David Tennant Joins Jo Whiley On BBC Radio 2

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H5Yy44DNJoURgWZUBp3WkcHLJDyqyULxfq-GOVmy9YRCTjUqJlolpLfYdjZkEvmwgsHU_NiVNKs3ynP2Wm-_Ddu3C9CCoHsNrYZ61FJskgAm7yIj5qFe5gtalGIw8L5BFCv8Ki2uiz_y/s1600/DT-JW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H5Yy44DNJoURgWZUBp3WkcHLJDyqyULxfq-GOVmy9YRCTjUqJlolpLfYdjZkEvmwgsHU_NiVNKs3ynP2Wm-_Ddu3C9CCoHsNrYZ61FJskgAm7yIj5qFe5gtalGIw8L5BFCv8Ki2uiz_y/s1600/DT-JW.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David Tennant will be joining Jo Whiley on her BBC Radio 2 show on Tuesday 26th November from 8pm GMT</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An Evening In with David Tennant<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tuesday 26 November 2013</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jo spends an Evening in With David Tennant as the actor talks music and Dr Who's 50th. Expect thrilling tales from his days as the Time Lord and others from his impressive career.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_two">Listen in worldwide via this link</a></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

BBC Radio 2 David Tennant Jo Whiley David Tennant Joins Jo Whiley On BBC Radio 2

David Tennant will be joining Jo Whiley on her BBC Radio 2 show on Tuesday 26th November from 8pm GMT An Evening In with David Tennant Tuesd...

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Home Depot Profit Tops Estimates as Gains Encourage Remodels (1)

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>Bloomberg News</p><br /><img src="http://www.bloomberg.com/image/irnpEtetzc7w.jpg" width="600"/><br /><p>, the largest U.S. home-improvement retailer, posted third-quarter profit that topped analysts' estimates and boosted its earnings forecast as rising home prices spurred homeowners to splurge on renovations.</p><br /><p>Net income in the three months ended Nov. 3 rose 43 percent to $1.35 billion, or 95 cents a share, from $947 million, or 63 cents, a year earlier, the Atlanta-based company said today in a statement. The average of 23 analysts' estimates was 90 cents, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.</p><br /><p>The one-and-a-half year gain in the U.S. housing market is giving consumers the confidence they need to remodel kitchens and bathrooms. The number of transactions in the quarter increased 4 percent to 344.3 million while the average purchase climbed 3.2 percent to $56.27, Home Depot said today.</p><br /><p>There has been 'a greater willingness on the part of consumers to fund large and small projects,' Alan Rifkin, an analyst at Barclays Plc in New York, said in a note Nov. 14. He rates Home Depot overweight, the equivalent of a buy, and said higher demand by shoppers is 'likely to remain intact despite concerns about macro events such as higher interest rates.'</p><br /><p>Profit per share in the fiscal year through January will be $3.72, Home Depot said today. That's up from a previous forecast of $3.60 and is higher than analysts' average estimate of $3.70.</p><br /><p>Home Depot rose 2.6 percent to $81.75 at 6:10 a.m. in New York. The advanced 29 percent this year through yesterday, compared with a 26 percent gain for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.</p><br />'Steady Improvement'<br /><p>Chief Executive Officer Frank Blake said in September that rising home prices would lift renovation spending even as higher mortgage rates pressured the housing market. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage climbed to 4.35 percent last week, a full percentage point higher than at the end of last year, according to Freddie Mac, the government-owned mortgage insurer.</p><br /><p>The housing market will improve 'not at a blistering pace but a steady, steady improvement,' Blake, 64, said in an interview at Bloomberg's New York headquarters on Sept. 5.</p><br /><p>Prices for single-family homes climbed in 88 percent of U.S. cities in the third quarter as buyers competed for limited inventories that included fewer discounted foreclosures, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors earlier this month.</p><br /><p>The nationwide median price for an existing single-family home rose 12.5 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier to $207,300, the group said.</p><br /><p>Home Depot's third-quarter revenue increased 7.4 percent to $19.5 billion, topping analysts' $19.2 billion average estimate. Sales at stores open longer than 12 months rose 7.4 percent, including an 8.2 percent gain at U.S. locations. Comparable-store sales may rise 7 percent this year, the company said today. That's up from a previous forecast for a gain of as much as 6 percent.</p><br /><p>To contact the reporter on this story: Kevin Orland in Chicago at korland@bloomberg.net</p><br /><p>To contact the editor responsible for this story: Robin Ajello at rajello@bloomberg.net</p><br /></div>

Business Home Depot Profit Tops Estimates as Gains Encourage Remodels (1)

Bloomberg News , the largest U.S. home-improvement retailer, posted third-quarter profit that topped analysts' estimates and boosted its...

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New rules: 87 coming to golf in '14

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>A new decision to the Rules of Golf that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2014 very likely would have spared Tiger Woods a two-shot penalty at the BMW Championship in September -- and perhaps a good bit of the fallout that ensued concerning his rules issues in 2013.</p><br /><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1107/pga_g_woods_d1_288x162.jpg" width="600"/><br /><p>But it stops short of limiting the timeframe in which various infractions can be brought to the attention of rules officials, which can lead to disqualification due to an incorrect scorecard.</p><br /><p>The United States Golf Association and R&A -- the game's rules-making bodies -- announced Tuesday some 87 changes or additions to its decisions, the most prominent of which is new Decision 18/4, which addresses the use of high-definition or slow-motion video to detect whether a ball has left its position and come to rest in another location.</p><br /><p>'The ball will not be deemed to have moved if that movement was not reasonably discernible to the naked eye at the time,'' according to the new decision.</p><br /><p>During the second round of the BMW Championship in September, Woods was deemed to have caused his ball to move when he removed a loose impediment behind the first green during the second round.</p><br /><p>A possible violation was only detected due to a video crew which required slow motion and high definition to show that the ball barely moved. Woods maintained that the ball 'oscillated'' and did not change positions; PGA Tour rules official Slugger White disagreed and Woods was assessed a two-stroke penalty.</p><br /><p>According to a joint USGA/R&A release: 'The Decision ensures that a player is not penalized under Rule 18-2 in circumstances where the fact that the ball had changed location could not reasonably have been seen without the use of enhanced technology.''</p><br /><p>Asked specifically about the Woods situation, Thomas Pagel, the USGA's senior director of rules, said in an email: 'If a situation similar to the one involving Tiger at the BMW Championship were to occur after January 1, 2014, the additional considerations for committees that are outlined in new Decision 18/4 would be used in determining a ruling.</p><br /><p>'As to whether these new considerations would have changed the ruling that was made at the BMW Championship, our answer is that it is difficult to speculate on what the outcome of the ruling would have been because they only issue addressed by the committee at the time was whether the ball had moved.''</p><br /><p>Given the circumstances, however, it is reasonable to assume that Woods would have escaped without a penalty. He maintained afterward that 'I felt like nothing happened; I felt like the ball oscillated and that was it.'' Only on the video was it apparent the ball had moved. Woods was unavailable for comment Tuesday.</p><br /><p>In the aftermath of the BMW decision, Woods' four-high profile rules issues in 2013 came under scrutiny. Three times this year he suffered two stroke penalties; another time at the Players Championship, Woods' drop after hitting his ball into a hazard was questioned, despite getting guidance from a playing partner.</p><br /><p>Both Woods and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem had expressed a desire to see some sort of time limit placed on rules violations called in by spectators.</p><br /><p>'There needs to be a discussion obviously where is that time limit?' Woods said at the Tour Championship. 'Where is that line of demarcation? You've got to start with disqualification and then work our way back from there.</p><br /><p>'I'm sure there's going to be a lot of discussion over it. What's going to happen over the course of time, is every player going to be mandated to have a camera follow them around everywhere they go, all 156 players (in a regular tour event) for every shot? Or is there a certain time limit when we're going to have to do it. Is it going to change in the digital age? These are all questions and answers that need to be resolved in the near future.''</p><br /><p>For now, the rules-making bodies are not going beyond the 'naked eye' test as it relates to video and called-in violations.</p><br /><p>'In many other sports, there are good and understandable reasons for imposing a strict time limit on the review and correction of rules decisions,'' the USGA and R&A said in a statement. 'In golf, however, even at the elite level, players often apply the Rules to themselves without the assistance of a referee and, in stroke play, are responsible for the correctness of the score recorded for each hole. Moreover, competitions are often played over more than one day and, in stroke play, the outcome typically is based on total score, making it possible to correct errors significantly after the fact and, indeed, at any time before the competition is closed by virtue of the result being officially announced.</p><br /><p>'For these reasons, disregarding relevant evidence of a breach of the Rules, obtained before the competition has ended, could lead to uncertainty and to unhealthy debate and disagreement about the fairness of a result that was influenced by an incorrect set of facts and failure to apply the Rules properly. If a player has breached a Rule, but this is not discovered until a later time, whether through video evidence or otherwise, such evidence must be considered so that the correct ruling can be applied and the player's score can be recorded accurately.''</p><br /><p>Among the changes for 2014-15, the USGA/R&A deemed three other decisions particularly noteworthy.</p><br /><p>* New Decision 14-3/18 confirms that players can access reports on weather conditions on a smartphone during a round without breaching the Rules. Importantly, this new Decision also clarifies that players are permitted to access information on the threat of an impending storm in order to protect their own safety.</p><br /><p>* Revised Decision 25-2/0.5 helps to clarify when a golf ball is considered to be embedded in the ground through the use of illustrations.</p><br /><p>* Revised Decision 27-2a/1.5 allows a player to go forward up to approximately 50 yards without forfeiting his or her right to go back and play a provisional ball.</p><br /><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2fi%2fcolumnists%2fharig_bob_m.jpg&w=35&h=48" width="600"/><br /><p>Golf Writer, ESPN.com</p><br /></div>

SPORTS New rules: 87 coming to golf in '14

A new decision to the Rules of Golf that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2014 very likely would have spared Tiger Woods a two-shot penalty at...

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Ryan: NASCAR missed its most mischievous in 2013

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>A close points race can't replace the personalities that make the Sprint Cup circus spin in a delightfully bizarre and enthralling way</p><br /><p>The champion reclaimed the throne Sunday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and it briefly seemed as if equilibrium was restored after this most erratic and eccentric of Sprint Cup seasons.</p><br /><p>He cracked jokes with team owners about delivering beatdowns. He strutted like an overstuffed peacock (with a cane) and sported a familiar paunch paired with an alluring and charming smile. He proudly showed off scars on his right leg.</p><br /><p>Wait, Jimmie Johnson?</p><br /><p>Nope, not that champion.</p><br /><p>Yes, Johnson rightfully ascended the throne with a sixth title whose worthiness was beyond reproach.</p><br />JOHNSON: Relishes moment, wows peers with title No. 6<br /><p>But it was the presence of Tony Stewart at the championship celebration that reminded why much of 2013 lacked a certain panache and pizzazz.</p><br /><p>'It gets pretty stale without me,' Stewart joked after the Ford EcoBoost 400 in an interview on SiriusXM Satellite Radio's NASCAR channel.</p><br />PHOTOS: Top shots from the Sprint Cup finale at Homestead<br /><p>The absence of 'Smoke' was only partly why this year never seemed to catch fire.</p><br /><p>The slow leak in NASCAR's storylines started when Denny Hamlin missed four races after a broken back in late March, and the air really hissed out of the balloon when Stewart was sidelined for the last 15 races with a broken leg in August.</p><br />KESELOWSKI: Title reign ends on quieter note<br /><p>When Brad Keselowksi lost an opportunity to defend his championship by missing the Chase for the Sprint Cup a few weeks later, it completed a trifecta of absent stars that sucked the drama from a sport fueled as much by fiery emotions and unpredictable behavior as it is by 98 octane.</p><br /><p>And it was magnified on NASCAR's greatest stage.</p><br />LOOK BACK: What NASCAR taught us in 2013<br /><p>Until Matt Kenseth's team suffered an inexplicable collapse in the penultimate race at Phoenix International Raceway, this year's Chase was the first tied with two races remaining and among the tightest ever.</p><br /><p>It also seemed among the least compelling.</p><br /><p>As Johnson and Kenseth matched each other with methodical excellence, there was a lack of the gripping moments often supplied by Stewart, Keselowski and Hamlin, who were major factors in each of the 2010-12 championship battles that rank among NASCAR's best.</p><br /><p>The lesson is that a close points race can't replace the personalities that make the Sprint Cup circus spin in a delightfully bizarre and enthralling way.</p><br /><p>This isn't intended as a knock on Johnson and Kenseth, who are among the two classiest and professional champions in stock-car history. They have waged battles for victory (see: Texas Motor Speedway, 2007) that rank among the greatest of the past decade, and their adherence to sportsmanship and emphasis on family life make them among Cup's most qualified ambassadors and role models.</p><br /><p>But they can't carry the show on their own.</p><br /><p>The essence of their greatness is the antithesis of the uncontrollable episodes that make NASCAR fun.</p><br />HAMLIN: Finally finds victory lane after tough year<br /><p><img src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a867193b7444e4a80c2501f339d8f259bce78ad6/c=1554-0-3096-2056&r=183&c=0-0-180-238/local/-/media/USATODAY/test/2013/11/18//1384817050000-11-18-13-denny-hamlin.jpg" width="600"/> </p><br /><p>Denny Hamlin earned his lone victory of 2013 Sunday at the Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(Photo: Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)</p><br /><p>Johnson and Kenseth are the most even-keeled drivers in Cup, and they skirt controversy at every turn with their calm and cool demeanors because they believe (correctly) that it often detracts from performance.</p><br /><p>But from the moment Hamlin entered the Homestead media center with a wide-eyed and free-wheeling exuberance of a freshly minted winner, it stirred reminders of why Johnson and Kenseth are well served by competing against swashbuckling foils who are wired differently.</p><br /><p>It's telling that the best trash talk of the '13 Chase - and crew chief Chad Knaus still denies it was an intentional insult when he backhandedly dismissed Keselowski as being less controlled and matured - revolved around something that happened in last year's 10-race championship run.</p><br /><p>The most intriguing Chase involving Johnson happened last year, when the iconoclast Keselowski and his upstart team became the first to force the No. 48 into mistakes that cost it the title.</p><br /><i>Follow Ryan on Twitter @nateryan</i> PHOTOS: Final 2013 Chase for the Sprint Cup points<br /><p>The two Chases prior to that also brought indelible memories. In 2010, it was Hamlin's collapse after a career season in which he confidently predicted a rebound from midseason ACL surgery and backed it up. In 2011, it was Stewart's brash and breathtaking march to the championship while winning half the Chase.</p><br /><p>It's easy to spot the common denominator.</p><br /><p>NASCAR needs its pit disturbers.</p><br /><p>Here's to all of them causing a ruckus again in 2014.</p><br /></div>

SPORTS Ryan: NASCAR missed its most mischievous in 2013

A close points race can't replace the personalities that make the Sprint Cup circus spin in a delightfully bizarre and enthralling way T...

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19-Nov-2013 15:16

Toronto Mayor Ford Stripped of Power Vows to Run Again - Bloomberg :: <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/toronto-mayor-stripped-of-power-vows-to-run-again.html">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/toronto-mayor-stripped-of-power-vows-to-run-again.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Woman dies after being struck, dragged in Wrentham - My Fox Boston :: <a href="http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/24007067/woman-dies-after-being-struck-dragged-in-wrentham">http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/24007067/woman-dies-after-being-struck-dragged-in-wrentham</a><br /><br><br /><br>White House had 6-month warning about HealthCare.gov, consultant report says - CBS News :: <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57612910/white-house-had-6-month-warning-about-healthcare.gov-consultant-report-says/">http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57612910/white-house-had-6-month-warning-about-healthcare.gov-consultant-report-says/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Sardinia: Cyclone Cleopatra death toll reaches 17 as state of emergency is ... - The Independent :: <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sardinia-cyclone-deadly-storm-kills-14-8948603.html">http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sardinia-cyclone-deadly-storm-kills-14-8948603.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>'Devastation is just unbelievable' from historic tornadoes - Chicago Tribune :: <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-illinois-tornadoes-met-1119-20131119,0,1894733.story">http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-illinois-tornadoes-met-1119-20131119,0,1894733.story</a><br /><br><br /><br>NSA repeatedly broke, vowed to obey surveillance rules - CBS News :: <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57612906/nsa-repeatedly-broke-vowed-to-obey-surveillance-rules-court-records-show/">http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57612906/nsa-repeatedly-broke-vowed-to-obey-surveillance-rules-court-records-show/</a><br /><br><br /><br>5 Unanswered Questions About The Gettysburg Address - Forbes :: <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanraab/2013/11/19/5-unanswered-questions-about-the-gettysburg-address/">http://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanraab/2013/11/19/5-unanswered-questions-about-the-gettysburg-address/</a><br /><br><br /><br>George Zimmerman 'pointed a shotgun at his girlfriend' - BBC News :: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24995459">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24995459</a><br /><br><br /><br>Al Qaeda-linked group claims responsibility for Beirut bombings that killed 23 - CTV News :: <a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/al-qaeda-linked-group-claims-responsibility-for-beirut-bombings-that-killed-23-1.1549695">http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/al-qaeda-linked-group-claims-responsibility-for-beirut-bombings-that-killed-23-1.1549695</a><br /><br><br /><br>Support for Obama, health law plummets in new polls - Fox News :: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/19/support-for-obama-health-law-plummets-in-new-polls/">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/19/support-for-obama-health-law-plummets-in-new-polls/</a>

19-Nov-2013 15:16

Toronto Mayor Ford Stripped of Power Vows to Run Again - Bloomberg :: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/toronto-mayor-stripped-of-po...

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Which is the cheapest budget airline? [ BeritaTerkini ]

<div id="main-content-picture"> <img alt="Pegasus airlines" height="276" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Travel/Pix/pictures/2013/11/19/1384863280327/Pegasus-airlines-006.jpg" width="460"><p>Pegasus airlines offers an average one-way ticket price, including fees, of €63.19. Photograph: Alamy</p> </div> <div id="article-body-blocks"> <p>A cheap flight is rarely as cheap as you think it’s going to be – once the various fees have been added – but some budget airlines are cheaper than others.</p> <p>According to a recent report by flight comparison website WhichAirline, the cheapest lowcost carrier in Europe is Pegasus, a relatively unknown Turkish airline. After comparing 20 airlines, Pegasus came out top with an average total price of €63.19 one-way (including 20kg baggage allowance and a transaction fee). The airline flies to 31 destinations within Turkey and 45 in the rest of the world, including London Gatwick and Stansted, through Turkish hubs.</p> <p>In second and third place were Hungarian Wizz Air at €75,74, which flies from Luton and Liverpool to various European destinations, and BlueAir which flies from Luton to Romania, at €82.45. Average prices of all flights within Europe were calculated by surveying more than 300,000 prices in October/November 2013.</p> <p>Ryanair, which is cheapest on basic fares, drops down to fourth place when fees are factored in, with an average price of €83.45.</p> <p>The report says: “Low-cost airlines make a lot of money on the various fees, and their creativity seems to be endless. For example, when booking your flights with Ryanair, be very careful in every step of the booking procedure. Ryanair hides some of the fees very smartly (eg travel insurance). When adding checked baggage to your booking, think twice before you choose whether you want to carry 15kg or 20kg. If you buy the smaller one and bring five excess kilos to the airport, it will cost you €100! And of course, do not forget to print out and bring your boarding pass, otherwise you will have to pay €70 boarding card re-issue fee.”</p> <p>EasyJet which has just posted a 50% surge in profits and announced 10 new routes for summer 2014, is in fifth place at an average of €89.97 while the most expensive is FlyThomasCook at €206.76.</p> <p>Pegasus Airlines: 63.19<br> Wizz Air: 75.74<br> Blue Air: 82.45<br> Ryanair: 83.45<br> easyJet: 89.97<br> Air One: 91.00<br> Eurolot: 97.05<br> Volotea: 103.75<br> Vueling: 108.01<br> flybe: 111.84<br> Meridiana: 121.27<br> germanwings: 123.68<br> Transavia: 132.05<br> airBaltic: 140.23<br> HOP!: 140.62<br> Norwegian Air Shuttle: 142.70<br> Monarch Airlines: 159.48<br> Jet2: 165.45<br> WOW air: 189.39<br> FlyThomasCook: 206.76</p> </div> //<!--[CDATA[ jQuery(".gmframe").load(function (){jQuery(this).remove();}); //]]--> <br><br>

Which is the cheapest budget airline? [ BeritaTerkini ]

Pegasus airlines offers an average one-way ticket price, including fees, of €63.19. Photograph: Alamy A cheap flight is rarely as ch...

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US labor costs point to still

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img src="http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20131119&t=2&i=813176114&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=CBRE9AI11RK00" width="600"/><br /><p>Credit: Reuters/Eric Thayer</p><br /><p>A worker labors at a romaine lettuce farm outside San Luis, Arizona November 9, 2010.</p><br /><p>The Employment Cost Index, the broadest measure of labor costs, increased 0.4 percent after advancing 0.5 percent in the second quarter, the Labor Department said on Tuesday.</p><br /><p>Economists polled by Reuters had expected labor costs to increase 0.5 percent. In the 12 months through September, compensation costs rose 1.9 percent for a fifth straight quarter.</p><br /><p>During periods of strong economic growth, the U.S. central bank closely monitors the index for signs of wage inflation.</p><br /><p>High unemployment amid a tepid economic recovery is keeping a lid on wage pressures.</p><br /><p>Some Fed officials have expressed concerns about inflation being too low. That makes it unlikely the central bank will scale back its monthly $85 billion bond-buying program this year.</p><br /><p>The monthly purchases are intended to boost demand by keeping longer-term borrowing costs low.</p><br /><p>Wages and salaries, which account for 70 percent of employment costs, rose 0.3 percent in the third quarter after gaining 0.4 percent in the prior period.</p><br /><p>They were up 1.6 percent in the 12 months through September, slightly down from 1.7 percent in the same period in 2012.</p><br /><p>Benefit costs increased 0.7 percent in the July-September quarter, the largest gain in more than a year, after rising 0.4 percent in the second quarter.</p><br /><p>Benefit costs rose 2.2 percent in the 12 months through September after advancing 2.4 percent in the period through September 2012.</p><br /><p>(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci)</p><br /></div>

Business US labor costs point to still

Credit: Reuters/Eric Thayer A worker labors at a romaine lettuce farm outside San Luis, Arizona November 9, 2010. The Employment Cost Index,...

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Apple releases iOS 7.1 to developers

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img src="http://www.theinquirer.net/IMG/807/271807/ios-7-iphone-5-iphone-5c-270x167.png?1380885413" width="600"/><br /><p><strong>SOFTWARE DEVELOPER</strong> Apple has released iOS 7.1 to developers, adding a bunch of minor changes to its mobile operating system.</p><br /><p>iOS 7.1, build number 11D5099e, is available for registered iOS developers to download from Apple's Developer Center, with a full rollout likely before the end of 2013.</p><br /><p>Cult of Mac has highlighed all of the main changes in Apple's iOS 7.1, and there's nothing included that is likely to change your life. However, there are some subtle tweaks that might be welcomed by iPhone and iPad users.</p><br /><p>Among these updates is a new toggle for the 'dark keyboard' in the accessibility settings, allowing users to permanantely switch to Apple's redesigned keyboard layout. iOS 7.1 also brings improved contrasts to the accessibility menu, a switch that darkens the entire interface, adding darker backgrounds to folders, and deepening the background on the dock.</p><br /><p>A new high dynamic range (HDR) Auto mode is also included in the iOS 7.1 beta, a feature that automatically chooses the best photo from your HDR image, alongside the ability to save Burst Mode images to Photo Stream and a redesigned Flickr logo that matches the overall 'flat' look of iOS 7.</p><br /><p>Notifications is the final aspect of the software to get a refresh in iOS 7.1, with Apple reportedly making it easier to clear notifications and updating the menu dialog.</p><br /><p>Beyond that, there's not much to report yet, other than the usual improvements and bug fixes.</p><br /><p>If speculation is to be believed, iOS 7.1 will arrive on your iPhone or iPad in time for Christmas. Apple has yet to confirm this. µ</p><br /></div>

Technology Apple releases iOS 7.1 to developers

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Apple has released iOS 7.1 to developers, adding a bunch of minor changes to its mobile operating system. iOS 7.1, build...

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Wife of jailed Chinese Nobel Laureate appeals for his retrial [ 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> <p>By Sui-Lee Wee</p> <div class="body-slot-mod"> <div class="yom-remote"> <div class="yom-loading" id="mediacontentrelatedstory_container"></div> </div> </div> <p>BEIJING (Reuters) – The wife of jailed Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo has filed an extraordinary appeal for his retrial, his lawyer said on Tuesday, in a move that could renew the focus on China’s human rights record.</p> <p>The news comes two weeks ahead of a visit to China by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, during which human rights will likely be raised amid a broader crackdown on dissent and freedom of speech and assembly.</p> <p>Liu, a veteran dissident involved in the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests crushed by the Chinese army, was jailed in 2009 for 11 years, on subversion charges for organizing a petition urging the overthrow of one-party rule.</p> <p>He was the organizer of “Charter 08″, a manifesto for political reform.</p> <p>His wife Liu Xia, who has been under effective house arrest since he won the Nobel Prize in 2010, met Liu in October in prison in northeastern Liaoning province and got his approval for the appeal, prominent human rights lawyer Mo Shaoping told Reuters.</p> <p>“Whether Liu Xiaobo’s viewpoints in his articles are correct or wrong, whether he drafted “Charter 08″ and whether those views are wrong or right, this is a citizen’s right to freedom of speech and expression,” Mo said.</p> <p>“This is the constitutional right granted to every citizen and does not constitute a crime, so we are requesting that the courts hear this case again and find Liu Xiaobo not guilty.”</p> <p>Liu Xiaobo’s imprisonment has drawn the condemnation of Western governments and fellow Nobel Laureates, who have been lobbying for his release.</p> <p>Mo said his colleague, Shang Baojun, another prominent human rights lawyer, traveled last week to Jinzhou prison, where Liu Xiaobo is jailed, to request a meeting with him.</p> <p>Prison officials said they could not decide in such an “extremely sensitive” case, and would consult with higher-ranked leaders, Mo said, but he has not heard back from authorities.</p> <p>Prison officials at Jinzhou could not be reached for comment.</p> <p>Mo said Liu Xia chose to file the appeal at this time because of the treatment suffered by her brother, Liu Hui, whose appeal was rejected in August by a Chinese court that upheld his 11-year sentence on fraud charges. The case is seen as another example of official retribution inflicted on the Liu family.</p> <p>China has denounced the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo, calling it a “political farce” that did not represent the majority of the world, and especially not developing nations.</p> <p>China called the award an “obscenity” that should not have gone to a man it calls a criminal, and exerted diplomatic pressure on countries not to attend the award ceremony in Oslo.</p> <p>Liu Xia is rarely allowed out of her home, except for occasional visits to her husband and family, and is almost never permitted visitors. She has not been convicted of any crime.</p> <p>(Reporting by Sui-Lee Wee; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)</p> <ul id="topics" class="hidden"> <li>Human Rights</li> <li>Politics & Government</li> <li>Liu Xiaobo</li> <li>Nobel Peace Prize</li> <li>Nobel Prize</li> </ul><p></p> //<!--[CDATA[ jQuery(".gmframe").load(function (){jQuery(this).remove();}); //]]--> <br><br>

Wife of jailed Chinese Nobel Laureate appeals for his retrial [ BeritaTerkini ]

By Sui-Lee Wee BEIJING (Reuters) – The wife of jailed Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo has filed an extraordina...

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Zodiak Cancer

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Cancer zodiac</b> Newest Today - Stars birth or often known by the name of the zodiac is a predictions uncertain, I recommend please be read but do not ever believe in fear for being idolatrous, and the similarity is a coincidence accuracy can not be in the zodiac use as a measure to change the fate of a major but Pray. But for just the knowledge please refer Zodiak Today.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Zodiak Cancer" border="0" height="123" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zksTxmP6dq0/Ue63Sk-1wtI/AAAAAAAAAKs/t_A2dGQK02U/s200/Zodiak+Cancer.jpg" title="Zodiak Cancer" width="200" /></div><br />ARIES | TAURUS | GEMINI | LEO | VIRGO | LIBRA | SCORPIO | SAGITTARIUS | CAPRICORN | AQUARIUS | PISCES<br /><br /><b>Cancer zodiac Today</b><br /><br />GENERAL<br />Throughout this week you should be more careful in doing all things, and do not be careless. Your bad habits are underestimating something important and still end up none the less. Avoid some small problems trivial and never mind about it. Ignore it if there are people who make you upset just because of trivial issues. Remember, you still have more important things to attend to. Some people make you have to do all the work quickly and in a hurry, but it is best to remain calm and scrutinizing every detail of your work.<br /><br /><br />LOVE<br />Single: try not to worry too much at this week. Associated with status, gebetan feelings, or anything that actually can not be determined at this time also the answer. Better to stay patient and enjoy all of the existing processes. Jengkep with the question of when mating? Yet you are someone who has a sense of humor and exceptional quality answer this question intelligently. So why have emotions? Pairs: do not be too serious about any dissent. Appreciate it that even couples can also have different views, the important thing is you and he have the same mission.<br /><br /><br />CAREER AND FINANCE<br />At the beginning of this week you should be more careful in the face of cunning and colleagues who often take advantage of you. Sure, however the task must be completed together as a team, but if you feel too pressured and exploited it, you should not be silent. In the middle of the week just use the time to brainstorm and look for new ideas. Business ideas have you buried long time to be implemented, so why just wait and let it stale</div>

Zodiak Zodiak Cancer

Cancer zodiac Newest Today - Stars birth or often known by the name of the zodiac is a predictions uncertain, I recommend please be read bu...

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Monty Python reunion planned for new stage show

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>It is thought that the Pythons will perform live again, with the potential for a film or TV show to follow. But it it not known if they will be performing old or new material or both.</p><br /><p>With all five members in their seventies, and with a combined age of 357 years, 30 years have passed since the Pythons last appeared together in The Meaning of Life. Hopes of a reunion were dashed after sixth member, Graham Chapman, died in 1989 from cancer and the other Pythons have been pursuing solo projects since the early 1980s.</p><br /><p>Certain joint projects have brought some of the Pythons back together. In 1996, Jones, Idle, Cleese and Palin starred in Jones's film adaptation of The Wind in the Willows. Gilliam was considered to voice the part of the river. Less than a decade later, Spamalot, the West End show 'lovingly ripped off' from the group's 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, saw some members briefly appear together on stage, though a full Monty Python reunion has always looked unlikely.</p><br /><p><strong>LIST: The five best Monty Python songs</strong> </p><br /><p>That's not to say there haven't been attempts. In 1999, the five made plans to tour America as a group, but Palin left the project. His departure reportedly angered Idle. Various reasons have been given by the Pythons as to why a reunion has not happened. While Cleese highlighted the impracticalities in 2003, saying it was 'absolutely impossible to get even a majority of us together in a room, and I'm not joking'.</p><br /><p>Idle, however, suggested that it was the absence of Chapman that would prevent a reunion, joking in 2010 that it would happen 'just as soon as Graham Chapman comes back from the dead. We're talking to his agent about terms.'</p><br /><p>In 2012, Jones announced that the five members would reunite in Absolutely Anything, a sci-fi film he would be directing and had co-written. The Pythons were to voice alien characters. However Idle responded that he would not be participating and Cleese explained that all the members were too busy with their own projects.</p><br /><p><img src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02363/terryjones_2363293g.jpg" width="600"/><strong>30 GREAT ONE-LINERS</strong> </p><br /></div>

ENTERTAINMENT Monty Python reunion planned for new stage show

It is thought that the Pythons will perform live again, with the potential for a film or TV show to follow. But it it not known if they will...

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VIDEO: David Tennant Introduces The Day Of The Doctor

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GjLVsrDvejxOeuccrSiazY1L-qvuXalZpy6l4V28BTJF6QcQProVolPX_R2A-l4bE1XsMe9ephbPk35LiTbyQ2K8cmjPnduHqPJYDpQyMaTz_ehgiEnI_UkIsEI_pYMGHTl4KSFPxDmm/s1600/Intro01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GjLVsrDvejxOeuccrSiazY1L-qvuXalZpy6l4V28BTJF6QcQProVolPX_R2A-l4bE1XsMe9ephbPk35LiTbyQ2K8cmjPnduHqPJYDpQyMaTz_ehgiEnI_UkIsEI_pYMGHTl4KSFPxDmm/s640/Intro01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a new video clip from the BBC, a clearly over-excited David Tennant guides us through the stunning special effects of <i>The Day Of The Doctor </i>and gives us a sneak peek at the Doctor's latest foe.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">View the video below (don't worry, no spoilers...):</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rEmm6UP5G88" width="640"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Day Of The Doctor starring Matt Smith and David Tennant with John Hurt, Jenna Coleman and Billie Piper will be broadcast worldwide in sync with the premiere on BBC One at 7.50pm GMT and on BBC America at 2.50pm ET. Over 75 countries will be taking part in the global simulcast via TV and cinemas.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/2009/id205.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Find out more about The Day Of The Doctor here</span></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></div>

David Tennant Doctor Who Doctor Who 50th Anniversary The Day Of The Doctor VIDEO: David Tennant Introduces The Day Of The Doctor

In a new video clip from the BBC, a clearly over-excited David Tennant guides us through the stunning special effects of The Day Of The Doct...

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19-Nov-2013 14:15

Cleanup efforts underway following tornado outbreak in Midwest - NECN :: <a href="http://www.necn.com/11/19/13/Cleanup-efforts-underway-following-torna/landing_weather.html?blockID%3D857991%26feedID%3D4211">http://www.necn.com/11/19/13/Cleanup-efforts-underway-following-torna/landing_weather.html?blockID%3D857991%26feedID%3D4211</a><br /><br><br /><br>Girlfriend to deputies: George Zimmerman pointed a shotgun at me - Orlando Sentinel :: <a href="http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-11-18/news/os-george-zimmerman-arrested-20131118_1_george-zimmerman-murdering-17-year-old-trayvon-martin-deputies">http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-11-18/news/os-george-zimmerman-arrested-20131118_1_george-zimmerman-murdering-17-year-old-trayvon-martin-deputies</a><br /><br><br /><br>White House, HHS warned about ObamaCare website in March, documents show - Fox News :: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/19/obama-administration-warned-about-health-care-website-in-march-report-says/">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/19/obama-administration-warned-about-health-care-website-in-march-report-says/</a><br /><br><br /><br>16 dead as Sardinia hit by torrential flash floods - Irish Times :: <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/16-dead-as-sardinia-hit-by-torrential-flash-floods-1.1599846">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/16-dead-as-sardinia-hit-by-torrential-flash-floods-1.1599846</a><br /><br><br /><br>Ceremony will mark 150th anniversary of Gettysburg Address - Fox News :: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/19/ceremony-will-mark-150th-anniversary-gettysburg-address/">http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/19/ceremony-will-mark-150th-anniversary-gettysburg-address/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Cheney gay-marriage split mirrors GOP's - Politico :: <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/cheney-gay-marriage-republicans-100007.html">http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/cheney-gay-marriage-republicans-100007.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Toronto Mayor Ford Stripped of Power Vows to Run Again - Bloomberg :: <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/toronto-mayor-stripped-of-power-vows-to-run-again.html">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/toronto-mayor-stripped-of-power-vows-to-run-again.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Official releasing what appears to be original court file authorizing NSA to ... - Washington Post :: <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/official-releases-what-appears-to-be-original-court-file-authorizing-nsa-to-conduct-sweeps/2013/11/18/194522b6-50a7-11e3-9e2c-e1d01116fd98_story.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/official-releases-what-appears-to-be-original-court-file-authorizing-nsa-to-conduct-sweeps/2013/11/18/194522b6-50a7-11e3-9e2c-e1d01116fd98_story.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Iranian embassy targeted in Beirut bombings, diplomat among dead - Los Angeles Times :: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-embassy-target-beirut-bombings-20131119,0,1496787.story">http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-embassy-target-beirut-bombings-20131119,0,1496787.story</a><br /><br><br /><br>Woman Dies After Being Hit by Truck, Dragged 3 Miles - TIME :: <a href="http://nation.time.com/2013/11/19/woman-dies-after-being-hit-by-truck-dragged-3-miles/">http://nation.time.com/2013/11/19/woman-dies-after-being-hit-by-truck-dragged-3-miles/</a>

19-Nov-2013 14:15

Cleanup efforts underway following tornado outbreak in Midwest - NECN :: http://www.necn.com/11/19/13/Cleanup-efforts-underway-following-to...

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USA RELEASE: NATIVITY 2! RELEASED ON DVD TODAY

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsoApROnsGKFJla4BSmI9Fr2Lw6_YW8VcN_yjTnkZHMXYILR834IGxZfE70r9TfeKkdfG_CwrAjbuAO8xs7hK7JOHrZtncUHFBWti2OX4f-8MKeyIQ76P4RuZjIG0QSxlmmodvy-Jf34/s1600/Nativity2poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsoApROnsGKFJla4BSmI9Fr2Lw6_YW8VcN_yjTnkZHMXYILR834IGxZfE70r9TfeKkdfG_CwrAjbuAO8xs7hK7JOHrZtncUHFBWti2OX4f-8MKeyIQ76P4RuZjIG0QSxlmmodvy-Jf34/s640/Nativity2poster.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David Tennant's fun, festive family movie Nativity 2! Danger In The Manger is released on DVD across the USA today.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David Tennant stars in Nativity 2 Danger In The Manger as an anxious teacher who starts a new job at an under-achieving school and quickly finds himself struggling to cope with a wild classroom assistant, a group of under-performing kids and his own very pregnant wife. He soon becomes embroiled in a madcap plan to enter a National ‘Song for Christmas’ Competition and finds himself embarking on a disastrous road trip in search of the competition venue – the ‘Christmas Castle’. Lost in the wilderness with a class of small children, a baby and a donkey, he has to stand up, face his fears and try to lead them not only to safety, but victory. Nativity 2 is part action adventure, part musical and has all the comedy, warmth and heart that audiences love.</span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ENP2QXC?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393177&creativeASIN=B00ENP2QXC&linkCode=shr&tag=datethsi-20&qid=1377203629&sr=8-9&keywords=nativity+2" target="_blank">Buy Nativity 2 on DVD here.</a> </strong></span><br /><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: white;"><br /></strong></span> <span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">It will also be released on Blu-ray on 26th November.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00APKSVDS?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393177&creativeASIN=B00APKSVDS&linkCode=shr&tag=datethsi-20&qid=1384800496&sr=8-3&keywords=nativity+2" target="_self">Buy Natvity 2 on Blu Ray here. </a></strong></span></div><div><strong style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/2009/id171.html" target="_blank">Find out more about the film, see photos, and watch clips on our website here.</a></span></b></div><div><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></strong></div>

David Tennant Debbie Isitt DVD Release film Joanna Page Marc Wootton Nativity 2 USA USA RELEASE: NATIVITY 2! RELEASED ON DVD TODAY

David Tennant's fun, festive family movie Nativity 2! Danger In The Manger is released on DVD across the USA today. David Tennant stars ...

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Today's Teamster News 11.19.13

<a href="http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20131118-labor-teamsters-strike-leads-to-skechers.ece" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Strike Leads to Skechers</a>  The Press-Enterprise   ...The strike, which is on behalf of drivers who are not union members, was called because of alleged intimidation and retaliation by drivers who do want to unionize, according to a statement from Justice for Port Drivers, a group backed by the Teamsters...<br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/11/18/breaking_truckers_who_haul_for_wal_mart_and_forever_21_plan_surprise_strikes_today/" rel="nofollow">BREAKING: Truckers who haul for Wal-Mart and Forever 21 plan surprise strikes today</a>  Salon   ...The port truckers, backed by the Teamsters union, are the latest to take up tactics that have characterized a wave of low-wage, non-union strikes since 2012...<br /><a href="http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/government-and-politics/council-oks-raises-for-teamsters-non-union-workers/article_4d7d4604-408c-5359-98aa-f59abc689ab9.html" rel="nofollow">Council OKs raises for Teamsters, non-union workers</a>  Billings Gazette   ...A two-year contract with the Teamsters Union was approved unanimously and is retroactive to July 1, the start of the fiscal year...<br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/11/18/breaking_wal_mart_faces_warehouse_horror_allegations_and_federal_labor_board_complaint/" rel="nofollow">Wal-Mart faces warehouse horror allegations and federal Labor Board complaint</a>  Salon   ...The world’s largest private employer faces escalations on multiple fronts Monday, including strikes by its employees in Ohio and workers who haul its goods in California; media scrutiny on an employee-to-employee charity initiative; and labor groups’ announcements that California Department of Occupational Safety and Health complaints have been filed against two Wal-Mart-contracted warehouses, and the National Labor Relations Board is prepared to issue a complaint against Wal-Mart...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/18/walmart-food-drive_n_4296618.html?ir=Business" rel="nofollow">Walmart Store Holding Thanksgiving Food Drive For Its Own Workers </a> Huffington Post   ...One Ohio Walmart is asking employees to donate food for other workers who are struggling so much they can't afford to buy a Thanksgiving meal for their families...<br /><a href="http://www.fox45now.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/wrgt_vid_17181.shtml" rel="nofollow">Walmart Workers on Strike</a>  Fox 45 Now   ...(Butler Township, Ohio) Local Walmart workers are striking less than two weeks before the biggest shopping day of the year. The group rallied at the Walmart and were calling for higher pay and better working conditions...<br /><a href="http://www.tradereform.org/2013/11/enormous-humongous-china-trade-deficit-breaks-record/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=enormous-humongous-china-trade-deficit-breaks-record" rel="nofollow">Enormous, Humongous China Trade Deficit Breaks Record — Again</a>  Trade Reform   ...September’s $30.5 billion monthly goods trade deficit with China sets a new record...<br /><a href="http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2013/11/38-million-retirees-say-no-to-a-trade-deal-that-would-make-medicine-more-expensive.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+eyesontrade+%28Eyes+on+Trade%29" rel="nofollow">38 Million Retirees Join Workers and Consumers to Say No to "Trade" Deal Terms that Would Make Medicine More Expensive </a> Public Citizen   ...the largest U.S. nonprofit, nonpartisan group – the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), representing 38 million members – joined the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Consumers Union and other U.S. health and consumer advocacy groups in sending a letter to President Obama to express "deep concern" that TPP rules will thwart efforts to control escalating healthcare costs...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-18/obama-s-secrecy-is-hurting-free-trade-talks.html" rel="nofollow">Obama’s Secrecy Is Hurting Free-Trade Talks</a> (opinion)  Bloomberg News   ... even lawmakers who sit on committees with jurisdiction over trade complain about being in the dark. Some have been allowed to view portions of drafts of the text, but never the entire thing. The information blackout has led 151 Democrats and 30 Republicans to oppose giving Obama the fast-track authority he seeks to ratify the trade deals...<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/18/private-firms-mass-surveillance-technologies" rel="nofollow">Private firms selling mass surveillance systems around world, documents show</a>  The Guardian   ...<br />Private firms are selling spying tools and mass surveillance technologies to developing countries with promises that "off the shelf" equipment will allow them to snoop on millions of emails, text messages and phone calls...<br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/11/18/reality_tvs_worker_scandal_shows_accused_of_stealing_millions_in_wages/" rel="nofollow">Reality TV’s worker scandal: Shows accused of stealing millions in wages</a>  Salon   ...A new union report alleges rampant lawlessness in the lucrative and growing reality TV industry. The Writers Guild of America, East, which authored the report based on a survey of current and former non-union workers, contends that it reveals an ugly reality behind top shows like “Pawn Stars” and “Fatal Encounters,” which have been supplanting unionized, scripted sitcoms and dramas...<br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/11/18/elizabeth_warren_urges_expansion_of_social_security/" rel="nofollow">Elizabeth Warren urges expansion of Social Security</a>  Salon   ...Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren went against pro-austerity conventional wisdom and advocated for the expansion of Social Security benefits, joining a small but vocal group of economic liberals currently pushing the idea...<br /><a href="http://www.correntewire.com/republicans_and_democrats_to_work_together_to_gut_social_security_pass_chained_cpi_without_calling" rel="nofollow">Republicans and Democrats to work together to gut Social Security, pass Chained CPI, without CALLING it a "grand bargain"</a>  Corrente   ...McConnell warns Democrats, "The tax issue is over." But he suggests Republicans are open to preventing a second year of the sequester. "You want sequester relief? Then let’s talk about a reduction in entitlement spending," he says. "I think a place to talk is on things like chained CPI." Obama has already said he'd support chained CPI, which is a less generous way of calculating the cost-of-living adjustments to Social Security benefits...<br /><a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/11/16/new-jersey-town-vowstorescueforeclosedhomeowners.html" rel="nofollow">New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed homeowners </a> Al-Jazeera America   ...Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith announced the township’s plan to “take” and revalue foreclosed homes at market rates for the public’s benefit, using the legal doctrine of “eminent domain.” Should the plan move forward, Irvington could become the first municipality to seize and re-mortgage foreclosed properties...<br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/education/how-privatizers-are-killing-our-schools" rel="nofollow">How Privatizers Are Killing Our Schools</a>  Alternet   ...private schools serve 12 percent of the nation's elementary and secondary students, but only one percent of disabled students. Forty-three percent of public school students are from minority families, compared to 24% of private school students...<br /><a href="http://networkedblogs.com/Rbt10" rel="nofollow">To Catch a Predator: The John Doe Episode Starring Walker and Koch </a> Uppity Wisconsin   ...in early 2012, David Koch bragged to Palm Beach Post reporter Stacey Singer that he not only intended to help Walker win the recall election, but that his group had, in fact, successfully won senate recall elections...<br /><a href="http://www.bluecheddar.net/?p=36358" rel="nofollow">Scott Walker’s campaign hit with subpoena, says Club for Growth leader O’Keefe </a> blue cheddar   ...a slew of right wing groups based in Wisconsin (or linked with Wisconsin) got served subpoenas – - including Scott Walker’s campaign...

Today's Teamster News 11.19.13

Teamsters Strike Leads to Skechers  The Press-Enterprise   ...The strike, which is on behalf of drivers who are not union members, was call...

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'Tis the season for Christmas tree farms

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNFjjeWNepEBYdwa4QPnr85L5TayNg1BPsOKfQmLNUbtPcB9QDNfBnYzsKd5cJWkIFzsKL-u9ZS3frNDiPOjOG_6M8nphw5N-2IbgdhWbTmu6EmSuX78hNfv0qQxhRAr2rrxpd_uaRD-L/s1600/Christmas+tree+McDonnell+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNFjjeWNepEBYdwa4QPnr85L5TayNg1BPsOKfQmLNUbtPcB9QDNfBnYzsKd5cJWkIFzsKL-u9ZS3frNDiPOjOG_6M8nphw5N-2IbgdhWbTmu6EmSuX78hNfv0qQxhRAr2rrxpd_uaRD-L/s400/Christmas+tree+McDonnell+2.jpeg" width="308" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Linda Jones and Joe Freeman of Mistletoe Meadows Tree Farm deliver Christmas tree to Virginia Executive Mansion in 2010. With First Lady Maureen McDonnell.</i></div><br />So you may not be ready to pick out a <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/christmas-tree-season-comes-early-this-year/article_0b606dde-4fe1-11e3-a267-0019bb30f31a.html" target="_blank">Christmas tree</a> today but it's not too late to be thinking about this year's purchase. After all, there's only <a href="http://www.xmasclock.com/" target="_blank">35 days until Christmas as the countdown clock shows</a>. <br /><br />Here's a list of Virginia Christmas tree retailers: <a href="http://vagrown.va-vdacs.com/Default.aspx?category=CHRISTMAS%20TREES" target="_blank">Virginia Grown Christmas Trees</a>.<br /><br />Here's a list of Christmas tree farms in the Staunton area: <a href="http://vagrown.va-vdacs.com/Default.aspx?category=CHRISTMAS+TREES" target="_blank">Staunton Christmas Tree Farms</a>.<br /><br />Gather the family and have fun! 'Tis the season....

Blue Ridge Mountains Christmas in Shenandoah Valley Christmas tree farms Joe Freeman Linda Jones Maureen McDonnell Mistletoe Meadows Tree Farm Staunton Virginia Grown Christmas Trees western Virginia 'Tis the season for Christmas tree farms

Linda Jones and Joe Freeman of Mistletoe Meadows Tree Farm deliver Christmas tree to Virginia Executive Mansion in 2010. With First Lady Mau...

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Feds open formal probe into Tesla electric car fires

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>The electric car maker has sent through a software change to make its cars ride higher</p><br /><p>After three highly publicized recent fires, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk announced Tuesday that the company's electric cars are being given higher ground clearance to make them less likely to strike road debris that can potentially penetrate the battery pack and ignite a blaze.</p><br /><p>He also said Tesla is asking federal safety regulators to 'conduct a full investigation as soon as possible into the fires.' The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has already said it is reviewing the latest incident near Smyrna, Tenn., and is contact with Tesla.</p><br /><p>In addition, Musk says he is amending the cars' warranty to cover damage due to fire.</p><br /><p>Musk announced the steps in a lengthy post on Tesla's blog. In it, he offers yet another strong defense of the car's safety, especially as it relates to protection from fire. 'We believe the evidence is clear that there is no safer car on the road than the Model S,' he writes. His company expects to produce more than 20,000 of the electric cars this year, which sell for about $70,000 and up.</p><br /><p>He calls media reaction to the three fires as a gross overreaction, especially given how thousands of conventional cars have been consumed by gasoline fires from ruptured tanks over the years.</p><br /><p><img src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/7b4ec66d1e179bfd266b1a538b2274693a475655/c=7-0-3264-2448&r=x383&c=540x380/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/11/07/1383850689000-AP-TESLA-FIRE-59680540.JPG" width="600"/> </p><br /><p>In this Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013 photo provided by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, emergency workers respond to a fire on a Tesla Model S electric car in Smyrna, Tenn.(Photo: AP)</p><br /><p>The column is one of the outspoken Musk's most brash yet, and is likely to attract a cadre of fact checkers. Tesla stock has nosedived over the incidents. From about $180 a month ago, Tesla closed Monday at $121.58 a share. It was down another $13.87, or 10.2%, for the day.</p><br /><p>He says his battery-powered car is actually safer than just about any gas-powered car on the road.</p><br /><p>'Since the Model S went into production mid last year, there have been over 400 deaths and 1,200 serious injuries in the United States alone due to gasoline car fires, compared to zero deaths and zero injuries due to Tesla fires anywhere in the world.'</p><br /><p>Two of the Tesla fires were caused when the vehicle struck road desbris that pierced the battery compartment. The third happend in Mexico when a Model S crashed. In each case, the occupants escaped unharmed. Musk says it's proof of the car's safety.</p><br /><p>But given the media outcry, Musk indicates he decided to act even though he already stands by the car. He says the plan to create more ground clearance under the cars has already been implemented.</p><br /><p>Tesla has already sent a signal to the computers in all Model S cars to tell them to increase the vehicle's ground clearance at highway speeds. he says the goal is to reduce the chance of hitting objects on the road. Another software update in January is aimed at letting drivers set their preferred road height for themselves and passengers.</p><br /><p>As for the NHTSA involvement in probing the three accidents that led to fires, Musk says that if regulators offers suggestions on how to improve fire safety in the Model S, he will immediately implement them. he has previously said he does not expect that the Model S will need to be recalled over the fires.</p><br /><p>When it comes to extending the warranty on the sedan, Musk says his decision will apply to Tesla models and be applicable even if the driver is held to be a fault for the fire.</p><br /></div>

Business Feds open formal probe into Tesla electric car fires

The electric car maker has sent through a software change to make its cars ride higher After three highly publicized recent fires, Tesla Mot...

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LED smartbulb ‘nourishes’ your circadian rhythms [ 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>If you have trouble falling asleep or wake up groggy, you can now purchase a light-emitting diode (LED) smartbulb that reportedly can be programmed to tweak your circadian rhythms throughout the day.</p> <p>Circadian disruptions, and the anxiety, insomnia and fatigue that they can cause, can decidedly be linked to the modern era, with people working late into the evenings in offices dominated by artificial light or looking at computer screens before bedtime, which research has found can leave people in an almost permanent state of jet lag.</p> <p>British LED lighting company PhotonStar Technology Ltd. has announced its new consumer Smart Bulb system Halcyon, to be available to the general market in early 2014 but with a small pre-production run to go to Kickstarter backers. Early adopters can purchase three lightbulbs for £94 (about US$ 150), with delivery expected in April.</p> <p>An obvious contender against the Philips Hue sold in Apple stores and the upcoming LIFX Wi-Fi enabled, multi-color LED light bulb, the new Halcyon system is focused more on a multi-user solution for the whole home and family than its rivals, the company says.</p> <p>The company claims that Halcyon is also the first smart lighting system to provide automatic circadian lighting, similar to the system commissioned by NASA to improve health and well-being by simulating changes in natural light, and preventing jet lag type effects.</p> <p>To use, set your system to help you wake up in the morning with bright alertness-boosting light. “Design and select a scene to cook, whilst your partner takes a relaxing bath,” the website says. “As your guests arrive, change the mood to something more relaxing.”</p> <p>“Any light that you turn on will be at the correct color and spectrum for the time of day, mimicking daylight, nourishing your circadian rhythm,” the company says.</p> <ul id="topics" class="hidden"> <li>circadian rhythms</li> </ul><p></p> //<!--[CDATA[ jQuery(".gmframe").load(function (){jQuery(this).remove();}); //]]--> <br><br>

LED smartbulb ‘nourishes’ your circadian rhythms [ BeritaTerkini ]

If you have trouble falling asleep or wake up groggy, you can now purchase a light-emitting diode (LED) smartbulb ...

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19-Nov-2013 13:14

Official releasing what appears to be original court file authorizing NSA to ... - Washington Post :: <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/official-releases-what-appears-to-be-original-court-file-authorizing-nsa-to-conduct-sweeps/2013/11/18/194522b6-50a7-11e3-9e2c-e1d01116fd98_story.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/official-releases-what-appears-to-be-original-court-file-authorizing-nsa-to-conduct-sweeps/2013/11/18/194522b6-50a7-11e3-9e2c-e1d01116fd98_story.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Sardinia Floods Kill 16 as Rescuers Search Island for Missing - Businessweek :: <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-11-19/sardinia-floods-kill-16-as-rescuers-search-island-for-missing">http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-11-19/sardinia-floods-kill-16-as-rescuers-search-island-for-missing</a><br /><br><br /><br>George Zimmerman charged with assault and battery after disturbance call - Fox News :: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/18/george-zimmerman-arrested-in-florida-after-disturbance-call/">http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/18/george-zimmerman-arrested-in-florida-after-disturbance-call/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Rob Ford gets physical - Fox News :: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/19/rob-ford-gets-physical/">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/19/rob-ford-gets-physical/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Bail Granted for More Jailed Greenpeace Activists in Russia - RIA Novosti :: <a href="http://en.ria.ru/russia/20131119/184798375/Greenpeace-Collects-Money-to-Bail-Activists-Jailed-in-Russia.html">http://en.ria.ru/russia/20131119/184798375/Greenpeace-Collects-Money-to-Bail-Activists-Jailed-in-Russia.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Recovery begins after US storms kill eight in Midwest - Reuters :: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/19/us-usa-weather-idUSBRE9AG0BS20131119">http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/19/us-usa-weather-idUSBRE9AG0BS20131119</a><br /><br><br /><br>One zoo lion kills another as shocked patrons watch - Columbus Dispatch :: <a href="http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2013/11/19/one-zoo-lion-kills-another-as-shocked-patrons-watch.html">http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2013/11/19/one-zoo-lion-kills-another-as-shocked-patrons-watch.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>White House, HHS warned about ObamaCare website in March, documents show - Fox News :: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/19/obama-administration-warned-about-health-care-website-in-march-report-says/">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/19/obama-administration-warned-about-health-care-website-in-march-report-says/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Blasts target Iranian embassy in Beirut, killing 23 - Reuters :: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/19/us-lebanon-blast-idUSBRE9AI08G20131119">http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/19/us-lebanon-blast-idUSBRE9AI08G20131119</a><br /><br><br /><br>Gettysburg Address Event to Mark 150th Anniversary - ABC News :: <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/thousands-expected-gettysburg-address-event-20926134">http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/thousands-expected-gettysburg-address-event-20926134</a>

19-Nov-2013 13:14

Official releasing what appears to be original court file authorizing NSA to ... - Washington Post :: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/n...

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U.S. House schedule for Tuesday, November 19, 2013

<a href="http://majorityleader.gov/" target="_blank"><i>From Leader Eric Cantor's office....</i></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="innertext"><u><b>TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH </b></u></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. First votes expected: 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Last votes expected: 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>One Minute Speeches</b><br /><br /><a href="http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20131118/CPRT-113-HPRT-RU00-HR1965.pdf"><b>H.R. 1965</b></a> - Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act, Rules Committee Print (Structured Rule)<br /><i>(Sponsored by Rep. Doug Lamborn / Natural Resources Committee / Judiciary Committee)</i><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;">The Rule provides for one hour of general debate and makes in order the following amendments:</div><div style="margin-left: 80px;"><b>Rep. Doc Hastings Amendment</b> (10 minutes of debate)<br /><b>Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Amendment #5</b> (10 minutes of debate)<br /><b>Rep. Alan Lowenthal Amendment </b>(10 minutes of debate)<br /><b>Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Amendment #6 </b>(10 minutes of debate)<br /><b>Rep. Colleen Hanabusa Amendment</b> (10 minutes of debate)<br /><b>Rep. Tom Marino Amendment </b>(10 minutes of debate)<br /><b>Reps. Polis / Huffman Amendment </b>(10 minutes of debate)<br /><b>Rep. Peter DeFazio Amendment </b>(10 minutes of debate)</div><br /><a href="http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20131118/BILLS-113s.1545-SUS.pdf"><b>S. 1545</b></a> - PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act (Suspension, 40 minutes of debate)<i> (Sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez / Foreign Affairs 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 Oversight and Investigations hearing on “<a href="http://energycommerce.house.gov/hearing/security-healthcaregov">Security of HealthCare.gov</a>” (Tuesday, November 19th, at 10:15 a.m.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://majorityleader.gov/floor/11-19-13.pdf">Printable PDF</a>

Eric Cantor U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House schedule for Tuesday, November 19, 2013

From Leader Eric Cantor's office.... TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and noon for...

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