Twitter to let advertisers target tweeters

1 hr.

Staff , Reuters

Twitter will begin allowing advertisers to directly target users based on the interests they reveal in their tweets, the social media company said Thursday.

In an effort to draw advertisers to its paid ads program, the company also slashed the minimum price of "promoted tweets" to just a penny.

No longer content to be a "dumb" bulletin board, with 400 million micro-messages posted daily, Twitter has moved to a strategy of actively sifting through what each user is reading and tweeting in order to discern every individual's interests.

Google has long reaped huge profits by displaying ads based on what a user searches for in its search engine, while Facebook, a Twitter competitor, encourages users to proactively input their "likes." But Twitter has long faced the challenge of indirectly inferring these preferences.

Twitter will now allow companies to send paid ads in the forms of tweets to groups of users, bunched in more than 350 interest categories curated by Twitter itself.

CEO Dick Costolo has said in recent months that his company's value lies in its ability to mine its flow of information to build "an interest graph" showing its users' preference profiles -- which could be used by marketers to deliver targeted and relevant ads.

For instance, sports apparel retailers can target soccer fanatics for promotions, or film distributors might send tweets directed at keen Bollywood fans.

The new offering will allow companies to reach a "very narrow, very specific and incredibly focused audience," Kevin Weil, a Twitter director of product management, said in an interview.

Twitter engineers believe they can build a compelling ad delivery platform, particularly if marketers craft ads that seem to blend in with the tone and format of the service's flow of tweets, which are seen by some 140 million monthly active users.

In building its interest graph, Twitter analyzes "a host of signals," Weil said, including which accounts a user follows, as well as the subjects of tweets that are most frequently recirculated or replied to by the user.

The company's algorithms closely evaluate the latter, giving "a direct measure of what you're interested in," Weil said.

Between 1 and 3 percent of users who see a "promoted tweet" -- a paid ad -- click on the tweet in some way. But early beta tests have shown the engagement rate to be higher when tweets are directed using its new interest-targeting tool, Weil said, while declining to discuss specific results.

Valued at more than $8 billion but expected by analysts to make less than $300 million in revenue in 2011, Twitter has aggressively ramped up its advertising capabilities. But in streamlining its product to better show ads, the company has cracked down on how third-party services may use its content, sparking an outcry from Silicon Valley technologists who would like Twitter to remain a neutral media platform.

In protest against what they viewed as a Twitter experience increasingly corrupted by advertising, software developers in California this month launched App.net, a Twitter-like rival that is supported by a $50 membership fee rather than ads.

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Click For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/twitter-let-advertisers-target-tweeters-972581

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Considering Student Loan Consolidation ... - Free Finance Articles

Education is among the most costly affair but additionally a vital requirement. Everybody want to be a degree holder. But sometimes, it is difficult to manage money for studies. Due to this cause, many students do part time work or take loans. The fact is that loans are hard to pay. However you have numerous choices to minimize the payment of loans by taking Obama student loan consolidation plan.

The consolidation of college loans put all of your loans together and makes it as one loan. So, you will need to make payment to a single lender. The best part is that you?ll require to pay low rates of interest. Consolidating school loans can also save your cash if you?re able to budget your expenses better.

Such consolidation loan offer lower fixed interest rate for students. Interest rates differs over the program of the student?s profession and end up with a number of rates where some fixed and some are variable. It offer clear view of interest and principle amount for each month so that you do not have to panic later on. It also clarifies deductible tax amounts. You can lower your monthly payment with student loan consolidation. Student loan consolidation often provides the borrower with a lower monthly payment than they?d have if making separate payments to a number of lenders.

The benefits of student loan consolidation are usually lower monthly repayments, a more handy way to repay your loans and locking in a fixed rate of interest for the life of the loan. Most often, student loan consolidation programs allow you to pick different repayment plans. So, you will need to pay single bill instead of many. Also, you will need to note that your fixed interest rate will generally be a weighted average of all loans. The interest rate cannot exceed 8.25% as mandated by federal law. Student loan consolidation programs allow you to extend repaying terms up to 30 years. This allow you to pay low monthly premiums however you can have to pay more interest in long term loan.

While undergoing graduation, you may have taken federal direct loan, federal perkins loan, nursing loan, or other non federal loans. As soon as you have finished graduation, you?ll be worrying about paying back loan amounts but you can always consolidate those loans into a single loan to get payment advantages.

Ernest is the writer of this post. Study much more of her articles to understand how to get a student loan forgiven.

Source: http://freefinancearticles.info/considering-student-loan-consolidation-interest-rates

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JetBlue ?All You Can Jet is Back??. for pets - Deals We Like

Yes, you read the title right? JetBlue has introduced an ?All Your Pet Can Jet Pass.? While I wish they were still offering this for humans like they did a few years back, I guess this is still good for those who like to or wish to have their dog or cat fly with them often.

This pass allows unlimited pet travel between September 7 and December 31 with no restrictions. The cost is $299, which can be a great value for some. JetBlue typically charges $100 to bring a dog on board, so after 3 one-way flights, you?ll have evened out. Fly more than 3 one-ways and you are ahead. You can purchase this pass through September 5.

You can read all the details here, but to quickly sum it up:

• Purchase the pass by September 5th for unlimited pet travel September 7th through December 31st
• After September 5th, the pass is not refundable
• You must call 1-800-JETBLUE to book your pet travel
• JetBlue limits the number of pets to four per flight, the first three can be booked in advance, and the fourth can be booked at the airport within 24 hours before the flight
• Your pet carrier cannot exceed 17?L x 12.5?W x 8.5?H and the combined weight of your pet and the carrier cannot exceed 20 pounds.
• JetBlue accepts small dogs and cats on both domestic and international flights other than to/from Jamaica, St. Lucia and Barbados. No other pets are permitted.
• Pass does not include a ticket for air travel, and pets cannot travel alone.? You must still purchase a ticket to fly.
• The Pass may be used by the purchaser only.? You can travel with a different pet on different flights (one pet per flight only), but if you want someone else to be able to book travel with your pet, they?ll need their own Pass.

Enjoy traveling with your pet!

Categories: JetBlue

Source: http://boardingarea.com/blogs/dealswelike/2012/08/29/jetblue-all-you-can-jet-pass-is-back-for-pet/

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Product Creation Advice ? Four Skills to Learn If You Want to Make ...

?

By Maritza Parra

If you want to succeed having an online business, there are several skills I recommend to make your success easier. These skills are not as difficult as you might imagine because of easy to use technologies. If you master these skills, they can help you take advantage of huge online opportunities.

Several years ago, I was invited as a guest on Oprah?s XM radio show to talk about spirituality and Law of Attraction. This was a huge opportunity that fell into my lap. I described on the show my dream of having a virtual podcast because people who went to my live weekly meetings couldn?t always attend and they had friends and family who lived elsewhere and wanted to attend. Oprah loved the idea and asked me to mention my website at the end of the interview.

I didn?t actually have the website live yet, it was just an idea at the time, but I did have several domain names I had purchased. One of the website names flew out of my mouth and once the interview was over, I realized I had 6 weeks until the interview actually aired to create my website and start a podcast.

Skill 1: Learn to Create a Website.

I paid a college student to show me step by step how to create my own website. I had a fancy, expensive website for my bath and beauty products business at the time, but I wanted to be able have control over this website and make changes when necessary. I got the website live in a few weeks to really take advantage of this golden opportunity. Now I am so happy I learned how to have control of my website, which is the door to my business. Without this skill, you are basically opening a business and giving the only master key away to another person. Please don?t do that!

Skill 2: Learn to do Teleseminars.

My podcast site really began with a 30 day early morning inspirational teleseminar series. This series was then transcribed and turned into my first of many books. It has also become an audio program and a membership site with online video, journal prompts and more. Content rich teleseminars are a quick and easy way to create products.

Skill 3: Learn to Recognize When Your Niche is Picking You.

I had no idea several years ago I would be teaching product creation. Sometimes your niche is picking you and you don?t even know it. It?s important to open your eyes to the possibilities and not be married to one idea so you are able to see your golden opportunity.

Skill 4: Learn to Be a MacGyver.This is about being resourceful and resilient. MacGyver was that 80?s television show about a man who got the job done, no matter what, one way or another. This is the attitude you must have if you want to be successful at any business.

And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to my ?Easy Product Creation Secrets? Video when you visit http://www.ProductCreationBonus.com. From Maritza Parra ? The Product Creation Queen and Easy Online Marketing Training

Source: http://online-success-articles.com/product-creation-advice-four-skills-to-learn-if-you-want-to-make-money-online/

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NBA preseason begins Oct. 5 in Turkey

miguel ugalde/SXC

The NBA preseason schedule will begin with an Oct. 5 game in Istanbul between the Boston Celtics and Turkish basketball power Fenerbahce Ulker, the league announced Thursday when it released the 115-game preseason schedule.

Nine of the games will be played internationally.

Barcelona, Spain; Berlin, Germany; Milan, Italy; Mexico City, Beijing and Shanghai are among the sites for preseason games.

The final preseason game is Oct. 26.

Source: http://www.wapt.com/news/sports/NBA-preseason-begins-Oct-5-in-Turkey/-/9157034/16166174/-/o7id0y/-/index.html?absolute=true

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Do It! DJ Shadow, 'Summer Breeze,' Groupelove, more ? Honolulu ...

?Courtesy photo

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17

DJ Shadow to perform tonight at The Republik

A pioneering figure in musical mixology appears in Honolulu today when DJ Shadow appears for a DJ set at The Republik.

DJ Shadow, aka Josh Davis, is a key figure in experimental hip-hop. His first album, ?Endtroducing?,? released in 1996, is a landmark for its use of entirely sampled elements taken from genres ranging from hip-hop and jazz to psychedelic music, as well films and taped interviews, creating a sophisticated layering of sound.

Shadow got his start in mixing music by visiting the local record store in his hometown of Davis, Calif. ? a college town outside metropolitan centers of hipsterdom ? to capture samples. ?Endtroducing?? brought him to the cognoscenti?s attention. It ranks among the top 100 hip-hop albums, by the judgment of several pop culture critics.

He followed up that work with a series of innovative projects, including collaborating with DJ Cut Chemist (who performed here just three weeks ago) on a series of mixes using only 45 rpm records. You?ll also hear him in the Activision video game ?DJ Hero,? for which he produced tracks.

DJ Shadow is stopping by here after a tour of Asia that took him to Korea, Japan and China. Go to DJShadow.com/Honolulu to find out about his mobile app.

Where: The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd., third floor
When: 9:30 p.m. Friday
Cost: $28 from groovetickets.com or 855-235-2867
Info: bampproject.com

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18

Turtle Bay Resort set to hold island musicfest

?Courtesy photo

Island music rolls into the North Shore on Saturday with Kanikapila-Palooza at Turtle Bay Resort.

The afternoon-to-evening concert features performers from Jamaica and the mainland, as well as local island musicians who?ve taken to the island contemporary sound.

The concert headlines roots reggae artist Don Carlos, pictured at right, whose career dates to Jamaica in the 1970s, and the seminal group Black Uhuru, and his group the Dub Vision Band. Also appearing will be Jamaican native Lukie D, whose hits include ?I Won?t Let You Go,? ?Lonely Nights,? ?Let Me Love You Now? and ?You?ve Got It Going?; and Oakland, Calif., group Reggae Angels.

Hawaii artists include Makua Rothman & The Kicks, Butch Helemano, Irie Love, Typical Hawaiians, Irie Souls, the Jimmy Weeks Project and soul queen Paula Fuga, performing with Father Psalms.

The concert is a benefit for the North Shore Junior Lifeguard Association, which will receive $1 from every ticket sold.

Where: Turtle Bay Resort, West Lawn
When: 2-9:30 p.m.
Cost: $37-$55; $80 VIP tickets include an after-party at Surfer, the Bar, from groovetickets.com or 855-235-2867
Info: turtlebayresort.com, 293-6000

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19

Talented trio to blend guitar with taiko and shakuhachi

?Courtesy photo

?If you have three people, one will be my teacher,? goes an old Asian proverb.

And if you have three teachers?

Then you get a concert, as is the case with ?Summer Breeze,? a performance featuring virtuoso taiko drummer Kenny Endo, master guitarist Jeff Peterson and premier shakuhachi artist Riley Lee, who have been teaching at Endo?s Taiko Center of the Pacific this week.

?Jeff and Riley have performed together, but it?s the first time for this threesome and this kind of combination,? ?said Chizuko Endo, Kenny Endo?s wife and the producer of the concert.

Even taiko and shakuhachi, though they are both traditional Japanese instruments, are not played together often, Chizuko Endo said.

?Shakuhachi is such a quieter instrument,? she said.

Kenny Endo should find a happy medium with the two instruments. Although taiko is dynamic ? let?s face it, it can be loud ? he is trained in the classical traditions of Japan. ?In the kabuki theater, they use the taiko to express wind and snow,? Chizuko Endo said. ?Waves and rain maybe sound more powerful, but snow and wind is on the light side.?

Lee is a Roosevelt graduate and one of the few non-Japanese to be an acclaimed master of the instrument.

Peterson, a Maui resident, plays everything from slack key to jazz to pop and rock.

Where: Orvis Auditorium, UH-Manoa, 2411 Dole St.
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $12-$15
Info: Email taikoarts@gmail.com or call 737-7236 to reserve tickets.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21

Grouplove tours on the strength of a pair of hit songs

?Courtesy photo

The up-and-coming rock group Grouplove brings its sense of optimistic irony to The Republik next week.

The L.A.-based group has a reputation for delivering exuberant, rousing performances, leaping around onstage in a 2011 appearance on ?The Late Show with David Letterman? that concluded with the group giving Letterman a ?group hug? to the cheers of Letterman sidekick Paul Shaffer.

Formed in 2010, the group got its start when guitarist and lead singer Christian Zucconi met Hannah Hooper, a keyboard player and singer as well as an artist, and formed a bond so quickly that within a week they were setting off for an art residency program on Crete. They met the other members of the band there, with drummer Ryan Rabin?s connections to the music industry ? his father is Trevor Rabin of Yes ? providing background for a successful launch. The other members of the band are Andrew Wessen on guitars and Sean Gadd on bass.

Their debut album, ?Never Trust a Happy Song,? released in September 2011, featured the hit tunes ?Colours? and ?Tongue Tied,? earning praised on iTunes for its ?hugely catchy choruses? and for ?layering on its clattering, colorful instrumental and vocal outpourings with abandon.?

Where: The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd., third floor
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday
Cost: $22-$40 from groovetickets.com or 855-235-2867
Info: bampproject.com

Source: http://www.honolulupulse.com/tgifinprint/do-it-aug-17-2012

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Friday random ten: Non-stupid Texas songs (Offthekuff)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/241656709?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Best VIDEO CAMERA For Youtube - Canon 600D/T3i DSLR ...

Best VIDEO CAMERA For Youtube ? Canon 600D/T3i DSLR Camera

by Tyrone on July 24, 2012 - 24 comments

I get asked this question a lot: ?what is the best video camera for youtube?? So I decided to go outdoors and show you the camera I use with for all my videos and share with you the how it works and give you the reasons why the I use a DSLR camera. I believe it is the way of the future as it allows you to record high quality videos at a budget price.

In addition, this DSLR camera allows you to plug in any external microphone and this can be the difference in having a great video or a crap video. You?ll see why?.

Please leave a comment and subscribe to our channel.

Items Mentioned Inside:

Thank you so much for your support, and if you have yet to leave a rating or review, please leave me an honest one on iTunes by clicking here. It will help the show and its ranking in iTunes immensely! I appreciate it!

Enjoy the show!

Source: http://www.tyroneshum.com/best-video-camera-youtube/

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Kris Humphries Dragging Kanye West Into Divorce Saga

Kim Kardashian has happily moved on from her disastrous 72-day marriage to Kris Humphries -- but the divorce is still not a done deal. On Wednesday, just days away from the couple's one-year wedding anniversary, their respective attorneys appeared in court to hash things out. It turns out that the divorce proceedings are far from over, and that Humphries' attorneys plan to call 33 witnesses -- including Kim's mother Kris Jenner and her boyfriend Kanye West.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/kris-humphries-tries-rope-kanye-west-kim-kardashian-divorce/1-a-480698?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Akris-humphries-tries-rope-kanye-west-kim-kardashian-divorce-480698

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Maine Coon - Cole - Extra Large - Adult - Male - Cat

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Graduate Software Developer - (eCommerce Technology ... - IT jobs

GRADUATE SOFTWARE DEVELOPER ? (ECOMMERCE TECHNOLOGY) ? LONDON (REF: PR-000348A, Closing Date: 11/09/2012, Salary: ?25k + Excellent Benefits)

We have a unique opportunity for a Graduate Developer / Junior Developer / Graduate Software Developer (HTML, JavaScript, PHP) to join a global technology business in Shoreditch, London. Read on...

With offices in Christchurch, London, California and Melbourne, our client delivers powerful ecommerce solutions to global businesses that include NEXT, Quantas, JellyBelly, Boden and Interflora to name just a few. Considered as leaders in their field their SaaS technology boasts full-service site search, navigation, merchandising and user-generated SEO amongst its many features.

Joining as a Graduate Developer / Junior Developer / Graduate Web Developer you will build your career alongside a talented development team. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to put your development skills to the test whilst working on high profile retail technology. It isn?t every day a Graduate opportunity arises where your code will impact so many users.

To qualify... We are seeking degree educated (BSc Eng, Mathematics, Computer Science etc.) Graduate Developers / Junior Developers with CVs that can demonstrate a working knowledge of:

? HTML
? PHP
? JavaScript (including jQuery)
? Basic experience with UNIX systems

Any exposure to HTML 5, CSS3, SEO techniques and practices, Subversion and handheld web development (mobile phones, iPhone, Blackberry etc) is advantageous.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a strong work ethic looking to work for a global tech business offering career progression, a competitive salary, on-site massages, lunch time ?Call of Duty?, flexible working, subsidised gym, travel, social activities, training and loads more. Get in touch...

Keywords: Graduate Developer, Graduate Software Developer, Junior Developer, Graduate Software Developer, Software Engineer, Graduate Web Application Developer, Graduate Development Jobs in New Zealand, Graduate Software Engineering Jobs in London, Trainee Development Jobs in London, Graduate Web Development Jobs in London, Jobs, Christchurch, Graduate Software Development Jobs in London, Java, JavaScript, HTML, PHP, Silicon Roundabout, City, Shoreditch, London, EC1V.

Guru are an employment business renowned for delivering careers networking to the IT / Development sector. In this instance Guru are managing the selection process for this particular Graduate Software Developer campaign on the behalf of our client. We offer a transparent service to both clients and candidates which means that if you pass our initial filtering criteria (based on your CV suitability against our client?s requirements) we will email you with the client?s details and also pass your complete application to the client for consideration. By applying to this role you are granting consent for us to work in this way. One final note, your application will only be used in conjunction with this specific role.

To apply for this campaign please send through a copy of your CV to findajob@gurucareers.com quoting the job reference number and where you have seen the role advertised.

Source: http://webdevjobs.com/job/2125/graduate-software-developer-ecommerce-technology-london-at-guru-careers/

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Guidelines On How To Increase Self Improvement - Consumer ...

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Source: http://blog.ilove3c.com/2012/08/10/guidelines-on-how-to-increase-self-improvement/

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A look at cable, satellite TV earnings reports

Cable and satellite TV companies have been releasing their earnings reports for the latest quarter.

The second quarter is usually a weak one for pay-TV services because students cancel their subscriptions ahead of the summer holidays, and some "snowbirds" cancel their winter home subscriptions before heading to their summer homes.

Here is a summary of earnings reports for selected companies and what they reveal about the industry's prospects:

? July 19: Verizon Communications Inc. says it added 120,000 FiOS video customers to end with 4.5 million in June.

Dish Network Corp. says it lost a net 10,000 subscribers, which was smaller than analysts predicted in a typically week quarter for pay TV operators. It ended the quarter with 14.1 million subscribers in the U.S.

? July 24: AT&T Inc. says it added 155,000 U-verse TV subscribers to end with 4.1 million.

? Aug. 1: Comcast Corp. says it lost 176,000 video subscribers, though the rate of decline has slowed. It ended the quarter with 22.1 million to remain the nation's largest.

? Aug. 2: DirecTV Inc. says it lost 52,000 U.S. subscribers, the first quarter it has lost subscribers. DirecTV ended the quarter with 19.9 million U.S. subscribers, making it the second-largest provider of pay-TV signals in the country, after Comcast. DirecTV's Sky Brasil and PanAmericana added 645,000 subscribers. That was up from 472,000 a year ago and the best result ever for the company.

Time Warner Cable Inc., the second-largest cable company, says it lost 169,000 subscribers in the second quarter, a record for the company. It ends the quarter with 12.3 million.

? Tuesday: Charter Communications Inc., the country's fourth-largest cable-TV provider, lost 72,000 TV customers in the quarter to end with 4.3 million.

Cablevision Systems Corp. has stemmed the loss of TV subscribers for the second quarter in a row, at the cost of holding its prices steady. It held the number of TV subscribers steady at 3.3 million.

? Wednesday: Dish Network Corp. reiterated that it lost 10,000 subscribers, leaving it with 14.1 million and as the third-largest provider of pay-TV signals to U.S. homes.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/look-cable-satellite-tv-earnings-reports-230540043.html

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Analysis: Iran seeks to save pivotal Syrian ally

LONDON (Reuters) - Iran, dismayed at the plight of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is seeking to shore him up and counter a perceived drive by Western and U.S.-aligned Sunni Muslim nations to roll back its own power in the Middle East.

A hastily-convened conference in Tehran on Thursday looked like an attempt by the Islamic Republic to forge a coalition of friendly countries opposed to Western and Arab support for rebels determined to end four decades of Assad family rule.

Iran, handed geostrategic windfalls in the past decade by Washington's elimination of two of its main enemies, Saddam Hussein in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan, now fears the pendulum of regional influence could swing the other way.

Success for the Sunni-led uprising in Syria could have grave implications for the Shi'ite rulers in Tehran and their vaunted "axis of resistance" against Israel and the United States.

The axis has already lost one cog, Hamas, a Palestinian Sunni Islamist group which turned against Assad months ago for his bloody repression of foes including the Muslim Brotherhood.

Assad's fall would weaken a pivotal component, Lebanon's Hezbollah, for which Syria has provided arms, support and a route for weapons from Iran, the Shi'ite group's main patron.

It would also complicate life for Syria's eastern neighbor Iraq, whose Iran-friendly Shi'ite-led government fears that a mainly Sunni leadership could take power in Damascus in place of one dominated by Assad's Shi'ite-rooted Alawite minority.

Western officials have accused Iran of providing funds, weapons and intelligence support to Assad in his struggle to crush opposition. Syrian rebels also says Tehran has sent Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah fighters against them.

How far Iran will go in backing Assad, widely perceived across the Arab world as a tyrant killing his own people, is an open question - and one sometimes debated openly in Tehran.

"RELIGIOUS POLARISATION"

"There are rational views versus radical ones, but this is Iran. It's very difficult to be more flexible, to argue for change," said one Tehran-based diplomat.

The political and military hardliners in control say Syria stood by Iran in its hour of need, the only Arab nation on its side in the 1980-88 war with Iraq, and deserves loyalty now.

They also view the conflict in Syria as an extension of a sectarian power struggle with Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia, as well as a U.S.-led campaign to shackle its nuclear ambitions by sanctions or if necessary by military force.

"Iran doesn't accept this is about opening Syria up to democracy. It's not at all democratic," said Mohammad Marandi of Tehran University. "Saudi advocates Wahhabi Islam and Iran believes it's pushing for religious polarization."

Iran said it had won support at Thursday's conference for its call for a halt to violence in Syria and dialogue between Assad and his foes on the Syrian leader's "reform" program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said outside interference was worsening the crisis. "It will be a mistake to think that with the continuation of pressure and unwise moves, the Syrian leadership would finally collapse," he added.

Iranian officials have in recent weeks offered to host talks between Syria's government and opposition, although Assad's foes have shown no interest in such a dialogue with the man they want to topple, let alone one organized by Tehran.

Iran may be seeking a diplomatic role after the failure of Kofi Annan's U.N.-backed peace plan, but its chances of success appear doomed from the start, as perhaps its authors know, since Tehran's policy is predicated on keeping Assad in power.

"Iran is trying to take control of and redirect a failed diplomatic process, even though these endeavors will likely fail," said Anthony Skinner of the Maplecroft risks consultancy.

"Tehran is attempting to offset pressure from allies of the armed and unarmed opposition in Syria. It might also show that Iran is running out of ideas on what to do."

HONEST BROKER

Salehi, in an opinion piece in the Washington Post on the eve of the Tehran meeting, presented Iran as "part of the solution, not the problem" - as the United States contends.

"As the world has witnessed during the past decade, we have acted as a stabilizing force in Iraq and Afghanistan, two other Muslim countries thrown into turmoil," he wrote, alluding to U.S.-led military interventions in both states.

Salehi also said Syrians should decide their own destiny through a forthcoming presidential election, decreed by Assad.

Tehran has resisted any negotiated transition requiring Assad's exit and the loss of a partner who has helped Iran flex its muscles in Lebanon and in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Earlier this week, senior Iranian envoy Saeed Jalili was in Damascus for talks with Assad, declaring that his country wouldn't allow "the axis of resistance, of which it considers Syria to be an essential part, to be broken in any way".

Next week President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will attend an extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Countries set to focus on the Syrian crisis. Iran will want to prevent any attempt to suspend Syria's membership of the Jeddah-based OIC.

While Iran has repeatedly denounced Turkey and Qatar, alongside Saudi Arabia, for supporting Syrian rebels, it has been forced to seek their help in securing the release of 48 Iranians kidnapped by the insurgents last week.

Syrian rebels accuse them of being elite Revolutionary Guards sent to assist Assad's forces in crushing the opposition.

Salehi has acknowledged that some are retired Guards or soldiers, but said they were religious pilgrims, not fighters.

Maplecroft's Skinner said concern over the captives might in part have motivated Iran's flurry of diplomacy.

"If they are serving members of the Guards, then Iran's diplomatic initiatives may be linked to the hostage-taking because of the sensitive information they may have," he said.

For Iran, "losing" Syria would be a damaging blow, but prolonged post-Assad instability might offer opportunities to a country adept at pursuing its interests in a conflict-ridden region, as it has shown in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

"Assad is far from gone and even when he is, things are going to be chaotic for a while," said Dina Esfandiary of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. "

"And Iran thrives in that kind of context."

(Additional reporting by Peter Apps; Editing by Alistair Lyon)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-iran-seeks-save-pivotal-syrian-ally-162929229.html

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U.S. big banks told to plan for the worst | Financial Services News ...

U.S. regulators directed five of the country?s biggest banks, including Bank of America Corp and Goldman Sachs Group Inc, to develop plans for staving off collapse if they faced serious problems, emphasizing that the banks could not count on government help.

The two-year-old program, which has been largely secret until now, is in addition to the ?living wills? the banks crafted to help regulators dismantle them if they actually do fail. It shows how hard regulators are working to ensure that banks have plans for worst-case scenarios and can act rationally in times of distress.

Officials like Lehman Brothers former Chief Executive Dick Fuld have been criticized for having been too hesitant to take bold steps to solve their banks? problems during the financial crisis.

According to documents obtained by Reuters, the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency first directed five banks ? which also include Citigroup Inc,, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase & Co ? to come up with these ?recovery plans? in May 2010.

They told banks to consider drastic efforts to prevent failure in times of distress, including selling off businesses, finding other funding sources if regular borrowing markets shut them out, and reducing risk. The plans must be feasible to execute within three to six months, and banks were to ?make no assumption of extraordinary support from the public sector,? according to the documents.

Spokespeople for the five banks declined to comment. The Federal Reserve also declined to comment.

Recovery plans differ from living wills, also known as ?resolution plans,? which are required under the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law. Living wills aim to end bailouts of too-big-to-fail banks by showing how they would liquidate themselves without imperiling the financial system.

?Recovery plans are about protecting the crown jewels,? said Paul Cantwell, a managing director at consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal. ?It?s about, ?How do I sell off non-core assets?? The priority is to the shareholders. A resolution plan is about protecting the system, taxpayers and creditors.?

The recovery plans are being used as part of regulators? ongoing supervisory process. In Britain, recovery and resolution plans have both been part of the living will requirements for large banks.

Mike Brosnan, senior deputy comptroller for large banks at the OCC, said the regulator continuously evaluates contingency planning at the banks and savings associations it supervises.

?Recovery plans required of the largest banks are helpful in ensuring banks and regulators are prepared to manage periods of severe financial distress or instability affecting the banking sector,? he said.

This summer, nine global banks submitted living wills to the Fed and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, and regulators released the public portion of the documents.

The recovery plans requested in 2010, meanwhile, have received little publicity. The names of the banks required to submit them have not been previously disclosed, and Reuters obtained them only through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The Fed supplied Reuters with the letters requesting plans from banks, but not the banks? actual plans because they were deemed confidential supervisory information. The regulator said it was withholding 5,100 pages of information.

MOVING FURTHER FROM DISASTER

Five years after the financial crisis, concerns remain about whether blow-ups at big banks could lead to another round of taxpayer bailouts. Trading losses have cost JPMorgan nearly US$6 billion so far, and scandals such as the alleged rigging of an international interest rate benchmark have only highlighted the risks lurking inside big banks.

These disasters have damaged banks? reputations, but not their balance sheets. Most are still profitable, and in recent years the five banks have improved their capital bases and liquidity. They also have been subjected to annual Federal Reserve stress tests that measure whether the banks have sufficient capital to weather severe economic scenarios.

Bank of America and Citigroup, in a sense, have already been executing the kind of moves called for in the recovery plans. Both have been selling off non-core operations and assets to streamline their sprawling businesses, after receiving multiple bailouts during the financial crisis.

Bank of America in June 2011 told Fed officials that it could shed branches in some parts of the country if it needed to raise capital in an emergency, a person familiar with the matter said in January. The proposal was part of a series of options provided to the Fed, including issuing a tracking stock for Bank of America?s Merrill Lynch operations.

But just because the bank proposed selling branches does not mean it?s a desirable move or highly probable, the person said. In the past year, Bank of America has shown progress in building capital without such actions. Its Tier 1 common capital ratio increased to 11.24 percent of risk-weighted assets as of June 30 from 8.23 percent a year earlier.

Tier 1 refers to a bank?s core capital and has been the main focus of regulators in assessing a bank?s capital adequacy.

MENTIONED IN PASSING

The banks? chief risk officers, and in the case of Citigroup, Chief Executive Vikram Pandit, received letters in May 2010 instructing them on what to include in the recovery plans. The requests stemmed from January 2010 crisis management meetings held by regulators. The letters sent to the five banks were nearly identical.

Each plan was to address severe financial stress at the firm, as well as ?general financial instability.? The plans should be capable of being executed ideally within three months, but no longer than six months, the documents said.

The plans should ?make appropriate assumptions as to the valuations of assets and off-balance sheet positions,? the documents said.

Recovery plans have been mentioned in public before, but only in passing. In testimony to Congress in July 2010, Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo said the ?largest internationally active U.S. banking organizations? were working on recovery plans. The initiative stemmed from work led by the Financial Stability Board, a body that coordinates the work of international financial regulators, he said.

In a presentation in March, JPMorgan Chase said it had a recovery plan in place and said it was ordered by regulators. The presentation was organized by Harvard Law School and was closed to the media at the time, but is available online.

? Thomson Reuters 2012

Source: http://business.financialpost.com/2012/08/10/u-s-big-banks-told-to-plan-for-the-worst/

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Funding Your Child's College Education ? All Things Financial ...

In addition to purchasing a home, funding your child?s college education could be one of the largest expenditures you ever make.

According to the College Board, the average tuition in 2010 for a 4 year in-state public school is $33,300 and a staggering $119,400 for private colleges. That?s just the tuition! Now factor in living expenses, cost of dorm and board, computers, and textbooks, you are all of a sudden looking at close to $200,000 for a 4-year undergraduate degree. Furthermore, with most states still reeling from the latest financial storm, the College Board anticipates that college tuitions will increase at a rate almost double that of inflation.

Despite the cost, the economic benefit of having a bachelor?s degree is undeniable. According the US Census Bureau, in the year 2009, the average male college graduate, aged 25-34, earned 85% more than their counterparts who only have a high school degree. Among women the same age group, the advantage is a resounding 111%.

So how does a family go about saving for a college education? There are basically 4 options ? write the check, borrow now and pay later, find scholarships and grants, or better yet, set aside money today and let it accumulate over time.

Write the check
Plenty of families simply write the check as the tuition bills arrive in the mail. This approach is fine as long as you have enough money socked away and it is readily available. Most families run into trouble with this approach when they start tapping into their emerging savings, or even retirement accounts. Some families even take out lines of equity on their homes to help pay for the tuition bills. As a general rule, parents should never jeopardize their own retirement or financial well-being in their attempts to fund the children?s education. After all, there is always college aid, but there is no retirement aid.

Borrow Now and Pay Later
For those who don?t have the means to fork out tens of thousands of dollars, there is always the option to borrow. Not surprisingly, there are plenty of entities willing to lend to students and families. These entities may include the federal government, the school itself, and private sector. The Federal Student Aid Programs offer several low interest rate loan programs such Perkins Loans, Stafford Loans, and Direct PLUS (graduate and professional degree student borrowers). These loans can typically be paid back over an extended period of time following graduation. Additionally, you may also take out student loans from many banks, credit unions, and other private lenders.

Apply for Scholarships and Grants
Fortunately, there is also free money available from both the federal government and the private sector. The federal government has several programs that provide free financial assistance, called ?grants?, to those in need. Some schools also provide grants to help make up the difference between college costs and what a family can be expected to contribute. There are also other grants, known as merit awards or merit scholarships, that are awarded based on academic achievements. Additionally, many companies, non-profit organizations, or foundations also offer scholarships to those that fit specific criteria set forth by these organizations.

Start Saving Today
Arguably, the best option a family has is to simply plan ahead and start saving today. There are several options depending on your objectives (maximize return potential, safety of principal, liquidity concerns, time/age restrictions, etc). The most popular options are 529 plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, Qualified US Savings Bonds, custodial accounts, or savings accounts. Each account has its advantages and disadvantages, and families should thoroughly research their options or consult a professional before making a decision.

Andrew B. Chou, CFP?
Senior Portfolio Manager
Westmount Asset Management, LLC
Los Angeles, CA

Source: http://blog.fpaforfinancialplanning.org/2012/08/09/funding-your-childs-college-education/

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Youth employment - ADSET's Information Weblog from Hazel ...

via The Recruitment & Employment Confederation

Chris Wilford, Policy & PR Advisor, writes that:
Youth unemployment hovers stubbornly around the 1 million mark and competition is fierce for the openings that are available. Young people need all the help they can get to crack the jobs market, through coordinated action from government, business and educationalists. With this in mind, the requirement for schools to secure access to independent and impartial careers advice for their students from September is a step in the right direction.

Read the full press release

Hazel?s comment:
I?d feel a lot more confident about careers advice in schools if there was some budget for the work. And if I believed that the employer?s talks were likely to be impartial.

---

Source: http://adsetsinformationweblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/youth-employment-compulsory-careers.html

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First Steps toward a Business Continuity Plan webinar available ...

You?ve gone online to get the checklists, seen the articles, joined the webinars, and you have a lot of good information when it comes to building a disaster preparedness plan for your business.? But what should you tackle first?? Is it the financial protection that comes with good insurance coverage?? Should your priority be protecting your employees?? And how do you find the time to work on a disaster recovery plan?

It turns out that you can build your resilience starting today, with minimal commitment of time and resources. ?Join Agility Recovery and the U.S. Small Business Administration Tuesday, Aug. 14 for an online discussion on how to start building your business continuity plan.? The steps you take towards protecting your business can make the difference between succumbing to or surviving a crisis.

SBA partners with Agility to offer business continuity strategies at its ?PrepareMyBusiness? website. Visit?www.preparemybusiness.org?to access past webinars and get additional preparedness tips.

The SBA provides disaster recovery assistance in the form of low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, private nonprofits and businesses of all sizes. To learn more, visit?www.sba.gov/disaster.

WHAT:????????? ?Start Building Your Disaster Recovery Plan TODAY!?

????????????????????????A presentation followed by a question and answer session

WHEN:??????????Tuesday, August 14, 2012 -- 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET

HOW:?????????????Space is limited. Register at?https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/641009256

Source: http://www.thesubtimes.com/2012/08/09/first-steps-toward-a-business-continuity-plan-webinar-available/

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Understanding Several Anti Spam Services ? Guru Article Directory

Making use of anti spam service is a good way to secure yourself from online security risks. With a lot more people using email messages, the number of threats and viruses continue to grow. Among the concerns you may deal with is email spam. These are unsolicited mail messages sent to an indiscriminate number of recipients. Defend yourself from these using anti spam software program. Find out more on the best way to keep emails free from spam.

Filtering

This is the process of arranging e-mail under different classifications. This may include automatic procedures and human input as safety against spam emails. Mail filter systems can work for both inbound and outbound messages. Inbound filtering involves the encoding of messages from other users, while outbound filter involves the scanning of outgoing emails to avoid computer threats from scattering throughout the system.

Several types of filters are available. Language filter systems, for example, get rid of emails not written in your local language. Content filters, however, reads the whole message and confirms its relevance based on keywords or characters. While these are effective in minimizing junk emails, content filter systems may unintentionally reject or eliminate important emails from your contact. Some filters, however, identify and check junk emails according to message headers and addresses.

You can install filters as separate applications or as part of the email program. You may also personalize these filters based on their chosen criteria. Many Internet service providers can install these as an extra program to their customers.

Archiving

This is an organized technique of keeping and preserving information for later access. Email archiving allows users to track messages easier and stops unintended people from reading the email. This program would work if you regulate a significant amount of email archives over a short period.

The software includes features such as indexing and search capabilities, entry logs, and email scanners. email archiving system also allows you to keep inbound, outgoing, and internal messages in one location for easier entry. You can easily put in key phrases, dates, and different criteria to locate what youre looking for over the e mail system. Email archiving software also does not have storage restrictions and doesnt require more computer hardware, making it among the most cost-effective systems against junk mails.

Continuity

This program stops email disruptions during server downtimes, letting you deliver and acquire emails. The program immediately sets off during the server disruption so you can access your company email with a different domain. Email continuity can also work as cloud storage, enabling you to work without the need of adding new hardware or application. When the server goes online, you can deliver your back-up messages to the main server and continue your previous assignments.

Selecting Anti Spam Software

Think about your main system, account type, e-mail client, and software features ? the software program has to be compatible with these. The spam blocker need to suit your hardware and software so it can work properly. Check your pcs support system to know what specs you need for the computer software. Find application that updates regularly to prevent security drops. Ensure the best spam filter is simple to use and navigate so that you will not have any issues changing the options on your e-mail.

Source: http://guru3x.com/understanding-several-anti-spam-services/

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Strong earnings send stocks higher; S&P over 1,400

NEW YORK (AP) ? Stocks are trading higher on Wall Street as investors turn their focus to U.S. corporations that are reporting better results than analysts had expected.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 70 points to 13,187 in the first half-hour of trading on Tuesday.

The broader S&P 500 index rose 8 points to 1,402. It was the first time the index traded above 1,400 since May 3.

The Nasdaq composite index rose 18 points to 3,007.

Of the 407 companies in S&P 500 that reported earnings through Monday, 65 percent beat Wall Street expectations, according to S&P Capital IQ. More than 40 percent have reported double-digit growth.

On Tuesday, accessories maker Fossil's second-quarter net income climbed 12 percent thanks to growing demand in Asia and strong watch sales. The performance topped analysts' estimates, and the stock popped $20.17, or 29 percent, to $89.91, the biggest gain in the S&P 500 index.

MGM Resorts International reported a 29 percent surge in revenue even though the casino company had a quarterly loss. The stock rose 85 cents, or 9 percent, to $10.23.

Chesapeake Energy reported after the markets closed on Monday that its income nearly doubled in the second quarter. Revenue from oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids rose. Chesapeake's stock rose $1.32, or 7.5 percent, to $19.02.

Disney, Priceline and Express Scripts will all report earnings after the closing bell.

Also Tuesday, the Federal Reserve is expected to report that U.S. consumers likely took on more debt in June, even as they kept spending in check. More borrowing is generally viewed as a healthy sign for the economy. It suggests consumers are gaining confidence and growing more comfortable taking on debt.

In Europe, most markets were higher, despite news that Italy's recession deepened in the April through June period. Italy's economy shrank for the fourth quarter in a row.

Italy's government, which is trying to reduce debt, has made spending cuts and tax increases that are hurting businesses and households. Investors hope that the European Central Bank will help support Italy buying its government bonds, which will keep down the interest rates the country must pay to borrow money.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/strong-earnings-send-stocks-higher-p-over-1-141647224--business.html

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Daya Vaidya Welcomes Twin Sons Jai Blue and Dev Eshaan

The former Unforgettable star and husband Don Wallace welcomed identical twin sons on Wednesday, July 25 in New York City, her rep confirms to PEOPLE exclusively.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/-fC9lLsszJI/

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