First off, I had issues installing this stating that the files were not found to install and the error lead to the fact that it needed an OEM preload in order to install this. I was first very unhappy thinking MS was just giving this to OEM owners (which in some respect prior was correct)but now, it's completely free.
After trying other installs, etc... I uninstalled Office 2007, this now installed so I'm not sure what the issue is there but regardless, it worked. All that aside, it may be scaled down, have ads but at least it gives people(especially college students who struggle to get word 2010)a chance to use it without restriction in that regard so I have to say, this is a good thing. Open Office is of course a great alternative, however, many colleges won't accept you using it in class or otherwise since they stick to standards. Again, that's why this is a GOOD thing. The setup is very quick and painless and so far, the ads are very non-intrusive and don't hinder any work whatsoever. I have to be honest and give this a 5 star. Don't forget, you also get Excel, Picture Manager and others with this so yeah, it's not extremely hindered.
review details
I think it was a good gesture from MS to offer this free, Love it!
review details
Friday, November 30, 2012
johir.khan: orpitasingh: Horse Racing History | recreation and sports
The sport of horse racing goes back a long, long way. It goes back to circa 4,500 BC when nomadic Central Asian tribes domesticated horses for the first time. Ever after, horse-racing has reigned supreme as a sport fit for Kings.
From the beginning of recorded history, horse racing has been depicted as an organised and popular sport common to all of the world's major civilizations. The Olympic Games of ancient Greece featured events involving both mounted and chariot racing. The sport was then taken up by the Romans. Mounted and chariot horse racing became major areas of enterprise in Roman Empire days; these events were the product of breeding programs with imported bloodlines and extensive training programs. Horseracing had all elements of legalized betting like bookies, proper racing tracks, hit tips, scandals and, red hot entertainment and excitement. Horse racing saw a decline that coincided with the Roman Empire's decline. It began to pick up speed once more once mankind was well into a more modern era.
Horse racing took a professional turn as long ago as the twelfth century, when English Crusader knights came back in the company of Arab horses. This set off a trend that lasted for the forthcoming period of hundreds of years: more and more Arab stallions were imported for crossing with English mares. The ensuing offspring were a real mix of speed and endurance. These cross bred horses were the forefathers of today's horse racing breeds.
As quantum technological jumps in transport and other fields of human concern took place in the 19th century and later , thousands of people became hooked on watching horse races and gambling on racing horses. Horseracing started to get intensive coverage in distinguished newspapers, and gambling volumes consistently increased. The arrival of organised on-site bookmakers brought along a complete sea change. Random and sometimes illegal, sometimes unethical practices led to a moderately successful Jockey Club effort to establish really high standards of order, discipline and integrity that ensured the sport's continued well being.
All around the world, attendance at race courses has been shooting up right into the early part of this century. There had been a decline in attendance during the 1970s and 1980s. The technology wonder of online web wagering has influenced horse racing in ways never conceived of earlier. Online betting has drawn a completely new generation of spectators and betters to the Game of Kings; they prefer to conduct all of their activities in front of their computers and TV sets. The facility to bet and earn cash legally from the result of horse races has been a core part of this sport's appeal and a major factor behind its survival as a sport with a presence.
Source: http://recreationsportsupdates.blogspot.com/2012/11/horse-racing-history.html
severe weather wichita brian wilson storm chasers david blaine gotye divine mercy
Source: http://okymevucol.posterous.com/horse-racing-history-recreation-and-sports-bl
sacramento kings luke scott tom benson royals nicole richie lyme disease symptoms esperanza spalding
Source: http://powersalfred56.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/horse-racing-history-recreation-and-sports-blog-updates.html
cj wilson ellsbury brad pitt and angelina jolie brad and angelina herniated disc sacramento kings luke scott
Source: http://orpitasingh.blogspot.com/2012/11/horse-racing-history-recreation-and.html
how i met your mother sons of anarchy PNC Bank Jordan Pruitt real housewives of new jersey Kanye West sex tape emmys
Source: http://johirkhan72.blogspot.com/2012/11/orpitasingh-horse-racing-history.html
lin j.r. smith espn jeremy lin sleigh bells meek sturgis sturgis
Source: http://robertjump15.blogspot.com/2012/11/johirkhan-orpitasingh-horse-racing.html
Colorado Marijuana Washington Election Results foxnews drudge report abc news Presidential Election 2012 Incumbent
Source: http://seanwood76.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/johirkhan-orpitasingh-horse-racing-history-recreation-and-sports.html
justin tv steve mcnair vice presidential debate Martha Raddatz Chris Lighty JJ Watt jerry sandusky
Source: http://justincamp3658.blogspot.com/2012/11/johirkhan-orpitasingh-horse-racing.html
hes just not that into you hes just not that into you texas longhorns texas longhorns francesca woodman kennedy center honors danny gokey
Source: http://notbedidea2.blogspot.com/2012/11/johirkhan-orpitasingh-horse-racing.html
laurent robinson dantoni gillian anderson leah remini desean jackson kyle orton kyle orton
patsyiskul: Finding The Right Injury Lawyer | Reference and Education
Whether you have recently been hurt in a car or truck accident, burned or injured by chemical exposure, hurt on a construction site, or simply frustrated by an insurance company that has refused to pay benefits that are owed to you, a personal injury lawyer can help! The aim of this article is to help you understand how to select the best one.
The personal injury lawyer you choose should be more than just "competent." Your legal team should be "remarkable". Your personal injury lawyer should provide you with resources to deal with all aspects of your case, answer questions, prepare intensely for trial, try your case (if need be) and always be prepared to fight on your behalf.
A truly remarkable firm will work hard to exceed your expectations. They will pull out all stops to get you compensation to cover damages you have suffered, which may include but are not limited to, medical and surgical costs, lost work time and wages, anxiety, pain and suffering, car mileage and many out of pocket costs that you may face. A respected firm will follow up with clients promptly. Look for a lawyer who has a reputation for being tough but fair, smart and compassionate. A great law firm will make sure the client feels comfortable, and at the same time, they need to send a message, loud and clear, to insurance companies and liable parties that they mean business. The right firm will not be scared to throw their credentials around for the benefit of the client.
Accident and injury victims often find themselves in a state of a shock after a traumatic event and do not act swiftly enough. When a terrible event disrupts everything in your world, it's only human nature to "wait a bit" to get your head together before moving forward, but this approach may not be the best idea. Here's why: Evidence from the accident or injury may get lost or even be deliberately destroyed in the hours and days after the accident. Witness recollections may grow foggier and more inaccurate as time passes after the incident. Even your own recollection of the event will give way to hazier, less accurate memories. And if you wait too long after the accident or injury, you may lose your ability to make a claim altogether, even if you have compelling evidence on your side, due to the "statute of limitations".
Each personal injury case is unique and needs to be looked at by an experienced injury lawyer. Choose a car accident lawyer that will give you the time and attention you deserve and need to win your case. Be sure they listen astutely to what you want and need and help you feel calm, comfortable, and taken care of throughout your case. Most injury law firms takes cases on a contingency basis. This means that until they win a trial verdict or reach a settlement, you do not owe anything.
Source: http://thebesteducationreference.blogspot.com/2012/11/finding-right-injury-lawyer_26.html
match play championship the national enquirer marie colvin cm punk cm punk lint buenos aires train crash
Source: http://patsyiskul.blogspot.com/2012/11/finding-right-injury-lawyer-reference.html
celiac disease san francisco giants Medal of Honor Warfighter Richard Mourdock d t p
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Video: How 'Fiscal Cliff' Will Impact Private Equity
Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.
Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/49992350/
ufc 143 what time does the super bowl start super bowl 2012 josephine baker ben gazzara nfl hall of fame 2012 ufc diaz vs condit
Currency Risk of International trade - FM Dynamics
Foreign Exchange Hedging -?
International Trading - to hedge or not to hedge ??
The Foreign Exchange Market - International Finance.
Future payments or distributions payable in a foreign currency carry the risk that the foreign currency will depreciate in value before the foreign currency payment is received and is exchanged into U.S. dollars. While there is a chance of profit from the currency exchange in the event the price of the foreign currency
Increases, most investors and lenders would give up the possibility of currency exchange profit if they could avoid the risk of currency exchange loss.
The foreign exchange market comprises the spot market and the forward or future market. The spot market is for foreign exchange delivered in two days or less. Transactions in the spot market quote rates of exchange prevalent at the time of the transactions. A bank will typically quote a bid and offer rate for the particular currency. The forward market is for foreign exchange to be delivered in three days or more. In quoting the forward rate of currency, a bank will use a rate at which it is willing to buy the currency (bid) and a rate at which it will sell a currency (offer) for delivery, typically one, two, three or six months after the transaction date.
Non-Hedging Techniques to Minimize Transactions Exposure
Two obvious ways in which transactions exposure can be minimized, short of using the hedging techniques described below, are transferring exposure and netting transaction exposure. The first of these is premised on transferring the transaction exposure to another company. For example, a U.S. exporter could quote the sales price of its product for sale in Germany in dollars. Then the German importer would face the transaction exposure resulting from uncertainty about the exchange rate. Another simple means of transferring exposure is to price the export in Deutsche Marks but demand immediate payment, in which case the current spot rate will determine the dollar value of the export.
A?second way in which transaction risk can be minimized is by netting it out. This is especially important for larger companies that do frequent and sizeable amounts of foreign currency transactions. Unexpected exchange rate charges net out over many different transactions. A receivable of 100 million Deutsche Marks owed to a U.S. company in 45 days is much less risky if the U.S. company must pay a different German supplier 75 million Deutsche Marks
Foreign Currency Risk: Minimizing Transaction Exposure
The risk is reduced further if the business has only receipts in Deutsche Marks on a continuing basis. Transaction exposure is further reduced when payments and receipts are in many different currencies. Foreign currency values are never perfectly correlated. Therefore, an unexpected increase in the value of the French Franc may improve the profit margin on receipts from France. However, an unexpected decrease in the value of the Canadian Dollar may reduce profits on a receipt from Canada. Although transaction exposure cannot be completely netted away, it may be small enough that the company is better off accepting the exposure rather than incur the costs associated with the hedging techniques described below.
Reducing Short-Term Foreign - Currency Risk
Forward Contracts
The most direct method of eliminating transaction exposure is to hedge the risk with a forward exchange contract. For example, suppose a U.S. exporter has sold 50 cases of wine to a Venezuelan company under a sales contract that specifies the payment of 15 million bolivares in 60 days. The U.S. exporter can eliminate its transaction exposure by selling 15 million bolivares to its bank at a 60-day forward rate of 750 bolivares per dollar. No matter what happens to the exchange rate over the next month, the company is assured of being able to convert the 15 million bolivares into U.S $20,000. If the U.S. business faced an account payable instead of a receivable, it could eliminate its transaction exposure by buying the bolivares at the forward rate.
However, the transaction exposure is eliminated only if the Venezuelan buyer pays its 15 million bolivares obligation. A default by the Venezuelan buyer would not relieve the U.S. producer of its obligation to deliver 15 million bolivares to the bank in return for U.S.$20,000. The U.S. exporter would have to buy the 15 million bolivares at the spot rate two months later.
Forward rate contracts are often inaccessible for many small businesses. Banks often tend to quote unfavorable rates for smaller business because the bank bears the risk the company will not fulfill the forward rate contracts. Large spread in the forward rate quote suggests unfavorable offer terms. Banks will refuse to offer forward contracts at any rate to uncreditworthy companies. Companies that is not eligible for forward rate contracts have the option, however, of hedging transaction exposure with futures contracts.
Futures Contracts
In principle, no differences exist between a futures market hedge and a forward market hedge. For example, a U.S. business has an account payable for $50,000 Canadian, due on the third Wednesday in September. The company could buy one September Canadian Dollar futures contract. If the value of the Canadian dollar increased, the U.S. dollar value of the company?s account payable would increase, resulting in a reduction in the company?s value. However, the value of the futures contract would increase by an equal amount, leaving the net value of the company unchanged. If the value of the Canadian Dollar decreased, the U.S. dollar value of the payable account would increase, but the value of the futures contract would decrease by an equal amount.
A?U.S. business with an account receivable for Canadian Dollars would hedge its position by selling short the Canadian Dollar futures contract. A short sale of a future contract puts the business in a position opposed to that of a business owning the futures contract. When the futures contract increases in value, the company loses that amount. When the futures contract decreases in value, it gains that amount. Despite their advantages, futures contracts also contain some disadvantages. Because futures contract are marked to market on a daily basis, any losses must be made up in cash on a daily basis, while the offsetting gain on the currency transaction will be deferred until the transaction actually occurs. This imbalance can result in a severe liquidity crisis for small companies and for individuals.
Another disadvantage of using futures contracts for hedging is that they trade only in standardized amounts and maturities. Companies may not have the choice of timing their receivables and payables to coincide with standardized futures contracts. Consequently, the hedges are not perfect.
Hedges Using the Money Market
A company has the alternative of using a money market hedge if forward market hedges are not available or too expensive, and where a futures market hedge carries too much risk of insolvency. A money market hedge?called that way because it necessitates borrowing or lending in the short-term money market?enables a company with a future receivable or a future payable to make the required exchange of currencies at the current spot rate. For example, suppose a U.S. exporter expects to receive four million Brazilian reals in one month from a Brazilian customer. The business could eliminate uncertainty about the rate of currency exchange by borrowing reals in Brazil at an interest rate of 10 percent per month: The company can convert the reals into U.S. dollars at the spot rate. When the Brazilian customer pays the four million reals one month later, it is used to pay off the principle and interest accrued on the loan in Brazil.
The difference between the borrowing and the lending interest rates is the cost of a money market hedge. In general, companies must pay more to borrow funds than they can receive when they lend funds. In turn, banks lend funds at a higher interest rate than they pay for funds to earn a profit. The interest rate increases if default risk is present. Banks often require borrowers to pledge the receivable as collateral on the loan to guard against default risk. If the receivable presents a low risk, the bank will require a lower interest rate. If the business is borrowing for a future payable, it can pledge the reals deposit as collateral. When the bank?s risk is low, the company?s borrowing and lending rates are close to the risk-free rate. In this case, even if forward and futures contracts are available, a money market hedge may be the least costly hedging alternative.
Options
Currency options give one party the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a specific amount of currency at a specified exchange rate on or before an agreed-upon date. If the exchange rate moves in favor of the option holder, the option can be exercised and the holder is protected from loss. On the other hand, if the rate moves against the holders, it can let the option expire, but profit, by selling the foreign currency in the spot market.
Consequently, options are best characterized with potential for gain and no downside risk. Hedging in the options market enables businesses and individuals to reduce loses caused by unfavorable exchange rate changes, while preserving gains from favorable exchange rate changes. However, this flexibility has a cost.
For example, a U.S. importer must pay a Venezuelan company 150 million bolivares on the third Wednesday of December. The importer is concerned about large losses that would be incurred if the value of the bolivar increases before the obligation is paid. The current value of the bolivar is 710 bolivares per dollar, so the importer buys a December call option for 150 million bolivares at an exercise price of $0.00139 per bolivar. The importer must pay $0.00005 per bolivar plus a broker?s commission of $40.00. If by the third Wednesday in December the value of the Bolivar falls to 725 bolivares per dollar, then the U.S. importer discards the option and buys the 150 million bolivares at the new spot rate for $206,897.
The total cost to the company would be the commission plus premium, plus cost of exercise totaling $214,437.00 ($40 commission, plus $7500 commission, plus $206,897.00). If the value of the bolivar rises above $.00139, the company exercises the call option and buys the 150 million bolivares at the exercise price of $0.00139 per bolivar and pays $208,500 to satisfy the account payable. Under this scenario, the total cost to the company never exceeds the total of the commission plus premium, plus cost of exercise totaling $216,040.00. If the importer has a bolivar-denominated receivable account, it can purchase a bolivar put option. The put option gives the importer the right to sell the bolivar that it receives to the writer of the option at the exercise price specified in the option contract. Consequently, the company is guaranteed a minimum total dollar amount in the future that is equal to the exercise value of the option less the premium and commission paid for the put option. If the value of the bolivar rises, the firm discards the put option and receives the new dollar value of the bolivar receivable less the amount or premium and commission paid on the option. While option hedges suggest a win-win situation for the company, the real benefits of the hedge are somewhat in question. Whether or not the option is exercised, the company always bears the option premium and commission costs. Nevertheless, the company replaces an unknown and potentially disastrous loss with a smaller, but certain, cost. If the option market is efficient, the net monetary benefit of an option hedge to the company is negligible or even slightly negative due to transaction costs. The company gains from the reduction in uncertainty.
The option market?s efficiency is best understood from the seller?s (writer?s) vantage point. The option seller has no gain and all the risks of a loss. Consequently, the only way in which the option seller is induced to write an option is by the holder being willing to pay a premium. Consequently, option premiums reflect the equilibrium price at which an option buyer and option seller perceive their respective interests are protected. The premium is the compensation for differences in expected payoffs.
Cross Hedging
Thus far, a market for forward rates, futures contracts, credit or options in the foreign currency being hedged has been presumed to exist. But this may not be true in all cases, especially for small developing countries. In such cases, cross hedging may be the only hedging alternative available.
Cross hedging is a form of a hedge developed in a currency whose value is highly correlated with the value of the currency in which the receivable or payable is denominated. In some cases, it is relatively easy to find highly correlated currencies, because many smaller countries try to peg the exchange rate between their currency and some major currency such as the dollar, the franc or euro. However, these currencies may not be perfectly correlated because efforts to peg values frequently fail.
As an example, a company has a payable or a receivable denominated in the currency for a small nation for which there are no developed currency or credit markets. The company would explore the possibility that the currency is pegged to the value of a major currency. If not, the company would look at past changes in the value of the currency to see if they are correlated with changes in the value of any major currency. The company would then undertake a forward market, futures market, money market, or options market hedge in the major currency that is most closely related to the small nation?s currency. Cross-hedging success depends upon the extent to which the major currency changes in value along with the minor currency. Although cross hedging is certainly imperfect, it may be the only means available for reducing transaction exposure.
Mitigating Long-Term Currency - Risk Exposure
Theoretically, the same hedging instruments discussed above to alleviate short-term currency risk can be used to hedge long-term transaction exposure. However, at present, there is a limited market for currency futures options with maturities greater than one year. A few multinational banks offer long-term forward exchange contracts with maturities as long as seven years. Unfortunately, for smaller companies, only large, creditworthy corporate customers qualify for such contracts. Although individual companies can negotiate a currency option contract, there is no secondary market for the instrument. Consequently, a number of alternative hedging techniques have developed for reducing long-term transaction exposure.
Back-to-Back Loans
Multinational corporations can often reduce their respective long term currency risk exposure by arranging parallel or back-to-back loans. For example, suppose a U.S. company wants to buy into a fertilizer project in Argentina that will repay the investment and earnings in pesos over the next seven years. The U.S. investor is confident of the rate of return in pesos, but wants to avoid the risk the value of the peso in dollars will decline, resulting in a negative return in dollars. If it can identify an Argentine company that wants to make a similarly sized investment in the U.S., it can arrange offsetting loans. The Argentine company will lend the U.S. company pesos and the U.S. company will lend the Argentine company dollars with which to make their respective investments. The U.S. company will repay the Argentine firm with its peso earnings, and the Argentine company will repay the U.S. firm with its dollar earnings.
Under this arrangement, the companies are entering into a purely bilateral arrangement outside the scope of the foreign exchange markets. Neither company is affected by exchange rate fluctuations. Nevertheless, both companies remain exposed to default risk because the obligation of one company is not avoided by the failure of the other company to repay its loan.
Currency Swaps/Credit Swaps
Swaps are like packages of forward contracts. Currency swaps can be used to avoid the credit risk associated with a parallel loan. In broad terms, a currency swap is an agreement by two companies to exchange specified amounts of currency now and to reverse the exchange at some point in the future. The lack of credit risk arises from the nature of a currency swap. Default on a currency swap means that the currencies are not exchanged in the future, while default on a parallel loan means that the loan is not repaid. Unlike a parallel loan, default on a currency swap entails no loss of investment or earnings. The only risk in a currency swap is that the companies must exchange the foreign currency in the foreign exchange market at the new exchange rate. Frequently, multinational banks act as brokers to match partners in parallel loans and currency swaps.
However, finding companies whose needs mutually offset one another is difficult, imperfect and only partially reduces currency exposure risk. If a company cannot find a match, a credit swap may be used. Credit swaps involve a deposit in one currency and a loan in another. The deposit is returned after the loan is repaid. For example, a U.S. business could deposit dollars in the San Francisco branch of an Asian bank, which would, in turn, lend the depositor yen for an investment in Japan. After the Asian bank loan is repaid in yen, the dollar deposit would be returned.
Summary
Effective legal drafting can minimize significant international transaction risk. However, the risk of currency exposure can be mitigated or even eliminated in its entirety by the techniques and instruments described in this article. How much currency risk exposure remains depends on the instrument selected. Many instruments do not hedge transaction exposure perfectly, but are more accessible to the individual and small to medium size companies. Instruments used to more completely hedge currency exposure, such as put and call options, may contain sizeable transaction costs. Nevertheless, most international businesses prefer the certainty of minimizing exposure, despite the increased transaction costs involved, in lieu of unquantifiable and potentially disastrous foreign exchange risk.
A money market hedge?called that way because it necessitates borrowing or lending in the short-term money market?enables a company with a future receivable or a future payable to make the required exchange of currencies at the current spot rate.
Although cross hedging is certainly imperfect, it may be the only means available for reducing transaction exposure.
Source: http://www.fmdynamics.com/2012/11/currency-risk-of-international-trade.html
peter frampton elite eight stephon marbury the lion king suzanne collins cherry blossom festival nc state
Preventing posttraumatic stress disorder by facing trauma memories
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a form of learning that begins at the moment of the exposure to extremely stressful situations and that grows in impact as trauma-related memories are rehearsed and strengthened repeatedly. This somewhat oversimplified view of PTSD yields a powerful prediction: if one could disrupt the rehearsal and strengthening of traumatic memories, a process called reconsolidation of memories, then one might reduce PTSD risk or PTSD severity after potentially traumatic events.
To be certain, it is tricky to attempt to alter traumatic memory reconsolidation. In fact, some early strategies for "trauma debriefing" turned out to strengthen rather than diminish posttraumatic learning.
Despite these challenges, a new study by Dr. Barbara Rothbaum and colleagues reports that a behavioral intervention delivered to patients immediately post-trauma is effective at reducing posttraumatic stress reactions.
"PTSD is a major public health concern," said Rothbaum, professor in Emory's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. "In so many people, what happens immediately after a traumatic event can make things worse or better. Right now, there are no accepted interventions delivered in the immediate aftermath of trauma."
To conduct the study, the researchers approached patients who presented to the local emergency room due to a traumatic event, including rape, car accident, or physical assault. Half of those who agreed to participate received the behavioral intervention, which was started immediately, while the other half did not. All patients were repeatedly assessed for symptoms of depression and stress over a twelve-week period.
The intervention is a modified form of exposure therapy in which a survivor confronts anxiety about a traumatic event by recounting it. Administered over the course of 3 1-hour sessions, the goal is to alter the person's thoughts and feelings about the traumatic event. Trained therapists asked the participants to describe the trauma they just experienced and recorded the description. The patients were instructed to listen to their recordings every day. The therapists also helped the patients look at obtrusive thoughts of guilt or responsibility, and taught them a brief breathing relaxation technique and self care.
They found that the intervention was safe, feasible, and successful at reducing posttraumatic stress reactions, compared to those who were assigned to the assessment-only condition, at 4 and 12 weeks post-injury.
"This study provides an elegant and clinically important test of the trauma reconsolidation hypothesis," commented Dr. John Krystal, editor of Biological Psychiatry.
The implications of this study are immense, Rothbaum explained. "If we know what to do, then we can train emergency workers to intervene with patients on a large scale. In addition to being implemented in the emergency room, it can help on the battlefield, in natural disasters, or after criminal assaults."
She concluded, "More research is needed, but this prevention model could have significant public health implications. A long-standing hope of mental health research is to prevent the development of psychopathology in those at risk instead of being limited to symptom treatment after disease onset."
###
Early Intervention May Prevent the Development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Pilot Civilian Study with Modified Prolonged Exposure" by Barbara Olasov Rothbaum, Megan C. Kearns, Matthew Price, Emily Malcoun, Michael Davis, Kerry J. Ressler, Delia Lang, and Debra Houry (doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.06.002). The article appears in Biological Psychiatry, Volume 72, Issue 11 (December 1, 2012)
Elsevier: http://www.elsevier.com
Thanks to Elsevier for this article.
This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.
This press release has been viewed 27 time(s).
Source: http://www.labspaces.net/125517/Preventing_posttraumatic_stress_disorder_by_facing_trauma_memories
mayan calendar nfl playoff picture nfl playoff picture rose bowl 2012 sat cheating scandal hangover cure lebron james engaged
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Woods not interested in European membership
FILE - This Oct. 29, 2012 file photo shows Tiger Woods, right, and Rory McIlroy walking together during their 18-hole medal-match at the Lake Jinsha Golf Club in Zhengzhou, in central China's Henan province. A little more than three months ago, Woods was on his way back to the top of golf with only time in his way. So much has changed. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan, File)
FILE - This Oct. 29, 2012 file photo shows Tiger Woods, right, and Rory McIlroy walking together during their 18-hole medal-match at the Lake Jinsha Golf Club in Zhengzhou, in central China's Henan province. A little more than three months ago, Woods was on his way back to the top of golf with only time in his way. So much has changed. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan, File)
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) ? Tiger Woods is more driven to catch Jack Nicklaus than to try to emulate Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy.
Woods made it clear Tuesday that he had no interest in taking up membership on the European Tour. He had floated the possibility last month in Turkey that he would look into dual membership with Europe counting the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup toward the minimum requirement of 13 events.
"I'll make it real simple ? I'm not going to play the European Tour next year," Woods said.
Woods is starting next season at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. Throw in the four majors and four World Golf Championships, and he would need only three more events to become a European Tour member.
"It's a bit much for me still," Woods said, adding that his focus is squarely on the record 18 majors won by Nicklaus.
Donald last year became the first player to win the money title on the PGA Tour and European Tour in the same season. McIlroy matched that feat this year, even though three of his five wins were regular PGA Tour events.
On the strength of majors and WGC events, which are every bit part of the European Tour schedule as the PGA Tour schedule, Woods could have won both money title at least four times in the last decade if he had been a European Tour member and added a couple of events. Europe used to require only 11 events to be a member.
"Certainly, I've had opportunities over the years, especially when it was at 11 events," Woods said. "I was very close a couple times and could have taken membership up and played it. But still ... I enjoy playing around the world, and I still always will. But I am going to play this tour."
When asked why he never bothered becoming a dual member, Woods said, "It wasn't important to me."
"I think I could have won it a few times," he said of the money titles. "I don't know what that number was. But it just wasn't important to me. My main concern was winning major championships, and I've won 14 of them, and I'm very proud of that."
Asked whether adding a few European events would have detracted from his preparation for the majors, Woods nodded.
He remains stuck on 14 majors, winning his last one in 2008 in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Woods has failed to win the last 14 majors he has played, the longest drought of his career. Next year's rotation of majors include Merion for the U.S. Open, a course he has never seen, and Oak Hill for the PGA Championship, the only time Woods has played all four rounds at a PGA without breaking par.
Woods said winning a major makes it a great year, which in his mind means that four players had a great year ? Bubba Watson (Masters), Webb Simpson (U.S. Open), Ernie Els (British Open) and McIlroy (PGA Championship).
"That's something I haven't done since '08, so it's something I can do next year," he said. "I've won golf tournaments; I've had some really nice years, some really good years in there. But as I said, winning a major championship just takes it to a whole new level."
That doesn't make his year a total loss.
Woods played his most complete season since 2009, and the World Challenge that starts Thursday at Sherwood Country Club will be his 24th week of competition, which includes the Ryder Cup and an exhibition in Turkey.
The only stumble was at Doral, where he withdrew in the middle of the final round when his Achilles tendon flared up on him. He won in his next start, at Bay Hill, and then added wins at the Memorial and AT&T National.
"I've very excited because last year at this point in time I was still not quite where I wanted to be physically," he said. "I ended up having a little bit of a problem at Doral at the beginning of the year, but did the prudent thing in not playing at the end. This year has been fantastic in that regard. I've felt good. I've played a full schedule for the first time in a very long time, and just very pleased with what I've done overall with my game."
Associated Pressoscar nominations 2012 kombucha tea separation of church and state dale earnhardt oscar predictions oscars nba all star game 2012
Far-right leader pushes Hungary to draw up list of Jews
By Reuters
BUDAPEST,?Hungary?-- A Hungarian far-right politician urged the government to draw up a list of Jews who pose a "national security risk", stirring outrage among Jewish leaders who saw echoes of fascist policies that led to the Holocaust.
Marton Gyongyosi, a leader of Hungary's third-strongest political party Jobbik, said the list was necessary because of heightened tensions following the brief conflict in Gaza and should include members of parliament.
Opponents have condemned frequent anti-Semitic slurs and tough rhetoric against the Roma minority by Gyongyosi's party as populist point scoring ahead of elections in 2014.
Jobbik has never called publicly for lists of Jews.
"I am a Holocaust survivor," said Gusztav Zoltai, executive director of the Hungarian Jewish Congregations' Association. "For people like me this generates raw fear, even though it is clear that this only serves political ends. This is the shame of Europe, the shame of the world."
Between 500,000 and 600,000 Hungarian Jews died in the Holocaust, according to the Holocaust Memorial?Center?in Budapest. According to some accounts, one in three Jews killed in Auschwitz were Hungarian nationals.
Gyongyosi's call came after Foreign Ministry State Secretary Zsolt Nemeth said Budapest favored a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as benefiting both Israelis with Hungarian ancestry, Hungarian Jews and Palestinians in Hungary.
Gyongyosi, who leads Jobbik's foreign policy cabinet, told Parliament: "I know how many people with Hungarian ancestry live in Israel, and how many Israeli Jews live in Hungary," according to a video posted on Jobbik's website late on Monday.
"I think such a conflict makes it timely to tally up people of Jewish ancestry who live here, especially in the Hungarian Parliament and the Hungarian government, who, indeed, pose a national security risk to Hungary."
Gyongyosi apologizes
Gyongyosi, 35, is the son of a diplomat who grew up mostly in the Middle East and Asia -- Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan and India -- and whose office is decorated by Iranian and Turkish souvenirs. He graduated with a degree in business and political science from Trinity College in Dublin in 2000.
He worked for four years at the Dublin office of KPMG, then returned to Budapest in 2005. He has been active in Jobbik since 2006 and became their representative in parliament in 2010.
Want a European Union passport? Just invest $322,000 in Hungary
The government condemned the remarks.
"The government strictly rejects extremist, racist, anti-Semitic voices of any kind and does everything to suppress such voices," the government spokesman's office said.
Laszlo Kover, the Speaker of parliament, who is from the ruling Fidesz party, also issued a statement on Tuesday in which he called for a tightening of house rules that would allow a sanctioning of such behavior.
Gyongyosi tried to play down his comments on Tuesday, saying he was referring to citizens with dual Israeli-Hungarian citizenship.
"I apologize to my Jewish compatriots for my declarations that could be misunderstood," he said on Jobbik's website.
He later told a news conference that he would not resign and considered the matter "closed," national news agency MTI reported.
King maker?
Jobbik's anti-Semitic discourse often evokes a centuries-old blood libel - the accusation that Jews used Christians' blood in religious rituals.
"Jobbik has moved from representing medieval superstition (of the blood libel) to openly Nazi ideologies," wrote Slomo Koves, chief rabbi of the Unified Hungarian Jewish Congregation.
Jobbik registered as a political party in 2003, and gained increasing influence as it radicalized gradually, vilifying Jews and the country's 700,000 Roma.
The group gained notoriety after founding the Hungarian Guard, an unarmed vigilante group reminiscent of World War Two-era far-right groups. It entered Parliament at the 2010 elections and holds 44 of 386 seats.
The center-right government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban has struggled to pull Hungary out of recession as many European countries suffer from an economic crisis.
Orban's Fidesz has lost more than a million voters since 2010, even though it is still the strongest political force.
More than half of Hungary's electorate is undecided and having retained its voter base, some analysts say Jobbik could hold the balance of power in the 2014 elections between Fidesz and the fragmented left-wing opposition.
More world stories from NBC News:
Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.world peace lakers colorectal cancer metta kashi neil diamond orange crush harden
Finance ministers strike Greek bail-out deal | European Voice
Raft of measures agreed to help lower Greece's debt burden; cash-strapped country to get ?43.7bn if it implements reforms; IMF sounds note of caution.
Eurozone finance ministers agreed in the early hours of this morning (27 November) steps to help Greece make its huge mountain of debt more sustainable ? and approved the release of its next bail-out instalment.
The finance ministers' third meeting on Greece this month ? this one again lasting more than ten hours ? saw a deal reached under which eurozone member states will make it easier for Greece to meet new debt-reduction targets.
It paves the way for a decision to release Greece's next instalment, totalling ?43.7 billion, to be approved formally when ministers meet on 13 December, providing that national parliaments give their assent before then.
The deal reflects a determination by member states to keep Greece in the eurozone and an acknowledgement that the government in the stricken country has lived up to its commitments to reform.
Olli Rehn, the European commissioner for economic and monetary affairs and the euro, who attended the meeting, said that the decision ?removes the uncertainty that has been hanging over Greece for too long?.
?For the eurozone, this was a real test of credibility and of its ability to take decisions on challenging issues, and it was a test we couldn't afford to fail,? he added.
Jean-Claude Juncker, the prime minister of Luxembourg who presides over meetings of eurozone finance ministers, acknowledged that ?it has been a very difficult deal?.
Part of the difficulties lay in disagreements between eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) ? which provides a proportion of the money to Greece ? over how quickly the country should bring its debt down to sustainable levels, and what help it should get to achieve that.
Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the IMF, said she was happy with the deal, but warned that the IMF would not approve the disbursement of its share of the loans until it had proof that one of the measures that eurozone countries have pledged to take ? a debt buy-back scheme ? was operational.
?Under today's deal, Greece will aim to get its debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio, which is currently estimated to be about 144%, to 124% by 2020 and to ?substantially lower than 110%? by 2022.
To help Greece meet its targets member states agreed to take a series of measures:
? the rate of interest that Greece has to pay on it loans from eurozone countries will be reduced by 100 basis points;
? profits made on European Central Bank purchases of Greek government bonds ? about ?11 billion ? will be given back to Greece; and
? the maturities on bilateral and eurozone loans will be extended by 15 years and interest payments on eurozone loans by ten years.
In a statement, finance ministers warned that countries would take part in these initiatives only ?in a phased manner and conditional upon a strong implementation by the country [Greece] of the agreed reform measures?.
The bail-out instalment will amount to ?43.7bn and will be paid in three stages, during the first three months of 2013, on condition that Greece implements its agreed reforms, notably a sweeping reform of its tax system in January.
In a statement, Lagarde said: ?Once progress has been made on specifying and delivering on the commitments made today, in particular implementation of the debt buy-backs, I would be in a position to recommend to the IMF executive board the completion of the first review of Greece's programme.? ? ?
? 2012 European Voice. All rights reserved.
st louis university mario manningham mario manningham williams syndrome hoya casa de mi padre corned beef and cabbage
Simple Solutions For Home Improvement Projects | Voooz.com
While home rempldeling can be very fun and exciting it can also be a very stressful experience. If you would like the best project results possible you should certainly read this article for some great advice. Read through the following tips and use them in your next home improvement project; the results will be worth the effort for sure.
Before doing any work on electrical outlets, lighting, or any other item that is connected to your home?s electricity, be sure that the power circuit is turned off to the area you will be working on. Leaving the power circuit on can increase the chance of electrocution.
There are many ways to settle on a stencil design for your walls. You can find one online, in a book of stencils or create your own. Make a couple of copies of your chosen pattern and laminate them before cutting out the stencil. Attach these stencils to some painter?s tape, roll the paint over it and then place the stencil under the old. Be sure to alternate as you pattern the entire room.
Do you want to find a home improvement project that is inexpensive, but can increase your home?s value? If so, then you can improve the landscape by adding rock walls. You may be able to acquire rocks for little to no cost. There are several online sites that give instructions on how to form garden paths and stately flowers beds with rock slabs.
Simply changing your accessories can help your room look fresh. It?s amazing the impact a few pillows or chairs can have. Get new curtains in a new color, then add new pillows, a lamp and a vase in complementary colors, and the room will seem as if a professional designer did it.
One of the most cost efficient improvements that you can make in your home is replacing old leaky windows with well insulated new ones. Projects like this can be very rewarding for people who do them.
Before you go shopping for home improvement supplies, write down all of the things you will need. Having a list helps you cut down on the number of store trips, and it will keep you much more organized.
When doing any home improvement project, it is important to use the correct tools. Having the proper tools will guarantee your job to be done as easy and as smoothly as possible. Knowing how to correctly use the tool also makes a difference in getting the job done right.
If your home improvement project involves multiple jobs in one room of your home, you may want to consider the demand of each job and the order in which they should be completed. If you are working on the floor and cabinets in the kitchen, it is smart to do the cabinets first. That way, construction debris or damage occurs only to the floors that are going to be replaced. Take the time to write a very detailed plan before doing anything.
When planning out home improvements, one has to consider the climate and prevailing local conditions before choosing a project. Think about things like the wind or how much sun you get when remodeling. Not taking into consideration things like this can make your home improvement efforts worthless because they might not be the best fit for your home.
Pay attention to the forecast. If you live in an area that is known for strong winds and heavy rains, a patio or barbecue might not be the best investment. You might not want to put in a patio if you cannot put a roof or wind breaking wall in.
You need the information you read in this article if you want to get the best look from your home. Make your home a better one by following the advice found in this article the next time you start up a home improvement project.
For more information, please go to: doors
Source: http://voooz.com/2012/11/27/simple-solutions-for-home-improvement-projects/
joan of arc tony robbins abraham lincoln vampire hunter their eyes were watching god lara logan manu ginobili sports illustrated swimsuit 2012
achievement vs. attitude: what's driving your career? | Corporate ...
Your experiences on your resume got you the job. Your accomplishments got you promoted. And your credentials have earned you oodles of respect. Or did they?
Like badges, we all like to think our achievements are the most valuable aspects driving our career forward. ?I?ve been in this job for decades,? says Jim. ?I hold the record for sales,? says Susan. ?I earned the Good Work Award,? says Harold.
The good news about achievements is we can keep repeating them forever. The bad news is they happened yesterday.
When it comes to driving your career into the future, it?s important to realize your attitude was the driving force of past achievements and therefore should be the primary driver of your achievements in the future.
Take this short personal quiz about your attitude:
- I still feel the desire to give my best. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Yes or No
- I gave my best and deserve to slide a bit. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Yes or No
- I?m willing to venture into unchartered areas. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Yes or No
- Only people who have done it before can be successful. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Yes or No
- I feel comfortable doing only what I know best. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Yes or No
- I welcome new challenges. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Yes or No
- I like to create new opportunities. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Yes or No
These question, although they appear to be simple, give you a glimpse into your current attitude. And if you felt just a tad bit nauseous about answering truthfully on a few, then you also probably saw a glimpse of your future achievements.
Source: http://www.octanner.com/blog/2012/11/achievement-vs-attitude-whats-driving-your-career/
jessica capshaw seattle times seattle times walker recall censor pipa and sopa sopa pipa
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
ICE Shuts Down 2 SoCal Internet Businesses For Selling Fake Goods
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) ? Two Southern California Internet-based business were among several shut down by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ?in a Cyber Monday crackdown on counterfeit goods sold online, officials announced Monday.
Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations in Ventura served seizure warrants for two domain names linked to www.autoforms8m.com.
The website claims to offer easy and affordable access to legal forms online and is suspected of selling counterfeit Adobe software, officials said.
?Preliminarily, federal investigators estimate the loss of revenue to Adobe at more than $3 million,? ICE agents said in a news release.
The second seizure involved the San Diego-based website, Staxxs on Deck, which sold counterfeit Nike footwear, officials said.
?In addition to selling counterfeit merchandise at its El Cajon storefront location, the company also operated a website ? www.23isking.com ? that offered knockoff Nike shoes online,? ICE said.
According to an affidavit, the company?s website made approximately $1.5 million in proceeds from the fake goods.
The annual crackdown, which began in 2010, resulted in the seizure of 132 domain names that sold fake goods.
Election results 2012 exit polls Presidential Polls California Propositions Electoral College obama chuck pagano
Beyond Structured Settlements: ELNY Allegation Timeline
The Executive Life of New York (ELNY)? class action lawsuit , filed November 8, 2012 by attorney Edward Stone and representatives of the Christensen & Jensen law firm, on behalf of ELNY shortfall victims, against?Benjamin M. Lawsky, Superintendent of Financial Services of the State of New York, and his predecessor ELNY Rehabilitators (Superintendent and/or Rehabilitator), MetLife and Credit Suisse, substantially expands the historical allegations of post-1991 ELNY mismanagement and non-disclosure.?
What follows is S2KM's re-configuration of selected allegations from the class action complaint into an ELNY "allegation timeline".
For persons seeking more comprehensive understanding of alleged mismanagement of ELNY during its 21 year rehabilitation, S2KM recommends reading the ELNY class action complaint which is posted on the structured settlement wiki. The following S2KM blog posts provide additional critiques of the New York Liquidation Bureau's (NYLB) role in ELNY insolvency:
ELNY Class Action Allegation Timeline
April 16, 1991
- New York's Insurance Superintendent Salvatore Curiale states: "[ELNY] isn't insolvent and has ample cash on hand to pay life insurance death benefits and meet annuity payments."
- Curiale further states: "The company is currently neither in an insolvent or impaired condition. . . . I have not petitioned the Court to make a finding of insolvency. ELNY is a company well able to meet its current obligations."
April 23, 1991
- ELNY Rehabilitation Court enters an Order of Rehabilitation which prohibits "all" persons, including the Rehabilitator, from "doing or permitting to be done any act or thing which might waste the assets" of ELNY.
- Under ELNY's Order of Rehabilitation, no more than 30 percent of ELNY's assets can be invested in common stock at any given time. This 30 percent cap is 50 percent higher than the percentage allowed by active insurance companies.
- Consistent with normal practice, Superintendent Curiale, ELNY's Rehabilitator, delegates most of his ELNY rehabilitation duties to the New York Liquidation Bureau [NYLB], directed by a Special Deputy Superintendent who in 1991 is Kevin Foley.
May 17, 1991 - In a letter to ELNY policyholders, the Superintendent confirms the sole basis for ELNY's rehabilitation has been the risk of policy surrenders. The letter further states the Superintendent was "presently analyzing the assets and liabilities of ELNY[.]"
June 7, 1991 - NYLB files a petition, which the Rehabilitation Court approves to retain First Boston Corporation (First Boston) as ELNY's exclusive financial advisor.
- The court also approves an investment advisory and management agreement with a First Boston affiliate providing for the payment of multi-million dollar fees.
- First Boston (and its successor/purchaser Credit Suisse) subsequently invests ELNY's assets in violation of its contractual obligations, in violation of the court's order, in violation of its representations to the NYLB and the court, and in violation of its fiduciary duties to ELNY shortfall payees.
- Instead, First Boston and Credit Suisse engage in a pattern of risky investments that generate high management fees and place ELNY's assets at considerable risk.
- Note: Credit Suisse acquired First Boston Corporation in 1990 but did not phase out the First Boston name until 2006.
June 1991 - The Superintendent contacts the Life Insurance Guaranty Corporation of New York (LIGCNY) to discuss the disposition of ELNY. MetLife, the largest domiciled insurance company in New York, has a lead position in LIGCNY and receives information about ELNY that is not available to other insurers generally or to the public.
Between June and November 1991
- NYLB enters into discussions with MetLife with Deputy Superintendent Foley as the principal person representing NYLB in these discussions.
- Under an agreement ultimately approved by the Rehabilitation Court, MetLife receives more than $1.5 billion of ELNY's traditional whole life, term life and single premium deferred annuity books of business plus $1.5 billion of ELNY's highest-quality assets.
- NYLB takes several steps to prevent competitive bids from other insurers.
- The products transferred to MetLife include 52,748 single premium deferred annuities and 80,891 life insurance policies. This large book of business allows MetLife to increase its assets by more than $1 billion at essentially no risk.
- In addition to receiving cash, MetLife is allowed to pick and choose from among ELNY's bonds and to charge "substantially higher surrender charges" than allowed under the ELNY contracts.
- Part of the agreement with MetLife includes retention of MetLife to service ELNY's remaining SPIAs (including structured settlement annuities) with a monthly fee of $5.50 per payee if payments begin before the last day of any month and $2.50 per payee if payments have not begun.
- Under this arrangement, ELNY's true liabilities are ascertainable only by NYLB and MetLife, the only entities with access to the annuity contracts.
October 9, 1991 - In a letter to ELNY policyholders and annuitants, the Superintendent reiterates the original ELNY takeover was due to surrender requests and further states: "it remains our belief that ELNY policyholders, annuitants and contract holders will receive 100% of the amounts due them under any of the options chosen as part [of] the rehabilitation plan. ... Please be assured that your money is being well protected and conservatively invested by the Rehabilitator."
January 21, 1992 - In a letter to ELNY policyholders and annuitants, the Superintendent states he is proposing a transfer of assets to MetLife and that "[t]he contemplated exchange and reinsurance agreements [with MetLife] would place you in a substantially similar position as you were at the time of the entry of the Rehabilitation Order."
March 26, 1992 - To implement the agreements with First Boston and MetLife, NYLB submits a proposed ELNY Rehabilitation Plan which the court approves.
- First Boston represents to the court the only possible course of action is to transfer virtually all of ELNY's investment grade assets to MetLife in exchange for MetLife assuming ELNY's obligations to only part of its policyholders.
- First Boston and NYLB represent that with First Boston's management of ELNY's assets, it is more than 90% certain the remaining ELNY assets will be sufficient to meet 100% of ELNY's obligations.
- Superintendent Curiale represents that, following "an extensive and detailed analysis ... Petitioner, as Rehabilitator, determined that the transaction proposed in the Plan would not impose any unwarranted or unreasonable risks on ELNY's SPIA holders, creditors or shareholders."
- Deputy Superintendent Foley states that, after the transfer, "we will make continued full payment" to annuitants, that he is "fully confident that these payments can and will be made," and that it was a "100 percent guarantee."
- NYLB represents that ELNY's remaining assets and liabilities will be approximately equal after the transfer of assets to MetLife. In fact, after the highest-value assets are transferred to MetLife, ELNY's remaining assets are less that its fixed liabilities by at least $300 million.
- From 1992 until 2010, the NYLB never files any reports with or otherwise updates the ELNY Rehabilitation Court with respect to ELNY's annuities.
April 13, 1992 - In a letter to ELNY policyholders and annuitants, the Superintendent states the proposed transfer of assets to MetLife "best protects all classes of ELNY policyholders and provides security, value, fairness, timeliness and practicality."
During 1992 - The Superintendent conducts "an extensive and detailed," "careful and exhaustive," "comprehensive" "full study" of ELNY's assets and liabilities and afterward reaffirms that ELNY is solvent.
- Following the transfer to MetLife, ELNY retains 23,666 annuity contracts in force and approximately $3.3 billion of assets.
- Foley acknowledges, under the deal, MetLife received "extremely high quality assets" and ELNY was left with lower-quality assets.
- Foley predicts the ELNY rehabilitation process will take "four or five years" or possibly less.
- NYLB asks Milliman & Robertson [M&R] to render actuarial opinions regarding the sufficiency of ELNY's remaining assets based upon certain assumptions and investment strategies.
- M&R does not audit or independently verify any of the information or assumptions provided to it.
- Based upon the assumptions provided by NYLB and First Boston, NYLB represents:
- "[T]he investment strategy adopted by [the Superintendent] does not impose any unreasonable risks on ELNY's SPIA holders, creditors or shareholders."
- "[I]n more than 90 percent of 500 randomly generated interest rate scenarios under ... base case assumptions, ELNY's SPIA obligations are satisfied in full."
- "Under the M&R study, the projected cash flows from the remaining assets [are] sufficient to meet 95% of the SPIA obligations under approximately 99% of the scenerios tested using ... base case default, recovery, yield and rate of return assumptions."
1996 - The NYLB for the first time refuses unrestricted access by the New York State Comptroller's office (Comptroller) to its records and personnel.
- The Comptroller reports that, "During our work, Department and Bureau officials prevented auditors from examining relevant records related to the liquidation of one estate and employee personnel-related records. Our audit was precluded from interviewing agency managers and operating personnel without senior management present, thereby creating an environment where those individuals could not speak freely."
- Prior to its takeover of ELNY, NYLB had generally cooperated with audits requested by the Comptroller's office.
- For example, no limitations were placed on the Comptroller in 1976, 1984, or 1990.
- In 1994, the Comptroller performed a follow up audit limited to items that had not been reviewed in 1990.
1998 - Common stock comprises 38 percent of ELNY's portfolio exceeding the 30 percent limit set by the 1991 Order of Rehabilitation.?
1999
- A NYLB representative states it could take up to 100 years before ELNY is finally liquidated.
- Deputy Superintendent Foley leaves New York's Insurance Department to become Vice President of External and Internal Communications at MetLife.
2000
- Common stock comprises as much as 44 percent of ELNY's investment portfolio.
- ELNY's common stock portfolio loses hundreds of millions of dollars, nearly one-third of its value.
2001
- In a meeting with a potential ELNY investor representative, the then Deputy Superintendent states: "Why would we want to sell [ELNY] when we can sit here and clip coupons all day."
- ELNY's common stock portfolio drops another 13 percent.
2002 - ELNY's common stock portfolio drops another 19 percent.
2004 - The NYLB refuses a Comptroller request to perform a comprehensive audit to include a review of ELNY's assets and liabilities.
July 23, 2004 - The Comptroller issues subpoenas related to the proposed NYLB audit.
November 17, 2004 - The Superintendent files suit to quash the subpoenas.
June 30, 2005 - A New York Supreme Court quashes the subpoenas, and the Comptroller appeals.
Late 2005 or early 2006
- Then-New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer campaigns for Governor on an anti-corruption platform.
- NYLB officials approach NOLHGA and the two entities begin working on a plan to liquidate ELNY without informing the Rehabilitation Court or ELNY's policyholders and annuitants of ELNY's insolvency.
- Under this plan, more than 1400 ELNY annuitants would suffer reduced payments of up to 66 percent.
August 2006 - Then-Special Deputy Superintendent Jody Hall, who has responsibility for NYLB, is fired for suspected corruption. She later pleads guilty and is convicted.
November 2006 - Governor-elect Spitzer identifies an investigation of the NYLB as an important priority for his administration.
2007
- On at least three occasions prior to 2007, groups of potential investors advise the Superintendent of an interest in purchasing ELNY's assets and liabilities. On each occasion, the Superintendent directly interposes impediments to the performance of due diligence and other investment-related activities.
- NYLB personnel begin contacting insurance companies and others, such as purchasers of structured settlement payment rights, demanding they contribute money to shore up ELNY or face punitive actions by the New York Department of Insurance.
January 2007 - Governor Spitzer appoints Mark Peters as the new Superintendent.
March 6, 2007 - The New York Appellate Division rules the Comptroller can enforce its subpoenas against NYLB.
May 2007 - Superintendent Peters announces NYLB will be subjected to a "top to bottom" audit by an independent auditor for the first time in NYLB history. The auditors discover the NYLB's financial records are in complete disarray requiring the NYLB to "reconstruct" the financial records of all 60 estates under its supervision.
October 11, 2007 - In Dinallo v. DiNapoli , the New York Court of Appeals holds that, in his capacity as rehabilitator/liquidator of insurance companies, the Superintendent is not a state officer. Therefore, acting as the Superintendent's agent, the NYLB is not a state agency and is not subject to audit by the New York State Comptroller.
December 2007
- NYLB personnel inform Governor Spitzer that a deal has been reached with insurance companies and others assuring 100 percent payment to ELNY policyholders and/or annuitants.
- Unknown to Governor Spitzer, no deal has been reached. Instead, the NYLB is still working privately with NOLHGA on the plan to liquidate ELNY.
- Governor Spitzer announces an "agreement in principle" for ELNY, subject to approval by ELNY's Rehabilitation Court. The agreement is designed to:
- Continue paying all ELNY annuitants 100% of their benefits;
- Provide protection for approximately 11,000 ELNY annuity recipients including structured settlement recipients.
- The announced plan, whereby various insurers and guarantee associations apparently agree to pay $650 to $750 million to help fund $2 billion of future ELNY payments, never materializes.
October 2008 - Independent auditors discover NYLB has been understating ELNY's shortfall by more than $1 billion for years. Examining ELNY's estate as of December 31, 2006, the auditor concludes ELNY's liabilities exceed its assets by $1.26 billion.
March 18, 2009 - without notification to ELNY policyholders and annuitants, Judge Daniel Martin signs an Order allowing NYLB to:
- Replace Credit Suisse as ELNY's investment advisor with Wellington Management Company and Goldman Sachs Asset Management; and
- "[F]rom time to time amend the [Investment] Guidelines set by the Rehabilitator in consultation with his new financial advisors if the Rehabilitator deems it beneficial to ELNY."
December 17, 2010 - State Supreme Court Judge Galasso orders the Superintendent to present the Court with a proposed order and plan of liquidation for ELNY on or before July 1, 2011 after the Superintendent confers with the New York Life Insurance Company Guaranty Corporation and other interested parties.
June 23, 2011 - The Superintendent files a motion to postpone the deadline for filing a proposed order and plan of liquidation for ELNY from July 1, 2011 to August 10, 2011 "in order to present a comprehensive and consensual proposed Plan of Liquidation that maximizes the potential benefits for ELNY's structured settlement and other annuitants."
August 8, 2011 - Counsel for the Superintendent advises the court the Superintendent 'is not in a position to submit a consensual proposed order and plan of liquidation on or before August 10, 2011" as previously promised. Instead, he anticipates the Superintendent doing so on or about August 26, 2011.
October 3, 2011 - Governor Andrew Cuomo creates the New York Department of Financial Services by consolidating the New York Insurance and Banking Departments. The Superintendent of Financial Services becomes the court appointed fiduciary and Receiver/Rehabilitator of ELNY as well as other impaired and insolvent insurance companies in New York.
December 2011 - NYLB:
- Files an ex parte motion stating its intent to liquidate ELNY.
- Notifies ELNY shortfall payees for the first time that their benefits will be cut.
March 2012 - Following a hearing, Judge Galasso determines ELNY is insolvent and approves the liquidation plan and restructuring agreement upon which NYLB and NOLHGA have been collaborating since 2006.
- Under the plan, ELNY shortfall payees face a potential loss of benefits exceeding $920 million.
- During the hearing, NYLB successfully prevents shortfall payees from exploring the causes of ELNY's insolvency.
- The order approving the ELNY liquidation plan and restructuring agreement is currently being appealed.
?
human nature arkansas football blackhawks howard johnson levon helm firelight world peace elbow
'Two and a Half Men' star calls show 'filth'
By Jordan Zakarin and Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter
At this point, it might be best to turn "Two and a Half Men"?into a reality show.?Less than two years removed from?Charlie Sheen's infamous meltdown that saw him removed from the CBS?Chuck Lorre?comedy, the show's young star,?Angus T. Jones?-- the half-man in the show's title -- has blasted the series as "filth" and suggested that people should stop watching.
More from THR: Miley Cyrus to Romance Jake on 'Two and a Half Men'
"Jake from 'Two and a Half Men'?means nothing. He is a non-existent character," Jones says in a video for the?Forerunner Christian Church, which is based in Fremont, Calif. "If you watch 'Two and a Half Men,' please stop watching 'Two and a Half Men.' I'm on 'Two and a Half Men'?and I don't want to be on it. Please stop watching it and filling your head with filth. People say it?s just entertainment. Do some research on the effects of television and your brain, and I promise you you?ll have a decision to make when it comes to television, especially with what you watch."
Jones continues with the testimonial, intimating that the show is part of the plan of "the enemy" -- presumably Satan. He adds, "If I am doing any harm, I don't want to be here. I don't want to be contributing to the enemy's plan ... You cannot be a true God-fearing person and be on a television show like that. I know I can't. I'm not OK with what I'm learning, what the bible says and being on that television show."
Photos from THR: Broadcast TV's Returning Shows for 2012-13
Jones, 19,?gave a testimony?in October at the Voice of Prophecy in Los Angeles, where he attends services.
Jones earns about $350,000 per episode; in May he received a salary bump -- along with co-stars?Jon Cryer?and?Ashton Kutcher?-- when?Men?was renewed for a 10th season.
Jones' comments mark the latest brouhaha for "Men," which in addition to the Sheen debacle also saw former showrunner?Lee Aronsohn?step down after he came under fire for comments he made to?THR?about female-driven shows at a Toronto screenwriting conference.
"Two and a Half Men"?producer Warner Bros. Television declined comment.
What do you think of Jones' statements? Tell us on Facebook.
Related content:
badgers nbc sports network mendenhall demarcus cousins savannah brinson mount rainier capital one bowl
Yemen offers separatists half of seats at national talks
SANAA (Reuters) - Yemen's government has offered southern separatists half of the seats at a planned reconciliation conference, a top official said on Monday, in a bid to salvage a meeting deemed crucial for the success of last year's power transfer deal.
Restoring stability in Yemen is an international priority due to fears of disorder ripping apart the Arabian Peninsula country that flanks top oil exporter Saudi Arabia as well as major shipping lanes.
Southern Yemeni politicians have refused to attend the conference, originally scheduled for mid-November, to discuss constitutional reforms ahead of national elections expected in 2014.
The separatists are seeking the restoration of the state that merged with North Yemen in 1990 and have demanded that they be given equal representation at the conference with northern Yemenis.
"The southern question is key to all other issues, because solving it will have implications on the nature of the state and the new constitution," Sultan al-Atwani, the deputy chairman of a committee tasked with preparing for the dialogue told Reuters in an interview.
Atwani said the organisers plan to invite some 565 delegates, half of which will be reserved for "different components of the south".
"We have given the southern secessionist parties a good number of seats to attract them," he said.
Southern separatists have yet to comment on the new proposal.
Atwani said President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi would fix a new date for the meeting.
Many southerners complain that northerners based in the capital Sanaa have discriminated against them and usurped their resources. Most of Yemen's fast-declining oil reserves are in the south.
The central government denies having a discriminatory policy.
The U.N. envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar, has been meeting with southern separatist leaders to try to persuade them to attend the conference.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on his first visit to Yemen, pledged on November 19 to help rescue stumbling efforts to implement the power transfer deal that pulled the Arabian Peninsula country back from the brink of civil war last year.
"I think any party that doesn't take part in the dialogue will lose because this is the right time and place to discuss all issues," Atwani said. "We have to reach a common ground in order to build a new Yemen."
Western nations suspect that some southern leaders are less interested in the dialogue than in breaking away, possibly with the backing of Iran, the arch-foe of the Saudis and Americans and vying with them for regional power.
(Writing by Mahmoud Habboush; Editing by Sami Aboudi and Hugh Lawson)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/yemen-offers-separatists-half-seats-national-talks-144313746.html
rosie o donnell soda bread recipe vanderbilt evan mathis staff sgt. robert bales jason russell norfolk state
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)