Friday, February 24, 2012

Alan Schroeder: Final Four: The GOP Arizona Debate

Scorpions in a bottle, or comrades in arms? The GOP presidential debate in Mesa, Arizona, was really two separate events: a first half in which the candidates spat venom at each other, and a second half in which they agreed on most everything -- all except contrarian Ron Paul. The net result: a debate that probably did not alter the chessboard, even as it generated a fair amount of sparks.

Of the four contenders, Rick Santorum had the best night. It has taken him twenty debates, but Santorum finally ended up with the primo onstage real estate, right next to Mitt Romney at the heart of the action. Santorum basked in his newfound position of strength, as though he ought to have been occupying center stage all along. From a visual standpoint this allowed Santorum to dominate the telecast, up to and including the shots in which he was listening and not talking.

As a debater Rick Santorum is far from perfect. Too often his answers become convoluted, and there's an immaturity about the man that undermines the seriousness of his claim on the White House. But Santorum's earnestness never fails him, and there's no denying that he has the gift of authenticity. More than his rival Republicans, Santorum appears to have learned from the experience of participating in so many joint appearances with his opponents -- he is that rare candidate who is more effective in debates than on the stump. His debate performances keep getting better, even as the others seem to be marking time.

Mitt Romney delivered another technically competent performance, although at times he looked tired. In his back-and-forths with Santorum, Romney mostly held his own, but he never quite managed to dispatch his rival the way he did Newt Gingrich in Florida. Romney suffered a particularly bad moment at the end of the debate, when he lapsed into an uninspiring closing statement rather than answering moderator John King's wrap-up question: What is the greatest misconception people have about you? Instead of playing along, Romney snapped at King for trying to bring him back on course: "You get to ask the questions you want, I get to give the answers I want." If Mesa ends up being the final Republican debate of the season, no one will be happier than Mitt Romney.

Newt Gingrich, who increasingly resembles the character actor Sydney Greenstreet, had his moments in the spotlight, but at this point in the campaign his statements have taken on an air of irrelevance. Ron Paul likewise had a solid debate that ultimately won't matter much.

Nobody was terrible in this debate. It is obvious why these candidates advanced to the final four -- and just in case we needed a reminder, there sat Rick Perry in the audience next to Callista Gingrich. Rick Santorum may have done himself some good in Mesa, and Mitt Romney did himself no harm. When scorpions in a bottle start agreeing with each other, you can only call it a draw.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-schroeder/final-four-the-gop-arizon_b_1295501.html

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Good Penmanship for Public Speakers | Manner of Speaking

The pen is mightier than the sword; but when it comes to public speaking, an empty hand is mightier than the pen.

Sometimes, a speaker will take the stage holding a pen and deliver the entire speech or presentation without ever writing a single word. Yet all the while, the pen is omnipresent, moving up and down and back and forth like a miniature conductor?s baton. And if the speaker begins to fiddle with the pen, things can go from bad to worse.

Speaking while holding a pen is something to avoid for several reasons:

1. ?A pen adds no value.

2. ?A pen is distracting.

3. ?A pen limits your ability to gesture effectively.

4. ?Holding a pen can be habit-forming and become a ?crutch?.

5. ?Things can get messy. I once saw a person fiddle with a pen to such an extent that it actually leaked onto his hand. At least that got him to put the pen down.

The only time you should hold a writing instrument when presenting is when you are actually using it to write or draw. (And it probably won?t be a pen; it will more likely be a marker of some kind.)?Thus, if you are using a white board or a flip chart, by all means, hold the marker, especially if you alternate between writing and speaking; for example, if you are sketching out a multi-stage process schematic. In such cases, repeatedly?picking the marker up and putting it down can be more distracting than just holding it.

But please be discrete. Don?t wave the marker about. Use it to point out things that you have just written if you like, but never point it at anyone in the audience. If you are going to talk for an extended period before writing again, I suggest capping the marker and putting it down or in your pocket.

Ultimately, your goal should be to minimize the time spent with a marker or other writing instrument in your hand. When you?re on stage, you?re a speaker, not a writer.

Photo courtesy of World Economic Forum

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A Canadian now living Switzerland, I am married, with two terrific teenage daughters. I am passionate about public speaking and helping others improve their public speaking and presentation skills. This entry was posted in Delivery and tagged Communication, Marker pen, Pen, public speaking. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://mannerofspeaking.org/2012/02/22/good-penmanship-for-public-speakers/

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Adele Engaged

Is Adele engaged? The singer is taking over the world with her beautiful voice, sweeping in the awards, but will she give it all up for love? She just appeared at the BRIT Awards wearing a substantial rock. Huffington Post. More links: Terrence Howard Ordered To Pay $50,000 To Estranged Wife – Stupid Celebrities. Beyonce Shows Off Her Post-Pregnancy Figure In NYC – Swanky Celebs. Bobby Brown to Release Whitney Houston Tell All Book? – Have U Heard? Liv Tyler Is On The Cover Of Marie Claire UK March 2012 – Gossip and Soaps. The Cast of The Hunger Games is Doing a MALL Tour! – I Need My Fix. 7 Most-Overlooked Tax Deductions ? – All Women Stalk. So do you think Adele is engaged? I think it may be true, she is in love with being in love and that is what made her famous after all. Best of luck to her! But I hope she still makes music! Photos: www.wenn.com/Lia Toby

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/2216myqEJho/

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Why Buy Iphone 4

why buy iphone 4The Nokia 9210 was indeed the very first real and true smartphone because of its open operating- system. Besides supplying you with easy communication, some wise phone add- ons offer enhanced security and protection for your apple iphone. I 8217ve find a couple of different third- party software around results why buy iphone 4 the internet. The customers can take advantage of taking the particulars of daily existence using the 2 Mega pixel taking stills at 1600 x 1200 pixels and QVGA video recording. This can be a phone hour past that? s made why buy iphone 4 to be elegant with lots of great improvements. It? s greatly compatible for 3rd generation and 2G means the consumer likes both high- speed communication and connection simultaneously. But remember that this can clearly display wrong location data for mobile amounts who? ve transformed their operator using lately introduced Mobile Number Portability system. A great site using the latest cell phone reviews not just provides one sort of review, for example Smartphone reviews, but additionally provides the latest cell phone reviews for those other kinds of phones too. You? ll find at this time around a Linux edition of Adobe AIR in alpha testing, however, many features are most likely absent. With mobile search becoming the dominant method of searching, Google wins here. Plans which charge a collection fee for any recommended quantity of bandwith might be economical if utilisation of the services are limited and consists mainly of e- mails and text documents. They? ll be placed inside a body that? s very stylish. For busy customers who wish to improve their connectivity and productivity, a smartphone is a superb choice to supply the access why buy iphone 4 and tools that are required. So, you need to choose limitless why buy iphone 4 access if you? re able to. Evaluating this phone using the discharge of the Rim Bold 9900, you will find areas it has fallen short. Additional, to acquire your organization network companies also result in the deal a lot more effective by showing freebies like laptop, camera, Television, video games, and many other improve appealing freebies. Rather, the PG guy generally will get overlooked through the attractive ladies who choose the R ranked guy. Once the job is completed why buy iphone 4 this content is released like a SWF file title that means Shockwave Expensive HTML isn? t vector based but Expensive is which means Expensive files load faster. The new sony Ericsson Xperia X10Sony Ericsson became a member of the Android Bandwagon through getting to the industry using the Xperia X10. The network has over 106. The Rim Blackberry Bold 9700 is selling through numerous really low listed Rim Blackberry Bold 9700 contract deals that voluntarily hand out this phone phone free of charge against reasonably listed monthly contract plans. For those who have never possessed a smartphone, you might want to read some reviews prior to you making an option to purchase a Rim.

This entry was posted in apple iphone 5 and tagged hour past, improve, results, why buy iphone 4 by . Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://models4movies.com/why-buy-iphone-4/554

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Actor's Equity endorses SAG-AFTRA merger (omg!)

[unable to retrieve full-text content]omg! - LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The Actors' Equity Association on Tuesday gave its blessing to the proposed merger between the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The Actors Equity Association is the labor union that represents live theater actors and stage managers, many of whom work on Broadway and Off-Broadway. According to a statement on the AEA website, the union's council unanimously voted to endorse the merger Tuesday. "AEA strongly supports SAG and AFTRA in their proposal to merge their Unions," the AEA said. ...

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_actors_equity_endorses_sag_aftra_merger021814058/44610666/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/actors-equity-endorses-sag-aftra-merger-021814058.html

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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Greek debt pact is far from a done deal

Georges Gobet / AFP - Getty Images

Eurogroup president Jean-Claude Juncker and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde celebrate the latest deal to bail out Greece. Their jubilation may be premature.

By John W. Schoen, Senior Producer

In their jubilant celebration over the latest agreement to solve Greece's debt debacle, European officials forgot to check with two important groups: the Greek voters and the bondholders who lent Athens the money it now says it can?t pay back.

The agreement once again buys the eurozone some time. Greek officials agreed to deeper spending cuts of 325 billion euros ($430 billion) and stricter budget oversight by the European Union. They also agreed to ask investors to accept less than 50 cents on the dollar on Greek bonds they hold.

If all goes well, Athens will once again dodge bankruptcy with the infusion of the latest,? $172 billion (?130 billion) installment in the ongoing bailout of the rapidly contracting Greek economy. ???

But the ink was barely dry before the top official of the International Monetary Fund, which has to sign off on the payment, gently reminded the parties that two important conditions still need to be met.

?As soon as the prior actions agreed with the Greek authorities are implemented and adequate financial contribution from the private sector (bondholders) is secured, I intend to make a recommendation to our Executive Board regarding IMF financing to support a program,? Christine Lagarde, Managing Director said in a statement.

The first condition -- making those $430 billion in budget cuts stick -- is a tall order.

For the past four years, the Greek economy has been in a tailspin, shrinking by 20 percent as repeated rounds of government spending cuts imposed by European officials have stifled economic growth, further shrinking the country's tax base and fueling a vicious downward spiral. The Greek unemployment rate has more than doubled during that time; today, roughly half of Greeks aged 15- to 24-years-old are out of work. Each round of spending cuts has only intensified the economic pain on Greek citizens.

Greek voters will get a chance to weigh in on the deal in April, when parliamentary elections are scheduled. Candidates running on an ?austerity? platform can expect an uphill battle in a country mired in a deep depression. ?Earlier this month, riots flared in Athens and other Greek cities as thousands joined protest rallies, burning dozens of buildings and looting businesses. On Sunday, thousands of demonstrators in Athens staged a repeat anti-austerity protest.

The architects of Tuesday? bailout deal are hoping that Greek voters believe continued membership in the European Union is worth the pain of the austerity measures being imposed as a condition for remaining part of the economic club.

The expectation is that leaders of the two main parties, the center-left Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) and the conservative New Democracy (ND), will win re-election and form a coalition that enforces spending cuts European officials are demanding.

?Certainly (the parties) will publicly voice their disgust with the program, but privately they will continue to go along with it,? said Douglas Borthwick, a currency trader at Faros Trading.

But that scenario may prove overly optimistic. Support for the two main parties is at historic lows, providing an opening for smaller left-leaning parties opposed to the spending cuts, according to IHS Global Insight economist Diego Iscaro and country analyst Blanka Kolenikova.

?If the current polls prove true when the general election is held, neither the ND nor the PASOK would secure sufficient support to create a majority government,? they wrote in a note to clients Tuesday. ?The winning party would be then forced to team up with smaller, radical parties, which would bring uncertainty and instability mid-term.?

Some observers doubt Europe?s demands are possible -- no matter who is elected.

?The package is based on unrealistic economic assumptions and will be no more successful than the first deal,? said Ben May, an economist at Capital Economics. ?Accordingly, Greece or (European officials) may still decide to terminate the bail-out within months.?

The bailout bargain faces another hurdle well before the election, when Greece faces a March 20 deadline to come up with a 15 billion euro ($20 billion) bond payment it can?t make. To head off that default, Tuesday?s bailout bargain calls for Greece to tell bond holders they?ll have to ?volunteer? to accept less than half of what they're owed.

Though Greece has not yet technically defaulted, investors fearing they won?t get their money back have already bid down the value of more than 400 euros of government debt outstanding. ?

?For some reason, this is not officially being labeled a ?default? even though more than 100 billion euros of Greek debt are being written off by private bondholders,? said David Rosenberg chief economist at Gluskin Shiff.

The latest bond write down demanded by Tuesday?s deal would inflict even heavier losses than past proposals. Much of that ?haircut? will be taken by European banks, who are now borrowing at record low rates from the European Central Bank. The hope is that those low rates will help them offset the hit they?ll take when Greece pays them back less than it originally promised.

But those losses also will be inflicted on private investors, including hedge funds who have been gambling that the government won't come up with the money to pay them back. They've been betting against full payment with so-called ?credit default swaps? -- a kind of insurance policy that pays off when a borrower defaults. ?That leaves them little incentive to agree to the deal.?

If too many private bond holders refuse to take the haircut, those credit default swaps could be triggered -- with largely unknown consequences. In 2008, the cascading impact of credit default swaps sparked by the collapse of Lehman Brothers touched off a global financial panic.

So until Greek voters and bond holders agree to go along, Tuesday?s long-awaited grand bargain may turn out to be just one more in a series of partial solutions that failed to resolve the crisis.

?All the authorities have been able to do is delay default by a few weeks, perhaps a few months at best,? hedge fund manager Dennis Gartman wrote in his investor newsletter. ?Greece will default, but perhaps not under the present government in power.?

Discuss this on Facebook.

Do you think the Greek debt crisis is a threat to your pocketbook?

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Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/21/10468865-greek-debt-pact-is-far-from-a-done-deal

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In evolution, what are the steps between asexuality and sexuality?

Question by PW: In evolution, what are the steps between asexuality and sexuality?
I?m not anti-evolution. I?m just wondering, how can a species evolve from asexuality to sexuality? Would it have to go through a period where it could do both?

And what came first, the ability to have sex to have kids, or the pleasure the comes from having sex? Neither would help much without the other.

Best answer:

Answer by Aviator
Now I?m not that knowledgeable on the subject, but I believe it was very early on. Certain one celled organisms would sometimes ?combine? with other one celled organisms of the same species while reproducing asexually. This sometimes created a mix of their DNA to be produced.

In evolution, the more variety in a population, the better. This is because the more differences, the more differences can be weeded out or promoted as good differences. So reproducing sexually instead of asexually is a benefit. So the organisms that started mixing DNA, eventually evolved to always reproduce by combining genes. This led to sexual reproduction.

Add your own answer in the comments!

Source: http://relationship.healthlook4you.com/in-evolution-what-are-the-steps-between-asexuality-and-sexuality/

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