona.

MLB is abandoning its two-year experiment with midweek openers, reverting to a Sunday night start in a nationally televised game on ESPN that will be determined later.

In another shift, the New York Yankees and Mets for now are slated to open at home on the same day for the first time, with Boston visiting the Bronx on April 1 and San Diego playing in Queens. ESPN could move Red Sox-Yankees to the March 31 Sunday night slot.

Other AL openers on April 1 have Kansas City at Chicago, Detroit at Minnesota and Seattle at Oakland. NL games that day are St. Louis at Arizona, Philadelphia at Atlanta, San Francisco at Los Angeles, Colorado at Milwaukee, Chicago at Pittsburgh and Miami at Washington.

Tuesday openers include Baltimore at Tampa Bay and Cleveland at Toronto.

Under the new schedule format, a team plays 19 games against each division rival for a total of 76, and six or seven against each league opponent in the other two divisions for a total of 66. Each club will play 20 interleague games over eight series, with rivalry games ? such as Cubs-White Sox and Dodgers-Angels ? in consecutive two-game series during the week of May 27.

In the old format, teams in the AL East, AL Central, NL East and NL West played division rivals 18 times each, while AL West played in-division opponents 19 times apiece and NL Central teams met 15-18 times. AL interdivision opponents met six to 10 times and NL interdivision opponents six to nine times. While AL teams played 18 interleague games, the total varied from 12-18 in the NL.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-09-12-BBO-2013-Schedule/id-16809d103cb24935a9c6a0cdb51c4b6b

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How to Estimate Charges for Oversized Vehicles | Auto Detailing ...

When a customer shows up with a 33-foot-long Fleetwood motor home and wants an estimate for detailing a ?toy? that put him and his wife back a hundred grand, what do you tell him?

Scratching your head and saying ?we?ll figure that out later,? isn?t going to cut it. You?ve got to be able to look that owner in the eye and say, ?It?s going to cost you $17 a foot and I?m thinking you won?t find a better deal.?

Confidence. That?s what you need when estimating a cost for detailing oversized vehicles.

Backing up for a moment?we recently published a blog post about how to properly price an automobile detail job that can help you pencil out the appropriate costs and charges. Today we?re going to help you come up with a fair yet profitable price tag for oversized vehicles ? tasks that often take a full day or more to complete.

Pricing oversized auto detailing jobs

When arriving at a cost for detailing an oversized, there are several things to be considered. First and foremost, remind yourself that if you?re a one- or two-person operation, that these types of jobs usually take a minimum of a day to complete, and they can entail a lot of trips up and down a ladder.

Other considerations include:

• The size of the vehicle to be detailed
• The type of vehicle (limousine, cube truck, small bus, conversion van, over-the-road haulers, RV or full-size extended crew cab and even boats)
• The amount of work required to properly detail the vehicle.

In addition, you?re going to need to know the break-even number ? what it?s going to cost you to do the job ? so you can more accurately determine a charge for your professional detailing services. And, of course, you want to set a fee that is competitive with other detailers in your area.

Lucky for you, Detail King is the best in the business when it comes to products and detailing know-how. We went to great lengths to gather information from various sources ? including our instructors and your peers in various parts of the country ? in order to come up with what professional detailers typically charge for working on oversized vehicles. And the consensus seems to be a price range of $10 to $22.50 per foot; depending on the amount of work your customer wants to have done.

For instance, if the oversized vehicle is in for a simple wash, the going rate would be anywhere from $5 to $8 per foot. That means the charge for the above-mentioned 33-foot Fleetwood would be in the neighborhood of $165 to $265. Sounds like a lot of money, but typically the people that own these beasts are usually seniors that can?t ?do it themselves? or the wealthy that have the disposable income to pay a professional upwards of $200 to wash their home on wheels.

If the owner wants a wash and wax, the cost goes to $10 to $15 per foot. What you charge, of course, might depend on how much oxidation is found on the vehicle, a situation in which some buffing and correction with polishing compounds might be in order. And if you?re getting the car?buffer out, you should hike your price to at least to $17 or $18 per foot to cover your labor and detailing supply costs. Some detailers we spoke to charge an additional $5 to $10 per foot more for areas that require a compound or professional buffing.

And if the owner wants the interior of their oversized vehicle detailed, your price could bring in another $10 to $15 per foot, depending on the condition of the living areas. Be sure you have a heated carpet extractor with a floor wand.

It should go without saying that you never promise a specific price until you?ve actually eyeballed the vehicle in person. Keep in mind that oversized vehicles frequently have lots of metal and chrome that needs polishing, as well as large and numerous wheels and tires that require scrubbing, cleaning, polishing and dressing.

If you?re giving a lot of thought about cultivating oversized vehicles as a niche, then it?s critical that you have the proper detailing equipment for these specialized jobs. Your detailing business needs to be profitable and your work set needs to be proficient. You may need scaffolding, and you can purchase used scaffolding for a song and a dance ?maybe just a song! You?ll also need wide truck wash brushes with telescoping handles, and RV and Trailer Power Washer Soap?that can be dispensed through your pressure washer, as long as it has a soap injector.

It?s also not a bad idea to concentrate your efforts by procuring fleet accounts that need weekly washes, and semi-annual details. Don?t forget the marinas and all the boats that need cleaning and protection at the end of the boating season. Boat detailing is a huge opportunity. You would price these baby?s the same as an RV, and if you get in at a good marina, you?ll be busy throughout the fall.

One final word of advice: If you?re using social utilities like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and LinkedIn to promote your detailing business, be sure to include a mention that you specialize in oversized vehicles. These behemoths can spell big bucks to a savvy automotive detail expert.

Tags: Oversized Vehicle Detailing, Setting Auto Detailing Prices

Source: http://cardetailingblog.com/how-to-estimate-charges-for-oversized-vehicles/

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UK's Next and John Lewis caution growth may stall

LONDON (Reuters) - Next and John Lewis , two of Britain's best performing retailers, warned of a slowdown in an already troubled sector, dampening hopes that consumers might help return the economy to growth.

Next, Britain's second biggest clothing retailer behind M&S, said on Thursday sales in August and September were disappointing, while department stores and food group John Lewis said consumer demand "remained fragile" and it did not expect its heady rate of growth to continue.

Both Next and privately-owned John Lewis reported strong first-half profits, having been two of the best performers in a troubled retail sector, so their concern is bad news for a UK economy that tipped back into recession in the first quarter and is heavily reliant on consumers to return it to growth.

Last week a retail survey said underlying sales fell in August as the London Olympics failed to provide the hoped for boost to demand, but hopes of improving economic prospects had been raised on Wednesday by data showing more Britons were in work.

The trading updates on Thursday hit shares across the sector with Next down 6.6 percent and other clothing retailers Marks and Spencer and Debenhams down 1.25 percent and 2.3 percent respectively.

The gloomier news followed comments by Kingfisher , owner of DIY firm B&Q, and J Sainsbury , Britain's third largest grocer, which said on Wednesday there were signs of a post Olympics feel good factor in the UK. [ID:nL6E8K7LFL]

Next's Chief Executive Simon Wolfson said the firm had not yet worked out why its sales had slowed, whether it was due to the distraction of the Olympics and Paralympics, warmer weather at the end of the period or the economy.

"I don't think we'll be able to tell exactly which one of them it is until we get through to mid-October," he told Reuters.

Next, which has over 500 stores in the UK and Ireland plus nearly 200 stores overseas, as well as an online and catalogue business, stuck with its 2012 sales and profit targets after reporting a 10.2 percent rise in first half pretax profit to 251 million pounds ($404 million), in line with expectations.

John Lewis posted a 60 percent rise in first-half pretax profit to 144.5 million pounds as both its department stores and upmarket Waitrose grocery chain outperformed rivals, benefiting from more investment.

The employee-owned firm outperformed because its more affluent customers have been less impacted by Britain's economic downturn, while improvements to products and service and new modern stores have chimed with consumers.

John Lewis said it also benefited from events this year such as Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee and the Olympics.

"Consumer demand remains fragile, but has stabilized," said the group's Chairman, Charlie Mayfield.

He said the firm had made a good start to the second half, with department store sales up 13.1 percent and Waitrose sales up 8.7 percent.

"Our rate of growth will remain positive but will be slower in the second half and, with further investment planned in that period to strengthen our business for the longer term, the rapid rate of profit increase is not expected to be carried through to the full year," Mayfield said.

Britain's biggest household goods retailer, Home Retail raised hopes that its trading had stabilized. Its Argos business posted a better than expected 1.4 percent rise in underlying second quarter sales after a turbulent year.

Chief Executive Terry Duddy said the firm was on track to meet full year profit forecasts but cautioned the outcome was dependent on trading over Christmas.

"I think consumers are still under a lot of pressure," he told reporters. Home Retail shares fell 2.7 percent.

Elsewhere, British home furnishings retailer Dunelm , posted a 15 percent rise in full-year profit, helped by new store openings, sending its shares up 1 percent.

Meanwhile Darty , the struggling London-listed French electricals retailer, parted company with CEO Thierry Falque-Pierrotin and announced cost cuts to placate investors losing patience with falling sales and a flagging stock price. Its shares fell 1.4 pct.

(Reporting by James Davey and Neil Maidment; additional reporting by Kate Holton and Karen Rebelo; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uks-next-john-lewis-caution-growth-may-stall-105913044--finance.html

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Long Time US Diplomat, J. Christopher Stevens (Voice Of America)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/247771000?client_source=feed&format=rss

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The Jester's Blog: Are You Dependent?

Are You Dependent?

In my previous post from last year, ?Stay Sober, Close Women?, I covered most of the bases of why one is better off keeping substances OUT OF their body while attempting to meet and mingle with the opposite sex. It comes as no surprise how many human beings are sheep when it comes to addiction of some kind. And the interesting thing to observe for me personally is how one?s commitment to their addiction remains steadfast regardless of how much self-improvement jargon they swallow in this PUA subculture. Every day one shouts ?I?m gonna become a PUA!? with a sick desperation in their voice, a glass of liquor in one hand and a cigarette in the other. It?s not that different from the pride countless spectators give themselves when ?their? sports team wins. Did they help the team win? No, they weighed their couches down while filling themselves with crap. Dating Coach, David Wygant, who for those of you don?t know is the same fella Will Smith?s character was based off of in the film ?HITCH?, has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to surrounding himself with drunken buffoons. In fact, I have even more respect for Dave after reading that because I am pretty firm about screening those I allow into my social circle, as well as my singles events in Los Angeles. Heavy users of (insert substance here) needn?t apply. But he goes even further and separates himself completely from the group the moment beer bottles start opening. Considering how many singles events I?ve hosted and attended that have had open bars, or at the very least some wine, that eliminates a huge percentage of what could be great opportunities. But again, you can only admire a grown adult who stays true to HIS preferences and doesn?t bend for anyone. And that?s especially difficult when you?re talking about friends with whom you share a history. So as I?ve stated many times before ? if you do in fact claim to be pursuing self-improvement, then challenge yourself to take that so-called ?liquid confidence? and reproduce it while completely sober. For until this is achieved the fact remains, you?re dependent.?

Source: http://thejestersblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/are-you-dependent.html

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Jurors deliberate at Drew Peterson's murder trial

FILE - This May 7, 2009 file photo provided by the Will County, Ill., Sheriff's office shows former Bolingbrook, Ill., police officer Drew Peterson. Peterson is charged with first-degree murder in the 2004 drowning death of his former wife Kathleen Savio. He has pleaded not guilty. (AP Photo/Will County Sheriff's Office, File)

FILE - This May 7, 2009 file photo provided by the Will County, Ill., Sheriff's office shows former Bolingbrook, Ill., police officer Drew Peterson. Peterson is charged with first-degree murder in the 2004 drowning death of his former wife Kathleen Savio. He has pleaded not guilty. (AP Photo/Will County Sheriff's Office, File)

Members of Drew Peterson's defense team leave the Will County Courthouse, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012, in Joliet, Ill. after closing arguments in Peterson's murder trial. Peterson is charged in the 2004 death of his third wife Kathleen Savio. Jurors are expected to begin deliberating tomorrow. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Joel Brodsky, attorney for former Bolingbrook police officer Drew Peterson, addresses the media upon leaving the Will County Courthouse, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012, in Joliet, Ill., after closing arguments in Peterson's murder trial. Peterson is charged in the 2004 death of his third wife Kathleen Savio. Jurors are expected to begin deliberating tomorrow. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) ? Jurors at Drew Peterson's murder trial withdrew Wednesday to begin deliberations on whether the former Illinois police sergeant murdered his third wife.

Peterson, 58, pleaded not guilty to murdering Kathleen Savio in 2004. The 58-year-old was only charged only after his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, disappeared in 2007.

Judge Edward Burmila read 15 minutes of jury instructions to the panelists before they filed out to elect a foreman and then begin wading through five weeks of circumstantial and hearsay evidence.

He told them they should go in with the presumption that Peterson is innocent ? and convict him only if they find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

"The defendant is not required to prove his innocence," he told them.

The jurors withdrew to a jury room Wednesday morning after a judge read them instructions on how to assess the five weeks of testimony.

Peterson is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in Savio's death. If convicted, he faces a maximum 60-year prison sentence.

Peterson's attorneys said Tuesday their client has braced himself for jurors' decision.

"He's emotionally and mentally prepared for whatever happens," his lead attorney, Joel Brodsy, told reporters after closing arguments Tuesday.

His lawyers also said they have no inkling what jurors might be thinking or how they might be leaning.

"Of course, we're worried," Joe Lopez, who delivered the closing for the defense, said about the final verdict. "Nobody knows what's going to happen."

___

Follow Michael Tarm at www.twitter.com/mtarm

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-09-05-Drew%20Peterson%20Trial/id-3bf6e3258b984183bcfdcef912087d9b

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12 Food and Drink Events to Taste this September - EventWire ...

Though the Los Angeles Times' Taste event is all wrapped up, and Labor Day is now behind us, there are still plenty of end-of-summer events happening this month in SoCal. From beer classes to deep-fried butter, Baja chefs and book signings, there's a little something for everyone in this September issue of Eater LA's Eventwire. Did we miss one? Do write in and let us know.

A Book Signing and Dinner for Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz
When: Tuesday, September 4
Where: Lucques; 8474 Melrose Avenue??Los Angeles, CA 90048
What: Author Bob Spitz will be in attendance at this memorial dinner and book signing. The $95 prix fix menu includes many of Julia's favorites: p?te de canard en croute; julia's salade ni?oise; hanger steak marchand de vins with rice soubise and blackberry clafoutis.
How: Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant (323) 655-6277.

LA County Fair
When: Wednesday-Sunday, through September 30
Where: Fairplex in Pomona; 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768
What: This is where you can get deep-fried butter on a stick. Or anything on a stick. Or anything deep-fried.
How: Adult ticket prices start at $12 per person.

Last Days of Summer Bash at Fonuts
When: Wednesday, September 5; 7-9:30 p.m.
Where: Fonuts; 8104 West 3rd Street??Los Angeles, CA 90048
What: Chef/Owner Waylynn Lucas has invited The Grilled Cheese Truck to park outside of Fonuts this Wednesday evening to help the year-old shop celebrate the end of summer. Guests will be able to sample the entire Fonuts menu, including Fonuts' new ice cream offerings.
How: No RSVP required.

Walter Manzke Pops-Up at Colonial Wine Bar
When: Friday, September 7
Where: Colonial Wine Bar; 7166 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles
What: Chef Walter Manzke, who most recently was lending chef duties over at Milo & Olive, is back on the LA food scene with a pop-up at Colonial Wine Bar. The dinner's highlights include rabbit ballontine with mission figs, taste flamb?, kampachi with raspberry yuzu and Santa Barbara spot prawns with Thai corn salad and peaches.
How: Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant (323) 657-1827.

LA Greek Fest
When: September 7, 8, and 9
Where: Saint Sophia Cathedral; 1324 S. Normandie Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90006
What: Debt crisis, what debt crisis? At LA's annual Greek Fest, celebrate the best of Greek culture and food, including everyone's favorite gyros, mousesaka, dolmathes and baklava. Oh, and Tom Hanks.
How: $3 for adults on Saturday and Sunday.

KCRW's Good Food Pie Contest
When: Saturday, September 8 from 2-4:00 p.m.
Where: LACMA; 5905 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036
What: Host of Good Food on KCRW and reigning pie queen, Evan Kleiman hosts the 4th Annual Good Food Pie Contest. Go to show your support for the show, for the competitors or just for the love of pie. Anyone wearing an apron gets free admission to the museum. Judges include Jonathan Gold, Zoe Nathan, Lesley Barger Suter, Karen Hatfield, David LeFevre, and Krista Simmons.
How: Pie tasting tickets are handed out on a first come, first served basis starting at 2:00 p.m. Parking in the museum's lot is $10.

Michael Cimarusti at Strand House with Neal Fraser
When: Monday, September 10
Where: The Strand House; 117 Manhattan Beach Boulevard??Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
What: Chefs Michael Cimarusti and Neal Fraser will serve a five course menu to pair with wines from Quintessa and Flowers Vineyard. $100 per person covers the food, including dishes like Wild Day-Boat Menemsha Fluke with Lone Daughter Ranch Oro Blanco, Cold Smoked Wild King Salmon with Crispy Potato, Champagne and Fine Herbs, Tasting of Pork featuring Braised Cheek, Grilled Loin, and Crispy Leg Served with Spatzle, Carrots and Violet Mustard. $50 extra for the wine pairings.
How: Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant 310-545-7470.

Back-to-School Beer Classes at Mohawk Bend
When: Monday, September 10 and Monday September 17
Where: Mohawk Bend; 2141 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
What: With 70 beers on tap, Mohawk Bend is a great place to taste a new brew or two. This month, Mohawk's Paige Reilly teaches two beer classes. The focus of each class will vary, with topics ranging from beer basics (ingredients, methods, storage, flavor profiles) to beer history and culture.
How: Each class is $20 per person.

Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival
When: Friday, September 14 to Sunday, September 16
Where: Port of Los Angeles; 1190 Nagoya Way??San Pedro, CA 90731
What: Since 1999, SoCal residents have flocked to the Port of Los Angeles to gorge on lobster. Unfortunately, as local spiny lobster season is still about a month away, this festival imports nearly all of the lobster served from Maine.
How: Entry (includes access to musical performances, tastings and demonstrations): $10 adults; kids under 12 are free. Full lobster meals start at $19. .

Baja Chefs at Playa
When: September 16 to 18; September 23 to 25; September 30 to October 2
Where: Playa; 7360 Beverly Boulevard??Los Angeles, CA 90036
What: Chef/Owner John Sedlar hosts three noteworthy Baja chefs at his Mid-City West restaurant this month. From September 16-18 sample five courses from Sabina Banderas of La Guerrerense. From September 23-25, Benito Molina of Manzanilla will prepare five courses of seafood dishes meant to paired with regional wines. Lastly, from September 30 through October 2, Guillermo Campos Moreno, Pablo Campos and Orlando Miguel de Monte will prepare dishes from their Tacos Kokopelli. All dishes $5 to $18.
How: Reservations recommended: (323) 933-5300.

An Evening with Sang Yoon
When: Friday, September 21, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Grand Park; 200 N. Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA
What: Because Sang Yoon is a real people's chef, the kind of guy who feels very approachable and exudes hospitality at his restaurants, Z?calo is hosting a night with him, moderated by Evan Kleiman of KCRW's Good Food. Expect Yoon to explain why he hates ketchup so much, how off-menu modifications or substitutions make him feel and why he's an authority on how to make it in the LA restaurant world.
How: Reservations required.

The International Luxury Chocolate Salon
When: Sunday, September 23
Where: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium; 1855 Main St?Santa Monica, CA 90401
What: Local and international chocolate makers and purveyors will be sampling and selling their chocolate at event, now in its 6th year.
How: Adult ticket prices start at $20 per person

Source: http://la.eater.com/archives/2012/09/04/12_food_and_drink_events_to_taste_this_september.php

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Showing the way to improved water-splitting catalysts: Chemists identify the mechanism by which such catalysts work

ScienceDaily (Sep. 4, 2012) ? Scientists and engineers around the world are working to find a way to power the planet using solar-powered fuel cells.

Such green systems would split water during daylight hours, generating hydrogen (H₂) that could then be stored and used later to produce water and electricity. But robust catalysts are needed to drive the water-splitting reaction. Platinum catalysts are quite good at this, but platinum is too rare and expensive to scale up for use worldwide. Several cobalt and nickel catalysts have been suggested as cheaper alternatives, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. And no one has been able to determine definitively the mechanism by which the cobalt catalysts work, making it difficult to methodically design and construct improved catalysts.

Now chemists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have determined the dominant mechanism for these cobalt catalysts. Their findings illuminate the road to the development of better catalysts -- even suggesting a route to the development of catalysts based on iron, an element that is plentiful and cheap and could offer part of the answer to our energy woes.

"We've worked out this mechanism, and now we know what to do to make a really great catalyst out of something that's really cheap as dirt," says Harry Gray, the Arnold O. Beckman Professor of Chemistry at Caltech and senior author of a paper that describes the findings in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). "This work has completely changed our thinking about which catalyst designs to pursue."

A major barrier to improving the performance of man-made catalysts has been the lack of understanding of the mechanism -- the chemical pathway that such catalysts follow leading to the production of hydrogen. As with any multistep manufacturing project, chemists need to know what is involved in each reaction that takes place -- what goes in, what changes take place, and what comes out -- in order to maximize efficiency and yield.

Three mechanisms have been suggested for how the cobalt catalysts help make hydrogen -- one proposed by a French team, one developed by Caltech researchers, including Nate Lewis and Jonas Peters, and a third suggested more recently by a former graduate student in Gray's group, Jillian Dempsey (PhD '10). Until now, no one has managed to prove definitively which mechanisms actually occur or whether one was dominant, because the reactions proceed so quickly that it is difficult to identify the chemical intermediates that provide evidence of the reactions taking place.

These cobalt catalysts are complexes that involve the metal bound to many different functional groups, or ligands. In the current study, Caltech postdoctoral scholar Smaranda Marinescu was able to add a set of ligands to cobalt, making the reaction slow down to the point where the researchers could actually observe the key intermediate using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. "Once we could see that key intermediate by NMR and other methods, we were able to look at how it reacted in real time," Gray says. They saw that Dempsey's mechanism is the predominant pathway that these catalysts use to generate hydrogen. It involves a key reactive intermediate gaining an extra electron, forming a compound called cobalt(II)-hydride, which turns out to be the mechanism's active species.

In a previous PNAS paper, work by Gray and lead author Carolyn Valdez suggested that the Dempsey mechanism was the most likely explanation for the detected levels of activity. The new paper confirms that suggestion.

"We now know that you have to put another electron into cobalt catalysts in order to get hydrogen evolution," Gray says. "Now we have to start looking at designs with ligands that can accept that extra electron or those that can make atomic cobalt, which already has the extra electron."

Gray's group is now working on this latter approach. Moreover, these results give his group the information they need to develop an extremely active iron catalyst, and that will be their next big focus.

"We know now how to make a great catalyst," he says. "That's the bottom line."

In addition to Marinescu and Gray, Jay Winkler, a faculty associate and lecturer at Caltech, was also a coauthor on the paper, "Molecular mechanisms of cobalt-catalyzed hydrogen evolution." The work was supported by the National Science Foundation Center for Chemical Innovation in Solar Fuels as well as Chevron Phillips Chemical.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by California Institute of Technology. The original article was written by Kimm Fesenmaier.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Smaranda C. Marinescu, Jay R. Winkler, and Harry B. Gray. Molecular mechanisms of cobalt-catalyzed hydrogen evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1213442109

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/t7aDxN2456k/120904150106.htm

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Pre-convention tussle: Are Americans better off than four years ago?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) ? In a Labor Day warm-up to the Democratic National Convention, President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney and their top allies engaged in a cross-country tussle over whether Americans are better off than they were four years ago.

It was a debate that burst open overnight after top Democratic allies offered muddled answers to the same question over the weekend.

Romney said in a statement: "For far too many Americans, today is another day of worrying when their next paycheck will come."

His running mate, Paul Ryan, chimed in from a rally in Greenville, N.C.: "Simply put, the Jimmy Carter days look like the good old days compared to where we are now."

"After another four years of this, who knows what it'll look like then," Ryan wondered.

Obama tailored his better-off pitch toward an agreeable audience of autoworkers in Toledo, Ohio, arguing that because of his administration's bailout "the American auto industry has come roaring back."

"I stood with American workers, I stood with American manufacturing, I believed in you," he bellowed. "I bet on you. I'll make that bet any day of the week and because of that bet, three years later, that bet is paying off for America."

Vice President Joe Biden seconded the broader better-off message at a Labor Day rally in Detroit and put the blame for the country's economic woes squarely on the Republicans, declaring "America is better off today than they left us when they left."

Then he struck up a familiar chant: "Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive."

Republicans, though, were happy to mock Obama's supporters for giving equivocal answers to the better-off question in a series of weekend interviews.

Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus called Monday's happier talk from the Democrats "a total reversal of their position of yesterday. This must mean that 23 million Americans have found jobs, incomes have gone up, gas prices are going down, poverty is in decline and the deficit has been cut, all in the last 24 hours."

Obama's aides and allies went into overdrive to put a glossy sheen on economic progress over the past four years and on the question of whether Americans are doing better under Obama.

"Absolutely," said Stephanie Cutter, Obama's deputy campaign manager, on NBC's "Today" show. "By any measure the country has moved forward over the last four years. It might not be as fast as some people would've hoped. The president agrees with that."

Martin O'Malley, Maryland's Democratic governor, had answered the same question with a "no" on Sunday before turning the blame to Obama's Republican predecessor. But appearing Monday on CNN, O'Malley tried a more positive turn of phrase, saying: "We are clearly better off as a country because we're now creating jobs rather than losing them. But we have not recovered all that we lost in the Bush recession. That's why we need to continue to move forward" under Obama.

As they open their national convention, Democrats have plenty of convincing to do.

In the most recent Associated Press-GfK poll, 28 percent said they were better off than four years ago, while 36 percent said they were worse off and 36 percent said they were in about the same financial position.

His convention over and done, Romney spent Labor Day enjoying some downtime with his wife, Ann, at their lakeside estate in New Hampshire. Romney took a midmorning boat ride, pulling up to the Goodhue & Hawkins Navy Yard in Wolfeboro to gas up his 29-foot Sea Ray and pick up a Sea Doo jet ski that had been in for repairs.

Ann Romney drove the jet ski back toward their home across the lake, while Romney stayed in the boat.

The GOP nominee planned to lay low for a few days, preparing for the October debates as Democratic conventioneers gathered for the opening of their event Tuesday.

Delegates were gathering across Charlotte on Monday for state breakfasts and a festival in downtown Charlotte featuring singer James Taylor and actor Jeff Bridges.

At a breakfast with the Iowa delegation, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the chair of the convention, told about 60 members of the state's contingent that Romney and running mate Paul Ryan would pursue massive tax cuts that would benefit only the very wealthy ? stances that he said were far removed from their GOP predecessors.

"Ronald Reagan would turn in his grave listening to some of these people," he said. "They're so far out there."

Villaraigosa told the Iowans that he spent 25 years as a community organizer and urged them to register new voters and recruit volunteers to help re-elect Obama.

"We've got our work cut out for us. We know that," he said. "The country is evenly divided. It has been for a long time. So what are we going to do? This is going to be a working convention. Every one of you can sign up as a volunteer. In fact, I know you're already going to volunteer."

The campaign had one immediate need in the turnout department: filling up a 74,000-seat outdoor stadium for Obama's prime-time speech on Thursday night. With 6,000 delegates at the convention and thousands more attached to the event, Democrats were hoping to pack the event.

Obama deputy campaign manager Jennifer O'Malley-Dillon told Iowa delegates the campaign was hoping the rain would stay away when the president delivers his speech.

"If you believe in weather gods, you should pray to them," she said.

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro delivers the keynote speech on Tuesday, followed by first lady Michelle Obama's remarks. Obama and Biden will be nominated for second terms on Wednesday night, when former President Bill Clinton takes the stage as star speaker.

Keeping a strong focus on the economy, a new Obama campaign ad running in six closely contested states ? Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia ? claims Romney's policies would "hit the middle class harder" and that he doesn't see the "heavy load" the middle class is carrying.

Obama aides said they expected Romney and Republicans to outpace the president and his party in fundraising in August because Obama spent less time raising cash than in the month before, and because the GOP held its convention ? usually a big money draw ? in August.

___

Woodward reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Philip Elliott in Detroit, Kasie Hunt in Wolfeboro, N.H., and Steve Peoples, Michael Biesecker, Mitch Weiss, Beth Fouhy and Julie Pace in North Carolina contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pre-convention-tussle-americans-better-off-161937862--election.html

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Now it's Democrats' turn to make presidential case | Tour Spanish ...

WASHINGTON (AP) ? On the opening day of the Republican National Convention, the party chairman said the American people ?need to prosecute the president on what he promised and what he delivered.? That?s just what the GOP tried to do this past week in Florida.

Reince Priebus, and speaker after speaker, took to the stage to make the case that Barack Obama was guilty of overregulation, abuse of power, dishonesty, wanton spending and class warfare, and that he deserved no more time in the White House beyond January, when his current term ends.

In the legal world, the prosecution gets to make the opening statement and the closing remarks. But this is politics, and now it?s the incumbent?s turn.

Before the Democrats open their convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday, the public gets a political pause, with time for a Labor Day cookout and maybe a trip to the movies. Even Democrats, says media strategist Fred Davis, have ?room for minor adjustment? to the case they want to make.

?I?d always rather be the last car dealer you visit and the last convention you watch,? says Davis, creative director for the 2008 GOP gathering. ?Because the first guy is out of mind already.?

In pro football, they flip a coin to see which team will receive first and which will kick. New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick says his decision often depends on ?what the wind is going to be.? About 60 percent of the time, the coin-toss winner opts to receive, and about the same percentage of those teams go on to win the game.

But the order of the national party conventions is effectively preordained.

The tradition since 1932 has been that the incumbent?s party goes second. That worked out great for George H.W. Bush in 1988, not so well four years later. In 2008, the Democrats were set to convene first, in Denver, when the GOP learned ahead of time that the other party was planning elaborate staging, with Grecian columns.

The Republican nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, ?asked for and got a very Spartan set that he thought was fitting for the time,? says Davis, who worked for McCain. ?A simple black stage with one giant TV screen.?

When the Democrats heard about the GOP set, Davis says, they ?dramatically reduced the opulence? of their own backdrop. Still, he says, ?even in its scaled-down nature, it was big and elaborate and grand.?

The conventions weren?t always back to back like this. They used to be about a month apart. In recent decades they have been derided as mere coronations, with the nominee ordained long before.

But as sterile and orchestrated as these gatherings have become, author Norman Mailer once wrote, they remain a reminder ?that politics in America is still different from politics anywhere else because the politics has arisen out of the immediate needs, ambitions, and cupidities of the people.? Our politics, Mailer wrote, ?still smell of the bedroom and the kitchen? rather than being handed down from the aristocracy.

There?s not much difference between the conventions when it comes to how much thought people put into them. A Pew Research Center survey out this past week found that only 44 percent of adults cared what happened at the Republican convention, and just 43 percent gave a hoot about the Democratic one. Among independents, interest was about 7 percentage points lower.

But with the candidates running in a near dead heat, and delegates for Texas Rep. Ron Paul parading around the GOP convention floor with clothespins on their noses, the pressure was on Romney to close the deal before the Democrats claimed the spotlight.

The GOP convention?s theme was built largely around an Obama quote (?You didn?t build that?) that the president and many others say was taken out of context. Those three days in Tampa were all about attacking Obama?s performance ? on jobs, on foreign policy, on spending ? and putting him in the position of having to defend that record.

The old saw is that the best defense is a good offense. Before the Republicans had even brought the gavel down on their convention, prominent Democrats were calling for a counteroffensive.

On Thursday morning, Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic nominee in 2004, made a fundraising appeal. The decorated Vietnam veteran reminded the faithful about the devastating ads from outside groups that questioned his military record.

?I have one message burned into my memory for everyone who cares about the outcome of this year?s presidential election,? he wrote. ?Respond quickly and powerfully to attacks from the other side.?

In the courtroom, the prosecution gets the first and last word because it is the party with the burden of proof. But here, it?s unclear which side bears the real burden, says defense attorney Barry Scheck, co-founder of The Innocence Project but perhaps more famous for helping win an acquittal for O.J. Simpson in his murder trial.

?Is it the incumbent or the challenger?? he asks. Given the current wind conditions, he says, ?I think the president?s probably better served having the last word.?

In the end, Romney v. Obama is being tried in the court of public opinion, and neither side is resting until Nov. 6, Election Day.

___

Follow AP National Writer Allen G. Breed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/AllenGBreed

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/now-democrats-turn-presidential-case-144138734?election.html

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Source: http://tourspanishdictionary.stoptbpartners.org/1544/now-its-democrats-turn-to-make-presidential-case/

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Pickup trucks drive US auto sales to 3-year high

DETROIT (AP) ? After years of sputtering, sales of big pickups kicked into overdrive last month.

Demand for full-size pickups jumped 16 percent, helping make August the strongest month for U.S. auto sales in three years. Overall auto sales increased 20 percent from a year earlier to nearly 1.3 million, according to Autodata corp.

The rising demand shows that businesses need to replace aging trucks and feel more confident about the recovery in U.S. housing ? a market where pickups are essential for hauling equipment and crews.

"Businesses don't usually go buy a fleet of trucks unless they have good reason to believe that business will be ramping up," said Jesse Toprak, vice president of market intelligence for the TrueCar.com auto pricing service

Ford, GM and Chrysler, the biggest makers of full-size trucks, notched double-digit gains in overall sales last month.

In pickups, Ford's F-Series, the top-selling vehicle in America, saw a 19 percent sales increase, as did Chrysler's Ram pickup. Sales of General Motors' Chevy Silverado rose 4 percent, while the GMC Sierra was up 9 percent. Toyota's struggling big truck, the Tundra, posted a huge increase of 68 percent.

The rising demand helped push total U.S. auto sales last month to an annual rate of 14.5 million. That's the best monthly sales pace since the government's "Cash for Clunkers" rebate program in August of 2009.

Pent-up demand is part of the reason for the truck increase. The average vehicle on U.S. roads is nearing 11 years old, and some are simply wearing out.

But automakers and industry analysts say the economic recovery ? new housing in particular ? is starting to make buyers feel more comfortable about a big-ticket purchase.

There's a direct correlation between the housing market and pickup sales, they say. When people who work in housing or other construction are more confident, they tend to invest in equipment. Some may be adding crews and need vehicles to get them to and from job sites.

Housing has been in the dumps since the 2008 financial meltdown. But recently there have been some good signs. U.S. new home sales rose 3.6 percent in July to match a two-year high reached in May. In the past 12 months, sales have jumped 25 percent. But new-home sales remain well below the annual pace that economists consider healthy.

Gas mileage also is playing a role in the pickup increase. Newer models are lighter than older ones and can be equipped with small but powerful V-6 engines. A business owner can cut costs dramatically by replacing a 10-year-old pickup, said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting for LMC Automotive, an industry consulting firm.

A new Ford F-150 with a six-cylinder engine can get up to 23 miles per gallon on the highway. A V-8-powered F-150 got only 18 mpg on the highway in 2002.

Normally, strong truck sales don't happen until the last three months of the year due to marketing promotions and customers wanting four-wheel-drive vehicles as winter approaches, Schuster said. So the August surge bodes well for the industry.

Toprak expects truck sales to grow faster than the rest of the U.S. car market for the remainder of the year.

Truck sales also are good for automakers' profits, especially the Detroit Three. The companies make $5,000 or more on pickup sales, compared with $1,000 to $2,000 for an average car, Schuster said.

The strong sales in August can't be attributed to deals. Discounts on the F-150 and Ram pickups fell compared with last year, while they rose only 5 percent on Chevy's Silverado, to $4,787. The F-150 incentives are the lowest since 2007, when Ford offered an average of $3,598 per truck, according to the Edmunds.com website.

In overall sales, Toyota, Honda and Volkswagen led the way with big increases. Toyota sales were up 46 percent, while Honda sales rose 60 percent. VW kept its stunning growth going with an increase of 63 percent. Both Honda and Toyota reported big increases because last year's numbers were depressed when an earthquake in Japan hobbled their factories and caused shortages of cars and trucks.

Gas prices, which rose more than 20 cents a gallon during the month to an average of $3.82, drove people into smaller cars. The Chevrolet Cruze once again became the top-selling compact in America with almost 26,000 in sales. Sales of Toyota's Corolla, and Ford's Focus were up double digits, and Honda Civic sales more than doubled.

Buyers also were drawn out by exciting new models such as the midsize Nissan Altima and the Dodge Dart subcompact, Schuster said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pickup-trucks-drive-us-auto-sales-3-high-210511039--finance.html

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