Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/06/kim-kardashian-and-kanye-west-to-get-married-in-september/
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Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
Russia defiant of over NSA leaker
By Lidia Kelly and James Pomfret
MOSCOW/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Russia defied White House pressure on Monday to expel former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden to the United States before he flees Moscow on the next stop of his globe-crossing escape from U.S. prosecution.
Snowden, whose exposure of secret U.S. government surveillance raised questions about intrusions into private lives, was allowed to leave Hong Kong on Sunday after Washington asked the Chinese territory to arrest him on espionage charges.
The 29-year-old flew to Moscow as a transit stop before heading elsewhere, several sources said. But reports he would fly to Cuba were put in doubt when witnesses could not see him on the plane, despite heightened security before take-off.
Ecuador, which has sheltered the founder of the WikiLeaks anti-secrecy organization, Julian Assange, said it was considering Snowden's request for asylum. There is no direct flight to Quito from Moscow.
"He didn't take the flight (to Havana)," a source at Russia's national airline Aeroflot told Reuters.
As speculation mounted about where he would go next - Ecuador, Venezuela or Havana at a later date to escape the crowd of journalists on board Monday's flight - Washington was stung by Russian defiance.
Snowden's flight to Russia, which like China challenges U.S. dominance of global diplomacy, is an embarrassment to President Barack Obama who has tried to "reset" ties with Moscow and build a partnership with Beijing.
The White House said it expected the Russian government to send Snowden back to the United States and lodged "strong objections" to Hong Kong and China for letting him go.
But the Russian government ignored the appeal and President Vladimir Putin's press secretary denied any knowledge of Snowden's movements.
Asked if Snowden had spoken to the Russian authorities, Peskov said: "Overall, we have no information about him."
He declined comment on the expulsion request but other Russian officials said Moscow had no obligation to cooperate with Washington, after it passed legislation to impose visa bans and asset freezes on Russians accused of violating human rights.
U.S. HYPOCRISY
"Why should the United States expect restraint and understanding from Russia?" said Alexei Pushkov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of parliament.
Putin has missed few chances to champion public figures who challenge Western governments and to portray Washington as an overzealous global policeman. But Russian leaders have not paraded Snowden before the cameras or trumpeted his arrival.
Since leaving Hong Kong, where he feared arrest and extradition, Snowden has been searching for a country that can guarantee his security.
Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, on a trip to Vietnam, said Quito would analyze his asylum request with a "lot of responsibility". He was expected to hold a news conference around 7 p.m. (1200 GMT) in Hanoi.
A source at Aeroflot said on Sunday Snowden was booked on the flight due to depart for Havana on Monday at 2:05 p.m. (5:05 a.m. EST). But a correspondent aboard could not see him and the seat he was supposed to occupy, 17a, was taken by another passenger.
A State Department official said Washington had told countries in the Western Hemisphere that Snowden "should not be allowed to proceed in any further international travel, other than is necessary to return him to the United States".
Despite the Kremlin denials, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer said Putin had probably known about and approved Snowden's flight to Russia.
"Putin always seems almost eager to stick a finger in the eye of the United States," Schumer, a senior Senate Democrat, told CNN's "State of the Union". He also saw "the hand of Beijing" in Hong Kong's decision to let Snowden leave.
But taking the higher ground after being accused of hacking computers abroad, the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed "grave concern" over Snowden's allegations that the United States had hacked computers in China.
It said it had taken up the issue with Washington.
CHILL
Some Russians have praised Snowden's revelations. Others fear a new chill in relations with the United States.
"We are a pretty stubborn country and so is the United States. Both are mighty countries, so I would say this has a good potential to turn into a big fuss in bilateral relations," said Ina Sosna, manager of a Moscow cleaning company.
"I guess it would be best if they just let him move on from Russia to avoid any more controversy over him being here."
Snowden was assisted in his escape by WikiLeaks, whose founder Assange said he had helped to arrange documents from Ecuador.
Ecuador, like Cuba and Venezuela, is a member of the ALBA bloc, an alliance of leftist governments in Latin America that pride themselves on their "anti-imperialist" credentials. The Quito government has been sheltering Assange at its London embassy for the past year.
The New York Times quoted Assange as saying in an interview that his group had arranged for Snowden to travel on a "special refugee document" issued by Ecuador last Monday.
U.S. sources said Washington had revoked Snowden's passport. WikiLeaks said diplomats and Sarah Harrison, a British legal researcher working for the anti-secrecy group, accompanied him.
Snowden, who had worked at a U.S. National Security Agency facility in Hawaii, had been hiding in Hong Kong, a former British colony that returned to China in 1997, since leaking details about secret U.S. surveillance programs to news media.
Snowden has been charged with theft of federal government property, unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of classified communications intelligence to an unauthorized person, with the latter two charges falling under the U.S. Espionage Act.
(Additional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska and Alexei Anishchuk in Moscow, Martin Petty in Hanoi, Sui-Lee Weein in Beijing,; Andrew Cawthorne, Mario Naranjo and Daniel Wallis in Caracas, Alexandra Valencia in Quito and Mark Felsenthal, Paul Eckert and Mark Hosenball in Washington; Writing by Timothy Heritage and Elizabeth Piper, Editing by)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-warns-countries-against-snowden-travel-014740817.html
PFT: NFL rookies get harsh truth at symposium
Getty ImagesThe Dolphins gritted their teeth and celebrated the success of the local NBA franchise that makes the local NFL franchise even less relevant locally.? And nationally.
There will be more cops at Bills games this year.? (Fans would prefer more points.)
The University of Florida connection isn?t working out for the Patriots.
Get to know Jets S Josh Bush.
Browns S T.J. Ward likes Ray Horton?s aggressive style; ?It?s an attack style, all downhill. We?re really getting after the guys. That?s what I?m most excited about,? Ward said, proving that the point can be conveyed without using terms like ?kill? or ?hurt? or ?inflict mild bruising.?
The Ravens last 2013 draft pick, CB Marc Anthony, hopes to win a job with ?physicality and versatility.?
Former Steelers K Jeff Reed did a little bragging recently about his ownership of two Super Bowl rings.
Bengals single-game tickets go on sale June 29; pre-registration was required for visits from the Steelers and the Packers.
Texans WR Andre Johnson and S Ed Reed made it to the teens on NFL Network?s Top 100 countdown.
Colts DL Ricky Jean Francois still gets advice from Donald Heaven, who played OT at Florida State when Jean Francois arrived in 2002.
Titans G Chance Warmack is trying to stay positive as he makes the transition from college to the NFL.
The enhancements to the Jaguars stadium will start after the 2013 season and are expected to be ready by the start of the 2014 season.
Chargers FB Le?Ron McClain is holding a free football camp for kids in Alabama on Saturday.
Ditto for Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles, who started his fourth annual free camp for 175 kids on Friday in Texas.
Whatever Broncos WR Wes Welker got paid this week to talk repeatedly about his hair plugs, it wasn?t nearly enough.
When news broke that actor James Gandolfini has passed, some fans thought Raiders assistant Tony Sparano had died.
Cowboys QB Tony Romo didn?t earn a spot on NFLN?s Top 100 list, after coming in at No. 91 in 2012 and No. 72 in 2011.
The Associated Press style book would seem to suggest that any publication adhering to it should not use the term Redskins.
A New Jersey accountant who allegedly scammed the state out of nearly $700,000 in false unemployment claims used the money to buy, among other things, Giants season tickets.
Kyle Shurmur, the son of Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, is 6-4 and slated to play quarterback for La Salle High School.
The Packers have reduced from nine night training-camp practices in 2012 to zero in 2013.
Retired Bears LB Brian Urlacher is playing a lot of golf; ?The first thing on my mind when I wake up isn?t working out anymore,? Urlacher said.? ?So that?s a good thing.?
Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes arrived at Florida State as a receiver, and when he was moved to defense he initially wanted to transfer.
LB Jon Morgan is trying to win a spot on the Lions roster as an undrafted free agent.
Saints WE Marques Colston is hosting a receivers camp on Saturday for kids 10 to 18 years old.
50 sacks may be a bit unrealistic, but Panthers LB Greg Hardy could be in for a big year.
A 150-year-old church in Atlanta wants $24.5 million to move from the footprint of the Change Purse; the city has offered $15.5 million.
The Buccaneers? ?Rookie Club? spent time this week with local kids in Tampa.
So how can players like 49ers WR Michael Crabtree recover so quickly from a torn Achilles tendon?
Cardinals running backs coach Stump Mitchell is helping rookie RB Stepfan Taylor catch up after missing the offseason program due to the ridiculous, outdated, and unfair rule that prevents first-year players from working until the students at the college the players no longer attend have taken their final exams.
Seahawks DE Michael Bennett told the Real Rob Report that he?s never seen a pace like the one at Seahawks practices.
35 first-year Rams stuck around for ?Rookie Week,? an up-close introduction to St. Louis.? (Which for most of them will be completely irrelevant by September.)
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Saturday, June 22, 2013
Who does Pope Francis blame for world hunger?
At a UN Food and Agriculture Organization conference, Pope Francis launched criticisms at?'the dictatorship of the economy' and the spread of consumerist values.
Pope Francis (in white) speaks with participants of the 38th conference of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) during a meeting at the Vatican June 20, 2013.
Osservatore Romano / Reuters
EnlargePope Francis said on Thursday that financial speculation and corruption were keeping millions of people in hunger and the financial crisis could not be used as an alibi for failing to to help the poor.
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The speech was the latest in a series of criticisms by the Argentinian pontiff, the first Latin American pope, of what he has called "the dictatorship of the economy" and the spread of consumerist values.
"It is a well-known fact that current levels of production are sufficient, yet millions of people are still suffering and dying of starvation. This is truly scandalous," he said in a speech to participants of a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization conference in Rome.
Francis has made repeated calls to tackle poverty and focus on the needs of the poor since he succeeded Pope Benedict in March. He has made it his mission to rejuvenate an institution reeling from scandals, including widepread sexual abuse by priests, and losing people to other faiths.
"A way has to be found to enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth, and not simply to close the gap between the affluent and those who must be satisfied with the crumbs falling from the table," he said.
"There is a need to oppose the shortsighted economic interests and the mentality of power of a relative few who exclude the majority of the world's peoples." he said.
Speaking earlier this month ahead of the G8 summit of world leaders, Francis denounced what he called a culture of waste in an increasingly consumerist world and said throwing away good food was like stealing from poor people.
Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/vzha4Utvi2Q/Who-does-Pope-Francis-blame-for-world-hunger
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July hearing set to decide on Jodi Arias sentencing retrial
David Wallace / The Arizona Republic pool via AP file
Jodi Arias stands as the jury is excused after the verdict for sentencing was declared a hung jury for her first degree murder conviction at Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, Ariz., on May 23, 2013.
By Tim Gaynor, Reuters
PHOENIX -- An Arizona judge on Thursday set a July 18 hearing for convicted murderer Jodi Arias to determine whether the former waitress will face a new jury in the death penalty phase of her trial for brutally killing her ex-boyfriend.
The sensational trial began in January and Arias, 32, was convicted by a jury last month. The case became a staple for U.S. cable television viewers with its tale of a soft-spoken young woman charged with stabbing Phoenix-area man Travis Alexander multiple times, slashing his throat and shooting him in the face.
Arias took the stand for 18 days and maintained throughout that the killing of Alexander, whose body was discovered slumped in the shower of his home in June 2008, was in self-defense.
The former waitress from California was found guilty of murder by a jury but the same jurors who ruled her eligible for the death penalty subsequently failed to reach consensus on whether Arias should be executed.
As part of the process to resolve the mistrial in the penalty phase, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens met with lawyers behind closed doors on Thursday. The judge scheduled a hearing on July 18 for arguments over whether Arias should face a new jury to decide on the death penalty or life in prison.
Arias shuffled into the court shackled hand and foot and dressed in black and white prison garb, a marked change from the office attire she wore at trial.
In court filings, prosecutors had asked the judge to begin the sentencing phase on July 30. But defense attorneys asked for a delay until January because of scheduling conflicts and the possibility that Arias might want to call witnesses.
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Will 'The Voice' winner stick with country music?
TV 
4 hours ago
She beat out rock and pop performers and even her fellow country crooners on "The Voice," and now it's time for Danielle Bradbery to decide which style of music she's going to go with for her first album.
Will she stick with what led to her win or branch out? Bradbery revealed her choice during a Friday morning visit to TODAY.
"I've been thinking about it," she said. "I love country, and I would want to be more pop-country. Yeah. I love all genres, but I think pop-country."
She's even landed a record deal with the same label as pop-country princess Taylor Swift. And she has a pal who's done well with the same genre -- Hunter Hayes, who performed alongside Bradbery on "The Voice" finale and happened to be on TODAY Friday for a performance of his own.
Before belting out his hits, Hayes gave Bradbery a new guitar. After that, he gave the 16-year-old some advice about what lies ahead for her.
"Enjoy every minute of it," he said. "It's a fast-paced thing, but it's a beautiful thing. The music is wonderful to be a part of. Do your thing. Make sure it's your own music; it's your fingerprint, your soul, your heart."
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Friday, June 21, 2013
'Man for crisis' named U-25 cricket coach
Amidst the controversy surrounding the naming of selectors and coaches, the appointment of Vinayak Samant as coach of the Mumbai U-25 side came as a breath of fresh air.
The 40-year-old champion wicketkeeper, a loyal servant of Mumbai cricket, always wore his heart on his sleeve and displayed the city?s renowned khadoos attitude in abundance. One can expect his wards to play the game with the same vigour.
Samant became a part of the Mumbai side at 30 after Sameer Dighe quit.
Dighe?s presence had forced Samant to play for Assam, but he returned to Mumbai and donned the gloves for eight fruitful years. A great character and mimic artist, he was part of five Ranji Trophy-winning sides, clinching many a match with the bat too. Remember the 2006-07 Ranji semifinal against Baroda? Mumbai were reduced to 0/5 before Samant scored a 136-ball 66 to his side.
Samant was not surprised when he got the news of his appointment. ?I was expecting something since I was the coaching one of the teams in the Madhav Mantri Under-25 tournament. So it is not really a surprise. But I am obviously happy because this team will feed players to the Ranji set-up. It is a big responsibility because Mumbai have a reputation to defend every time they step onto the field,? he told dna.
Samant, who has replaced Vilas Godbole, 72, said he wants to his boys to imbibe the Mumbai attitude. ?I will be a friend to the boys. I will try to solve their problems and make them believe what they can do. I want to make them khadoos and create the Mumbai culture that we had in the Ranji team,? he added.
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/1850471/report-man-for-crisis-named-u-25-cricket-coach
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'Dexter' prepares for new season with cold treat
TV 
19 hours ago
Anna Chan / TODAY.com
The "Dexter" Coolhaus truck in midtown Manhattan on June 19, 2013.
"Dexter" fans in New York and Los Angeles are in for a tasty treat. As Showtime prepares for the launch of the hit drama's final season and its push for some Emmy recognition, the network is giving fans in the two cities a special creation: a "Killer Combo" of an ice cream sandwich from Coolhaus this Wednesday through Sunday.
We hit up the Coolhaus truck parked at E. 53rd St. and Park Avenue in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday to check out the offering, and it was a concoction worthy of the vigilante killer. The sandwich features two sides to represent Dexter Morgan -- his light (Snickerdoodle cookie) and dark halves (double chocolate cookie), with Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream and a bloody delicious cherry swirl sandwiched in the middle.
Anna Chan / TODAY.com
The "Killer Combo" ice cream sandwich.
Yes, it was as yummy as it looks and sounds. (It would've been more fitting to have the sandwich dripping with all the blood Dexter tends to find at his crime scenes, but we're just being nitpicky.)
We weren't the only ones who were excited by the sight of Dexter Morgan's face on the side of an ice cream truck in New York. (And also a sign that read "FREE ice cream sandwich!") The line of "Dexter" and sweet treat fans went around the corner of the block. According to an employee, after being open for only two hours, they had already given away more than 265 ice cream sandwiches.
"Dexter" season eight kicks off on June 30 on Showtime. To see where the Coolhaus trucks will be next in New York and Los Angeles, follow @CoolhausNY and @CoolhausLA on Twitter.
Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/dexter-gets-tasty-cold-start-ice-cream-sandwich-6C10382403
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Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Vietnam arrests third blogger in less than a month
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) ? Vietnamese police have arrested a blogger accused of posting "erroneous and slanderous" information about the communist government, state media reported Monday. The blogger is the third locked up in less than a month in an intensifying crackdown against dissent.
Dinh Nhat Uy was taken into police custody in southern Long An province on Saturday, the state-run Thanh Nien newspaper reported. He is accused of "abusing democratic freedoms," an offense punishable by up to seven years in prison.
Uy was found to have authored and posted on his blog "erroneous and slanderous" articles and photos of the government, the newspaper said.
The 30-year-old is the brother of Dinh Nguyen Kha, a student who was sentenced last month to eight years in jail for spreading propaganda against the state.
Two well-known bloggers have been arrested over the past three weeks on the same charges.
So far this year, 46 bloggers or democracy activists have been convicted and imprisoned, more than the number of people locked up for violating national security laws in the whole of 2012.
Critics accuse the government of using the security laws to silence dissent. Hanoi has said no one has been convicted of peacefully expressing their views, and only lawbreakers are put behind bars.
Foreign governments, led by the United States, and international rights groups have criticized the crackdown and called for the activists' release.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vietnam-arrests-third-blogger-less-month-024648069.html
A VC: Parenting
About a month ago, our oldest child Jessica inquired as to the whereabouts of the family videos we took of our kids when they were younger. We looked around a bit and finally found them. We hadn't seen them in years. The Gotham Gal took all the tapes over to the local photo store and got them put onto a set of DVDs, one for us and one each for the three kids. Jessica took the extra step of uploading all of them to Dropbox and inviting all of us to the folder.
So we've been watching these videos a bunch in the past month. We've also had the pleasure of having all of our kids home since late May so it has been "family time" at home. It's a rare thing these days and it won't last so we are making the most of it.
When I watch the videos, particularly the ones where we took Jessica home from the hospital, I marvel at how young we were. We had no idea what we were doing.?
Fast forward to June 2013, twenty-two years later, and we've learned a lot about parenting. One of our kids is out of college, one is in college, and one is entering his senior year in high school. I feel older, but wiser. And our kids have themselves to thank for that. They have taught us how to be parents.
Parenting is one of life's great pleasures. It has made me a better person in many ways. I am more patient, accepting, and understanding than I was before kids entered our life.
So on Father's Day, I am thankful for the experience of being a parent and parenting. It's an incredible gift and I feel fortunate to have received it.
Turkish street vendors turn on a dime to make a lira off Taksim protests
Swimming goggles and 'V for Vendetta' masks cropped up in street vendors' hands within days of the first demonstrations in Taksim Square.
Turkish police firing tear gas battle antigovernment protesters as they try to reestablish police control of Taksim Square after an absence of 10 days in the heart of Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday. Turkish street vendors were out selling swimming goggles and disposable face masks as protection against tear gas.
Scott Peterson/Getty Images/The Christian Science Monitor
Enlarge- A local, slice-of-life story from a monitor correspondent
After almost a decade in the Middle East and Central Asia, I?ve found local street vendors to be among the most responsive businessmen I?ve ever encountered. When I got off the plane in Istanbul today, it started to rain. By the time I took a cab into the city, street vendors were out selling Chinese umbrellas for about $3.20 a piece.
Skip to next paragraph Tom A. PeterCorrespondent
Tom A. Peter is a journalist based in Kabul, Afghanistan where he covers news and features throughout the country. He has also reported for The Monitor from Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, and throughout the United States.
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While most people in Turkey will tell you that they were taken completely off guard by the protests, within days street vendors were out selling swimming goggles and disposable face masks for about $2.67 each as protection against tear gas. They also had masks popularized by the movie "V is for Vendetta" and the "Anonymous" hacker group, which have been adopted by many Turkish demonstrators.
The speed at which they were able to offer these items is astonishing when you think that before the protests, most of these people were probably selling toys and products that generally?had nothing to do with protection from tear gas or revolutionary symbolism. I wouldn?t be surprised to learn that they have boxes of pro-government paraphernalia ready in case the protests are permanently squashed.
Of course, the quality of their wares is always questionable. On my first day covering the protests, I didn?t have a gas mask so I purchased a pair of swimming goggles and a face mask, the sort of thing you?d wear to hang dry wall in your basement. When I hit a cloud of tear gas the goggles provided some protection for my eyes, but immediately fogged, blinding me more than the tear gas. As for the mask? I would have been better off trying to hold my breath.
Coming back to Istanbul after yesterday's fierce clashes, I decided that I needed a real gas mask, and sought out a vendor with a brick and mortar storefront. I found an industrial safety shop where the clerk told me that in the past 10 days he?d sold more gas masks than he normally sells in three months.
Normally, Turkish people couldn't care less about industrial safety and breathing toxic fumes, especially if it means spending money, he told me, but now he has people coming in to buy masks as gifts for their friends. Still, committed to selling quality products, he lacks a street merchant?s adaptability. He told me he worried he would burn through his inventory shortly if the demand continued.
If I?m ever in an end-of-days scenario, I hope there?s a Middle Eastern street vendor around. I?m sure he?ll have something to sell me for $5 or less that will protect me (at least psychologically) from anything ranging from a Biblical plague to a zombie apocalypse. In fact, whatever I?d need to weather either of those scenarios is probably already in a box wherever street vendors store their wares.
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Post $25M Funding, Russian Startup Ostrovok Slashes Staff To Aim For Break-Even
It was only in March that one of Russia?s hottest startups ? hotels booking service Ostrovok.ru - raised $25 million in a Series B round led by billionaire investor Yuri Milner. We said at the time that this market is very capital-intensive, especially in a market like Russia. But today we learn just how difficult this might be in the mid-term. Today the company has announced on their blog that they are letting go of a third of their staff. Staff will be compensated with 3 months full salary and bonus, and their options will also vest. To Ostrovok's credit they are making the news public so that their staff can find new positions: "If you need great people, write to Kate (katya@ostrovok.ru)".Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/A2-zwV7UX-Q/
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Monday, June 17, 2013
Supreme Court strikes down Arizona voter ID citizenship law
A bilingual sign announces a polling place in Maricopa County, Arizona. (David McNew/??The Supreme Court announced Monday it has struck down an Arizona law that required voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship before registering to vote.
In Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council, seven justices agreed that the Arizona law oversteps the state's authority by essentially invalidating the federal voter registration form. The form, established by a 1993 law, lets people register to vote by sending in a uniform document accepted by all states. Voters must swear they are citizens on the form.
In a 2004 ballot initiative, Arizona voters decided they wanted to go beyond that federal requirement, by asking for proof of citizenship--such as a birth certificate, passport, or tribal ID card--at the point of voter registration.
Critics of the Arizona law argued that it stripped some voters of their ability to vote, since some civil rights groups estimate that about 13 million citizens do not have documentary proof of their citizenship. The law's supporters said it would guard against any attempts by non-citizens to vote in federal elections. Three other states had similar laws and joined in on the case.
The opinion striking down the Arizona law was written by Justice Antonin Scalia, one of the court's conservatives. Justice Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, also members of the court's conservative wing, disagreed with the ruling.
A year ago, the Supreme Court struck down several parts of Arizona's SB1070 law, which sought to give the state broader enforcement powers against unauthorized immigrants. The court in that ruling argued that the federal government's immigration laws preempted the state's, and that Arizona was interfering with federal power. The court did let a key aspect of the law stand, however, giving local and state police the power to inquire into immigration status during routine stops.
The court has yet to release its decision in Shelby County v. Holder, a case that will decide whether states with a history of voter discrimination must continue to get federal approval to change voting related laws. The decision could have a big effect on whether laws that require voters to show identification at polls in these states will pass legal muster.
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Sunday, February 17, 2013
Windows 8 Phone on Page Plus
HowardForums is a discussion board dedicated to mobile phones with over 1,000,000 members and growing!
For your convenience HowardForums is divided into 7 main sections; marketplace, phone manufacturers, carriers, smartphones/PDAs, general phone discussion, buy sell trade and general discussions. Just scroll down to see them!
Only registered members may post questions, contact other members or search our database of over 8 million posts. Why don't you join us today!
If you have time check out our sister site: Niknon.com - a forum about Digital Photography.Source: http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1791100-Windows-8-Phone-on-Page-Plus?goto=newpost
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Thursday, February 14, 2013
Parents Are the Solution, Not the Problem. Father and Mother Really ...
In days gone by, government policies and state institutions deferred to parents as the ultimate authority on what was best for their children. In recent years, however, parents? concerns are increasingly downplayed as government bureaucrats?, teachers?, and health care providers? roles have expanded. Those whose ?expertise? seems to be invoked more and more, often in ways that encroach on areas of concern traditionally given to parents, range from global entities such as the United Nations to the local physician in her office down the road.
The United Nations has proposed two treaties,?The Convention on the Rights of the Child?and the?Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, both of which place the authority of the state over that of parents in the determination of what are the best interests of children. Concerns about such infringement on parental rights have hampered ratification of these treaties in the United States, though these treaties seem to be gaining greater traction among some US politicians.
When it comes to education, Germany, Sweden and much of Eastern Europe and South America have outlawed homeschooling completely. Many other countries such as Austria and Iceland have placed burdensome restrictions on the practice. These countries refuse to give up control of the content of education and trust parents to teach their children. Much of this fear likely stems from the religious nature of many home educational programs and the refusal of homeschooling parents to engage in social indoctrination that is well under way at public and many private schools. This indoctrination often includes the normalization of homosexuality, explicit sex education, and endorsement of contraceptives and abortion.
A?European Human Rights Court?affirmed the German ban on homeschooling, saying that Germany has a valid state interest in preventing dissent from those who hold ?separate philosophical convictions.? In the United States, Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California Irvine School of Law,?recently proposed in a speech?at the annual meeting of the American Association of Law Schools that not only homeschooling, but all private schooling, should be made illegal. He claims that the right of parents to control the upbringing of their children is not absolute and can be overridden for the good of the state.
In the medical arena, health care providers also often view parents as superfluous once children become adolescents. Most young girls may gain access to contraceptives and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases without parental knowledge or consent. Fewer than half of the states in the United States require parental consent for abortion. Further, in doctors? offices around the country, physicians are isolating adolescents from their parents.?A recent review article?on adolescent health care in the?American Family Physician, the flagship journal for the American Academy of Family Physicians, emphasized the importance of excluding parents from adolescent health care decisions in order to foster more effective communication between physicians and adolescent patients.
But what does objective scientific analysis say about the marginalization of parents when it comes to the education, health care, and general well-being of children??A study by Brian Ray?of the National Home Education Research Institute looked at 11,739 homeschooled students in all 50 states. He found that the homeschooled students scored on average nearly 40 percentile points higher on standardized achievement tests when compared to students in public schools. They were ranked in the 88th percentile in the core subjects of reading, language, and math compared to the 50th percentile for the average public school student. These results were independent of the education level and socioeconomic status of the parents. Equally impressive is the fact that homeschoolers spent roughly 5% of what the public schools spend annually per student.
There are also problems with the widespread assumption that explicit sex education programs are in the best interests of students. In April 2007, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR) released?an often-cited study?on the effectiveness of abstinence education programs. They found that abstinence education programs offered no improvement in teenage pregnancy rates or in the understanding of teens for the potential negative consequences of sex. This report was widely touted as proof that abstinence education does not work and should not be funded. What goes unmentioned in the media analysis of this report, however, is that the study control groups received the standard ?safe-sex? education that is common in many school districts. There was essentially no difference in the results for students given information on the avoidance of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and those who were encouraged to abstain from sex. Neither type of program worked.
A reasonable interpretation of the failure of both abstinence education and ?safe-sex? education can be gleaned when the characteristics of the study population are analyzed. From the MPR study:
Youth in the study sample come from backgrounds that put them at relatively high risk of having sexual intercourse at an early age.? With the exception of?My Choice, My Future!,?[one of the studied abstinence education programs] one-third or fewer of the sample youth in each site reported at baseline having parents who were married. They also reported relatively high rates of life stressors, such as sisters getting pregnant or siblings dropping out of school.? Moreover, although almost all youth reported that they had a mother figure (95 percent), only four out of every five youth in the?Recapturing the Vision?and?FUPTP?[one of the studied abstinence education programs] samples reported having a father figure.
The family environments of the study participants were so dysfunctional and so conducive to risky sexual behavior that no outside intervention, however well intentioned or well designed, was going to have much impact. Contrary to the conclusions reached in the media, this report is not an indictment of abstinence education. It merely shows that family stability at home matters more than school programs.
David Paton reached much the same conclusion in his recent study of teenage pregnancy and abortions in England and Wales.?He writes?in the September 2012 issue of the journalEducation and Health?that in spite of the fact that millions of pounds have been poured into public policy initiatives for comprehensive school-based sex education, there has been virtually no change in the rate of teenage pregnancies. He points to studies showing that mandatory parental involvement abortion laws reduce the number of teen abortions, reduce teen sexually transmitted diseases, and even improve teenage mental health. He cites?work by Sabia & Rees?that showed a 15% to 25% decrease in suicide by adolescent females after the enactment of mandatory parental involvement abortion laws. Paton then concludes that rather than focusing efforts on teens in isolation from their families, public initiatives should stress the inclusion of parents in any solution.
In Aldous Huxley?s prophetic?Brave New World, parental involvement with their offspring is considered primitive and quaint. A central government takes full control of raising children and the concept of families is destroyed. Huxley?s dystopic vision is now reality: For nearly five decades governments, schools, and medical institutions have attempted to follow this same path by increasingly usurping the roles of parents in the care, education and moral formation of children. The results have been abysmal. It is time to bring parents back into the picture. State policies and institutions should support, encourage, and empower parents and bolster the family. Bureaucrats should get out of the way and let parents be parents. Father and Mother really do know best.
Washington, D.C., February 13, 2013 (Zenit.org).?Denise Hunnell, MD
Source: Zenit.org
Source: http://blog.plataformac.org/2013/02/14/parents-are-the-solution-not-the-problem/
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Thursday, February 7, 2013
China promises action on income gap
BEIJING (AP) ? China's government has issued a sweeping pledge to narrow the politically volatile gulf between its rich and poor with measures including requiring state companies to turn over more profits to pay for social programs.
The pledge Tuesday promised more spending on health, education and job training but gave few details and no sign of how Beijing will enforce changes that might hurt state industry and other politically influential factions.
Communist leaders have promised repeatedly to narrow the gap between the elite who have profited from economic reform and the country's poor majority. They have been rumored for months to be working on a plan but have faced resistance by state companies and their allies in the ruling Communist Party.
"We need to continue to deepen the reform of income distribution to protect social fairness, justice, harmony and stability," said a Cabinet statement.
Beijing reported in January that a widely used measure of income distribution known as the Gini coefficient was at 0.474 for China in 2012 on a 0-to-1 scale in which zero equals perfect equality. That would make China among the most unequal societies.
China's boom has made multibillion-dollar fortunes for some entrepreneurs but income growth for the majority has been sluggish. Complaints about the lavish lifestyles of officials, Communist Party figures and military officers who drive luxury cars, own villas and send their children to elite foreign universities have fueled political tensions.
Advocates of reform say narrowing the wealth gap will require not just social spending but fundamental changes in China's economic structure to curb the dominance of state companies that control an array of industries including banking, oil, telecommunications and finance.
Tuesday's statement promised to "improve the mechanism of state-owned industry revenue sharing" ? a reference to proposals to require China's giant, cash-rich state industries to share more of their income with the treasury. It also promised to restrain the pay of their top executives, who are political appointees rather than risk-taking entrepreneurs.
The wealth of heavily subsidized state companies that pay little in taxes or dividends is a key source of public frustration. Tuesday's statement cited an earlier pledge in the ruling party's five-year economic development plan to increase the share of company profits turned over to the government by 5 percentage points but it gave no details of further increases.
"We think the strategy is too comprehensive to be implementable," said Societe Generale economist Wei Yao in a report.
The plan does show that the Chinese government has recognized the severity of economic and social imbalances and "felt the urge to change," she said. "Hopefully, 2013 will be the year of action and the government's good promises will be eventually fulfilled."
Higher spending on education and social programs to free up household budgets for consumer spending is a key requirement of the party's long-term plans to reduce reliance on exports and investment to drive economic growth.
The government has made piecemeal changes in recent years aimed at spreading China's prosperity more broadly, including raising minimum wages for industrial workers. But economists say officials have had little impact and rising wages in some areas in recent years are due mostly to companies competing for workers as growth in the supply of labor slows.
The statement also promised to broaden the country's tax base, reduce tax evasion and require officials to disclose their income and assets ? another politically difficult goal. Schemes to hide income and assets are believed to be widespread among party officials and China's business elite and combating that will require confronting wealthy, influential individuals.
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Thursday, January 31, 2013
The GOP's Latest Challenge: Stopping the Next Todd Akin
One of the first opportunities for Republicans to demonstrate that they?re not the ?stupid party,? in the words of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, will be the way its leaders handle some sticky Senate primaries already emerging for 2014. In many battleground states, stepping forward are a handful of not-ready-for-prime-time, gaffe-prone candidates who are well-positioned to win primaries but at risk of getting thumped in a general election.
If this sounds like a broken record, it is. Christine O?Donnell, Sharron Angle, and Ken Buck cost the party two Senate seats in 2010. Last year, it was Todd Akin's and Richard Mourdock?s chance to damage the GOP on the national stage. The only difference between this upcoming midterm and the past two elections is that it?s now so painfully obvious what?s transpiring, yet party leaders are still trying to figure out how to prevent a crisis before it?s too late.
Iowa Rep. Steve King, an anti-illegal immigration hard-liner, is already giving serious consideration to the Senate race for the seat being vacated by Sen. Tom Harkin.? Joe Miller, who lost in 2010 to a write-in candidate, is reportedly talking to the National Republican Senatorial Committee about a repeat run in Alaska. A Georgia House member who accused President Obama of following the Soviet constitution is probably running to succeed retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss, and another who defended Akin?s ?legitimate rape? comment is considering a campaign. Meanwhile, Rep. Michele Bachmann is waiting in the wings in Minnesota, as a possible contender against Sen. Al Franken.
All of these races are very winnable for Republicans, at least with the right candidates. But the danger is that, in these key contests, serious candidates may not even step up to the plate, out of fear they?ll be labeled too moderate, too establishment against a more outspoken challenger in the primary. It?s a double whammy for the NRSC, which faces enough challenges recruiting strong candidates and then figuring out how to aid them through an often-contentious primary process.
Talk to Republican strategists, and they?re in a no-win situation. It?s the Goldilocks dilemma: In 2010, they got behind favored candidates, and it backfired in states such as Delaware and Colorado, where outside involvement wasn?t welcome. They then stayed out of competitive primaries in 2012, and saw unelectable candidates emerge in Missouri and Indiana.
Even Republican voters are divided on how to approach the issue. Former NRCC Deputy Political Director Brock McCleary commissioned an (automated) poll last week asking whether GOP voters thought party leaders should play favorites because voters often pick candidates too extreme to win, or whether leaders should stay out even if it means ultimately losing to Democrats. The responses divided evenly: 34 percent wanted party involvement, 34 percent wanted them to stay out. Damned if they do, damned if they don?t.
?The best thing the NRSC can [do] is recruit the best possible candidate they can get their hands on and build a very strong political team around that candidate,? said one senior Republican strategist. ?Most importantly, none of it can be done in public. It has to be a strictly behind-the-scenes effort so as not to allow the candidate to be perceived as the Washington-picked person.?
To that end, one of the most important players in the effort is newly minted NRSC Vice-Chairman Ted Cruz, who was tapped to be a bridge between the establishment and the grassroots.? At the time of his appointment, his selection was seen as a way to mollify tea-party activists and demonstrate outreach to Hispanics.?But as David Drucker reports in Wednesday?s Roll Call, Cruz?sounds unlikely to dissuade too-conservative candidates from running, even behind the scenes. For the underdog who defeated the establishment-backed favorite in his Texas Senate primary last year to do that would go against his instincts.
Still, conservative leaders would be wise to embrace pragmatism on the political side, just as they?re moderating their legislative strategy on immigration and the debt ceiling. The Republican Party is quickly discovering in Obama?s second term that it?s awfully tough to propose alternative policy proposals when your party is only in control of the lower chamber. With five additional GOP senators ? the precise number of seats lost in the last two elections because of disastrous candidates ? conservatives would be positioned to pressure Obama, instead of the other way around.
The tea party has done a lot of good for the GOP, bringing a much-needed grassroots energy and encouraging outsiders and fresh faces into the electoral process.It has?diversified the party, too, as a result.? But if conservatives ever hope to influence the governing agenda, they?ll need to take a pragmatic approach to their politics.?
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gops-latest-challenge-stopping-next-todd-akin-090753812--politics.html
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Wednesday, January 23, 2013
MIBOR Releases Year-End Market Review: 2012 Turned a Corner ...
The year-end 2012 housing data released by MIBOR today shows a significant and welcome increase in closed and pending sales in central Indiana compared to 2011. The number of closed sales in central Indiana increased 18.5 percent in 2012 over 2011. Closed sales rose 26.9 percent in the three months ending in December 2012 when compared to the same three-month period last year. In December alone, closed sales increased by 13.4 percent.
Pending sales increased by 23 percent in the three months ending in December and 16.4 percent in the one-month comparison. For the year, pending sales increased 14.9 percent.
Gains in activity were seen month after month through 2012 and prices remained stable. Median sales price for the year increased 3.6 percent oner 2011. Average sales rose 3.3 percent for the year. Inventory stabilized to 7.4 months.
For more information on this data: http://www.mibor.com/fasttrack/12113_Market.html
Source: http://www.realestatelinks.com/2013/01/mibor-releases-year-end-market-review-2012-turned-a-corner/
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WebMeUp Review: An All-in-one Online SEO App
First thing that you may be asking is what, another SEO Tool? I hear you, but just like anything else, new stuff are developed regularly, and the whole idea is to make things better, more user friendly, and preferably all in one place.
While WebMeUp.com is fairly new, development of this app has been ongoing for over a year, and only now that it is gaining a lot of traction. Why? Read on.
Why Do We Need An SEO Tool Anyway?
Well, I can give you a whole lot of reasons, but essentially, the most important aspect in my view, is that, online tools serve to improve the execution of daunting tasks and help our ?digital? lives run a tad easier. As a matter of fact, there are some required tasks that are virtually impossible to perform, without the assistance of an SEO Tool. Just think for a moment what the best SEO practices require you to do, among other things. How would you analyze your competitions backlinks? Where will you get them? How will you track and monitor your search engine rankings? How will you ensure that your site is structured properly? Etc.. And that?s nowhere close to what you need to do when it comes to doing SEO of your own or even for a client.
Now that we got that out of the way, let?s delve a bit on some of the main features this all-in-one online SEO tool offers:
- discover keywords and check rankings
- check ranking factors (e.g. Google PR, Alexa rank, number of pages indexed in different search engines, social media mentions, etc.)
- optimize site structure and encoding, do on page optimization for the content of landing pages, etc.
- find backlinks, rankings, ranking factors and other info about your competitors
- find and manage your backlinks
- run an audit of your website and your clients
- community forum
- WebPoints (wPs) that you apply towards your subscriptions ? more on that later
- and, lots more?
Here?s an introduction of WebMeUp
How To Use The App?
Not complicated at all, I must admit. In a few simple step-by-step actions, you are up and running.
At a glance, this is what your dashboard will look like.
Onto the steps ? Start by creating a project?
Step 1 ? Here?s where you enter the URL of the website
Step 2 ? Insert keywords
Step 3 ? Choose search engines (localized or not)
Step 4 ? Click Finish and wait for it to gather data ? Things can slow up a bit while on this phase, because what the app is doing is gathering all data at once, meaning, it is checking for your stats, looking at keywords, backlinks, PR, Alexa, and among other things actually running simultaneously an audit of your site. Can?t bet that!
Advantages of WebMeUP
Tools like WebMeUp has plenty of advantages, and one that I really think is a big plus is the fact that it is web based, meaning you don?t have to install anything on your computer and you can access it from anywhere for information on the fly. Do your work, track your stuff, etc., from anywhere, for as long as you have an internet access. Cool!
In addition, another advantage I see with this tool is that the data are updated daily, as suppose to its peers that take longer than that. This is good because at least you are analyzing up to date information and not outdated ones. Obviously, ?old info? is also good to view historical data, but that one, is nearly a given.
Finally, I really like the idea of having a community forum. This is very useful as all community members can discuss and exchange their experience with the app, in addition to sharing and learning SEO related topics from like minded people. Also you can get more visibility for you and your site ? by showing up in the ratings, you can get featured and a link to your profile and another link to your website will show up.
Disadvantages of WebMeUP
Well, nothing is perfect and WebMeUp is no exception. While the app is web based and easy and a project is easy to setup, slow internet connection may hamper the ability to take the fun away of analyzing things. The first time you fire up the app, the analysis could take a while, I mean quite a while and this can be an issue with people who has slow connections. Nonetheless, once all the information is successfully gathered, things start to speed up. Keep in mind that while it takes a bit of time to complete, WebMeUp is actually running the whole lot of analysis. It is not just checking for stats, and all that, it is also simultaneously ?auditing? your web site.
Another thing that may steer you away is the investment required to use the app. An app like this requires an awful lot of resources, a great and readily available support team, constant maintenance, never ending improvements (you do know that search engines algo change, right), and more. Due to this, it is but understandable that to use it, you will need to eventually upgrade your account to anyone of their available features and plans.
Fear not however, because there is one thing that WebMeUp is quite unique about. You may say, yeah sure, what?s new about having a forum. Well here?s the deal. Your participation in the forum earns you wPs (WebPoints). WebPoints (wP) are the internal currency for all WebMeUp users and community members. You can use wPs to pay for a WebMeUp subscription, or to buy some other occasional perks they will be adding in your personal account. Also, you can earn points by doing some simple stuff, like adding a picture to your profile, tweeting stuff, liking their page, etc..
Lastly and for now, reporting and white labeling is still not available at the time of this writing. They do mention that it is in the works and should be available soon. I?m waiting for this one?
Convinced?
If you are skeptical about things, and sometimes you should, the best way to overcome this is by simply going for it. WebMeUp offers a free 15 day trial of their standard plan (more than enough for the average user), and it?s got everything you need to make a well informed decision. Like it, continue on, don?t like it, no worries and no money spent.
Here?s a hint. Why not at the very least look at how your site is structured. Think all is good? Look at the audit results and you may be surprised. I looked at one of my sites, and it seems I have some fixing to take care of myself.
15 Day Trial Still Not Good Enough for you?
OK then. How does a full 2 months, and 1 month of a standard plan subscription, respectively, sound to you? Like the idea? Well, the WebMeUp team is offering these two prizes for two lucky winners. Just follow the simple rules set out below and you are good to go. Good luck!
That?s it! When you get the chance to take this all-in-one SEO tool, for a test drive, which I hope you do, please come back here and let me know what you think about it. Also, if you have any questions or suggestions, please do let us know. I?m sure the WebMeUp team will be more than happy to answer your questions and consider any contribution from your part.
Source: http://www.iblogzone.com/2013/01/webmeup-all-in-one-online-seo-app.html
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The Best Countries To Invest in South America - The Day Trading ...
The best countries to invest in South America may not look as appealing as its peers in Asia, but many overlook the growth potential and rising political stability across the continent.
Having heard about the rise of India for so long we decided to move to the new Asian giant in order to look at prospects for opening a day trading center.? If you didn?t know most trading algorithms now come? from India.
I initially arrived in Mumbai, explored the beaches of Goa, and ended up settling in New Delhi.
An investor never truly understands business prospects in a country until they either visit for an extended period of time or actually starts living overseas in that country.
I now take analysts opinions and recommendations with a? grain of salt.? I have been living in India for roughly 2 months at the writing of this post and would never dream of investing directly in India at this point in time.
As I continue traveling around the world looking for viable investment opportunities, it is imperative that one familiarize themselves with the local culture.? Speaking with people on the ground is the best way to become aware of potential problems or restrictions for future investment plans.
South America, outside of Brazil, has mostly been forgotten by professionals in favor of higher returns in Asia.? While we have made initial plans to incorporate in Singapore, tentative plans have also been made to return to Colombia to start our very first day trading center.
South America has never been situated in a better position for international investment; Brazil has solidified itself as a regional power, Chile has become the shining star of stability for the last two decades, Colombia has now turned the corner of its marred past, and Peru has showed signs of promising growth.
Here are the best countries to invest in South America:
Hindu Temple in Paramaribo, Suriname
Suriname
Suriname?? No it isn?t the name of an exotic fruit. It is a tiny country nestled in the northeast corner of South America officially bordering Guyana, French Guiana, and Brazil.
I cannot say enough good things about Suriname from a tourist?s or investment standpoint.
Since the Dutch withdrawal and independence in 1975 there has been nothing short of sound governance in the country.? Suriname is a true model of stability in South America.
No presidential coups, military intervention, revolutions, or civil wars.
The country is rich in minerals, has vast land in the interior that is ripe for development, and has a unique opportunity to expand its tourism sector.? The country?s leadership has openly discussed the need for foreign investment and growth.
Due to its small size it has to rely on foreign direct investment in order to compete and survive in today?s global economy.
Infrastructure is modern, the people are friendly, most of the population is educated, and they have a rule of law that is abided by.? We are far very far from Africa in Suriname.
Investing in Suriname does have its drawbacks.? After heat and humidity was invented in India it was promptly brought to Suriname as a souvenir.? Suriname also lacks a sufficient internal market and isn?t anywhere near an economy of scale?? Add on a currency that is considered nonexistent in major markets around the world and investors may find Suriname to be more challenging than it?s worth.
It is still one of the best countries to invest in South America.
Machu Pichu, Peru
Peru
Peru is a country in transition.? While living in Brazil there were only a handful of countries and highlights left to visit.? I was never enamored with visiting Peru because outside of Machu Picchu there isn?t anything overly unique to see in the country.
I wasn?t excited to experience the inefficiencies that Peru is known for either.
Those inefficiencies promptly disappeared when I arrived to a modern Lima international airport.? As I traveled to the popular town of Cusco to find my train to Machu Picchu I noticed something unfamiliar.
Beautification projects along many of the cities roads and stunning finely manicured flowers.
A country that doesn?t have its act together will not be focused on making life better for its citizens and tourists for that matter.? Peru?s economy has grown close to the 10% mark in both 2010 and 2011.
With a renewed focus on infrastructure development the country has started to address it?s Achilles heel.
The terrorist attacks that plagued the country have also been kept to a minimum during the last 10 years of growth.
Ripe with resources in both the northern and southern Andes mountains rail projects have been set in motion to supply transport to the ports on the coast.? This will allow Peru to connect it?s minerals and agricultural produce to the Pacific Ocean which is the strategic source of half of the world?s trade.
It?s not completely certain whether Peru will continue on its current promising course.? A country that is already the 5th largest economy in South America and hosts the 5th largest population has great potential for growth however.
The country has shown great potential at brown nosing by signing trade pacts with the United States, the EU, and China.? A new pacific alliance between the nations of Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and Chile will increase trade and integration.
The resourcefulness of the Peruvian people is shown by their ability to turn chaos into opportunity.? The inflationary period between 1979 to 1991 brought about a reliance on the US Dollar. An investor can now withdraw US dollars in any ATM across the country.
It can be said that Peru has truly turned the corner in economic and structural reforms.? Looking up to its neighbors in Brazil, Colombia, and Chile and seeing what they have accomplished is a testament that ?Peru will remain on course.
These are times in a country?s history where most investors look back at a lost opportunity.? With more potential than Suriname it does fall behind its neighbors in potential.
Rio De Janeiro From the Sugar Loaf Mountain
Brazil
Ah yes, investment in Brazil, the golden opportunity ?of South America.? Many would have expected Brazil to crown the list but upon a further look Brazil is not as glorious of an investment opportunity as most think.
It has a unique opportunity to become the anchor of the rising South American economy but also will have its limitations. Living in Brazil for 6 months allowed me to see firsthand that the country has a significant deficiency to a common standard.
It is one of the only countries in the world that has dual voltage electricity and only recently has it set a unified standard for electrical outlets.
The fact that I could not find reliable internet for the first 2 months of my stay in Brazil also tells a story of what Brazil needs.
High taxes, extensive regulation, and social programs may limit Brazil?s growth.? What many don?t realize is that Brazil already has a significant amount of debt that may hinder its potential as well.
The New York Times reported the extensive problems with I.P.O.?s in Brazil due to an unfriendly regulatory environment.? Reuters even reported that Brazil is going to have a tough year in terms of I.P.O?s.
This is not what you would expect from a country that is supposed to become a economic powerhouse.
Brazil already has the 6th largest economy in the world and has the 5th largest population.? It has a wealth of resources but without significant reforms there are better opportunities to be found in South America.
Brazil has the potential to be a regional power, not a global power at this point in time.
The Ahu Tahai Statues on Easter Island
Chile
Chile has proven over the course of the last 20 years that it is a model for efficiency, stability, and a proponent for entrepreneurship.
It isn?t known as the Switzerland of the south just because of ?it?s mountains and lakes.
Of all the countries in South America, Chile has proven that it is an economy that is conducive for investing time and time again.
Chile is a modern country that continues to redevelop, innovate, and export its business acumen throughout the world, especially South America. The new LATAM Airlines Group, which officially took over? Brazil?s TAM airlines is actually a buyout from Chile?s LAN Airlines. This new merger has become the second largest airline in the world by market value.
LAN airlines didn?t stop there, they bought the beleaguered Aires brand in Colombia and now have a significant presence in all of South America.
With their numerous trade partnerships they have been able to capitalize on their agriculture. The United States and many other countries around the world import a significant amount of fruits and vegetables from Chile in the winter season.
So much was exported that ?I couldn?t find any good fruit when I lived in Chile.
Sorry Chileans.
Their tourism sector hasn?t been fully developed yet. Most of the tourists I encountered while visiting the incredible Atacama Desert and the gorgeous Patagonian south were either European, Australian, or Canadian.
Sitting at almost 50% less tourism than next highest visited country in South America, Peru, Chile is due for an investment and explosion in tourism.
The new Pacific Alliance, an economic integration bloc agreed to by Mexico, Colombia, Peru,? and Chile, will allow Chile to continue to prosper even with Western economies beginning to falter.
Chile is not hindered by vision, it is only hindered by size.? With only 17 million people and a relatively small territory that is characterized by difficult geography, Chile has its challenges.
Being the only country in South America to achieve 1st world status is a testament to their growth potential.
Thermal Pools in Colombia
Colombia
All hail the king.? A country that was at one point controlled by drug kingpins and spoiled by the clashes of war.? Colombia has now turned to economic prosperity with a vengeance. The country has also created a favorable environment to become the best country to live in South America.
They have risen to officially become the 3rd largest economy in South America and the 4th in all of Latin America behind Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.? Considering that Argentine economic statistics are presumably ?fudged?, Colombia will shortly rise to the 2nd largest economy in South America.? They already have the 2nd largest population in South America.? Colombia is not only an incredible place to invest, it is also a great place to live.
The Day Trading Academy plans on returning to Colombia to open our first day trading center.
Living in Colombia is one of the best places to live in the world with a great spring climate year round, friendly people, and a rapidly modernizing populace.
Foreign direct investment has risen to an estimated record of over $15 billion in 2012.? Thanks to the unwelcoming attitude in Venezuela to foreign owned companies, oil exploration in Colombia has risen and significant oil fields have been found.
Colombia has doubled its oil output in the last six years.
All this is thanks to a pro-business regulatory system and pro-growth economic policies.? While Chile and Brazil have great opportunities, it is the Colombian revival that provides the best investment opportunity in near future.
An unimplemented Colombia-US Free Trade Agreement, the new Pacific Alliance, and the inevitable Union of the South American economy will only make the future of ?Colombia even brighter.? Head to Medellin, Colombia first. ?I guarantee you won?t regret it.
Source: http://thedaytradingacademy.com/investing-overseas/best-countries-invest-south-america/
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