Reasons Why Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Payments Increase ...

November 30th, 2012 by Reed Allmand

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a court-approved repayment plan that helps debtors regain control of their finances. Depending on outstanding debt the plan can last anywhere from 3 to 5 years.? The payments are created based on the affordability of the debtor.? Most debtors find payments scheduled in the plan to be more affordable than what they were paying before they filed.? Sometimes debtors experience a change in their payments and are unsure why it occurred.? Yet, there are a few details debtors should keep in mind that may cause their payment to increase.

Income changes: If you experience an increase of income or receive overtime pay this could be factored into revising your monthly payment amount.? Keep in mind, the amount of the increase may not automatically affect your Chapter 13 payment.? It may depend on whether or not the increase in income is permanent or temporary.

Car loan payments: Many file bankruptcy to help keep their property such as their vehicle.? But some may pay off their loan before the bankruptcy process is complete.? This means the debtor would have additional funds to place on other debt obligations associated with your bankruptcy plan.

If you borrowed against retirement funds:? Some debtors may be making payments against their retirement account if they obtained a loan from it prior to filing bankruptcy.? When they have completed repaying the loan Chapter 13 payments can increase if additional income can be placed toward creditors.

Support payments (child, alimony and spousal): If support payments you?ve been making happen to end during the course of your bankruptcy it is possible bankruptcy payments can increase.

Be sure to keep your trustee updated with any changes that occur to your financial situation during bankruptcy.

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Reference:?http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/4-reasons-your-bankruptcy-payment-can-grow.aspx

About Reed Allmand

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Allmand's vision is rooted in his own financially precarious childhood in Abilene "My father always had difficulty holding a job and supporting our family, so after my parents divorced when I was 12, my sister and I got jobs to help make ends meet," he recalls. "I remember what it felt like as a child to worry that our car would be repossessed or home foreclosed on."

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Source: http://allmandlaw.com/bankruptcy/reasons-why-chapter-13-bankruptcy-payments-increase?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reasons-why-chapter-13-bankruptcy-payments-increase

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AUTOS: Revamped Civic Unveiled In LA

AUTOS: Revamped Civic Unveiled In LA

Responding to critics, Honda updated its recent redesign after just 18 months with ?more emotional styling inside and out."

Without admitting the recent redesign of the Civic failed in many respects, Honda launched an updated version of its top-selling sedan on Thursday at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the same day the car began rolling into dealerships across the country.

The 2013 Civic gets significant updates inside and out, as Honda responded to critics who panned the car for its lackluster appearance and interior after a full redesign 18 months ago.

Honda placed a "critical focus on more emotional styling inside and out," product planning vice president Art St. Cyr said at the show.

The redone Civic interior has a new instrument panel and a more upscale feel. (Photo: Honda) He called it a "significant refresh," which comes just one model year after the latest generation launched. Despite the critics? complaints, Civic remains the top-selling compact of 2012.

The 2013 Civic gets a new grille, more sculpted hood, revamped front and rear bumpers, updated taillights and different wheels. The safety and technology features have also been updated.

Honda says sticker prices have been raised $160 across the Civic lineup for the 2013 model. That puts the base price of a Civic coupe at $18,755 and a Civic sedan at $18,995, including the $790 shipping charge. The natural gas version carries the highest base price at $27,255.

Honda says the quick refresh was needed to help the Civic compete with increasingly strong competition in the compact car segment.

Most importantly, Honda paid close attention to the cabin, adding soft-touch materials, a new instrument panel and better graining to make the car appear more upscale.

"We focused on refinements that provide a more premium feel," St. Cyr said.

More insulation was added, making for a quieter cabin, Honda claims, and the steering has been adjusted to provide a more linear feeling.

Meanwhile, Honda will bolster its lineup of electric cars next year, adding a plug-in and traditional hybrid to the Accord lineup. The plug-in is expected to get an EPA rating of 115 mpg-e and goes on sale in January. The hybrid variant gets 49 mpg in city driving, 45 mpg on the highway and 47 mpg in combined driving.

This story originally appeared at Autoweek.com.

Source: http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/autos-revamped-civic-unveiled-in-la/

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Greater Odds of Domestic Violence for Two-Income Couples | Psych ...

By Janice Wood Associate News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on November 30, 2012

Intimate partner violence is two times more likely to occur in two income households, compared to those where only one partner works, according to a new study.

Conducted by Sam Houston State University researchers Cortney A. Franklin, Ph.D., and doctoral student Tasha A. Menaker and supported by the Crime Victims? Institute, the study looked at the impact of education levels and employment among heterosexual partners as it relates to domestic violence.

While the researchers found that differences in education levels appeared to have little influence, when both partners were working, intimate partner violence increased.

?When both male and females were employed, the odds of victimization were more than two times higher than when the male was the only breadwinner in the partnership, lending support to the idea that female employment may challenge male authority and power in a relationship,? said the researchers.

The study was based on telephone interviews with 303 women who identified themselves as either currently or recently in a serious romantic relationship.

Based on the Fourth Annual Texas Crime Victimization Survey, about 67 percent of these women, who ranged in age from 18 to 81, reported some form of physical or psychological victimization by their partner during the last two years. These included having something thrown at them; being pushed, grabbed or shoved; slapped, hit, kicked or bitten; or threatened with a gun or knife.

The study found that more than 60 percent of women in two-income couples reported victimization, while only 30 percent of women reported victimization in cases when only the male partner was employed.

?When women are home-bound through their role as domestic workers, they lack connections to co-workers and the social capital that is produced through those connections, in addition to wages, job prestige, resources, and thus, power. In turn, they must rely solely on their male partner for financial sustenance and can benefit from the distinction that his employment brings the couple,? the researchers noted in the study.

?Those women who work outside the home have access to these tangible and intangible assets, which may devalue or, in some cases, even undermine the contributions and provisions supplied by male-only employment.?

The study explored other factors that may contribute to intimate partner violence, including witnessing violence by a parent during childhood, accepting the use of violence in adult relationships, and experiencing relationship distress, such as problems generated by money, chores, social activities or sexual relations. The researchers found that distress in the relationship and witnessing intimate partner violence during childhood increased the odds of victimization.

Finally, the study found that Hispanic women were significantly less likely than white females to report intimate partner violence and that older women of all races and ethnicities were less likely to be victimized than younger women.

The researchers recommended that professionals who treat victims of intimate partner violence develop specific strategies to address these risk factors and cultural differences. They also suggested that professionals target youth who have witnessed violence during childhood with additional programming for better methods of conflict resolution among adults in intimate relationships.

The study is scheduled to be published in the journal Violence Against Women.

Source: Sam Houston State University

APA Reference
Wood, J. (2012). Greater Odds of Domestic Violence for Two-Income Couples. Psych Central. Retrieved on November 30, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/11/30/greater-odds-of-domestic-violence-for-two-income-couples/48389.html

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Source: http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/11/30/greater-odds-of-domestic-violence-for-two-income-couples/48389.html

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Senate panel to consider bill requiring police to get a warrant before searching emails (Star Tribune)

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AG Harris Releases Report Detailing Charitable Solicitation - YubaNet

AG Harris Releases Report Detailing Charitable Solicitation Campaigns by Commercial Fundraisers

Published on Nov 29, 2012 - 10:13:54 AM

By:

SACRAMENTO November 29, 2012 - Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today released data showing that commercial fundraisers in California raised $338.5 million in 2011, just over half of which was actually received by charitable organizations.

The 51 percent of donated funds going to charities using a professional fundraiser represents an increase from the 2010 average of 44.4 percent. The data is included in the California Department of Justice's Annual Report of the results of commercial fundraising campaigns for charities, produced by the Charitable Trusts Section.

"This report gives Californians the vital information they need to make educated choices about where to make charitable contributions this holiday season," Attorney General Harris said. "While commercial fundraisers play a role in supporting charities in California, it is important for donors to know how much of their money will be used to support the charity's programs, and how much will go to overhead."

Commercial fundraisers, who are hired by charities to raise money on their behalf, typically charge a flat fee for their services or take a percentage of the contributions they collect. Most charities registered with the Attorney General do not use commercial fundraisers to raise funds, but do their own, in-house fundraising.

By law, commercial fundraisers must register with the Attorney General's office prior to fundraising in California and must file annual financial disclosure reports detailing income and expenses for each fundraising campaign.

The annual report contains an alphabetical list of charities that hired commercial fundraisers in 2011 ? along with the total revenue raised in those campaigns and the dollar amount and percentage of total funds raised that went to the charity.

According to reports filed with the Attorney General's office, commercial fundraisers who operate in California collected $338.5 million in donations in 2011. This figure excludes thrift store operations and vehicle donation programs, which are accounted for separately.

On average, $172.8 million ? or 51.05 percent of the funds raised ? went to the charities. The remainder was retained by the commercial fundraisers as payment for fees and expenses.

The Attorney General's office also publishes the Guide to Charitable Giving for Donors that provides advice, guidelines and information to help donors make informed decisions about giving. The guide suggests that donors:

- Ask the fundraiser how a donation will be distributed. Fundraisers are required by law to tell a consumer this information.
- Ask what percentage of donations will be used to pay for fundraising expenses. This information can better inform the consumer as to how much of the contribution will go to the cause versus overhead.
- Ask if the fundraiser works for a commercial fundraiser and is being paid to solicit. If the answer is yes, then it is likely less of the funds are going to the charity.
- Avoid cash donations, as cash can more easily be diverted to non-charitable purposes and there is no way to trace it.
- Avoid giving credit card information to a telephone solicitor or in response to a telephone solicitation.
- Learn about a charitable organization, its activities and its fundraising practices before giving. The Attorney General's office maintains a searchable online database on registered charities and registered professional fundraisers at http://rct.doj.ca.gov/MyLicenseVerification/Search.aspx. Donors can also check the websites of the Wise Giving Alliance at http://www.bbb.org/us/charity/ and the American Institute of Philanthropy at http://www.charitywatch.org/. The Guide to Charitable Giving for Donors is available online at: http://oag.ca.gov/charities/publications

The full report on commercial fundraisers can be located here: http://www.oag.ca.gov/charities/publications#fundraisers

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Source: http://yubanet.com/california/AG-Harris-Releases-Report-Detailing-2011Charitable-Solicitation-Campaigns-by-Commercial-Fundraisers.php

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Money mattered to David Wright

One idea that was frequently mentioned during the David Wright negotiations, and which has been confirmed by some post-signing reports, is that it was very important for David Wright to make more money than Johan Santana?s $137.5 million deal and thus become the highest-paid player in New York Mets history ?out of pride.?

Which I suppose I understand on some level. What I don?t understand is why anyone would say such a thing to a reporter. ?If you?re Wrights? agents, don?t you worry about that making your guy look kind of petty and/or ego-driven? If you?re the Mets leaking that, aren?t you risking some amount of clubhouse harumphing by essentially telling one player that the other wanted to top him?

Probably not the biggest deal in the world. After I tweeted about all of this, wondering if it would be awkward, one of my tweeps made a very logical point:

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Or, if Curacao is not for sale, they just have a money fight.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/30/it-was-important-for-david-wright-to-make-more-money-than-johan-santana/related

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Gildan profit rises on higher printwear sales volume

(Reuters) - Canadian clothing maker Gildan Activewear Inc reported an 84 percent jump in quarterly profit on Thursday, raised its dividend and forecast current-quarter earnings above analysts' expectations, sending its shares up nearly 3 percent.

Gildan said earnings in the fourth quarter ended September 30 were boosted in part by lower cotton costs and higher sales of printwear, clothing on which other manufacturers print their own designs.

The company said it expected first-quarter earnings of 28 cents to 31 cents per share before special items. That is above the analysts' average estimate of 25 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Gildan, which also manufactures private-label and branded apparel, forecast net sales in excess of $400 million for the current quarter.

The company has been shifting its focus away from private-label goods and is making a "significant investment" in marketing its own brands, which include Gildan and Gold Toe. It also holds the U.S. sock licenses for Under Armour Inc and New Balance.

Gross profit margin rose to 28.5 percent from 20.6 percent a year earlier, helped by the lower cotton costs and higher selling prices for branded goods, offset by lower prices for printwear.

Cotton prices are down 23 percent so far this year on expectations of weak demand amid an uncertain economic outlook.

The company forecast fiscal 2013 earnings of $2.60 to $2.70 per share before special items. Analysts were expecting $2.51.

Gildan said it expected net sales of $2.10 billion for the year, compared with the analysts' estimate of $2.22 billion.

The company increased its quarterly dividend by 20 percent to 9 cents per share.

Net income rose to $89 million, or 73 cents per share, in the fourth quarter, from $48.5 million, or 40 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding restructuring costs and other items, earnings were 78 cents per share, while analysts had expected 80 cents.

Net sales rose 17 percent to $561.7 million, just below the consensus estimate of $562.7 million.

Gildan's shares rose 2.9 percent to C$34.04 in early trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

(Reporting by Ankur Banerjee in Bangalore and Allison Martell in Toronto; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Lisa Von Ahn)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gildan-profit-rises-higher-printwear-sales-volume-152308263--finance.html

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No more government contracts for BP

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government banned BP Plc on Wednesday from new federal contracts over its "lack of business integrity" in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, possibly imperiling the company's role as a top U.S. offshore oil and gas producer and the No. 1 military fuel supplier.

The suspension, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency, comes on the heels of BP's November 15 agreement with the U.S. government to plead guilty to criminal misconduct in the Gulf of Mexico disaster, the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. The British energy giant agreed to pay $4.5 billion in penalties, including a record $1.256 billion criminal fine.

BP and its affiliates are barred from new federal contracts until they demonstrate they can meet federal business standards, the EPA said. The suspension is "standard practice" and BP's existing U.S. government contracts are not affected, it said.

The EPA acted hours before a government auction of offshore tracts in the Gulf of Mexico, a region where BP is the largest investor and lease-holder of deep-water tracts and hopes for further growth. BP is also the top fuel supplier to the U.S. military, the largest single buyer of oil in the world.

Suspension of contracts could give the government leverage to pressure BP to settle federal and state civil litigation that could top $20 billion if a court finds BP was grossly negligent in the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

An EPA official said government-wide suspensions generally do not exceed 18 months, but can continue longer if there are ongoing legal cases.

In a statement, BP said it has been in "regular dialogue" with the EPA, and that the agency has informed BP that it is preparing an agreement that "would effectively resolve and lift this temporary suspension." The EPA has notified BP that the draft agreement will be available soon, BP said.

U.S. operations accounted for more than 30 percent of BP's pre-tax profits in the third quarter, and the United States accounts for about a fifth of BP's global oil production.

The U.S. military has been a reliable customer of BP's jet fuel and other refined products. As recently as September, BP affiliates won two military fuel contracts worth as much as $1.37 billion, according to a website that tracks U.S. military contracts.

The EPA's action is a sign that all federal contractors will be held to high standards, said Scott Amey, general counsel for the Project on Government Oversight, a private watchdog group.

"BP had years to improve its business ethics and is paying the price for its inaction," Amey said.

On November 15, BP Finance Director Brian Gilvary told investors on a conference call that any blanket ban could force the company to rethink its entire U.S. business.

The Justice Department says it intends to prove in a court case set to get underway in February 2013 that BP was grossly negligent under the Clean Water Act, a claim the company has adamantly denied.

"The critical question is whether this a shot across BP's bows to get settlement, or a more sustained stance, in which case the importance of the context is underlined" by Gilvary's comments, said Peter Hutton, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets.

The EPA's suspension will not impair BP's ability to produce oil and gas from existing U.S. assets, said Pavel Molchanov, an analyst with Raymond James & Associates Inc in Houston.

"BP's supply contract of fuels to the Pentagon might be at risk, but of course BP could supply other customers if this supply contract is not renewed," Molchanov said in a research note.

BP and the U.S. government likely worked out a deal on the timing of the suspension before BP agreed to sign off on the November 15 criminal plea deal, said Samuel Buell, a Duke University Law School professor and former federal prosecutor.

"It's just inconceivable to me that BP's lawyers ... would have entered into that agreement last week without the issue of a suspension or debarment having been addressed," Buell said.

BP did not participate in Wednesday's federal auction of 20 million acres (8 million hectares) of drilling tracts in the Gulf of Mexico, one of BP's biggest oil production regions globally.

One long-time critic of BP applauded the decision.

"After pleading guilty to such reckless behavior that killed men and constituted a crime against the environment, suspending BP's access to contracts with our government is the right thing to do," U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, said in a statement.

BP's U.S.-traded shares closed flat, while London-traded shares were down less than 1 percent at 427 pence.

(Additional reporting by Andrew Callus in London, Ayesha Rascoe in Washington, Joshua Schneyer in New York and Kristen Hays in Houston; Writing by Chris Baltimore; Editing by John Wallace, Grant McCool, Andrew Hay and Marguerita Choy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/epa-temporarily-suspends-bp-u-federal-government-contracts-135930995--finance.html

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Yankee PR Counsels Central Jersey NARI Members To Consider ...

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Fred Feiner, President of Yankee Public Relations of Pittstown, N.J.

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov 29, 2012 - PITTSTOWN, N.J. ? Yankee Public Relations President Fred Feiner addressed a recent meeting of the Central Jersey Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and asked members, ?Are you marketing too much??

?Small business marketing is all about being selective and being sure you are measuring Return on Investment (ROI),? said Feiner, an Alexandria Township resident with more than 25 years of communications experience. ?Small business owners are wearing many hats and marketing can be so overwhelming that some literally don?t know how much money they are spending, what kind of ROI they are getting or even how much is in their marketing budget. It?s a recipe for small business failure.?

Central Jersey NARI President Patrick Chrustinsky, a Bridgewater resident, asked Feiner to provide the group with an overview of small business marketing because of the challenging market facing businesses in construction and remodeling.

?It?s important to keep your marketing focused and consistent with your strategy and approach,? said Chrustinsky, who owns Perfect Connections Security Systems of Somerville. ?Fred has extensive experience in our industry so he brought a valuable perspective. There are so many marketing choices out there today, it?s easy to become scattered and ineffective.?

Feiner emphasized with the group that it is important to have a marketing plan, even if their marketing resources are minimal.

?Business owners need to have something on paper that measures their goals so they can hold themselves and vendors accountable,? said Feiner. ?Make it a 90-day plan, six-months or a year ? whatever you are comfortable with ? but force yourself to revisit it at least every 90 days. Be realistic with your goals and expectations; choose to execute a few strategies well rather than trying to do everything and having a poor result.?

Some of the suggestions Feiner offered attendees included:

? Be flexible. Be open-minded. Constantly look for new ways to influence your target market. Even if you are extremely successful, don?t be afraid to try something new and different.

? Be an expert. Be the person that people talk about when they need your expertise. Give presentations, write articles, publish press releases and take leadership roles in professional organizations.

? Get social. Love it or hate it, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are here to stay. The key to social media success is building a following. Actively educate your online community about your industry and expertise to gain exposure.

? Get traffic. Online advertising is not an option; it?s a necessity. If you want to be on page 1 of Google, you need to be utilizing Google Ad Words. Drive traffic to your website, which should be updated regularly.

?Small businesses need to recognize that marketing is an investment in their future,? said Feiner. ?Market your business even when you don?t really need the business, because you are planting seeds that will grow in the future. But if your marketing task list continues to grow and you can?t trace results to the bottom line, it?s probably time to consider a new approach.?

About Yankee Public Relations
Yankee Public Relations of Pittstown is a boutique marketing communications firm serving clients in a wide range of industries, including banking, pharmaceutical, development and higher education, as well as many small businesses. For more information, please visit www.yankeepr.com or call 800-YPR-1910. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/yankeepublicrelations or Twitter at www.twitter.com/yankeepr.

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/12029830/2

Source: http://www.prlog.org/12029830-yankee-pr-counsels-central-jersey-nari-members-to-consider-whether-they-are-marketing-too-much.html

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Is paying off a co-signed student loan a gift? - Personal Finance

Owners of homes like this one in Westbury, N.Y. may qualify for mortgage relief.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) ? Relief is coming to homeowners hit hard by Superstorm Sandy, as government agencies and major lenders roll out plans to offer them breaks on mortgage payments and other types of financial assistance.

Earlier this week, Freddie Mac (FMCC, Fortune 500)and Fannie Mae (FNMA, Fortune 500) told the companies that service their loans that they can offer assistance to borrowers whose homes were damaged, or who lost income as a result of the storm.

Some borrowers with loans backed by Freddie Mac will be able to delay their mortgage payments for up to one year, according to spokeswoman Tracy Mooney.

Freddie?s servicers can offer forbearance of up to 90 days on the basis of nothing more than a phone call from the homeowner. For help beyond that time frame, borrowers will have to document their losses with insurance claims, photos of damage, contractor?s bills or other proof.

Fannie, meanwhile, will suspend or reduce homeowners? payments for up to 90 days if the storm has affected their ability to make payments or caused their property to lose value. And services can grant borrowers additional time after evaluating their individual situations.

The two mortgage giants, which back about 70% of all U.S. home loans, also offered up other types of assistance, including waiving late fees, postponing foreclosures for up to 12 months and not reporting late payments to credit bureaus.

Related: Governors say no to hurricane deductibles

?We understand the disruption that a storm such as Sandy can have on people?s lives, and we?ve made it easy for our servicers to offer relief to those who need it,? said Leslie Peeler, senior vice president, for Fannie.

In addition, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan authorized a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures for loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

Private lenders, like JPMorgan Chase (JPM, Fortune 500) and Wells Fargo (BWF), are offering to postpone payments for up to 90 days for customers in impacted areas who seek assistance.

Wells Fargo advised mortgage customers affected by Sandy to contact the bank immediately to discuss mortgage payment arrangements, or to get assistance with handling property insurance loss claims.

Related: After Sandy, gas lines stretch for miles

Additionally, the Small Business Administration has said it will provide loans to both homeowners and renters affected by Sandy; recipients don?t have to be small businesses. Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners from the SBA to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.

Related: Sandy victims use Facebook to plead for NJ celeb donations

It?s difficult to calculate how many borrowers will take advantage of these relief efforts, said Andrew Wilson, a spokesman for Fannie Mae. Eqecat, an insurance risk researcher, estimates that Sandy caused up to $50 billion in economic damage and $20 billion in insured losses. There are more than 893,000 mortgages backed by Fannie or Freddie in New Jersey alone, and nearly 10% of those, 83,000, are in some stage of delinquency. Many of those are presumably in need of relief.

There are an additional 212,000 homes with FHA-insured mortgages in Tri-State areas that have been declared disaster zones, which are eligible for assistance if they sustained damage.

First Published: November 2, 2012: 11:43 AM ET

This entry was posted on Friday, November 30th, 2012 at 7:30 am and is filed under Latest. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Source: http://personal-finance.wark.biz/is-paying-off-a-co-signed-student-loan-a-gift/

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Study provides first direct evidence linking TB infection in cattle and local badger populations

Public release date: 29-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jen Middleton
j.middleton@wellcome.ac.uk
44-207-611-7262
Wellcome Trust

Transmission of tuberculosis between cattle and badgers has been tracked at a local scale for the first time, using a combination of bacterial whole genome DNA sequencing and mathematical modelling. The findings highlight the potential for the use of next generation sequencing as a tool for disentangling the impact of badgers on TB outbreaks in cows at the farm level.

The role of badgers in the transmission of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) amongst cattle remains controversial, with the government's proposal to implement a widespread badger cull in England recently delayed and meeting with extensive criticism over the evidence base for this approach.

Previous studies have used lower resolution genetic typing of bacteria and information observed during an outbreak to identify links between cattle and badgers. However, until now, direct evidence of transmission of the bacteria between the two hosts at the farm scale has been lacking.

In this study, researchers made use of advances in genetic technologies to sequence whole genomes of bacteria that had been isolated from twenty six cows and four badgers from a group of neighbouring farms in Northern Ireland over a decade long history of repeated bTB outbreaks. This approach enabled the team to retrospectively trace changes in the bacteria's DNA as it passed from animal to animal.

The findings reveal that the bacteria isolated from badgers and cattle were extremely closely related, with often indistinguishable bacterial types obtained from badgers and nearby cattle farms. Moreover, the bacteria isolated from the two species were more closely related to each other than they were to farms even a few kilometers away.

"This study provides the first direct evidence of the close relationship between tuberculosis infections in cows and local badgers, at a very local scale," explains Prof. Rowland Kao, a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow who led the study jointly conducted by the University of Glasgow and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Northern Ireland. "However, only with a larger study might we be able to quantify the extent and direction of transmission between cattle and badgers and reliably inform disease control policies."

The mathematical models used in this study show that different herd outbreaks were usually characterised by genetically distinct groups of bacteria, while bacteria from within single outbreaks were usually closely related, highlighting the potential to use of next generation sequencing for tracking spread of the bacteria from herd to herd.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an important disease of both livestock and wildlife with severe impacts on animal health and subsequent economic consequences. Although the disease in cattle is caused by a different bacteria from human disease, Mycobacterium bovis rather than Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis is believed to have been a major historical contributor to human cases of TB worldwide and remains a health concern in both developed and developing countries.

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The study is published today in the journal PLOS Pathogens.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 29-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jen Middleton
j.middleton@wellcome.ac.uk
44-207-611-7262
Wellcome Trust

Transmission of tuberculosis between cattle and badgers has been tracked at a local scale for the first time, using a combination of bacterial whole genome DNA sequencing and mathematical modelling. The findings highlight the potential for the use of next generation sequencing as a tool for disentangling the impact of badgers on TB outbreaks in cows at the farm level.

The role of badgers in the transmission of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) amongst cattle remains controversial, with the government's proposal to implement a widespread badger cull in England recently delayed and meeting with extensive criticism over the evidence base for this approach.

Previous studies have used lower resolution genetic typing of bacteria and information observed during an outbreak to identify links between cattle and badgers. However, until now, direct evidence of transmission of the bacteria between the two hosts at the farm scale has been lacking.

In this study, researchers made use of advances in genetic technologies to sequence whole genomes of bacteria that had been isolated from twenty six cows and four badgers from a group of neighbouring farms in Northern Ireland over a decade long history of repeated bTB outbreaks. This approach enabled the team to retrospectively trace changes in the bacteria's DNA as it passed from animal to animal.

The findings reveal that the bacteria isolated from badgers and cattle were extremely closely related, with often indistinguishable bacterial types obtained from badgers and nearby cattle farms. Moreover, the bacteria isolated from the two species were more closely related to each other than they were to farms even a few kilometers away.

"This study provides the first direct evidence of the close relationship between tuberculosis infections in cows and local badgers, at a very local scale," explains Prof. Rowland Kao, a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow who led the study jointly conducted by the University of Glasgow and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Northern Ireland. "However, only with a larger study might we be able to quantify the extent and direction of transmission between cattle and badgers and reliably inform disease control policies."

The mathematical models used in this study show that different herd outbreaks were usually characterised by genetically distinct groups of bacteria, while bacteria from within single outbreaks were usually closely related, highlighting the potential to use of next generation sequencing for tracking spread of the bacteria from herd to herd.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an important disease of both livestock and wildlife with severe impacts on animal health and subsequent economic consequences. Although the disease in cattle is caused by a different bacteria from human disease, Mycobacterium bovis rather than Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis is believed to have been a major historical contributor to human cases of TB worldwide and remains a health concern in both developed and developing countries.

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The study is published today in the journal PLOS Pathogens.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/wt-spf112712.php

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Sector Snap: Solar Energy

NEW YORK (AP) ? Shares of solar cell and module providers rose Wednesday, after JA Solar and Yingli Energy both reported another quarter of losses, but said they think Chinese demand for their products is picking up.

Solar companies have struggled this year amid tough economic conditions that have sent demand for their products down. At the same time, heavy competition has forced them to cut prices.

In addition shares of Chinese solar companies have been rocked by the prospect of heavy tariffs. Earlier this month, the U.S. International Trade Commission found that Chinese companies have materially injured U.S. manufacturers, upholding tariffs that can run up to nearly 250 percent.

And the European Union recently began an investigation into alleged "dumping" of low-cost Chinese solar panels in Europe that could mean duties in about nine months.

On Wednesday JA Solar Holdings Co. said its third-quarter loss narrowed to $59.1 million, or 30 cents per American depositary share. Revenue fell 9 percent to $260.9 million. Analysts polled by FactSet expected a loss of 20 cents per share on $248.2 in revenue.

While shipments were flat with the second quarter and down about 6 percent from the year-ago quarter, the Chinese company said that shipments within its own country more than doubled sequentially, helped by strong orders from utility companies.

JA added that it continues to perform well in Japan and is also making inroads into growing solar markets in Australia, Southeast Asia and South America.

Also on Wednesday Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. posted a loss of $152.6 million, or 98 cents per ADS. Excluding one-time items, the loss amounted to 40 cents per ADS. Revenue dropped 47 percent to $355.9 million, as shipments and prices fell.

Analysts expected a loss of 62 cents per share on $363.1 million in revenue.

Like JA, Yingli said it got a boost from an increase in Chinese sales. Revenue there rose 14 percent from second-quarter levels and 28 percent from the year-ago quarter.

Yingli also said it has high hopes for Chinese sales in the fourth quarter and expects to expand into Southeast Asian markets.

Yingli and JA had some of the biggest gains in the sector Wednesday afternoon. Yingli shares jumped 15 cents, or 10.5 percent, to $1.58, while JA shares rose 3 cents, or 4.8 percent, to 68 cents.

Elsewhere, shares of Trina Solar Ltd. rose 34 cents, or 14.6 percent, to $2.67; LDK Solar Co. added 8 cents, or 8.3 percent, to $1.05; MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. rose 15 cents, or 5.4 percent, to $2.95; and Suntech Power Holdings Co. rose 3 cents, or 3.2 percent, to 89 cents.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sector-snap-solar-energy-182652579--finance.html

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Jim Rome on Rick Reilly's Polishing of Helmets

As many of you know, Rick Reilly ran a column a few months ago in which he opined that Notre Dame did not deserve the respect it was receiving from the NCAA, BCS and others...

I'll let Jim Rome tell the rest of the story...

LINK:? JIM ROME ON RICK REILLY

Source: http://notredamegoirish.blogspot.com/2012/11/jim-rome-on-rick-reillys-polishing-of.html

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Plumbers Looking for Online Content Creation and/or Expansion ...

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov 29, 2012 -
The plumbing business is very competitive and becoming more so every single day. Establishing an online marketing presence will enable you to advertise your services and help you reach new clients. Axiom Internet Marketing understands that running any type of business, including being a plumbing contractor, is very time consuming. Axiom Internet Marketing can help you build or optimize your online presence and let you focus on giving your business and residential customers professional plumbing services.

Axiom Internet Marketing offers every single client, including plumbers, its comprehensive Integrated Internet Marketing Services. ?Our Integrated Internet Marketing Services includes search engine optimization (SEO) ? this helps your website rank above the competition to let customers find your company?s website much easier. We also provide web design and development, video/media production and editing, social media management, graphic design and communication database creation and management services. All of these complementary services enable you to have a single company take care of your online marketing presence.

We base our approach to effective Integrated Internet Marketing Services based on two ideas. First, we speak with you to understand your marketing desires and expected outcomes. Then, we take that information and integrate it with our team of technology and writing experts to create an efficient and effective marketing strategy that gets you results! Our team uses white hat search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to make sure that your content is not rated lower and therefore ranked lower in search engine results. ? ? ?

Axiom Internet Marketing focuses on search engine optimization (SEO) techniques because you are attempting to target new customers. ?The only way to look for a new plumber is to use a search engine. When someone looks for a plumber, they don?t have a particular plumber in mind. Rather, they run a search in Google or similar online search engine using the word ?plumber? and related geographic and service based keywords. ?Since Axiom Internet Marketing?s team is fully versed with maximizing your content to reach residents and business of the areas you currently serve, the particular demographics you want to target and advertise the plumbing services your provide, we help customize your content accordingly. Our expert knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO) practices ensures your content is never penalized by search engines including, but not limited to Google.

Axiom Internet Marketing offers social media creation and management services that work in tandem with your plumbing company?s website. Staying up with technology and competing with other plumbing companies requires a social media presence that is engaging and up to date. We work with Facebook, Twitter, Google+, WordPress and LinkedIn to maximize your direct and third-party social media exposure. We manage comments, track ?Likes?, ?Re-tweets? and all feedback from every social media page to make sure you are informed of new inquiries and to measure each social media website?s traffic.

By taking care of everything from hosting, image and video creation, website programming and content managing, you will not have to worry about a single production detail of your website. We take all of your ideas, directions and recommendations for your website and we take care of everything. We will make sure every link works, every image is high resolution and everything video plays flawlessly. By entrusting Axiom Internet Marketing with your comprehensive online content and social media management services, you will have experts taking care of your online marketing presence continually. You will receive feedback, increase your chances for new business leads and will have a company that is always improving your company?s reach to more and more customers.

Why Create a Website and use Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

So if you are a plumber in Florida, California, Texas, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Hampshire or know of a superb plumber and need (SEO) Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Management and or need assistance with Video/Media Production we are the company for you. Visit http://www.axiomhealthseo.com/axiomwebmarketing/index.html and we may be reached at (800)-888-6348 or via email at info@axiomadminserv.com. Call us for a free consultation. Disclaimer (http://www.axiomhealthseo.com/pdf/Disclaimer4_20_2012.pdf)

Source: http://www.prlog.org/12033732-plumbers-looking-for-online-content-creation-andor-expansion-look-no-further.html

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Government Policy and Financial Incentives Will Combine to Drive Energy Efficiency Retrofits in Public and Commercial Buildings, According to Pike Research

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Energy efficiency retrofits to existing commercial and public buildings represent a rapidly growing market that will benefit building owners, tenants, communities, and the environment. While most energy efficiency retrofits take place because the building owner is looking to reduce energy costs, government policy is a growing influence. States, cities, municipalities, and the federal government are providing incentives to those who may not previously have considered retrofitting their commercial properties for increased energy efficiency. According to a recent report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant?s Energy Practice, the combination of financial benefits and government policies will drive rapid growth in the market for energy efficiency retrofits over the remainder of the decade.

?Energy Efficiency Retrofits for Commercial and Public Buildings?

This global market for energy efficiency retrofits in the commercial building sector will expand from $80.3 billion in 2011 to $151.8 billion by 2020, the study concludes.

?While some players in the commercial housing market have found their way to energy efficient buildings through benevolent motivations and the promise of global benefits, many more require policy and regulatory requirements or incentives to inspire them to enter the energy efficient retrofit market,? says senior research analyst Eric Bloom. ?Sometimes these retrofits are encouraged through incentives or ratings programs that reward the most efficient buildings. More often, government agencies encourage higher efficiency buildings by educating the companies buying and selling buildings about the effect that the buildings will have on the environment and, more importantly, on their utility costs.?

The products and services offered to address energy efficiency retrofits can be grouped into several categories: heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, commissioning, control, solar, water management, and building envelope, as well as offerings from energy service companies (ESCOs). These products are being supplied by an ever-increasing number of companies that wish to establish a place in this growing industry. ESCOs currently make up the largest portion of the energy efficiency retrofit market, but the fastest growing segments over the next eight years will be solar power and water management, according to the report.

The report, ?Energy Efficiency Retrofits for Commercial and Public Buildings?, examines the global market landscape for energy efficiency retrofits in commercial and public buildings, including analysis and forecasts for eight different building types as well as eight product and service categories. The report covers key industry drivers by world region including regulatory and policy factors as well as market-based factors and economic considerations. More than 50 industry players are profiled in depth and energy efficiency retrofit revenue forecasts, segmented by world region and key countries, extend through 2020. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Pike Research website.

About Pike Research

Pike Research, which joined Navigant?s global Energy Practice on July 1, 2012, provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The team?s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Smart Grid, Smart Transportation, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings sectors. Additional information about Pike Research can be found at www.navigant.com/pikeresearch.

About Navigant

Navigant (NYSE: NCI) is a specialized, global expert services firm dedicated to assisting clients in creating and protecting value in the face of critical business risks and opportunities. Through senior level engagement with clients, Navigant professionals combine technical expertise in Disputes and Investigations, Economics, Financial Advisory and Management Consulting, with business pragmatism in the highly regulated Construction, Energy, Financial Services and Healthcare industries to support clients in addressing their most critical business needs. More information about Navigant can be found at www.navigant.com.

* The information contained in this press release concerning the report, ?Energy Efficiency Retrofits for Commercial and Public Buildings,? is a summary and reflects Pike Research?s current expectations based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report?s conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Pike Research nor Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report.

Source: http://feeds.businesswire.com/click.phdo?i=fbec704789af24711c4cb82eee1d9a36

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Greenwood, IN 2013 Ford Fusion New Sedan near Indianapolis, IN Columbus, IN Ray Skillman Ford & Southside Hyundai for $24,495

• Price $24,495
• Rebates $1,000
• Price $23,495

• Color: Bordeaux Reserve
• Interior: Dune w/Cloth Front Bucket Seats
• Stock#: 30884
• Engine: 2.5L 4 cyls
• VIN: 3FA6P0H74DR147683
• Transmission: Automatic 6-Speed
• Body Style: FWD Sedan (4 Door)

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• Convenience

• • Compass
  • Bluetooth
  • Tachometer
  • Trip computer
  • Rear defogger
  • Power door locks
  • Air conditioning
  • Power heated mirrors
  • Remote window operation
  • Interior air filtration
  • Clock - In-radio display
  • External temperature display
  • Power windows with 4 one-touch
  • Video Monitor Location - Front
  • Audio controls on steering wheel
  • Speed-proportional power steering
  • Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
  • Overhead console - Mini with storage
  • Multi-function remote - Trunk/hatch/door, windows

• Safety

• • Passenger Airbag
  • Stability control
  • 4-wheel ABS brakes
  • Dusk sensing headlights
  • Knee airbags - Driver and passenger
  • Traction control - ABS and driveline
  • Head airbags - Curtain 1st and 2nd row
  • Signal mirrors - Turn signal in mirrors

• Interior

• • Rear bench seats
  • Front seat type - Bucket
  • 8-way power adjustable drivers seat

• Technical

• • 4 Doors
  • Front-wheel drive
  • Transmission hill holder
  • Tire pressure monitoring system
  • 2.5 liter inline 4 cylinder DOHC engine
  • Fuel economy EPA highway (mpg): 34 and EPA city (mpg): 22

• Exterior

• • Privacy/tinted glass
  • Intermittent window wipers
  • Speed sensitive window wipers

Payment $429.48

Vehicle Price $24,495 $0 $24,495 Down Payment (%) 0.0 % 0 % 100 % Interest Rate 8.0 % 0 % 12 % Months 72 12 72

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Contact Us at (800) 416-5555

*The advertised price does not include sales tax, vehicle registration fees, finance charges, documentation charges, and any other fees required by law. We attempt to update this inventory on a regular basis. However, there can be lag time between the sale of a vehicle and the update of the inventory.

EPA mileage estimates are for newly manufactured vehicles only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Before purchasing this vehicle, it is your responsibility to address any and all differences between information on this website and the actual vehicle specifications and/or any warranties offered prior to the sale of this vehicle. Vehicle data on this website is compiled from publicly available sources believed by the publisher to be reliable. Vehicle data is subject to change without notice. The publisher assumes no responsibility for errors and/or omissions in this data the compilation of this data and makes no representations express or implied to any actual or prospective purchaser of the vehicle as to the condition of the vehicle, vehicle specifications, ownership, vehicle history, equipment/accessories, price or warranties. 2013 Ford Indianapolis, IN 2013 Ford Greenwood, IN 2013 Ford Plainfield, IN

Source: http://www.rayskillmancommercial.com/2013-Ford-Fusion-Greenwood-IN/vd/12566100

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Nashville ranked 6th for most attractive residents | Nashville Shopping

Travel and Leisure magazine ranks Nashville as one of the top ten cities with the most attractive residents for 2012.

Compiled from an online survey, Nashville placed sixth out of 35 cities across the United States with sunny Miami taking the top spot for attractive city dwellers.

Is pretty is as pretty does? Evidently, since we ranked number one on the list for friendliest city.

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Source: http://blogs.tennessean.com/shopping/2012/11/28/nashville-ranked-6th-for-most-attractive-residents/

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Was Lindsay Lohan's Fight Over The Wanted's Max George?

After Lohan was arrested for allegedly punching a woman at a nightclub, sources come forward about the reason behind the argument.
By Jocelyn Vena

Max George and Lindsay Lohan
Photo: Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1698151/lindsay-lohan-max-george-the-wanted-nightclub-fight.jhtml

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1 Trend, 3 Ways: Flynn Bloom?s Polished Sweat Pants

Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom's little boy Flynn looks adorable in his sweats and sweaters. Check him out, plus our picks for every budget.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/GAJzNSjnACo/

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Kratom Comes to Florida: Is the Next Big Drug Craze Dangerous?

The busty clerk at Grateful J's head shop in Boca Raton holds out a small brown vial. The label reads "Lucky," and she promises the stuff packs a punch.

"You'll want to throw it to the back of your throat," she suggests. "I'd say drink the whole thing. Maybe drink half, wait a little bit, and see how you feel."

One of the many brands of powdered kratom capsules available at South Florida head shops.

The potion is kratom, and it's taking center stage in America's next big drug scare. In recent months, MSNBC reported that kratom has sent users to the ER, the Daily called it a "hallucinogenic drug" with "potentially fatal side effects," Forbes asked if it was the next bath salts, and ABC Action News in Tampa claimed that "it can be more difficult to get off than heroin." Kratom is legal and supported by a vocal community touting its health benefits, but in the wake of bath salts and synthetic pot ? drugs tied to scores of gruesome crimes this year, including (probably erroneously) the "Miami Zombie" attack ? lawmakers are eager to ban the next big thing.

"It's not a safe high by any means," Frank LoVecchio, director of Phoenix's Banner Good Samaritan Poison and Drug Information Center, says. "If you take enough of it, it has opiate-like activities. It makes people high kind of the same way morphine or heroin would make them high."

But is kratom actually a youth-menacing brain-destroyer or merely another victim of Reefer Madness-like hysteria? That question has become important as the drug finds its way to South Florida and lawmakers debate whether to prohibit it. New bans, after all, cost taxpayers, prosecutors, and cops thousands of dollars and countless hours.

"Every time a new drug is criminalized, it puts more pressure on law enforcement, the courts, our jails, and it criminalizes more people," says Grant Smith, federal policy coordinator for the Drug Policy Alliance. "Asking law enforcement to add this to the long list of things they have to deal with... could be wasteful."

To figure out whether kratom is a dangerous threat, a medical miracle, or just a fun way to get stoned, I forked over $45 for one vial of "Lucky" liquid kratom and one packet of capsules called "Floories Exotics Jackacock" and prepared to experiment.

Before ingesting the stuff, though, I researched its background. Kratom products are made from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a tree that grows in Southeast Asia. Until a few decades ago, it was used mostly in remote places such as rural Malaysia and Thailand, where locals prescribed it for pain relief, sometimes substituting it for opium.

Indeed, scientists have found that kratom leaves contain naturally occurring chemicals that stimulate opioid receptors in the brain, similar to the effects of prescription painkillers. Researchers have studied the plant's potential to alleviate a variety of ailments, from arthritis and diabetes to depression and alcoholism. In 2010, scientists from Malaysia's Center for Drug Research wrote in the International Journal on Drug Policy that kratom "merits serious scientific investigation" as a therapy for heroin withdrawal.

As word of kratom's potential benefits has spread, a worldwide kratom community has blossomed over Internet message boards. Fans talk up both its medicinal uses ? including its ability to curb anxiety and reduce pain ? and its recreational highs.

Take Daniel, a 23-year-old kratom enthusiast from the Tampa area who asked that his last name not be used. He first tried kratom two years ago as an alternative to pharmaceutical painkillers while suffering through painful kidney stones. Now he buys bulk orders of the crushed leaf and brews a lemon tea he drinks every day. Even though the pain from his kidney stones is long gone, he says the drink helps with depression.

"It can be mildly addictive," he concedes. "It does cause dependence when you take it daily. But it's more like coffee. I don't miss work or go out and commit crimes to get more of it."

Others, such as Kelly Lay, have switched from addictive opiates to kratom without experiencing the nasty effects of withdrawal. "Three years ago I gave up the daily use of opiates and switched myself to kratom effortlessly, without withdrawal... I was extremely depressed while taking opiates, and I was not obtaining them legally," the 50-year-old organic farmer from Sarasota says in an email. "I have absolutely no shame in using an herb to deal with what would otherwise be a debilitating case of degenerative disc disease. I am missing two discs in my spine."

And some people use the plant purely for enjoyment. Adam, a 22-year-old personal trainer from Lake Worth who asked to use a pseudonym, says he used to abuse Roxicodone ? a powerful narcotic ? weed, and booze before discovering kratom.

"You get nice, pleasurable effects ? physical and mental," he says. "I've pushed the limits with some very large doses, like 50 grams or something. I'd liken it to a waking dream state. My head got fuzzy and I nodded off. But it's not a hallucinogen or deliriant."

Yet as both medical and recreational interest have picked up in recent years, law enforcement has taken notice. A few countries have already outlawed kratom, including Australia in 2003 and Denmark in 2009. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has classified it as a "drug of concern," the first step toward eventually prohibiting it.

Source: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2012-11-29/news/kratom-comes-to-florida-is-the-next-big-drug-craze-dangerous/

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Emirates cancels Damascus flights, Internet goes dark

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels battled forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad just outside Damascus on Thursday, forcing the closure of the main airport road, and the Dubai-based Emirates airline suspended flights to the Syrian capital.

Residents also reported Internet connections in the capital were down and mobile and land telephone lines working only sporadically in what appeared to be the worst disruption to communications in Syria since an uprising began 20 months ago.

The past two weeks have seen rebels overrunning army bases across Syria, exposing Assad's loss of control in northern and eastern regions despite the devastating air power that he has used to bombard opposition strongholds.

Rebels and activists said the fighting along the road to Damascus airport, southeast of the capital, was heavier in that area than at any other time in the conflict.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a opposition monitoring group, said clashes were particularly intense in Babbila, a suburb bordering the insurgent stronghold of Tadamon.

Nabeel al-Ameer, a spokesman for the rebel Military Council in Damascus, said that a large number of army reinforcements had arrived along the road after three days of scattered clashes ending with rebels seizing side streets to the north of it.

"There are no clashes directly around the airport; the fighting is about 3 or 4 kilometers away," he said via Skype, adding that rebels had taken control of many secondary roads and were expected to advance towards the airport.

He said that he hoped the proximity of the rebels to the airport would dissuade authorities from using it to import military equipment, but the priority now was to block the road.

A Syrian security source told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the army had started a "cleansing operation" in the capital to confront rebel advances.

Residents said the Internet in Damascus crashed in the early afternoon and mobile and land telephone lines were functioning only intermittently.

A blog post on Renesys, a U.S. company which tracks Internet traffic worldwide, said that at 12:26 p.m. in Damascus, Syria's international Internet connectivity shut down completely.

Emirates said it was suspending daily flights to Damascus "until further notice", but other airlines continued operations.

Airport sources in Cairo said an Egypt Air flight that left at 1:30 p.m. (1130 GMT) had landed in Damascus as scheduled.

"The Egypt Air plane has arrived ... and passengers are all safe but the pilot was instructed to take off back to Cairo without passengers if he felt that the situation there is not good to stay for longer," an official at Cairo airport said.

Elsewhere in Damascus, warplanes bombed Kafr Souseh and Daraya, two neighborhoods that fringe the center of the city where rebels have managed to hide out and ambush army units, according to opposition activists.

"NOT LAST DAYS YET"

A senior European Union official said that Assad appeared to be preparing for a military showdown around Damascus, possibly by isolating the city with a network of checkpoints.

"The rebels are gaining ground but it is still rather slow. We are not witnessing the last days yet," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"On the outskirts of Damascus, there are mortars and more attacks. The regime is thinking of protecting itself ... with checkpoints in the next few days ... (It) seems the regime is preparing for major battle on Damascus."

In the north of the country, rebel units launched an offensive to seize an army base close to the main north-south highway that would allow them to block troop movements and cut Assad's main supply route to Aleppo, Syria's biggest city.

The Observatory said that rebel units from around Idlib province massed early on Thursday morning to attack Wadi al-Deif, a base east of the rebel-held town of Maarat al-Numan.

Wadi al-Deif has been a thorn in the side of rebel units who first besieged the station in October but met fierce resistance from government forces, backed up by air strikes.

Assad is fighting an insurgency that grew out of peaceful demonstrations for democratic reform but escalated, after a military crackdown on protesters, into a civil war in which 40,000 people have been killed.

Most foreign powers have condemned Assad but stopped short of arming rebel fighters as they fear heavy weapons could make their way into the hands of radical Islamist units, who have grown increasingly prominent in the insurgency.

Rebels decry their supporters for not providing them with surface-to-air missiles that they say they need to counter the air force. But recent looting of anti-aircraft missiles from army bases has allowed them to shoot down helicopters and jets.

"So far, there is no evidence that any of the surface-to-air missiles used to date have come from outside Syria," said Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director at Human Rights Watch.

"The limited number of surface-to-air missiles that have shown up all appear to have come from Syrian military stock captured by the armed opposition."

He said the number of these missiles in rebel hands was probably over 20 but that will rise significantly as rebels are capturing military bases on an almost-daily basis.

The relatively small number of anti-aircraft missiles looted so far means that many rebel-controlled areas of the country remain vulnerable to air strikes. The Observatory said 15 citizens, including children and women, were killed during a bombing in Aleppo's Ansari district on Thursday.

Activist video footage showed the bodies of at least four children, wrapped in red blankets and apparently wearing pyjamas. Another video showed the immediate aftermath of the attack, with the bodies of children in the street and covered in cement dust. Half of one young boy's head was missing.

(Additional reporting by Dominic Evans and Erika Solomon in Beirut; Yasmine Saleh in Cairo, Praveen Menon in Dubai and Justyna Pawlak in Brussels; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/damascus-clashes-cut-off-airport-emirates-suspends-flights-141313857.html

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