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An Urban Parent's Guide to Raising Cultured Children | Observer

With all the distractions of the city, it seems there?s never really time for much of anything?particularly not for enjoying those very distractions. You and your kids have your hands in this and that, lending your limited and often sparse attention to a cultural event here, or a social gathering there, but when was the last time you forgot about the ticking hands on your watch face and took joy in the simple act of being together?

For the next seven weeks, we follow families that do.?

Each day, with every meal and chore, these New Yorkers take a step back from it all. From neighborhood outings to museum visits, we connect with parents and their kids about how they keep their busy schedules in check and?make?time for what matters at the end of the day, when soccer season is over and to-do lists are crossed off: each other.

We also look to Houston, Miami, San Francisco and Chicago to see what they have to offer families who are searching for ways to be a part of each others? everyday lives.

When it comes to your family, who doesn?t have a moment to spare?

Week One:?From the Comfort of Your Front Yard
Week Two:?Fashion, and Family: A Lifestyle
Week Three:?Art and the City: A Family Affair
Week Four:?Walking the Walk: The Family that Plays Together ?
Week Five:?Around the World in So Many Ways
Week Six:?Put Down the Textbook, for a Lesson Learned

Source: http://observer.com/2012/10/art-of-parenting-tradition-coming-together-week-7/

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Buffett: 'We'll Add 8,000 Jobs Organically'

Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis

? 2012 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=3000124717&play=1

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Federal agency to police debt collectors

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will regulate debt collectors starting Jan. 2.

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) -- For the first time in history, debt collectors -- the guys who hound you over unpaid bills -- are about to get a tough federal regulator scouring their books.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Wednesday finalized a new rule to oversee and regulate the largest U.S. debt collection agencies, starting Jan. 2.

The move could impact consumers nationwide. Some 30 million Americans have debt under collection, with average unpaid debt around $1,500, according to the bureau.

Under the new rule, examiners from the consumer agency can march into the offices of large debt collectors to ensure they're giving consumers a fair shake. They can evaluate debt collectors to make sure they are clearly and accurately identifying themselves, truthfully disclosing the amount of debt owed, and not attempting to collect debt that doesn't exist or has been paid off.

Related: More Americans delaying retirement until their 80s

Thanks to the Dodd-Frank financial reform act, the consumer financial watchdog can already create and enforce rules on the debt collection industry.

The new rule will give it special oversight power over companies with more than $10 million in receipts.

"Millions of consumers are affected by debt collection, and we want to make sure they are treated fairly," said CFPB Director Richard Cordray in a statement. "We want all companies to realize that the better business choice is to follow the law ? not break it."

The bureau says the rule will impact about 175 companies, which account for about 60% of debt that is collected.

However, that still means that a large number of the 4,500 debt collection companies in the United States will escape the bureau's close oversight, because a vast majority of them are small companies.

The consumer financial watchdog, which was launched last year, has recently gone after credit card companies American Express (AXP, Fortune 500), Discover (DFS, Fortune 500) and Capital (COF, Fortune 500) One to refund millions of dollars back to their customers for deceptive practices.

First Published: October 24, 2012: 12:00 AM ET

Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/money_topstories/~3/KLWKfq1n1hQ/index.html

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Healthy alternative treats for Halloween | Andrea Yeager - Sun Herald

Don't you hate having those bags of miniature candies sitting in a dish just daring you to eat the whole bowl?

Some years, our neighborhood has trick-or-treaters, and others, nary a one. That's when the staredown begins. Will I win or the candy bars?

To avoid the pitfalls of Halloween candy, I sometimes buy individually wrapped pretzels. Yes, I like pretzels, too, but at least they are low in fat. I rationalize well.

Another trick is to buy candy that I dislike, i.e., anything with coconut or dark chocolate or those sour worms or gummy bears.

My daughter always has liked what I call "junk candy." You know the sugary or sour balls, jawbreakers and the like. I never touch the stuff; it's empty calories, and besides I don't like them.

I have to watch the candy I do like, and I don't need the extra pounds or sugar. Remember, Halloween can be a nightmare for children with diabetes or other health-related problems.

In the past, I've bought rolls of dimes and given each child a dime, but in today's economy, what a trick to play on some poor child. What can a dime buy?

If you like me need to stay away from the candy bowl, here are a few ideas to give instead of candy:

n A coupon for a favorite treat at a fast-food restaurant. One of those restaurants is donating 90 percent of its proceeds from the coupon booklets to an adoption foundation, a cause close to my heart, and the trick-or-treaters still get a sweet treat.

n A glow-in-the-dark bracelet or necklace. These are usually inexpensive.

n Stickers. My daughter always loved these so much that she would decorate her bedroom door and walls with them. Maybe I can teach my granddaughter better.

n Sugar-free candy. Some varieties are really good and have no aftertaste.

n Crayons, pencils, erasers. You can usually find stores offering a bundle for a special price.

n Inexpensive toys, such as, yo-yos, puzzles, kazoos or bouncy balls (just make sure the ball is big enough not to be mistaken for candy).

n Goop, putty or slime in a small can. What could be better for Halloween?

n Small coloring or activity books.

Let your imagination take you away from candy land to fun land. After all, isn't that what Halloween is supposed to be for kids -- fun?

Gluten-free treats

Pat Kersteter of Gautier found two gluten-free recipes in "The Grand Canyon Cook Book." This cookbook features Southwestern recipes from Arizona's natural wonder and is written by Bruce and Bobbie Fisher.

Weeks ago, a reader who was recently diagnosed with being gluten- and lactose-intolerant asked for readers' help. She wanted gluten-free and dairy-free recipes.

Today, these are gluten-free. Certain brand names are used because the authors found these worked best.

GLUTEN-FREE PINE NUT AND DATE PUDDING

1/4 cup Stevia

1/4 cup Big Tree Farm's Coconut Palm Sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 cup pitted and chopped Medjool dates (other dates)

1/4 cup Bob's Red Mill Organic Brown Rice Flour (gluten free)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder (gluten free)

1/2 cup whole pine nuts

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix sugar and eggs. Add dates, brown rice flour, salt, baking power and pine nuts.

Pour into a greased, shallow baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until golden brown.

Serves 8,

-- Submitted by Pat Kersteter

GLUTEN-FREE PINE NUT COOKIES

1/4 cup Bob's Red Mill Organic Brown Rice Flour (gluten free)

1/2 cup Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oat Flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda (gluten free)

1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats (I used Quick Quaker Oats)

1 egg

1/3 cup Stevia Extract in the Raw

1/3 cup Big Tree Farm's Coconut Palm Sugar

1/2 cup softened buttery spread (such as Bestlife)

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 whole cup pine nuts (or?pinon nuts if you're lucky to find them)

1/2 cup raisins

Set oven for 375 degrees.

Sift flours, salt, cinnamon and baking soda together. Mix oats into dry ingredients.

In a large bowl, beat egg, both sugars, buttery spread and vanilla until the butter is well integrated. Mix in dry ingredients. Stir in pine nuts and raisins.

Drop by the tablespoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet or one covered with a silicone baking mat.

Bake on the center rack of oven for 10 to 12 minutes until the pine nut cookies turn slightly golden.

Serve with a glass of your favorite "milk" (soy, rice, coconut or cow's milk) and don't forget the napkins and plates. These cookies are very crumbly.

Makes 30-33 cookies.

-- Submitted by Pat Kersteter

German potato salad

Darlene Brown of Bradenton, Fla., wants a good recipe for German potato salad and needs readers' help.

If you have a favorite German potato salad recipe, please send it to me. In the meantime, here is a good one from "Bell's Best."

GERMAN POTATO SALAD

6 sliced bacon

1/2-cup chopped onion

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1- 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon celery seed

Dash of pepper

1 cup water

1/2 cup vinegar

6 cups sliced, cooked potatoes

Cook bacon until crisp; drain, and crumble, reserving1/4 cup drippings. Cook onion in reserved drippings until tender. Blend in flour, sugar, salt, celery seed and pepper. Add water and vinegar; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Add bacon and potatoes, tossing lightly. Heat thoroughly, about 10 minutes. Trim with parsley and pimiento, if desired. Makes 8-10 servings.

-- Recipe by Bubbles Talbot, Gulf Coast Council

Readers, don't forget to send me your favorite German potato salad recipes.

Mystery ingredients

"I enjoy your many recipes in the Sun Herald. Recently, I received a recipe with two ingredients I am not familiar with, Biloxi Blend and Dixie Dust," said James Drumright of Ocean Springs. "These go into a marvelous seafood dish. Maybe your readers can help."

How about it, readers? Do you know what Biloxi Blend is or have a recipe for it?

Dixie Dust is a barbecue seasoning and rub. It is sold commercially, but I know chefs at Beau Rivage and other grillers make their own blends. Perhaps these chefs or masters of the grill would share their mixture for Dixie Dust.

Wanted: Stuffed pork chops

"Once again I need your help," said Susan Daugherty of Bradenton, Fla. "I used to have a great cookbook called 'Cooking for Today' although it was dated around 1990. Somehow I have misplaced it.

"There is a pork chop recipe in it for cornbread-stuffed pork chops, which is the best stuffed chop recipe I ever made. You use cornbread stuffing, bacon, onion, celery and some spices in it. Can you ask your readers if they have this recipe? I appreciate it," Dey said.

Readers, please search your files for this recipe.

Don't forget these requests

We still need cookies, bars and cake recipes for fall and Halloween festivals. Also, those who have more persimmon recipes, please send those in. If anyone has a recipe for making bell peppers spicy, please send that along. Readers have asked for your help, please help if you can.

Andrea Yeager, can be reached at ayeager51@cableone.net. Send contributions or requests to Cook's Exchange, P.O. Box 4567, Biloxi MS 39535-4567. If requesting a recipe, include the name or describe it.

Source: http://www.sunherald.com/2012/10/23/4261417/healthy-alternative-treats-for.html

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Frederick County Parks and Recreation Sports: BASKETBALL PREP ...

BASKETBALL PREP, BATON TWIRLING, AND FLAG FOOTBALL

Basketball Prep (Level 1) and Basketball Prep (Level 2) are available at the following locations:
Centerville Rec Center, Oakdale Rec Center, Walkersville Rec Center, Tuscarora Rec Center, Deer Crossing Rec Center, Middletown Rec Center

Click here to register for?Basketball Prep (Level 1)?and?Basketball Prep (Level 2)

Baton Twirling is available at the following locations:
Deer Crossing Rec Center

Click here to register for?Baton Twirling

Flag Football Prep (Level 1) and Flag Football Prep (Level 2) are available at the following locations:
Centerville Rec Center, Oakdale Rec Center, Walkersville Rec Center, Middletown Rec Center

Click here to register for?Flag Football Prep (Level 1)?and?Flag Football Prep (Level 2)

Source: http://fredcosports.blogspot.com/2012/10/basketball-prep-baton-twirling-and-flag.html

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Futurity.org ? After cancer, exercise eases swollen limbs

After reviewing studies on how cancer survivors with lymphedema can manage their symptoms, the researchers recommend full-body exercise and a comprehensive treatment called complete decongestive therapy (CDT). (Credit: Veer)

U. MISSOURI / VANDERBILT / NYU (US) ? New research identifies the two best options for managing a chronic swelling condition that affects almost 40 percent of breast cancer survivors.

A cure for lymphedema does not exist, so individuals with the condition must find ways to manage the symptoms throughout their lifetimes. The condition causes body limbs to swell from fluid buildup as a result of lymph node removal and radiation therapy.

Now, a team of researchers and clinicians working with a University of Missouri lymphedema expert has found that full-body exercise and complete decongestive therapy (CDT) are the best ways for patients to minimize their symptoms and maintain their quality of life.

?There?s a sense of empowerment?of autonomy?that comes from meeting the challenge of living with lymphedema,? says Jane Armer, nursing professor.

?Some breast cancer survivors say that they?ve become a new person after cancer because they met a challenge, and they like the stronger person they?ve become. The challenge of lymphedema is similar. It?s something that is pervasive in every part of life. It takes problem solving and persistence to manage the condition without letting it interfere with their goals.?

Armer and her colleagues reviewed published research about lymphedema self-management in order to determine which practices were most effective in managing the condition.

The researchers found that full-body exercise, such as weight lifting and stretching, was likely to be effective in minimizing lymphedema symptoms.

In addition, the researchers concluded that complete decongestive therapy (CDT), a comprehensive treatment approach that incorporates skin care, exercise, manual lymphatic drainage and bandaging of swollen limbs, also helps patients effectively manage the condition.

?Previous research suggests that, the earlier the interventions, the better the outcomes,? Armer says. ?If patients can learn how to successfully manage the condition early on, then they can continue those processes throughout their lives, and their outcomes will be better than those of individuals who resist participating in self-care.?

Armer is a professor in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing and director of nursing research at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. The literature review is published in Nursing Research, and was led by nurse colleagues Sheila Ridner of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, and Mei Fu, associate professor at New York University College of Nursing.

Source: University of Missouri

Source: http://www.futurity.org/health-medicine/after-cancer-exercise-eases-swollen-limbs/

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What Is Isis Mobile Payment?

Today, Austin and Salt Lake City are getting the first Isis-enabled phones from Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. It's a test program for the NFC-based payment system before it gets released to everyone else. But what is Isis, exactly, and how is it different from the dozens of other mobile payment techs? More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/a0pnsEgWO-Q/what-is-isis-mobile-payment

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Russian activist claims he was kidnapped, tortured

MOSCOW (AP) ? Russia's top investigative agency announced Monday that a government opponent has turned himself in and confessed to orchestrating riots, but the man and his supporters said he was kidnapped abroad, smuggled back to Russia and then tortured into confessing.

The Investigative Committee said in a statement that Leonid Razvozzhayev admitted to plotting with leftist leaders Sergei Udaltsov and Konstantin Lebedev, and taking funding from a Georgian lawmaker.

Razvozzhayev, an aide to opposition lawmaker Ilya Ponomarev, was in hiding in Ukraine when investigators came to search homes of Udaltsov and Lebedev last week. The activist's supporters reported over the weekend that he had been kidnapped in Ukraine by Russian security officers outside a U.N. office where he was going to apply for political asylum.

A video published on the LifeNews.ru website showed Razvozzhayev being taken away from a courthouse Sunday evening after the court sanctioned his arrest. Razvozzhayev shouted to reporters: "Tell everyone that they tortured me. For two days. They smuggled me in from Ukraine."

The Investigative Committee denied his claims, insisting that Razvozzhayev himself penned a 10-page confession.

The criminal case against the three activists is based on alleged hidden camera footage aired earlier this month by a Kremlin-friendly TV channel. The documentary claimed that they met with Georgian officials to raise money to overthrow Putin's government.

The quality of the footage is poor, but investigators insist that it was not doctored.

Investigators said Monday that Razvozzhayev also talked about his involvement in "organizing" clashes between police and protesters in May in Moscow, and said this was funded by Georgian lawmaker Givi Targamadze.

Targamadze has denied any links to funding the Russian opposition.

An opposition rally on May 6 in Moscow turned violent after police restricted access to the square where the rally was to be held. Bottles and pieces of asphalt were hurled at riot police who struck back by beating protesters with truncheons. The clashes did not appear to have been orchestrated.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russian-activist-claims-kidnapped-tortured-105042632.html

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Italian court ruling sends chill through science community

By Chris Wickham

LONDON | Mon Oct 22, 2012 5:51pm EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists reacted with alarm to the manslaughter conviction of six earthquake experts in Italy for failing to give adequate warning of the 2009 earthquake in the city of L'Aquila that killed 308 people.

Scientists warned that researchers in areas involving unpredictable natural threats, like volcanology and even meteorology, will now be more reluctant to offer advice and insight to the public.

"If it stands, this verdict will have a chilling effect on earthquake science in Italy and throughout Europe," said Sandy Steacy, professor of earthquake physics at the University of Ulster.

"Who would now be willing to serve on an earthquake hazard evaluation panel when getting it wrong could mean a conviction for manslaughter?"

The ruling comes at a time when scientists are being coaxed into more active engagement with the public to demonstrate the importance of their work for the economy and the community.

"This case suggests that such engagement can be very dangerous," said Steacy.

Prosecutors had argued the experts gave inaccurate reassurances after tremors that preceded the 6.3 magnitude quake.

The six seismologists and one government official took part in a meeting before the quake in March 2009 where a risk assessment committee told city officials that a major quake was improbable, although not impossible.

"What those six scientists said was correct and any seismologists would support it," said Roger Musson at the British Geological Survey. "It seems to be wrong that they should be prosecuted for offering scientific advice to the best of their ability."

In the United States, Michael Halpern at the Union of Concerned Scientists lobby group said in a blog: "This is an absurd and dangerous decision that U.S. officials should rebuke, and Italian President Giorgio Napolitano should overturn."

Scientists warned the ruling could have repercussions beyond Italian borders and across other disciplines.

"This bizarre verdict will chill anyone who gives scientific advice, and I hope they are freed on appeal," said David Spiegelhalter, a professor for the public understanding of risk at Cambridge University.

"The lesson for me is that scientific advisors must try and retain control over how their work is communicated, and are properly trained to engage with the public."

In the last week, a broad coalition of British biomedical research groups, from universities to drug companies, signed a pledge to be more open and engage with the public to bolster support for animal experimentation. That coincided with a new Ipsos Mori poll showing a slight fall in backing from the public for the scientific use of animals.

At the time, Sir Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust medical research charity, blamed the decline on the reluctance of scientists to speak out after high profile cases of intimidation by sometimes violent animal rights activists.

Some scientists said the advice on the L'Aquila quake could have been communicated more clearly, with more emphasis placed on the small possibility of a major quake, but there was a chorus of condemnation for the verdict.

"Imagine if the government brought criminal charges against your local meteorologist for not being able to predict the exact path of a tornado," said Halpern. "Scientists need to be able to share what they know - and admit what they do not know ? without the fear of being held criminally responsible should their predictions not hold up".

(Additional reporting by Deborah Zabarenko in Washington; Editing by Jon Hemming)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/scienceNews/~3/qN1AXGcFH_8/us-science-manslaughter-italy-idUSBRE89L1IC20121022

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Wandering The Desert Of Time

We came from all different times. We remember very little of who we are. But we know that we must make the journey. And we want you to join us.

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Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.

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The Communications Network ? Using Narrative to Craft More ...

This post is the third in a series on the science and art of strategic communications. The first offered a simple tool for setting strategic objectives, and the second introduced an important theory from psychology. This post explores the power of narrative in message development.?

Guest Post: ?Doug Hattaway

Storytelling is all the rage in business and philanthropy. It should be: narrative is a powerful tool to inform, inspire and engage people.

There are a number of ways to use narrative in strategic communications. One is to tell stories about specific people and situations, which can help to put a human face on abstract issues. That?s what we usually mean by ?storytelling.?

Human-interest stories are great for creating emotional connection and encouraging your audience to care about a cause. But there?s a downside to relying on stories about individuals to illustrate complex issues: The ?big picture? can get lost.

People need to hear those stories within a framework that helps them interpret their meaning. They need to understand the larger context in order make judgments that lead to changes in attitudes and behavior.

You can dial up the persuasive power of stories by presenting them within an overarching narrative that creates context and enhances the meaning of the anecdotes. In literature, psychology and other fields, this is known as a ?meta-narrative.?

A Simple, Powerful Narrative Structure

Psychological studies show that the best way to motivate people is to offer a vision of a desired future, explain the challenges that must be tackled to achieve the vision, and show how those challenges can be overcome. That?s exactly what a narrative structure allows us to do.

The most basic narrative structure involves a protagonist seeking to achieve a meaningful goal, who must overcome obstacles to achieve it. In one variation of this classic structure, a helper figure aids the protagonist. (Think Yoda to Luke Skywalker, or the Fairy Godmother to Cinderella.)

We use this structure to develop messages about the PEOPLE involved in a cause, the PROBLEM they face in realizing their GOALS, and the SOLUTIONS offered by our client to overcome the problem.

This structure allows us to communicate with maximum motivating power. It puts the audience?and their hopes and values?front-and-center in the message. It positions the problem as an obstacle to people?s aspirations, which makes it personally relevant. And it shows how the solutions offered by our client help people achieve their goals.

This approach goes a long way in helping people care about a cause?and intuitively understand the problems and solutions.

Narrative Helps Achieve Impact

In 2009, when the nation was reeling from the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression, a major foundation asked us to develop a narrative about what happened. Media content analysis and policymaker interviews found that commentators and policymakers blamed consumers for causing the crisis, which diverted focus from the real cause and blocked meaningful reform.

We used this simple narrative structure to reframe the debate:

PEOPLE

Responsible, hardworking Americans who lost their homes and life savings

HOPES & VALUES

Own a home and achieve the American Dream

PROBLEM

Fast-talking mortgage brokers, Wall Street speculators?and a system that failed to protect consumers

SOLUTION

Stronger consumer protections, effective regulations and greater transparency

We fleshed out this basic structure into a one-minute message about the financial crisis, and backed it up with stories and data. This provided the core content for an in-depth Message Manual and toolkit used by a coalition of advocacy organizations that helped win the passage of landmark financial reform legislation.

On our site, you can download a simple tool with a set of guiding questions to help you use the power of narrative to craft meaningful messages for your organizations.

---

Doug Hattaway is president of?Hattaway Communications, a strategic communications firm that adapts tools from business, politics, psychology, linguistics and other fields to help visionary leaders and organizations achieve ambitious goals.

?

Source: http://www.comnetwork.org/2012/10/using-narrative-to-craft-more-meaningful-messages/

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Fab Sale Round-Up: GILT Baby & Kids, My Blue Birdie and More!

Check out our round up of this week's best mommy and baby deals.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/P4dI2qJN3ew/

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How else can acupuncture help! - Hive Health Media

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine can believed to be a powerful and exact cure to many diseases and injuries. If you think that you have a weak immune system, or have recurring pain that western medicine has been unable to treat, acupuncture may be the right fit for you. It also comes with the added advantage of have no side effects whatsoever.

Apart from providing you with a relaxing and painless way out of your medical predicament, acupuncture can also help brighten other aspects of your life and health, both physical and mental. The reason it has such a positive effect on your overall health is that it acupuncture has been refined and practiced for centuries in China, and is based on the theory that energy, called chi (say ?chee?), flows through and around your body, along pathways called meridians, and acupuncturists believe that illness occurs when something has blocked or destabilized your chi. Acupuncture is a way to unblock or influence chi and help it flow back into balance.

Most people who seek treatment by acupuncture include those who suffer from

• Back pains
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Stroke rehabilitation
• Asthma
• Dental pain
• Tenderness of muscle
• General weakness
• Mental illnesses brought on by stress
• Inflammation, and seek to reduce pain and spread
• Issues with fertility
• Osteoarthritis, ( breakdown of the cartilage that protects and cushions joints) and knee pain.

Acupuncturists and people who seek this treatment have found that apart from its ?medical applications, acupuncture can also help with:

• Reducing side effects of western/allopathic medicine. Apart from being a method of treatment on its own, acupuncture can also relieve many side effects caused by allopathy, like muscle cramps, hair loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and migraines.
• Helps improve mental clarity and reduce stress. Apart from helping sort out major mental disorders, acupuncture can also help reduce general stress that many people suffer from due to a severe workload hand a hectic life style. It also helps improve mental clarity, increase focus and concentration and reduce the want to ?oversleep?.
• Lowering emotional instability, and increasing motivation. Acupuncture also helps with keeping tabs on your emotions, by making sure that your hormone levels and stress levels stay in check, this keeps minor depression and paranoia at bay. Acupuncture also increases your overall motivation, and your work drive, that has a very positive impact on both you work life and personal life.
• Another thing acupuncture helps with is drug addiction. Acupuncture is believed to help reduce symptoms of withdrawal as person tries to kick the habit. It may also help prevent a relapse. This claim is under professional review, but promises a good outcome.
• Lastly, acupuncture also helps relieve both monthly menstrual cramps, and labor pains. They increase the mother?s stamina, and make natural birth easier and relatively less painless. Regularly visiting your acupuncturist is thought to be good for keeping period pain at bay, and increase the overall wellness of the uterus, warding infection and complications during birth.

Related posts:

1. Shrink and Sharp?: Acupuncture as a tool for permanent weight loss
2. Acupuncture: An Ancient Solution to Modern Warfare Problems
3. Natural Strategies for Managing Asthma
4. How To Correct Dopamine Imbalances The Natural Way
5. Back Pain and Good Habits That Prevent It

Source: http://www.hivehealthmedia.com/how-else-can-acupuncture-help/

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The Mog Log: Consoles and the online Final Fantasy | Massively

You could be forgiven for losing faith in the prospect of Final Fantasy XIV ever coming out for the PlayStation 3. Yes, it had been a promised platform, but it wouldn't be the first MMO to abandon console promises. Heck, the development team is still working on fulfilling some of the promises made by the original team; it could be forgiven for putting that one on the back burner.

But it's a real thing. We've seen the screenshots, and we know that two years after the game's initial launch, we will finally get to play around in Eorzea on our televisions. (The "we" in this case refers to fellow PS3 owners.) This is sort of a mixed blessing.

This isn't a column about console gaming compared to PC gaming; I really don't care which platform you prefer, and it's also not the point. This is a column about the fact that Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV are both going to be console games as well as computer games, and that introduces some interesting wrinkles.

Interface woes

I've mentioned in the past how Final Fantasy XI has suffered in no small part because it's tied to the PlayStation 2. This isn't because the PlayStation 2 is a bad console, nor is it because you can't upgrade the hardware in a PS2 without bringing it out of designer specifications. No, a lot of that weakness is because of the limitations to what you can do with a console game, starting with the interface.

One of the complaints that many people had about FFXIV right from the start was that its interface seemed to assume you had a controller hooked up to your computer. I think it was just a case of an interface designed to serve both computer and console and succeeding at neither, but there was definitely an element of making sure that things were streamlined to the point that your controller could do all the work. Some tasks, like switching pages on your action bars, almost seem as if they'd be easier with a controller than a keyboard.

There's no real way around this. Yes, you can hook a keyboard up to a console or a controller up to a computer, but in the latter case, you're adding a third peripheral when your hands are designed to handle two at most. In the former case, you're adding an accessory to your console for use in an exceptionally small number of games, possibly just the one.

FFXI was designed from the start for play on consoles, which is part of the reason the game has menu-based combat and an inelegant control schematic. FFXIV clearly has caved to some of the ideas of more modern design, but therein lies part of the problem. A glance at the interface screenshots suggests you've got about 16 action buttons on speed-dial. That means that fights have to be designed around playing with 16 abilities on tap because otherwise console players literally won't be able to compete.

You can say that it doesn't affect you on the PC, but part of the reason FFXIV was designed that way was to ensure that console and PC players were on equal footing for using abilities.

Then you've got issues like modifiable interfaces (a plus, but difficult on a console and yet expected if it's in the PC version) and display issues (televisions don't have the resolution of a good monitor, even HD ones), and just playing the game on two systems concurrently becomes a hassle. A manageable one, yes, but one that requires at least twice as much testing. Every update for FFXI has to work on three completely separate systems, and that adds more steps to the testing process and more failure points into an already complex system.

A new order

Introducing the console to the FFXIV playerbase is going to bring some development issues. But it also has at least one major benefit for the game as a whole: making the relaunch stick.

I've talked for a while about how FFXIV needs to win the hearts and minds of many people who have sworn off the game for good. There are a lot of people who have never played the game, but the title is still synonymous with all manner of negative adjectives. It takes some sort of external force to counteract that, something like the launch of the game on a new platform with a whole lot of new and pretty-looking screenshots. You know, the sort of relaunch that really crystalizes the idea that this is a completely new game.

Right now, fantasy games of the sprawling baroque style have a bit of traction with the console audience. And while there are other MMOs available for the PlayStation 3, they're currently all rather niche titles that don't have the brand name visibility of a new Final Fantasy game. Even though the console version alone won't repopulate the game, it will bring in new people, including those who had never paid much attention to it prior to the launch on the console.

That may mean driving more development toward appealing to console players, which means a trend toward more flexible gameplay, but I don't consider that a bad thing. And it's going to mean that there will be a lot of extra hurdles for the development team to jump through with the addition of the new platform, but that was always going to be the case.

As always, feedback is welcome in the comments down below or via mail to eliot@massively.com. Next week, I'm going to poke a bit at the servers being turned back on after the final database copy and what might be worth doing in the game's unsaved period as we approach the deadline.

From Eorzea to Vana'diel, there is a constant: the moogles. And for analysis and opinions about the online portions of the Final Fantasy series, there is also a constant: The Mog Log. Longtime series fan Eliot Lefebvre serves up a new installment of the log every Saturday, covering almost anything related to Square-Enix's vibrant online worlds.

Source: http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/20/the-mog-log-consoles-and-the-online-final-fantasy/

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Kenya tells separatist group: surrender or face arrest

MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) - Kenya on Saturday told members of a separatist group to surrender or face arrest as the east African country intensified a crackdown on the movement ahead of an election next year.

The Mombasa Republican Council's (MRC) campaign for the secession of Kenya's Indian Ocean coastal strip, a tourist hotspot and trade hub, is just one of many concerns ahead of the March election, the first since the 2007 vote after which some 1,200 people were killed and thousands were displaced.

"I am asking all MRC officials and members who are still out there to surrender voluntarily and also surrender their weapons this weekend," Coast province commissioner Samuel Kielele said at a gathering for national day celebrations in Mombasa.

"We know them and we will go for them if they don't heed this call. We will go for them and arrest them," he said.

President Mwai Kibaki also said his government would take decisive action against those who "issued threats of secession or those who threaten our security".

Earlier this week, Kenyan police arrested MRC leader Omar Mwamnuadzi and later charged him with possession of firearms and incitement to violence. A Kenyan court also charged a lawmaker and prominent Muslim preacher for inciting violence after he said he would be willing to fund the group.

INFILTRATED

A Mombasa court issued arrest warrants on Friday for five MRC officials for failing to appear in court to answer charges of being members of an unlawful society.

MRC's grievances stem from what it calls decades of social and economic marginalisation of the people in the coastal region of Kenya, east Africa's largest economy.

Earlier this month, MRC spokesman Mohamed Mraja and secretary Randu Nzai Ruwa were charged with inciting members to disobey the law, shortly after a gang of youths brandishing machetes attacked a cabinet minister and killed his bodyguard.

Police linked the attack to the MRC, but the group denied involvement. Kenyan security agents investigating the group, formed in 1999, believe it is backed by wealthy Arabs.

Kenyan officials say MRC is infiltrated by fighters from al-Qaeda-linked Islamist group al Shabaab, which has waged a five-year insurgency against Somalia's government in 2007.

Kenya's troops crossed into Somalia a year ago to crush the militants whom it blamed for attacks and kidnappings on its soil. Three weeks ago, Kenya's defence forces - under the umbrella of African Union troops (AMISOM) - took control of the Somali port city of Kismayu, al Shabaab's last major bastion.

Police have carried out raids in the coastal region against suspected al Shabaab members. Three suspects were killed in a raid on Wednesday in which a police officer also died.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kenya-tells-separatist-group-surrender-face-arrest-125601536.html

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Things to Remember When Remodeling Your Own Home | Information

rinnai tankless water heaterA lot of people are extremely fearful when it comes to the topic of residence improvement. No matter if the actual physical requirements with the job seem excellent or perhaps the task too challenging, many people are beaten before they begin their house improvement task. This document is meant to provide you using the requisite knowledge to take on the round the home jobs you would otherwise employ someone to carry out. Cooking area cabinets may be incredibly heavy. Make them lighter by removing the doors and drawers from all of your cabinets right before installing them. The lighter cabinets are going to be easier to maneuver and there is going to be nothing to find inside your way as you screw the cabinets towards the wall.

Make improvements to visibility for cooking, washing recipes, reading recipes and other common kitchen area chores by installing lights under your cabinets. These tiny lights are very simple to install yourself, and so is a great way to boost the amount of light as part of your cooking area while not utilizing higher-wattage bulbs in your overhead light fixtures. When you would like to move but can?t thanks to the economy, view it as an opportunity to create a residence you adore via renovations and updates. Not just will numerous upgrades bring value to your household when you find yourself ready to sell, but you will probably be happier surrounded through the colors, patterns, as well as other structure components you appreciate.

At all times permit for extra time when you are doing a home improvement undertaking that consists of plumbing. No individual likes to be without their kitchen area or their bathroom for an extended period of time. You would like to hope which you can get the job accomplished inside a day or two and be back up and operating easily. However, rerouting pipes and installing sinks and other fixtures takes time, and unexpected things practically at all times come up. When the cabinets inside your kitchen area are out of date or in bad shape, consider replacing them or resurfacing them before you make an effort to sell your property. Kitchen remodels, like replacing cabinets, normally offer a 100 percent return on what you devote. Kitchens are a big selling point when someone is browsing to get a house.

An effortless strategy to enhance the functionality of your kitchen should be to clean and organize your pantry. Get rid of old food products, spices, and out-of-date canned goods. Clean up the shelves and install fresh liner paper. Then, place like items together in the same area or shelf. No a lot more endless searching, as your ingredients will continually be at hand! Update your bathroom to generate your own home really feel just like a residence. Each customer from the household spends quite a bit of time within this space, but we frequently overlook presenting it an upgrade throughout a remodel. You can do effortless changes by replacing wallpapers, lighting fixtures, and cabinetry, to create a fresh appear.

There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of doing a work yourself and doing the task clearly. The most significant part of household improvement will be to overcome your fear. By having a job one part in a time and following the instructions and help and advice provided by this post, you will probably be amazed at everything you can accomplish!

Source: http://gosselinfiat.com/accounting/things-to-remember-when-remodeling-your-own-home/

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Finding Ideas For Article Writing When You Are Out And About ...

If you?re trying to generate ideas for article writing, it can be easy to think that this all has to be done by sitting and researching online. Although the internet is an enormous and wonderful resource for finding out information and stimulating new ideas, if you?re creating content on a regular basis it can also be useful to step away from your computer and in the course of your day take note of things around you that can stimulate ideas. Try and be flexible and allow your mind just to have fun and finding ideas for article writing will come from the most surprising places.

Other peoples conversations

I?m sure you?re thinking that you don?t make a habit of listening to other people?s conversations, but often it?s very difficult not to. People talking on their phones, in the street, on public transport. People holding conversations in doctor?s waiting rooms, dentists, hospital waiting rooms, hairdressers, in cafes and bars. You don?t need to listen to hear whole conversations, even small snippets can generate ideas. What are their fears, their worries, the problems they have and need solving?

Shop window displays

Look at what they are promoting and how they?re promoting it. What story are they telling? What need are they trying to fulfill? Your online business may be completely different, but that doesn?t mean there isn?t something that you can?t make a connection to and write about.

Flyers and posters

Sometimes it seems you can?t walk down a street without someone trying to press a flyer in your hand. As tempting as it may be to just put it in the nearest bin, take a quick look. Similarly instead of just walking on past advertising hoardings, see if there?s anything that stimulates your interest.

Public announcements

Yes even public announcements in train, bus, or coach stations or ones inside shops can be interesting. Quite often one hears poor examples of communication skills, customer service, time management, organisational skills or even funny announcements that can spark ideas and help you find ideas for article writing.

Hustle and bustle of life

Just in the course of a normal day you will be interacting with lots of different people. Some of these interactions whether they be positive or negative can be used to generate further ideas. Sometimes it may be conversations, it may be the manner of someone, it may be the way their dressed, it may be something that they?re doing. And of course ? although I?ve said about the hustle and bustle of life they are just as many times to gain ideas at quieter times such as a walk in the country, a jog along the beach...

Summary

When you?re out and about on an everyday basis you will come across many things which can help you in finding and generating ideas for article writing. The connections may not seem obvious, but be flexible. Oh and I never said earlier, but always have a way of jotting down any idea that comes into your head. There?s nothing worse than having a great idea and then not being able to remember it later.

Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/writing-articles/finding-ideas-for-article-writing-when-you-are-out-and-about-advice-for-newbies

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Romney's Health Plan Leaves 72 Million Uninsured: Study - TPMDC

Sahil Kapur October 2, 2012, 10:44 AM

Mitt Romney?s health care platform would leave 72 million Americans without insurance by the year 2022, according to a new study by the Commonwealth Fund. President Obama?s approach, the researchers found, would mean 27.1 million are uninsured.

The study illustrates a stark contrast between the two candidates? health care platforms. The projections are derived by contrasting the impacts of Obama?s plan to implement the Affordable Care Act with Romney?s promise to repeal it and scale back Medicaid. (Romney?s proposed Medicare changes would only take effect after 2022.)

?The health reform law will reduce the number of uninsured people by an estimated 32.9 million, leaving 27.1 million people uninsured,? the report said. By contrast, ?Nationally, Romney?s proposals are estimated to increase the number of uninsured people by 12 million compared with the baseline (no Affordable Care Act), leaving 72 million people uninsured in 2022.?

The Commonwealth Fund study concluded that repealing the Affordable Care Act ? which would unwind the subsidies and market reforms to expand coverage and roll back the law?s expansion of Medicaid ? would swell the ranks of the uninsured. Taken together, Romney?s other proposals to convert Medicaid into a block grant and equalize the tax treatment of employer-provided and individually-purchased insurance would add to that.

The report also assumes that all states will ultimately accept matching funds to expand their Medicaid programs as the ACA calls for ? despite the fact that June?s Supreme Court ruling effectively made the expansion optional.

The comparison is based on methods crafted by Jonathan Gruber, a leading health economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who advised policymakers who designed the Affordable Care Act, and has since criticized Romney?s turn against a national version of the blueprint he enacted as governor of Massachusetts.

The Commonwealth study sought to fill in the blanks of Romney?s proposals where they were vague, such as the rate of growth in the Medicaid block grant and how much states will need to cut. The Romney campaign disputed its assumptions.

?The Commonwealth study sadly contributes little to the health reform conversation that this country deserves,? Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul told TPM. ?It badly mistakes Governor Romney?s proposals. Worse, it assumes a fantasy world where Obamacare has been a success. Instead, Americans have seen their insurance premiums increase, small businesses are facing massive tax increases, and seniors will have reduced access to Medicare services. The simple truth is this: The American people do not want this law, we cannot afford this law, and when Mitt Romney is President he will repeal it and replace it with common-sense, patient-centered reforms that strengthen our health care system.?

Barack Obama, Health Care, Health Care Repeal, Mitt Romney, health care reform

Sahil Kapur

Sahil Kapur is a congressional reporter for TPM. He previously covered politics and public policy for numerous publications including The Guardian and The Huffington Post. He can be reached at sahil [at] talkingpointsmemo.com.

Source: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/10/commonwealth-study-romney-obama-health-care-plans.php

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U.S. auto sales post best month in 4-1/2 years

DETROIT (Reuters) - U.S. auto sales last month posted their best showing in 4-1/2 years, helped by cheap financing, rising consumer confidence and a major rebound by Toyota Motor Corp .

The September sales pace was 14.94 million vehicles as calculated on an annualized basis, exceeding analyst estimates of 14.5 million, according to Autodata Corp. This was the highest rate since March 2008, about four months after the start of the 2007-2009 U.S. recession.

U.S. auto sales last month rose 13 percent to 1,188,865 new vehicles. Analysts, on average, had expected an increase of less than 9 percent.

General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co said rising home prices and a drop in jobless claims encouraged American car shoppers to buy new vehicles.

The wider availability of cheap financing also spurred sales. About one-third of Toyota buyers who financed their purchase last month received a no-interest loan, according to industry research firm Edmunds.com. Toyota's proportion of no-interest deals was higher than any other automaker.

"The money is so cheap now," said Jesse Toprak, TrueCar.com analyst. "Higher resale values and cheap money has been enabling automakers to offer some of the most attractive leasing programs we've seen in years."

About 80 percent of new vehicle transactions are financed, said R.L. Polk analyst Tom Libby.

The interest rate on a 48-month new car loan was about 3.19 percent last month, down from 4.39 percent in September 2011, according to Bankrate.com.

That rate was about 7.45 percent in May 2009, during the depths of the downturn that pushed GM and Chrysler Group LLC to file for government-funded bankruptcies three years ago.

During the recent recession, which officially lasted until June 2009, U.S. consumers delayed big-ticket purchases, pushing the average age of vehicles on the road to a record high.

That pent-up demand has fueled auto sales growth this year as cars and trucks on the road push past the point of repair and consumers' economic prospects improve.

"I think in general with the economy chugging along at about 1.5 percent to 2 percent that we are gradually seeing people come back," said Ford chief economist Ellen Hughes-Cromwick.

SMALL CARS SURGE, TRUCKS LAG

GM, the largest U.S. automaker, said sales of its mini, small and compact cars nearly doubled last month. Ford's small car sales rose about 73 percent, while fuel prices rose.

But both automakers said pickup truck sales in September, when those sales typically strengthen, were softer than in years past. Both GM and Ford said trucks made up about 12 percent of sales last month, down from 13 percent in September 2011.

"There has been a fundamental shift of truck to car that we've been seeing for the past few years," said Chevrolet's sales chief, Don Johnson, adding that September's results represented a continuation of that trend.

"Consumers, because of the price of fuel, have definitely shifted over the last couple of years to a stronger mix on the car side," he said.

Ford shares ended 1.4 percent lower at $9.79 and GM shares gained 2.6 percent to close at $23.68 on Tuesday.

GM POSTS SMALL GAIN, TOYOTA SURGES

GM sold 210,245 cars and trucks last month, up 1.5 percent from a year earlier. Ford sold 174,976 cars and trucks last month, on par with its results from a year ago.

Chrysler, the U.S. automaker majority-owned by Italy's Fiat SpA , showed a 12 percent jump in sales to 142,041.

Toyota said vehicle sales rose 41.5 percent to 171,190 last month, while Honda Motor Co sales rose about 31 percent to 117,211.

The outsized gains from Toyota and Honda reflect their recovery from inventory shortages last year after the March 2011 earthquake in Japan.

Volkswagen of America, the U.S. arm of Volkswagen AG , sales rose 34.4 percent.

Nissan Motor Co's sales fell 1.1 percent to 91,907 vehicles, hurt by higher fuel prices as well as inventory shortages of its Altima midsize sedan, said Al Castignetti, U.S. sales chief for the Nissan brand.

(Reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit; editing by Gerald E. McCormick, Maureen Bavdek and Matthew Lewis)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chrysler-says-september-sales-best-since-2007-122822087--business.html

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Manufacturing sector takes a turn for the worse | The Times

Manufacturing contracted across major economies in the third quarter, fanning fears that the global slowdown in worsening.

The eurozone?s manufacturing sector suffered its worst performance since the second quarter of 2009 in the quarter ended September, according to Markit?s Purchasing Managers? Index, which averaged 45.1. Figures below 50 indicate contraction.

Ireland saw the most positive readings in August, while Greece brought up the rear with continued, relentless contraction.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said: ?The survey is consistent with manufacturing output falling at a quarterly rate of perhaps as much as 1 per cent, which means the sector will

Source: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/economics/article3554767.ece

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5 things to do: Animal Collective and more

Source: http://feeds.clatl.com/~r/clatl/news/~3/JXW4OoXqcto/5-things-to-do-animal-collective-and-more

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HP announces the ElitePad 900, a business-friendly Windows 8 tablet arriving in January

Remember those hazy days of summer when HP ran an ad during the Olympics, slipped in a a shot of an unannounced tablet and thought we wouldn't notice? (P'shaw!) Well, you can finally lay your speculation to rest, as HP just formally unveiled the mystery tab, along with a slew of accessories. It's called the ElitePad 900 and, as rumored, it's a 10-inch Windows 8 slate meant for business users, with features like pen input, drive encryption and optional 3G / 4G.

Like HP's high-end EliteBook laptops, the ElitePad has a premium look, marked by a machined aluminum back cover and 400-nit IPS display coated in Gorilla Glass. Also similar to the EliteBooks, it meets the military's MIL-spec 810G durability requirements, and can withstand three-foot drops, among other accidents. All told, it weighs 1.5 pounds and measures 9.2mm thick. Going by weight, that's more along the lines of what you'd expect from a larger, 11-inch tablet, but 1.5 pounds is still manageable, especially considering how armored this thing is.

On the inside, it runs an Atom-based Intel Clover Trail processor, buffered by up to 2GB of RAM. Like so many other systems with this kind of chip, it promises about 10 hours of runtime -- a clear improvement over similar devices packing Core i5 CPUs. Storage-wise, you'll have your choice between a 32 or 64GB SSD. The screen has a resolution of 1,280 x 800, making it the one feature likely to disappoint power users. Take a tour around the device and you'll find an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1080p shooter up front for video chats. Hidden behind a service door on the back are two slots: one for microSD cards, and another for 3G / 4G SIMs.

And how 'bout those accessories? In addition to the tablet, HP will be selling two so-called SmartJackets, cases that do a little more than just shield the device from wear and tear. One of them, for instance, has two USB ports, HDMI output, a full-size memory card slot and room for an optional battery slice. That battery, by the way, has a capacity of about eight hours, so while the case does add some heft it could be worth it if you need a PC that will last through a flight from New York to Tokyo. As for the second case, its defining feature is a built-in keyboard, which plugs directly into the tablet.

Though HP announced the ElitePad 900 today, the tablet won't go on sale here in the US until January. Hopefully we'll also get a final price as we get closer to that launch date. Luckily, we've already gotten a chance to play with it, so meet us after the break for hands-on photos and a short walk-through video detailing our first impressions.

Continue reading HP announces the ElitePad 900, a business-friendly Windows 8 tablet arriving in January

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HP announces the ElitePad 900, a business-friendly Windows 8 tablet arriving in January originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/01/hp-elitepad-900-windows-8-tablet-announced/

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