Monday, July 30, 2012

Shares of Blount International Rank the Highest in Terms of Debt to Equity Ratio in the Industrial Machinery Industry (BLT, MWA, TRS, JBT, AIMC)

Written on Sun, 07/29/2012 - 9:17am

By Shiri Gupta

Below are the three companies in the Industrial Machinery industry with the highest debt to equity ratios. The Debt/Equity ratio measures a company's leverage and a high level often implies that a company has financed much of its growth with debt.

Blount International ranks highest with a a debt to equity ratio of 6.6. Following is Mueller Water Products with a a debt to equity ratio of 2.7. Trimas ranks third highest with a a debt to equity ratio of 2.5.

John Bean Technologies follows with a a debt to equity ratio of 1.6, and Altra Holdings rounds out the top five with a a debt to equity ratio of 1.2.

SmarTrend recommended that its subscribers protect gains by selling shares of Altra Holdings on April 5th, 2012 by issuing a Downtrend alert when the shares were trading at $18.55. Since that call, shares of Altra Holdings have fallen 10.3%. We are now looking for when a new Uptrend will commence and will alert SmarTrend subscribers in real time.

Keywords: highest debt to equity ratio Blount International mueller water products trimas john bean technologies altra holdings

Ticker(s): BLT MWA TRS JBT AIMC


Source: http://www.mysmartrend.com/news-briefs/news-watch/shares-blount-international-rank-highest-terms-debt-equity-ratio-industrial--0

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Saturday, July 28, 2012

Employ A Professional Search engine optimization Company For ...

Magento is really a new and effective eCommerce system offering wealthy personalization options by extensions and modules. If you?re a novice within this area, then you?ll believe it is very hard. Don?t spend your time adding fluff aimed at your website or advertisements, and do not promise whatever you can?t provide. Keep costs down enhance funnel efficiency and effectiveness, to achieve visibility and also to control and automate customer facing procedures. Internet entrepreneurs are hurrying to satisfy the demand, to provide more items and choices to Internet consumers. Multiple PHP frameworks are available on the internet, you?ll choose the one which suits your essentials. Furthermore, professionals develop every web application maintaining and thinking about forth-coming updates and fluctuations elevated on the market. In simple words, the phone is right for individuals who like to talk to their family members. Despite the fact that tri-media can continue to help achieve local audience, the web reaches a better number of individuals.

In present day market, internet increasing visitor count is among the finest methods to make a living. Google voice fax application provides you with the energy to obtain the fax from the location at no monthly costs. The most crucial goal associated with a online marketing strategy may be the return of investment or Return on investment for any business. First is it enables them to scale back on other techniques of promoting the items they offer. The Burst Media study states that insertion of countless ad banners on one page will result in ad clutter. You are able to work any hrs that you want whenever you work at home which is a large benefit. Researching a topic by yourself could be time-consuming and lacks the social interaction part of the online forum. The installing process is totally legal and there?s no spy ware or infections of any sort. Effective hosting plans provided by the trustworthy hosting service information mill highly effective and versatile to support bulk data.

Make certain you?ve got a reasonable goal along with a well-considered strategy to accomplish this finish. For the dynamic needs of promoting the Search engine optimization India services supplying company team knows the net technology best. Actually, this is actually the opposite and can lead to your site receiving penalties from search engines like google. Many people worry and AGONIZE over whether they will end up effective once they start new things.

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Source: http://anexistentialkeekah.com/employ-a-professional-search-engine-optimization-company-for-your-web-business/

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Thursday, July 26, 2012

Giant deep-space rocket passes key test

NASA's next-generation rocket, a behemoth of a booster expected to launch astronauts deeper into space than ever before, has passed a major design milestone, space agency officials announced Wednesday.

The new mega-rocket, called the Space Launch System, passed a series of reviews that laid out the technical, performance, cost and schedule requirements for the heavy-lift booster. The completion of the so-called System Requirements Review and System Definition Review allows program managers to proceed into the rocket's preliminary design phase, NASA officials said.

The Space Launch System, or SLS for short, is NASA's go-to rocket to carry NASA's planned Orion capsule and possibly other future payloads beyond low-Earth orbit. The rocket is being designed to carry out the agency's future human space exploration goals, such as sending astronauts to visit an asteroid or Mars.

"This new heavy-lift launch vehicle will make it possible for explorers to reach beyond our current limits, to nearby asteroids, Mars and its moons, and to destinations even farther across our solar system," William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., said in a statement. [ Photos: NASA's Space Launch System ]

The NASA reviews established the requirements for developing the rocket in line with the agency's budget and schedule. The $10 billion booster is slated to launch on its first test flight in 2017.

"The in-depth assessment confirmed the basic vehicle concepts of the SLS, allowing the team to move forward and start more detailed engineering design," Gerstenmaier said.

An independent review board, made up of technical experts from across NASA, evaluated the rocket's specifications, budget and schedule. The officials determined that the SLS program is ready to proceed from concept to design.

"This is a pivotal moment for this program and for NASA," SLS program manager Todd May said in a statement. "This has been a whirlwind experience from a design standpoint. Reaching this key development point in such a short period of time, while following the strict protocol and design standards set by NASA for human spaceflight is a testament to the team's commitment to delivering the nation's next heavy-lift launch vehicle."

The milestone comes less than 10 months after the birth of the SLS program. The next major milestone, a preliminary design review of the rocket, will occur late next year.

The SLS rocket will be able to launch at least 70 metric tons of material into space at first, but the agency is hoping to evolve the booster to reach a launch capacity of 130 metric tons in subsequent upgrades.

In its fully evolved state, the three-stage SLS will be the most powerful rocket, surpassing the capability of NASA's Saturn V rockets that carried astronauts to the moon during the Apollo program.

Follow Space.com on Twitter ?@Spacedotcom. ?We're also on ?Facebook? and??Google+.

? 2012 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48342319/ns/technology_and_science-space/

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A Cheap and Simple Add-On to Keep Your iPhone Charger Blessedly Untangled [Cables]

Like earphones, the iPhone's charging cable seems pre-disposed to becoming a knotted tangle of cable whenever it's placed inside a bag. But you can fight back—and save yourself several unpleasant minutes of untangling—with this no frills cable wrap accessory. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/1KSabUGOZik/a-cheap-and-simple-add+on-to-keep-your-iphone-charger-blessedly-untangled

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What Many People Dont Know Regarding Babies Toddler - Typepad

The decision to adopt a child is a major one and it can take years to see it through so make sure that this is something that you are ready to take on. All the same, for couples who are not able to have children in any other way, adoption is well worth the time and expense. Aside from giving you the opportunity to start your own family, it?s also a gift to the child who might otherwise not have a real home.

Every place has its own laws and requirements for people who want to adopt. Many states in the United States, to use one example, require that your prospective son or daughter live with you for a set amount of time?usually half a year or so?before the adoption can be finalized. If everything goes according to plan during this time, though, it serves as little more than a formality and you should be able to adopt with no problems. You need to be familiar with all of the requirements before you start the process of adopting someone to prevent yourself from unpleasant surprises and obstacles later on. It is your choice whether you want to consult a local adoption lawyer or do the research by yourself and ask your adoption agency for clarification if you run into problems or things that are hard to understand. There are lots of factors to think about when you are trying to decide whether you want to adopt a local child or to pursue an international adoption. The biggest reason that some people choose international children for adoption is that they worry about the birth mother changing her mind and demanding that her child be given back. It?s true that this isn?t all that common, it is still possible within domestic adoptions and, most of the time, a birth mother is given a specific window of opportunity to change her mind about giving up her child. International adoption all but renders this possibility mute. For one thing, most of the children being adopted are orphans and even if they aren?t, the parents almost never try to get their kids back.

Lots of kids who need homes are labeled as ?special needs.? This term is quite broad and it?s meanings are wide and varied.

Most commonly, it refers to children who have a health problem or disability, either physical, mental or emotional. Sometimes though it is assigned to other factors like a child?s age or race. This label is often given to kids over a certain age, for example, because it is harder for the older kids to find families who are okay adopting an older child. Some adoption agencies will label a child special needs simply because he or she belongs to a minority race or ethnic background, as it can be harder to find parents who want to adopt such children. Male children are more quickly labeled special needs children because there are many more of them who are up for adoption.

In conclusion, adopting your child is going to take a long time so be prepared to take lots of steps to get there. It?s understandable that you are eager to become a parent but don?t let your desperation keep you from being sure that you are dealing with a deserving agency. If something confuses you, make sure you ask a lawyer or other qualified adoption professional for help.

Beside writing about Babies Toddler, Nenita Nuding also gives advice about kinderbekleidung stuttgart? on her personal blogs. To understand more about geox kinderbekleidung, visit www.kinderbekleidungde.com

Source: http://www.autismo2010.com/?p=1020

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Source: http://manualcombs80.typepad.com/blog/2012/07/what-many-people-dont-know-regarding-babies-toddler.html

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2012 Corporate Giving Survey: Twelve Minnesota Businesses ...

The Chronicle of Philanthropy released the results of its?2012 Corporate Giving Survey ?earlier this week, and twelve Minnesota businesses were featured in the report. The Corporate Giving Survey found that donations from 115 participating companies grew by 4 percent between 2010 and 2011, far less than the 13-percent rise from 2009 to 2010, when companies saw a sharp rebound in profits after the recession. Looking forward to projections for 2012, more than 7 in 10 corporate leaders anticipate their philanthropy budgets will be roughly the same in 2012 as in 2011.

Minnesota-based businesses that participated in the survey gave a combined $618.7 million in cash gifts and products in 2011. They are: 3M Company, Ameriprise Financial, Best Buy, CHS, General Mills, Medtronic, Mosaic Company, SUPERVALU, Target Corporation, U.S. Bancorp, UnitedHealth Group, and Xcel Energy. All twelve are members of MCF. You can view the survey results by company (subscription required).

The Chronicle of Philanthropy?s annual corporate giving survey gathers data from many of the nation?s largest companies, and includes analysis of cash gifts plus the fair market value of products the corporations donated. ?It does not include money that companies transfer to their foundations or the value of paid time off for employees who do volunteer work.

In contrast, each fall the Minnesota Council on Foundations releases the Minnesota Annual Grantmaker Rankings of Minnesota?s largest grantmakers (including corporate grantmakers, private foundations, and community and public foundations). Because no standard exists for valuing noncash contributions, MCF ranks Minnesota grantmakers by grants paid and by assets, and provides a separate, nonranked list of noncash charitable contributions from corporate grantmakers.

?Anne Bauers, MCF research manager

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Source: http://blog.mcf.org/2012/07/24/2012-corporate-giving-survey-twelve-minnesota-businesses-featured/

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Who is Hollywood's most valuable actor?

Matt Sayles / AP

By Cody Delistraty

Robert Downey Jr. is the most valuable movie star?in Hollywood, combining box-office success in both action films and comedies with wide critical acclaim, audience likeability and studio-head bankability, according to Vulture's latest study. The??Iron Man? star?s Hollywood supremacy is the result of a recent, rather in-depth statistical study. While it may sound complicated, we're here to break it down for you.

Vulture, with the help of The Guardian?s statistician Harry Enten, set eight categories with which to quantify a star?s Hollywood value. This includes?studio value (five top studio heads were asked who they?d cast with a sure-fire script in hand), which?was given the lion?s share of importance in the calculations, but the study also factored in box-office numbers, Oscar wins and nominations, critics? score based on Metacritic?and appeareances on magazine covers.

Downey Jr., who has risen from substance abuse and prison time to become one of the biggest names in Hollywood, has chosen his roles wisely. He staged his comeback by showing off mounds of charisma in 2008?s ?Iron Man,? then cleverly followed the successful superhero film?with his genuinely enjoyable performances in ?Tropic Thunder,? ?Due Date? and his pair of ?Sherlock Holmes? movies. Since his dark days, he?s graced the covers of 12 major magazines (including GQ, Rolling Stone and Men?s Vogue), proving that moviegoers are genuinely interested in his personal life and success story. ?

While Downey Jr. takes the top spot, Will Smith, Johnny Depp, Denzel Washington and Brad Pitt round out the top five. (The highest ranking woman is Angelina Jolie, who comes in at No. 8 on Vulture?s list.) But it?s Will Smith who reigns supreme as the most likeable actor in Hollywood, according to Vulture?s audience polls, and he?s also the most consistent international moneymaker.

There are a few oddities in the rankings though. The relatively new Jennifer Lawrence is only 21 years old, but she managed to snag the No. 16 spot thanks to her brilliant mix of critically acclaimed films and box-office hits. ?Winter?s Bone? earned her an Oscar nomination. ?X-Men: First Class? and ?The Hunger Games? put her in good graces with studio heads, affirmed her presence as a major box-office draw, and gave her two blockbuster series? to bank on for years to come.

On the other side of the surprise spectrum is Ryan Reynolds. Even though he created a blockbuster romantic comedy alongside Sandra Bullock in 2009?s ?The Proposal? and was People?s Sexiest Man Alive in 2010, he still hangs out at No. 75, below even the 66-year-old Sylvester Stallone. The 35-year-old can thank his last two films -- the superhero box-office disaster ?Green Lantern? and critical failure ?The Change-Up? -- for this abysmal position. (Perhaps his A-list status was prematurely given.)

While Downey Jr. may not be the most respected actor in Hollywood (that?s Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep territory), the most likeable or even the most bankable, he?s still No. 1 when stats are crunched and polls are taken. The numbers don?t lie.

Do you agree that Downey Jr. is the most valuable actor in Hollywood? Which actor draws you to a movie? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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Source: http://entertainment.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/24/12911044-hollywoods-most-valuable-actor-robert-downey-jr-of-course?lite

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Monday, July 23, 2012

10 Ways to Increase Your Metabolism

The caffeine and catechins found in both green and oolong teas can give your metabolism a boost. (Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

When it comes to weight loss, your metabolic rate is of paramount importance. Having a higher metabolism allows you to burn more calories throughout the day, even while you?re resting. Here are 10 ways you can speed up your metabolism (via WebMD):

  1. Build muscle. Your body burns calories even when you?re sleeping or lounging on the couch. And the more muscle you have, the higher this resting metabolic rate will be. For every pound of muscle you have, your body burns 6 calories per day just to sustain that muscle. Alternately, it burns just 2 calories per day for each pound of fat. Resistance training also revs up your resting metabolic rate for many hours following your workout.
  2. Step up your workout. When doing aerobic exercise, push yourself to keep your workouts different and challenging. High-intensity workouts will give you a bigger, longer increase in resting metabolic rate than low- or moderate-intensity workouts. Try a new class at the gym, or insert 30-second periods of jogging into your normal walk.
  3. Drink more water. Your body needs water to process calories, and even mild dehydration can cause your metabolism to slow down. To keep hydrated, make a habit of drinking a glass of water or other unsweetened beverage (no diet sodas?they are dehydrating) before every meal and snack. For a hydrating snack, choose fruits or vegetables, which are filled with water.
  4. Consider energy drinks. Some ingredients in energy drinks can boost your metabolism. Caffeine increases the amount of energy your body uses. And taurine, an amino acid, can speed up your metabolism and may help burn fat. But sip with caution: these ingredients can cause some people to develop? high blood pressure, anxiety and sleep issues. The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn?t recommend them for kids and teens.
  5. Snack often; snack nutritiously. Eating more frequently can help you to lose weight. When you eat large meals with many hours in between, your metabolism slows down between meals. Eating a small meal or snack every 3 to 4 hours keeps your metabolism steady, so you burn more calories over the course of a day. Research also shows that regular snackers eat less at meal time.
  6. Add spice. The chemical compounds in red peppers and other spicy foods that can kick your metabolism into a higher gear. Try it by eating one tablespoon of chopped red or green chili pepper. While the effect is likely temporary, eating spicy foods often can help over time. For a quick and easy boost, spice up pasta dishes, chili and stews with red-pepper flakes.
  7. Add more protein. The body burns many more calories digesting protein as it does for fat or carbohydrates. Although you want to maintain a balanced diet, consider replacing some carbs with lean, protein-rich foods like lean beef, turkey, fish, white meat chicken, tofu, nuts, beans, eggs or low-fat dairy products.
  8. Enjoy a cup of black coffee. Coffee offers increased energy and concentration, as well as a short-term increase in your metabolic rate.
  9. Recharge with green tea or oolong tea. Green tea and oolong tea both contain caffeine and catechins, which increase your metabolism for a couple hours. Research suggests that drinking two to four cups of either tea during moderately intense exercise may push the body to burn 17 percent more calories than normal.
  10. Avoid crash diets. Crash diets, which require eating fewer than 1,000 calories a day, are terrible for maintaining a healthy metabolism. Althoughyou may drop pounds (at the expense of good nutrition), a high percentage of the weight loss comes from lost muscle. And the lower your muscle mass, the slower your metabolism, which means you?ll burn fewer calories and gain weight faster than you did before the diet.

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Source: http://healthiermn.com/10-ways-to-increase-your-metabolism

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Obama to meet families of shooting victims in Colorado

AURORA, Colorado (Reuters) - President Barack Obama travels to Colorado on Sunday to meet families bereaved after a shooting rampage at a movie theater in a Denver suburb that killed at least 12 people and wounded 58.

The victims, who ranged from six to 51 years of age, were shot to death Aurora, Colorado, early Friday when a gunman opened fire during a packed midnight premiere of the latest "Batman" film.

A vigil is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Sunday in front of Aurora City Hall, organized by civic, community and religious leaders.

"We can now start the natural process of grieving and healing," Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan said at a memorial late on Saturday for one young shooting victim: "We're still reeling."

Obama's trip comes as investigators are deepening a probe into the shooter accused of planning the massacre. On Saturday, local and federal authorities disarmed explosives in his booby-trapped apartment.

Graduate school dropout James Holmes, 24, was arrested immediately after the fatal spree at the local multiplex.

Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said the shooting followed months of "calculation and deliberation," as Holmes received a "high volume" of deliveries of weaponry to both his work and home.

Residents of several nearby buildings were allowed to return home on Saturday, while the red-brick apartment block where Holmes lived remained under evacuation as local and federal authorities completed the painstaking process of disarming the explosives and sifting through evidence.

Sources familiar with the probe said that some 30 shells filled with gunpowder were found in the apartment, together with containers filled with "incendiary liquids" intended to fuel a fire from the initial explosions, as well as bullets meant to ricochet around the apartment.

On Saturday afternoon, the local coroner's office released the names of the 12 people killed, including those of a six-year-old girl, a young man celebrating his 27th birthday and an aspiring sportscaster who had barely escaped a shooting in a Toronto mall earlier this summer.

The mass shooting stunned the nation and evoked memories of the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, 17 miles from Aurora, where two students opened fire and killed 12 students and a teacher.

It also reverberated in the U.S. presidential race. Both President Barack Obama and his Republican rival, Mitt Romney, toned down their campaigns on Friday, pulled ads from Colorado and dedicated scheduled events to the victims.

In Rome on Sunday, Pope Benedict expressed dismay and sadness at the shooting.

"I was deeply shocked by the senseless violence which took place in Aurora, Denver," he said in his regular Sunday Angelus address.

"I share the distress of the families and friends of the victims and the injured, especially the children," he said.

Those who witnessed the shooting told of a horrific scene, with dazed victims bleeding from bullet wounds, spitting up blood and crying for help.

Holmes was arrested minutes later in a parking lot behind the cinema. He was armed with an AR-15 assault rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and a Glock .40-caliber handgun, Oates said. Police found an additional Glock .40-caliber handgun in his car. All the weapons were legally bought in the past 60 days.

Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said the suspect was being held in solitary confinement to protect him from other prisoners, a routine move in high-profile cases.

"THE JOKER"

Holmes, who authorities said had dyed his hair red and called himself "the Joker" in a reference to Batman's comic-book nemesis, was due to make an initial court appearance on Monday.

Little has surfaced from his past to suggest he was capable of such violence.

Until last month, he was studying for a doctoral degree in neuroscience at the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical School, a few blocks from his apartment.

The University of Colorado Hospital, which treated some of the shooting victims, said 10 people had been released and five remained in critical condition. The Medical Center of Aurora said four of its seven patients remained in the intensive care unit, while three others were on the main trauma floor.

A memorial of flowers, candles and stuffed animals quickly sprung up where the shooting rampage took place. A handwritten sign read: "7/20 gone not forgotten."

At one of the first vigils, some 500 people gathered for a memorial service at Gateway High School on Saturday evening to remember recent graduate A.J. Boik, 18, a talented artist who had been bound for college in the fall.

"He was a very big part of this community," said Tami Avery, 41, whose son played sports with Boik. "He will be dearly missed."

(Additional reporting by Stephanie Simon, Keith Coffman, Edith Honan and Dan Whitcomb in the United States and James Mackenzie in Rome; Writing by Tim Gaynor; Editing by David Brunnstrom and Jackie Frank)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/evidence-shows-months-calculation-ahead-colorado-shooting-police-011346115.html

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Sunday, July 22, 2012

The problem with Michele Bachmann?s letter to the State Department (Powerlineblog)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/238113503?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Neck injury sends Thongchai tumbling at Open

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/neck-injury-sends-thongchai-tumbling-open-173357068.html

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OPM moves to provide health coverage for children of federal ...

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) today published a proposed rule that, when implemented,?will?provide health, dental and vision insurance coverage to children whose parents are in same-sex domestic partnerships.

This rule would amend the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) and the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)?to provide coverage to children under the age of 26 who have at least one federal employee parent,?even for children with same-sex parents.? These changes would impact the millions of children who live in states where their?same-sex?parents are not able to legally marry or secure legal ties to them?through second-parent adoption.

More information about this policy change and its impact can be found at the?Family Equality Council (FEC)?website and the?Human Rights Campaign (HRC) blog.

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Source: http://thetaskforceblog.org/2012/07/20/opm-moves-to-provide-health-coverage-for-children-of-federal-employees-in-domestic-partnerships/

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Friday, July 20, 2012

Russell Brand Wanted Kids with Ex-Wife Katy Perry

Russell Brand resisted shock jock Howard Stern's prodding to say anything controversial about his short-lived marriage to Katy Perry.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/russell-brand-i-was-really-idea-marriage-kids-katy-perry/1-a-474259?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Arussell-brand-i-was-really-idea-marriage-kids-katy-perry-474259

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Video: Right continues attempting to revive birtherism

Fear of crossing that bridge when they come to it

For those with gephyrophobia, driving over a bridge -- or for some, the mere thought or anticipation of it -- brings on a panic attack. Their hearts race and palms sweat, and they may also have trouble breathing and feel light-headed.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/vp/48232481#48232481

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PrawfsBlawg: Bearly Legal

? More job talk advice | Main | Brazilian Inmate Eco-Hamster Wheel Experiment ?

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Bearly Legal

This Slate article is three months old now, but I had been meaning to link to it for awhile. It discusses the "bear justice system" in Yellowstone National Park for grizzlies who kill or injure people. As the author explains the basic rules: "If a grizzly hurts someone while acting in a naturally aggressive way, then the bear goes free. If a grizzly acts unnaturally aggressive, though, and injures a person, it must be euthanized. It all comes down to the animal?s state of mind." The process involves a fascinating mix of CSI, psychology, and the rules of evidence, as well as the typical institutional fears of making the wrong decision (and the threat of lawsuits in the human justice system).

Posted by Howard Wasserman on July 18, 2012 at 09:31 AM in Howard Wasserman | Permalink

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Source: http://prawfsblawg.blogs.com/prawfsblawg/2012/07/bearly-legal.html

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Thursday, July 19, 2012

Real Estate Tips For The Attentive Buyer - Moving to Florida and ...

Purchasing real estate is a frightening experience. On the other hand though, it has the potential to be a great investment in both your personal and financial life. The piece that follows includes facts that can assist you in the process of purchasing real estate, no matter if you are a novice, or a seasoned pro.

Take a long term approach when it comes to investing in real estate. It can be tempting to try and cash in when the market takes a jump, but over time, your investment will pay for itself. Invest in your home for the long haul. Thirty years from now you will be glad you did.

TIP! If it is possible for you to wait, try not to purchase a home during a seller's market. You could end up with a home that is not worth what you paid for it.

Try to understand mortgage loan terms before you go to buy a home. You are less likely to be confused later if you understand upfront how the term of the mortgage influences the amount of the monthly payment and your total cost over the entire life of the loan. During the house hunting phase, always carefully inspect the entire property and the surrounding area. You can take note of any damages and attempt to get the seller to repair as much of these damages as possible. You should monitor the neighborhood and inquire about the crime rate, natural disasters, schools, highways and any other relevant information.

TIP! Learn how to do some basic repairs yourself. A well prepared investor who plans to make a long term investment into a property would be very wise to consider attending some classes on basic maintenance and repair.

If you are about to make a real estate investment, have some goals in mind. Determine whether you want to achieve short or long range goals. If you are not completely satisfied with the property you are going to purchase, walk away and look for another. A lot of owners make compromises and buy something that does not satisfy them or even lose money. If you are not prepared to deal with lawn maintenance, do not purchase a home with a big yard, no matter how nice the home may seem. Whether you like it or not, you are going to have to keep up with a lawn, even it means hiring someone to help you. This will just end up costing you more money.

TIP! Do not purchase a home purely based on a virtual tour that you have seen of the home. Sometimes looks can be deceiving and there may be things that you cannot catch on the screen.

A lack of flexibility can be a death sentence when it comes to buying a home. You might not have the ability to afford the optimal property in the right location. If you cannot afford a home in the neighborhood of your choosing, take time to check if there any homes within your budget available. You may be surprised by what you nearly passed up! When you are in the market for a home, especially if you are looking for a home that is incredibly under-priced, it is important that you put time and effort in, or you may miss your chance to get a fantastic bargain. Never rush it - take your time and make a careful search of what homes are on the market.

TIP! If you need to purchase a home in a short amount of time, use the internet to jump-start your search. Going to open houses or driving around to find properties is one way to look for a home, but you will lose a lot of time seeing residences that don't meet the criteria that you have.

Get any potential purchases professionally inspected before sealing the deal. You don't want a home that needs major revisions. This can be a serious problem if there are structural issues after you buy the home that you will be responsible for and you may have to leave your home while it is repaired. Read the fine print before signing a mortgage through the loan company. Some companies will charge fees for closing costs or private mortgage insurance, which will increase your mortgage payment. You should also check to see if there are any penalties involved if you decide to move within a certain time period.

TIP! Buying a house can be a great investment in the long-haul. Houses appreciate five percent, as a general rule.

Buying a home may be the biggest financial transaction you will make in your lifetime, not to mention that it's a big decision overall. The advice provided in the above article can assist you in making these decisions more confidently, so that you can prevent making the common mistakes that people make when they purchase real estate.

Source: http://floridarelocate.blogspot.com/2012/07/real-estate-tips-for-attentive-buyer.html

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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

At the gym, the customer isn't always right

Photodisc / Getty Images file

No chatting, ladies. Fitness instructors say it can be tough to get help people get their money's worth.

By Allison Linn, TODAY

Every small business owner knows the mantra that the customer is always right. ?But when it?s your business to get people to exercise, many say that, frankly, the customers don?t always know what?s good for them.

The news last week that a yoga instructor was fired after glaring at a student who used her cell phone during class struck a nerve with fitness professionals who say it can be a constant ? and complex ? struggle to keep their customers happy, but also in line.

Alice Van Ness, who teaches yoga in Northern California, told The Associated Press she was dismissed from her job teaching yoga at Facebook?s Menlo Park, Calif., campus because she glared at a Facebook employee who sent a text during class.

?That?s ridiculous. It?s stupid. I would be shocked,? yoga instructor Joy Keller said after reading about the student?s attempt at multi-tasking.

Keller, who teaches yoga in San Diego, Calif., said her first thought was that student could have hurt herself, or someone nearby, while focused on the phone instead of the pose.

Then there?s the fact that texting isn?t exactly conducive to a good yoga session.

?Yoga is all about connecting your body with your mind, and it?s hard enough to do that without a cell phone with your hand,? Keller said.

Keller has never actually had someone take a call from the yoga mat, although she has seen students get up and go to the side of the classroom to answer their phone.

But even with phones tucked safely away, she said she has trouble keeping her students focused.

?I can?t even get people to breathe. I say breathe and they don?t do that. They?re thinking about a zillion things,? she said. ?They?re probably thinking about who they?re going to text.?

Fitness instructor Linda Taix has seen people text during workouts, chat through instruction or even slip on headphones while she?s leading group activities.

?I?ll watch people on the treadmill and they?re talking on the phone,? said Taix, who is mystified at how someone can get a good workout?if they are focused on their conversation rather than getting their heart rate up.

But Taix, who runs a fitness studio as well as a series of Extreme Boot Camp fitness classes in Southern California, said that as a business owner it can be tough to?get people to follow the rules without alienating them.

In her Extreme Boot Camp classes, she said she can get a little tougher because people are paying you to be their fitness drill sergeant. The instructors might give students ?rewards? such as extra pushups or laps if they slip up in their fitness or diet regime.

But still, she said there are limits.

?We want to be friendly about it because obviously they are civilians, and they do pay you,? she said.

Still, at the gym she said she does sometimes feels insulted by people?s behavior, especially if they are carting their cell phone around during a personal training session or chatting with friends instead of paying attention.

?I?ll say, ?Hey ladies, I?m sorry, this isn?t a tea party,?? she said.

Taix isn?t aware of losing a student over such a reprimand, but she said that?s partly because she is sensitive?that not everyone can take the criticism.

?You have to know their personalities,? she said.

Anthony Wall, director of professional education for the American Council on Exercise, said that for fitness instructors, working with people?s personalities can be just as hard as working on their bodies.

?It?s definitely an area where our trainers trip up,? he said. ?The exercise side is relatively easy.?

He said a common complaint is the person who shows up for a group class and then proceeds to do their own exercises, often while standing in the middle of the class distracting people who are trying to follow the instructor.

Gym instructors can lay ground rules at the beginning of class, and even talk to the offenders individually. But sometimes, he said, you have to consider whether it?s worth losing the bad player in order to keep everyone else.

?There are times when you have to fire the participant,? he said.

Keller, the yoga instructor in San Diego, said she has learned over the years that despite her best efforts, not all her clients are going to do what?s best for themselves.

?I had to learn to let go. I can?t be co-dependent,? she said. ?I tell them what I tell them. I try to guide them and give them the best instruction, but I have to let go at some point.?

Follow Today Money on Twitter and Facebook.

Do you think exercise instructors should be strict about texting and chatting?

?

Source: http://lifeinc.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/18/12794206-at-the-gym-the-customer-isnt-always-right?lite

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How the Democratic Media Spin the News (Powerlineblog)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/237869406?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Community College to Career: Preparing Workers for the Jobs of the ...

Source: Virginia Hamilton, The White House Blog

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to attend one of Dr. Jill Biden?s Community College to Career stops at the South Seattle Community College Hangar.? Throughout the year, Dr. Biden has been traveling to community colleges and businesses around the country to see firsthand how community colleges are designing programs to give people the skills they need to compete in the global economy.

Before Dr. Biden arrived, I spoke with several aviation students and one of their instructors who told me he had graduated from the same program more than 30 years ago.? The instructor said he was confident his students would also build long and rewarding careers in aviation. The students told me that they were looking forward to jobs at Boeing, Lockheed, and at commercial airlines throughout the country.

As a community college teacher herself, Dr. Biden knows that community colleges, in partnership with business and the public workforce system, are producing skilled workers, ready to fill jobs now and in the future. The U.S. Department of Labor has invested funding in colleges, through direct grants and funding from Workforce Investment Boards, that are clearly meeting the needs of businesses. ?And based on what we heard from students, these grants, and the work of the colleges, are turning lives around.

Dr. Biden noted that partnerships like those at South Seattle Community College are responding directly to the needs of employers. She said that she has seen mothers juggling jobs and childcare with classes, veterans going back to complete their education, and workers being retrained to get the right skills for the local economy.

?It?s about preparing people for jobs ? it?s about jobs for the future,? Dr. Biden said.

We heard from Jason DeBuys, a veteran, aviation student, father and worker at Boeing. He told us that the Navy gave him drive and determination, and the college gave him the support that he needed. ?To be honest,? he said, ?I can?t do it on my own. The teachers go above and beyond, and want to help.?

Tim Copes from Boeing said that ?Jason is a great example of what the partnership between Boeing and the community colleges can achieve.?

He gave examples of where Boeing, the colleges, and labor unions have established programs that integrate in-house training with union and college certificates. The Seattle Maritime Academy was lauded for its ability to give students internships and experiences to learn both the technical skills and how to work in teams to solve problems. And we heard about a training program located on site, because the business runs seven days a week; employees don?t have the time to take classes after work, so the classes come to them. These businesses are not only skilling up their workers, but are improving employee productivity, customer satisfaction, and efficiency, which in the end, will allow those businesses to grow and create more jobs.

As a new Regional Administrator for the Employment and Training Administration at the US Department of Labor, I was excited to hear these inspiring stories. I could see that these programs demonstrate the very best elements of successful workforce development programs: contextual learning, internships, mentoring, co-investment from business and government, programs that award certificates and credentials along a career pathway, and the integral role of employers in developing and teaching relevant curriculum.

Source: http://www.ccnewsnow.com/?p=28938

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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

U.S. role in post-Mubarak Egypt still unclear

[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-role-post-mubarak-egypt-still-unclear-063552453.html

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Monday, July 16, 2012

Henderson Co. HS taking extra steps to ensure football player safety

After Kentucky lawmakers passed a bill to require school coaches to receive concussion training, the Henderson County School Board took an extra step, approving the?ImPact program.

Athletic trainers tell 14 News contact-sport athletes will now go through cognitive tests before they even step out onto the field.

"It's kind of a scary time."

HCHS?senior Cade Wilke says he's suffered a minor concussion during a game and knows just how dangerous head injuries can be.

"I remember sitting on the sidelines. I was so lost, and some guys caught me and told a coach," Wilke said.

Head Coach Clay Clevenger says he hasn't seen a lot of concussions in the past five seasons.

"We've had maybe four or five,"?he said.?"It's something that when they do occur, it's serious."

That's why?HCHS is taking part in the?ImPact program.

Athletic trainers tell us Methodist Hospital will provide high school contact-sport athletes with cognitive assessments on the computer before the season starts and after an injury.

"It's got a verbal memory, spatial relations, kind of a symbol recognition," said HCHS Athletic Trainer and ATC?and PTA at Methodist Hospital Tim Barron.

Hospital staff say comparisons between an individual player's tests will help doctors and coaches know when an athlete is ready to leave the sidelines and get back on the field.

"That should give the medical doctors more information on what they're looking at," Barron noted.

And for football players like Wilke,? the tests offer some peace of mind.

"In case something does happen to somebody, we're not putting them at risk," he said.

Barron?tells us that pre-season testing for?HCHS athletes.. Will start next week.

Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.

Source: http://henderson.14news.com/news/news/62767-henderson-co-hs-taking-extra-steps-ensure-football-player-safety

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Japan's China ambassador returns for consultations

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, a Chinese patrol ship, right, encounters a Japanese Coast Guard vessel near the disputed islands in the East China Sea, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Japan's government is negotiating to buy the disputed islands at the center of a territorial dispute with China from their Japanese owner. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Luo Zhengguang) NO SALES

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, a Chinese patrol ship, right, encounters a Japanese Coast Guard vessel near the disputed islands in the East China Sea, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Japan's government is negotiating to buy the disputed islands at the center of a territorial dispute with China from their Japanese owner. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Luo Zhengguang) NO SALES?(Luo Zhengguang)

BEIJING ? Japan's ambassador to Beijing is returning to Tokyo for talks amid new tensions with China over disputed islands in the East China Sea.

Uichiro Niwa returned to Japan on Sunday to discuss recent Japan-China relations following an order from Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba. Niwa told reporters at Beijing airport that consultations would center on recent developments over the islands known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyutai in Chinese. Japan controls the uninhabited islands, but China and Taiwan also claim sovereignty.

Some lawmakers have demanded Niwa be fired. Conservative lawmakers criticized him last month for indicating opposition to plans to nationalize the islands to strengthen Tokyo's claim to them. He said that could seriously harm Japan-China relations.

China sent ships to the area last week in a show of defiance.

Source: http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~r/CBSNewsWebMD/~3/blTv_tsnt2g/

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What if I accidentally checked CDMA/LTE instead of GSM/HPA+ in the Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit?

This is a collaboratively edited question and answer site for enthusiasts and power users of the Android operating system. It's 100% free, no registration required.

Got a question about the site itself? meta is the place to talk about things like what questions are appropriate, what tags we should use, etc.

about ????faq ? ? meta ?

Source: http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/25852/what-if-i-accidentally-checked-cdma-lte-instead-of-gsm-hpa-in-the-galaxy-nexus

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Sunday, July 15, 2012

Suicide bomber kills 23 at Afghan wedding

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? A suicide bomber blew himself up among guests at a wedding hall Saturday in northern Afghanistan, killing 23 people including a prominent ex-Uzbek warlord turned lawmaker who was the father of the bride.

The attack was the latest to target top figures from the country's minority groups and dealt a blow to efforts to unify ethnic factions amid growing concerns that the country could descend into civil war after foreign combat troops withdraw in 2014.

Ahmad Khan Samangani, an ethnic Uzbek who commanded forces fighting the Soviets in the 1980s and later became a member of parliament, was welcoming guests to his daughter's wedding Saturday morning when the blast ripped through the building in Aybak, the capital of Samangan province.

Three Afghan security force officials also were among those killed. About 60 other people, including government officials, were wounded in the attack, which left the wedding hall's black-and-white tile floor covered with shattered glass, blood and other debris.

Chairs adorned with pink fabric lay strewn across the site. Dead bodies were piled into the back of Afghan security force vehicles. Afghan Army helicopters ferried some of the wounded from the wedding hall, which has a facade of pillars painted a festive light green and pink.

The bride and groom survived, but never got the chance to exchange vows.

An eyewitness described a gruesome scene after the explosion.

"I came out and saw 40 to 50 people everywhere on the ground ? wounded and killed," said Salahuddin, who uses one name which is common in Afghanistan. "I could not exactly count the number of people killed. I could see people with missing legs and body parts all around me."

It was the latest in a string of deadly attacks around the country that threaten to undermine international hopes of an orderly handover to Afghan forces by the end of 2014. In one of the worst, Taliban fighters attacked a lakeside hotel north of Kabul on June 22, killing 18 people. Two days earlier, a suicide bomber killed 21 people, including three U.S. soldiers, in the eastern city of Khost.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday's attack.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told the Associated Press in a phone call that the Taliban neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the attack. In announcing their spring offensive on May 2, the Taliban said they would continue to target those who back the Karzai government and the U.S.-led international military coalition.

Jan Kubis, the United Nation's top official in Afghanistan, said the U.N. had documented an increase in the number of government and elected officials who have been targeted by militants in the past six months. He did not provide statistics, but two government officials were assassinated on Friday ? the Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs director in Laghman province and the mayor of Shindand district in Herat province.

"Such inhumane brutality that is against the teachings of Islam and against international law should stop immediately," Kubis said in a statement.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the bombing, saying it was "carried out by the enemies of Afghanistan." He ordered a team from Kabul to fly to the area to investigate.

Karzai needs minority groups ? loosely known as the Northern Alliance ? to back his efforts to reconcile with the Taliban who are mostly from the majority Pashtun ethnic group. While Pashtuns make up 42 percent of the population, collectively the minority Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks and other smaller groups outnumber them. Without minority support, the country risks a de facto partition into a Pashtun south and a "minority" north.

Minorities aren't against finding a political resolution to the decade-long war, but worry that Karzai, a Pashtun, will make too many concessions to the Taliban to achieve a peace deal.

Many commanders from the minority groups fought the Taliban after they seized Kabul in 1996 and joined with the U.S. to oust the hardline Islamic movement from power in the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. Whatever support for peace talks that Karzai has won from minority groups is likely to erode if militants continue to pick off their leaders one by one.

The death of Samangani was the latest of a handful of Northern Alliance and other minority leaders assassinated in the past two years.

One of the most prominent was Gen. Daud Daud, an ethnic Tajik, who oversaw police activities in nine northern provinces and was killed by a Taliban suicide bomber in May 2011. Daud had also served as governor of Takhar province in the north, deputy interior minister for counternarcotics and was a former bodyguard of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the charismatic Northern Alliance commander who was killed in an al-Qaida suicide bombing two days before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Makhdum Muhibullah Furqani, a lawmaker from Samangan, said the attack was likely organized by the Taliban or by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. The IMU, which was formed in 1991, originally aimed to set up an Islamic state in Uzbekistan, which borders Afghanistan. It later expanded its goal to seeking an Islamic state across Central Asia.

"For sure, it's the act of the Taliban or IMU," he said. "This was a suicide bomber who killed all these people. It was not an ambush or an IED (improvised explosive device) attack which would say this is a private dispute."

Mohammad Nawab Sherzai, criminal investigations director in Aybak who was helping provide security for the wedding, said most of the local guests had already gathered on the upper floors of the three-story wedding hall when the bomber struck. Samangani and other relatives and elders had moved to the first floor to welcome additional guests arriving from Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of neighboring Balkh province.

"Suddenly, the attacker, who was among the guests from Mazar-i-Sharif, got very close to Samangani. He detonated his suicide vest," Sherzai said. "It was a big explosion. There were bloody bodies all around the first floor. The explosion was so strong. There were people even on the third floor who were wounded."

"There was dark smoke all around. After about 10 minutes, the people were able to see the bodies and start helping with the wounded," he said.

Samangani became famous during Afghanistan's fight against the Soviets, who left the country in 1989 after a 10-year occupation. He became a member of parliament last year and was considered a key leader in Samangan and northern Afghanistan. He was a former military commander under Northern Alliance general Abdul Rashid Dostum, a powerful Uzbek warlord.

The three Afghan security force officials killed were Afghan National Police Gen. Sayed Ahmad Sameh, the commander for the western region and a relative of Samangani; Gen. Mohammad Khan, the intelligence chief in the province; and Mohammadullah, an Afghan National Army division commander who also uses only one name.

Also on Saturday, two NATO service members were killed in the east ? one in an insurgent attack and the other as a result of a non-battle related injury. The U.S.-led coalition did not disclose any other details. So far this year, 235 NATO service members have died in Afghanistan.

___

Associated Press Writers Amir Shah and Patrick Quinn in Kabul contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/suicide-bomber-kills-23-afghan-wedding-183059960.html

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