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Willie Robertson at Liberty University’s Convocation

Sonia Pantiss
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Willie Robertson at Liberty University’s Convocation

Students and College for a Weekend (CFAW) guests enjoyed a performance by the band Crowder and a message of encouragement from Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson during Liberty University’s Convocation.

Willie Robertson, 41, is the CEO of Duck Commander, a leading duck call manufacturer, and the executive producer of Duck Dynasty. As the only member of the family with a business degree, Willie Robertson took the company from a living room operation to a premier destination for all things outdoors.

Before Willie Robertson took the stage, Crowder gave the crowd a preview of its upcoming concert with Colton Dixon. The band performed, This I Know, a song about Christ’s love for people.

Vice President for Communications Johnnie Moore also took a few minutes to greet CFAW guests and let them know how much Liberty appreciates them.

“We want you to know that as members in the body of Christ you are our honored guests and we are really glad you are here today,” he told the crowd.

President Jerry Falwell, Jr. introduced Robertson as “the star and driving force of the biggest reality television show in the history of cable television.”

Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson during Liberty University’s Convocation
Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson during Liberty University’s Convocation

“In addition to his business savvy, Willie and his entire family are known for their faith in Jesus Christ,” Jerry Falwell said.

“They are not just some of the top celebrities of our time, but are some our nation’s most famous Christians.”

Willie Robertson shared how his father Phil came to know Christ when he was 28 years old and decided to make duck calls, a tool hunters use to lure fowl.

“Without my father making the decision to come to Christ, there would not be a show called <<Duck Dynasty>>,” he said.

“When you are moving toward God, you are moving in the right direction.”

Willie Robertson then told the story of John the Baptist pointing people to Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew and how the book of Isaiah calls John the “highway for God.”

“My challenge to you is to not let the world’s measuring stick show you what is successful,” he said.

“Our family views success (as being) able to go around the country and share the message of the Lord and to talk about our faith.”

As he finished, Willie Robertson reminded students that even though they may believe in God, Satan will always try to prevent them from spreading the Gospel.

“A base like this [Liberty University] of young people can move mountains. Thank you for watching our show – you are making a difference,” Willie Robertson said.

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Galaxy Round: Samsung launches curved-screen smartphone

Nancy Clayson
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Galaxy Round: Samsung launches curved-screen smartphone

Samsung has launched Galaxy Round smartphone with a curved display screen.

The Galaxy Round will feature a 5.7in display.

The launch comes just days after rival LG said it would begin production of curved-screen phones next year.

Digital display technology has been progressing towards curved screens. Both Samsung and LG already offer curved organic light-emitting diode (OLED) television sets.

Samsung Electronics said the curved screen display would help consumers use some of the features on the phone, including those that enable users to check information such as date, time and missed calls when home screen is off, with more ease.

Samsung has launched Galaxy Round smartphone with a curved display screen
Samsung has launched Galaxy Round smartphone with a curved display screen

At the same time, users can also change music tracks on their phone, even while its display is off.

The Galaxy Round will initially be launched only in South Korea. The firm gave no indication of its plans for a global launch.

The global smartphone market has been growing rapidly.

According to research firm CCS Insight, worldwide smartphone sales will hit nearly 1 billion in 2013 – accounting for more than half the total of 1.7 billion mobile phones sold.

As result, smartphone manufacturers have been keen to offer new products to win consumers.

With display technology moving towards flexible and bendy screens, it is one area that companies have been looking at.

Janet Yellen to be nominated as head of Federal Reserve

Clyde K. Valle
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Janet Yellen to be nominated as head of Federal Reserve

According to a White House official, President Barack Obama will nominate Federal Reserve Vice-Chair Janet Yellen to be the next head of the US central bank on Wednesday.

If confirmed by the Senate, Janet Yellen would replace Ben Bernanke, who has held the post for eight years.

Janet Yellen has been Ben Bernanke’s deputy for the last two years, and would become the first woman to head the Federal Reserve.

Janet Yellen is to become the first woman to head the Federal Reserve
Janet Yellen is to become the first woman to head the Federal Reserve

Janet Yellen and Ben Bernanke are due to appear with President Barack Obama on Wednesday.

She has taught at Harvard University and the London School of Economics, as well as holding a series of senior administrative positions in the US.

Janet Yellen, like Ben Bernanke, is seen as a “dove”, meaning she prefers to prioritize boosting employment by keeping rates low rather than worrying about inflation.

Her nomination has been widely expected after former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers withdrew his candidature.

Democrat Charles Schumer said Janet Yellen had the backing of politicians and would win Senate confirmation “by a wide margin”.

The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, Tim Johnson, said she had “a depth of experience that is second to none”.

“I have no doubt she will be an excellent Federal Reserve chairman,” he added.

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Alcatel-Lucent to cut 10,000 jobs worldwide

Clyde K. Valle
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Alcatel-Lucent to cut 10,000 jobs worldwide

Alcatel-Lucent plans to cut 10,000 jobs in a bid to reduce costs.

The cuts represent 14% of its 72,000 workforce and 900 of those job losses will be made in France.

The telecoms equipment maker has reported losses in the previous five quarters and hopes to save $1.4 billion through costs cuts by 2015. Shares in Alcatel-Lucent rose 2% following the news.

Alcatel-Lucent has reported losses in the previous five quarters and hopes to save $1.4 billion through costs cuts by 2015
Alcatel-Lucent has reported losses in the previous five quarters and hopes to save $1.4 billion through costs cuts by 2015

Chief executive Michel Combes said the decisions were “difficult”.

Alcatel-Lucent, which competes with Sweden’s Ericsson and Finland’s Nokia, announced the cuts in a statement ahead of a meeting with its European works council later today.

Michel Combes said the cuts were necessary to give the company an “industrially sustainable future” and the company’s employees could expect an “open and transparent dialogue”.

Alcatel-Lucent’s most recent cuts are in addition to the 5,000 announced in July.

Last year the company reported losses of 1.2 billion euros ($1.6 billion).

In July rival Ericsson reported a sharp rise in quarterly profits, helped by cost cuts and higher profit margins.

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Halloween pumpkin-carving tips

Nancy Clayson
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Halloween pumpkin-carving tips

Basic pumpkin-carving tips to help you carve the perfect pumpkin for Halloween:

  1. Be sure to cover your work area (a countertop, table, or floor) with newspapers or a sheet of heavy plastic. If you plan to carve lots of pumpkins, you might want to work outside where any debris can be hosed off or swept away.
  2. Decide whether you will be cutting the top or the bottom off of the pumpkin in order to remove the seeds. If you cut a hole in the top, you’ll have an easy way to vent the heat from a candle. If you cut off the bottom, you’ll have easier access for an electric light cord.
  3. Before cutting into the pumpkin, determine how wide to cut the access hole. The hole should be large enough to fit your hand through, as well as accommodate a spoon or other scraping tool. If you’re not quite sure how large a hole to cut, try a hole about 6 inches in diameter.
  4. You can draw your jack-o-lantern design on a piece of paper and transfer the design to the pumpkin. You can also draw right on the pumpkin. Be aware, however, that a pencil or pen can dent the flesh of the pumpkin and a permanent marker may not wash off. If you’re drawing directly on the pumpkin, use washable markers or waxy china pencils instead.
  5. Once you have drawn the circular area for the lid (or bottom), begin cutting with a knife or pumpkin saw. Knives will cut faster, but not quite as accurately. Saws are fairly delicate and it may take longer to patiently saw out the opening. If you use too much pressure on a pumpkin saw, (sold in kits) the blade may snap off.
  6. Be sure to cut the top out holding the knife at a 45 degree angle, with the tip of the knife pointing toward the center of the pumpkin. Why? So the lid has a surface to sit on and it won’t slip through the opening into the pumpkin.
  7. Choose which side of the pumpkin will be the “front”. Then on the back side make a mark with a pen or cut a slit in both the lid and the adjoining pumpkin edge to mark how the lid should be realigned after carving.

    Halloween pumpkin
    Halloween pumpkin
  8. Next, get your hands slimy by reaching in to pull out the strings and seeds. Scrape this material away from the sides and the bottom with a heavy serving spoon (don’t use your best silver!) or another kitchen utensil such as an ice cream paddle.
  9. Continue scraping until all of the strings have been dislodged then reach in to remove everything that is loose. You should end up with a clean inside, free from pumpkin seeds or strings.
  10. For easier carving, keep scraping the areas of the pumpkin where you plan to carve. Scraping the inner walls down to a thickness of about an inch will allow knives and carving tools to more easily pierce the pumpkin’s flesh. (Test the depth of the skin by inserting a pin or small knife into an area that will be cut away.)
  11. Remove all of these additional scrapings so the interior of the pumpkin is clean.
  12. Draw a face or other design onto the pumpkin. Do a casual pumpkin with a freehand design or trace a pattern especially designed for pumpkins. Use a combination of non-permanent markers, china pencil, or pin pricks to mark the design. Make sure that the design does not start too low on the pumpkin or some if it may be hidden when you set it on the porch.
  13. Carve your pumpkin where you will be comfortable — sitting at table, standing over it, or holding it in your lap. Begin carving the design. Use tools you have including paring knives, utility blades, exacto knives, wood carving tools, or pumpkin saws and tools that are readily available in pumpkin carving sets sold in grocery stores during October.
  14. Keep carving until the design is complete. If you cut too much out by mistake, you might be able to repair the pumpkin by reattaching a piece using toothpicks or straight pins.
  15. Test the look of your design by inserting a votive candle or flashlight into the pumpkin. Dim the room’s lights to get the full effect. You’ll be able to see where additional areas may need to be carved away or expanded to better showcase the design.

Tips:

  1. Running short of time? Plan to clean out your pumpkin one day and carve it a day or two later.
  2. Patience and care may result in the most beautiful designs, however even haphazardly cut pumpkins can look happy and festive.
  3. It can help to insert a tool in the center of an area to be cut away, working your way out to the actual cutting line. It may also help to begin with shallow cuts, retracing them more deeply until the pieces are removed.
  4. Keep cut pumpkins in a cool place whenever possible. Setting them inside large plastic bags may also help keep pumpkins from drying out.
  5. Coating all cut edges with petroleum jelly will help keep pumpkins from drying out.[youtube oTEo_Roo8uw]

Jessica Robertson tips for a strong marriage

Sonia Pantiss
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Jessica Robertson tips for a strong marriage

Duck Dynasty’s Jessica and Jep Robertson celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary.

Jessica Robertson revealed how they kept their marriage strong and how you can improve yours.

Jessica and Jep Robertson celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary
Jessica and Jep Robertson celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary

In a blog post for A&E, Jessica Robertson recalls meeting now-husband Jep at their “mutual hair stylist” in February 2001 and marrying him just eight months later.

Since they marries, Jessica and Jep have raised a happy family: Lily, 10, Merritt, 8, Priscilla, 6, and River, 4, make up their burgeoning brood – and have managed to keep their marriage full of love.

Jessica Robertson shared four tips to maintaining a strong marriage:

1. Be loyal to your spouse.
2. Forgive your spouse.
3. Respect your spouse.
4. Cherish your spouse.

[youtube DSpUGminA8k]

Si Robertson’s blue Tupperware cup story

Sonia Pantiss
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Si Robertson’s blue Tupperware cup story

For Duck Dynasty’s Si Robertson the one item he can’t live without is his blue Tupperware cup.

Uncle Si Robertson explains the full story behind his unusual accessory for the first time in his new book, Si-cology: Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty’s Favorite Uncle.

He first acquired the blue Tupperware container when his mother sent it to him in a care package during his time serving in the military in Vietnam.

“Somehow, Momma’s iced tea cup stayed with me all the way through Vietnam, and I’ve carried it in my back pocket ever since,” Si Robertson writes.

Si Robertson explains the full story behind his blue cup for the first time in his new book
Si Robertson explains the full story behind his blue cup for the first time in his new book

“I guess if it can make it through the napalm, mustard gas, and rice wine of Vietnam, I’ll probably take it to my grave.”

Si Robertson says he never lets the cup out of his sight, and he wouldn’t part with it for the world.

“One time, a guy handed me a blank check and wanted to buy my iced tea cup,” Uncle Si claims.

“<<Fill in the amount>>, he said. <<Whatever it takes. I want that Tupperware cup>>.”

Si Robertson continues: “<<It’s not for sale>>, I told him. I told the guy to go buy his own Tupperware cup …”

The Tupperware brand has been thrilled with all of the prominent product placement the blue cup gets on Duck Dynasty show, and sent Si Robertson “a stainless steel saucepan with a lid, a big boiling pot, and a really nice set of steak knives,” plus a dozen blue cups, he claims.

“Apparently Tupperware cups are making a comeback,” Si Robertson writes.

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Phil Robertson reveals fake bleeps were inserted into Duck Dynasty

Sonia Pantiss
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Phil Robertson reveals fake bleeps were inserted into Duck Dynasty

Duck Dynasty continues to smash competition in the ratings on Wednesday nights, but Phil Robertson has spoken out about how the show is portrayed.

In an interview with Sports Spectrum TV earlier this year that’s only recently gone viral, Phil Robertson admitted that fake bleeps were inserted into the show even though there was no cursing happening.

“The inserted fake bleeps … like somebody had used profanity, but no one had used profanity,” Phil Robertson said.

“I ask those guys that produce the show … <<What’s the point of the fake bleeps?>>”

In an interview with Sports Spectrum TV earlier this year that’s only recently gone viral, Phil Robertson admitted that fake bleeps were inserted into the show even though there was no cursing happening
In an interview with Sports Spectrum TV earlier this year that’s only recently gone viral, Phil Robertson admitted that fake bleeps were inserted into the show even though there was no cursing happening

Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson admitted that there are up to 20 editors who are “arranging the scenes” on the show so they might think that’s where cursing likely happened.

“Of course these people probably thought that there was some profanity going on which there was zero,” Phil Robertson stated.

“If we’re not using profanity, why make it look like we’re using profanity? What is the point? Why don’t you just run it and say what we say?”

Phil Robertson also said that the name Jesus has been cut out during the family’s prayer scene at the end of the show.

“So they would just have me saying, <<Thank you Lord for the food, thank you for loving us. Amen>>. So I said, <<Why would you cut out ‘In Jesus’ name?>> They said, <<Well those editors are probably doing that. They just think that they don’t want to offend some of the Muslims or something>>.”

Phil Robertson said that since that conversation the show has been leaving “Jesus” in the show.

“So I notice now they are … leaving it in there, but you got to remember, spiritual warfare,” Phil Robertson said.

“I mean you have people with no moral compass, it ain’t there.”

[youtube Y_0XS1vaX-M]

IMF cuts global economic growth forecast

Clyde K. Valle
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IMF cuts global economic growth forecast

The IMF has cut its forecast for global economic growth at the same time as lifting its UK growth projection.

The International Monetary Fund now expects global growth of 2.9% this year, a cut of 0.3% from July’s estimate. In 2014 it expects global growth of 3.6%, down 0.2%.

It cited weakness in emerging economies for the cut.

The forecast for UK growth this year received a significant upgrade to 1.4%, up from July’s estimate of 0.9%.

And for next year the IMF expects UK growth of 1.9%, up from July’s projection of 1.5%.

The IMF’s upgrades for its outlook on the UK are larger than those it made for any other country in its World Economic Outlook – its twice-yearly assessment of the global economy.

It credited recent data indicating higher consumer and business confidence, for the increase.

However, it warned that it would still take years for the UK economy to recover fully from the 2008 financial crisis. It suggested that the government could help boost growth by bringing forward planned public infrastructure spending, such as building new homes.

The IMF has cut its forecast for global economic growth at the same time as lifting its UK growth projection
The IMF has cut its forecast for global economic growth at the same time as lifting its UK growth projection

The UK Treasury said the IMF upgrade showed the government’s economic strategy was working.

“But risks to the global economy remain high, and the recovery cannot be taken for granted. That is why the government will not let up in implementing its economic plan,” a spokesman added.

Despite the improvement in growth in advanced economies such as the UK and US, the IMF warned that a slower pace of expansion in emerging economies such as Brazil, China and India, was holding back global expansion.

The IMF expects growth in Russia, China, India and Mexico to be slower than it forecast in July.

In part, it says this is due to expectations of a change in policy by US central bank the Federal Reserve. Simply the expectation that the US could trim back its efforts to stimulate the US economy has already had an impact on interest rates in emerging economies, the IMF said.

It said an increasing belief that China’s growth rate would slow would also hit global growth.

The IMF expects the US to drive global growth.

But it warns that the political standoff over raising the US government’s borrowing limit, if it results in the US defaulting on its debt payments, “could seriously damage the global economy”.

The IMF expects growth of 1.6% in the US this year and 2.6% next year, down 0.1% and 0.2% from its July forecast.

In the euro area, the IMF says business confidence indicators suggest activity is close to stabilizing in peripheral economies, such as Italy and Spain, and already recovering in core economies such as Germany.

Overall, it predicts growth will fall 0.4% this year, an improvement of 0.1% on its July prediction, and grow 1% next year.

“In short, the recovery from the crisis continues, albeit too slowly,” said Olivier Blanchard, economic counselor at the IMF.

“The architecture of the financial system is evolving, and its future shape is still unclear. These issues will continue to shape the evolution of the world economy for many years to come.”

Costa Concordia: Russel Rebello’s remains found on third deck

Nancy Clayson
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Costa Concordia: Russel Rebello’s remains found on third deck

The remains of Indian waiter Russel Rebello – one of two people still missing from the Costa Concordia – have been found by Italian divers searching the wreck of the cruise ship, officials say.

An Italian passenger, Maria Grazia Trecarichi, is still unaccounted for.

Thirty people had already been confirmed dead after the Costa Concordia partially sank off the island of Giglio last year.

Salvage teams moved it to an upright position last month.

The remains of Indian waiter Russel Rebello have been found on the third deck of the Costa Concordia cruise ship
The remains of Indian waiter Russel Rebello have been found on the third deck of the Costa Concordia cruise ship

“The remains have been found by rescuers on the third deck” of the cruise ship, said a civil protection agency spokeswoman, Francesca Maffini.

“Several elements make us say that they could relate to the body of the young waiter of Indian nationality, Russel Rebello,” she said.

The agency the results would not be confirmed for several days, but said Russel Rebello’s family had been informed about the development.

An earlier announcement by the authorities that they had found the remains of two human bodies was subsequently played down.

The search for the two people who remained unaccounted for resumed on September 24, a week after the wreck of the cruise ship had been moved to an upright position and stabilized.

Officials have made the recovery of the remaining bodies a priority.

Divers had previously focused their search for the two missing people on the fourth deck of the Costa Concordia, where they had reportedly been seen for the last time on the evening of the accident.

The captain of the Costa Concordia, Francesco Schettino, is on trial over the disaster.

Francesco Schettino is accused of manslaughter, causing the shipwreck and abandoning ship, but says he is being made a scapegoat for the errors of others.

RTS,S: World’s first malaria vaccine could be widespread by 2015

Kathryn R. Bown
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RTS,S: World’s first malaria vaccine could be widespread by 2015

Giant drug-maker GlaxoSmithKline is seeking regulatory approval for RTS,S, the world’s first malaria vaccine after trial data showed that it had cut the number of cases in African children.

Experts say that they are optimistic about the possibility of the world’s first vaccine after the trial results.

Malaria, a mosquito-borne parasitic disease, kills hundreds of thousands of people worldwide every year.

Scientists say an effective vaccine is key to attempts to eradicate it.

RTS,S (or Mosquirix ) was found to have almost halved the number of malaria cases in young children in the trial and to have reduced by about 25% the number of malaria cases in infants.

GSK is developing RTS,S with the non-profit Path Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI), supported by funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“Many millions of malaria cases fill the wards of our hospitals,” said Halidou Tinto, a lead investigator on the RTS,S trial from Burkina Faso.

GSK is seeking regulatory approval for RTS,S, the world's first malaria vaccine
GSK is seeking regulatory approval for RTS,S, the world’s first malaria vaccine

“Progress is being made with bed nets and other measures, but we need more tools to battle this terrible disease.”

The malaria trial was Africa’s largest-ever clinical trial involving almost 15,500 children in seven countries.

The findings were presented at a medical meeting in Durban, South Africa.

“Based on these data, GSK now intends to submit, in 2014, a regulatory application to the European Medicines Agency [EMA],” GSK said in a statement.

GSK has been developing the vaccine for three decades.

The statement said that the hope now is that the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) may recommend the use of the RTS,S vaccine from as early as 2015 if EMA drugs regulators back its licence application.

Testing showed that 18 months after vaccination, children aged five to 17 months had a 46% reduction in the risk of clinical malaria compared to unvaccinated contemporaries.

However, in infants aged six to 12 weeks at the time of vaccination, there was only a 27% reduction in risk.

A spokeswoman for GSK told the AFP news agency that the company would file its application to the EMA under a process aimed at facilitating new drugs for poorer countries.

Malaria:

  • Malaria remains the leading cause of illness and death around the globe
  • Worldwide, a child dies of malaria every 30 seconds
  • The parasitic disease, carried by mosquitoes, kills around 800,000 people a year
  • 90% of all malaria cases are in sub-Saharan Africa
  • Making malaria vaccine available for routine use will be a major hallmark
  • The vaccine will only be part of the solution to tackling this preventable infection
  • Bed nets, insect repellents, malaria drugs and targeted killing of mosquito breeding grounds are also key, say experts [youtube J6r9UIWGvW4]

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef funeral: 800,000 mourners take streets of Jerusalem for largest funeral in Israel’s history

Diane A. Wade
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Rabbi Ovadia Yosef funeral: 800,000 mourners take streets of Jerusalem for largest funeral in Israel’s history

At least 800,000 people from across Israel took to the streets of Jerusalem to mourn Rabbi Ovadia Yosef , the spiritual leader of Sephardic Jewish community, police said.

Police helicopters hovered above the city and Light Rail trains reached maximum capacity due to multiple road closings, as hundreds of thousands rushed to attend the 6 pm funeral at the Sanhedria Cemetery.
According to Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, hundreds of officers were deployed throughout the city to ensure order.
Meanwhile, dozens of chartered buses that were able to navigate the numerous street closings – as well as sections of Highway 1 – were parked, some haphazardly, around Ammunition Hill’s sidewalks and parking lots.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who had enormous influence among Israeli Jews of Middle Eastern and North African ancestry, died aged 93 in hospital on Monday.

At least 800,000 people from across Israel took to the streets of Jerusalem to mourn Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
At least 800,000 people from across Israel took to the streets of Jerusalem to mourn Rabbi Ovadia Yosef

His death came two weeks after he had heart surgery at Jerusalem’s Hadassa hospital, where he eventually passed away.

The mourners were mostly ultra-Orthodox Jews wearing traditional black clothing and with men separated from women.

They gathered outside the seminary Rabbi Ovadia Yosef had studied at, before going to his funeral in the Sanhedria district.

Police blocked off roads and stepped up security, with thousands of additional officers deployed.

They said with the huge number of mourners it was the biggest funeral in Israel’s history.

Iraqi-born Rabbi Ovadia Yosef turned an Israeli underclass of Sephardic Jews of Middle Eastern heritage into a powerful political force.

Through the Shas (Sephardic Torah Guardians) party Rabbi Ovadia Yosef founded in the early 1980s, he wielded unique political influence from his modest apartment in the city.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat issued a statement mourning the loss of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
“Rabbi Ovadia Yosef was a part of the Jerusalem landscape for many decades,” Nir Barkat wrote.

“He was a spiritual leader, a respected scholar, an influential author and a halachic authority for hundreds of thousands of people in Israel and around the world.”
He continued: “Jerusalem mourns with all of Israel and sends condolences to Rabbi Yosef’s family.”
Nir Barkat added that the Jerusalem Municipality will coordinate an official commemoration of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef’s legacy in the coming months.

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Nobel Prize in Physics 2013 awarded to François Englert and Peter W. Higgs

James J. Williams
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Nobel Prize in Physics 2013 awarded to François Englert and Peter W. Higgs

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2013 was awarded jointly to François Englert and Peter W. Higgs for their work on the theory of the Higgs boson.

Peter Higgs, from the UK, and François Englert from Belgium, shared the prize “for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider”.

In the 1960s they were among several physicists who proposed a mechanism to explain why the most basic building blocks of the Universe have mass.

The mechanism predicts a particle – the Higgs boson – which was finally discovered in 2012 at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, in Switzerland.

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2013 was awarded jointly to François Englert and Peter W. Higgs for their work on the theory of the Higgs boson
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2013 was awarded jointly to François Englert and Peter W. Higgs for their work on the theory of the Higgs boson

“This year’s prize is about something small that makes all the difference,” said Staffan Normark, permanent secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

FrançoisEnglert said he was “very happy” to win the award.

“At first I thought I didn’t have it [the prize] because I didn’t see the announcement,” he told the Nobel committee, after their news conference was delayed by more than an hour.

Prof. Peter Higgs, of the University of Edinburgh, said: “I am overwhelmed to receive this award and thank the Royal Swedish Academy.

“I would also like to congratulate all those who have contributed to the discovery of this new particle and to thank my family, friends and colleagues for their support.

“I hope this recognition of fundamental science will help raise awareness of the value of blue-sky research.”

CERN director general Rolf Heuer said he was “thrilled” that this year’s prize had gone to particle physics.

“The discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN last year, which validates the Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism, marks the culmination of decades of intellectual effort by many people around the world,” he said.

Typhoon Fitow kills at least 5 people in eastern China

Diane A. Wade
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Typhoon Fitow kills at least 5 people in eastern China

Typhoon Fitow hit eastern China killing at least five people, with four others missing, local media report.

The powerful storm hit China’s eastern coast early on Monday, with winds of up to 151km/h.

The cyclone flattened houses, flooded villages and farms, and affected more than 4.5 million people, officials said.

Typhoon Fitow has caused economic losses of more than 21 billion yuan ($3.4 billion), officials in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces said.

Typhoon Fitow hit eastern China killing at least five people
Typhoon Fitow hit eastern China killing at least five people

Two people died in Wenzhou, in Zhejiang province, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

Three people in Ruian, also in Zhejiang, died from electric shocks, the agency added.

Rescue operations were underway, with footage on state television showing stranded residents being picked up by speed boats.

State media described shrimp farms and seaweed farms being damaged by the storm and powerful winds.

“We have basically lost everything this year,” a seaweed farmer told reporters.

Typhoon Fitow – named after a flower – made landfall at 01:15 local time on Monday in the city of Fuding, Chinese meteorologists said.

It triggered the evacuation of hundreds of thousands in Zhejiang and Fujian, and caused transport chaos as train, coach and flight services were cancelled.

Typhoon Fitow came just weeks after Typhoon Usagi killed at least 25 people in southern Guangdong province.

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Brazil: Teachers protests turn violent in Sao Paolo and Rio

Diane A. Wade
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Brazil: Teachers protests turn violent in Sao Paolo and Rio

Crowds of people supporting teachers’ demand for a better pay have clashed with riot police in the Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo .

The centre of Rio was packed with more than 10,000 people marching peacefully.

But as it got dark, some protesters threw firebombs at public buildings and riot police responded with tear gas.

A similar protest in Sao Paulo also ended in violent confrontation with police after many banks were ransacked by hooded protesters.

Brazil’s security situation is a challenge to cities that will play host to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.

Protesters demonstrating in support of teachers receiving better pay in the Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have clashed with police
Protesters demonstrating in support of teachers receiving better pay in the Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have clashed with police

The latest demonstration took place over several hours and was peaceful at first.

But once night fell, violent incidents broke out as at least 20 “black bloc” anarchists smashed a City Hall gate while others broke into banks and tried to break into ATMs. Some banks were set alight.

Demonstrators also torched a bus on busy Rio Branco Avenue, and took furniture out of banks to use in barricades as the stand-off off with police continued.

Authorities used tear gas to restore order.

“Without the police, there is no violence. When they are there, there always is,” said anarchist Hugo Cryois, 23, who had a gas mask dangling from his neck.

“I came prepared,” he said.

“You can’t trust them.”

Teachers have been demanding a pay increase for two months. About 50,000 people were estimated to have marched to support them before the violence broke out, but police would only confirm the 10,000 estimate.

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Nadine Moze: Fred Couples new girlfriend among WAGs at Presidents Cup 2013

Lisa.Felice
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Nadine Moze: Fred Couples new girlfriend among WAGs at Presidents Cup 2013

US Team Captain Fred Couples is currently dating Nadine Moze.

The top golfer’s new girlfriend was among the WAGs at the Presidents Cup 2013 at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio over the weekend.

Nadine Moze, 37, is currently living in Hermosa Beach, California.

An easygoing, softspoken individual with a booming drive, Fred Couples emerged as one of the top American golfers of the 1990s, and one of the most popular golfers anywhere..

Fred Couples, born on October 3, 1959, grew up in Seattle, where his father worked in the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. The young Freddie caddied for a top local player, who gave Couples his first set of golf clubs: a starter set of 5, 7 and 9 irons, plus putter and driver.

Fred Couples’ new girlfriend Nadine Moze was among the WAGs at the Presidents Cup 2013 at Muirfield Village in Dublin
Fred Couples’ new girlfriend Nadine Moze was among the WAGs at the Presidents Cup 2013 at Muirfield Village in Dublin

Fred Couples became a top junior and amateur player in the region, then played collegiately at the University of Houston. There, his roommate Jim Nantz would often pretend he was broadcasting The Masters, and that Fred Couples had won it – and then interview Couples in their dorm room.

He turned pro in 1980, and his first win on the PGA Tour arrived at the 1983 Kemper Open, where he survived a 5-man playoff.

Fred Couples was married to Deborah from 1981 to 1992. Deborah Couples committed suicide in 2001 by jumping off a 70-foot building.

Eventually Fred Couples would remarry, meeting Thais Baker and marrying in 1998.

While the couple didn’t have any kids Thais Baker had two kids from a previous relationship, GiGi and Oliver. In 2009 Thais Baker passed away at the couple’s home from breast cancer, while Fred played golf.

All 5,000 participants of 2013 Internet & Mobile World are part of the “Black Friday” and get free advice

Dana R
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All 5,000 participants of 2013 Internet & Mobile World are part of the “Black Friday” and get free advice

2013 Internet & Mobile World  (IMWorld 2013) participants,  the biggest “business to business”event,  dedicated to Romanian digital solutions, mobile and software, to be held Wednesday and Thursday at Romexpo, will receive a free consultation, own “Black Friday”, access to specially designed for networking software, as well as specialized training discounts.

 “Internet & Mobile World was created to respond to two major needs: know-how updated in the most dynamic areas of the moment and facilitate direct contact between the leading business solution providers and potential beneficiaries. Therefore, we thought a series of promotions and tools that facilitate interaction between participants”, said Cristian Hossu, Universum Events Managing Partner, IMWorld organizer.

 

So, the 5,000 participants will receive a free site audit of the company WSI (stands 61-62, Hall C2), while Padicode will give free advice for conversion optimization (Stand 79, Hall C2).

Furthermore, immediately after IMWorld, Thursday to Friday night, Content Speed ​​(stand no. 93) and its partners activates “Black Friday”, under which IMWorld visitors (who visited the stand in question) can order online with 100% product discount for a total value of 20,000 lei (approx. 6,134 USD or 3,815 GBP) – find out more on myblackfriday.ro

Moreover, participants will be able to access the Connector application throughout the event, a special software designed for networking. “Through the online and mobile application, specially developed for the event, every visitor can see the other guests and can send messages and invitations to meetings in the two areas of networking“, said Cristian Hossu.

The application has Selection filters created by company name, industry, turnover or the decision level of the person / persons involved.

Also, 2013 IMWorld visitors will receive up to 50% discounts of in a series of trainings and will participate in a “treasure hunt” organized by Entersoft Romania (stand 45), after which they can earn more many prizes and enjoy dynamic networking.

Also, at 2013 IMWorld those interested can test in “Future Corner” most modern technologies, which include Google Glass, Leap Motion, Oculus Rift or Samsung Galaxy Gear SmartWatch.

 

All event takes place in a futuristic setting, signed by Hansen Office Design – nonconformist workspaces designers- and BUCHAREST DESIGN CENTER – Product Romanian designers platform promotion, in relation to internal audiences and external markets – using sustainable materials and technologies. The design of the object will be highlighted also by Architecture Lab and ZEST Collective proposed works and architectural design offices.

Computer Aided Design is exposed at IMWorld by a borderline series of art and technology installations, which were made by computational design school Parametrica [digi fab school] workshops participants.

 

Access to IMWorld is based on pre-registration and tickets can be purchased online until October 8, 2013, accessing www.imworld.ro.

Additional data on 2013 Internet & Mobile World:

 

IMWorld second edition is divided into three business areas: Marketing Technologies, Mobile and Apps, and Business Software and is organized by Universum Events, who is also the “Innovation Summit” organizer, first exclusive event dedicated to Romanian business innovation.

 

At the event are expected 5,000 visitors and already announced their participation over 25 international speakers and 130 companies providing business solutions. Also on IMWorld 2013 will be launched over 20 applications and business solutions.

The event is supported by Cosmote Romania and Romtelecom Business Solutions, as main partners and sponsors of the Business Software World.

Mobile and Apps World Partner is Microsoft and Marketing Technologies World Partner is Saatchi&Saatchi. 2013 Internet&Mobile World sponsors are: Nokia, S&T Romania, Qualysoft Information Technology, Telcor Communications, Entersoft Romania, Fujitsu, Star Storage, Zitec, MailAgent, Agilio Software, Safetech, Agile Media, MODE360, Transart, BearingPoint, Dynamic Web, Mediapost Hit Mail, Mobixera, SEO monitor, Liberty Technology Park, Cisco, Bittnet Systems, PayPro Global, Carnation Group, White Image, Romanian Business Consult, Like IT and miniPRIX. Metro Online is Office supplies partner, and official Internet service provider in the event is Voxility.

Media partners are Kiss FM, The Money Channel, Getica OOH, Wall-Street.ro, HotNews.ro, AdHugger, Agora, B2B Advertising, Business24.ro, Cariere, Computer world, Comunicatedepresa.ro, Connect, DoingBusiness.ro, Digital Trends, Forbes, Incont.ro, IT Channel, IT TRENDS, Magazinul Progresiv, Market Watch, PC World, Today Software Magazine, Ziare.com and Zona IT.

More information can be found on www.imworld.ro and www.universum.ro.

Ashley Judd visits Dario Franchitti after Houston Grand Prix car crash

Lisa.Felice
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Ashley Judd visits Dario Franchitti after Houston Grand Prix car crash

Ashley Judd rushed to her estranged husband Dario Franchitti’s side following the car crash at the Houston Grand Prix on Sunday.

The accident left Dario Franchitti with a concussion, broken right ankle and two fractured vertebrae.

Ashley Judd and Dario Franchitti announced their split in January 2013 after 11 years of marriage
Ashley Judd and Dario Franchitti announced their split in January 2013 after 11 years of marriage

Debris from his high speed crash flew into the stands, injuring 13 fans according to the Associated Press.

Dario Franchitti, 40, was transported by an ambulance to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. The three-time Indy 500 winner underwent surgery on his ankle yesterday.

Ashley Judd, 45, and Dario Franchitti announced their split in January 2013 after 11 years of marriage. Although the pair has yet to file for divorce, it is unclear whether they have officially reconciled.

“We have mutually decided to end our marriage,” Ashley Judd and Dario Franchitti said in a statement at the time of their separation.

“We’ll always be family and continue to cherish our relationship based on the special love, integrity, and respect we have always enjoyed.”

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Dario Franchitti and girlfriend looking for engagement ring?

Lisa.Felice
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Dario Franchitti and girlfriend looking for engagement ring?

Dario Franchitti and his girlfriend were spotted last week while shopping for engagement rings, the Scottish Sun-Times reported.

Dario Franchitti and his girlfriend were spotted last week while shopping for engagement rings
Dario Franchitti and his girlfriend were spotted last week while shopping for engagement rings

Three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, 40, and his new blonde girlfriend were reportedly seen seeking some pricey bling in a couple of major jewelry stores. They were focused on major diamond baubles that could only be described as engagement rings.

The Scottish Sun-Times also reported that friends of the couple are “convinced” an engagement is inevitable.

“He’s madly in love with her,” says a source as it is believed the relationship is “heating up”.

Dario Franchitti’s team did not comment when asked whether the racing driver is planning to get married.

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Lampedusa boat-wreck death toll rises to 232

Nancy Clayson
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Lampedusa boat-wreck death toll rises to 232

Dozens more bodies have been recovered from the boat carrying African migrants that capsized close to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa on Thursday.

Thirty-eight bodies were freed from the hull, which divers had previously been unable to access. The official death toll now stands at 232.

Italian divers “unpacked a wall of people”, a navy officer said, adding that corpses were “so entwined one with the other” they were difficult to pull out.

There were 155 survivors of the accident, which happened about 1km (half a mile) offshore.

The operation to recover bodies from the hull was abandoned for the night, but will resume on Tuesday.

Tens of thousands of migrants attempt the perilous crossing from North Africa to Sicily and other Italian islands each year, and accidents are common – but last week’s shipwreck was among the deadliest on record.

Dozens more bodies have been recovered from the boat carrying African migrants that capsized close to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa
Dozens more bodies have been recovered from the boat carrying African migrants that capsized close to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa

The wreck is lying about 155ft below the surface, which means the recovery divers can only stay on the bottom for a short time.

All the bodies around the ship and on deck have been brought to the surface, police say, however dozens more are thought to remain inside the vessel.

“I’m sure that the most difficult part of the operation is starting now. Technically it will be much more challenging,” Coast Guard diver Rocco Pilon told Reuters news agency.

Navy Captain Paolo Trucco said that debris had to be removed from the passageways leading to the hull.

“Mattresses, blankets, stairs. Anything that would float. Imagine if you put a house in a centrifuge and you see what winds up in the air. That is what happened,” Paolo Trucco told the Associated Press.

“Some [bodies] we have found with their arms outstretched. We try not to notice this kind of thing too much, otherwise the task is too difficult,” said police diver Riccardo Nobile.

“We can see a woman’s hair floating out of a broken porthole. But we haven’t been able to get to her.”

The 66ft boat was carrying more than 500 people, mostly from Eritrea and Somalia.

The survivors are to be placed under investigation for “clandestine immigration”, as provided for by a controversial immigration law pushed through by right-wing parties in 2002.

The offence carries a 5,000-euro ($6,780) fine.

Italy has said it will amend its immigration laws. The authorities have denied allegations that they were slow to mount a rescue.

France has called for an urgent EU meeting after Italy requested help to deal with the influx of migrants.

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Hi-tech $100 banknote issued by Fed

Nancy Clayson
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Hi-tech $100 banknote issued by Fed

A new hi-tech $100 banknote comprising several new security features has been issued by the Federal Reserve.

The new banknote includes a blue 3D security ribbon and a bell and inkwell logo that authorities say are particularly difficult to replicate.

These combine with traditional security features, such as a portrait watermark and an embedded security thread that glows pink under ultraviolet light.

The 2010 design was delayed because of “unexpected production challenges”.

The 3D security ribbon – which is woven into the note, not printed on it – features images of 100s that change into bells and move upwards or sideways depending on how you tilt the paper.

Tilting also reveals a green bell within a copper-coloured inkwell to the right of the blue ribbon.

The new banknote includes a blue 3D security ribbon and a bell and inkwell logo that authorities say are particularly difficult to replicate
The new banknote includes a blue 3D security ribbon and a bell and inkwell logo that authorities say are particularly difficult to replicate

In addition, the “100” number in the bottom right-hand corner shifts from copper to green.

The redesigned banknote, which features a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, also includes raised “intaglio” printing that gives the notes a distinctive feel, and microprinted words that are difficult to read without magnification.

Over a decade of research and development has gone into the new note, the Fed said, in a joint project with the Secret Service and the Department of the Treasury.

Advances in design software and high-resolution copying and printing have made it easier for counterfeiters to print fake money and harder for retailers to spot the forgeries.

US authorities say that $100 bill is the most counterfeited of all US banknotes, but accurate figures for the total value of counterfeit cash in circulation are hard to come by.

The Secret Service estimates that counterfeit bills account for less than 0.01% of the $1.1 trillion of US money in circulation.

It says about $80.7 million of counterfeit currency changed hands domestically in 2012, and about $14.5 million abroad.

The authorities seized $9.7 million in counterfeit cash before it could make it in to the US money supply, and seized $56.8 million abroad in 2012.

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Blue Jasmine withdrawn from Indian cinemas

Sonia Pantiss
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Blue Jasmine withdrawn from Indian cinemas

Director Woody Allen has decided to stop his latest film Blue Jasmine from being screened in India after learning mandatory anti-tobacco adverts would be inserted into its smoking scenes.

Indian law requires health warnings to be shown on screen when characters smoke in films, while cinemas must play anti-smoking ads before every movie.

According to Reuters, Woody Allen refused to accommodate the ads during his film.

It had been due to open in around 30 cinemas at the weekend.

Blue Jasmine stars Cate Blanchett as a wealthy New York socialite who suffers a humiliating fall from grace after her husband is arrested for financial fraud.

Cate Blanchett’s critically acclaimed performance has seen her odds of winning an Oscar next year slashed to 1/4 from an initial 7/1 in August.

Woody Allen has decided to stop his latest film Blue Jasmine from being screened in India
Woody Allen has decided to stop his latest film Blue Jasmine from being screened in India

The film features two smoking scenes that would have given cause for the on-screen disclaimers – typically scrolling text warning viewers of the dangers of tobacco use.

A publicist for Woody Allen told Reuters: “Due to content in the film, it cannot be shown in India in its intended manner. Therefore, the film is not scheduled to play there.”

The film’s Indian distributor, PVR films, told DNA newspaper the director had overall creative control over the film.

“He wasn’t comfortable with the disclaimer that we are required to run when some smoking scene is shown in films,” Deepak Sharma said.

“He feels that when the scroll comes, attention goes to it rather than the scene. We had to abide by the law and we don’t have control over the film.”

India’s film censor board regularly requires changes to films and while some directors allow the alterations, others have refused.

Many, including Martin Scorsese and David Lynch, argue changes to their films – including changing the aspect ratio in which some movies are shot – are unacceptable because they corrupt the artist’s vision.

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Atlas and WildCat: Boston Dynamics displays new generation of robots

James J. Williams
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Atlas and WildCat: Boston Dynamics displays new generation of robots

Boston Dynamics, a US robotics company part-funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has presented its latest creations: Atlas and WildCat.

Atlas is a humanoid robot capable of crossing rough terrain and maintaining its balance on one leg even when hit from the side.

WildCat is the four-legged robot that can gallop untethered at up to 16 mph.

The robots are part of DARPA’s Maximum Mobility and Manipulation programme.

DARPA says such robots “hold great promise for amplifying human effectiveness in defense operations”.

Boston Dynamics has presented its latest creations, Atlas and WildCat
Boston Dynamics has presented its latest creations, Atlas and WildCat

This version of Atlas is one of seven humanoid robots Boston Dynamics is developing in response to the DARPA Robotics Challenge.

In December, competing robots will be set eight tasks to test their potential for use in emergency-response situations, including crossing uneven ground, using power tools and driving a rescue vehicle.

DARPA wants to improve the manoeuvrability and controllability of such robots while reducing manufacturing costs.

WildCat can bound, gallop and turn, mimicking the movements of quadruped animals. It is powered by an internal combustion engine.

Last year, Boston Dynamics’ Cheetah robot reached a sprint speed of 28.3 mph tethered to a treadmill.

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In-Home Automation Systems: 5 Reasons Energy Efficiency is Leading the Way

Emily Green
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In-Home Automation Systems: 5 Reasons Energy Efficiency is Leading the Way

In-home automation is an industry that has enormous room for growth. During 2012 alone, according to ABI Research, more than one and a half million home automation systems were installed in the United States. By 2017, industry analysts expect shipments of these systems to rise to more than 8 million.

And when it comes to in-home automation systems, the latest market data shows that energy efficiency is leading the way. Here are a few reasons why.

It Saves You Money

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way — energy efficiency cuts back on energy usage, leaving more money in your pocket. There are easier, simpler ways to do things now, and people are taking advantage. The inflated cost came from motors and compressors that operated in air conditioners and heaters. Smarter systems work to cool us when we’re home and leave the temperature warm when we’re not.

Even when items are turned off, they’re still drawing power. Game consoles and movie players can draw quite a bit of power, even while in standby mode. This is called “phantom load” and can add up to 8 percent on your electricity bill. If you have a smart strip, though, it will stop the flow of energy to those devices.

One of the simplest and easiest ways to save money is switching to compact fluorescent lights. These cost about double what you’d pay for an incandescent light bulb, but they last up to eight times longer and are just as bright, if not brighter. If you combine this with an occupancy sensor, you’ll save even more and the lights will turn off if there’s either adequate light available or no one in the room.

To further the savings, shop around for an affordable energy rate. When you combine these methods of saving energy along with an affordable energy rate, you can create a sizable savings for yourself. Check out www.electric.com and find an affordable rate in your area.

It’s Less Taxing on Our Appliances

Over the past decade or so, there has been an increased push for greener technology, and it’s resulted in an entire line of Energy Star products that use very little energy while operating. These cut costs by up to ten percent each month. When our appliances don’t work as hard, we not only save money, but we ensure that those appliances are operational for a longer period.

Some smart appliances come with a built-in Wi-Fi adapter that allows the device to communicate with its creators, so if anything goes wrong, the company is immediately notified.

It Makes Our Appliances More Efficient

Like everything, the more you use an appliance, the more worn down it’ll become. Energy efficient technology prevents this from happening as quickly. With some systems, you’re able to remotely connect from a smartphone or a web application and turn on those systems. This prevents systems from running while they’re not needed.

As time progresses, though, these appliances themselves are becoming even more efficient. It’s estimated by 2015 that new air conditioning units will be 10 to 11 percent more efficient than the one’s currently on the market. These technologies will have compressors that allow the systems to operate with a range of variable speeds to keep homes cool during desired times.

It Saves You Time

With newer appliances, things cool down and heat up more quickly, not to mention run faster. While it may only save a few minutes each time, those minutes quickly add up to a substantial amount of time, and in today’s world, every second counts. How many times have you had to run the clothes or dishes through again because something was done improperly?

It Increases Your Home’s Value

Being energy efficient is the thing to do lately, and, as such, many buyers are in the market for eco-friendly and energy efficient homes. More and more people understand the benefits of energy efficiency, and they want to lower their energy bills without doing a ton of work. Because of this, homes will maintain or increase their value when energy-efficient tactics are used. On average, homes sell for eight to ten percent more if they weren’t certified. For the homes that were certified, they sold for 30 percent more.

No matter which way you look at it, energy efficiency is leading the charge in home automation. From saving time to saving money, it hits on all of the points that people care the most about, and when it’s time to move, it ensures that people get the most value for their home. It costs a little more up front, but the savings more than make up for any expenses.

Being energy efficient is possibly the easiest thing you could do for your home. Buy a few energy appliances, a few smart strips, and some CFL lights, and watch the savings pile on. You’ll wonder why you didn’t do this sooner!

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to undergo surgery

Nancy Clayson
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Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to undergo surgery

Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will undergo surgery on Tuesday to treat bleeding on her brain, doctors have said.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, 60, was earlier ordered to rest for a month after doctors discovered the subdural hematoma.

The subdural hematoma was diagnosed as she was undergoing tests for another condition on Saturday.

This means Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will have to suspend campaigning for congressional elections.

The break from campaigning is considered awkward for the president as some opinion polls have suggested the government could lose control of Congress in the poll on October 27.

Medical experts say recovering from this type of surgery is a long process, and her lay-off is now likely to be longer than a month.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will undergo surgery to treat bleeding on her brain
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will undergo surgery to treat bleeding on her brain

The president’s spokesman, Alfredo Scoccimarro, had issued a statement on Sunday saying her doctors had carried out a brain scan in August after a previously undisclosed trauma – thought to be caused by a fall.

They found nothing untoward, but on Saturday, she went to hospital for checks for an irregular heartbeat and also complained of headaches.

A further scan revealed the subdural hematoma – bleeding between the brain and the skull.

The hospital treating her said on Monday she had experienced a slight loss of muscular strength in her left arm the day before.

Doctors said she needed surgery to drain the subdural hematoma.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was first elected in 2007 and then returned to power by a comfortable majority in 2011.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s husband, former President Nestor Kirchner, died after a heart attack in 2010.

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