Unlikely Ash tipped for success in Henlow Midi ? Dup | bettor.com

Unlikely Ash tipped for success in Henlow Midi ? Dup

Unlikely Ash is likely to be competitive in the Henlow Midi ? Dup in England on Thursday, November 15, 2012. He has been doing a very good job for his team in Grade OR events over the past few months and there is a solid chance for him to bag a cash prize of ?150 today.

Most of his rivals have been struggling for consistency, which will make things a touch easier for him at the end of the day. Despite that, he has been unable to get the attention of the bookmakers, as he is not the highest priced greyhound at Henlow.

Westmead Diva has been given the best odds for victory, as she has got an excellent stamina. She will enter the contest with a starting price of 2 to 1 and will look to finish at the top of the table.

The starting positions will not matter much in the race, which is scheduled for a start at 22:03 GMT. The overall distance to cover for all the participants will be 550 metres, which means that they will have to preserve energy for the ending moments.

Due to this, Westmead Diva will attract a lot of bets in her favour, as she knows how to deliver good results in lengthy races. Her recent form has not been impressive, which will put her on the back foot to some extent.

The N. Savva?s trained bitch has been participating in Grade OR contests with consistency, but has failed to meet the expectations of her team on quite a few occasions. She finished outside the top-three in her previous four outings, which is not a positive sign at all.

However, the black bitch managed to win a couple of back-to-back events in this class prior to her miserable performances, which means that she has the ability to bounce back at Henlow.

Things will not be easy for her though, as she will be given a tough time by Unlikely Ash, who is carrying a pretty decent momentum right now. He finished in third place last time around, but will need a better effort than that today.

The S. Gaughan?s trained hound does not have a lot of experience though and he might make a few mistakes, which could prove to be costly for him in the end.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely of the writer?s and do not reflect bettor.com?s official editorial policy.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Unlikely-Ash-tipped-for-success-in-Henlow-Midi-Dup-a201457

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Read More - International Intellectual Property Institute

Intellectual Property Protection Options for Traditional Communities

Emma Cohen, Intern

The conversation surrounding intellectual property rights and economic growth in developing countries largely focuses on the copyright and patent industries. The contribution of trademarks to these growing economies is often neglected, but also significant. Trademarks ?differentiate between identical or similar goods and services offered by different producers or services providers.?[1] They can benefit large transnational companies hoping to protect their brand image in a global market and individual creators and artists seeking to protect their work from counterfeiting and other illegal activity.[2]

In developing countries, trademarks and similar protections are important for traditional artists and communities that create products that reflect their cultural and social identities. These products are often referred to as traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). Without protection, companies can legally exploit TCEs for profit without compensating the artists responsible for the work. An example of this type of exploitation occurs when ?indigenous art [is] copied onto carpets, T-Shirts and greeting cards,? and sold in countries across the world.[3] If traditional artisans do not protect their TCEs, they may not fully benefit from the success of these products.[4] This is significant because traditional cultural materials ?can contribute towards the economic development of traditional communities through the establishment of community enterprises, local job creation, skills development, appropriate tourism, and foreign earnings from community products.?[5] In Colombia, for example, small communities rely on craft items for profit because they are the only tradable products.[6] For this reason, intellectual property can play a larger role in the success of developing economies if local artisans and communities grasp the complexities of their use.

Although artists and communities can use trademarks to protect TCEs, there are several less-discussed options that provide specialized advantages. Collective marks, a type of protection that allows associations, rather than individuals, to register a mark, provide one such option. All members of the registering group can use the mark as long as each of their products meets the standards fixed by the group. These marks ?are usually defined as signs that distinguish the geographical origin, material, mode of manufacture or other common characteristics of goods or services of different enterprises.?[7] Collective marks are useful for communities in which individuals produce similar products, such as a specific type of textile or pottery. These marks create incentives for local cooperation because a consensus must be reached to decide the fixed standards associated with the mark. The profit possibilities of this type of intellectual property are significant because individuals whose products may not be recognized in the market may join an association with a reputable name. If the collective mark is well-established and trusted among consumers, the market value of the goods branded with the mark will increase, and consumers will have an incentive to purchase these goods.

One example of a collective mark registered in a developing country is Pi?as de la Chorrera?Panama. This mark applies to pineapples grown in La Chorrera, a region in Panama renowned for its produce. Pedro Bolivar, a lawyer working with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on the project of obtaining and implementing the collective mark, explains, ?the idea is that the brand will act as a magnet drawing producers together to increase their agricultural production and improve the export capacity of local farmers.?[8] Because the mark exists, moreover, farmers growing pineapples in any other region of the world cannot associate their products with La Chorrera. This protection is beneficial in cases where the collective name has a positive reputation and where there is a measure of consumer confidence attached to the associated products.

Certification marks also create protection opportunities for individuals who do not wish to register a trademark. ?A certification mark is a distinctive sign that guarantees that a product/service meets the standards and characteristics pre-established by the proprietor of the mark.?[9] Unlike collective marks, certification marks can be used by any person who meets the fixed standards of the mark. Membership in the association registering the mark is not required.[10] The FAIRTRADE mark is an example of a certification mark that has experienced widespread international success. When a product bears the FAIRTRADE logo, it signifies that it was produced in a developing country. The mark was registered to ?create opportunities for producers and workers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system.?[11] When producers brand their products with FAIRTRADE, consumers may be more likely to purchase the good because they know the proceeds will benefit the farmers living in developing countries. The FAIRTRADE certification mark demonstrates that a large and diverse group of producers can benefit from intellectual property protections by meeting the standards of a third party association.

A third alternative for protection is a geographical indication (GI). This sign ?is used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, reputation or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that place of origin. Most commonly, a geographical indication includes the name of the place of origin of the goods.?[12] Creators benefit from linking their products to a GI when the place of origin has a valuable reputation or connotes a desirable quality. Like collective and certification marks, GIs increase the potential for profit because of the recognition attached to the registered mark.

GIs represent another important protection opportunity for traditional artists and communities. TCEs can be successfully protected through the proper use of GIs, especially for ?tangible products such as handicrafts that have qualities derived from their geographical origin.?[13] Like collective and certification marks, a GI ?act[s] as a quality mark which will play a part in enhancing export markets and revenues.?[14]

One example of a TCE registered as a GI is ?Talavera de Puebla? pottery.[15] The guidelines for production of this type of pottery are very specific. ?All work must originate in Atlixco, Cholula, Puebla or Tecali?all in the state of Puebla?and the clays must be obtained from natural deposits in the Talavera zone.?[16] There are regulations regarding the types of glazes that can be used on Talavera pottery and the process involved in making pigments for the authentic paints. One reason that GIs are especially useful in protecting TCEs, like Talavera de Puebla pottery, is that they ?are granted for products that have a relationship with the land, local resources or the environment.?[17] TCEs in particular are generally tied to these three characteristics making GIs a suitable option for artists livng in these communities.

It is important to note that collective marks, certification marks, and geographical indications do not have inherent market value. In order to create profit opportunities for producers using IP protection, consumers must be informed on the source and quality of the goods using the mark. This can be achieved through a variety of mechanisms, such as marketing and advertising campaigns to publicize the brand. Accordingly, the overall market success of the protected TCEs is proportional to the public consciousness and overall confidence in the mark. Once a brand develops a reputation for producing high quality goods, it becomes even more important for the producers to maintain the consistency of their products by adhering to the fixed standards associated with the mark.

In deciding what mark to use, there are a variety of issues one must consider. First, collective and certification marks are not mutually exclusive and are often times used in conjunction with one another. This occurs because groups registering collective marks must effectively set the standards of the goods and subsequently certify that each product using the mark has met these standards. Certification marks provide a mechanism to do exactly this. Second, certification marks can be used in situations in which collective marks cannot because producers cannot form a collective. This may occur when producers are not geographically close to one another. For this reason, certification marks are the principal way in which goods are protected. The FAIRTRADE mark exemplifies this. Agriculturalists in developing countries who have no communication with one another can affix the FAIRDTRADE mark to their goods if they meet the requirements of the certification mark. Certification marks used in this manner may result in greater brand recognition than alternatives because they can be used by a greater number of producers. Third, although the need for cooperation between producers may be seen as a disadvantage, collective marks may be desired for precisely this reason.

Geographical indications fall into an entirely different category due to the lack of protection they provide internationally. Article 22 of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) only establishes a ?minimum standard of protection for all geographical indications.?[18] Although wines and spirits receive a slightly higher level of protection, globally, there are many disputes regarding how to legally protect GIs. For this reason, using GIs in traditional communities can be less advantageous due to the possibility that they will only be recognized locally. Still, GIs can be useful in domestic sales, especially for communities whose products are distinguished by where they were produced. The table below summarizes the key features and relative advantages and disadvantages of collective and certification marks and GIs.

Type of Mark Key Features Pros/Cons
Collective Mark ? Distinguishes geographical origin, material, mode of manufacture, quality or other common characteristics of goods or services[19]
? The owner can be either an association of which those enterprises are members or another entity, or public body[20]
Pros
? Increased cooperation among producers
? Brand recognition leads to more profit opportunities
Cons
? Must be a member of association responsible for registering the mark
Certification Mark ? Any word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination thereof owned by one party who certifies the goods and services of others when they meet certain standards[21]
? Producers using the mark are not required to join the association/entity responsible for registering it
Pros
? Only need to meet the standards of production to affix the mark to a product.
? Brand recognition leads to more profit opportunities
Cons
? Less cooperation among producers
Geographical Indication ? A sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, reputation or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that place of origin
? Like trademarks, GIs functions as a source identifier and guarantee of quality
Pros
? Emphasizes the location of production
? Consumer confidence in the good linked to the origin of the good
Cons
? Low levels of international protection for GIs (with the exception of wines and spirits)

Many traditional artists do not make greater use of intellectual property protection to commercialize their products because they lack the specialized knowledge necessary to utilize the mechanisms available to them. As a result, non-residents commonly own a large percentage of trademark registrations in developing countries. In Colombia, non-residents owned approximately 49% of registered trademarks in 2010.[22] Similarly, in Cambodia, non-residents owned 81% of registered trademarks in 2007.[23] This suggests that knowledge about trademarks and intellectual property rights among local creators is relatively limited. This can lead to a variety of negative consequences for traditional creators, since it enables large transnational companies to dominate markets in developing countries and limits the ability of local brands to compete. Building local brands and informing traditional artists about the importance of intellectual property rights can help remedy this problem.

The International Intellectual Property Institute (IIPI) understands the necessity of educating traditional creators in developing countries about the legal process involved in obtaining intellectual property protection. As a result, IIPI has taken steps to make this information more widespread. In the past two years, IIPI has conducted three workshops, collectively entitled ?Harnessing Intellectual Property to Protect and Promote Traditional Arts and Crafts,? aimed at providing them with an understanding of intellectual property concepts so that they can apply these concepts to create successful business strategies. The first workshop, for artists in Central America, took place in Mexico in November 2010; the second, for artists in South America, in Peru in June 2011; and the final, for artists in Southeast Asia, in Cambodia in July 2011. The attendees of the workshops included traditional artists, academics, and government, business, and legal representatives.

The protections discussed in this article create greater profit opportunities for workers in a number of sectors and protect against counterfeiting and other illegal activity. IIPI will continue to educate artisans and creators about the benefits that intellectual property rights protections offer, while working to provide the resources and infrastructure necessary to ensure that artists? efforts will be successful.

About the author

Emma Cohen is a sophomore at Georgetown University?s School of Foreign Service majoring in Science, Technology and International Affairs with a concentration in Business, Growth and Development. She has worked with a variety of non-profits, and was drawn to IIPI because she wanted to learn more about the connection between intellectual property protection and economic growth in developing countries. In the future, she hopes to work with other organizations invested in promoting international development through creative means.


[1] WIPO, ?Trademarks Gate,? http://www.wipo.int.
[2] WIPO, ?Understanding Industrial Property,? p. 12.
[3] WIPO, ?Intellectual Property and Traditional Cultural Expressions/Folklore,? p. 1.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid., p. 6.
[6] Ibid., p. 7.
[7] WIPO, ?Collective Marks?, http://www.wipo.int.
[8] Leire Otaegi, ?Panama: Three Marks for Development?, WIPO Magazine, April 2012.
[9] UNIDO, ?Adding Value to Traditional Products of Regional Origin,? Certification Mark, 2010.
[10] WIPO, ?Certification marks,? http://www.wipo.int.
[11] Fairtrade, ?The FAIRTRADE Mark,? Background, http://www.fairtrade.org.
[12] WIPO, ?About Geographical Indications,? http://www.wipo.int.
[13] WIPO, ?Intellectual Property and Traditional Cultural Expressions/Folklore,? p. 18.
[14] IPR Commission, ?The Economic Impact of Geographical Indications? Traditional Knowledge and Geographical Indications, Integrating Intellectual Property Rights and Development Policy.
[15] Daphne Zografos, ?Intellectual Property and Traditional Cultural Expressions: IP Strategies in Relation to Branding and Commercialisation.?
[16] Rita Pomade, ?Talavera?Mexico?s Earthly Legacy From the City of Angels,? Mexconnect.
[17] Zografos.
[18] ?Geographical Indications and TRIPs: 10 Years Later? A roadmap for EU GI holders to get protection in other WTO Members,? O?Conner and Company, Insight Consulting.
[19] WIPO, ?International Treaties and Conventions on Intellectual Property.?
[20] Ibid.
[21] USPTO, ?Frequently Asked Questions about Trademarks.?
[22] WIPO, ?Statistical Country Profiles: Colombia,? Trademark Registrations, WIPO Statistics Database.
[23] WIPO, ?Statistical Country Profiles: Cambodia,? Trademark Registrations, WIPO Statistics Database.

Source: http://iipi.org/2012/11/1749/

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New powers to allow Mike Russell to ?hire and fire? college boards

UNDER-fire education secretary Michael Russell is set to be handed new powers to hire and fire college boards, it emerged today.

? Opposition parties are calling for plans allowing Education Secretary Mike Russell new powers to hire and fire college boards to be ditched

? Mike Russell criticised after chairman of Stow College board ?forced? to quit after spat with minister after secretly recording a private meeting

? Both Mike Russell and Alex Salmond had to apologise to Parliament on Thursday following misleading statements over college funding

Opposition parties are now calling for the plans to be ditched after Mr Russell found himself at the centre of a political storm last week amid claims of bullying and misleading Parliament.

But the call was dismissed as ?petty point-scoring? by a spokesman for Mr Russell.

Teaching leaders also waded into the row calling for an end to the ?personal spats and party political squabbling? of recent days.

Stow College board chairman Kirk Ramsay quit last week after a spat with the SNP minister and the controversy culminated in Alex Salmond and Mr Russell both being forced to issue embarrassing apologies to Parliament yesterday after misleading statements about college funding.

Ministers currently have powers to remove college board members over mismanagement, but new reforms of the sector will see this power extended to situations where a college of or regional board appears at risk of failing.

Labour education spokesman Hugh Henry said on Friday that Parliament must act to stop these changes.

?After Alex Salmond?s apology to parliament was dragged out of him, we now need Mike Russell to apologise to college staff, students, the 20,000 people on college waiting lists and the people of Scotland for the lies he told,? Mr Henry said.

?If Alex Salmond couldn?t do the right thing and sack him, and Mike Russell won?t do the decent thing and resign, we need at least to make sure that the Education Secretary?s power to bully and intimidate is curbed.

?The SNP government has plans to give Mike Russell the power to hire and fire college chairs and board members. That is at the heart of his power to bully and intimidate college leaders and must not happen. The power must be dropped from the SNP?s legislative plans.

?This is an education secretary who either lies, or is so incompetent he doesn?t know if college budgets are going up or being cut. He is manifestly unfit to run Scotland?s schools, colleges and universities.?

Mr Ramsay quit earlier this week after Mr Russell called for his head. The college chair had recorded a private meeting on the future of the college sector on a ?smart pen? and shared this with others. But Mr Ramsay insisted that 80-100 people had been present and denied behaving in a surreptitious manner.

A spokesman for Mr Russell dismissed Mr Henry?s criticism.

?This is pathetic ? after making 10 different resignation calls for just about every member of the Scottish Cabinet, Labour can?t even stick to their latest demand for more than 24 hours,? he said.

?The First Minister put the record straight and it is time for Labour to accept that and start focussing on the priorities of the people of Scotland instead of petty point-scoring. The Scottish Government is supporting our young people at college, helping them into work through opportunities for all and working to improve further education across Scotland with new college buildings, better courses and increased support for students.?

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) hit out at the political row.

?While we want to see Scotland?s Further Education sector high on the news agenda, it was disappointing this week that this was based around personal spats and party-political squabbling,? he said.

The main college grant for learning and teaching has been cut by 20% and cost thousands of jobs in the past two years, Mr Flanagan said, while 44,000 college places were lost last year at a time of soaring applications.

?At a time of record youth unemployment, this is a scandal,? he added.

Labour are also calling on the Stewart Maxwell, the SNP convener of Holyrood?s education Committee to u-turn on his refusal to allow an inquiry into Mr Russell?s behaviour.

?Mike Russell clearly is not running education properly and it is the duty of the Scottish parliament to investigate his wrongdoing,? Mr Henry added.

?It is our duty to Scotland?s pupils, students and parents and the SNP cannot block that for party political reasons.?

A Scottish Parliament spokeswoman said: ?Any member of the Committee is free to suggest items to be added to the Committee?s work programme. The work programme is regularly discussed by the whole Committee.?

Meanwhile the Tories say they have uncovered a ?15 million shift in budget which shows that the funding fall between this year, 2011/12, and next could be far higher than first thought.

The statistics from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) revealed the First Minister?s claim that the 2012-13 college budget is ?546 million is based on the inclusion of a ?15 million transformation fund. But the Scottish Government?s own Spring Budget Revision indicates that the same ?15 million is in fact part of the 2011-12 budget.

That would make the 2011-12 figure ?570 million compared with ?531 million next year, representing a drop significantly more than the one per cent Mr Salmond told the Scottish Parliament on Thursday.

Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Gavin Brown said: ?Even with the severity of an emergency statement to parliament hanging over him, Alex Salmond has still managed to create further confusion over this.

Source: http://www.scotsman.com/new-powers-to-allow-mike-russell-to-hire-and-fire-college-boards-1-2641446

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PM defers visit to Japan due to trouble in Diet

NEW DELHI: PM Manmohan Singh postponed his Japan tour less than 24 hours before his scheduled departure after his Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda declared on Wednesday that he was looking at dissolving the lower House of Diet, the Japanese Parliament, on Friday. Singh's bilateral meeting with Noda was scheduled for the same day.

Even though they were at pains to explain the exact sequence of events leading to the "postponement'' of the visit, foreign ministry officials said the two sides were working to cull out a new set of dates for the trip. The visit is now likely to take place only next year.

Japan also announced on Wednesday that polls will take place on December 16. The foreign ministry said the visit had to be postponed because of "fast paced domestic developments'' in Japan. "Factoring in these developments, we decided that the visit take place later at a mutually convenient date,'' joint secretary (East Asia) Gautam Bambawale said. Singh was supposed to start his six-day visit to Japan and Cambodia on Thursday. He will now depart on Sunday for Cambodia for the East Asia and Asean-India summits.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin ruled out speculation that the Japanese had sprung a surprise by suggesting at the last moment that the visit be postponed. He said officials from both countries were in regular touch before they mutually decided to put off the visit.

It is learnt that Singh was keen on visiting Japan with the understanding being that the visit in mid-November would steer clear of the elections. Noda seemed to have surprised many though by announcing his intention to dissolve Parliament on Friday. Even earlier, there was speculation about whether or not Singh will visit Japan for the annual summit because of the impending elections. The government had scotched these by announcing dates for his visit.

Source: http://timesofindia.feedsportal.com/fy/8at2EtY0ggKz53WL/story01.htm

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Bipartisan politics: 'Flexibility is patriotic.'

Most of the time moving forward is the ideal scenario - except for those times when we need to preserve tradition and regroup, Brown writes.

By Joshua M. Brown,?Guest blogger / November 15, 2012

This photo shows the Capital building in Washington Tuesday. It is only when conservatives and progressives combat each other within a shared leadership framework that a group of people can survive and thrive, Brown writes.

J. Scott Applewhite/AP/File

Enlarge

"Dear Josh, I've been reading you for years and I still have no idea what your politics truly are. It seems as though you don't believe in anything."

Skip to next paragraph Joshua M. Brown

Joshua has been managing money for high net worth clients, charitable foundations, corporations and retirement plans for more than a decade.

Recent posts

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I'll make this really simple - imagine a village. And in this village, the elders are in charge of reminding everyone about their core principles and values - the things that have preserved them for generations. But then imagine that four out of every five villagers were not elders - rather they were everyday people who were constantly changing and pushing progress further, constantly attempting to improve things rather than allow them to remain the same. Using logic and reason and discovery to make life better, one hard-won improvement at a time, dispelling superstition and rewriting the rules because modernism and changing attitudes demanded it.

This would be a successful village or society in my view.

Now every once in a while, the 80% would become too progressive - would overstep their bounds in the name of progress. Or perhaps the village would become susceptible to outside forces or invaders. It is at this point that the 20-percenter villagers, the traditionalists, would be called forward to right the ship or defend the town. Progressives and liberals could never do it, they'd be paralyzed with questions, hamstrung with doubt. It is at this moment when you'd need the wisdom of the ages, the resolve of the experienced to take over to save everyone's lives.?

Read the rest of this post »

Global wind power market to triple by 2020, says energy council

EBR Staff Writer Published 15 November 2012

Greenpeace International and the Global Wind Energy Council have projected that the global wind power market could triple over the next eight years.

The findings were reported in the fourth edition of the Global Wind Energy Outlook - the bi-annual report on the industry's future.

According to the report, wind power may supply enough electricity to cater to 12% of the demand by 2020 while decreasing nearly 1.5 billion tons of CO2 emissions a year.

By 2030, wind power is set to account for 20% of global electricity supply.

Global Wind Energy Council secretary general Steve Sawyer noted that wind energy will play a major role in our energy future.

"But for wind to reach its full potential, governments need to act quickly to address the climate crisis, while there's still time," Sawyer said.

Greenpeace senior energy expert Sven Teske added, "The most important ingredient for the long term success of the wind industry is stable, long term policy, sending a clear signal to investors about the government's vision for the scope and potential for the technology."

Source: http://wind.energy-business-review.com/news/wind-power-to-cater-to-12-global-energy-demand-by-2020---greenpeace-151112

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General describes role in Afghanistan beyond 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama's choice to be the top commander in Afghanistan said Thursday he envisions a U.S. presence in the country after American combat forces leave at the end of 2014, despite a national war-weariness reflected in Congress.

Gen. Joseph Dunford, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps who has directed combat forces in Iraq, said the two main missions would be counterterrorism and assisting and advising Afghan security forces. Pressed on the size of the residual force, Dunford declined to provide specifics but did say 1,000 troops would be insufficient.

"I believe that advise-and-assist role is an enduring role and would extend past December 2014," Dunford told the Senate Armed Services Committee at his confirmation hearing.

The general's testimony came at a time of extreme change in the administration's national security team and the looming decision on the pace of drawing down the 68,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., indicated that a decision on the withdrawal timetable could come in a matter of weeks.

Missing from the Senate hearing was Gen. John Allen, the current commander in Afghanistan who has been nominated to take charge in Europe. Allen's nomination is suddenly on hold as he's ensnared in a sex scandal that had led to the resignation of CIA director David Petraeus.

Allen is now the subject of a Pentagon investigation for potentially inappropriate communications.

During his appearance, Sen. John McCain, the top Republican on the committee, asked if U.S. and coalition forces are winning the war in Afghanistan.

"I think we're making progress. ... I believe our objectives are achievable," Dunford said.

The Marine Corps general said crucial for Afghanistan will be elections in April 2014 that will ensure whether the financial commitments of other foreign nations are fulfilled. He also said that they would engender confidence in the country.

President Hamid Karzai has indicated that he would not seek another term.

Looking beyond 2014, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., pointed out that Afghanistan does not have an Air Force and would likely need attack helicopters and other airpower as well as intelligence capability.

Several members expressed their doubts about keeping U.S. forces in Afghanistan more than a decade of war that has claimed the lives of more than 2,000 Americans and cost the nation billions of dollars. McCain, one of the strongest proponents of keeping a robust force in Afghanistan, suggested a hard look at the operation.

"If we can't accomplish the mission, I'm not sure why we should stay," he said. "And that is something that I think a lot of us have to wrestle with, because if we're going to start drawing down right away from the 68,000, which I am ? know that our military leaders believe is absolutely necessary ? then I think we need to look at other options."

Dunford insisted that the United States and Afghanistan must sign a bilateral security agreement by May 2013 to ensure legal protection for Americans who do remain in Afghanistan.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/general-describes-role-afghanistan-beyond-2014-155520482.html

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Hoboken Mayor Says Lack of Insurance Means 'Thousands' Will Be Homeless

Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer said Wednesday that she estimates thousands of residents are going to be homeless because of the lack of flood insurance coverage.

Speaking on the Brian Lehrer Show, Zimmer said FEMA offers limited coverage for basements ? a problem for the many people who live in below-ground apartments.

"The reality for Hoboken on the ground is that thousands of people are going to be homeless and the flood insurance system is not working because their primary residence is not covered," she said.

Zimmer said there are more than 300 homes with no gas and a handful still without electricity. She says she's working to get renters back into their buildings.

"We actually implemented a system about five days ago saying that property owners have to demonstrate that they've had an electrician ion or a plumber in and if they don't then we're fining them a $1,000 a day."

Source: http://www.wnyc.org/articles/new-jersey-news/2012/nov/14/hoboken-mayor-says-lack-insurance-means-thousands-will-be-homeless/

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Astrophile: Lonely planet roams with stellar outcasts

Astrophile is our weekly column on curious cosmic objects, from the solar system to the far reaches of the multiverse

Object: Gas giant planet
Name: CFBDSIR2149
Location: The AB Doradus moving group of stars

The giant planet doesn't even remember home. Once it was the largest in a system orbiting a young star, nestled in a star cluster that drifted peacefully through the galaxy. But a chance encounter with a massive foe ripped the cluster apart. The planet was separated from its star and sent wandering through space with a small band of stellar companions.

If this tale proves true, the loose gathering of stars known as the AB Doradus moving group is harbouring a newly discovered orphaned world. Known as CFBDSIR2149, the object may be the closest known rogue planet, offering the best glimpse yet of one of these bizarre worlds.

The object turned up during a recent survey of young brown dwarfs ? "failed" stars that never grow big enough to ignite ? done with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The warm brown dwarfs all glowed in the infrared. But the scientists noticed that one object, CFBDSIR2149, was unusually bright in a section of the near-infrared spectrum called the K band.

Such brightness suggests lower gravity, says Philippe Delorme of the Institute of Planetology and Astrophysics in Grenoble, France. Colliding hydrogen molecules absorb more K band light shining from the interior. But if an object has less gravity, it will have lower atmospheric pressure, which means fewer collisions and thus more K band light getting through.

Alone in a crowd

This hints that the object is less than 13 times the mass of Jupiter ? too small to be a brown dwarf. But to be certain, Delorme and colleagues needed some idea of its age. "If you see a bright object, you cannot be sure if it's small and very young, so it still has energy from its formation, or if it's [old and] massive," says Delorme.

That's where being in a stellar caravan comes in handy. Follow-up observations of the object's motion through space show that it seems to be travelling with the AB Doradus group, a collection of about 30 stars of the same age and composition a mere 65 light years from Earth. These stars probably formed as part of a larger cluster between 50 million and 120 million years ago but got ripped away when it ran into a more massive obstacle, like a huge gas cloud.

The wanderers are no longer gravitationally linked, but they are headed in the same direction. "Like when you kick a clod of sand, the grains don't stick together anymore but they have the same common motion," Delorme says.

Frozen rogues?

The team calculates that CFBDSIR2149 has an 87 per cent probability of being an AB Doradus member. If so, it is also likely to be somewhere between 50 and 120 million years old, and would be between 4 and 7 times the mass of Jupiter ? squarely in planet range. The team also estimate its temperature to be about 400 ?C.

All told, CFBDSIR2149 is now the best-studied "lonely" planet, says co-author ?tienne Artigau of the University of Montreal in Canada. "It's much better constrained than any other object of its kind," he says. Other candidates are either so distant and dim that they show themselves only through gravitational effects, or their age or mass is too uncertain to be definitively classified as planets.

It's still possible that CFBDSIR2149 is not a member of the AB Doradus group, which would make it a very odd brown dwarf. "Establishing membership definitively isn't easy though, because the moving group members are spread across a wide swath of the sky, unlike members of a compact star cluster," says Ray Jayawardhana of the University of Toronto in Canada, who was not involved in the new work.

It's also not clear whether the world was ejected from its own solar system or formed alone from a small cloud of collapsing gas. But if it was ejected, it probably wasn't the only planet kicked to the curb. Planet surveys suggest there are more small worlds than large ones in the galaxy, and it's easier to detach smaller ones from their stars.

"If it's ejected, that would mean there are likely many frozen Earths and frozen Neptunes out in interstellar space," Delorme says.

Journal reference: Astronomy & Astrophysics, doi.org/jq7

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Get Serious About Fitness With These Expert Tips | Voooz.com

TIP! Use this tip, performed by many tennis players to get stronger forearms. Start by placing an open newspaper on the floor or on a table.

Increasing your fitness level is a great goal. Though it might seem hard in terms of effort, anyone can do it when aided. The tips and tricks below will help you achieve your goal of better fitness. You?ll feel great and enjoy improved health.

TIP! Your core supports your whole body and needs to be strong. Strengthening your core muscle groups can help you with all of your other fitness activities.

When lifting weights, start off by working smaller muscle groups at the beginning of your workout. This helps to build endurance and prepares your muscles for the heavier weights that are to come. Beginning with dumbbells is a great idea. This is because if you are working out big ones the smaller ones may strain.

TIP! If you have access to a sauna, try it out. Sitting in a sauna after a good workout offers many benefits.

Try running with a friend If you run with a friend?especially one who is physically fit?you will be more challenged. The fitness and motivation of your friend can be an inspiration to help you reach your goals. Competing against someone who is a better runner will make you a better runner as well.

TIP! To achieve the best workout, choose clothes that feel comfortable to wear. If you work out at a fitness center, there can be some pressure to dress in the latest workout attire, but resist it.

Be sure to see your doctor if you experience fatigue or pain in your joints. You should record when you experience pain during or after a workout in a journal or diary.

TIP! Walking is an excellent way to improve the way your body looks. To increase the fitness benefit, take each step with your heel before your toe.

A lot of people give up on a diet program when they don?t see instant results. Try buying tighter clothes instead of relying on the scale. For added motivation keep trying on tight-fitting clothes and you will feel the results and see the progress you are making.

TIP! In order to maintain interest, check into televised exercise routines. Try putting on some fitness shows or use an on-demand program.

At work, instead of snacking on junk food from vending machines, eat fresh fruit. During breaks, you?ll be able to eat your fruit and enjoy its freshness instead of going for a cigarette or ending up where the most tempting treats are ? the break room! A simple change like this can improve your health and fitness to a great degree.

TIP! Strength training is necessary to build your lean muscle mass and reshape your body. Strength training builds muscle mass and the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn, even while resting.

Running outside far surpasses the workout you get on a treadmill. Pavement provides a better surface when running though the treadmill can be useful when the weather is extremely cold or there is snow on the ground.

TIP! Consider using a stability ball in place of your office chair if you can balance yourself safely. This tones your core while improving your balance.

Keeping a record of your fitness in a diary could be beneficial to your routine. Keep track of every workout you?ve done during the day, and be sure you keep track of any extra exercise as well. See how much you walk every day with a pedometer. It?s always easier to stay on track towards your fitness goals when you have a written record of your progress.

TIP! Purchase exercise machines for home use. While this may involve a serious expenditure, you will feel more inspired to actually exercise because it will be far easier to do so.

Being fit is the best thing you can do for your health and wellness. If you do not enjoy exercising you might be very exhausted, but you can do it if you have some motivation. Use the tricks in this guide in order to achieve your target when it comes to fitness.

Source: http://voooz.com/2012/11/13/get-serious-about-fitness-with-these-expert-tips/

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