Turkey to request Syria border missiles Monday: Germany

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Turkey is expected to request on Monday that NATO missiles be placed on its border with Syria to defend against mortar rounds fired from its neighbor, Germany's defense minister said.

Only the United States, the Netherlands and Germany have the appropriate Patriot missile system available. Germany would analyze such a request "with solidarity", Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere said.

"I expect that there will be a request from the Turkish government today to NATO to deploy Patriot Missiles to the Turkish border," he told reporters in Brussels, on the sidelines of a meeting of EU defence ministers.

"If a partner now asks us for such a measure, it is clear for us that we will face this in an open way and with solidarity."

De Maiziere said the German response would depend on the details of any request. "But if we have a deployment of Patriots on the Turkish border then this will happen with German soldiers."

Turkey is talking to NATO allies about how to shore up security on its 900-km (560-mile) frontier with Syria after mortar rounds fired from Syria landed inside its territory, increasing concerns about spillover from the civil war.

The Dutch defence minister said the Netherlands too was waiting for a Turkish request. "We did not receive a formal request yet," Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert told reporters in Brussels. "We are waiting for a formal request.

(Reporting by Angelika Stricker and Robert-Jan Bartunek. Writing by Sebastian Moffett; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/germany-expects-turkish-request-missiles-syrian-border-minister-084853177.html

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Dig finds '10,000-year-old home'

The remains of what is believed to be one of Scotland's earliest homes have been uncovered during construction works for the new Forth crossing.

The site dates from the Mesolithic period, about 10,000 years ago.

Archaeological excavation works have been taking place in a field at Echline in South Queensferry in preparation for the Forth Replacement Crossing.

A large oval pit nearly 7m in length is all that remains of the dwelling, along with hearths, flint and arrowheads.

'First settlers'

Rod McCullagh, a senior archaeologist at Historic Scotland, said: "This discovery and, especially the information from the laboratory analyses adds valuable information to our understanding of a small but growing list of buildings erected by Scotland's first settlers after the last glaciation, 10,000 years ago.

"The radiocarbon dates that have been taken from this site show it to be the oldest of its type found in Scotland which adds to its significance."

Continue reading the main story

As the glaciers melted after the last Ice Age, the first settlers moved north through the new forests of Caledonia.

At Echline in South Queensferry at least one family stopped.

The site now is unassuming but clues in the soil paint a vivid picture of a prehistoric home.

Wooden posts probably supported walls and a turf roof.

Inside it was apparently cosy, with several hearths, while the discovery of flint arrowheads and charred shells suggests a diet which included meat and roasted hazelnuts.

Excavation work is continuing on the shores of the Forth, giving a glimpse of life 8,000 years before the birth of Christ, in the emerging shadow of a 21st Century bridge.

The remains feature a number of postholes which would have held wooden posts to support the walls and roof, probably covered with turf.

Several internal fireplace hearths were also identified and more than 1,000 flint artefacts were found, including materials which would have been used as tools and arrowheads.

Other discoveries included large quantities of charred hazelnut shells, suggesting they were an important source of food for the occupants of the house.

Archaeologists believe the dwelling would have been occupied on a seasonal basis, probably during the winter months, rather than all year round.

Ed Bailey, project manager for Headland Archaeology, the company that carried out the excavation works, said: "The discovery of this previously unknown and rare type of site has provided us with a unique opportunity to further develop our understanding of how early prehistoric people lived along the Forth.

"Specialist analysis of archaeological and palaeoenvironmental evidence recovered in the field is ongoing. This will allow us to put the pieces together and build a detailed picture of Mesolithic lifestyle."

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "This ancient dwelling, which was unearthed as part of the routine investigations undertaken prior to construction works, is an important and exciting discovery.

"We now have vital records of the findings which we will be able to share to help inform our understanding of a period in Scotland's ancient history."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-20376243#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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Luxury Real Estate as the New Global Currency | #MillerSamuel ...

Posted by Jonathan Miller - Sunday, November 18, 2012, 5:46 PM


[click to read article]

Over the summer Camilla Papale, Douglas Elliman?s CMO asked me if I would present something about the state of luxury real estate for their Elliman Magazine (and iPad app!). The finished result contained 3 parts:

  • I wrote a brief piece about the influx of international demand as high end consumers were seeking a safe haven from the world?s economic problems. I called the piece: ?LUXURY REAL ESTATE AS THE WORLD?S NEW CURRENCY? This post?s title was my working title which I also liked.
  • Plus I did a little research on housing prices across the globe using Knight Frank?s resources and
  • I moderated a discussion on the subject with Dottie Herman, President & CEO of Douglas Elliman, Patrick Dring, Head of International Residential at Knight Frank, and Liam Bailey, Head of Residential Research at Knight Frank. They all provided great insights to the subject.

Here?s the full piece in Elliman Magazine . I?ve inserted a portion of the presentation below in 2 parts:

LUXURY REAL ESTATE AS THE WORLD?S NEW CURRENCY

Since the beginning of the global credit crunch in 2008, luxury real estate has morphed into a new world currency that provides investors with both a tangible asset and a cachet that cannot be found within the financial markets. It?s as if these emboldened investors zoomed out of their local Google Earth view to discover the wider global perspective on luxury real estate.

HOW DID WE GET HERE? The US dollar has weakened in the years following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in the onset of the global credit crisis. The S&P downgrade of US debt in August 2011 from its benchmark AAA rating brought a flood of investors into US financial securities. That meant that our currency allowed us to buy less abroad, and the strength of other currencies provided international buyers with large discounts when purchasing property in US dollars. But it went further than that.

THE RISE OF LUXURY REAL ESTATE AS A ?SAFE HAVEN.? The volatility of global financial markets and the resulting political fallout shook investor confidence, which in turn spurred a rise in foreign buyers seeking a safe haven to protect their assets. A wave of international buyers from Europe, South America, and Asia entered the US housing market, helping set record prices and revive luxury markets including New York, The Hamptons, and Miami.

SUPPLY-DRIVEN DEMAND. The luxury real estate market has become defined by the supply of available properties. While demand has remained constant and elevated, inventory has become a critical variable, particularly at the very top of the market, where surging international demand for one-of-a-kind properties has surpassed the limited supply. The resultant record-breaking sales of ?trophy? properties have enticed more owners of luxury homes to make them available for sale.

THE RISE OF THE ?TROPHY PROPERTY.? The trophy property has become a new market category that does not follow the rules and dynamics of the overall marketplace. One stratospheric price record is being set after another, and it is not only the list prices that are defining these record sales; the rarity of location, expanse of the views, quality of amenities, and the sheer size of these unique homes have all played an important part in attracting the interest of foreign buyers.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Driven by the global credit crunch and political instability, the two factors that are expected to remain unchanged for the next several years, the US luxury housing market is expected to remain a ?safe haven? for foreign investors for quite some time.

A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE COMMERCE OF GLOBAL LUXURY REAL ESTATE

I sat down with Dottie Herman and our friends across the pond, Patrick Dring, Head of International Residential, and Liam Bailey, Head of Residential Research at Knight Frank, to chat about the state of real estate in the prime markets across the globe and the rise of a foreign investment phenomenon.

JONATHAN MILLER: Douglas Elliman has a broad coverage area that includes some of the most affluent housing markets in the US. Are you seeing any short-term issues that may influence luxury investor decisions over the coming year?

DOTTIE HERMAN: At the end of this year, we may see a repeat of the consumer behavior we saw at the end of 2010 when US capital gains tax rates were expected to rise. Ultimately, the rates did not increase, but many consumers in the luxury market took preventative action before the potential tax increase and raced to close their sales by the end of 2010. Despite the ups and downs in the quarters that followed, the luxury housing market was not adversely impacted in the long-term.

JM: Paddy, according to Knight Frank?s Global Briefing blog, housing prices in central London are up sharply, but the pace of growth appears to be slowing, perhaps because of the new stamp duty (a tax on properties priced at ?2M?the equivalent of $3.15M?or more). What does this mean for the luxury market?

PADDY DRING: In short, the ?5M ($7.85M) market is up year-on-year. The new stamp duty on property sales above ?2M seems to be having an impact only on the band just above the new ?2M threshold. Foreign demand remains high and, notably, we have sold to over 62 different nationalities within the last 12 months. They are less affected by the changes in stamp duty, since the rates in London are still in line with many other European countries.

JM: Dottie, your firm has sold a large number of luxury properties this year, despite a lukewarm economy and tight credit conditions. Record sales and listing prices are becoming nearly commonplace and a significant portion of this demand for luxury real estate is coming from abroad. Do you see this developing into a long-term trend?

DH: It?s certainly been a year of records and I do think we are embarking on a period where luxury real estate has the potential to outperform the rest of the housing market. Several of the markets that we cover, Manhattan and Miami in particular, have been firmly established as highly sought-after international destinations. As much as we fret about how slowly our economy is recovering, the US has proven itself as a ?safe haven? for many international investors who are concerned about the turmoil of the world economy and political stability. Luxury investors from much of Europe, Russia, Asia and South America have been buying here at the highest pace we have seen since the credit crunch began.

JM: Liam, the US is seeing a higher-than-normal influx of real estate demand from foreign investors who seem to be focusing on the upper end of the housing market. These investors are well represented from Europe, Asia and South America. Are you seeing the same phenomenon when it comes to luxury properties in the UK? What are the primary regions where this demand is coming from?

LIAM BAILEY: The focus of demand continues on London and its easily accessible suburbs. London is facing even higher global demand than New York, with the top end strongly led by Russia, Europe, Canada, and the Middle East, and demand in the new development investment market very much led by Asia.

JM: In the US, access to financing is a key challenge to domestic purchasers, including luxury investors. What are some of the key challenges facing your clients who are looking to purchase real estate outside of their own countries?

PD & LB: Financing remains a consideration for many, although mortgages are more available in many of the markets than people are led to believe. Of course, the property needs to be quality and in a core location and have a more conservative loan-to-value ratio, however, many of our clients purchase in cash, so they are more affected by market sentiment and, of course, liquidity if they need to sell unexpectedly in the future. Factors affecting market sentiment include the usual considerations, such as exchange rate, a stable political base, as well as a sound legal system that guarantees clarity of title and tax considerations. The latter of course is affecting not only the cost of acquisition (stamp duty), but also, in some countries, the cost of holding (wealth tax) and ultimately selling (capital gains tax). Access, infrastructure, and climate (if lifestyle-driven) all remain key, as do low crime rates as people become more aware of their privacy and personal safety.

JM: Since the beginning of the credit crunch, you?ve constantly stressed to your clients that the terms of a sale are just as important as the price of a sale, given the challenges of obtaining financing. How do international buyers fi t into this new world defined by tough lending standards?

DH: Despite mortgage lending in the US remaining tight, luxury markets in the areas we cover have improved quickly. I can only imagine how much stronger the US housing market would be if we saw credit ease to historically normal levels. International buyers tend to pay cash or obtain financing from their native countries, which has given them an advantage over many domestic purchasers. Combine the ability to pay in cash with both the weakness of the US dollar against many of their native currencies and a volatile global economy, and you can begin to understand why we are seeing a strong presence of international buyers in our markets. Like our friends at Knight Frank, these luxury investors are interested in our proven core markets that already have a large concentration of luxury properties. Overall, we continue to be excited about our market?s expanding presence in the global luxury housing market?there are many opportunities out there for this new international investor to explore.


Luxury Real Estate as the World?s New Currency [Miller Samuel (pdf)]
Luxury Real Estate as the World?s New Currency [Douglas Elliman]
Elliman iPad App [iTunes]

Source: http://www.millersamuel.com/blog/luxury-real-estate-as-the-new-global-currency/27217

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Veterans find jobs, and new mission, in cleantech

Click photo to enlarge

Monica Anguiano served in the Army from July 2003 to July 2007. She now works at SolarCity as a Residential Programs Associate acting as a liaison between SolarCity customers and their utility companies. Anguiano is one of several military veterans who has found a career in cleantech.

When military veterans search for jobs, they often want more than a paycheck. Many say they look for rewarding work and a team of dedicated people focused on a common mission.

With the war in Iraq officially over and the American presence in Afghanistan winding down, many veterans are finding new careers and that strong sense of purpose in the growing cleantech economy.

Some are helping build the massive solar farms sprouting up in California's deserts. A black POW-MIA flag flies every day at BrightSource Energy's Ivanpah solar plant under construction in the Mojave Desert, courtesy of a project superintendent who was a Marine in Vietnam.

About 10 percent of Palo Alto-based Tesla Motors (TSLA)' global workforce of 3,000 employees are veterans or military hires. The company has built partnerships with several military placement organizations, including Hire America's Heroes, which connects American companies to top military talent, and Swords to Plowshares, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that has been providing services to veterans for more than 40 years.

"Veterans are the perfect fit for Tesla because many of them gained incredibly advanced technical, electrical and mechanical skills in the service that are directly applicable to manufacturing electric

vehicles," said Tesla spokeswoman Shanna Hendriks. "Veterans are taught to be leaders within the context of a cooperative team, and that is exactly how Tesla works -- allowing employees to think outside the box while working hard toward a common goal."

Hendriks added that many of Tesla's veteran employees say they are "especially happy to be working in the green sector after observing how fossil fuels have promoted violence and damaged the climate around the world."

The Department of

Defense -- eager to reduce its dependence on oil in the battlefield and keen to become energy efficient at home -- is investing in clean technology, including advanced biofuels, electric vehicles, solar-powered batteries and bases that generate their own electricity. The support of clean energy is directly tied to saving lives, says Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who has pointed out that for every 50 convoys of gasoline brought into a war zone, a Marine is killed or wounded.

About 20 percent of the roughly 800 workers currently constructing First Solar's 550 megawatt Topaz Solar Farm in San Luis Obispo County are veterans.

"We've got a lot of guys from Iraq and Afghanistan, and they've taken on leadership roles," said Richard D'Amato, who oversees construction at Topaz, which First Solar says will produce enough electricity to power 160,000 homes. "They are used to working hard in less than great conditions. It can be 110 degrees on some days."

D'Amato, who was a Marine during the Vietnam era, says veterans bring something special to First Solar -- intense pride and esprit de corps.

"The way to get off of foreign oil is through wind and solar. Our guys believe in it," he said. "It's a rallying point, especially in California, where the cost of energy is so darn high. I've met their families, and their wives always say 'What you guys are doing with renewable energy is great.' "

There are no hard statistics about how many veterans work in cleantech, or whether proportionately more veterans enter cleantech than other sectors of the economy. But for veterans like Michael Eyman, who ended a 17-year Navy career in 2009, cleantech seemed a perfect fit.

"I started thinking about clean energy when I was out with Operation Southern Watch in the late 1990s," said Eyman, referring to the U.S. patrols of the "no-fly" zone in Iraq. "When you are in the Middle East as a military person, you start to wonder: 'Why am I here? Why is the United States so interested in this region?' And energy quickly becomes one of the issues."

Eyman searched corporate websites for information and took note when executives had military experience. He scoured LinkedIn for contacts. In March, he sent his r?sum? to SunPower (SPWRA), Silicon Valley's leading solar manufacturer. He took a risk and went up the chain of command, writing a lengthy email to Marty Neese, SunPower's chief operating officer. Eyman knew that Neese graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was a captain in the Army.

"I am looking for the same kind of connection to mission and vision that I enjoyed in my 17 years in the Navy. Alternative energy has precisely that kind of higher purpose," Eyman wrote. "I want to get involved, but could use some advice on how to transition my background to a civilian market which so often doesn't understand what my years and experiences mean."

Neese was impressed by Eyman's r?sum?, passion and drive. In July, Eyman began working for SunPower out of its Austin, Texas, office as a product manager.

Monica Anguiano, 27, joined the Army after graduating from high school and served from 2003 to 2007 in the Signal Corps as a telecommunications operator. She now works at SolarCity, one of the nation's leading rooftop solar installers, as a residential programs associate, acting as the liaison between customers and utility companies.

"When you get in the military, the first thing they teach you is work smarter, not harder," said Anguiano, who first saw rooftop solar on a large scale when she was stationed in Germany. "Clean energy is a lot smarter. It's a no-brainer to me to try to expand solar instead of sticking with coal and oil. When I was driving through Kuwait, I'd see houses with solar panels. Even in a place where there's a lot of oil, they are choosing solar."

Anguiano, who regularly visits the VA hospital in San Francisco for help with a shoulder injury, has a SolarCity sticker on the bumper of her car and is proud that it's become a conversation starter. "The last time I went to the VA, I got flagged down by a couple of World War II veterans," she said. "They were 80-year-olds. They knew all about solar and wanted to talk to me about it."

Anguiano said her family is excited she's working in clean energy, and she's excited, too.

"It was a bumpy road to translate what I learned in the military to a civilian job," she said. "But my feeling is that if you are going to do something, you might as well do something worthwhile."

Contact Dana Hull at 408-920-2706. Follow her at Twitter.com/danahull.

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_22009977/veterans-find-jobs-and-new-mission-cleantech?source=rss

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A radical rethink for science and development ? Afronline ? The ...

To truly integrate science in the new development goals that will replace the MDGs, fundamental changes are needed, argues the?Director of SciDev.Net, Nick Ishmael Perkins.

The UN Secretary-General?s high-level panel on life after the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ? the Post-2015 Development Agenda ? held its second meeting in London at the beginning of November. It?s a reminder that the time has come for all of us to plan our futures in line with the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as they take shape.

There are exciting discussions underway. The outcome document from June?s Rio+20 conference makes specific reference to the role of scientific knowledge in sustainable development. [1] The high-level panel repeated this endorsement at its first meeting in New York in September, noting that decision-making based on evidence is a pillar of good governance.

But there is a long way to go from this rhetoric to improving the interface between science and development. Although the endorsement is welcome, delegates at the Rio+20 conference did sideline science in favour of discussions on fiscal trade-offs for the green economy, and the politics of institutional manoeuvring.

Where are the science goals?

If science is to have a meaningful impact on the new SDGs, as implied in the Rio+20 outcome document, both the science and development communities need to learn from the experience of the MDGs.

The crucial lesson, perhaps unsurprisingly, emerges from the work of the Millennium Project Task Force on Science, Technology and Innovation. One of 13 taskforces that reported on aspects of the eight MDGs, it comprised an impressive cast of academics, public policy officials and high achievers from civil society. Their report makes a compelling case for the value of science in each of the MDGs. [2]

Significantly, it also sets out three strategic priorities for investment that should enable science to accelerate ? and sustain ? the development goals: infrastructure, education and business stimulation.

But there is a major problem with the report when viewed alongside the outputs from most of the other task forces: there is no clear MDG for science against which progress can be monitored. The task force on hunger, for instance, had MDG 1 (eradicating extreme hunger and poverty), MDG 4 (reducing child mortality) and MDG 5 (improving maternal health) in its sights.

If we are to improve the application of science and technology (S&T) for the post-2015 agenda, two things are required: a conceptual framework that links sustainable development and the role of S&T; and an institutional framework to help planning and delivery.

Models for a framework

The first of these is relatively easy to achieve. Here the experience of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in peacebuilding might prove instructive. This community has used six peacebuilding frameworks to audit the MDGs and make recommendations for the next generation of goals.

What is particularly interesting is the way the choice of frameworks promoted ownership by a cross-section of institutions in the sector. Where they felt the MDGs did not provide for key elements of peacebuilding they identified what was missing and earmarked these as areas to be explored in the post-2015 agenda. [3]

The S&T community has enough cross-institutional agreements and fields of specialisation to undertake a similar exercise.

There are already a number of concepts articulating the links between science and sustainable development. The UN System Task Team on the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda has prepared a ?think piece? on science, while in The Lancet, economist Jeffrey Sachs makes a compelling case for SDGs and a revolution in knowledge management. [4, 5]

Perhaps most promisingly there is the ?doughnut economics? model, developed by Oxfam, which offers an engaging vision of interdisciplinary collaboration, drawing on work by the Stockholm Resilience Centre. [6] This model acknowledges the limits to the Earth?s ecosystems on the one hand, and a foundation of just and equitable social systems on the other. The space in between is what has to be negotiated for sustainable development.

The challenge, then, is to synthesise these frameworks ? allowing a minimum level of consensus on each ? in a way that is accessible for a development audience. A more straightforward approach might be to update the report by the Millennium Project Task Force on Science, Technology and Innovation, asking them to review progress over the past 12 years and to turn their attention to sustainable development.

A radical rethink

Returning to the task force report brings us to another problem: while the conceptual framework is relatively clear-cut, creating the institutional space for delivery is more complicated. Science is seen more as a process indicator than a development outcome: it is the means by which food security and other targets might be achieved, not a target in itself.

This makes it more difficult to argue for the inclusion of science in the list of goals, if a list that is short and easily defensible is the aim.

In his article, Sachs argues that the SDGs will require a revolution in knowledge systems on an epoch-changing scale. Recognising the need to radically rethink the way we organise our societies and industries suggests that we need something more far-reaching than a governance goal that makes reference to decision-makers using evidence.

This argues for a fundamental rethink of the MDG structure. Perhaps the way forward could be a set of SDGs where some are outcomes for communities, such as food security and economic inclusion, and others are outcomes for experts, who would set objectives such as integrating peacebuilding and scientific research.

In this way, there would be criteria and expectations that certain issues are considered in strategies to achieve the targets. This gives us the kind of accountability for cross-cutting issues that was sorely missed with the MDGs.

By Nick Ishmael Perkins - SciDev.Net

Source: http://www.afronline.org/?p=27537&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-radical-rethink-for-science-and-development

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UPDATE 1-Golf-European Tour South African Open scores

Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.

NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/11/17/golf-european-scores-idUKISS15751320121117?feedType=RSS&feedName=golfNews

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New Rental: 73 Staffordshire Commons Dr, Wallingford CT ...

by Harriman Real Estate on November 16, 2012

If you?re looking for a spacious, clean rental that?s conveniently located, this is it! For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call listing agent Pat Harriman at (203) 605-3873 today!

NEW RENTAL

Profile Image

73 STAFFORDSHIRE COMMONS DR

Wallingford, CT 06492

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms : 2 (1 full, 1 half)

List Price: $1,350

Living Area Approx :
1170

Two bedroom townhouse for lease with spacious LR/DR, first floor laundry, MBR with walk-in closet, two car garage. Convenient to shopping, restaurants and highways. Credit check required. Two months security deposit. Also listed for sale at $139,900.

MLS#: N331677

PropertyType: Rental

PropertySubtype: Condominium

Lot Size: 0

Appliances: Dishwasher, Oven, Refrigerator

ArchitectureStyle: Other

CoolingSystems: Central A/C

IsNewConstruction: No

?

??

Source: http://wallingfordwired.com/2012/new-rental-73-staffordshire-commons-dr-wallingford-ct

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China?s new carbon copy leaders

The Chinese Communist Party?s (CCP) 18th Party Congress that has just concluded in Beijing offered a rare chance to observe what is happening behind the scenes in Chinese politics.

China has a non-democratic regime and the transfer of power at the highest level is an incredibly sensitive time for the authorities. It is also fraught with difficulties.

In 1989, following the Tiananmen Square Massacre, the party?s old guard held an impromptu and unofficial meeting during which it decided upon the next two generations of leaders, Jiang Zemin (???), party general secretary from 1993 to 2003, and Hu Jintao (???), party general secretary from 2003 to the present. This decision was based upon traditional, rather than institutional authority within the party.

The 18th Party Congress could be said to be the first transfer of power based upon neither charismatic nor traditional authority, but rather based on background factional jostling.

Another aspect that sets this power transfer apart from previous ones is that it is no longer set against a backdrop of rapid economic growth. The new leader will not be able to put off addressing the stark contradictions that exist within the country. He will also be faced with a depressed global economy.

Opinion on the direction China should take is polarized within academic circles, society and even within the CCP itself, reflected in the harsh struggle over policy lines favored by different individuals within the party leadership.

It is against this backdrop that a rather unusual sequence of events occurred last year. In April, following the annual National Committee of the Chinese People?s Political Consultative Conference and plenary sessions of the National People?s Congress, there was the incident involving Wang Lijun (???) and Bo Xilai (???), which gave some amazing insights into the infighting among senior party leadership.

Then there was the case of Chen Guangcheng (???), exposing the absurdities of inflated powers, and their abuse, within the CCP?s Political and Legal Committee.

Meanwhile, Bo is being kept out of the public eye as part of the shuanggui (??) extralegal detention and interrogation system for disgraced cadres. There has been an information blackout on how he is being dealt with.

However, in that short time the international media have been reporting how members of Xi Jinping?s (???) extended family have huge assets, just before Xi himself disappeared from public view, reportedly due to back problems.

Not long after Xi finally re-emerged came the news that the nominations of the seven new members of the Politburo Standing Committee had been confirmed in a meeting between Hu, Xi and Jiang, and just after this the decision was made to punish Bo with shuangkai (??), double expulsion ? from the party and from his administrative post. Just when everyone thought the excitement was over, another wave of incidents occurred.

Anti-Japanese protests erupted throughout China over the territorial dispute involving the Diaoyutai Islands (???) ? known as the Senkakus in Japan ? with Chinese chanting the slogan: ?The Diaoyutais belong to China.? Curiously, this slogan was sometimes followed with ?and Bo Xilai belongs to the people.?

More recently, and more shockingly, was the report in the New York Times that family members of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (???) had amassed a fortune. The Washington Post also reported that Xi?s ?back problems? were the result of his being hit by a chair when a meeting of the second generation ?princelings? got out of hand.

Source: http://libertytimes.feedsportal.com/c/33098/f/535601/s/25a942c7/l/0L0Staipeitimes0N0CNews0Ceditorials0Carchives0C20A120C110C170C20A0A3547881/story01.htm

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there there kitten: Thankful for...100 List: First 25

As an exercise in positivity, I am making a list of the

100 Things For Which I Am Thankful.

Today here?are the first 25.

(Note: They are listed in no particular order, other than my rambling thoughts at the moment.)

  1. My amazing parents.
  2. My Christian heritage and upbringing.
  3. A?sister who is a close friend.
  4. A brother who always keeps in touch.
  5. The unconditional affection and joy from my dog.
  6. My best friends, with whom I can laugh, cry, listen and belong.
  7. Living on the west coast and a block from the ocean.
  8. Being able to teach and learn from my co-workers.
  9. My own place to live and wonderful landlords.
  10. A job that is not boring but full of creativity and always changing.
  11. That all four of my nephews love their "Auntie".
  12. A good book to adventure in for a while.
  13. The freedom to go to church and believe openly in my loving God.
  14. My extended family, many of which feel as close as immediate family.
  15. Board & Card Games!
  16. Milk Chocolate!
  17. A hot cup of tea in my favourite mug.
  18. The feeling of excitement when I'm working on a new creative project.
  19. My decent, comfortable?and problem-free vehicle.
  20. Autumn storms, wind, rain and waves.
  21. Music that can calm, bring tears and fill me with joy.
  22. The ease and speed I can access information, Google is great!
  23. Finding the perfect pair of jeans.
  24. Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
  25. Knowing?how to properly use bobby pins.

Definitely a random order!

Watch for more updates to this list in the coming days.

What are you thankful for?

Start making your own list.
(PS - It does wonders for your current state of happiness.)

Source: http://theretherekitten.blogspot.com/2012/11/thankful-for100-list-first-25.html

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Microsoft?s Steve Ballmer talks Android and Apple

When it comes to talking about other companies, especially the ones that Microsoft directly competes with, company CEO Steve Ballmer isn?t afraid to slap them across the face with his criticizing words. Ballmer was asked about both Android and Apple last night during an interview with LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, and he spoke his mind about the downfalls of each.

Ballmer called the rival Android platform ?wild,? ?uncontrolled,? and susceptible to malware, while he called Apple?s ecosystem ?high priced? and ?highly controlled? ? one at each end of the spectrum it seems. Of course, Ballmer may be hinting that Microsoft is right in the middle where it should be compared to Google and Apple.

Ballmer also talked about Windows 8, the Surface tablet, and Windows Phone 8 during the interview, and he says that these products have been done right. He also mentions that, unlike Google and Apple, Microsoft is working extremely closely with developers. This obviously isn?t the first time that Ballmer has said stuff like this, but it?s always fun to hear every time.

We really like the company?s newest products, like the Surface and Windows Phone 8, but it seemed that during the interview, Ballmer was stumbling his way through when talking about consumer-level products, while discussing the enterprise landscape seemed easy for him and no sweat at all. Obviously, that?s what he knows best, but it seems he gets a little out of control when he discusses Microsoft on a consumer level.

[via TechCrunch]

Source: http://feeds.slashgear.com/~r/slashgear/~3/mwAma-L4leo/

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