Monday, October 15, 2012

On the Fall of the PU | ZeroHedge

I followed what Biden and Ryan had to say about Social Security in their debate. My take on their words:

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Ryan said four times that his plan was to restructure Social Security. He said his plan would not involve a sacrifice for anyone who is now 55 or older. Ryan has created a new ?Red Line?. If you?re 54 or younger, you are below the red line; bend over. If you are above Ryan?s artificial red line, you get a free ride.

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This is an extremely unfair plan. I can?t imagine how it could be implemented without ripping the country apart.

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Ryan was referring to a version of the Simpson-Bowles plan for Social Security. A combination of increased taxes, coupled with increased retirement age and lower monthly benefits. There would be delay in implementing these changes, so that those who are now near retirement age would not be hurt.

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I give Ryan a B+ for honesty. America?s politicians have to fess up to the fact that Social Security (SS) must make significant changes to remain solvent. Higher taxes and lower benefits are necessary if SS is to last another twenty-years. There is no way around that fact. Any politician, who says otherwise, is just lying.

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But I give Ryan a D- for fairness. The idea that everyone today aged 54 or younger gets screwed, while those a few days older get off Scott-free is insane to me.

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America?s problem is the Baby Boomers. Every day there are 10,000 new beneficiaries who are hitting up SS for a monthly check. At that rate, over 40 million Boomers will be getting their full monthly checks by the time Ryan?s ?Red Line? comes into effect. After the first SS check is written, the future payouts can?t be reduced. So the Ryan plan creates a carve-out that protects a huge chunk of the Boomers. It does it at the expense of everyone who is today under 55.

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That?s the plan? Protect the age group that is causing the problem? At the expense of the next few generations? None of the 40 odd million Boomers will suffer at all? None of them? Where?s the fairness in that plan?

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What Ryan promised for SS is just a political lie. The fact is that all of the folks who are today 55+ probably liked what they heard Ryan saying. And that is a very big block of voters.

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The Boomers are the problem. They have to be part of the solution. Any plan that gives the Boomer age cohort a free ride at the expense of the rest of the population is a recipe for disaster. The risk is Age Warfare.

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Everyone says that Biden is the ?smart? debater. Maybe so. His comments on SS were carefully crafted. But if you look through his words, he was just playing politics.

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Joe went straight to a liberal hot spot on SS. He flat out promised that an Obama/Biden ticket would never, ever privatize SS. This was a very smart move on Joe?s part. It plays to one of the great fears that the lovers of SS have; that one-day, the Republicans will let the evil guys on Wall Street get their hands on the SS Trust Fund.

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Ryan rebutted that privatization should be considered for younger workers, but Biden blew him away with one of his now famous chuckles. Biden knew that he had scored points, as he knew that even the mention of the word ?privatization? would get a few hundred thousand folks to the voting booth.

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On this exchange I would give Biden a B+ and Ryan a D-. Ryan is wrong on privatization, he should have known better.

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Ten years ago SS was running $100+Bn annual cash surpluses. If there ever was a time to consider a partial privatization, that was it. A portion of the surpluses could have been allocated to other investments back then. But not any longer.

SS is running annual deficits now. They are in the -$50Bn range for 2012, but the red ink will grow rapidly north of $100Bn in just a few years. If any portion of SS?s current cash flow were diverted to other investments, it would mean that there would be a larger drain on the Trust Fund surplus. The fact is, privatization is no longer a policy option. So Ryan was selling sound bites of a policy that has no chance of seeing the light of day.

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Outside of the attack on the privatization of SS, Biden said nothing about SS that was worth noting. As a debate move, this was brilliant. If you say nothing, have no position and avoid critical issues, you win debates.

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Here?s the facts Joe Boy:

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Before 2016 the SS Disability Fund will run dry. They next administration has to confront this reality. A fix is required in less than 36 months. There is a gun to your head for action Joe. You have two choices. Raise taxes or cut DI benefits. Which one is it? You can?t hide under a rock for another four years, so what are you going to do?

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The retirement side of SS will run off the cliff in 20 years according to the CBO. But that estimate is off the mark. It is not possible to run the SS Trust Fund to zero; a minimum of one-year?s worth benefits has to be retained as a minimum reserve. Over the next decade there will be at least one recession, when that happens the SS death spiral will be advanced by five or so years (as it was from the 08 blowout). The reality is that the SS drop dead date is closer to ten-years away from today. You can pretend this does not exist, but that makes you a liar.

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Ryan has a bad plan, Biden has no plan at all. As it turns out, Ryan?s plan of ?55 and under get clobbered? is about right. That is exactly the way this is going to play out. Either there is legislation that screws everyone 55 or under, ?the Ryan Plan?, or there is the Biden ?Do Nothing Plan?, and in about ten-years SS falls off a cliff. Either way, the same folks get screwed.

++

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I think America needs a new political party. I would call it the Purple Unders Party (PUP). Purple, because it is the color when Blue and Red are mixed equally. Unders, for that group of people who are 55 and under.

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The funny thing is that the PUs are out there. They will be voting for either a Red or a Blue. One fringe or the other will win, the PUs will all lose. Those PUs make up most of the population, and well more than half of the votes.

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What a stupid system.

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Your rating: None Average: 2.7 (27 votes)

Source: http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2012-10-13/rise-mu

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Want a Stacy Keibler Body | Bodybuilding, Supplements, Diets ...



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Sunday, October 14, 2012

DIY Stevia Syrup [DIY]

DIY Stevia SyrupDo you enjoy powdered Stevia as a sweetener? Well not only can you grow the no-calorie sweetener yourself you can easily process those leaves into a syrup that's easily used in yogurt, pancakes, and other situations where you don't want to sprinkle powder on a food to sweeten it.

Natural household weblog Slightly Steady shares their recipe for making a sweetening syrup using Stevia leaves. You'll simply want to add one cup of water to three cups of chopped Stevia leaves and stems, cover tightly, and allow to sit for 24 hours. Taste for sweetness and if needed cover again for 12-24 hours. Strain the water into a pan and bring to a simmer for 20 minutes and then remove it from the heat and allow it to cool. You'll have a calorie-free sweetener syrup that will last for a few weeks in your refrigerator.

Many of us are trying to lessen our sugar intake these days and it can be difficult to know if artificial sweeteners are safe to ingest with many conflicting scientific studies. In this environment several people have turned to the humble Stevia plant to provide a no-calorie natural sweetener.

Homemade Stevia Syrup | Slightly Steady

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/iQnSy5pXnaI/diy-stevia-syrup

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Did I mention this works on Autopilot. That?s right you set up your business in a day or two. Next you move on and do a second, or third setup until you are satisified with the level of income. The money will then start rolling in. There couldn?t be a better way to do business on the internet. This really works when you know how to set it up. That?s where we come in, we will show you step by step how to run a VERY profitable business online using autoresponders.

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Home Building Methods Face Major Changes - Business Review USA

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All across North America, home builders tend to agree that the better real estate investments ? for both the occupant and for future re-sale value ? may be best served by a whole new approach to construction. One major change addressing energy consumption and rising fuel costs, is the optional use of an air-tight, solid concrete system to replace inefficient wood framing. Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) erect a building with an interlocking system, similar to Lego.

?It's a switch for builders, but those who have switched over tell us it's quite easy to build with ICFs,? says Todd Blyth at Nudura, a leading name in the field. ?Customer demand has driven this change and builders are now seeing how?green?construction options can have a positive impact on their business.?

Indeed, concrete is plentiful and it's in high demand. The ICF system is now the choice wall-building method on 'net-zero' construction projects south of the border. The term net-zero applies to buildings that are so energy efficient they don't tap any public utility fuel supplies at all. ICF construction has already produced net-zero elementary schools in the United States, where Canadian technology was applied with the Nudura system of ICFs. The goal in the future is for as many homes, schools, and public buildings as possible to be designed for net-zero from the ground up.

Building guide

If this type of energy-efficiency sounds right for you too, be sure to make specific requests to your builder, Blyth says. Underscoring these proactive measures, the non-profit organization, LEED, also reminds us that constructing a?green?home leaves a much smaller carbon footprint due to less demand on natural resources. It will create less waste and be healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. If you're thinking about building to the LEED standard, take a look at just one example of the efficiency and benefits if you switch from wood-framing to concrete. The ICF system is explained and found at nudura.com, with a snapshot here:

Fuel Savings:?Walls built with ICFs are proven to reduce energy bills up to 70 per cent; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and reduce or eliminate exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost over time is comparable to that of owning a conventional home and the resale return is generally assured.

Durability:?Concrete is expected to stand the test of time. Due to high impact resistance, these concrete walls assure maximum safety in high wind areas. Fire resistance is also reported to be maximized at four hours.

Comfort:?As opposed to wood frames, air gaps are eliminated and that minimizes the potential for mould growth and draft. The end result is an airtight structure that enables the mechanical systems to heat, cool and ventilate the structure more efficiently, creating a healthier living and working environment.

Responsibility:?The materials are totally recyclable and the system is designed to create less waste (for landfill) during the construction process. Combined with other eco-construction methods, this concrete system will significantly reduce carbon emissions by lowering the amount of fossil fuels needed for heating and cooling.

-- News North America

Source: http://www.businessreviewusa.com/business_leaders/home-building-methods-face-major-changes

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Netbot vs. Felix vs. Rivr: App.net apps for iPhone shootout!

While App.net (ADN) may be pretty new, it doesn't mean many users aren't already on it, including iMore and our staff. Even though the service hasn't been around for very long, there are already some choices when it comes to choosing an ADN iPhone app.

Netbot, Felix, and Rivr are all fully functional ADN apps for iPhone but is one better than the other, and more importantly, which one should you use? Follow along and we'll help you decide.

Netbot vs. Felix vs. Rivr: Interface and design

felix for iphone app.net client conversation view

If you've ever used Tweetbot, you'll feel right at home with Netbot. The app functions almost exactly in the same way except it's feeding App.net information instead of Twitter. Swiping sideways on posts will show conversations and tapping on them will give you a menu showing different ways you can interact with the post.

There are five main sections along the bottom of Netbot that you can navigate through - stream, mentions, profile, and two customizable tabs. The last two tabs can be set up as either favorites, search, or mute filters. Holding down on either of the two tabs allows you to instantly swap them out for another option.

netbot user interface

You compose a new post by tapping the blue compose button in the upper right hand corner. The upper left hand corner contains a button that allows you to view a drop down of all of your accounts as well as access settings. From settings you can customize sounds, font sizes, username displays, and individual account settings involving upload and read it later services.

Felix handles functions from an interface perspective differently and gives access to quick toggles you may use frequently right within your stream. While viewing your stream, you'll notice a couple options underneath each post and they are reply, repost, and favorite. Tapping any one of those will allow you to access that function. The only down side of this is that it's easy to hit the repost button on accident. While it's nice to have it there, it would be even nicer to have a confirm button pop up after tapping it. You can circumvent this for now by changing the repost function's behavior in settings to Repost with comment.

felix user interface

Along the bottom you have a navigation bar that consists of your main stream, mentions, compose, the global stream/stream, and dashboard. The main stream will show all the posts from users you follow, mentions will show all the posts any other user has mentioned you in, and the global stream shows all App.net posts across the entire service. The last tab, your dashboard, functions somewhat as a profile. You'll see your bio and information at the top and some functions underneath them that you can interact with. The Go to Person function allows you to quickly jump to any person's profile or stream as long as you know their handle. The Go to Hashtag function lets you jump to posts about a certain hashtag across the entire ADN service.

Underneath that you'll find statistics on yourself and basic information that you'd expect to find such as your own stream, mentions of you, follower and following count, starred individual posts, and a list of people you've muted. A little lower down you'll also see access to settings and information and a logout button. From here you can enable/disable push notifications, change what mentions you get notified for, and change a few other basic settings and thread styles. It's exactly what you'd expect to find in the settings panel of a social app.

Rivr doesn't use the same method of navigation as either Netbot or Felix. Instead of having tabs along the bottom, your stream will take up the entire screen and you can choose to pull out navigation only when you want to. To do so, tap the menu button in the upper left hand corner of Rivr. From here you can jump to any section of the app you'd like. Your usual suspects are found right here including your stream, mentions, favorites, global stream, profile, search, topics, and settings.

Your profile section doesn't show a wealth of information which is a down side I've found to Rivr but not a total buzzkill. You'll see your picture, bio, follower and following count, and a look at your own stream.

rivr user interface

Each section in Rivr follows the same interface. You'll always see your cover photo at the top with a list of posts, mentions, or reposts below that. To compose a new post of your own, just tap the "+" sign in the upper right hand corner from any screen. This is where Rivr gets interesting. You can compose a plain text, picture, now listening to, location, or mood post. A navigation panel will pull out from the right side. Just tap on the type of post you'd like to compose and you'll be taken there.

When you see a post from someone else you'd like to interact with in Rivr you can just tap on it and your options will slide out from the right side of the screen. You can reply, quote, star it, view the entire conversation, or automatically repost it.

When it comes to interface and design, while Netbot will be an automatic choice for Tweetbot fans, Felix is a breath of fresh air. If you want a change of pace but still desire a visually pleasing app, Felix is what you'll want. Everything from the menus to the gradients are done beautifully. While Rivr is a perfectly functional and well laid out app, the interface is somewhat boring.

Netbot vs. Felix vs. Rivr: Posting and interacting with content

netbot for iphone user interface

Netbot supports most of the functionality you'd expect to find for ADN including posting, reposting, quoting, favoriting, tagging, hashtags, image uploading and more. To compose a new post, tap the blue compose button in the upper right hand corner and you'll be taken to the compose screen. Clicking the gear button will allow you to access any drafts you have saved, clicking the button with the person on it will insert an @ sign and once you start typing someone's name, Netbot will automatically pull from your followers. You can also use the tag button in the same way to insert common or popular hashtags. The photo button does exactly what you'd expect, lets you take or insert an existing photo.

netbot content

If you come across a post that appears to be a reply from something else, you can swipe across the post to the right in order to see the entire conversation. Swiping towards the left shows you full detail and any conversation below it. If you find a post that you want to do more than just view, tapping on it gives you more options. You can reply to it, repost it, star it, or chose the further action button. The further action button has more options including sending it to a read it later service, copying a link to your clipboard to the post, copying the entire post, or e-mailing the post. The last button with the gear allows you to see more details about that post including translating it or the number of reposts and stars it has received.

felix content

Felix may not have a lot of swiping and tapping gestures but most of the reason for that is the fact that most of the functions you'd use frequently are already there at your disposal. From your main stream you can easily reply, star, and repost anyone else's content instantly. Tapping into a post from your stream will give you the same options as well as more options and some information about that post. Other options you have are copying and mailing the post. Underneath these options you'll see how many people starred the post or reposted it.

The compose screen of Felix is rather plain but is still functional. The keyboard is customized to show the @ and # symbols in the bottom right hand corner. Once you hit it and then start typing a name or hashtag, Felix will automatically start trying to autofill either one for you. There's also a mailbox icon in the top bar that will house any drafts you've saved or messages that couldn't send due to an error.

rivr content

Rivr offers a lot of the same functionality when it comes to content as both Netbot and Felix but in a slightly different way. Tapping the "+" sign in the upper right hand corner or swiping towards the left anywhere on the screen brings up the compose menu. From here you can choose what kind of post you'd like to make. Just like Netbot and Felix, Rivr can automatically autocomplete hashtags and usernames for you inside posts.

Composing posts is one thing where Rivr has a leg up over both Netbot and Felix. You can compose many kinds of posts that you can't natively inside either Netbot or Felix. Rivr supports not only plain posts but now playing, location, and mood posts. Photo posts are another area that Rivr may be appealing to many. Not only can you take pictures and post them but you can apply live filters to them or apply them after and right before uploading. This means there is no need to take a picture in a separate app and then upload it unless it needs further editing. For many users, the choice of filters inside Rivr will be good enough.

When it comes to viewing others content, just tap on any post you'd like to look into further inside Rivr and a menu will slide out from the side. You can choose to reply, quote, star, view the entire conversation, or repost it as is. That's about all the functionality there is to have though. If you're looking for ways to view stats on a post or a way to send them to a read it later service, you won't find them. Not yet anyways. The only thing you can currently send to a read it later service in Rivr is links. Not posts themselves.

Netbot and Felix both have far more options when it comes to read it later services and viewing information about posts. If you're into knowing how many times posts were reposted or starred, forget about Rivr for now. If you're more worried about having additional options concerning the content you share, Rivr has Netbot and Felix beat in those areas.

Tie, depending on which features are the most important to you personally.

Netbot vs. Felix vs. Rivr: Push notifications

rivr for iphone app.net client

Netbot currently doesn't offer push notifications like it's big brother, Tweetbot. We aren't sure if push will be coming to Netbot or not as of yet. Tweetbot originally released with no push notification feature and later it was added. That could be the case here.

Felix offers push notifications natively at no additional charge. In my experience, they work well and the sounds they've chosen aren't obtrusive but just enough to get your attention. There isn't too much customization as far as sounds but you'll get notifications for mentions and for most users, that'll be enough for now.

Rivr also offers push notifications but as an additional in-app purchase. The add-on is currently priced at $1.99 for one year of push notifications which is pretty fair.

Tie between Rivr and Felix.

Netbot vs. Felix vs. Rivr: Pricing

felix for iphone app.net profile hero

Netbot and Felix are both priced at $4.99 in the App Store which isn't too bad but may be a little high for some users. Rivr is a free download but push notifications will cost you an additional $1.99 a year, still making it cheaper than both Netbot and Felix.

If you plan on sticking around on App.net and you don't switch clients very often, Felix may be a better buy just because you'll avoid paying a push notification subscription fee year after year, which somewhat weighs out the free price tag.

Considering none of them cost a ton of money and one is subscription based, it's pretty much a wash. You're better off basing your purchase on feature set than price. Tie between all three.

Netbot vs. Felix vs. Rivr: The bottom line

rivr for iphone adn client profile view

Even though App.net is a newer service, you've still got quite a few options when it comes to iPhone apps. Netbot, Felix, and Rivr are three of the best, there's no doubt about that.

If you are a Tweetbot fanatic and it's your go-to Twitter client and you can't imagine using any other client, you'll love Netbot. The only downside right now is that there is no push and we're not sure how long you'll be waiting to get it. It's also worth noting that it's very easy to confuse which app you're in if you use both Tweetbot and Netbot. While the UI is familiar, I'm not sure how great of an idea it was to make them the exact same.

If push is a must for you it'll come down to Felix and Rivr.

If you're the type of person that loves to share photos, locations, and pretty much your entire life on ADN, Rivr will let you filter pictures, update your location, tell everyone what you're listening to, and more. So if what you post is more important to you, go with Rivr. But if viewing other people's content is your main concern, Felix is a better buy.

Felix wins when it comes to user interface and design. If you want an app that's easy to interact with, nice to look at, and gives you reliable notifications, look no further than Felix. For the time being, it's our favorite iPhone app for App.net.

Netbot - $4.99 - Download Now

Felix - $4.99 - Download Now

Rivr - Free - Download Now



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/KulZ1fvZcKY/story01.htm

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Egypt's liberals, Islamists clash, 110 reported injured

CAIRO (Reuters) - Opponents and supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi clashed in Cairo on Friday in the first street violence between rival factions since the Islamist leader took office.

Islamists and their opponents threw stones, bottles and petrol bombs, and some fought hand-to-hand, showing how feelings still run high between the rival groups trying to shape the new Egypt after decades of autocracy, although the streets have generally been calmer since Mursi's election in June.

The Health Ministry said 110 people had sustained light to moderate injuries, state media reported.

A government is in place, but Islamists and liberals are at loggerheads over the drafting of the new constitution, which must be agreed before a new parliament can be elected.

Many of the thousands who gathered in Tahrir Square were angry at this week's court ruling that acquitted former officials charged with ordering a camel-and-horseback charge on protesters in the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak last year.

But even before that ruling, Mursi's opponents had called for protests against what they say is his failure to deliver on his promises for his first 100 days in office.

"Down, down with rule by the guide!" Mursi's opponents chanted, suggesting that Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie pulls the strings even though Mursi officially quit the Brotherhood on taking office.

"Mursi! Mursi!" the president's backers responded.

Late on Friday, a statement issued by the cabinet condemned the events saying they hinder the government's political and economic efforts. It said Prime Minister Hisham Kandil "calls on all parties present in Tahrir Square and the other squares and places to stay away from any action that would tarnish the image of new Egypt".

BUSES SET ON FIRE

Some demonstrators pulled down a temporary podium that had been erected on a side of the square for speeches. Later, Islamists took over the square, triggering scuffles in nearby streets as they tried to keep rival groups out.

Two buses parked near the square were set alight. Witnesses said they had been used by the Brotherhood to bring in supporters.

The Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) in a statement expressed its "sorrow" over what happened to the buses it said were used to bring members to Cairo. It also condemned an attack on the Brotherhood's headquarters in the industrial city of El-Mahalla El-Kubra.

"We went to protest against the constituent assembly and Mursi's failure in his 100 days, and Islamists prevented us and are now controlling the square," said Islam Wagdy, 19, a member of a group set up by leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahy.

An FJP spokesman denied this. "What happened today was an attempt by the liberal powers ... to prevent Islamists expressing their views and protesting in Tahrir, which belongs to all Egyptians and not to a certain current," Ahmed Sobeih said.

There was no intervention by police, who have often been the target of protesters' anger because of their brutality against demonstrators in last year's revolt.

The Brotherhood, which joined Friday's protest, had said it should focus on this week's court ruling.

The charge by men on camels and horseback was one of the most violent incidents of the uprising that ousted Mubarak in February 2011. The case has been closely watched by those seeking justice for the hundreds killed in the revolt.

The court acquitted top Mubarak-era officials such as former lower house speaker Fathi Sorour and Mubarak aide Safwat Sherif, both of whom are scorned by many Egyptians.

ALEXANDRIA

Demonstrators also gathered in Egypt's second city, Alexandria, where Mursi went to a mosque to perform Friday prayers before giving a speech.

"We won't let anyone involved in corruption get away," he said, while urging protesters not to disrupt workers. As he spoke, some chanted: "The people want the judiciary purged."

Many blame the general prosecutor, perceived as a Mubarak loyalist, for not securing convictions.

In an apparent bid to appease the public, the president had said late on Thursday he was moving Abdel Maguid Mahmoud out of that position to make him ambassador to the Vatican, because Egyptian law prevented him being dismissed.

Mahmoud denounced the move and told Egyptian media he would stay on. The influential judges' club condemned the decision as interference and called for a meeting of judicial officials on Sunday to discuss action, the state news agency reported.

Even some political groups who wanted Mahmoud out questioned the way Mursi had done it. The liberal Free Egyptians Party said changing the prosecutor should be an independent judicial move.

Mursi has won grudging respect from some opponents for pushing the army out of politics, after decades of rule by military men, and for raising Egypt's profile abroad.

But many Egyptians, with high expectations after the revolt, say he has not done enough at home, failing to deliver on promises for his first 100 days such as cleaning up cities and getting traffic moving in Egypt's congested streets.

Many more secular-minded Egyptians and minority Christians also worry that Mursi and his Islamist supporters will seek to impose religious restrictions on society.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypts-liberals-islamists-clash-110-reported-injured-090038268.html

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The Great Meteor Grab

From the article, however, the regulations that are being discussed are for meteorites on federal lands.

From the article:

Courts have long established that meteorites belong to the owner of the surface estate. Therefore, meteorites found on public lands are part of the BLM?s surface estate, belong to the federal government, and must be managed as natural resources in accordance with the FLPMA of 1976."

In this case, I'm thinking that claiming that these changes will somehow apply to asteroids in space is a very long stretch. Especially since they don't apply to the significant volume of privately owned land in this country, let alone the rest of the world.

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/6pLEdeIbfHE/the-great-meteor-grab

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Saturday, October 13, 2012

HBT: Melky Cabrera reinstated, still won't play

According to Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com, the Giants reinstated Melky Cabrera to their 40-man roster today.? However, this isn?t as exciting as it sounds. The Giants still have no plans to carry him on their roster at any point during the postseason.

Cabrera completed his 50-game PED suspension, so the Giants were basically required to decide whether to reinstate him to the 40-man roster or release him. Keeping him around affords them the chance to have an exclusive window to negotiate before he reaches free agency this winter. While it appeared to be an unlikely scenario given how things played out in the aftermath of his suspension, Baggarly hears that there is now ?more openness within the Giants organization? to bring him back.

The Giants relied on a combination of Gregor Blanco and Xavier Nady in left field during the NLDS against the Reds. Blanco went 4-for-14 (.286) with one home run, one double and two RBI while Nady was hitless in five at-bats.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/10/12/giants-reinstate-melky-cabrera-but-still-wont-use-him-in-postseason/related/

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Analysis: Smaller firms grab big slice of mobile advertising

(Reuters) - When Auntie Anne's, the pretzel chain, wanted to tempt moms in Atlanta shopping malls with free offers, it dished out coupons through smartphones that could be redeemed immediately for a free drink or other specials.

But while the moms received the coupons on their iPhone or Android device, the power behind the campaign was not Google Inc or Apple Inc -- it was Millennial Media, a nimble six-year old independent that has grabbed the No.2 spot in mobile advertising in the United States.

Google is No.1, but the flexibility of its smaller rivals is helping them catch up in a U.S. market that is expected to triple in size to more than $20 billion in the next three years, according to market research firm Gartner.

Smaller firms have the freedom to reach users who use any mobile operating system, unlike Apple, which promotes advertising on its Apple iOS platform, and Google, which handles advertising across all devices but also has its own platform, Android.

"Advertisers want to be able to reach the broadest population they can and in the mobile world, where the platforms are fragmented, this gives an opening to the providers who are truly platform neutral," Gartner analyst Andrew Frank said.

Google held 24 percent of the U.S. market last year, while Millennial had 17 percent and Apple 15.5 percent, according to market research firm IDC. Unlisted Jumptap held 9.5 percent, Yahoo Inc 7.5 percent and India's InMobi 2.2. percent.

Ireland-based Velti Plc, which listed in early 2011, is also chasing market share.

Investors are taking notice.

While Facebook Inc has been pilloried for lacking a mobile strategy, shares of Millennial have jumped 76 percent from a low of $9 in early August. Shares of Velti have leaped 59 percent from a life low of $4.99 on July 25.

Millennial, a roughly $1 billion company, is a great bet for someone looking for investments in mobile advertising, said Steven Dray, a portfolio manager at investment firm AlphaOne Capital Partners LLC.

"When you get to brand advertising, which is eventually going to be a huge pile of money that's going to move from traditional advertising to mobile, I think that's where Millennial and some of the smaller players could have very good success," Dray said.

AlphaOne bought into Millennial after its initial public offering in March and holds about 40,000 shares in the company.

Despite the run-up in their shares, the smaller firms have not run ahead of the sector. Millennial trades at 4.3 times forward 12-month sales and Velti trades at 1.3 times.

While their businesses are obviously much bigger and more varied, Google trades at a multiple of 4.6 and Facebook at 6.7.

As consumers increasingly surf the Web on the go, advertisers are looking to ply them with targeted information about nearby restaurants, pubs, theaters, shops and salons.

But there's no point pitching a shampoo to a skinhead, so the secret sauce for advertisers is user information -- and Millennial's trove of user data is what CEO Paul Palmieri is counting on to give his firm an advantage.

Millennial gathers "first-party" data -- information that users provide to a publisher, or that is gleaned from surfing habits that website owners share with advertising companies.

"It is also valuable to users because the more targeted-advertising they get, the more relevant their experience ends up being," Palmieri said, although analysts say the privacy issues this raises are yet to be resolved.

The smaller companies tout their tight focus on the mobile sector, rather than worrying about how that fits in with online advertising.

"We only focus on mobile. Google on the other hand has many different things to worry about. Yes mobile is important, but is it the most important? Probably not," said InMobi CEO Naveen Tewari, although he is not complacent about the challenge.

"The only way to compete with (Google) is by innovating faster," said Tewari, who expects his 850-person company to report billions of dollars in revenue in a couple of years.

RISING COMPETITION

But the big guns are not far away. The entry of Facebook and Twitter is expected to change mobile advertising.

Facebook, which declined to comment for this story, is investing heavily in improving mobile applications and creating new metrics to measure the success of mobile advertising -- a move expected to give a fillip to the wider market.

"There is a lack of maturity in the metrics that are available for measuring mobile campaigns," Gartner's Frank said.

"That's where there's an opening for innovation that some of the larger companies are not able to satisfy today."

Twitter, too, expanded its advertising program for the iPhone and Android devices and now sells promoted tweets and advertises promoted accounts on its mobile applications timeline, rather than only on a search page.

And Google is determined not to lose its No.1 spot. It bought mobile ad platform AdMob in 2009 and its YouTube video service recently launched a new iPhone app that carries video advertisements.

The success of iPhones and Android smartphones and the fact that Google owns many popular mobile applications also helps push its mobile advertisements.

ROAD BLOCKS

The mobile advertising model has its detractors, and some have groused that the small screen on mobile devices makes viewing advertisements difficult, while a lack of good mobile websites might keep away potential viewers.

Users tend to spend less time on their mobiles in one go and advertisements have to be designed for short attention spans.

"I think it's still a struggle. Most of the advertising that you see on mobile devices today is still predominantly not very well targeted or not very granually targeted," Frank said.

Uncertainty about how best to advertise on mobile platforms is holding back the valuations of mobile advertising firms, Baird and Co analyst Colin Sebastian said.

While industry-standard measurements are lacking, the companies argue that mobile advertising has five times the click-through rate of online advertising.

"You can touch the ad, flip the ad, move the ad, you can do things that you cannot do on a PC. Your interactivity levels are very high," Tewari said.

(This story was corrected to remove paragraph 29 that refers to Google's mobile advertisement revenue run-rate as the data was from 2011)

(Additional reporting by Aurindom Mukherjee; Editing by Rodney Joyce)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/smaller-firms-grab-big-slice-mobile-advertising-155811026--finance.html

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Ottawa Life Magazine - Healthwise: Living with anxiety and depression

Healthwise: Living with anxiety and depression

I am honoured to be welcomed as the new Accredited Health Blogger for Ottawa Life Magazine. For my first post as such, I have decided to explore an illness that affects a significant number of adults: anxiety and depression.

Because of this particular time of year, and given the recent economic climate in Ottawa, some of us are sure to experience symptoms of one or both conditions. Depression can occur after major life events, such as job loss, retirement, divorce, death of a loved one, or following a serious medical diagnosis. Anxiety, on the other hand, is often triggered by life changes, such as starting a new job, returning to school, and the birth of a new baby or the departure of older children.

Unfortunately, there is a certain stigma associated with mental illnesses but, as the CBC reported, the impact of mental illness is greater than that of cancer and therefore must be given our proper attention. While these findings may not come as a surprise to those familiar with mental illness, such studies are necessary in helping to lift the shame often associated with such conditions.
According to the Royal Ottawa Hospital Mood Disorders Clinic, anxiety and depression are two of Canada?s fastest growing disabilities. And unfortunately the effects of these illnesses are not confined to the diagnosed individual but rather permeate the realms of work, relationships and home life.

Signs and Symptoms

When experiencing depression, one can display a variety of physical, mental and emotional symptoms, such as reduced or increased appetite and sleep, lack of focus, social withdrawal and decreased motivation, among others, whereas anxiety presents itself as fear of the future and can be manifested in different ways, whether as generalized anxiety, phobias or obsessive behaviours. Of course, we all experience bouts of one or more of these feelings once in a while, but one should seek treatment if any of them persist for more than a few weeks.

How to Cope

In order to minimize the symptoms of anxiety and depression, it is necessary to recognize the illness but also to take positive corrective action by ensuring adequate exercise and sleep, a healthy diet, work/life balance, perhaps taking up yoga, meditation and other relaxation techniques, as well as establishing a support network of friends and consulting a medical professional if needed. Meanwhile, various local resources exist, namely the Canadian Mental Health Association and Mood Disorders Ottawa.
Remember, you are not alone.

Written by: Jennifer Chauhan on October 12, 2012.

Source: http://www.ottawalife.com/2012/10/healthwise-living-with-anxiety-and-depression/

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Domestic Violence | Blessed Beyond Measure

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The Communications Network ? Thoughts on Transparency

?Guest Post: Chris Palmedo

In anticipation of our gathering at the Gates Foundation, I can?t help but ponder the notion of transparency. It seems to be a clear theme of the building?s architecture, with windows inviting a view from the street into the hallways, offices, and conference rooms of what is, technically, ?the largest ?transparent? foundation in the world.?

As we begin to file into the Gates Foundation, I wonder what we would look like to someone standing outside the building. What kind of people do we look like ? both as individuals and as an assembly? Do we look like an interesting bunch? Do we look compassionate? Engaged? Do we take our work seriously? Are we having fun?

I also wonder what we sound like. What if a passerby from outside the building could hear our conversations? Are we talking about issues an anonymous observer would expect us to talk about? Would want us to talk about? Are we using insider jargon or language they would understand?

I hope we?ll be having honest and open conversations throughout the conference, and that we feel this is a safe environment to say things we might not say when we?re back at the office. This kind of sharing is important, and not antithetical to my idea of transparency.? In fact, it?s ironically this kind of candid, safe, conversation, that is ultimately one of the many useful purposes of the conference.

With that, I look forward to having some good, honest, and yes ?transparent,? conversations with many of you at ComNetwork12!


Chris Palemdo is the director of public affairs at?Northwest Health Foundation

?

Source: http://www.comnetwork.org/2012/10/thoughts-on-transparency/

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Medical Bankruptcy ? Using Credit Card to Pay Medical Bills is a ...

12Oct

Author: Administrator ?|? Category: Debt Medical Bankruptcy - Using Credit Card to Pay Medical Bills is a Bad Move - Use Settlement Instead

Medical Bankruptcy ? Using Credit Card to Pay Medical Bills is a Bad Move ? Use Settlement Instead

Within 1981, 8% of those who submitted with regard to personal bankruptcy do therefore simply because they had been dealing with the issue associated with healthcare financial debt. However, this particular determine offers increased in order to a lot more than 50% these days. This can be a extreme improve as well as obviously signifies the actual relationship in between healthcare financial debt as well as personal bankruptcy. It?s astonishing that individuals aren?t ready for that exact same.

Individuals take a look at debt settlement choices once they obtain a charge card. These people think about debt consolidation reduction, negotiation, curiosity vacation, postdated inspections along with other this kind of options. Whenever individuals arrange for healthcare financial obligations, these people concentrate on the person going through the therapy and don?t actually trouble to consider the actual repayment. These people believe the insurance plan is going to be sufficient to deal with just about all healthcare obligations nicely.

Nicely, 75% of people who choose personal bankruptcy due to healthcare factors achieve this in spite of getting medical health insurance. Which means that the price of health care is really higher which simple insurance coverage isn?t sufficient in order to conquer the issue. Regardless, there are specific elements as well as aspects which insurance coverage doesn?t include. Postoperative treatment as well as medical is actually one particular instance.

Therefore, exactly what ought to 1 perform? 1 can?t prevent slipping sick. You ought to find out about healthcare debt consolidation. You ought to learn how the idea functions. You ought to utilize the Internet to discover be it the lawful choice or even be it the rip-off. Submitting with regard to personal bankruptcy, even though it seems appealing, may be the most detrimental choice close to.

Regardless, you can?t file for bankruptcy for any specific time period after you have chosen this as soon as. Which means that you can?t make use of personal bankruptcy to flee healthcare financial debt over and over. However, debt consolidation is actually a far greater choice.

By using an expert in order to intercede for you, you?ll reduce your financial troubles through over fifty percent. Lenders, in this instance the actual healthcare providers, tend to be reasonable in order to this type of offer since the just additional option is actually personal bankruptcy. It?s a good epoch occasion inside your monetary existence. It?s devastating offer for that company too. Along with no one attaining in the offer, it?s astonishing exactly how personal bankruptcy is actually actually advised because answer with regard to healthcare financial debt.

Should you perform your own credit cards correct, you are able to conquer all of your healthcare mortgage difficulties and you will provide your own monetary existence back again on the right track even while your loved ones people recuperates in the remedy.

Related posts:

  1. Medical Bankruptcy ? Using Credit Card to Pay Medical Bills is a Bad Move ? Use Settlement Instead
  2. Medical Bankruptcy ? How to Eliminate Medical Debt Up to 60%
  3. Reasons Why You Are Applying For Medical Bankruptcy
  4. Credit Card Debt ? How To Pay Off Your Credit Card Debt
  5. Federal Grants Medical Bills Programs Can Help Ease Your Burdens

Tags: Debt Consolidation, Debt Settlement, Healthcare, Healthcare Financial, Medical Health Insurance, Personal Bankruptcy

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Source: http://www.davidgordonwallace.com/medical-bankruptcy-using-credit-card-to-pay-medical-bills-is-a-bad-move-use-settlement-instead-2.html

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Gold And Silver Capped Until After U.S. Election? by Mark O'Byrne


Today?s AM fix was USD 1,767.00, EUR 1,362.80, and GBP 1,101.35 per ounce.
Yesterday?s AM fix was USD 1,767.25, EUR 1,371.45 and GBP 1,103.29 per ounce.

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Silver is trading at $33.96/oz, ?26.27/oz and ?21.21/oz. Platinum is trading at $1,679.50/oz, palladium at $648.80/oz and rhodium at $1,205/oz.

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Gold edged up $4.60 or 0.26% in New York yesterday which saw gold close at $1,767.50. Silver climbed to a high of $34.33 and then fell off and finished with a marginal loss of 0.12%.

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Gold has seen volatile and choppy trading overnight in Asia and in Europe this morning with the price being capped at $1,772/oz and in a tight range between $1,767 and $1,772/oz.

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Cross Currency Table ? (Bloomberg)

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Gold remains robust in euro terms at ?1,364.50/oz and remains less than only 1% away from new record highs in the single currency (see chart).

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India and China are embarking on their peak consumption season which may create a boost to the physical market.

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The far from resolved debt crisis in Greece, Spain and most countries in the western world means that this is another correction and investors and store of wealth buyers should continue to accumulate on the dip.

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Prices may remain contained until after the U.S. election but we expect that soon after the election (we expect Obama to be re-elected), precious metal prices will again surge. Indeed, from November into the early months of 2013, we could see one of the largest upward price movements in gold and silver so far in their bull markets.

?

U.S. election years tend to see gold underperform vis-?-vis other years and this was seen in 2004 (+4.7%) and 2008 (+5%) when gold saw only marginal gains compared to the 17% annualised dollar returns seen in that decade.

?

Post election years saw stronger gains ? with a 22% in 2005 and a 25% return in 2009.

?

This is likely due to the governing administration, often in conjunction with the Federal Reserve, doing all it can in order to artificially boost the economy and maintain power.

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Gold in Euros ? 1 Year (Bloomberg)

?

Indeed, given the degree of intervention in markets today, it is possible that the Working Group on Financial Markets has been intervening in order to maintain orderly markets and ?investor confidence? - as is their function. This can often artificially boost stock markets and often see a bout of dollar strength.

?

We believe that macroeconomic and monetary conditions are far worse than is being acknowledged by the White House, the Washington elites and Ben Bernanke and that once the election is over there will be significant revisions to data and the economic data will decline considerably.

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Gold in Euros ? 30 Day (Bloomberg)

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There are historical parallels with the 1933 election when Roosevelt was re-elected and there was subsequently an admission that economic conditions were far worse than people had been previously led to believe.

?

This creates the real possibility of significant volatility and dislocations in markets in the coming months.

?

Buyers should use this price dip and any further dips in October to accumulate physical gold and silver in the safest way possible.

?

UBS have lifted their full-year 2012 forecast to $1700, from $1680 previously. For 2013 UBS now has price targets on the average gold price of $1900, raised from $1725 previously.

?

Smart money internationally continues to diversify into gold. Some of the wealthiest and most astute managers of money in the world today remain bullish on gold due to the very favourable macroeconomic, geopolitical and monetary fundamentals.

?


?

The Financial Review (Australian) points out how Soros, Paulson and now Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world?s biggest hedge fund are all diversifying into gold (see commentary).

?

Warren Buffett is one of the few wealthy individuals in the world to have absolutely rejected the idea of owning gold as a hedge or safe haven asset and has indeed criticised those who own gold.

?


?

Indeed, the recently made bizarre comments regarding gold saying he would rather buy caves than gold. He suggested that owning caves would be better than owning gold in the event of currency devaluations.

?

Buffett is massively exposed to man US dollar denominated stocks and to the U.S. banking sector and appears to be either talking about his book or is simply very misguided.

?

His reputation as the most successful investor of all time will be questioned in the coming years.

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Gold in USD ? 30 Day (Bloomberg)

?

As the Financial Review states:

?

?Financial planners and super fund managers have come around to holding bullion, previously viewed as too speculative with no investment return, because it diversifies a portfolio and moves independently of shares and other markets.?

?

There is also academic research showing how gold is a proven hedging instrument and safe haven asset.

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In 2013 we are all going to need to own safe haven assets and the safe haven money that is gold.

?

NEWSWIRE
(Bloomberg) -- Gold Gains on Renewed Europe Debt Concern After Spain Downgrade
Gold rose for the first time in five days, snapping the worst losing run in more than two months, on speculation Europe?s debt crisis will boost demand for a protection of wealth.

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Standard & Poor?s cut Spain?s debt rating yesterday to one grade above junk on mounting economic and political risks in the region. The U.S. Dollar Index, a gauge against six counterparts, rose today to the highest level since Sept. 11. Investment holdings of the metal rose to a record as buyers sought to safeguard their wealth.

?

?Gold is being supported by the risk of the eurozone debt crisis intensifying with the focus again on Spain,? said Mark O?Byrne, executive director of Dublin-based GoldCore Ltd., a brokerage that sells and stores everything from quarter-ounce British Sovereigns to 400-ounce bars.

?

Gold for immediate delivery rose 0.4 percent to $1,770 an ounce by 9:14 a.m. in London. Gold for December delivery rose 0.4 percent to $1,771.40 an ounce on the Comex in New York.

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London-traded bullion declined 1.6 percent in the past four days and touched $1,757.10 yesterday, the lowest price since Sept. 27.

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Holdings in gold-backed exchange-traded products rose for a 10th day to 2,582.97 metric tons yesterday. Investors looking to store wealth should buy on dips, Euro Pacific Capital Inc. Chief

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Executive Officer Peter Schiff said in a speech at a conference in Chicago. ETP holdings have risen 9.6 percent this year as central banks boosted stimulus to revive economic growth.

?

Silver for immediate delivery rose 0.8 percent to $34.255 an ounce. Platinum gained 0.4 percent to $1,679.75 an ounce. palladium advanced 0.7 percent to $654.50 an ounce.

?

(Bloomberg) -- Miners Reject South Africa Gold Producers? Wage Plan, Union Says
Members of South Africa?s biggest union rejected a proposal by the nation?s largest gold companies to raise wages and end strikes that have crippled the industry.

?

Employees who belong to the National Union of Mineworkers didn?t accept the offer, spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said in a text message in response to a query today.

?

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd., Gold Fields Ltd. and Harmony Gold Mining Co. had offered an additional 2 percent raise and Harmony 1.5 percent in categories four through eight this year, Elize Strydom, the chief negotiator at the Chamber of Mines, an industry body that represents the companies in wage talks, said yesterday. Category three, the entry level, would be eliminated in the proposal, meaning the lowest-paid workers would get a wage at the higher category.

?

About 41 percent of South Africa?s gold output is idled, including all of AngloGold?s mines. Two Gold Fields sites were halted after workers walked out without heeding resolution procedures set out by labor laws, while miners have been absent from Harmony?s Kusasalethu operation since at least Oct. 3.

?

AngloGold erased earlier gains, retreating as much as 0.8 percent to 295.37 rand and trading at 297.61 rand by 11:12 a.m. in Johannesburg. Harmony lost 0.2 percent to 69.36 rand.

?

Gold advanced 0.4 percent to $1,768.50 an ounce in London.

?

(Bloomberg) -- Gold Imports by China From Hong Kong Drop as Price Deters Buyers
Gold imports by China from Hong Kong fell 29 percent in August from a month earlier amid a seasonal slowdown and as higher prices deterred buyers.

?

Mainland China bought 53,508 kilograms (53.51 metric tons), including scrap and coins, compared with 75,842 kilograms in July. Shipments were 23 percent more than the 43,660 kilograms a year earlier, data from the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong government show.

?

Gold is in the 12th year of a bull run, 13 percent higher this year, as investors seek to hedge against weaker currencies and the threat of rising consumer prices. Holdings in gold- backed exchange-traded products expanded to an all-time high and Bank of America Corp. and Deutsche Bank AG are among banks forecasting that the price will rally to a record. The metal climbed 4.8 percent in August, the most since January.

?

?The slowdown was mainly seasonal and because the jump in prices in the latter part of the month put off buyers,? said Liu Xu, analyst at Capital Futures Co.

?

Shipments more than tripled to 512,136.5 kilograms in the first eight months from 146,750 kilograms a year earlier, Bloomberg calculations show. China doesn?t publish such data.

?

?China?s demand for the metal may increase over the rest of the year as central banks in the U.S., Europe and Japan have, more or less, demonstrated their penchant for the monetary easing,? said Liu. Gold for immediate delivery was little changed at $1,762.35 an ounce at 7:13 p.m. in Singapore.

?

Exports of gold to Hong Kong from China were 26,497 kilograms in August, down from 30,038 kilograms in July, according to a separate statistics department statement. The exports were more than the 7,118 kilograms a year ago. They were 200,391.5 kilograms in the first eight months from 61,541 kilograms a year earlier, according to Bloomberg calculations.

?

(Bloomberg) -- South African Miners Trapped in Web of Debt, Watchdog Says
South African miners were the victims of predatory lending that eroded their earnings in the run-up to violent strikes in recent months, the country?s credit watchdog said.

?

Seven out of eight credit providers raided at the Marikana mining complex, where a strike began in August, appear to have been acting unlawfully, said Zweli Zakwe, head of investigations at the National Credit Regulator.

?

?Our impression is that the credit providers have not done affordability assessments, so miners are trapped in an extensive web of debt,? Zakwe said in a phone interview today from Buffelspoort, west of Johannesburg. ?The primary purpose of the raids is to look at three main issues: the cost of credit, affordability assessments and the unlawful retention of bank cards and identity documents.?

?

The first illegal strike began at Lonmin Plc?s Marikana operations on Aug. 10 and labor action has spread to other platinum and gold mines. As many as 46 people died before Lonmin agreed to wage increases of up to 22 percent.

?

With more than 16 credit providers operating in Marikana, many miners took on loans with interest charges of as much as 30 percent that they struggled to repay, resulting in the lenders making deductions directly from miners? salaries, according to the regulator.

?

Reckless Lending
?Definitely the debt was on their shoulders, and it?s one of the elements that may have led to the strikes,? Zakwe said. ?For now we are focusing on the small micro-lenders, but we will expand and we have been looking at the Capitecs and African Banks of this world. There are retailers as well.?

?

The National Credit Act, introduced in 2006, aimed to reduce so-called reckless lending and protect borrowers. In the past three years credit providers have increasingly offered unsecured loans to low-income earners to maintain and boost profit margins. Interest charges on these loans can reach 60 percent, with Capitec Bank Holdings Ltd. offering customers unsecured loans of as much as 230,000 rand ($26,000).

?

?Many have interest charges of 30 percent,? Zakwe said of the credit providers in Marikana.

?

(Bloomberg) -- China August Exports of Gold to Hong Kong 26,497 Kilograms
Hong Kong government announced August gold imports data on its website today.

?

(Bloomberg) -- IShares Silver Trust Holdings Unchanged at 9,920 Metric Tons
Silver holdings in the IShares Silver Trust, the biggest exchange-traded fund backed by silver, were unchanged at 9,920.18 metric tons as of Oct. 9, according to figures on the company?s website.

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Oct. 9 Oct. 8 Oct. 5 Oct. 4 Oct. 3 Oct. 2

?

2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012

?

Million Ounces 318.941 318.941 318.941 318.941 318.941 318.941

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Daily change 0 0 0 0 0 -610,059

?

Metric tons 9,920.18 9,920.18 9,920.18 9,920.18 9,920.18 9,920.18

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Daily change 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -18.98

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(Bloomberg) -- ETF Securities Gold ETP Inflows Were $260 Million in Week
ETF Securities Ltd.?s gold exchange- traded products had inflows of $260 million last week, the company said in a report e-mailed today.

?

For breaking news and commentary on financial markets and gold, follow us on Twitter.

?

NEWS
Gold Gains as Investor Demand Increases ETP Holdings to Record - Bloomberg

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Gold futures rise as dollar pulls back ? Market Watch

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Gold flat, but on course for biggest weekly loss in two months - Reuters

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Gold Best of Biggest ETFs as Traders Seek Haven: Riskless Return - Bloomberg

COMMENTARY
IMF Fears 'Credit Shock' in Spain If Rajoy Blocks Rescue ? The Telegraph

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UBS' Cashin Offers A Huge Lesson On Weimar Hyperinflation, And The Roots Of Today's Crisis ? Business Insider

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The Case For A 40% Drop In The Markets ? Market Watch

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Gold Short Squeeze ... May Lead To "Move In Gold That Will Leave Breathless? ? King World News

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Did COMEX Gold Futures 'Glitch' Hint At The Future Awaiting Us? ? Zero Hedge

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Video: Global Debasement to Boost Gold Prices ? Bloomberg

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The Currency Collapse That?s Happening Right Now ? Uncommon Wisdom

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Three of the World?s Four Richest Investors Are Buying Gold ? Financial Review

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Source: http://www.24hgold.com/english/news-gold-silver-gold-and-silver-capped-until-after-u-s-election-.aspx?article=4086069116G10020&redirect=false&contributor=Mark+O'Byrne

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