Monday, May 21, 2012

WATCH: Daniel Craig Is Back as Bond in 'Skyfall' Trailer!

James Bond doesn't strike us as the kind of guy who likes to play games -- but, as the brand-new trailer for Skyfall (a.k.a. the 23rd 007 film) reveals, the man sure does have a knack for word association. "Murder?" a prison psychiatrist asks. "Employment," Bond nonchalantly replies. How we've missed you, James. Watch the official teaser trailer below!

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Sunday, May 20, 2012

Chinese activist renews call to fight injustice

Blind Chinese legal activist Chen Guangcheng arrives at Washington Square Village on the campus of New York University, Saturday, May 19, 2012, in New York. Chen escaped from his village in April and was given sanctuary inside the U.S. Embassy after seven years of prison and house arrest. He is planning to study law at NYU. But before that, he says he is planning to spend time recuperating. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

Blind Chinese legal activist Chen Guangcheng arrives at Washington Square Village on the campus of New York University, Saturday, May 19, 2012, in New York. Chen escaped from his village in April and was given sanctuary inside the U.S. Embassy after seven years of prison and house arrest. He is planning to study law at NYU. But before that, he says he is planning to spend time recuperating. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

Blind Chinese legal activist Chen Guangcheng arrives at Washington Square Village on the campus of New York University, Saturday, May 19, 2012, in New York. Chen escaped from his village in April and was given sanctuary inside the U.S. Embassy after seven years of prison and house arrest. He is planning to study law at NYU. But before that, he says he is planning to spend time recuperating. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

Blind Chinese legal activist Chen Guangcheng arrives at Washington Square Village on the campus of New York University, Saturday, May 19, 2012, in New York. Chen escaped from his village in April and was given sanctuary inside the U.S. Embassy after seven years of prison and house arrest. He is planning to study law at NYU. But before that, he says he is planning to spend time recuperating. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

Blind Chinese legal activist Chen Guangcheng, center, arrives at Washington Square Village on the campus of New York University, Saturday, May 19, 2012 in New York. Chen escaped from his village in April and was given sanctuary inside the U.S. Embassy after seven years of prison and house arrest. He is planning to study law at NYU. But before that, he says he is planning to spend time recuperating. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

Blind Chinese legal activist Chen Guangcheng, center, arrives at Washington Square Village on the campus of New York University, Saturday, May 19, 2012 in New York. Chen escaped from his village in April and was given sanctuary inside the U.S. Embassy after seven years of prison and house arrest. He is planning to study law at NYU. But before that, he says he is planning to spend time recuperating. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

(AP) ? A blind Chinese legal activist who escaped house arrest, endured a nearly monthlong diplomatic tussle and a hurried daylong flight paused ever so briefly upon his arrival in New York City before taking up a familiar fight.

Taken from a hospital in his homeland and put on a plane for the U.S. after Chinese authorities suddenly told him Saturday to pack and prepare to leave, Chen Guangcheng embraced his new surroundings at New York University and renewed his call to fight injustice.

"I believe that no matter how difficult the environment nothing is impossible if you put your heart to it," he told a cheering crowd at NYU shortly after arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday evening.

"We should link our arms to continue in the fight for the goodness in the world and to fight against injustice. So, I think that all people should apply themselves to this end to work for the common good worldwide."

Chen was suddenly allowed to leave China earlier in the day, ending a dispute that tested U.S.-China relations.

Dressed in a white shirt and khaki pants and using crutches, his right leg in a cast, Chen was greeted with cheers when he arrived at the apartment in Manhattan's Greenwich Village where he will live with his family. The complex houses faculty and graduate students of New York University, where Chen is expected to attend law school.

"For the past seven years, I have never had a day's rest," Chen said through a translator, "so I have come here for a bit of recuperation for body and in spirit."

Chen thanked the U.S. and Chinese governments, along with the embassies of Switzerland, Canada and France.

"After much turbulence, I have come out of Shandong," he said, referring to the Chinese province where he was under house arrest. The U.S. has granted him partial citizenship rights, he said.

Chen gave a short statement, which was greeted by cheers in Mandarin and English. He didn't take questions from reporters.

The departure of Chen, his wife and two children to the United States marked the conclusion of nearly a month of uncertainty and years of mistreatment by local authorities for the self-taught activist.

After seven years of prison and house arrest, Chen made a daring escape from his rural village in April and was given sanctuary inside the U.S. Embassy, triggering a diplomatic standoff over his fate. With Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Beijing for annual high-level discussions, officials struck a deal that let Chen walk free, only to see him have second thoughts. That forced new negotiations that led to an agreement to send him to the U.S. to study law, a goal of his, at New York University.

"Thousands of thoughts are surging to my mind," Chen said before he left China. His concerns, he said, included whether authorities would retaliate for his negotiated departure by punishing his relatives left behind. It also was unclear whether the government will allow him to return.

In New York, he said China had promised him protection of his rights as a citizen there.

"I am very gratified to see that the Chinese government has been dealing with the situation with restraint and calm, and I hope to see that they continue to open discourse and earn the respect and trust of the people."

Chen's expected attendance at New York University comes from his association with Jerome Cohen, a law professor there who advised Chen while he was in the U.S. Embassy. The two met when Chen came to the United States on a State Department program in 2003, and Cohen has been staunch advocate for him since.

Before leaving China, Chen asked his supporters and others in the activist community for their understanding of his desire to leave the front lines of the rights struggle in China.

"I am requesting a leave of absence, and I hope that they will understand," he said.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland praised the quiet negotiations that freed him.

"We also express our appreciation for the manner in which we were able to resolve this matter and to support Mr. Chen's desire to study in the U.S. and pursue his goals," Nuland said in a statement.

The White House also said it was pleased with the outcome of negotiations.

China's Foreign Ministry said it had no comment. The government's news agency, Xinhua, issued a brief report saying that Chen "has applied for study in the United States via normal channels in line with the law."

Chen's supporters welcomed his departure. "This is great progress," said U.S.-based rights activist Bob Fu. "It's a victory for freedom fighters."

The 40-year-old Chen is emblematic of a new breed of activists that the Communist Party finds threatening. Often from rural and working-class families, these "rights defenders," as they are called, are unlike the students and intellectuals from the elite academies and major cities of previous democracy movements and thus could potentially appeal to ordinary Chinese.

Chen gained recognition for crusading for the disabled and for farmers' rights and fighting against forced abortions in his rural community. That angered local officials, who seemed to wage a personal vendetta against him, convicting him in 2006 on what his supporters say were fabricated charges and then holding him for the past 20 months in illegal house arrest.

Even with the backstage negotiations, Chen's departure came hastily. Chen spent the last 2 1/2 weeks in a hospital for the foot he broke escaping house arrest. Only on Wednesday did Chinese authorities help him complete the paperwork needed for his passport.

Chen said by telephone Saturday that he was informed at the hospital just before noon to pack his bags to leave. Officials did not give him and his family passports or inform them of their flight details until after they got to the airport.

Seeming ambivalent, Chen said that he was "not happy" about leaving and that he had a lot on his mind, including worries about retaliation against his extended family back home. His nephew, Chen Kegui, is accused of attempted murder after he allegedly used a kitchen knife to attack officials who stormed his house after discovering Chen Guangcheng was missing.

"I hope that the government will fulfill the promises it made to me, all of its promises," Chen said. Such promises included launching an investigation into abuses against him and his family in Shandong province, he said before the phone call was cut off.

Much as Chen has said he wants return to China, it remains uncertain whether the Chinese government would bar him, as they have done with many exiled activists.

"Chen's departure for the U.S. does not and should not in any way mark a 'mission accomplished' moment for the U.S. government," said Phelim Kine, a senior Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The harder, longer-term part is ensuring his right under international law to return to China when he sees fit."

___

Associated Press Writers Didi Tang, Gillian Wong and Charles Hutzler in Beijing, Andrew Duffelmeyer in Newark, N.J., and Matthew Lee in Washington, and videojournalist Annie Ho in Beijing contributed to this report.

Associated Press

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Locating Rapid Solutions In Purchasing Commercial Real Estate

In the world of purchasing commercial real estate, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced buyers alike. There are many websites, e-guides, books, videos and other resources available. This set of tips contains some of the best advice for helping a new buyer become a smart buyer.

Commercial real estate is a great investment for anyone in the real estate game. A good thing to remember is that it is a process that takes longer to get through. You should research, and get qualified for a commercial loan before even looking for a property to invest in.

Remember when buying commercial real estate that the loans are structured differently than residential real estate loans. Buying a triplex is the same as buying a commercial property and it is not eligible for a residential loan. So remember when looking for commercial property, know the facts on commercial real estate loans before buying.

Before you invest in commercial real estate, you should challenge underlying assumptions. Even though many pro formas will look really good, you should still review the validity of the different assumptions because the pro forma could have gaps in it that need addressing: Suppose a pro forma assumes there will be two months of leasing down-time. Therefore, you should consider what would happen if the leasing down-time is six months instead of two? What would happen? This is an important assumption that needs to be addressed.

Put an advertisement in your local paper. These tend to be fairly inexpensive, but are also seen by many prospective clients, buyers, and sellers throughout your local area. Remember, many people (especially older people) do not use the Internet. Use this ad to your advantage by letting people know as many details about the property as you can, and give them an easy way to contact you. Look at interviews tips ? an intro for well-rounded tips.

If you can not personally visit the property that you plan on investing in, then you should search for a real estate agent or property consultant. The reason is because they can give you information about the area demographics, sources or industries for estimated job growth, information about household income, and other sources of information.

If you are interested in buying a commercial property, make sure that the plumbing is intact. You might even wish to hire a plumber if you are serious about the property. Plumbing is easy to forget when you are buying a commercial property, but it will be a hefty repair bill if you don?t check before you buy.

It is easy to see how the commercial real estate market can be a very lucrative one. If you know what you are looking for, how to help people sell and buy retail space, then you can enable others to make good business decisions. You want your clients to have a great experience with you so they send business your way.

Pop over to our site for clear info now: tool pouch ? some insights & okotoks plumbing contractors.

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Saturday, May 19, 2012

Joshua Ledet on American Idol Elimination: Sad, But Relieved


To the chagrin of millions, Joshua Ledet will not be singing for the American Idol championship next week. He was eliminated on an emotional results show last night.

However, despite the tears that fell on stage soon after his name was called, Ledet sounded upbeat when talking with reporters not long after the credits rolled.

Goodbye, Josh Ledet

"I felt good about the whole situation, but when people come up to you and try to comfort you and hug you, then the tears start coming, and then a whole bunch of other stuff," said Ledet, who sang his farewell song with his mother by his side. "So just getting their support, it kind of took over, and I kind of lost it a little."

Ledet added that he wasn't shocked to be ousted because just look at his competition.

"[Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez] are great, and they have huge fan bases. They deserve it just like anyone else... I was trying to hold a smile up, and I was definitely not upset. I felt relieved. A lot of pressure was off of me, and I feel really good."

He also has reason to feel optimistic about the future, which is the message Jennifer Lopez tried to instill. Said Josh, summing up the experience:

"Jennifer told me to keep my head up and my career was only going to go further from here... I’m just gonna miss the whole environment. Everyone here is amazing. It’s like a family."

Do you think Ledet deserved to be eliminated?

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How Hard Is Poverty Hitting Your County?

It?s hardly news that the Great Recession pushed millions of Americans into poverty. In 2010, ?poverty? meant having an income of less than $22,113 for a family of four; 15.1 percent of Americans were below that line. As this map shows, some areas of the country fared worse than others between 2007 and 2010. While some counties saw their poverty rates increase only slightly, and some even saw them drop, the number of people under the poverty line in Oregon?s Malheur County doubled to nearly two-fifths of its population. And those ?bright spots? that appear as dark blue? Look closer?a full 6-point improvement in South Dakota?s Ziebach County still left more than one-half its residents below the poverty line.?And even the poverty rate itself?understates?the privation in the country.

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Friday, May 18, 2012

LGBT families lobby Congress (CNN)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

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Follow These Tips To Deal With Your Finances Better.

Take a good honest look at your relationship with money. Once you understand your thoughts about money, you can aim to improve your current financial situation. Take some time to create a list on what you think of money and material objects so that you can figure out where you beliefs stemmed from. You?ll be able to move on and cultivate more positive feelings in the future.

Arrange for an automatic withdrawal to take money out of your account and put it in a savings account with high interest rates. It may seem painful at first, but in time, you won?t notice as much and you will love seeing your savings grow!

To help better your personal financial situation even when you have a full-time job, think about taking up a second job. It does not matter what you do, from delivering pizza to working as a baseball umpire at night. Adding extra income through the week could make a big difference.

Student loans are something that you should take out only if you really need them, as they can come back to haunt you in time. Private schools can be very costly to pay off.

When you take a higher-paying job in a new city, consider that the cost of living could also be higher. Look into housing costs, groceries, entertainment and other things before making a decision.

Left over money from minor transactions can be used in creative ways to increase finances. Using the dollar bills and buying lottery tickets with them is a fun way to possibly have much more money than was spent on the tickets.

One easy way to save money is to stop going to the hairdresser and to start taking care of haircuts yourself. Your hair may look nicer when your hairdresser handles it, but a trip to the salon can take a serious toll on your wallet. After buying the scissors, it?s always free to trim hair at home.

By cutting back on your alcohol consumption, you can minimize the possibility of making poor decisions that risk your financial security. Limit your drinking and keep yourself hydrated with water. This will make sure you keep your wits about you, and your wallet.

Can purchasing a home, rather than renting, save you money? Yes, you?ll have to pay the mortgage and utility bills each month; however, you?ll eventually pay off the home By renting, you are just going to be putting money into something that will never really be yours.

No matter what, do not risk your retirement if things get rough around your house. There are many other options to which you should turn first in order improve your financial situation. If you?re messing with your future just to fix something that?s going on today, you may be making a mistake.

Buy generic brands instead of national brands. Did you know that the most expensive products cost more because companies have to make up for what they spend on the package and the marketing campaign? Go with the generic choice. There really isn?t much difference in the quality, performance or taste of a generic brand.

It should be clear by now that you can improve your financial situation with a little effort. The future is yours and only you can determine the outcome with positive improvements to your financial situation.

About credit cards with no credit ? Credit Card Know How That Can Help You Right Now

If you?re like many Americans, you?ve developed a bad habit of whipping out your credit card to pay for purchases and figuring out how to pay the bill later. This is not the right way to use credit. The good news is that with a little education, you can change the way you use your credit cards. Read on to find out what to do.

Are you making online purchases? If so, search for companies that use a third-party payment provider, like World Pay or Pay Pal. Also, always make sure that when you are completing a payment, the address bar reads https://, rather than http://. This lets you know that the data is encrypted and your information is secure.

Read each monthly statement carefully. Make sure that you recognize each charge that is applied to your card and any payments made. If you find an unfamiliar charge, it may be a mistake placed on by the card company, or it could be something worse, such as someone else using your card without your permission. Make sure that you contact the company if you see these any bogus charges.

Don?t just make the minimum payments for your credit card, when you pay your bill each month. Only paying the minimum means that your debt will take longer to pay off. If you can afford to pay the full balance, then at least make an effort to pay a little more over the minimum.

To help you get the maximum value from your credit card, choose a card which provides rewards based on the amount of money you spend. Many credit card rewards programs will give you up to two percent of your spending back as rewards which can make your purchases much more economical.

As was mentioned before in this article, there are many frustrations that people encounter when dealing with credit cards. However, it is much easier to deal with your credit card bills effectively, if you understand how the credit card business and your payments work. Apply this article?s advice and a better credit card future is around the corner. More on credit cards with cash back



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