Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsHourHeadlinesPodcast/~3/RFLOW2TbgYQ/20130222_pistorius2.mp3
the lion king suzanne collins cherry blossom festival nc state erika van pelt pat robertson hunger games trailer
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. troops were deployed to Niger to assist intelligence collection for French forces fighting in Mali, President Barack Obama told congressional leaders.
"This deployment will provide support for intelligence collection and will also facilitate intelligence sharing with French forces conducting operations in Mali, and with other partners in the region," Obama said in a letter sent Friday to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., president pro tem of the Senate.
Tuareg rebels seized control in the north of Mali, in the chaotic aftermath of a military coup. Islamic extremists gained control of key towns and pushed southward toward the capital.
France intervened last month, first with airstrikes and later with a deployment of about 4,000 ground troops.
Pentagon officials told NBC News drone aircraft were sent to Niger to support France's support counter-terrorism mission in Mali.
Defense Department officials said the first wave of unmanned aircraft included two Raptor surveillance drones.
The Pentagon said 250 to 300 military personnel, including remote pilots and security and maintenance crews, would eventually be deployed.
Besides helping the French in Mali, the drones could be used to provide intelligence on the Islamic militant threat in northern and eastern Africa, Pentagon officials said.
Source: http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewarticle/articleid/6307189
bruce springsteen grammy nominations lil boosie bobbi kristina brown new edition austerity rihanna and chris brown back together
White Plains, New York (PRWEB) February 21, 2013
In 1964, the five-year survival rate for the most common form of childhood leukemia was only three percent but, today, thanks to treatment advances, about 90 percent of children survive. As the leading global non-profit organization dedicated to curing blood cancers, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has invested nearly one billion dollars in blood cancer research since 1954, bringing us closer than ever to realizing a world without blood cancers.
LLS has achieved its leadership position through a unique approach to research and fundraising. Its venture philanthropy model forges partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academia, medical centers and the National Institutes of Health, to foster the process of drug discovery from basic research to translational and clinical research. Rather than duplicate what the federal government is funding, LLS developed its own research agenda to accelerate the development of promising new life-saving therapies with a focus on un-met medical need.
The Someday is Today initiative will launch this month nationwide, with emphasis in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Dallas. The platform is being supported by TV and radio public service announcements (PSAs) and print advertising, which tell the story of a world without cancer, featuring striking visuals like a Times Square-type billboard announcing Cancer Cured. For more information about Someday is Today and to view a full multimedia release including the campaign PSAs, please visit http://www.LLSSomedayIsToday.org. LLS is also on Facebook and Twitter.
We felt it was time to put a stake in the ground, and to shine the spotlight on the urgency and accomplishments we have made toward finding cures for blood cancers. Someday is Today is our platform to rally support for this cause, explains John Walter, LLS chief executive officer. People talk about curing cancer at some point in the future. But, for LLS, someday is today. Contributions made to this organization through partners, volunteers and generous donors are driving cures right now. The reality is, if you want to reduce the incidence of lung cancer, stop smoking. If you want to reduce the incidence of melanoma, use sun block. If you want to prevent the incidence of blood cancer, invest in a cure.
Someday is Today was developed by LLS in conjunction with branding agency Interplanetary. According to Lisa Stockmon, senior vice president, marketing at LLS, Our objective is to build brand awareness so people have more knowledge of what we do and the impact of what we do. Were telling our story in a humanistic and modern way that engages our 62 chapters and also provides a marketing umbrella for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, because we want to make sure people have an emotional connection and are aware of our role in the battle against blood cancers.
Were not your grandfathers charity, proclaims Louis DeGennaro, PhD, LLS chief mission officer. There is no means of preventing or early screening for blood cancers, so our focus is on life-saving research to find cures. LLS research funding has touched the discovery or development of nearly every therapy used in the battle against blood cancers including targeted drugs, like Gleevec?, Velcade? and Kyprolis?, and immunotherapies, like Rituxan?.
In fact, LLS is playing a unique role in the pathway to cures, especially for a non-profit organization. Blood cancers, which include leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes, are hematologic malignancies with a unique link to the cancer research community. Many innovations such as multi-drug chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation started as blood cancer therapies. In fact, nearly 50 percent of all cancer drugs newly approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in the last 12 years were first approved for blood cancers. Blood cancer research is a gateway to treatments and even cures for many other cancers, as well as some inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), explains DeGennaro. LLS and our partners are pioneering cutting-edge cancer research at the cellular and molecular level, which has the capacity to offer significant contributions beyond even blood cancers.
LLS Fundraising Campaigns: Something for Everyone
LLS fundraising campaigns reflect its broad approach to attracting individual and corporate donors, with a range of entry points and opportunities for participation. From the inception in 1988 of Team In Training?, the worlds first and largest endurance training program, to the inspirational, community-oriented Light The Night? Walk events, to the family-friendly Pineapple Classic obstacle course, LLS has an extraordinary range of programs dedicated to raise awareness, participation and, most important, funds to develop and provide access to blood cancer treatments. All 62 LLS chapters in the United States and Canada are dedicated to this mission.
Innovating with Venture Philanthropy: Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP)
LLS launched the Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP) in 2007, to advance development of new therapies and diagnostics by bridging the gap between discovery and human applications, and to increase the likelihood that novel, even breakthrough treatments will be available to patients as soon as possible. LLS works in concert with academic investigators, medical centers and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to move promising therapies quickly from the laboratory into clinical trials and, ultimately, to patients.
LLS continues to support and fund the world?s best and brightest academic scientists and award grants based on merit to advance progress in all areas of blood cancer research, and at all stages from basic science to clinical trials. Through our grants programs we support the development of the next generation of first rate cancer researchers.
Proof of LLSs cure-focused, patient-centered infrastructure is apparent from the allocation of its funds. Last year, 78 percent of the money spent by LLS went to research, patient and community services, advocacy and education. Its co-pay assistance program provided $ 44.2 million to almost 14,000 patients in need. LLSs Office of Public Policy team advocates for policies that help speed the approval process for new blood cancer therapies and to ensure access to quality, affordable and coordinated care for patients.
Ultimately, cancer affects everyone, said Walter. We all have an opportunity to impact a cure for this disease now. Someday truly is today.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society? (LLS) is the world?s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin?s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.
Key LLS fundraising campaigns include Team In Training, Light The Night, School & Youth, Man & Woman of the Year and Regatta. To reach the widest possible audience, LLS partners with national and regional level companies and brands, including Nike, Disney, Burlington Coat Factory and others.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit http://www.lls.org. Patients and caregivers should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. http://www.lls.org.
Find More Global One Press Releases
band of brothers presidents george washington russell westbrook horsetail falls ice t president day
Interest only mortgages are a relatively new phenomenon in the re-financing industry as well as the home buying industry. While the appeal of an interest only mortgage is typically a greater monthly cash flow, this increased cash flow can come with a hefty price tag. In exchange for more cash flow each month, the homeowner may be sacrificing the ability to obtain a fixed rate mortgage as well as the ability to build equity. This article will further examine these features to provide the reader with more information on the subject of interest only mortgages.
Greater Monthly Cash Flow
The one main advantage for many homeowners in an interest only mortgage is the ability to increase monthly cash flow. Homeowners who re-finance by utilizing an interest only mortgage will likely have more money available each month because they will only be paying interest on their mortgage initially. The reduction of the principal payment can make it easier for the homeowner to either afford a larger house or have the ability to live more extravagantly on their budget. However, there is often a significant price to pay for these types of re-financing options.
While interest only loans may not be ideal, they can be beneficial in the situation where the homeowner is having a great deal fulfilling his monthly obligations. In this case, the homeowner may be willing to sacrifice an overall financial loss for the ability to continue to pay monthly bills in a timely fashion.
Unknown Risks of an ARM
Interest only re-finance loans are typically offered with an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) this means the interest rate is not fixed and may fluctuate with the rise and fall of the prime index. This risk can be quite costly for the homeowner if the interest rate rises significantly. There is usually a cap placed on the amount, in terms of percentage, the interest rate can rise in a certain period but this can still be a very costly mistake for the homeowners.
An ARM re-finance option with an interest only component may be worthwhile in some situations. For example if the homeowner has a hybrid mortgage which features a fixed interest rate during the interest only portion and an ARM during the principal and interest portion of the loan they might benefit from this situation if they do not plan to stay in the home for longer than the interest only period. This period may vary depending on the lender and the circumstances. Homeowners who plan to sell the house before the interest only period ends and the ARM period begins enjoy the benefits of lower monthly payments and the security of fixed interest rates before they ever have to worry about repaying the principal or dealing with the varying interest rates.
No Equity in the Home
Another disadvantage to the interest only re-finance loans is they do not allow the homeowner to build equity in the home during the initial period where only the interest on the loan is repaid. This can be a problem for homeowners who are looking to profit through the sale of their home. These homeowners may find the participation in an interest only re-finance has had a damaging effect on the profit they are able to generate from the resale of their home.
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed?and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Source: http://successfulfinancialstrategy.blogcashbiz.com/94/re-financing-with-an-interest-only-mortgage/
scientology Wimbledon 2012 TV Schedule fourth of july Jason Terry IFE Fireworks 2012 4th Of July independence day
Smarkets, the UK-based peer-to-peer betting exchange, has raised a fresh $2.3 million round of funding led by Deutsche Telekom's T-Venture, along with existing backer Passion Capital. This brings the London startup's total funding to $3.3m.Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/lQ6WcNV-0pA/
Mayans camilla belle instagram Robert Bork mark sanchez christina aguilera Mayan End Of The World
Workers rest sitting next to Telefonica's tower entrance in Barcelona
By Clare Kane and Josie Cox
MADRID/LONDON (Reuters) - Spanish telecoms company Telefonica <TEF.MC> is off life support after a year of asset disposals and cash-saving moves and now must focus on repairing its domestic business, boosting its revenues and rebuilding profits.
Eight months ago it was weighed down with 58 billion euros ($78 billion) of debt threatening its investment grade credit rating, having built up larger debts than its peers by taking advantage of the credit boom in Spain a decade ago to fund a huge expansion into Latin America, where it operates in over a dozen countries.
But since last summer it has sold down its stake in China Unicom <0762.HK> for 1.1 billion euros and exchanged 800 million euros of preference share debt for equity. It also scrapped its dividend of 150 euro cents a share intended for 2012 and a share buyback program to save 6.8 billion euros. It also raised 1.45 billion from floating its German O2-branded unit <O2Dn.DE>.
As a result Telefonica is expected to say in 2012 results on February 28 that it has now got its ratio of net debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) down to 2.35, from 2.65 at the end of June, credit analysts said.
That would protect its credit rating and could mean Telefonica will not have to spin off its Latin American arm with an $8 billion share offer as once expected, or follow rivals with other cash-raising measures.
Dutch group KPN <KPN.AS> earlier this month launched a 3 billion-euro share offer and 1 billion-euro hybrid capital issue while Telecom Italia <TLIT.MI> is also planning on issuing hybrid debt to help fund infrastructure spending.
The main challenge for Telefonica now is to repair its all-important Spanish business, which lost over 3 million mobile customers last year, with the company now trying to win back business by bundling internet, television, mobile and fixed line services under its Movistar Fusion brand.
But credit analysts say even without immediate growth in EBITDA it could protect its debt/EBITDA ratio by continuing to hold back on its once hefty dividend payments.
EBITDA for 2012 is on average expected to come in at around 21.1 billion euros, the lowest level since 2007 and down from 23.7 billion in 2011 and top-rated analysts expect it to then fall to 20.4 billion euros in 2013, 20.5 billion euros in 2014 and 20.8 billion in 2015, according to Thomson Reuters StarMine.
Meanwhile they are forecasting the company will pay a cash dividend for 2013 of just 60 euro cents, followed by 74 cents for 2014 and 79 cents for 2015, well down on the 130 cents paid out for 2011 and 150 cents that had been expected for 2012.
"The temporary suspension of the dividend has had a greater impact on free cash flow than other telcos due to the size of the payment. As a result Telefonica should be able to de-lever to its target levels even with declining EBITDA," said Nancy Utterback, credit strategist at asset manager Aviva Investors.
NO MORE ASSET SALES?
"What (Telefonica) needs to do and what I expect them to do is to preserve the current debt figure and gradually improve EBITDA," said Carlos Winzer, an analyst at Moody's, adding that he believed another big asset sale such as the flotation of its Latin American arm was no longer necessary.
Telefonica's better profile in debt markets is already reflected in the cost of credit default swaps to insure Telefonica's debt over a five-year period, which have fallen from more than 550 basis points (5.5 percentage points) in July to just 250 basis points, meaning it costs 25,000 euros to insure 1 million euros of debt.
In comparison Telecom Italia's <TLIT.MI> CDS trades at around 330 basis points, down 41 percent from its 560 basis-point high. Since this time last year, Deutsche Telekom's five-year CDS has fallen around 26 percent to 90 basis points while France Telecom's has edged just 8 percent lower to 128 basis points.
Meanwhile Telefonica last month raised 1.5 billion euros in a 10-year deal that priced at 230 basis points over mid-swaps, equating to a coupon of 3.987 percent. A year earlier a six-year bond priced at a much more expensive mid-swaps plus 300 bps.
"Spreads are still impacted by correlation to the sovereign, but yields have come down significantly," Utterback said.
SHARE PRICE
There are also some signs that group's capital work-out has attracted investors back to the stock, even though Telefonica must still prove it can fix Spain, which accounts for a third of operating profits, and address issues elsewhere in its empire.
A third of 39 analysts surveyed now have 'buy' ratings on the stock, with the other 26 evenly divided between 'holds' and 'sells', according to Thomson Reuters Eikon.
The company's share price has also increased 24 percent from its July low to close at 9.795 euros on Tuesday.
"The key thing that we're watching is cash flow sustainability on the core Spanish operation," said Laurent Millet, who manages the Artemis European Opportunities Fund.
"We wouldn't like them to float more assets," he added.
(Reporting by Clare Kane in Madrid and Josie Cox at IFR Markets in London; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
ben roethlisberger Diwali elmo Kevin Clash Walmart Black Friday 2012 Paula Broadwell Tilted Kilt
Feb. 21, 2013 ? Typing text messages on the mobile phone via the tiny soft keyboard is very cumbersome. How about simply writing it into the air! This idea drove the development of "airwriting" made by computer scientists of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Sensors attached to a glove record hand movements, a computer system captures relevant signals and translates them into text.
For the further development of mobile interfaces based on these ideas Professor Tanja Schultz and Dipl.-Inform. Christoph Amma received the "Google Faculty Research Award," worth $ 81.000.
The system offers a new interface for wearable computing applications. These are computer systems worn like clothes, which can be integrated seamlessly into the everyday life of the user. "Information technology is used any time and anywhere, but smart phones are still working on the basis of virtual keyboards and small screens. However, gestures allow for new types of input -- in particular for mobile devices or devices integrated in clothing. The interaction is embedded seamlessly in everyday life," says doctoral student Christoph Amma, who has developed the system at the Cognitive Systems Lab (CSL) of KIT. "The airwriting glove is used to write letters into air, as if using an invisible board or pad."
For this purpose, acceleration sensors and gyroscopes are attached to the thin glove. Contrary to systems based on cameras, these sensors are very small, mobile, and robust. They record the movements of the hand and transmit them to a computer system via a wireless connection. The computer system first checks whether the user is indeed writing. "All movements that are not similar to writing, such as cooking, doing laundry, waving to someone, are ignored. The system runs in the background without interpreting every movement as computer input," says Amma. The computer scientist thinks that the device is perfectly suited for future mixed-reality applications. For instance, in glasses with integrated miniaturized screens, news may be displayed to the user in the field of vision. "When such a system is combined with the possibility to input commands and texts by gestures, you do not even need a hand-held device," emphasizes Amma.
During writing, the airwriting system decodes the letters by a pattern recognition method. Previous approaches mainly focused on the recognition of single gestures assigned to certain commands. Amma's approach goes far beyond: For every letter of the alphabet, a statistical model of the characteristic signal pattern is stored. It also takes into account individual differences in the writing style. The system can recognize complete sentences written in capital letters and presently has a vocabulary of 8000 words. "The system has an error rate of 11%. When it is adapted to the individual writing style of the user, the error rate drops to 3%," Christoph Amma says. Scientists are now working on further refining the method to filter out writing. Moreover, they want to make the system smaller in order to increase wearing comfort and user acceptance.
"This can be achieved with commercial components. An unobtrusive wrist band might be feasible, for example," says Christoph Amma. It is also planned to integrate the system in smart phones. In this case, neither the wrist band nor the tiny soft keyboard would be required to writea text message.
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
bank of america Yunel Escobar Eye Black Cruel Summer Endeavor shaun white carolina panthers amanda bynes
