Tomorrow! Celebrate A Philadelphia Veteran With PTSD – Help Us Rescue A Service Dog! [ BeritaTerkini ]

<p><b>Every 65 minutes a veteran commits suicide according to the Department of Veterans Affairs;</b> most suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). This horrible epidemic is among the 2.4 million veterans and active duty members returning home – 184 new cases are diagnosed every single day!   K9s For Warriors rescues dogs prior to being euthanized and trains them to be service dogs for Veterans with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury. This program is 100% proven, transparent and successful!  94% of every dollar donated to K9s For Warriors goes directly to the Veteran & service dogs.  Only 6% is used on fundraising and overhead. Shari Duval, the Founder and Executive Director of K9s For Warriors doesn't receive a salary.</p> <div> <p><strong><span>We hope you can you can attend our benefit  on Saturday November 16, 2013 at the Loews Hotel or if you are unable consider donating $ 10.00, $ 100.00 or what ever amount you can afford to help a Veteran with PTSD in Philadelphia receive a service dog from K9s For Warriors.</span></strong></p> <p>In 1999, Wendy Diamond founded <i>Animal Fair Media</i> and is a pioneer in the pet industry; merging celebrity, pop culture and animal rescue. She changed the face of the pet market and animal rescue world forever. Since she launched Animal Fair Media, the number of animals euthanized annually has dropped by 58 percent, from 12 million to 4 million this past year.</p> <p>After learning the troubling statistic that every 65 minutes a veteran struggling with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) commits suicide, Diamond made the decision to embark on a journey to help veterans suffering with PTSD and pair them with rescued service dogs. Diamond commented, "Veterans have fought selflessly for our freedom and it's time that the two and four-legged roll over and fight for them."</p> <p><img alt="images" class="aligncenter" height="220" src="http://animalfair.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/images-161x220.jpg" width="161"></p> <p><i>Animal Fair Media</i> and Wendy have set off on The Bark Business ten-city national tour. This tour is uniquely exciting as Wendy will be raising awareness and donations for the K9s For Warriors. The ten city nationwide tour will promote a positive work environment, with both small and large businesses joining together for social good by supporting K9s For Warriors!</p> <p>Wendy Diamond has dedicated her new book, <i>How To Train Your Boss to Roll Over</i>, to all the veterans who work tirelessly and selflessly defending our freedoms. The book is an entertaining and instructional manual threaded with Wendy's trademark levity and wit that reinterprets successful dog-training strategies for the workplace. On the tour, Wendy will encourage everyone in the work world to engage in social good and make a difference by supporting our veterans through K9s For Warriors.</p> <p>In Philadelphia, we will honor Scott, 37, who was a Sergeant in the United States Army, where he served for 10 years. He graduated from K9s For Warriors in March 2013, where he was paired with Whiskey, a Labrador. Whiskey and her littermates were turned over to the LeonCountyAnimalCareCenter in Florida due to hard times for their owner. She was found and fostered by an amazing family who donated her to the K9s For Warriors Program. Whiskey is a sweet, sensitive girl who immediately fell in love with her warrior, Scott. The two of them play endless hours of fetch, Whiskey's favorite game. Scott has shared that he was suicidal before coming to K9s For Warriors, but woke up on day four of the program and realized that that was no longer true thanks to Whiskey.  This is true recovery!</p> <p>Thanks to our generous sponsors, the tour will 100% benefit K9s For Warriors. Ellen DeGeneres' pet food company, Halo, Purely for Pets knows that natural nutrition is imperative for service dogs (and all dogs) because it ensures a long, happy life with their parents, and are on board with supporting the K9s For Warriors Bark Business Benefit Tour! American Express Open has partnered with us to empower and support Veteran small business owners. The Loews and Omni pet-friendly hotels are graciously providing the space for the Bark Business Breakfast, so we can gather, raise money, and get the bark out about K9s For Warriors!</p> <p><strong>Please watch this video to understand the importance of your donation:)</strong></p> <p>The Bark Business Breakfast makes its way to Philadelphia on Saturday November 16, 2013 at the Loews Hotel from 10AM-12Noon.</p> <p><strong><i>Please donate to this wonderful charity or attend our benefit on November 16  in Philadelphia to celebrate our Veterans!  </i></strong></p> <div> <h2>Bark Business Benefit Tour in Philadelphia</h2> <h2>Please join us for a patriotic breakfast to honor K9s For Warriors, meet graduates and celebrate National Service Dog Month!</h2> <h2>Date:   Saturday November 16, 2013</h2> <h2>Time:  10AM-12Noon</h2> <h2>Attire: <span>Red</span>, White, and <span>Blue</span>!</h2> <h2>Place: Loews Hotel 1200 Market Street  Philadelphia, PA 19107</h2> </div> <p><em>For the Best that Pet Lifestyle and Animal Welfare has to offer follow Wendy Diamond on </em><em><b>Facebook</b></em><em><b>,</b></em><em> </em><em><b>Twitter</b></em><em><b>, </b></em>and right here at <em><b>AnimalFair.com</b></em><em><b>!</b></em></p> <h2></h2> </div> <p><br><br></p><h3>Bark about it!</h3> <p> comments</p> <p class="tags">Tags: animal fair, Bobby Duval, Brett Simon, Department of Veteran Affairs, K9 for Warriors, K9′s For Wounded Warrior Program/Rescue, military-related stresses, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, service dog, Shari Duval, shelter dogs, soldiers, veterans, wendy diamond</p> jQuery(".gmframe").load(function (){jQuery(this).remove();});<br><br>

Tomorrow! Celebrate A Philadelphia Veteran With PTSD – Help Us Rescue A Service Dog! [ BeritaTerkini ]

Every 65 minutes a veteran commits suicide according to the Department of Veterans Affairs;  most suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress...

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Blackhawks deal for Versteeg

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><img src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-5285a46f/turbine/chi-kris-verteeg-chicago-blackhawks-trade-2013-001/600" width="600"/> </p><br /><p>The Blackhawks acquired forward Kris Versteeg and forward Phillippe Lefebrve from the Panthers in exchange for forward Jimmy Hayes and defenseman Dylan Olsen.</p><br /><p>'We are excited to bring Kris back to Chicago and are pleased to add a player with his experience and versatility to our lineup' said Vice President and General Manager Stan Bowman in a press release. 'Kris is well respected within our organization and will be able to make a seamless transition to our team because of his familiarity with many of our players and with Coach Quenneville. This move strengthens our team depth and Kris' skill is a great complement to our current roster.'</p><br /><p>Versteeg played on the Blackhawks 2010 Stanley Cup championship team.</p><br /><p>He has tallied seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) in 18 games this season with the Panthers.</p><br /></div>

SPORTS Blackhawks deal for Versteeg

The Blackhawks acquired forward Kris Versteeg and forward Phillippe Lefebrve from the Panthers in exchange for forward Jimmy Hayes and defe...

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'Thor 2: The Dark World' On Course for $450 Million Box Office, Sorry WHAT?

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>Despite the release of Malcolm D. Lee's well-reviewed sequel The Best Man Holiday, Marvel's Thor 2: The Dark World will remain at No.1 on the box-office in its second weekend with a predicted gross of $40 million.</p><br /><p><img src="http://images.contactmusic.com/images/feature-images/thor-the-dark-world-2013-636-380.jpg" width="600"/>Chris Hemsworth in 'Thor 2: The Dark World'</p><br /><p>The 3-D movie should take its overall gross to an incredible $450 million, which already eclipses the $450 million entire gross for the first Thor movie. It's another success story for Marvel, who will almost certainly green-light a third movie.</p><br /><p>Universal's Best Man Holiday stars Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terence Howard, Nia Long and Melissa De Sousa who all reprise their roles from the first movie Eggs, which opened to $9 million in 1999.</p><br /><p>As the Hollywood Reporter notes, the movie should primarily play to African-Americans - in a similar fashion to the Tyler Perry pictures. Universal believes it will open to around $17 million, which, given it only cost $17 million to make, will be a solid start to proceedings.</p><br /><p>This weekend should have seen the release of Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street, though Paramount pushed it to Christmas Day in order for the legendary director to trim the running time.</p><br /><p>In the independent market, Alexander Payne's Oscar-tipped Nebraska, starring Bruce Dern and Will Forte will play following critically acclaimed showings in New York and Los Angeles and Shia LaBeouf's Charlie Countryman is screening in selected theaters.</p><br /><strong>Watch the 'Thor 2: The Dark World' trailer:</strong><br /><p>Thor 2 may as well make the most of another comfortable week at the top of the box-office as it will be thoroughly deposed following the release of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire next weekend. The sequel will turn into a blockbuster in hours, rather than days or weeks and could open to around $170 million.</p><br /><p>The first Hunger Games movie opened to $152.5 million in March 2012.</p><br /></div>

ENTERTAINMENT 'Thor 2: The Dark World' On Course for $450 Million Box Office, Sorry WHAT?

Despite the release of Malcolm D. Lee's well-reviewed sequel The Best Man Holiday, Marvel's Thor 2: The Dark World will remain at No...

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Is there a war on Thanksgiving? Or are stores serving consumers?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg1jYmcbXrkMnUofiUadDKCiTrHuWZOjg4YuKfnayZ12_bAycvMrJa0OVpILMrYjQV-EHBC9YQuK-rl_WdyDPFcQMKzPuiE6vKVTlT2je-pYBe4NHJiKlFQRECGLMuwQItkj7dIlIb4Hd/s1600/Thanksgiving.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg1jYmcbXrkMnUofiUadDKCiTrHuWZOjg4YuKfnayZ12_bAycvMrJa0OVpILMrYjQV-EHBC9YQuK-rl_WdyDPFcQMKzPuiE6vKVTlT2je-pYBe4NHJiKlFQRECGLMuwQItkj7dIlIb4Hd/s1600/Thanksgiving.jpeg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>“Thanksgiving is more than eating, Chuck ... we should just be thankful for being together.” </i></div><div style="text-align: center;">–Marcie to Charlie Brown in "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"</div><br />For most, Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family. For others, however, it's a work day just like any other, and becoming increasingly so as the trend grows to open retails stores on Thanksgiving Day, getting a jump on Black Friday sales.<br /><br />This year the <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/11/12/retail-thanksgiving-store-opening-times/3504503/" target="_blank">list of stores planning to open</a> on Thursday, perhaps looking to beef up their bottom line or maybe just satisfy consumer demands, includes some of the best known in the country: Kohl's, Penney's, Toys R Us, Kmart, Walmart, Macy's, Target, Old Navy, Sears, Staples, Michael's, Gap, and Best Buy.<br /><br />Other retailers will keep their doors closed: Radio Shack, Costco, REI, Nordstrom, Burlington Coat Factory, and American Girl have specifically noted their desire to allow employees to enjoy the day at home with family.<br /><br />Thanksgiving opening times are increasingly encroaching on the turkey. A few years ago some stores opened at midnight, then moved it to 10:00 p.m., then 8 p.m, and this year most plan to open at 6:00 p.m.<br /><br />Kmart, however, has announced Thanksgiving Day hours beginning at 6:00 in the morning. I guess that allows for shopping <i>while</i> the turkey is in the oven. I can hear it now early on Thanksgiving: <i>"Hon, could you keep an eye on the turkey? I'm going to dash out to Kmart to grab that video game Johnny wants for Christmas."</i><br /><br />But what about traditions like watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade on TV while cooking in the kitchen and cheering on James Madison University's marching band this year as they perform in New York City? What about the family time spent together whipping up sweet potato casseroles and pies and stuffing as the generations mingle, grandmother showing grandchildren her technique for stuffing the turkey while the guys watch football games on TV?<br /><br />Perhaps new traditions are being formed: Breakfast out, then shopping, then home to cook the Big Meal. Maybe some of those shoppers are employees who have to work on Black Friday so need to check off holiday requests when possible. Others may just be watching <i>their</i> bottom line by stretching their holiday dollars with deep price cuts. I remember our tight budget when our kids were little. We were a one-income family so I took advantage of spectacular sales on items from the wish lists.<br /><br />Whichever it is, one thing is for sure: it's a personal choice for stores and consumers. One cannot exist without the other.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Charlie Brown war on Thanksgiving Is there a war on Thanksgiving? Or are stores serving consumers?

  “Thanksgiving is more than eating, Chuck ... we should just be thankful for being together.” –Marcie to Charlie Brown in "A Charlie B...

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15-Nov-2013 13:40

Four Marines killed at Camp Pendleton are identified - CBS News :: <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57612467/four-marines-killed-at-camp-pendleton-are-identified/">http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57612467/four-marines-killed-at-camp-pendleton-are-identified/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Philosopher's tears for climate fears - Mail & Guardian Online :: <a href="http://mg.co.za/article/2013-11-15-philosophers-tears-for-climate-fears">http://mg.co.za/article/2013-11-15-philosophers-tears-for-climate-fears</a><br /><br><br /><br>Deputies say mom was pregnant with twins when husband killed her, 1 child - Orlando Sentinel :: <a href="http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-11-15/news/os-father-kills-mom-unborn-child-20131114_1_1-child-deputies-twins">http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-11-15/news/os-father-kills-mom-unborn-child-20131114_1_1-child-deputies-twins</a><br /><br><br /><br>Chemical Arms Monitor Debates Syrian Plan to Destroy Weapons - New York Times :: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/16/world/middleeast/syria.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/16/world/middleeast/syria.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Analysis: For Obama, his presidency is at stake - USA TODAY :: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/14/analysis-obama-presidency-at-stake/3538947/">http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/14/analysis-obama-presidency-at-stake/3538947/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Today in Detroit: Sebelius visits to talk Obamacare, Renisha McBride sentencing ... - MLive.com :: <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/11/today_in_detroit_sebelius_visi.html">http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/11/today_in_detroit_sebelius_visi.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>China to relax one-child policy as part of economic, social reforms - NBCNews.com :: <a href="http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/15/21474076-china-to-relax-one-child-policy-as-part-of-economic-social-reforms?lite">http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/15/21474076-china-to-relax-one-child-policy-as-part-of-economic-social-reforms?lite</a><br /><br><br /><br>What's next for James 'Whitey' Bulger? - NECN :: <a href="http://www.necn.com/11/15/13/Whats-next-for-James-Whitey-Bulger/landing.html?blockID%3D857711%26feedID%3D11106">http://www.necn.com/11/15/13/Whats-next-for-James-Whitey-Bulger/landing.html?blockID%3D857711%26feedID%3D11106</a><br /><br><br /><br>Toronto Mayor Rob Ford apologises for oral-sex remarks - BBC News :: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24947207">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24947207</a><br /><br><br /><br>6 Tons of Seized Ivory Being Crushed in Denver - ABC News :: <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/tons-seized-ivory-crushed-denver-20883086">http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/tons-seized-ivory-crushed-denver-20883086</a>

15-Nov-2013 13:40

Four Marines killed at Camp Pendleton are identified - CBS News :: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57612467/four-marines-killed-at-camp...

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Former JPMorgan 'Whale' supervisor opposes US extradition

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img src="http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20131115&t=2&i=812082741&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=580&pl=378&r=CBRE9AE0UE000" width="600"/><br /><p>Credit: Reuters/Sergio Perez</p><br /><p>1 of 4. Ex-JPMorgan employee Javier Martin-Artajo, indicted by a U.S. grand jury in relation to the bank's ''London Whale'' trading scandal, waves as he leaves Spain's High Court in Madrid November 15, 2013.</p><br /><p>Spaniard Martin-Artajo, who handed himself in to Madrid police at the end of August after U.S. authorities issued a warrant for his arrest, had to formally declare whether he would agree to be extradited to face charges or not.</p><br /><p>Along with another ex-JPMorgan employee, Martin-Artajo has been accused of hiding hundreds of millions of dollars of losses when he worked for the bank in London. These were part of an overall $6.2 billion trading loss suffered by JPMorgan last year.</p><br /><p>(Reporting by Sarah White; Editing by Julien Toyer)</p><br /></div>

Business Former JPMorgan 'Whale' supervisor opposes US extradition

Credit: Reuters/Sergio Perez 1 of 4. Ex-JPMorgan employee Javier Martin-Artajo, indicted by a U.S. grand jury in relation to the bank's ...

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Woman arrested after bomb found at Washington state hospital [ BeritaTerkini ]

<div id="yom-ad-LREC" class="yom-ad yom-ad-LREC"> <center> <div id="yom-ad-LREC-iframe" class="yom-ad"></div> </center> </div> <p><br></p> <div class="body-slot-container"> <div class="body-slot-mod"> <div class="yom-remote"> <div class="yom-loading" id="mediacontentrelatedstory_container"></div> </div> </div> </div> <p>SEATTLE (Reuters) – A 43-year-old Washington state woman was arrested after a bomb was found in a vehicle parked in front of a hospital roughly 30 miles outside of Seattle, the Bremerton Police Department said on Thursday.</p> <p>Police said in a statement that officers were sent to the Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton at roughly 7:30 a.m. local time and found an “object that looked like an improvised explosive device” in a vehicle parked in front of the emergency room entrance.</p> <p>The Washington State Patrol bomb squad removed the device.</p> <p>Police arrested the woman, who was to be held at a local jail on $ 100,000 bail, police said.</p> <p>The bomb squad was sent to search the woman’s home in nearby Poulsbo, a city of roughly 9,000 people and police there evacuated an unknown number of neighboring residences.</p> <p>It was not immediately known if police found additional devices or why the woman had the bomb in her possession and what her intentions were.</p> <p>Hospital officials could not immediately be reached for comment but Carolyn Partlow, a nurse supervisor at the 257-bed hospital, said she heard that “one of the patients came in and said there was bomb in a car”.</p> <p>Bremerton is a city of roughly 39,000 west of Seattle in the Puget Sound area.</p> <p>(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Catherine Evans)</p> <ul id="topics" class="hidden"> <li>Crime & Justice</li> <li>Society & Culture</li> </ul><p></p> //<!--[CDATA[ jQuery(".gmframe").load(function (){jQuery(this).remove();}); //]]--> <br><br>

Woman arrested after bomb found at Washington state hospital [ BeritaTerkini ]

SEATTLE (Reuters) – A 43-year-old Washington state woman was arrested after a bomb was found in a vehicle parked i...

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Italy's budget at risk of breaking EU rules, France squeezes through

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img src="http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20131115&t=2&i=812088496&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=CBRE9AE0VRL00" width="600"/><br /><p>Credit: Reuters/Luke MacGregor</p><br /><p>The European Union flag is pictured in a window reflecting a street in London, October 26, 2011.</p><br /><p>It is the first time that the European Union's executive arm reviews the main assumptions of draft budgets of euro zone countries before they are submitted to national parliaments so as to assess if they are in line with EU laws.</p><br /><p>The Commission has the right to ask for a revised budget plan from a euro zone country if its draft clearly breaks EU rules, which oblige governments to cut deficits until they reach budget balance or surplus and cut debt.</p><br /><p>Some leeway on reaching budget balance can be allowed for countries that have deficits already below the EU ceiling of 3 percent of gross domestic product, their debt is falling, they have low economic growth and spend on investment.</p><br /><p>Italy, the euro zone's third biggest economy, wanted the Commission to apply such approach to its 2014 budget plans, but the Commission refused, because Italy's public debt is rising rather than falling.</p><br /><p>'There is a risk that the draft budgetary plan for 2014 will not be compliant with the rules,' the Commission said in a statement. 'In particular, the debt reduction benchmark in 2014 is not respected,' it said.</p><br /><p>The Commission said that the euro zone's second biggest economy France had taken the recommended steps to reduce its budget gap below 3 percent in 2013, and its 2014 draft budget is in line with EU budget rules, but with no margin for error.</p><br /><p>Also, France's structural reform plans made only 'limited progress', the Commission said.</p><br /><p>Other countries at risk of breaking the EU rules were Finland, Luxembourg and Malta. Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia have, like France, draft 2014 budgets constructed in a way that leaves them no margin for error.</p><br /><p>The Commission said it would start disciplinary steps against Croatia for running too high a budget gap and step up the disciplinary action, called the excessive deficit procedure, against Poland for not doing enough to cut its deficit.</p><br /><p>The Commission will set 2015 as the new deadline by which Warsaw must bring its budget deficit below the EU ceiling of 3 percent of gross domestic product.</p><br /><p>'Poland has not taken effective action in 2013,' the Commission said.</p><br /><p>'Poland is set to miss the general government deficit target for 2013 ... and has also not adopted the required amount of consolidation measures,' it said.</p><br /><p>'While in 2014 the headline target is likely to be met, this is due to a large extent to a one-off transfer of pension funds' assets, which does not guarantee a sustainable correction in the following years,' it said.</p><br /><p>(Reporting By Jan Strupczewski; editing by Robin Emmott)</p><br /></div>

Business Italy's budget at risk of breaking EU rules, France squeezes through

Credit: Reuters/Luke MacGregor The European Union flag is pictured in a window reflecting a street in London, October 26, 2011. It is the fi...

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Moody's cuts ratings on 4 big US banks

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/dam/assets/131115113154-moodys-wall-st-620xa.jpg" width="600"/>Moody's has downgraded its ratings on four major U.S. banks to reflect the reduced chances of a government rescue in future.<br /><p>Goldman Sachs , JP Morgan Chase & Co ., Morgan Stanley and the Bank of New York Mellon all had their long-term senior unsecured debt ratings cut by one notch.</p><br /><p>Other banks including Citigroup and Bank of America had their ratings confirmed by Moody's in its review of eight financial institutions.</p><br /><p>The agency believes the U.S. government is less likely to step in to support a troubled financial institution as a result of the Dodd-Frank banking reforms. The Wall Street reforms curb banks' ability to make risky investments and place new regulations on some complex financial bets.</p><br /><p>The new rules make it less likely that the failure of a big bank will threaten the financial system. That means bond holders can be left to carry the burden of bailing out a distressed bank, rather than taxpayers.</p><br /><p>Related: Why is Bernanke's Fed dragging its feet on banking regulations</p><br /><p>'We believe that US bank regulators have made substantive progress in establishing a credible framework to resolve a large, failing bank,' Moody's managing director Robert Young said.</p><br /><p>'Rather than relying on public funds to bail out one of these institutions, we expect that bank holding company creditors will be bailed in and thereby shoulder much of the burden to help recapitalize a failing bank.'</p><br /><p><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/dam/assets/131114174049-elizabeth-warren-janet-yellen-hearing-620x348.png" width="600"/> </p><br /><p>In June, rival ratings agency Standard & Poor's took a similar view, saying it was becoming 'increasingly clear' that the U.S. government might not rescue a failing bank in a crisis.</p><br /><p>The move by Moody's could make it more expensive for the downgraded banks to fund themselves.</p><br /><p>A shifting regulatory landscape for banks has forced many to make significant changes to their operations, including increasing their financial cushions. <img src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/money/images/bug.gif" width="600"/> </p><br /><p>First Published: November 15, 2013: 6:52 AM ET</p><br /></div>

Business Moody's cuts ratings on 4 big US banks

Moody's has downgraded its ratings on four major U.S. banks to reflect the reduced chances of a government rescue in future. Goldman Sac...

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Today's Teamster News 11.15.13

<a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-support-walmart-strikers" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Support Walmart Strikers</a>   teamster.org   ...Teamsters are out front supporting <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/13/walmart-workers-chicago_n_4267696.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago&ir=Chicago">Walmart worker protests</a> in the run-up to the nationwide strike planned for Friday, Nov. 29, or Black Friday. Walmart workers want respect, a living wage and the right to form a union...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-support-safe-skies-act-2013" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Support 'SAFE SKIES ACT Of 2013</a>  teamster.org   ...The Teamsters Union applauds today’s re-introduction of the ‘Safe Skies Act of 2013’ by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA). The bill would bring air cargo and supplemental pilots under the same safety regulations as air passenger pilots, standardizing rules within the industry...<br /><a href="http://dcist.com/2013/11/can_the_taxicab_commission_bar_some.php" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Condemn Cab Commission's Denying Driver Time To Speak At Public Meeting</a>  DCist   ...At yesterday's extremely chaotic D.C. Taxicab Commission meeting, which was attended by over one hundred city cabbies, a driver without copies of his testimony for the commissioners was told he could not speak...<br /><a href="http://teamsters%20local%20340%20in%20south%20portland%2C%20maine%20announced%20that%20its%20executive%20board%20unanimously%20voted%20to%20endorse%20both%20rep.%20mike%20michaud%20%28d-2nd%20district%29%20in%20his%20run%20for%20governor%20and%20state%20senator%20troy%20jackson%20who%20is%20running%20for%20the%202nd%20congressional%20district%20seat%20being%20vacated%20by%20michaud./" rel="nofollow">Maine Teamsters Endorse Michaud For Governor, Jackson For Congress </a> Teamsters Local 340   ...Teamsters Local 340 in South Portland, Maine announced that its executive board unanimously voted to endorse both Rep. Mike Michaud (D-2nd District) in his run for governor and State Senator Troy Jackson who is running for the 2nd Congressional District seat being vacated by Michaud...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-p-hoffa/lawmakers-increasingly-re_b_4270072.html" rel="nofollow">Hoffa: Lawmakers Increasingly Realize Fast Track Is a Fraud</a>  Huffington Post   ...The Teamsters for years have been an outspoken critic of fast-track trade authorization which allows bad proposed trade agreements to move through Congress on just a quick up-or-down vote. And in the last week, we were joined by 185 House lawmakers who feel the same way...<br /><a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/14/the-more-you-know-about-the-odious-trans-pacific-partnership-the-less-youll-like-it/" rel="nofollow">The more you know about the odious Trans-Pacific Partnership, the less you’ll like it</a>  The Guardian   ...That is why it's been negotiated in secret meetings dominated by governments and corporations...<br /><a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/us-trade-deficit-widens-8-percent-september" rel="nofollow">US trade deficit widened 8% in September</a>  Associated Press   ...imports increased to the highest level in 10 months while exports slipped. The wider gap suggests growth was somewhat slower over the summer than previously estimated...<br /><a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/share-young-us-adults-who-move-hits-50-year-low" rel="nofollow">US mobility for young adults falls to 50-year low</a>  Associated Press   ...Among adults ages 25-29, just 4.9 million, or 23.3 percent, moved in the 12 months ending March 2013. That's down from 24.6 percent in the same period the year before. It was the lowest level since at least 1963. The peak of 36.7 percent came in 1965, during the nation's youth counterculture movement...<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/14/facebook-microsoft-rightwing-lobby-network-spn" rel="nofollow">Facebook and Microsoft help fund rightwing lobby network, report finds </a> The Guardian   ...State Policy Network rejects climate change, opposes workers' rights – and is backed by some top US tech and telecoms firms...<br /><a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/11/14/13712/koch-backed-nonprofit-spent-record-cash-2012" rel="nofollow">Koch-backed nonprofit spent record cash in 2012</a>  Center for Public Integrity   ...<a href="https://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/06/21/9170/nonprofit-profile-americans-prosperity">Americans for Prosperity</a> — the main political arm of billionaire industrialist brothers Charles and David Koch — spent a staggering $122 million last year as it unsuccessfully attempted to defeat President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats, according to a <a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/">Center for Public Integrity</a> review of <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/184187552/Americans-for-Prosperity-Summary-Information">documents filed</a> in Colorado...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/13/walmart_n_4267907.html?ref=topbar" rel="nofollow">How McDonald's And Walmart Became Welfare Queens</a>  Bloomberg   ...It seems that welfare queens are back in the news these days. This time, they are even bigger, richer and less deserving of taxpayer support...<br /><a href="http://failedevolution.blogspot.gr/2013/11/an-example-of-how-banking-cartels.html" rel="nofollow">An example of how the banking cartels control countries </a> the unbalanced evolution of homo sapiens   ...The biggest private banks created a complex financial environment with complex financial destructive "tools" which governments are unable to manage. Governments are forced to turn to the same banks for "advising services" while they are flooded with former bank executives placed in key positions. This explains why the biggest private banks receive bailout packages of billions at the expense of taxpayers, loading governments with more debt...<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justices-question-union-organizing-agreements/2013/11/13/ef5afdd2-4ca4-11e3-9890-a1e0997fb0c0_story.html" rel="nofollow">Justices grill lawyers over neutrality agreements between employers and unions</a>  Washington Post   ...Supreme Court justices seemed reluctant Wednesday to disallow a type of agreement between employers and unions that has become increasingly important to the labor movement as it tries to grow its ranks...<br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/education/poverty-americas-1-education-problem?paging=off#bookmark" rel="nofollow">Poverty Is America's #1 Education Problem</a> (opinion)  AlterNet   ...Teachers' unions are not the reason America's schools are in trouble...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/13/youth-services-international-contracts_n_4269869.html?utm_hp_ref=business" rel="nofollow">Troubled Youth Prison Company Wins Even More Contracts</a>  Huffington Post   ...Despite voluminous evidence that inmates have suffered violence, sexual abuse and neglect inside the facilities of a private juvenile prison operator, the state of Florida has in recent weeks awarded fresh contracts to the company...<br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/14/us-lockheed-jobs-idUSBRE9AD0Q320131114" rel="nofollow">Lockheed to cut 4,000 jobs as U.S. government spending wanes</a>  Reuters   ...Defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp said on Thursday it plans to cut 4,000 jobs, or more than 3 percent of its worldwide workforce, to cope with declines in U.S. spending...<br /><a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/13/swiss-voter-likely-to-reject-salary-cap-bill-for-executives/" rel="nofollow">Swiss voters likely to reject salary cap bill for executives</a>  Raw Story   ...Swiss voters look set to reject a law to rein in executive pay in a looming referendum, with a poll released Wednesday showing only around a third back the plan... <br /><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/sns-rt-us-autos-igmetall-vw-20131113,0,6171920.story" rel="nofollow">German union's incoming boss warns VW about avoiding unions</a>  Reuters   ...The incoming leader of an influential German union warned Volkswagen AG on Wednesday about trying to avoid unions in Tennessee, where the German automaker has an assembly plant...<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/giant-safeway-workers-authorize-possible-strike/2013/11/13/b473c906-4cae-11e3-be6b-d3d28122e6d4_story.html" rel="nofollow">Giant, Safeway workers authorize possible strike</a>   Washington Post   ...Unionized employees at Washington area Safeway and Giant Food stores voted Wednesday to authorize a strike against the grocery chains if the two parties fail to agree on a new contract...<br /><a href="http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/any-proposal-to-ban-bart-workers-from-striking-is-not-a-simple-matter/Content?oid=2626405" rel="nofollow">Any proposal to ban BART workers from striking is not a simple matter</a> (opinion)  San Francisco Examiner   ...The California Supreme Court has gone back and forth on whether public-sector employees, such as these BART workers last month, are allowed to walk off the job...<br /><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-boeing-machinists-labor-vote-20131113,0,19564.story" rel="nofollow">Boeing machinists soundly reject labor deal</a> Reuters   ...Boeing machinists soundly rejected an eight-year labor contract extension on Wednesday that would have let them build the company's newest jetliner in Washington, a historic decision that could forever alter the course of Boeing's 97-year presence in the state...<br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div>

Today's Teamster News 11.15.13

Teamsters Support Walmart Strikers    teamster.org   ...Teamsters are out front supporting  Walmart worker protests  in the run-up to the na...

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10 Things to Know for Today

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>Have more to add? News tip? Tell us</p><br /><p>Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:</p><br /><p>1. HOUSE GETS ITS SAY ON HEALTH CARE CANCELLATIONS</p><br /><p>Republicans are pushing ahead with their plan to permit companies to continue to sell the plans to new customers as well as existing ones.</p><br /><p>2. 'IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, NOTHING IS FAST ENOUGH'</p><br /><p>Philippines Interior Secretary Mar Roxas defends his government's efforts to deliver assistance to victims of Typhoon Haiyan.</p><br /><p>3. WHY YELLEN BELIEVES FED SHOULDN'T RAISE INTEREST RATES</p><br /><p>During her confirmation hearing, she says the U.S. economy is still too vulnerable to absorb an increase.</p><br /><p>4. PA. NEWSPAPER APOLOGIZES FOR DISSING GETTYSBURG ADDRESS</p><br /><p>The Patriot-News of Harrisburg says it was wrong in November 1863 when it described President Abraham Lincoln's speech as 'silly remarks.'</p><br /><p>5. WHAT'S CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF NUCLEAR WATCHDOGS</p><br /><p>Iran has slowed the pace of its uranium enrichment program, a possibly hopeful sign in advance of negotiations over the nation's nuclear activities.</p><br /><p>6. CHRIS BROWN OUT OF REHAB</p><br /><p>The singer entered an LA facility voluntarily after being arrested last month and will continue outpatient treatment for anger issues, his representative says.</p><br /><p>7. WHERE DOGS COME FROM</p><br /><p>A large DNA study suggests man's best friend originated in Europe some 19,000 to 32,000 years ago.</p><br /><p>8. DON'T SPEND YOUR THANKSGIVING SAVINGS ALL IN ONE PLACE</p><br /><p>The average Turkey Day dinner will cost $49.04, about 44 cents less this year than it did in 2012.</p><br /><p>9. GAME CONSOLES VIE FOR SPOTS ON MOST-WANTED LISTS</p><br /><p>New PlayStation and Xbox models are being released into a much changed digital entertainment landscape.</p><br /><p>10. WHO MIGHT GET BACK INTO THE POOL</p><br /><p>Swimmer Michael Phelps rejoins the U.S. drug testing program, a sign that the most decorated athlete in Olympic history might be headed for Rio.</p><br />Looking for comments? <img src="http://media.star-telegram.com/smedia/2013/11/15/03/48/288-1a81vz.St.55.jpeg" width="600"/><br /><p>AP Photo</p><br /><p>FILE - United States' Michael Phelps poses with his gold medal for the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, in this July 31, 2012 file photo. Michael Phelps has rejoined the U.S. drug testing program, the strongest signal yet that he's planning a comeback for the Rio Olympics. Phelps told newsandtalking.blogspot.com on Thursday Nov. 14, 2013 that 'nothing is set in stone' though clearly he has enjoyed getting back into shape _ he's down about 15 pounds _ and working out with his former team at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club.</p><br /><img src="http://media.star-telegram.com/smedia/2013/11/14/22/48/333-15wFwm.St.55.jpeg" width="600"/><br /><p>This undated photo provided by The Patriot-News shows a copy of The Harrisburg Patriot & Union's Nov. 24, 1863, edition. The Patriot-News, of Harrisburg, Pa., retracted a dismissive editorial that was penned by its Civil War-era predecessor on President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2013.</p><br /><img src="http://media.star-telegram.com/smedia/2013/11/15/02/58/707-5niZH.St.55.jpeg" width="600"/><br /><p>FILE - This undated file photo provided by Sony shows the Sony Playstation 4. The latest Playstation 4 and its on-screen user interface has been streamlined, with a horizontal bar of large icons for games and apps. The PlayStation 4 goes on sale Friday Nov. 15, 2013.</p><br /></div>

Business 10 Things to Know for Today

Have more to add? News tip? Tell us Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: ...

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15-Nov-2013 12:39

CIA's Financial Spying Bags Data on Americans - Wall Street Journal :: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303559504579198370113163530">http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303559504579198370113163530</a><br /><br><br /><br>Renisha McBride Update: Teen had .218 blood alcohol content when she was ... - CBS News :: <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57612439-504083/renisha-mcbride-update-teen-had-.218-blood-alcohol-content-when-she-was-shot-to-death-by-mich-homeowner/">http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57612439-504083/renisha-mcbride-update-teen-had-.218-blood-alcohol-content-when-she-was-shot-to-death-by-mich-homeowner/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Marines killed in Pendleton were bomb experts - USA TODAY :: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/11/14/marines-identified-pendleton/3556943/">http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/11/14/marines-identified-pendleton/3556943/</a><br /><br><br /><br>No domino effect expected from Gambia's move: premier - Focus Taiwan News Channel :: <a href="http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201311150022.aspx">http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201311150022.aspx</a><br /><br><br /><br>Florida pilot mayday call: 'my passenger has fallen out of the plane' - <a href="http://Telegraph.co.uk">Telegraph.co.uk</a> :: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10451192/Florida-pilot-mayday-call-my-passenger-has-fallen-out-of-the-plane.html">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10451192/Florida-pilot-mayday-call-my-passenger-has-fallen-out-of-the-plane.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Hundreds held over Canada child porn - BBC News :: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24944358">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24944358</a><br /><br><br /><br>Greece: Twelve migrants die off coast - BBC News :: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24954702">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24954702</a><br /><br><br /><br>Rob Ford documents: 10 shocking allegations - CBC.ca :: <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rob-ford-documents-10-shocking-allegations-1.2425952">http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rob-ford-documents-10-shocking-allegations-1.2425952</a><br /><br><br /><br>Best health care system? Really, John Boehner? - NBCNews.com :: <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/health/best-health-care-system-really-john-boehner-2D11598594">http://www.nbcnews.com/health/best-health-care-system-really-john-boehner-2D11598594</a><br /><br><br /><br>Comedian Andy Kaufman 'faked his death', brother claims - BBC News :: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24939133">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24939133</a>

15-Nov-2013 12:39

CIA's Financial Spying Bags Data on Americans - Wall Street Journal :: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303559504579...

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RVA: Bethlehem Walk 2013

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7KEqFOPuqS7ZNfKQZpIyf5M2pjPwnqM0flCk09FKYgAVkBe4F3wbScIs5L9Ptcz_wUpXXO4B4qdbM8xjKe9YmLrzt8boRV3evvnglm_xmtIV040GxdpFWMX9_KeQRo_LEJm0a35A7urR/s1600/Christmas+19.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7KEqFOPuqS7ZNfKQZpIyf5M2pjPwnqM0flCk09FKYgAVkBe4F3wbScIs5L9Ptcz_wUpXXO4B4qdbM8xjKe9YmLrzt8boRV3evvnglm_xmtIV040GxdpFWMX9_KeQRo_LEJm0a35A7urR/s1600/Christmas+19.jpeg" /></a></div><br />Walk the streets of Bethlehem and experience the time when Christ was born. In its ninth year, Bethlehem Walk, located west of Richmond, will offer a Christmas encounter sure to confirm the meaning of the season. From their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bethlehem-Walk/195030986391?id=195030986391&sk=info" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>:<br /><blockquote>Since its inaugural season in 2003, Bethlehem Walk has thrilled and emotionally touched thousands of visitors from across the Commonwealth. Nearly 6,000 travelers toured Bethlehem the first year. Last December, host church Salem Baptist in Crozier, VA partnered with 11 area churches to reach 13,000 people with this interactive Gospel drama that takes visitors through scenes ranging from the entrance of the Savior into the world to an empty Jewish tomb.<br /><br />Your trip will take you on an adventure to first century Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born. As you enter the city allow the sights, sounds and smells to carry you to a period of time that changed the world. Expect to be met by Roman soldiers and counted in the census. Journey through the heart of the city to the marketplace that is bustling with activity from over a dozen authentic shops; enjoy samples from the baker’s shop, marvel at the potter’s crafts and listen for the rumor of a “king’s” birth from excited townspeople. Continue your journey to the Nativity where a very special baby was born in the stable. Here you can reflect on the blessed birth of Christ - the greatest gift that has ever been given.</blockquote>Bethlehem Walk, free to the public, is located on Broad Street (Rt. 250) six miles west of Short Pump between I-64's Exit 167 (Oilville/Goochland) and Exit 173 (Rockville/Manakin-Sabot).<br /><br /><b>Here is all the information to make it to Bethlehem Walk 2013...</b><br /><br />- The address for those in need of GPS assistance is 465 Broad Street Road, Manakin-Sabot, Va 23103.<br />- Parking is FREE onsite or FREE shuttles from the West End Church of the Nazarene (591 Broad Street) or the Food Lion in Centerville (30 Broad Street).<br />- There will be Chick-fil-A sandwiches, snacks and sodas available in the welcome tent.<br />- Accepting canned goods for our local Food Bank. <br />- Free refreshments at the end of the Walk.<br />- Strollers are welcome but be prepared for some uneven ground in a few spots. <br />- There will be chariots (golf carts) for those who need assistance. <br />- There are fires throughout the Walk to keep everyone warm.<br />- Be prepared to have an awesome experience hearing the true Word and reason for the season.<br /><br /><b>Dates and Times:</b><br />Dec 4 - 5 - Wed/Thu: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm<br />Dec 6 - Fri: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm<br />Dec 7 - Sat: 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm<br />Dec 8 - Sun: 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Bethlehem Walk Christmas Jesus is the reason for the season Richmond Salem Baptist Church Short Pump RVA: Bethlehem Walk 2013

Walk the streets of Bethlehem and experience the time when Christ was born. In its ninth year, Bethlehem Walk, located west of Richmond, wil...

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Take Your Body With You [ BeritaTerkini ]

<div class="float_left"> <div class="ad_share_box hidden"> <div id="ad_sharebox_260x60" class="ad_wrapper"></div> </div> </div> <p>When I was 33 years old, I became celibate. I had always been extremely open to sex, the senses and my body. The more I studied meditation, however, and the more I learned about karma, purity and withdrawal of the senses, the more it seemed as if the only way to go truly deeply into spiritual practice was to give up on sex and give up on the senses. That meant to stop any drinking, stop going out, stop partaking of any negative movies or music and to stop doing a lot of “impure” things that I really liked. As a former punk rock iconoclast atheist, that was a hard step to take, and it didn’t actually happen until I was in India and went through a series of heavy experiences that sort of shocked me into it. For almost four years I lived as pure of a lifestyle as I possibly could, including complete celibacy. I gave it my all, with the belief that living that way would profoundly deepen my spiritual practice. In hindsight, I feel that I got a lot out of that period of being “sex-free” (as I called it), but I cannot recommend you following suit. It wasn’t necessary and actually points in the wrong direction for growth.</p> <p>People today tend to separate religion from spirituality — the outward form of rituals, social norms, rules and church, versus the inner experience of divinity, god, connection and centeredness. That’s a useful distinction, technically called “exoteric” (outer experience) versus “esoteric” (inner experience) religion.</p> <p>There’s another way to divide up spiritual practices, however, which I think is much more important: “transcendent” versus “immanent.” Probably 95 percent of all religion (or spirituality, for that matter) falls into the transcendent category, meaning that it seeks to transcend the world: to escape the filth, sorrow and pain of the earth and to get to someplace better. Heaven, an auspicious rebirth, the Elysian Fields, Nirvana — all of these are places/states we transcend to. Transcendent religions consider this world to be a prison, a madhouse that we need to ignore, reject and ultimately escape. This means that we have to close off the senses, shut down sexuality, deny the body, focus on something bodiless and bright (the soul, the light), and pray for release. Obviously, Western religions do this by telling us to reject the temptations of this world and to wait for heaven, where things are better. Big sects of Eastern religions are transcendent also, telling us to meditate to get to Nirvana, and to escape samsara, which is just another name for this world. That’s transcendence: Overcome this world and your senses and your dirty body and get to someplace better. Get out of the muck.</p> <p>The second sort of spirituality, the rare sort, is called immanent. Immanent spirituality seeks to embrace creation, warts and all, rather than to reject it. God or spirit isn’t waiting somewhere outside the world, cheering you on to escape this mortal coil, but rather is present in every particle of creation. Everything is not only alive, but soaked with divinity, dunked in “god-ness” or “goddess-ness.”</p> <p>I’ve always been naturally attracted to immanent spirituality. Because it embraces the body, delights in the senses and celebrates creation, it is inherently feminine. Transcenders often despise or marginalize the feminine (including human women), because they see the female as the vessel of immanence, the way we get into this world, as well as the embodiment of the temptation to stay mired in delusion, sex, the senses and worldliness. If you don’t want to enjoy the senses, feel the body, commune with animals and nature, or be in contact with birth and death, you’d better not have any women around because the feminine is always going to bring you back to earth. Ground you, get you in your body. To me, that’s a good thing, but to almost all religions, or parts of religions, that’s the thing to be avoided at all costs. The myth of Eve and the Garden of Eden is all about how women are at fault for humans being stuck in this veil of tears.</p> <p>Think of the way that some Western religions have persecuted, hounded, and burned witches, who were just village healers or women somebody felt threatened by. Taking refuge in Orientalism won’t help — even the Buddha said that women cannot get enlightened and the best that they can hope for is to be reborn as men. Think of the sex-negative, body-negative, art-negative puritanical culture of the United States (1). My own ancestors were literal pilgrims who fled to America to escape religious persecution, yet brought their own extreme, uptight, paranoid form of transcenderism to the New World and promptly started hanging “witches” (i.e., little girls who may have been discovering their sexuality).</p> <p>When I first took initiation into a spiritual path, I naively attempted to become as holy and pure as possible. I was taught that the things I loved in this earth, such as creativity, art, beauty, sexuality, sensuality and so forth, were inferior and perhaps negative aspects of life. I really tried to embrace that philosophy and live that way, to the point of eventually doing the celibacy thing. While that was an authentic expression, it was unsustainable over time because it required me to suppress and deny so much of myself. That’s a typical transcender move: your body and it’s urges are evil/unskillful/distracting and have to be suppressed in order to make progress spiritually.</p> <p>With the perspective of decades, I believe that nothing could be further from the truth. We are magnificent organisms that evolved from our ape ancestors through natural selection on planet earth. Our urges, our reactions, our emotions, the way our system functions — all of it is an integral part of our optimal functioning. We cannot separate out a specific aspect of it, like sexuality, and declare that it is a bad thing that we have to conquer, eradicate, control, suppress, or deny. There are not certain emotions which are good and other emotions which are bad. It is true that through transcendence you can reach a kind of enlightened mental state (much more about enlightenment in a later article), but it is a brittle and cramped awakening, one that doesn’t truly smell of freedom. Enlightenment equals freedom and freedom includes the freedom of the organism to function optimally, the freedom of the body to be the body, exactly as evolution designed it to be.</p> <p>So even though my pious exertions were, to me, beautiful in some respects, in the long run they would have — and to a great extent did — push me into a spiritual cul-de-sac. The dead end in which so many seekers end up. You transcend the world, you feel above it all, unaffected by the sullied body and its bestial qualities. The trouble is that no matter how far you think you have transcended the body, you are still in one (or, to put it even more strongly and accurately, you are one). It’s often the same people who feel that they’ve overcome their bodily urges who end up having illicit sex with their students, becoming addicts, indulging in orgiastic rituals of consumption (food, cars and shopping top the list), and all the other sad clichés of a guru’s downfall.</p> <p>Such downfalls happen so often and yet the spiritual community acts as if they are an unexpected and tragic mistake. While it certainly is tragic, it’s no more of a mistake than if you believed that your car had transcended its need for brakes. You’re guaranteed to crash, eventually. You cannot transcend your body, because you are a body. Or at least the body is included in what you are. The concept that you are only a soul (whatever you conceive that to be) which has been lowered into a physical vehicle is nothing more than a transcender propaganda. It’s a beautiful idea, in one way, but it misses the point of life altogether, which is to live it.</p> <p>What I’m saying is this: Do not believe that you have to deny, reject, overcome or discipline your body. You are your body. When you meditate, include the body. When you get enlightened, it is the body getting enlightened. If you can’t take your body with you, don’t go there.</p> <p>In the next article, I’ll delve into why transcendent practice may be a necessary or at least useful step on the path after all.</p> <p>References:</p> <p>1. Rubin, Gayle (1984). “Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of<br> the Politics of Sexuality”. In Carole S. Vance (Ed.), Pleasure and<br> Danger: exploring female sexuality, pp. 267-319. Boston (Routledge &<br> Kegan Paul). ISBN 0-7100-9974-6</p> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="clear full"> </div> <div class="related_block" id="top_news"><</p> //<!--[CDATA[ jQuery(".gmframe").load(function (){jQuery(this).remove();}); //]]--> <br><br> </div>

Take Your Body With You [ BeritaTerkini ]

When I was 33 years old, I became celibate. I had always been extremely open to sex, the senses and my body. The more I studied me...

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Asian markets bounce higher on Yellen optimism

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a0de1de99ec82944fa1f556483afdb4260ad73fe/c=841-322-3658-2438&r=490x368/local/-/media/USATODAY/test/2013/10/16/1381981021000-quotes-stocks.jpg" width="600"/><img src="http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/odygci/p10/usat_logo_byline.gif" width="600"/><br /><p>In Asia Friday, markets followed in lock step with benchmark stock indexes in the U.S. in the prior session. The Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poor's 500 ended at record highs for the second straight day Thursday.</p><br /><p>Japan's Nikkei 225 index added 1.9% to 15,165.92 as the yen weakened, trading over 100 to the dollar. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up 1.6% to 23,011.36 and Seoul's Kospi gained 1.9% to 2,005.64. Other key indexes in Southeast Asia and mainland China also gained.</p><br /><p>U.S. stock futures advanced in pre-market trades Friday. Dow index futures rose 0.1%, S&P 500 index futures were up 0.1% and Nasdaq index futures rose 0.2%.</p><br /><p>European shares traded mostly lower.</p><br /><p>Investors' optimism was fed by remarks at a Senate confirmation hearing Thursday for incoming Federal Reserve chief nominee Janet Yellen. She expressed her ongoing support for the Fed's massive monthly bond buying of government and mortgage-backed securities to spur economic growth.</p><br /><p>Yellen, who is on tap to succeed Ben Bernanke as Fed chairman in January, told lawmakers on Capitol Hill Thursday that she's prepared to stand by the central bank's efforts to pump up the world's No. 1 economy when she's chairman, if that's what it needs.</p><br /><p>During a two-hour confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee, Yellen embraced her so-called 'dovish' reputation and reiterated support for the Fed's low interest-rate policies. She warned critics that the potential harm the policies pose are outweighed by the risk of a sluggish economy.</p><br /><p>Her statements convinced markets that the central bank won't reduce its $85 billion of monthly bond purchases until at least March. Previously, there were expectations that the bond buying, which has kept interest rates low and sent a wave of investment into higher-yielding stocks, would be scaled back in December.</p><br /><p>'Yellen indicated that it was key not to take out stimulus measures during a fragile recovery,' said a Mizuho Bank research commentary Friday. However, she also stressed that the extraordinary level of stimulus 'cannot go on forever,' the note said.</p><br /><p>On Thursday, the Dow gained 54.59 points, or 0.4%, to finish at 15,876.22, while the S&P 500 index added 8.62 points, or 0.5%, to close at 1,790.62. The Nasdaq composite edged up 7.16 points, or 0.2%, to 3,972.74. Thursdays gains were mostly in risk-averse sectors, such as power companies, banks and drug makers.</p><br /><p>In energy markets Friday globally, benchmark U.S. crude for December delivery was up 26 cents at $94.00 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract slipped 12 cents to $93.76 a barrel on Thursday.</p><br /><i>Contributing: newsandtalking.blogspot.com</i><br /><p>Read the original story: Asian markets bounce higher on Yellen optimism</p><br /></div>

Business Asian markets bounce higher on Yellen optimism

In Asia Friday, markets followed in lock step with benchmark stock indexes in the U.S. in the prior session. The Dow Jones industrial averag...

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U.S. House schedule for Friday, November 15, 2013: Upton's 'Keep Your Health Care Plan Act' vote today

<i><a href="http://majorityleader.gov/" target="_blank">From Majority Leader Eric Cantor....</a></i><br /><br />What to watch today ... "Keep Your Health Care Plan Act" sponsored by Congressman Fred Upton will be voted on today, a bill President Barack Obama has declared he will <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-threatens-veto-keep-your-health-plan-act_767140.html" target="_blank">veto</a> if it makes its way to his desk. Points of view: <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/14/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-plans-to-fix-obamacare/" target="_blank">Ezra Kline - Wonkblog</a> at the <i>Washington Post</i> / <a href="http://twitchy.com/2013/11/14/president-threatens-to-veto-keep-your-health-plan-act/" target="_blank">Twitchy</a> / <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/14/rumors-obamacare-fix-president-to-address-concerns-at-1135-am/" target="_blank">Fox News</a> / <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/14/obamacare-administrative-fix-democrats-republicans/3541645/" target="_blank">USA Today</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH </b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_612174443" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">On Friday</span></span>, the House will meet at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_612174444" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">9:00 a.m.</span></span> for legislative business. <br /> First votes expected: <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_612174445" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">10:30 - 11:15 a.m.</span></span> Last votes expected: <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_612174446" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:30 - 1:30 p.m.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>One Minute Speeches</b><br /><br /> <a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=380272-6846703" target="_blank"><b>H.R. 3350</b></a> - Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013 (Closed Rule, One Hour of Debate)<i> (Sponsored by Rep. Fred Upton / Energy and Commerce Committee / Ways and Means Committee)</i><br /><br /> <b>Special Order Speeches</b><br /><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY </b></u><br /> Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing on “<a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=380273-6846703" target="_blank">Our Nation of Builders: Training the Builders of the Future</a>” (Friday, November 15th, at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_612174447" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">9:30 a.m.</span></span>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=380274-6846703" target="_blank">Printable PDF</a>

Affordable Care Act Eric Cantor. U.S. House of Representatives Fox News Fred Upton health care reform Keep Your Health Care Plan Act obamacare Twitchy USA Today Washington Post U.S. House schedule for Friday, November 15, 2013: Upton's 'Keep Your Health Care Plan Act' vote today

From Majority Leader Eric Cantor.... What to watch today ... "Keep Your Health Care Plan Act" sponsored by Congressman Fred Upton ...

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15-Nov-2013 11:38

Police investigate man's fall from plane off Florida coast - Los Angeles Times :: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-florida-police-investigate-plane-fall-20131114,0,1662214.story?track%3Drss">http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-florida-police-investigate-plane-fall-20131114,0,1662214.story?track%3Drss</a><br /><br><br /><br>Marines killed in Pendleton were bomb experts - USA TODAY :: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/11/14/marines-identified-pendleton/3556943/">http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/11/14/marines-identified-pendleton/3556943/</a><br /><br><br /><br>US officials crush 6 tons of illegal ivory to send global anti-poaching message - Fox News :: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/15/us-officials-crush-6-tons-illegal-ivory-to-send-global-anti-poaching-message/">http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/15/us-officials-crush-6-tons-illegal-ivory-to-send-global-anti-poaching-message/</a><br /><br><br /><br>New game systems push technology envelope - USA TODAY :: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2013/11/13/sony-playstation-4-and-microsoft-xbox-one-arrive/3488727/">http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2013/11/13/sony-playstation-4-and-microsoft-xbox-one-arrive/3488727/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Exodus of multitudes, mass body collections, fields of debris in Philippines - CNN :: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/15/world/asia/typhoon-haiyan/">http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/15/world/asia/typhoon-haiyan/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Police hail success of Canada child porn investigation - BBC News :: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24947579">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24947579</a><br /><br><br /><br>Gambia severs diplomatic ties with Taiwan - BBC News :: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24951115">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24951115</a><br /><br><br /><br>Greece: 12 migrants dead after boat capsizes - USA TODAY :: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/11/15/greece-migrant-deaths/3567175/">http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/11/15/greece-migrant-deaths/3567175/</a><br /><br><br /><br>White House to Allow Insurers to Continue Canceled Health Plans - Wall Street Journal :: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303789604579197733759439274.html">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303789604579197733759439274.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Andy Kaufman's Brother Says Comedian Is Alive, in Love and Has a Daughter - Hollywood Reporter :: <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/andy-kaufmans-brother-says-comedian-655760">http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/andy-kaufmans-brother-says-comedian-655760</a>

15-Nov-2013 11:38

Police investigate man's fall from plane off Florida coast - Los Angeles Times :: http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-flor...

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New Amazon UK PS4 pre

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>Amazon UK has informed its customers that any new PS4 pre-orders placed won't arrive in time for Christmas, while new Xbox One pre-orders might not either.</p><br /><p><img src="http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/screens/dir_3113/image_311333_460.jpg" width="600"/> </p><br /><p>The online retailer's PS4 product page states:</p><br />Customers who pre-ordered this console up to and including August 6 have been given an option to get a PS4 for release day Customers who pre-ordered this console from August 7 up to and including November 13 will receive their consoles before Christmas Customers who pre-order this console from November 14 will receive their consoles after Christmas Customers who cancel existing pre-orders and place a new order will not get their console for release day<br /><p>Meanwhile, its Xbox One product page offers the following guidance on expected delivery windows:</p><br />Orders placed up to and including August 14 will be dispatched to meet the release date Orders from August 15 may be delivered after release date Orders placed from November 13 may not be delivered before Christmas<br /><p>In October, Amazon reduced the basic PS4 bundle with Killzone Shadow Fall to £385, making it the first major seller to list the unit at the price recommended by Sony. It also cut the price of the PS4 Mega Pack from £450 to £430, undercutting many of its competitors.</p><br /><p>In August, when Sony announced a PS4 release date of November 29 in Europe and Latin America, the company said more than one million PS4 pre-orders had been placed worldwide. The PS4 price is £349 / €399 / $399.</p><br /><p>Microsoft has confirmed a Xbox One release date of November 22, 2013 in 13 markets and a Xbox One price of £430 / $500 / $500.</p><br /></div>

Technology New Amazon UK PS4 pre

Amazon UK has informed its customers that any new PS4 pre-orders placed won't arrive in time for Christmas, while new Xbox One pre-order...

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Healthy Meal Ideas

<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many people assume that being healthy equals boring salads...<b>WRONG!</b> Being healthy is so exciting, there are endless variations of tasty, filling and nutritious meals out there. </span><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, i took some of my favourite meals and made them into this cute little collage. I no longer count calories but i thought i would include the calorie information for those of you who do. They're just simple to make meals, that take no more than 10 minutes to make so if you're a busy student like me, you'll find them useful! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(See if you can spot the typo!) (hahaa) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrTFXY_5juT7WwDPfVOd4cer7s4cnYn4bLcW2qLUvZ9hnL7LfCQEAx1PG33BZ8auQ_SPULVqHebM_SSD5bLpwtlOoAA3-JY_g8qgOFqvekJvjnWxfnd6PmEm18p-dS_pQEhob3bGds1th/s1600/tumblr_mrj5va8v4l1qatkx6o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrTFXY_5juT7WwDPfVOd4cer7s4cnYn4bLcW2qLUvZ9hnL7LfCQEAx1PG33BZ8auQ_SPULVqHebM_SSD5bLpwtlOoAA3-JY_g8qgOFqvekJvjnWxfnd6PmEm18p-dS_pQEhob3bGds1th/s1600/tumblr_mrj5va8v4l1qatkx6o1_500.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So there you go, some simple snacks, meals and beverages you can whip up in minutes. If you'd like to see a video of any of these recipes, comment below! Or if you'd like me to make more of these meal idea collages, do tell me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stay healthy</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">x</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

fitness healthy meal ideas meals nutrition recipes Weight Loss Healthy Meal Ideas

Many people assume that being healthy equals boring salads... WRONG! Being healthy is so exciting, there are endless variations of tasty, f...

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iOS 7.0.4 Available for Download: Shot FaceTime calls issues

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GLNGY9QfIi8/UoXY2JIuTeI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/lRLUu2lt5vw/s1600/Screenshot-2013-11-14-17_21_31-590x369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GLNGY9QfIi8/UoXY2JIuTeI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/lRLUu2lt5vw/s1600/Screenshot-2013-11-14-17_21_31-590x369.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">iOS 7.0.4 updates are available for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch. You can download the updates from iTunes as well as from OTA (over the air). Apple also release the update of iOS 6.1.5 for fourth generation iPod touch. The iOS 7.0.4 is just 17 MB and it will take hardly 10 minutes to install.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OpEMiqj6Jwk/UoXZYueTuwI/AAAAAAAAAgY/QIf95Di8Glw/s1600/iOS_7_0_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OpEMiqj6Jwk/UoXZYueTuwI/AAAAAAAAAgY/QIf95Di8Glw/s1600/iOS_7_0_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to apple iOS 7.0.4 will fix the issues related to FaceTime calls. Some users were facing the problem in FaceTime calls, in previous version of iOS. iOS 7.4.0 also include the update related to security, updates will fix the issue of insufficient authorisation of app and in-app purchases. In this type of issue user was able to complete a transaction without providing a password, who was already singed in. In iOS 7.4.0 this is solved by using the “additional enforcement of purchase authorisation”.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">For download the iOS 7.4.0 follow the below process</span>:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Settings > General > Software Update, iOS will automatically download updates. This will works only for iPhone 4 or later, iPod touch, iPad 2 or later, running iOS5 or latter. After completion of download, user will get a notification to install the updates.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anil Swami</span></a></div></div>

Apple iOS iOS 7.0.4 Available for Download: Shot FaceTime calls issues

iOS 7.0.4 updates are available for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch. You can download the updates from iTunes as well as from OTA (over the air). A...

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