Why people get cold feet

ScienceDaily (July 31, 2012) ? Cold feet -- those chilly appendages that plague many people in the winter and an unlucky few all year round -- can be the bane of existence for singles and couples alike. In a new study, scientists led by Selvi C. Jeyaraj of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital have identified a biological mechanism that may be responsible for icy extremities: an interaction between a series of molecules and receptors on smooth muscle cells that line the skin's tiny blood vessels.

The new research, along with an accompanying editorial by Martin C. Michel of Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, and Paul A. Insel of the University of California at San Diego, suggest new contributors to this near-universal problem and potential targets to treat more serious problems that affect blood vessels in the cold, such as in Raynaud's disease.

The article appears in the American Journal of Physiology -- Cell Physiology.

Methodology

Jeyaraj and her colleagues studied smooth muscle cells derived from tiny blood vessels harvested from human skin biopsies and similar cells from mouse tail arteries. These cells contain receptors known as ?2C-AR, which cause constriction in their associated blood vessels and shut off blood flow under chilly conditions to conserve heat. The scientists also worked with different cells, called HEK cells, that do not normally express ?2C-AR but that can be modified to do so. Also studied were cells taken from tail arteries of mice genetically altered to no longer express a protein called Rap1A, which the authors hypothesized would interact with ?2C-AR.

Results

The researchers found that when they dosed cells that expressed ?2C-AR with chemicals that activate Rap1A, either directly or through means that involve another protein called Epac, the cells drew from pools of ?2C-AR near the cell's nucleus and moved these receptors to the cell surface. The series of events involved rearrangment of the cell's internal "skeleton," fibers that determine its shape and can transport items from one area of a cell to another.

Importance of the Findings and What Part of Cell Physiology Gets 'The Rap' Authors of the study and the accompanying editorial suggest that the series of events and biological interactions they identified could be responsible for the mechanism the body uses to limit blood supply to the skin in cold temperatures, which conserves more blood flow -- and hence, warmth -- for the body's internal organs. The findings may provide clues to where dysfunction occurs in disorders in which blood flow is erroneously cut off, such as Raynaud's disease. In this condition, sufferers lose circulation to the fingers, toes, and occasionally other areas when the body overreacts to cold temperatures. Raynaud's can sometimes be serious, leading to atrophy of skin and muscle, ulceration and rarely to ischemic gangrene. On a lighter note, the results also provide a possible explanation for the age-old problem of cold feet.

"Thus, if your partner complains again about your cold feet," the editorial authors write, "you have some new excuses: 'It's Epac's fault!' or 'Rap1A should get the rap!'"

Study Team In addition to Selvi C. Jeyaraj, the study team also includes Nicholas T. Unger and N. Paul El-Dahdah of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ali H. Eid of Qatar University, Srabani Mitra of Ohio State University, Lawrence A. Quilliam of Indiana University School of Medicine, Nicholas A. Flavahan of Johns Hopkins University, and Maqsood A. Chotani of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and Ohio State University.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Physiological Society (APS).

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

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Journal Reference:

1. S. C. Jeyaraj, N. T. Unger, A. H. Eid, S. Mitra, N. P. El-Dahdah, L. A. Quilliam, N. A. Flavahan, M. A. Chotani. Cyclic AMP-Rap1A Signaling Activates RhoA to Induce ?2C-Adrenoceptor Translocation to the Cell Surface of Microvascular Smooth Muscle Cells. AJP: Cell Physiology, 2012; DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00461.2011

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/srzAll3h9fs/120731151711.htm

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Huge power cut blacks out more than half of India

A massive power failure hit India for the second day running as three regional power grids collapsed Tuesday, blacking out more than half the country in a crisis affecting over 600 million people.

"The north, northeastern and the eastern grids are down but we are working and we will have them restored shortly," Naresh Kumar, a spokesman at the Powergrid Corporation of India Ltd, told AFP.

Federal Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters that the monster outage, which struck around 1:00 pm (0730 GMT) in the middle of the working day, was caused by states drawing power "beyond their permissible limits."

In New Delhi, the metro train system came to a standstill and traffic lights were out, causing chaos for the second day in a row after a failure on the northern grid on Monday which caused the worst outage in more than a decade.

"Drivers of all the metro trains have been asked to stop at the stations. No passengers will be allowed in the metro station until power is restored," said a spokeswoman for the network which carries two million people a day.

About 400 trains on the extensive national railway network were affected by the outage, a spokesman for the railways told AFP.

In the east, the city of Kolkata was without power as was the surrounding state of West Bengal as the eastern grid, which supplies five states, failed under the stress of over-demand.

"This is the worst power crisis in the region. We were supplying power to the northern grid and this power sharing has led to the collapse," West Bengal Power Minister, Manish Gupta, told AFP.

The same process appeared to have also tripped the northeastern grid, which went down shortly after problems developed on the eastern grid.

"This is a big crisis. We are working to restore power. Many states overdraw power and this has caused a complete collapse in eastern and northern India," said a senior official at the ministry of power in New Delhi.

Smriti Mehra, a teller in a Bank Of India branch in the capital, said the latest outage had caused chaos at work.

"Our main server is down. We have had to send back so many of our customers. There is no internet, nothing is working," Mehra said.

"It is a total breakdown of everything in our office," she added.

On Monday, the northern grid collapsed for six hours shortly after 2:00 am (2030 GMT Sunday), causing massive travel disruption and widespread inconvenience in nine states including the capital New Delhi.

In total, 20 out of 28 states were affected on Tuesday, according to an AFP calculation.

During Monday's blackout, major hospitals and airports were able to function normally on emergency back-up power, but train services were severely disrupted.

Shinde, the power minister, called it a "failure" but also boasted that India had been quick to restore power, unlike the United States which took days to restore electricity after a 2003 blackout on its eastern seaboard.

He and the rest of the government woke up Tuesday to a barrage of calls for urgent reform of the power sector.

Leading the charge were business lobby groups who said Monday's outage underlined the government's inability to address India's perennial electricity shortfall.

"The increasing gap between electricity supply and demand has long been a matter of concern," said Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of the Confederation of Indian Industry.

The CII, Banerjee said, has "consistently highlighted" the need for urgent steps to improve supplies of coal to thermal power plants and reforming state distribution utilities.

"This latest outage is just an urgent reminder for addressing these issues as a priority," he added.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/india-suffers-another-huge-power-failure-082902548.html

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Credit Counseling Vs Debt Negotiation

6:00 AM By Article Directory

'; div.innerHTML = summary; } //]]> Credit Counseling Vs Debt Negotiation Credit Counseling Vs Debt Negotiation

Credit counseling and debt negotiation deals are two very lucrative options to get out of debt. However both vary in their style of implementation and methodology. When a person needs to avoid bankruptcy, he goes for either of the two options depending upon his requirement and situation. Such relief options provide respite from the sky high debt installments by getting reduction in the amount or the interest rates.

Debt negotiations involves negotiating a debt deal with your creditors asking for reduction in amount because of your inability to pay back the whole amount. You can negotiate your yourself or hire a professional settlement company to deal with your creditors. Credit counseling is similar to debt negotiation and settlement differing in the fact that a third party counselor is hired to oversee the deal between the lenders and debtors. however the major drawback is that the third party is officially hired by the creditors and they try to strike a deal favoring the creditors more to increase their own earning.

Debt negotiations stand a better chance of getting you debt free more quickly. on an average negotiations can reduce your debt amount by almost 50% and get you debt free in 3-5 years. Credit counseling on the other hand focuses more on lowering the interest rate on the outstanding debt to help decrease the monthly installments and provide relief. This can help you become debt free in anywhere between 5-7 years. Thus credit counseling neither actually affects the principal amount nor time to pay it back. Debt negotiations stand a much better chance of a good deal and hefty reduction. Moreover a professional settlement company will not only help you with negotiations but also handle your weak financial situation.

Their are several debt relief options available in this market so it would be wise to speak with a debt relief specialist to determine which option makes the most financial sense for you. Whether it is credit counseling, debt settlement, debt consolidation, or bankruptcy, a debt relief specialist will be able to steer you in the right direction.

Check out the following link for a free debt consultation from a specialist in your area:

Free Debt Help [http://www.freedebtsettlementadvice.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danielle_Sanders

Source: http://business-negotiation.blogspot.com/2012/07/credit-counseling-vs-debt-negotiation_31.html

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Small business marketing solutions | Baltimore Share

advertising your business salt lake city Do you need a new way to give your business a quick and powerful boost? Starting a marketing campaign is a great way to give pertinent information about your business to new audiences. There are a variety of resources that can be used for your marketing strategy. A creative radio advertisement or TV commercial can reach audiences of all ages and demographics. A marketing campaign could also include innovative content and designs for magazine ads, billboards, or mailers. With all these possibilities to choose from, a professional marketing company can help direct you in the way that will help your business the most. Together, you will develop a unique marketing plan that is tailored to your individual situation, goals, and budgets. After you begin your effective marketing strategy, your client pool will grow, your profits will rise, and your business will never be the same. More Information on Marketing a business

Source: http://www.baltimorecarshare.org/?p=30568

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Writers and Authors: What works for one writer

What works for one writer

My name is Shon Hyneman and I?m a Husband of ten years to Londina Hyneman and Father of two children. I am a speaker and owner of Never Again Ministries which promotes Marriage Enhancement and Holistic Relationships from a Biblical perspective yet apply it to your everyday life. I am the author of four books If You Apply These Principles?God Is More Practical Than We Think (2008) It?s The Woman You Gave Me (2009) Workbook: Three Are Even Better (2010) and my latest book WISDOM: Preventing Problems Before They Happen (2012) How I became an author is through conversing with my Wife about various issues in Marriage and relationships from money to children to sex. In these conversations is where I would get my materials for my books. We would coach married couples and singles on the most relevant issues surrounding their lives. I?m an avid reader so material would come from books too. One key to writing a successful book is to be transparent to the readers. Not only talk about your achievements but talk about your failures and how you overcame adversity. Writers block happens to the best of us. What works for me is to step away from the notepad, desktop or whatever I use to write and do something else to take my mind off writing. Later on I come back to writing with a clear mind to write about my book?s topic. I try to take as many notes as possible when I have an idea for a book so when I write I already have a table of contents and at least a chapter to start with. That?s what works for me when I encounter writers block. I prefer to self-publish than to go with the traditional publishing company route. With today?s social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn one is able to promote their work online. I have an editor, graphic artist (for book cover design) and I purchased a block of ISBN numbers for future books I write. I also have a printing company I use when it?s time to order copies of my books in bulk. For marketing you can have a virtual book tour which is someone you pay for them to connect you with people who have their own radio shows and interview you on their blog. It?s a great and efficient way for an unknown author to get the necessary publicity they need. I suggest one write about what they are passionate about as opposed to what?s popular. Whatever one is passionate about they will go the extra mile to do the research for the necessary material they need for their book. Also, read as much as possible about what you are passionate about. For example, I am passionate about marriage and relationships so I read at least fifteen books a year on that topic. If one choose to use material from other books make sure you give them the credit. The last thing an author need is to be known for plagiarism. Guest post by?Shon Hyneman

Source: http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com/2012/07/what-works-for-one-writer.html

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After the battle, despair grips Damascus

(The identities of the reporters have been withheld for their security)

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - In the once bustling shopping district of Hamra Street in the heart of Damascus, three men - all made homeless by fighting which raged in the city for two weeks - sit outside their empty shops on a deserted pavement.

Residents of the eastern and southern suburbs of the Syrian capital, which have been hardest hit by President Bashar al-Assad's fierce counter-offensive against rebel forces, they have sought shelter with family in central Damascus.

"Can you believe that all three of us here have fled our homes? All of us are from destroyed homes. Living with relatives in the centre of town," said Ahmed, a shop owner from Douma, an opposition suburb to the east of the capital.

They have joined many thousands who have retreated inwards to relative safety, leaving the city shrunken and surrounded by a still smoldering war zone.

But even central Damascus has been shattered by the violence. Shops open only between 9 am and 3 pm, food prices have soared and no one dares walk outside after dusk, even in the holy month of Ramadan when streets are normally packed late into the night with people celebrating after a day of fasting.

"There are no customers and I sent my employees home. I cannot afford to pay them. I cannot afford to pay the installments on my home. I am bankrupt," said Ahmed who, like others interviewed for this article, declined to give his full name.

The men, from the southern suburb of Sayida Zeinab and Hajar al-Aswad - hit by rockets and heavy machine gun fire from helicopter gunships - said they initially had little sympathy with the uprising against 42 years of Assad family rule, inspired by revolts across the Arab world last year.

"To begin with I was with the regime, for sure," said Ahmed. "But now, no, the regime must go. Take what they want with them, but they must go."

Mohammad blamed the 46-year-old president, who has vowed to defeat what he says is foreign-backed terrorist violence, for the increasing despair in Damascus.

"Can anyone stand by him now? I don't believe it. We're all refugees. We have no houses, no money. Our bosses don't pay us. This must end."

REFUGEE RESTAURANTS

Restaurants in the centre of Damascus, which would normally be packed at dusk as Muslims break their daily Ramadan fast, say they have been empty for days.

"From the first day of Ramadan till today, not one customer has stepped into this restaurant," said Mohammad, who works at a restaurant in the 29th of May street, a few blocks north of the old city. "Five people came today but because I wasn't expecting anyone I had to turn them away."

Only the snack restaurants selling fatayer - meat or vegetables wrapped in pastry - are doing good business, feeding displaced people in schools and gardens.

A school in Barzeh, in northern Damascus, has taken in 1,500 displaced people from Douma, Qaboun and Harasta, rebel strongholds to the east which have been pounded by Assad's army.

"All sorts of help is brought, especially food in Ramadan," said one activist at the school.

In many districts the pervasive stench of rotten garbage, left uncollected throughout last week's scorching heat and heavy fighting, has finally dissipated following a cleanup by both residents and authorities.

In the northern neighborhood of Jisr al-Abyad, people desperate for business have resorted to selling goods on the pavements, something which in pre-crisis days would have been immediately stopped by city authorities.

Checkpoints and roadblocks hamper movement for those who want to travel.

"I can't get to work or deliver my goods, not that there is much business anyway ... I haven't brought a penny home in three months," said Bassam, a honey producer who fled his home in Douma with his family to stay with relatives in central Abu Roumaneh.

"No one is buying, no one is selling. The Syrian pound is weak ... And prices of everything have sky rocketed,' said Marwan, an agricultural products supplier.

Fears over a prolonged blockade and food and petrol shortages saw a spike in the price of foodstuffs of up to 150 percent last week with three-hour queues forming at gas stations until a convoy of tankers on Sunday brought more petrol.

In Midan, the first district of the capital to be retaken by Assad's forces eight days ago, the wreckage of burned-out cars, destroyed buildings and bullet-ridden walls and windows bore witness to indiscriminate destruction.

"I came back on Monday and found my home turned inside out. luckily I had taken my gold and money with me but the army took my son's clothes, my perfume bottles and other items," said Huda, a resident of Damascus' traditional heartland.

"Please tell the world to cut China and Russia off and to get us a no-fly zone," another Midan resident said, reflecting the anger of Assad's opponents towards Beijing and Moscow for blocking Western-backed United Nations resolutions over Syria.

"I swear that if it wasn't for my family I would be out there fighting with the Free Syrian Army."

WARY OF REBELS

Not everyone is rooting for the rebels. Aside from staunchly pro-Assad loyalists, there is an increasing number of people who oppose the president but are wary of the FSA.

"Neither side is a very attractive option for Syria ... The regime is a beast but the FSA, the Salafists and the international agenda are going to destroy the country," said Housam, a local resident.

That despair is echoed in the Shaalan vegetable market, where shoppers and shopkeepers alike see little chance of escaping the spiral of violence and economic collapse.

One woman shopping at the market said she had only started leaving her home in the last two days, in daylight.

"Life has become one big problem. Syrians are killing Syrians. Everyone in my street in Mezze fled," said another woman driving to Shaalan. "The country is being destroyed."

Like his customers, a shopkeeper bemoaned the high prices.

"I'm just like them - I can only get food and vegetables and fruit if I pay double. And it only gets here with difficulty. None of us can bear it," he said.

"The solution is in the hands of the regime. Either he goes, or he stays on killing people," said the shopkeeper, choosing out of contempt or residual fear not to speak Assad's name out loud. "As long as he stays, there is no solution."

(Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by Giles Elgood)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/battle-despair-grips-damascus-100122295.html

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Internet Marketing- Free Helpful Guideline For Home Business ...

Saturday, July 28th, 2012 at 9:55 pm ?

Welcome to my Blog,If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed.and do not forget to download Your Free Gift Thanks for visiting!

Internet Marketing- Free Helpful Guideline For Home Business Internet Marketing

Article by pawan tiwari

Selling is actually the craft of connecting different producers ( or potential producers ) of product or service with prospects, both existing and potential. Marketing pros fundamentally use 4 variables while writing marketing plans and making market methods. They?re typically referred to as the four P?s ( which are Project, process, people & product ). The mixture of these variables is referred because Marketing Mix. A marketing mix is the blend of these 4 variables in a fashion that may meet or improve organizational objectives. A new selling mix is usually crafted for each product offering. When a secrets or plans are build it engages a blend of these four mixture. A tactic of selling costly beneficial products in bargain stores has poor coherency between distribution and product offering.

As you hunt for home business internet marketing related information or new information about internet marketing tool or site promotion, take your era to analysis the below article. It will supply you with a really refreshing close into the home business internet marketing information that you want. After going during it you will furthermore be healthier informed concerning information in some way related to home business internet marketing, such as mypipit blog the sexiest internet marketing solution or even site promotion.

What happens is that generally, a few prospects without sufficient online selling training get lucky with some specialised and limited knowledge gained or purchased and make some $ $ and this info gets round. They?re normally never habitually lucky and so such successes are brief and aren?t sustained.Another reason may also be due to the hype by various ?get cash quick schemes?. These are mere selling gimmicks.It must be spotted that Internet Marketing is a body of information just like other courses such because medicine, accountancy, dispensary, law, design, offline promoting etc for which folk study and even get degrees before practicing.

This is therefore critical as while there?s a great deal of Online marketing which can sometimes be done without a great amount of expense,other kinds of Online marketing do have financial fees associated with them.lso, in both cases there is a resources burden to orchestrating the web marketing.For all these reasons it is really important for online marketer whether she or he is a newb or expert to continuously judge and track their promoting methodologies and methods to see what?s working and what is not.This will aid the web marketer to concentrate his efforts on promoting systems which are providing positive results versus those which are either not providing results or are only providing lackluster results.

BREATHER ? As you pause on reading this article I hope it has so far provided you with insightful information related to home business internet marketing. Even if it hasn?t so far, the remainder will, whether your interest is home business internet marketing directly or other related angle such as affiliate internet marketing web, website marketing, all over me the new scent of wen stefani, free web promotion.

Of course, just like golfing, the best part of your game is established thru basic training. In the case of internet marketing, basic coaching means developing a understanding of general revenue stream techniques and technical lingo, and then learning to make money through free strategies. If you can make cash online without having to spend any cash, then you?ve got the Midas ? Touch. The truth is, you?ll be able to replace your full time job cash just by using free strategies. I didn?t spend a penny, but earned enough to give up my job and work from home. That is what mastery is fundamentally about. Once you have nailed that, then you?ll look at refining your game and moving on to the subsequent wealth level. Learn internet marketing from the bottom upwards.

The fad in internet marketing because they serve as less formal tools to reach out to customers, prospects, and leads. Blogs are also particularly impressive content management tools that may swiftly and easily build content-driven sites, and RSS fields help blogs reach the awareness of search engine automated robots faster.Fresh content is the key strength of blogs which make them very engaging to search engines, since nothing draws crawlers more than fresh and unique content. It is for this awfully reason that websites are suggested to maintain their own blogs and RSS fields as they will attract search website spiders to regularly visit your website. As a whole, all tools that supply fresh and unique info are effective in getting visitors go to your site and crawlers test your site.

ADDENDUM ? You have come to the end of this article related to home business internet marketing. It is our utmost hope that you found it not only helpful as regards home business internet marketing but in some way as regards business internet marketing network, internet marketing idea, how do i get started in internet marketing, work at home business related information.

The single biggest online marketing tool is the Word tracker. The Word tracker is a great device as it allows one to confirm if there is a market for one?s concept before one wastes time and cash on it. It can also be used to come up with concepts for sites. Apart from the word tracker, an article list also plays a great role in internet marketing. Somebody writes an article and deposits it in the catalog.

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So here is chance to get your free tips on home bussniess internet marketing and in addition to that get basic information on saving money visit business home bussniess internet marketing network

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Self Improvement | Surviving a Layoff - How to Stay Positive When ...

By Susan McMillin -

All the advice on surviving a layoff says to stay positive, but this can be difficult when your income and part of your identity and social network are ripped away. Coping with job loss requires more than good financial management, it requires good emotional management too.

The good news is that science shows that we usually over-estimate how much pain we will feel. We consistently think negative events like losing a job will depress us more and for a longer time than they actually do. But, Research shows that we quickly get distracted by other events and feel those associated emotions- often within hours.

Science also shows that as long as we have food and shelter, we will eventually come back to a happiness set point. Research on lottery winners and people who become disabled through sudden injury shows that we tend to adapt and settle at a basic level of life satisfaction- often within a matter of months. So even if you do nothing, your positive approach to life will return.

Now, here are 7 more quick tips for getting and keeping positive faster:

1. Make an emotional survival plan as well as a financial one.
2. Stay connected to other people. Don?t back away from family and friends, they are your best support.
3. Focus on What You Want. Not only does this invoke the law of attraction, which is that you get what you think about most, but it activates different brain chemicals that help you think better.
4. Stay busy, stay active. Activity keeps you from thinking about all the things that could go wrong. Exercise helps to lower the stress hormones in your body and improves mood.
5. Have some fun. Make sure that you do something fun every day to keep you in touch with why it is good to be alive no matter what your job is.
6. Sing songs. Even singing the blues lifts your spirits.
7. Count your blessings. Gratitude has often been called a vaccine against stress.

There is no question; surviving a layoff is hard and coping with job loss takes work. Staying positive requires more than telling yourself the glass is half full when you think it is really three quarters empty. But, science shows that your natural happiness mechanisms will help you cheer up over time and there are lots of things you can do to move the process along. Science also shows us the effort to stay positive is worth while because positive people are statistically more likely to solve problems and find creative solutions.

For more information on how to survive an economic depression with your smile intact, go to http://www.happylifeu.com Or, sign up to get free, weekly Happy Life Tips delivered to your mailbox at Happy Life Tip of the Week. The author of this article, Susan McMillin, is a systems engineer, life coach, and the founder of Happy Life U, a website dedicated to helping you be happier now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_McMillin
http://EzineArticles.com/?Surviving-a-Layoff?How-to-Stay-Positive-When-Coping-With-Job-Loss?Part-1-of-a-3-Article-Series&id=2001210

Listen to The Self Improvement Show on Thursday August 2 and ask Gary Spinell your? questions about how to land a job NOW.?

?

Source: http://theselfimprovementblog.com/self-improvement/self-improvement-skills/surviving-a-layoff-how-to-stay-positive-when-coping-with-job-loss-part-1-of-a-3-article-series/

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Indonesian rescuers free stranded whale

Rescuers and navy divers in Indonesia Saturday helped a sperm whale return to the sea after it was stranded in shallow waters off the coast of West Java province for four days.

The 11-metre (36-feet) whale had been stuck near Pakis Jaya beach since Wednesday, attracting local residents who paid half a US dollar each for boat rides close to the animal, thereby hampering rescue efforts.

"We gradually pulled the whale into deeper waters with a tugboat. When it reached a 20-metre depth, we released it back into the sea," Benvika from the Jakarta Animal Aid Network told AFP by phone from the beach, 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of the capital Jakarta.

"When we cut the rope tied to the tugboat, the whale seemed very exhausted. It was floating for a while... spouted water from its head and started swimming to the north," said Benvika, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

Up to 30 boats carrying tourists had converged around the whale at one time before the rescuers arrived, as the animal struggled to swim out to sea.

Some onlookers jumped onto the whale, causing wounds to its body.

A few fishermen had also tried to crudely pull the animal back to sea, also hurting it in the process, he said, adding the whale was covered with blisters on is back.

"We're very proud to save it and also glad as the whale still has a spirit to live," Benvika said, adding that 22 navy divers helped with the rescue effort.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/indonesian-rescuers-free-stranded-whale-155656791.html

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Plustek MobileOffice D430

The Plustek MobileOffice D430 is a portable sheetfed scanner that can simultaneously scan both sides of a two-sided document, and can scan ID and other plastic cards. Users can choose between 9 preset (and customizable) scanning destinations using simple push-button controls. As it lacks an automatic document feeder (ADF), the D430 is best for scanning loose paper, one-page (including two-sided) documents, and embossed plastic cards.

At 2.3 by 11.9 by 3.7 inches (HWD) and 2.1 pounds, the D430 is on the large and heavy side for a portable scanner, but it's still small enough (and light enough,) to be reasonably portable or to serve as a light-duty desktop scanner. It comes with a power adapter and a USB cord for connecting to a computer.

It can scan plastic cards up to 1.2mm thick, including embossed cards, credit cards, driver's licenses, ID cards, and the like. Plustek sees the D430 as primarily for vertical markets such as healthcare and banking, at admissions desks, nursing stations, bank teller stations, and other situations needing a small scanner that can scan plastic cards.

Operation
By sliding a plastic panel in back of the scanner up or down, you can set the paper path, either straight-through (as you'll need when scanning plastic cards) or vertical, so the page will exit from the top. Scanning a page is a straightforward process; you insert a document into the scanner's front slot, and the scanner grabs the paper (or card) and pulls it into position. Then you toggle to the scan function of your choosing and press the scan button.

To the right of the paper slot is a single-character numeric LED, a scan button, and two function buttons that act as up and down controls for choosing between 9 preset (yet configurable) functions. They include converting text documents into searchable PDF or PDF image files; scanning images to MS Paint; scanning and saving images to file (the default is JPEG); scanning images of text documents to editable text for OCR; scanning business cards to a card-reading program; scanning directly to print; scanning to email; scanning to the DI Capture utility; and scanning to an FTP server.

Bundled software includes Twain and WIA drivers?the Twain driver lets you scan from nearly any program with a scan command?Abbyy FineReader 9.0 Sprint OCR program, HotCard Technology's BizCard Finder 3.0, Plustek DI Capture document management program, Plustek DI Express 6, and Plustek's DocAction scan utility.

Performance
Scan speeds for manual-feed scanners are of limited use, as much depends on how fast you can feed the paper into the scanner. I timed scans using FineReader at the default 300 dpi resolution and grayscale mode. For simplex scans, it averaged 13.5 seconds to scan and process a page before it would accept and scan another page, for a clip of 4.4 pages per minute (ppm). With duplex scanning, it averaged 16 seconds per page, or 7.6 images per minute (ipm), with each side of the page counting as an image. Both times are marginally slower than the Plustek MobileOffice D412 , and considerably slower than the Editors' Choice Canon imageFormula P-215 Scan-tini Personal Document Scanner ($325 direct), which averaged 6.3 ppm and 12.6 ipm in simplex and duplex scanning, respectively.

In our OCR testing using Abby FineReader ?(the one real "keeper" software program included in the bundle), the D430 did particularly well with Times Roman, reading the text perfectly at all sizes down to 5 points. With Arial, it made a single mistake at both 10 points and 8 points, but read all text cleanly at 6 points. It did a so-so job on business-card scanning; it was mistake free on a few cards, but most had at least two mistakes.

The D430 is a worthy scanner, suitable for its intended role. It's best for scanning loose paper and one- or two-sided single-page documents in addition to ID cards, as it lacks an automatic document feeder (ADF). It is a bit pricey for its capabilities. ?The Editors' Choice Canon imageFormula P-215 Scan-tini Personal Document Scanner also scans in duplex and can handle ID cards, but adds a 20-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) to the mix. If you don't need to scan plastic cards, the Editors' Choice Canon imageFormula P-150 Scan-tini and Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 each provide duplex scanning and an ADF.

More Scanner Reviews:

??? Plustek MobileOffice D430
??? VuPoint Solutions Magic Wand Wi-Fi PDSWF-ST44-VP
??? VuPoint Solutions Magic Wand PDS-ST415-VPS
??? Pandigital Portable Wand Scanner with Feeder Dock (PanScn09)
??? Pandigital Handheld Wand Scanner (PanScn08)
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/ZSwTsLEiino/0,2817,2407703,00.asp

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Fight over ex-Gitmo detainee's book profits ends WORLD NEWS ...

WORLD NEWS TOMORROW SYDNEY ?? The Australian government on Tuesday dropped its court battle to seize profits from a book written by a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, saying his admissions of terrorist activity before a U.S. military commission could not be relied upon.

David Hicks, an ex-kangaroo skinner and Outback cowboy, said he felt vindicated by the decision. He was captured in Afghanistan in 2001 and spent more than five years at the U.S. prison camp in Cuba. A plea deal in 2007 allowed him to return to Australia to serve a nine-month prison sentence for providing material support to al-Qaida.

Last year, the government launched court action against Hicks, arguing that he should not be allowed to profit from his autobiography, ?Guantanamo: My Journey,? because he is a convicted criminal. Hicks is believed to have made around 10,000 Australian dollars ($10,300) from sales of the book.

On Tuesday, prosecutor Lionel Robberds told New South Wales state Supreme Court Justice Peter Garling that the government had decided to drop the case. In a statement, the prosecutor?s office said there wasn?t enough evidence to continue.

In Australia, criminals can be sued for money that a federal court determines is proceeds from their crimes, including indirect profits from book and movie deals. But it was unclear whether Australia?s criminal profit law applied to Hicks because he pleaded guilty before a U.S. military commission ? part of a justice system that has been widely criticized by lawyers and governments as unfair.

Hicks? lawyers had argued that their client could not be sued under Australia?s criminal profit law because the conditions at Guantanamo amounted to duress. In a statement Tuesday, Hicks? legal team said the commonwealth decided to drop the case weeks after the lawyers provided evidence of the circumstances under which Hicks pleaded guilty, ?including instances of severe beatings, sleep deprivation and other conditions of detention that contravene international human rights norms.?

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions said in a statement that Hicks had provided ?evidential material not previously available? to prosecutors after the initial legal challenge over his book profits was launched. The prosecutor?s office did not explain what that evidence was, but said it subsequently decided that Hicks? admissions to the U.S. military commission could not be relied upon and opted to drop the case.

Justice Garling ordered the government to pay Hicks? court costs.

?In a way I feel that this has cleared my name,? Hicks said outside court following the hearing. ?I hope that now the Australian government acknowledges that Guantanamo Bay and everything connected with it is illegal.?

Hicks was captured in Afghanistan by the U.S.-backed Northern Alliance in late 2001. In his autobiography, he wrote that he had undergone military training in Afghanistan at a camp that al-Qaida?s former leader Osama bin Laden visited, but he denied that it was terrorist training.

He wrote that he admitted to a charge of providing material support to al-Qaida so he could escape Cuba. He said his only options were to plead guilty to a crime he did not commit or commit suicide.

Source: http://www.worldnewstomorrow.com/?p=2157

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Fundraiser aims to fight leukemia, promote fitness | Cancer Kick

NASHUA ? Best Fitness will host an exercise benefit for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society today, replete with outdoors cycling, zumba classes and an obstacle course for adults and children alike.

?Best-A-Palooza is almost like a family field day,? said Scott Fournier, a manager at the Nashua club. ?Exercise is definitely important for everyone.?

Fournier said that since kids look up to adults, getting to exercise together will provide the children with a positive example.

The event was dedicated to the fight against leukemia because of the daughter of club member Malisa Mignosa, Ayva, who was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 2. Ayva is now a 7-year-old who will be present at the event.

Among the activities are relay races, tire flips, potato sack races, tug-o?-war, face painting, sidewalk chalk and an opportunity to test your endurance on the obstacle course.

Fournier said the club?s private trainers will be manning the course?s various stations, and timing the participants? progress. The fastest athlete will win a year-long membership to the gym.

Representatives from Smokey Bones restaurant will be on the scene with coupons and breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m.

Susan Bardack, a representative at Best Fitness headquarters in Albany, New York, explained how Best-A-Palooza is part of the company?s strategy.

?We?ve been trying to organize more community events to get people the opportunity to sample fitness without having to join the gym, and so we created Best-a-Palooza to bring fitness outside,? she said.

Admission to Best-A-Palooza is $10, with kids 13 and under getting in for free. Rides on the stationary bikes are $5 for a half hour.

All of the proceeds raised will be donated to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Additional funds will be donated to the cause for every person who joins the gym during the day.

The event runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Best Fitness, 55 Northeastern Blvd. in Nashua.

srios@newstote.com

Article source: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120728/NEWHAMPSHIRE/707289990&source=RSS

Source: http://cancerkick.com/2012/07/28/fundraiser-aims-to-fight-leukemia-promote-fitness/

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How a Multi-Channel Solutions Approach Might Be Best for Your ...

As we shared with you in our last blog post, today?s customers have needs that are far more diverse than those of a decade ago. Today, customers expect to have their immediate concerns quickly addressed, whether it?s through online communication, telephone services, or a mixture of them both! Is your business equipped to handle the demand quickly?

As customers change their preferences, at USA800 we change our tactics. To meet these needs for our partners as quickly as possible, we offer multi-channel solutionsthat include the following high tech channel options:

Managing your community of customers is sometimes best done with several different approaches.

Social Media Response ? To help manage the mass brand perception of our partners, our social media advocates help organize and summarize social media?s response to a business/

Email Management ? Since email is channel that can so quickly be overrun by spam and too much information, we use email management technology? and ACD queues to respond to customers efficiently.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) ? This channel doesn?t replace live advocates, but it does provide a great method for handling quick transactions in a cost effective way.

Web and Live Chat Services ? Through your own website, we can use our technology to help your customers quickly have questions answered in a way that is convenient for them.

You can read more about these contact center channels by visiting USA800 online or calling 800.504.9000.

?

Image via Salvatore Vuono

Source: http://www.contactcenterquips.com/featured/how-a-multi-channel-solutions-approach-might-be-best-for-your-business/

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The Top 10 Most Expensive States To Live In | Clear Finance and ...

How does your state rank in the most expensive states to live in? Let?s find out.

According to CNBC, there is a direct correlation between the most expensive states to live in and states with highest quality of life; so, if you?re living well, you?re probably paying a lot for it.

Although many states are struggling to stay above water, the costs associated with building state funds back to where they should theoretically be trickles down to the shoulders of the taxpayers, according to the experts.

What that means is that if you?re living in one of the states listed below, the state itself is most likely in financial turmoil (as many states are) and you?re most likely paying higher taxes, according to the experts.

But despite the high costs in each of these states, there are tactics and tips to live frugally whether you?re living in one of these states or not.

Experts suggest many tips but the most popular tip is to clip coupons and buy items online if offered free shipping.

Some of the states that are listed in the report are struggling mightily, some even having cities filing for bankruptcy. Although these numbers seem few and far between, it?s important to know that many states are in the same boat, just to different degrees, according to the experts.

The CNBC study focused on 6 items that are universal to all states: a single family home, a movie ticket, rent, doctor visit, gallon of gas, and a T-bone steak.

Let?s take a look at the top 10 most expensive states to live in within the United States.

1. Hawaii

House: $659,530
Movie ticket: $10.31
Rent: $2,658
Doctor visit: $129.13
Gallon of gas: $3.987
T-bone steak: $7.80

2. Alaska

House: $493,167
Movie ticket: $10.50
Rent: $1,437
Doctor visit: $156.42
Gallon of gas: $3.941
T-bone steak: $10.64

3. Connecticut

House: $568,945
Movie ticket: $10.38
Rent: $1,993
Doctor visit: $116.74
Gallon of gas: $3.845
T-bone steak: $10.82

4. New York

House: $1,215,129
Movie ticket: $13.06
Rent: $3,378
Doctor visit: $140.40
Gallon of gas: $3.884
T-bone steak: $14.25

5. California

House: $799,988
Movie ticket: $10.81
Rent: $2,524
Doctor visit: $121.27
Gallon of gas: $3.741
T-bone steak: $10.25

6. New Jersey

House: $497,759
Movie ticket: $10.86
Rent: $1,631
Doctor visit: $83.24
Gallon of gas: $3.449
T-bone steak: $9.91

7. Rhode Island

House: $359,282
Movie ticket: $10.85
Rent: $1,375
Doctor visit: $149.00
Gallon of gas: $3.606
T-bone steak: $10.51

8. Maryland

House: $534,832
Movie ticket: $10.86
Rent: $1,577
Doctor visit: $87.98
Gallon of gas: $3.625
T-bone steak: $10.28

9. Vermont

House: $394,512
Movie ticket: $9.19
Rent: $1,354
Doctor visit: $102.50
Gallon of gas: $3.494
T-bone steak: $8.75

10. Massachusetts

House: $534,420
Movie ticket: $10.77
Rent: $1,450
Doctor visit: $145.33
Gallon of gas: $3.503
T-bone steak: $9.61

Source: http://www.clearbankruptcy.com/blog/the-top-10-most-expensive-states-to-live-in/

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Patricia interviews Andrea Braund ? Home Staging & Design ...

Patricia and David work together to give their clients the benefit of their background in sales, marketing and real estate investing. That experience translates into clients getting value for the home they buy or sell. As a team, they are able to give clients the extra benefit of two agents for the price of one.

Source: http://northwestrealestateforum.com/2012/patricia-interviews-andrea-braund-home-staging-design/

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Hot Tubs And Spa Tips

The buying of hot tubs and spa amenities will not be an everyday affair. Even if you have got to fit the acquisition into your everyday activity, taking A few minutes now to get ready for a prudent buy could save you a lot of money.

Seating capacity is definitely the initial component worth looking at when choosing a hot tub spa. Before you even begin the operation of shopping, take into consideration the quantity of individuals you desire the spa to support. How big is your household? Will you be entertaining often and, in that case, will you be entertaining large numbers or just a few people at one time?

If you anticipate enjoying the isolation of the spa, you could wish to maintain it to remain small to make sure that your preferences are guaranteed. Taking turns is definitely an alternative!
The next thing to consider is area. Although spas may be used both inside and outdoors, the majority of Canadians choose to have their spas outdoors to improve their backyard leisure area. You want your Jacuzzi to enhance your leisure area, instead of take it over. In order to avoid discovering that it's overbearing, you've got to look into the proportions of your outdoor area and the feel of your environment when scouting for your spa. One way to assist you to do this is to outline the Jacuzzis length and width in tape or string as part of your outdoor space. This visual should help make decisions easier.

Also glance at the earth below that will have to support the tub. A structurally-sound and flat surface is needed to ensure the integrity of the spa, plus your security, is preserved.

Youll need to take into account site prep when selecting and installing your newly purchased spa. If you think you need to boost the site of the new spa in advance of set up, here are several selections for doing so. To enhance the integrity of the support ground for ones tub, manufactured spa pads, cement slabs, a gravel base, or even decorative paver stone are extremely efficient and well-liked possibilities. Your spa will last longer and feel more comfortable with the years to come due to this fact.

Your new Jacuzzi might also be just one single portion of a full backyard transformation. In case you are considering landscape designs, placing a deck in or anything of the like, make sure you factor all of this into each other. As an illustration, ensure that you factor the decks highest load capacity into you shopping process. In actual fact, there are numerous more details to contemplate with respect to site preparation, especially when other leisure elements are involved. We highly recommend you talk to a skilled building contractor if you're planning on pairing deck installations with the installation of a whole new Jacuzzi spa.

There are a lot ways to go about making your final purchase. The best way is to honour your finances. Chances are you'll see what appears to be an incredible sale, but if you havent budgeted effectively or performed sufficient research, you could possibly be sorry. You can find different series of tubs based on budget needs which range from simple value tubs to ultimate spa experiences. Spend time to know your capacity to pay when acquiring hot tubs and spa facilities. It's possible to search for another hot tub sale down the road.

About the Author:
Jay Real is the owner of Oakville Home Leisure.Oakville Home Leisure offers a wide range of quality products for your complete home leisure experience.Saunas,hot tubs, billiard tables, and outdoor patio furniture sets are just a few of the products the company specializes in.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Hot-Tubs-And-Spa-Tips/4064167

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Slump economics: there is an alternative | Public Finance Opinion

The Chancellor must stop making excuses for the continuing downturn and take steps to stimulate the economy now?

Today?s GDP figures show that in the second quarter of 2012 the economy shrunk by 0.7 per cent. Taken together with the poor economic performance of the previous six months, and the stagnation of the last year, this means that our economy is now smaller than it was when the government took office.

In early 2008, when we first entered recession ? a result of global financial meltdown ? our economy was more than four per cent larger than it is today. Even before today?s dreadful statistics this was the slowest recovery in a century. Adjectives barely exist to describe the economic debacle of a double-dip recession that has now lasted nine months.

The last few years have brought a range of excuses for our economic difficulties. First it was the snow, then the sun, the Royal Wedding and the Jubilee. But without significant underlying economic weakness none of these factors would have had so much sway over our economic fortunes.

In the decade before the financial crash we managed to grow our economy pretty successfully despite variations in our weather patterns. In fact, the stream of recent excuses has more in common with the narratives of governments of the Great Depression than with any recent analysis of what determines economic performance.

The Chancellor continues to claim that we have no alternative to fiscal austerity; that without such rapid and sharp spending cuts the costs of our debt will become unsustainable, leading interest rates to rise and creating an even worse economic scenario. His analysis has always been that there is no viable economic alternative.

But we now have fresh evidence (which international examples have always provided) that there is. Despite economic catastrophe we can still borrow at record lows ? the costs of our debt are a consequence of the damaging impact that our economic quagmire is having on wider investor confidence, not a vindication of the government?s approach.

While government services are still making a small positive contribution to growth, it?s one that is declining ? and at this point in a slump should be far greater. And the significant cuts in public investment that are already underway are clearly making themselves felt on construction output, with dramatic drops in output responsible for more than half of today?s overall economic contraction. We are in desperate need of a fiscal stimulus to give us a demand injection that will restore growth, yet we have a government that is failing to see sense.

The Chancellor?s plan was developed when growth forecasts for 2012 were 28 times stronger than is currently the case (and today?s data mean they are only likely to get worse). It absolutely has to be time for a new approach. If we invest now in the infrastructure and job programmes that will help us build a stronger economic future, as well as giving the economy the much-needed boost it needs, we can start to avert further economic misery.

If we don?t, the long-term economic damage could be immeasurable. Lost capacity isn?t just economic jargon ? it?s real people?s jobs and workplaces, permanently destroyed by falling output and low growth. There are already close to 2.6 million people out of work, and many more without the hours they need to make ends meet.

We?re in too much of a mess to keep playing politics with people?s lives ? the Chancellor needs to admit he was wrong and act now to stop further damage.

Nicola Smith is the Trades Union Congress head of economics and social affairs

Source: http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2012/07/slump-economics-there-is-an-alternative/

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Local Blotter: Teenage Foam-Party, Kids Sell Coke For Dad, & One ...

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

It was a busy weekend for law breakers in Northeast?Ohio?as sex, drugs, booze and foam were all present.

First, on Friday (July 20th) police were called to break up a party in Solon ? but this wasn?t your?average house party. ??Solon police responded to complaints of a party at Grantwood Golf Course in Solon just before midnight. ?When police arrived, they found nearly 800 teens ages 16-19 who each paid $10 to get into an ?Electro Foam? party, which is basically a pool party with your clothes on where dance music is played all night.? Sexual activity, alcohol and evidence of drug abuse were all present as the party?ended with five adults charged and five juveniles detained. There?s video of the party that has since been made private on YouTube.? The adults who were arrested will be in court early next month.

Second, is the story of a father using his young child to help him sell cocaine. ?William K. Smith, 29, of Chagrin Falls was?arrested in Streetsboro and charged with felony drug trafficking and corrupting another with drugs. ?Maj. Dale Kelly of the Portage County sheriff?s office says investigators believe the 6-year-old son of Smith was used to take drugs to a buyer and bring payment back to the seller.?Paris Rzyczcki, 19, of Northfield, was also arrested on?trafficking charges for her?involvement.?Sheriff David Doak said the arrest followed a monthlong investigation of cocaine?trafficking? in Portage County.

Courtesy of Westlake Police.

The last event on our crime spree is the story of?Adam McDanels and his tale of getting two DUI?s in three hours. ?Adam McDanels was first stopped by police at 2:42 a.m. on Columbia Road north of Hillard Boulevard in Westlake after a report of a possible DUI, according to a police report. ?Officers stopped McDanels and found him to have a BAC of .144. ?McDanels was charged with two counts of OVI, as well as marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession, driving in marked lanes and expired license plates.

But McDanels? night didn?t end there.

Just hours later, at 5:24 a.m. police pulled over McDanels again for speeding, failing to signal and negotiating an improper turn at Hilliard Boulevard and Regency Place. After a breath test he was again charged with OVI, along with traffic violations. ?Police said McDanels? car was towed and impounded.

Ryan Bergh - 98.5 WNCX

Source: http://wncx.cbslocal.com/2012/07/24/local-blotter-teenage-foam-party-kids-sell-coke-for-dad-one-man-gets-two-duis/

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Russia seeks to cool Assad's head

MOSCOW (AP) ? When Syria broached the possibility of using chemical weapons, the world's response was don't even think about it. But one voice in that chorus mattered more for Syrian ruler Bashar Assad: Russia, his key ally.

Russia has been Syria's key protector throughout the 16-month uprising that evolved into a full-blown civil war, shielding Assad's regime from international sanctions and providing it with weapons despite an international outcry. And after the opposition attack last week that killed four members of his inner circle, the Syrian strongman may have to seriously think about a getaway scenario, for which Russia's help will be essential.

"Assad can't afford not to listen to Russian signals," said Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor of Russia in Global Affairs magazine. "He understands quite well that if he angers Russia, it will step back, leaving him to his doom."

Lukyanov and other analysts say that Russia is maintaining a constant dialogue with Assad and warning him against crossing red lines, but its clout is limited.

"Russia certainly can't force Assad to step down," Lukyanov said. "What Russia can do is to tell him what are the limits he can't cross, and it has been doing that. It may tell him that if he uses chemical weapons that would mean his end."

He said that the Russian statement Tuesday regarding the Syrian chemical weapons threat also appeared to be an attempt to contain the damage the Syrian regime inflicted on itself.

Earlier this week, the Assad regime announced that it has chemical weapons and would use them in case of foreign aggression. Lukyanov and other Russian analysts said Assad's regime doesn't appear to intend to resort to its chemical arsenals. But some warned that Assad would be likely to step up military action.

Igor Korotchenko, a retired colonel of Russia's military general staff who is now editor of National Defense magazine, said that Assad could use heavy weapons against rebel-held areas, imitating Russia's action during two separatist wars in Chechnya.

"That's his only chance for retaining control over the country," Korotchenko said.

Despite occasional criticism of the Syrian ruler for excessive use of force and failure to launch reforms, Russia has placed its bets squarely on Assad's survival and shown no inclination of dropping its support for the strongman.

A squadron of Russian navy ships, including several assault vessels carrying marines, is heading toward the Syrian port of Tartus, the only naval base Russia has outside the former Soviet Union.

"Its mission is to evacuate Russian citizens if the situation worsens," Korotchenko said. "It's also a demonstration that Russia is a key player in the Middle East and a signal that there should be no foreign military interference in Syrian affairs."

Alexander Shumilin, the head of the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Mideast Conflicts, said the Syrian statement about possible use of chemical weapons in case of a foreign attack reflected chaos and desperation in Assad's inner circle and further weakened his positions.

He said the Russian Foreign Ministry statement that reminded Assad of his international obligations sent a strong warning to Damascus that using chemical weapons would be suicidal. "That would mean crossing the red line and make Russia look like an accomplice," he said.

Shumilin said that even though Russia's leverage over Assad seems limited, the Syrian ruler would need Moscow's help to save his life if pushed against the wall. "Any survival option would require Russia to play a role," he said. "That means he has no reason to cut off a dialogue with Russia."

Although President Vladimir Putin has said Russia isn't considering providing asylum for Assad, Moscow is likely to offer help in a safe getaway to its ally if he's cornered. Russia's ex-Soviet neighbor and ally, Belarus, has been mentioned as a possible destination for the Syrian leader, but any escape plan would rely on Russian resources and military personnel.

Russia has said that its opposition to sanctions against Syria is driven not by its support for Assad himself, but a respect for international law that forbids foreign military intervention in internal conflicts without U.N. Security Council authorization. Russia has persistently called for talks between the Syrian regime and its foes, and staunchly opposed any plans that would demand Assad's ouster, saying that only the Syrian people can decide the country's fate.

In the latest show of support for Assad, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov assailed Washington on Wednesday for failing to condemn the opposition bombing that killed the four members of Assad's entourage as an act of terrorism, describing the U.S. stance as "awful."

Some analysts said that Russia's intransigence is rooted to a large extent in Putin's fear of perceived Western plots to destabilize his rule ? a claim he has made repeatedly while campaigning for a third term in March's election. Putin's anti-U.S. rhetoric and his warnings that Russia could be the target of Western pressure played well with the Russian leader's blue-collar support base.

"Russia's position on Syria is 90 percent driven by domestic factors," Shumilin said.

He added that Putin has viewed Syria as a bargaining chip in talks with the West as he bristled at U.S. criticism on his crackdown on opposition and on Russia's human rights record.

"Putin would like to play the Syrian card in relations with the West," said Shumilin. "But the West isn't going to bargain on such issues as U.S. missile defense plans or support for democracy in Russia."

Putin may now realize that his policy on Syria has become a liability, but will not change it, Shumilin predicted. "It has gone too far, and it's too difficult now to change the course, even though they may wish to do so," the analyst said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russia-seeks-cool-assads-head-181115542.html

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Product Review Review of IDW's SDCC 2012 Exclusive Zombies ...

Sixth Scale Action Figure News, Reviews, & Discussion. Collect, Kitbash, Customize. All Brands, All Eras, All Genres. WWII, Modern, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, etc. Anything directly related to 1/6th scale action figure collecting.

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Review of IDW's SDCC 2012 Exclusive Zombies

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