A Magnitude 6.9 earthquake centered near the border city of Mexicali struck Sunday afternoon and rocked all of Southern California and parts of Arizona.
High rise buildings in Los Angeles and San Diego rocked back and forth when the quake hit.
Preliminary USGS information indicated the epicenter was 19 miles southeast of Mexicali, at an area that has been rocked with magnitude 3.0 quakes all week.
Los Angeles City Fire Department officials said the department is on earthquake status and some stalled elevators in the city have been reported.
So far there have been no reports of serious damage, power outages or injuries.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Strong Earthquake Felt In California
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurred at 3:40 p.m. on Sunday.
The temblor was centered about 108 miles east-southeast of Tijuana, Mexico according to the USGS.
The earthquake was felt across southern California and into Arizona. It shook high-rises in downtown Los Angeles and San Diego.
The temblor was centered about 108 miles east-southeast of Tijuana, Mexico according to the USGS.
The earthquake was felt across southern California and into Arizona. It shook high-rises in downtown Los Angeles and San Diego.
Earthquake in San Diego
A strong earthquake occurred at 3:40:39 PM (PDT) on Sunday, April 4, 2010.
The magnitude 6.9 event occurred 26 km (16 miles) SSW of Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California, Mexico.
The hypocentral depth is 32 km (20 miles).
The magnitude 6.9 event occurred 26 km (16 miles) SSW of Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California, Mexico.
The hypocentral depth is 32 km (20 miles).
Is Walmart Open on Easter
Is Walmart Open on Easter, Many people are wondering if their favorite store is Walmart is open on Easter Sunday. A lot of people are trying to find items to finish cooking up their Easter dinner for the family. Well, the answer is Walmart is open today, Easter Sunday. Not only is Walmart open but most of the other big name stores are open too.
Easter Quotes
Easter Quotes, Prayers, Jokes and Easter Cards to Print Free – Its Easter sunday and its time to send those greetings cards out, We have hear the latest Easter quotes, Prayers and Jokes to share. For those who are looking for cards to print for easter, THen this is going to be useful, these are all free, so dont you guys worry, Easter is celebrated with Holiness, so see the prayers and some Jokes with quotes places out on cards to print. We have them smart and really concise, So what are you waiting for? See the Easter Quotes, Prayers, Jokes and Easter Cards to Print Free below now.
he resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.- Robert FlattThe resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.- Robert FlattThe story of Easter is the story of God’s wonderful window of divine surprise.- Carl KnudsenEaster tells us that life is to be interpreted not simply in terms of things but in terms of ideals.- Charles M. Crowe“The name of Jesus is the one lever that lifts the world.”- Anonymous“To a Christian, Easter Sunday means everything, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”- Bernhard Langer
he resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.- Robert FlattThe resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.- Robert FlattThe story of Easter is the story of God’s wonderful window of divine surprise.- Carl KnudsenEaster tells us that life is to be interpreted not simply in terms of things but in terms of ideals.- Charles M. Crowe“The name of Jesus is the one lever that lifts the world.”- Anonymous“To a Christian, Easter Sunday means everything, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”- Bernhard Langer
is target open on easter :Sunday
Is Target Open on Easter Sunday? It appears that Target will close its doors on Easter Sunday. Most Target stores across the US will be closed on Easter day. 
How to tie a tie – The proper way to tie a tie
How to tie a tie- Tying ties seems like a biggest challenge to everyone. Imagine, it is all tied up in google trends and many people were searching on how to tie a tie. What’s the proper way to tie a tie? But before knowing the process of learning to tie a tie you should know how to buy a tie. I discovered a good site that provides a better help to users to tie those ties and stay with the newest fashions.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Verizon iPhone Release Date 2010, Verizon’s Announcement, and iPhone 4g 4.0
Verizon iPhone Release Date 2010, Verizon’s Announcement, and iPhone 4g 4.0. Everyone is excited about the Apple iPhone and new launch dates. There’s the Verizon CDMA iphone, the 4g 4.0 iPhone, and a rumored iPhone HD.
Among the most popular is of course the handset designed for Verizon’s CDMA network. Previously (and currently) the iPhone is available on one network only, AT&T.
Still yet, it’s interesting to note that the current iPhone which operates on the AT&T network isn’t available on similar networks such as T-Mobile. One would almost think that the iPhone would spread to those networks and then to CDMA.
Still yet, Verizon has 80 million users and growing. The subscriber base is loyal and hesitant to leave for AT&T – with the exception of the flocks that left the network simply to have an iPhone.
The CDMA network is what is used primarily in the US and Canada. AT&T uses GSM technology, which is used more worldwide. The lines of distinction are getting blurred, as CDMA is expanding outside the US and Canada, while the GSM is becoming more widely used in the US.
There’s no really concrete way to tell which network is better – CDMA users say their network coverage is better and GSM claim that theirs are better.
Are you excited about the release of an iPhone on the Verizon network? The latest rumors point to a September 2010 release, although many are hoping that the previous rumors of a June or July release are more accurate.
In addition to the CDMA model, Apple is also rumored to be launching a 4g version with the iPhone 4.0 OS that can even handle multitasking.
Keep in mind that talk of a Verizon iPhone have circulated before, and has yet to materialize.
Do you think that it’s true this time, and are you excited for a Verizon iPhone?
iPad
iPad 3G and iPad Launch – Apple Tablet Finally Launches in US. After months of anticipation, the Apple iPad has arrived in stores across the US. Expected to sell out VERY quickly, people started lining up late last afternoon to be the first in the Apple store to pick up an iPad.
Those who are a bit wiser opted to pre-order the product. Those individuals anxiously awaited the mailman this morning to deliver their sleek and shiny new tablet.
Those that didn’t make it into the store before they sold out or didn’t pre order their products will have to wait until at around April 12th. Those that desire an iPad 3g will have to wait until “late April” for the availability of their units. The 3g connectivity will cost an additional $14.99 to $30 per month, depending on which plan is chosen.
Reviews of the iPad have been rolling in, and there are some critics that cite that the inability to multitask is one of the big drawbacks. However, one reviewer noted that he could do 80% of what he did on his laptop on the iPad.
The iPad is supposedly perfect for those on the go who want a great multi-media experience and mobile internet connectivity. There are 150,000 apps available for the iPad today, including a Kindle app which allows iPad users to download Kindle books into their unit. Amazon doesn’t want to lose the Kindle book sales!
A comprehensive review of the iPad vs Kindle vs Nook can be found here. In addition, more information about iPad reviews can be found here. Information on when those in Europe can expect to see the first iPads roll out on the market can be found here.
Those who are a bit wiser opted to pre-order the product. Those individuals anxiously awaited the mailman this morning to deliver their sleek and shiny new tablet.
Those that didn’t make it into the store before they sold out or didn’t pre order their products will have to wait until at around April 12th. Those that desire an iPad 3g will have to wait until “late April” for the availability of their units. The 3g connectivity will cost an additional $14.99 to $30 per month, depending on which plan is chosen.
Reviews of the iPad have been rolling in, and there are some critics that cite that the inability to multitask is one of the big drawbacks. However, one reviewer noted that he could do 80% of what he did on his laptop on the iPad.
The iPad is supposedly perfect for those on the go who want a great multi-media experience and mobile internet connectivity. There are 150,000 apps available for the iPad today, including a Kindle app which allows iPad users to download Kindle books into their unit. Amazon doesn’t want to lose the Kindle book sales!
A comprehensive review of the iPad vs Kindle vs Nook can be found here. In addition, more information about iPad reviews can be found here. Information on when those in Europe can expect to see the first iPads roll out on the market can be found here.
Chris Kanyon
We are reporting this news very sadly that American wrestler Chris Kanyon has been died yesterday, April 2, 2010, at an age of 40 years. Numerous sources have reported that Chris Kanyon was discovered dead on Friday night; we have learned that he committed suicide. However the details regarding the cause of his death are not available yet, may be we will come to know the real reason of his death after the autopsy report.
One of his closer friends informed that his body was found in New York; his friend added that numerous notes and a bottle of medicine were discovered near his body. His death news shook his friends, fans and family members as every one of them loves him for his excellent wrestling talent. The great wrestling star Chris Kanyon was born on 4th January 1970 and passed away yesterday on 2nd April 2010, he was 40 years old at the time of his demise.
The wrestling fans will never forget his superb entertainment work which he did for World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. His complete name was “Christopher Klucsaritis” but most of his wrestling fans recognize as Chris Kanyon, Mortis and Kanyon. His World Wrestling Entertainment run completed when he revealed that he is a homosexual. We watched him many times on a popular radio show “Howard Stern” after declaring himself a homosexual.
One of his closer friends informed that his body was found in New York; his friend added that numerous notes and a bottle of medicine were discovered near his body. His death news shook his friends, fans and family members as every one of them loves him for his excellent wrestling talent. The great wrestling star Chris Kanyon was born on 4th January 1970 and passed away yesterday on 2nd April 2010, he was 40 years old at the time of his demise.
The wrestling fans will never forget his superb entertainment work which he did for World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. His complete name was “Christopher Klucsaritis” but most of his wrestling fans recognize as Chris Kanyon, Mortis and Kanyon. His World Wrestling Entertainment run completed when he revealed that he is a homosexual. We watched him many times on a popular radio show “Howard Stern” after declaring himself a homosexual.
When we look into his personal life, we come to know that he used to baseball, basketball and roller hockey at his school. He was a tall man and had very strong body muscles; most of the time, he used to take exercise in gym, where he used to do weight lifting and body building training. In the year of 1992, he took his bachelor degree from University at Buffalo; his specialization was “physical therapy.” He served the Rugby Football Club as their physical therapist for more than three years.
Kanyon was retired from wrestling world on 28th August 2004 when Diamond Dallas Page packed down him in a “Retirement Game.” However, he returned to wrestling arena recently and had few matches in the current year.
Kanyon was retired from wrestling world on 28th August 2004 when Diamond Dallas Page packed down him in a “Retirement Game.” However, he returned to wrestling arena recently and had few matches in the current year.
Cooks Illustrated
Cooks Illustrated. Do you some Cooks Illustrated in order for you to know how to cook? I provide here a Mexican Recipe which is good for Easter. ok! lets start just follow the procedure below.
MEXICAN CASSEROLE
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 bag shredded Mexican cheese
1/2 bag corn tortilla chips1 can Rotel
1 can corn1/2 onion (or, to taste)
Brown all the hamburger meat in skillet, meanwhile in a large bowl, combine canned soups, Rotel, and the can of corn.
In a large casserole dish sprayed with non-stick spray, spread half of a bag of corn tortilla chips around the bottom. When meat is cooked and drained, stir into the soup mixture, then pour over the corn tortilla chips. Top casserole with the bag of shredded Mexican cheese.
Bake for 30-45 minutes at 350°F.
This is very good served with guacamole and sour cream and use rest of the bag of chips for dipping.Super easy!.Serves 6-8 people.
How to Boil Easter Eggs on Easter Sunday
We will celebrate Jesus Christ’s ressurection from the dead and His ascension to Heaven called Easter Sunday.
During Easter Sunday celebration, Easter Egg Hunt is a major activity. In preparation of that activity, people are now searching on how to boil hard boiled eggs. People want to learn how to boil eggs for use in their meals as well as to color eggs for the Easter Sunday.
Boiling eggs is really simple. You just need to know how long you should boil the eggs in order to be cooked “hard boiled”. Eggs are one of my favorite breakfast and boiling an egg to become hard boiled only takes a maximum of 10 minutes.
During Easter Sunday celebration, Easter Egg Hunt is a major activity. In preparation of that activity, people are now searching on how to boil hard boiled eggs. People want to learn how to boil eggs for use in their meals as well as to color eggs for the Easter Sunday.
Boiling eggs is really simple. You just need to know how long you should boil the eggs in order to be cooked “hard boiled”. Eggs are one of my favorite breakfast and boiling an egg to become hard boiled only takes a maximum of 10 minutes.
For instructions on how to boil eggs, you just need to take a pot. Fill in with sufficient water to boil the eggs. The higher the number of eggs to boil, the higher the amount of water that should be added. Do not overboil the eggs as this will cause some cracks which will not be good for Easter Egg hunt on Easter Sunday.
After having boiled for about 10 minutes, take them out using tongs, dry and cool them first before decorating it for Easter Egg hunt. As early as now, I am excited in this Easter Egg Hunt activities. I am looking forward to the different designs of each Easter Egg on Easter Sunday.
After having boiled for about 10 minutes, take them out using tongs, dry and cool them first before decorating it for Easter Egg hunt. As early as now, I am excited in this Easter Egg Hunt activities. I am looking forward to the different designs of each Easter Egg on Easter Sunday.
Deviled Eggs Recipe
Spicy brown mustard and deviled ham make these your not-so-traditional deviled eggs. Great for Easter!
Ingredients
12 eggs1 (4.5 ounce) can deviled ham1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard1/4 cup mayonnaise1 pinch black pepper24 slices black olivesPaprika for sprinkling
Directions
1. Place egg in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, and peel.
2. Cut eggs in half lengthwise, place the yolks into a mixing bowl, and set the whites aside. Mash the yolks with the deviled ham, mustard, mayonnaise, and black pepper. Spoon or pipe filling into egg white halves. Garnish each deviled egg with an olive slice, then sprinkle with paprika.
3.Enjoy it
2010 Santa Anita Derby: Horse Racing Tips/Picks/Predictions/Odds
It’s time to check out the horse racing odds and release tips, picks, and predictions in today’s 2010 Santa Anita Derby.
Lookin At Lucky (4-to-5 odds) is the 2010 Santa Anita Derby favorite and I’m just not sure I see him winning this race. He really doesn’t have to win this race to be the 2010 Kentucky Derby favorite and I’m just not sure how much risk his trainers will want to give him on short rest.
That being said, Lookin At Lucky is still good enough to finish top 3, and a Santa Anita Derby win would not surprise me in the slightest. A better bet to win would be Sidney’s Candy as a small underdog. This colt should be right there with the Santa Anita race favorite coming along the back stretch and I think the relative lack of pace in today’s race will set both of these horses up to finish near the top.
NBC is televising the 2010 Santa Anita Derby live and the post time is set for a little after 5:30 PM ET. The Wood Memorial will be shown just prior to this race and we definitely recommend tuning in at post time.
One thing is for certain and that is the fact that you’ll want to sign-up for an account at SBGglobal Sportsbook before post time of the 2010 Santa Anita Derby. This established book not only has a 30% cash bonus to new customers but also give horse racing bettors a 5% weekly rebate on wagers. It’s too good to pass up in our opinion and these guys come with our stamp of approval.
The pace I just mentioned has me writing off premier closers like Alphie’s Bet (8-to-1 odds) despite the fact this horse is coming off a strong finish in the Sham.
A better bet for Santa Anita Derby picks and predictions is long shot Who’s Up at 20-to-1 odds. I don’t feel the pace sets up the closers and Who’s Up is a horse capable of being near the front in a good spot in the backstretch.
Final 4 Game Times
Today, the 4 game semi final match will be held at Lucas Oil in Indianapolis. All NCAA men’s basketball fans must wait for this great event because there are two semi-final matches will be played. While if you are coming here to find the semi final 4 game times, it’s scheduled at 18.05 ET and will be aired live by WWJ-TV.
On the 4 game semi final, the first match is between 5th seed Michigan State and 5th seed Butler and will be start at 6:07 PM Eastern Time. Meanwhile, the other game will be played between first seed Duke and second seed West Virginia. The game times is not really clear but it’s predicted about 30 to 40 minutes after the end of the first game.
And the winner of the each respective final 4 game will be played in the NCAA men’s basketball championship. Grand final 4 game times will be held on Monday, 5th April at 9:00PM ET in Indianapolis.
Butler will be the first ever team who will play at the home state after very long period. And today, this team will be face off with the Michigan State. And on the other side, the Duke is also the preferred team and it is the left one seeded team in the NCAA tournament after defeating of the Syracuse, Kansas and Kentucky.
On the 4 game semi final, the first match is between 5th seed Michigan State and 5th seed Butler and will be start at 6:07 PM Eastern Time. Meanwhile, the other game will be played between first seed Duke and second seed West Virginia. The game times is not really clear but it’s predicted about 30 to 40 minutes after the end of the first game.
And the winner of the each respective final 4 game will be played in the NCAA men’s basketball championship. Grand final 4 game times will be held on Monday, 5th April at 9:00PM ET in Indianapolis.
Butler will be the first ever team who will play at the home state after very long period. And today, this team will be face off with the Michigan State. And on the other side, the Duke is also the preferred team and it is the left one seeded team in the NCAA tournament after defeating of the Syracuse, Kansas and Kentucky.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Iran gives Russia pilots two months to leave: report
Iran has given Russian commercial pilots working in the Islamic Republic two months to leave the country as it has no need for them, Transport Minister Hamid Behbahani was quoted as saying on Saturday.
The move is a further sign of strains between Iran and Russia, which has indicated it could back new sanctions against Tehran over its disputed nuclear work. For its part, Iran has voiced frustration over Moscow's failure to deliver a defense missile system.
Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency said the idea to order the Russian pilots to leave the country gained momentum after a Russian-made aircraft caught fire as it landed in northeastern Iran in January, injuring more than 40 people.
The plane belonged to Iran's Taban airline but the pilot was Russian, Fars said. It did not say how many Russians currently worked as pilots for Iranian airlines.
"Upon an order from the president (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad), the Road and Transport Ministry has set a two-month deadline, upon the expiry of which all Russian pilots will have to leave the country," Behbahani said.
"When our country itself possesses plenty of professional and specialist pilots, there is no need to bring in pilots from abroad," he told Fars.
Iran has suffered a string of crashes in the past few decades, many involving Russian-made aircraft.
In 2009 a Tupolev aircraft flying to Armenia caught fire in mid-air and crashed, killing all 168 people on board.
U.S. sanctions against Iran have prevented it from buying new aircraft or spare parts from the West, forcing it to supplement its aging fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes with aircraft from Russia and other former Soviet states.
Behbahani said about 120 aircraft out of 193 planes in Iran's commercial fleet were currently active, with the rest grounded for one reason or another.
Russia, which has significant trade ties with Iran, is among six world powers trying to find a diplomatic solution to the long-running dispute over Tehran's nuclear program.
Moscow has indicated it could support new sanctions against Iran provided they are not too severe. Iran denies Western accusations that its nuclear work is aimed at developing bombs.
Iranian officials have voiced growing frustration at Russia's failure to supply the advanced S-300 missile defense system, which Israel and the United States do not want Tehran to have. Russia last month said it would not sell weapons if it leads to destabilization in any region.
The move is a further sign of strains between Iran and Russia, which has indicated it could back new sanctions against Tehran over its disputed nuclear work. For its part, Iran has voiced frustration over Moscow's failure to deliver a defense missile system.
Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency said the idea to order the Russian pilots to leave the country gained momentum after a Russian-made aircraft caught fire as it landed in northeastern Iran in January, injuring more than 40 people.
The plane belonged to Iran's Taban airline but the pilot was Russian, Fars said. It did not say how many Russians currently worked as pilots for Iranian airlines.
"Upon an order from the president (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad), the Road and Transport Ministry has set a two-month deadline, upon the expiry of which all Russian pilots will have to leave the country," Behbahani said.
"When our country itself possesses plenty of professional and specialist pilots, there is no need to bring in pilots from abroad," he told Fars.
Iran has suffered a string of crashes in the past few decades, many involving Russian-made aircraft.
In 2009 a Tupolev aircraft flying to Armenia caught fire in mid-air and crashed, killing all 168 people on board.
U.S. sanctions against Iran have prevented it from buying new aircraft or spare parts from the West, forcing it to supplement its aging fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes with aircraft from Russia and other former Soviet states.
Behbahani said about 120 aircraft out of 193 planes in Iran's commercial fleet were currently active, with the rest grounded for one reason or another.
Russia, which has significant trade ties with Iran, is among six world powers trying to find a diplomatic solution to the long-running dispute over Tehran's nuclear program.
Moscow has indicated it could support new sanctions against Iran provided they are not too severe. Iran denies Western accusations that its nuclear work is aimed at developing bombs.
Iranian officials have voiced growing frustration at Russia's failure to supply the advanced S-300 missile defense system, which Israel and the United States do not want Tehran to have. Russia last month said it would not sell weapons if it leads to destabilization in any region.
China says it will move cautiously on currency
China's central bank governor acknowledged Saturday that Beijing is using its controversial exchange-rate controls to cope with the global economic crisis and said it will be cautious about retreating from the policy.
Gov. Zhou Xiaochuan's comments come as Beijing faces rising pressure to ease controls that Washington and other trading partners say keep its yuan undervalued, swelling its trade surplus. President Barack Obama says he will press for an end to currency systems that he says depress export prices and hurt American companies.
At a news conference during the annual meeting of China's ceremonial legislature, Zhou said a "special foreign exchange mechanism" is part of Beijing's crisis response. China has held the yuan steady against the dollar since late 2008 in an apparent effort to help China's exporters compete abroad, though authorities have never openly confirmed that.
Obama vowed last month to "get much tougher" with China in trade disputes. Some American companies are pressing Congress to enact punitive tariffs on Chinese goods if Beijing fails to act. Critics say the yuan is undervalued by up to 40 percent.
"Under crisis conditions, we do not rule out the possibility of adopting special policies, including special foreign exchange mechanism. This is part of the package of policies to deal with the global financial crisis," Zhou said at a news conference.
He said that while such a policy would be "withdrawn sooner or later," the global outlook is still uncertain and the foundation of a recovery is not certain.
"If we say we withdraw from nonconventional policy and return to conventional economic policy, we must be very cautious and discreet in choosing the timing. This also includes the renminbi exchange rate policy," Zhou said, referring to the yuan by its other official name.
Zhou gave no indication when Beijing might allow the yuan to rise, repeating Premier Wen Jiabao's statement Friday that it would be kept basically stable.
The yuan's value was tied to the dollar for decades, but Beijing broke that link in 2005 and allowed the currency to rise by about 20 percent through late 2008. That rise was halted after the global crisis hit.
Appearing at the news conference with Zhou, Commerce Minister Chen Deming said exports might not recover to pre-crisis levels for two to three years due to "uncertain and unstable" global conditions.
"It could take two to three years to recover to the 2008 level," said Chen. "Proceeding from the high unemployment and low deposit rates in the epicenter of the financial tsunami, the world consumer market and real recovery of China's exports require time."
Gov. Zhou Xiaochuan's comments come as Beijing faces rising pressure to ease controls that Washington and other trading partners say keep its yuan undervalued, swelling its trade surplus. President Barack Obama says he will press for an end to currency systems that he says depress export prices and hurt American companies.
At a news conference during the annual meeting of China's ceremonial legislature, Zhou said a "special foreign exchange mechanism" is part of Beijing's crisis response. China has held the yuan steady against the dollar since late 2008 in an apparent effort to help China's exporters compete abroad, though authorities have never openly confirmed that.
Obama vowed last month to "get much tougher" with China in trade disputes. Some American companies are pressing Congress to enact punitive tariffs on Chinese goods if Beijing fails to act. Critics say the yuan is undervalued by up to 40 percent.
"Under crisis conditions, we do not rule out the possibility of adopting special policies, including special foreign exchange mechanism. This is part of the package of policies to deal with the global financial crisis," Zhou said at a news conference.
He said that while such a policy would be "withdrawn sooner or later," the global outlook is still uncertain and the foundation of a recovery is not certain.
"If we say we withdraw from nonconventional policy and return to conventional economic policy, we must be very cautious and discreet in choosing the timing. This also includes the renminbi exchange rate policy," Zhou said, referring to the yuan by its other official name.
Zhou gave no indication when Beijing might allow the yuan to rise, repeating Premier Wen Jiabao's statement Friday that it would be kept basically stable.
The yuan's value was tied to the dollar for decades, but Beijing broke that link in 2005 and allowed the currency to rise by about 20 percent through late 2008. That rise was halted after the global crisis hit.
Appearing at the news conference with Zhou, Commerce Minister Chen Deming said exports might not recover to pre-crisis levels for two to three years due to "uncertain and unstable" global conditions.
"It could take two to three years to recover to the 2008 level," said Chen. "Proceeding from the high unemployment and low deposit rates in the epicenter of the financial tsunami, the world consumer market and real recovery of China's exports require time."
Obama turns up the heat for health care overhaul
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is trying to persuade a weary public and wavering Democrats to get behind his frantic, late-stage push on health care, while Republicans dig in and demand starting from scratch after a year's worth of work.
"Now, despite all the progress and improvements we've made, Republicans in Congress insist that the only acceptable course on health care is to start over. But you know what? The insurance companies aren't starting over," Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday.
"I just met with some of them on Thursday, and they couldn't give me a straight answer as to why they keep arbitrarily and massively raising premiums — by as much as 60 percent in states like Illinois. If we do not act, they will continue to do this."
Republicans were not swayed.
"It's not too late: We can, and we must, stop this government takeover of health care," said Rep. Parker Griffith, a retired physician and a first-term congressman from Alabama who switched parties in December and delivered the GOP message.
The competing addresses underscored the urgency behind Obama's last-ditch push for immediate health care reform. Without a victory — and quickly — Democrats move into a fast-approaching election season without a major, tangible accomplishment that affects voters' pocketbooks. And with a chasm remaining between the two parties, Democrats considered passing the overhaul with votes just from their party.
That process would let the 59 Senate Democrats declare victory with 51 votes instead of a 60-vote supermajority. It also would allow Obama's team to get back to talking about the economy, which has shed more than 8 million jobs since the recession began.
Obama is pleading with Democrats to overcome divisions to seize a historic moment to remake the health care system during this election year. The White House wants to pass a health care overhaul and then campaign on it. Voters will pick candidates to serve 34 Senate seats; the entire House is up for re-election.
White House officials hope the immediate changes in the health overhaul would be enough to satisfy voters' expectations — and Democratic lawmakers who were hardly unified in support of the plan.
If Democrats pass the plan, voters would find greater consumer protections and a ban on discriminating against customers with previous ailments. Small businesses would receive a tax credit this year, insurance companies would no longer be able to drop patients' coverage if they become sick, and plans would be required to offer free preventive care to customers.
Griffith said leaders of the Democratic Party he left last year were missing the point.
"For them, health care reform has become less about the best reforms and more about what best fits their 'Washington knows best' mentality — less about helping patients and more about scoring political points," he said. "This is no idle observation. I've witnessed it firsthand."
"Now, despite all the progress and improvements we've made, Republicans in Congress insist that the only acceptable course on health care is to start over. But you know what? The insurance companies aren't starting over," Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday.
"I just met with some of them on Thursday, and they couldn't give me a straight answer as to why they keep arbitrarily and massively raising premiums — by as much as 60 percent in states like Illinois. If we do not act, they will continue to do this."
Republicans were not swayed.
"It's not too late: We can, and we must, stop this government takeover of health care," said Rep. Parker Griffith, a retired physician and a first-term congressman from Alabama who switched parties in December and delivered the GOP message.
The competing addresses underscored the urgency behind Obama's last-ditch push for immediate health care reform. Without a victory — and quickly — Democrats move into a fast-approaching election season without a major, tangible accomplishment that affects voters' pocketbooks. And with a chasm remaining between the two parties, Democrats considered passing the overhaul with votes just from their party.
That process would let the 59 Senate Democrats declare victory with 51 votes instead of a 60-vote supermajority. It also would allow Obama's team to get back to talking about the economy, which has shed more than 8 million jobs since the recession began.
Obama is pleading with Democrats to overcome divisions to seize a historic moment to remake the health care system during this election year. The White House wants to pass a health care overhaul and then campaign on it. Voters will pick candidates to serve 34 Senate seats; the entire House is up for re-election.
White House officials hope the immediate changes in the health overhaul would be enough to satisfy voters' expectations — and Democratic lawmakers who were hardly unified in support of the plan.
If Democrats pass the plan, voters would find greater consumer protections and a ban on discriminating against customers with previous ailments. Small businesses would receive a tax credit this year, insurance companies would no longer be able to drop patients' coverage if they become sick, and plans would be required to offer free preventive care to customers.
Griffith said leaders of the Democratic Party he left last year were missing the point.
"For them, health care reform has become less about the best reforms and more about what best fits their 'Washington knows best' mentality — less about helping patients and more about scoring political points," he said. "This is no idle observation. I've witnessed it firsthand."
National Online Hearing Aid Company Supports Federal Hearing Aid Tax Credit Bill
Washington, DC (Vocus/PRWEB ) March 6, 2010 -- If passed, a bill being considered by the House of Representatives and Senate could provide consumers with up to $1,000 in tax credits toward the purchase of new hearing aids. HearAid, an Internet-based hearing aid sales company, is supporting passage of the bill.
Digital Hearing Aid
Digital Hearing Aid
“We’re very excited about the possibility of this program. It’s estimated that 25 million people under the age of 65 suffer from some type of hearing loss, but a lot of them can’t afford to do anything about it. This program will help those suffering from hearing loss lead fuller, more productive lives,” said HearAid Chief Operating Manager Kirk Bradley.
Bradley also added that HearAid was created to offer quality digital hearing aid devices to customers at affordable prices by eliminating the middlemen. Its products come pre-programmed, allowing most customers to use them straight out of the box.
The bill, introduced in March 2009 by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., and later by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, seeks to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against income tax for the purchase of hearing aids. If passed, the bill would apply to taxable years after Dec. 31, 2009.
Many health insurance plans, including Medicare, exclude coverage for hearing aid purchases, and 72 percent of all hearing aid purchases involve no third-party payment. “Hearing aids are costly, and we’ve found that financial constraints are often a barrier to purchase. This legislation would provide a measure of financial assistance for older adults and children suffering from hearing loss,” said McCarthy.
For more information on HearAid, visit the Web at www.hearaidstore.com.
About HearAid
The HearAid Company was created to make quality digital hearing devices, like the TV hearing aid, available and affordable to the millions of people who need them. By purchasing hearing aid components in large quantities and using sophisticated instant fit technology, we eliminate the hassle and expenses of hearing care professional middlemen and pass the savings along to our customers.
Digital Hearing Aid
Digital Hearing Aid
“We’re very excited about the possibility of this program. It’s estimated that 25 million people under the age of 65 suffer from some type of hearing loss, but a lot of them can’t afford to do anything about it. This program will help those suffering from hearing loss lead fuller, more productive lives,” said HearAid Chief Operating Manager Kirk Bradley.
Bradley also added that HearAid was created to offer quality digital hearing aid devices to customers at affordable prices by eliminating the middlemen. Its products come pre-programmed, allowing most customers to use them straight out of the box.
The bill, introduced in March 2009 by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., and later by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, seeks to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against income tax for the purchase of hearing aids. If passed, the bill would apply to taxable years after Dec. 31, 2009.
Many health insurance plans, including Medicare, exclude coverage for hearing aid purchases, and 72 percent of all hearing aid purchases involve no third-party payment. “Hearing aids are costly, and we’ve found that financial constraints are often a barrier to purchase. This legislation would provide a measure of financial assistance for older adults and children suffering from hearing loss,” said McCarthy.
For more information on HearAid, visit the Web at www.hearaidstore.com.
About HearAid
The HearAid Company was created to make quality digital hearing devices, like the TV hearing aid, available and affordable to the millions of people who need them. By purchasing hearing aid components in large quantities and using sophisticated instant fit technology, we eliminate the hassle and expenses of hearing care professional middlemen and pass the savings along to our customers.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Unemployment rate unchanged at 9.7%; 36,000 jobs lost
WASHINGTON (AP) — The unemployment rate held at 9.7% in February as employers shed fewer jobs than expected, evidence that the job market may be slowly healing.
The Labor Department said employers cut 36,000 jobs, below analysts' expectations of 50,000. Analysts expected the jobless rate to rise to 9.8%.
The severe snowstorms that hammered the East Coast last month may have affected job losses, but the department didn't quantify the impact.
Other data in the report signaled the storms didn't have as much effect as feared.
Economists estimated before the report that the storms could inflate job losses by 100,000 or more. That would mean the economy generated a net gain in jobs last month, excluding the effect of the snow, for only the second time since the recession began in December 2007.
The department revised its estimate of job losses for January from 20,000 to 26,000, but said job cuts were fewer in December than originally estimated — 109,000 rather than 150,000.
The unemployment rate, which hasn't risen since October, could be bottoming out. Still, 14.9 million Americans are unemployed, nearly double the total when the recession began, and the economy has shed 8.4 million jobs during that time.
The economy grew at a 5.9% rate in the October-December quarter last year, the fastest pace in six years. But most economists expect the pace of growth to slow to about 3% in the current quarter, which won't be fast enough to quickly bring down the jobless rate.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Obama approach at odds with past views
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is trying to achieve a health care overhaul the way he once said it couldn't, and shouldn't, be done.
He now wants congressional Democrats to move ahead without Republican support and pass the legislation with a bare majority in the Senate instead of the broader majority he favored as a presidential candidate.
To be sure, Obama has tried to get Republicans behind him. Having failed, he's reverting to a "50-plus-one" strategy that he called a losing proposition — because "you can't govern" with it — back when he was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Republican Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia complained Thursday that Obama had "done a 180" by resorting to the fast-track procedure, given his past views as a candidate.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs denied that, insisting Obama was "talking about electoral strategy, not vote counting in the House and the Senate," in his October 2007 remarks. In fact, Obama was talking about both, and more.
Cantor made his remarks on the House floor, where he also defended his own party's use of special parliamentary tactics to pass laws with a simple majority. He was wrong, too, in stating that in most instances, Republicans had used the tactics to pass legislation that had bipartisan support.
A look at the claims Thursday and how they stack up to the facts:
THE CLAIM: Gibbs at first said Obama was only talking about how to get elected when he criticized the 50-plus-one strategy in an October 2007 interview with the Concord Monitor in New Hampshire. Pressed, Gibbs then said Obama meant "you're not going to get legislation through Congress if only 50 percent plus one in the country think it's a good idea. That's why if you look at poll after poll, people want health care reform and the debate on health care reform to continue."
THE FACTS: Obama wasn't talking about polls or public opinion — or only about electoral politics — in the interview.
"You've got to break out of what I call the — sort of — 50-plus-one pattern of presidential politics, which is you have nasty primaries where everybody's disheartened, then you divide the country 45 percent on one side 45 percent on the other and 10 percent in the middle," he began. "Battle it out and then maybe you eke out a victory of 50 plus one, and then you can't govern."
He went on to talk specifically about getting legislation through Congress: "You can't deliver on health care. We're not going to pass universal health care with a 50-plus-one strategy. We're not going to have a serious bold energy policy of the sort that I proposed yesterday unless you build a working majority."
Asked in the interview if his Democratic nomination rival Hillary Rodham Clinton would be a "50-plus-one president" and that's why he, as a consensus builder, would be better, he replied, "Yes."
___
THE CLAIM:
When House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., argued that Republicans had used the same fast-track process to enact major legislation along partisan lines when they were in charge of Congress, Cantor denied it. "There was, in the main, bipartisan support for what was being done through reconciliation in those instances," he said.
THE FACTS: Of the 10 occasions between 1995 and 2005 when Republicans were in the Senate majority and used reconciliation to pass bills, seven passed with deep partisan divisions.
In 2005, for example, Republicans used reconciliation to muscle through a deficit reduction bill that restricted Medicaid payments. It passed with 50 Republicans in favor, all Democrats against and Vice President Dick Cheney voting to break a tie — about as divisive as a Senate vote can get.
Vocus to Present at 31st Annual Raymond James Institutional Investor Conference
Lanham, MD (PRWEB) March 5, 2010 -- Vocus, Inc., (NASDAQ: VOCS) a leading provider of on-demand software for public relations management, announced today that Steve Vintz, chief financial officer, will deliver a presentation on behalf of the company at the 31st Annual Raymond James Institutional Investor Conference on Wednesday, March 10, at 9:50 am ET at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes, in Orlando, FL.
A leading provider of on-demand software for public relations management. Follow us on Twitter: @Vocus
Interested parties will be able to listen to Vocus’ presentation by logging on through the Investor Relations section of Vocus’ website at http://onlinepressroom.net/vocus/ir/.
About Vocus
Vocus, Inc. (NASDAQ: VOCS) is a leading provider of on-demand software for public relations management. Our web-based software suite helps organizations of all sizes to fundamentally change the way they communicate with both the media and the public, optimizing their public relations and increasing their ability to measure its impact. Our on-demand software addresses the critical functions of public relations including media relations, news distribution and news monitoring. We deliver our solutions over the Internet using a secure, scalable application and system architecture, which allows our customers to eliminate expensive up-front hardware and software costs and to quickly deploy and adopt our on-demand software. Vocus is used more than 4,400 organizations worldwide and is available in seven languages. Vocus is based in Lanham, MD with offices in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.vocus.com or call (800) 345-5572.
This release contains "forward-looking" statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These are statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "may," "will," "expects," "projects," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," "intends," "plans," "should," "seeks," and similar expressions. This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, Vocus’ expectations and assumptions concerning future financial performance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future results to differ materially from those projected or contemplated in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be significantly impacted by certain risks and uncertainties described in Vocus' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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