No Matter How Huge, Mega Millions Jackpot Will Always Be a Bad Bet

Yesterday my father-in-law asked me to buy him $100 in lottery tickets. He is ordinarily the kind of guy who would cite the quip ?the lottery is a tax on people who can?t do math,? but these are not ordinary times. On Friday night the Mega Millions multi-state lottery will offer a $500 million jackpot, give or take, by far the highest jackpot ever offered in the history of the known universe. The prize is so high it exceeds the number of possible number combinations on a ticket, which is about 176 million. (In other words, the chance that any particular ticket is a winner is about 176 million to one.) The math seems to imply that a $1 ticket has an expected value of $500 million divided by 176 million, or nearly $3. Yet a closer look at the math reveals that the Mega Millions jackpot is a bad bet no matter how large the prize.

The reason? For starters, even if you hit the jackpot, you may have to share it if another ticket-holder or multiple others played the same numbers in the same order that you did. Indeed, this is the fate that usually befalls winners of big Mega Millions jackpots. Each of the three previous three highest Mega Millions drawings were won by two different ticket holders who had to split the jackpot; the fourth-highest drawing was split amongst four winning tickets.

Certainly, the threat of having to split is there, but does that really make it a bad bet?especially when the jackpot is so very high? According to the mathematicians, yes. As the number of tickets sold goes up, the chance that more than one person will share in the jackpot does as well, according to a well-known mathematical function called a binomial distribution. When Emory University mathematicians Skip Garibaldi and Aaron Abrams worked through the equations, they found that lotteries are generally a terrible bet?Mega Millions and Powerball particularly so. (I encourage you to take a look at their paper ?Finding good bets in the lottery, and why you shouldn?t take them,? which was published in the American Mathematical Monthly in 2010.)

Even in the case of the current drawing, which offers a jackpot so large that Garibaldi and Abrams show how it should only occur on average every 22 years, the number of tickets that go out is correspondingly large. ?I ran the numbers last night,? Garibaldi told me over the phone. ?You can tell by the amount they estimate the jackpot to be what they estimate the ticket sales to be.? Based on the current jackpot, an estimated 380 million tickets have been sold this week. The estimated return on an investment of this week?s Mega Millions drawing? Negative 19 percent, per his calculations.

Still, even if that number was positive (and it was, once, in a Texas lottery), buying lottery tickets will never be a sound investment strategy. Using modern portfolio theory, the authors show that the chances of winning the lottery are so incredibly low that the risk precludes any wise investment, no matter what the expected rate of return.

That said, Garibaldi bought five tickets. ?I know it?s throwing money away,? he admitted, but it?s fun to be in on the action. That?s why I don?t feel bad about buying 100 tickets for my father-in-law, either. Besides, he promised to split the jackpot with the rest of the family. With zero out-of-pocket expenses, my rate of return is infinite.

Image by vvvracer on Flickr

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Myanmar's Suu Kyi: from prisoner to would-be lawmaker

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Christmas Tree Growers Instinctively Understand Strategic Planning ...

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If you're serious about farm succession, or if you are a professional concerned in farm succession planning ? or a farm association executive whose members wish to see their farm continue into the new generation, this document is for you. Every action we take leads us towards or away from our goals. Nothing is neutral ? so doing only those things that are goal achieving and forgetting about the ones that are simply tension relieving will make your life easier. If you are like most successful farmers and agriculture accountant is one of your key advisers in the management succession process.

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Aerosmith Announces Summer Tour, New Album

Steven Tyler stole the spotlight for a few moments on American Idol last night, announcing that he and Aerosmith will be hitting the tour this summer for the band's first tour since 2009.

"We're calling the tour the Global Warming Tour," Tyler said like only he can. "Because of the fire. Yo tengo el fuego."

Earlier in the day, Tyler gathered at the Grove in Los Angeles - along with bandmate Joe Perry - and also revealed that the legendary group will release a new album - its first in eight years - some time later this year.

"We've been underground for four months, doing what we do best," said Tyler, adding that they're two songs away from completion on the CD.

But back to the tour: it will kick off on June 16 in Minneapolis, Cheap Trick will open and tickets go on sale tomorrow. Sounds like Amazing news to us! We aren't Cryin upon hearing it! And we Don't Wanna Miss a Thing when it comes to Aerosmith!

(Sorry.)

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Email Marketing ? Building A Customer Email List For Your Local ...

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Source: http://www.fullerbiz.com/email-marketing-building-a-customer-email-list-for-your-local-business.html

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Video: MasterCard Investigates Potential Data Compromise

CNBC's Mary Thompson has the details on MasterCard investigating a potential data compromise at a U.S.-based entity.

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/46905577/

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International Development - Director Of Finance

Director of Finance (DOF)

Myanmar

?

?

Position Summary: The Director of Finance (DOF) is responsible for the overall management and provision of key support services operational accounting, financial reporting, auditing, subgrant financial management and monitoring, and staff capacity building.? This role may be expanded to include duties within the area of office administration, procurement, human resource management, and external relations.? The DOF will ensure that all projects managed by Pact Myanmar are implemented as per contractual agreements and maintain a high standard for the quality and integrity of financial data. ? The DOF will also be a key member of Pact Myanmar?s Senior Management Team and will play an active role in the development and implementation of strategies and business policies. S/he will be responsible for promoting effective communication and coordination between and among sections and departments within the division and Pact Myanmar. S/he will also maintain effective working relationships with key partners, donors and government representatives at all levels and will represent Pact Myanmar as and when required. ?

?

Key Relationships:

Supervised by: Country Director, Myanmar

Supervises: Finance Manager, and Grant & Finance Officers, may include: Administration/HR Officers

Coordinates:

?

With whom	On what
COP, Program Manager, Unit Managers	?????? Policies and procedures development/improvement ?????? Project financial management including burn rate analysis, budget pipeline, annual budget forecasting and variance review, ?????? Proposal budget development ?????? Subgrantee financial management and monitoring May be assigned: ????? Office facility and IT management ????? Coordination and Relationship Building with External Organizations ????? Human resource management, procurement
Global Finance Manager - AEA	?????? Project financial management including burn rate analysis, budget pipeline, annual budget forecasting and variance review, ?????? Country/Project Financial Audits ?????? Internal Control Reviews, Financial Policies and Procedures ?????? Donor Financial Reports ?????? Project Close-out ?????? Accounting System Implementations
DC Finance	?????? Monthly Financial Reports, Donor Financial Reports ?????? Cash Management/Wire Transfer ?????? Country/Project Financial Audits

?

?

Core Values:

Pact employees embrace the following core values as representatives of the institution:

• ???????????? all people have a right to participate in decisions affecting their lives
• ???????????? gender equity is mandatory for social transformation
• ???????????? resources are allocated in a transparent manner, guided by accountability to our clients and Pact?s role as steward of resources intended for the poor
• ???????????? diversity in background, gender and age strengthen our capacity to be wise managers of public and private funds
• ???????????? teamwork and collaboration shape our day-to-day working relationships
• ???????????? innovation and risk taking to achieve impact and broad scalable results drive strategic priorities
• ???????????? gathering and sharing information are primary roles for all employees
• ???????????? staff growth and advancement are a priority, including training and professional skills building to increase knowledge and competence and to stay abreast of new developments, especially in technology
• ???????????? a healthy balance between work and life outside of work must be maintained for work satisfaction and fulfillment

?

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

1. 1.?????? Staff Management

• ?? Provide regular support and supervision to staff under direct line management. This includes (but is not limited to) the formulation of individual work plans (with agreed indicators of achievement) based on project work plans and/or job descriptions. It also includes regularly scheduled supervision and performance management meetings to assess progress against agreed outputs
• ?? Build the technical and managerial capacity of? staff under direct line management and delegate tasks for the efficient performance of activities
• ?? As a key member of the senior management team, participate in the management of organizational policy and management decisions
• ?? Participate in staff recruitment, induction planning and formulation of staff personal development plans?
• ?? Lead and coordinate the work plan of the Administration and Finance Department in coordination with relevant departments as necessary.
• ?? Expected Results:
  • o?? Administration and Finance staff workplan is developed and implemented (quarterly or annually)
  • o?? Ongoing capacity building and support of administration and finance staff under the direct line management

?

1. 2.????? General Financial Management

• ?? Establish proper financial management systems and processes that can provide accurate, current and complete disclosure of financial transactions. Provide oversight and support to the finance team::

a)????? To ensure that all transactions are recorded in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles supported by relevant and verifiable source documents.

b)????? To ensure that disbursements are reviewed for allowability and properly allocated to projects

c)????? To ensure that monthly account reconciliations are performed and appropriate plans are put in place and executed, as applicable, to resolve unreconciled differences.

d)????? To ensure the timely preparation and submission of a monthly financial report and supporting narrative on current project status, and documenting the monthly review of the financial performance of those activities under his / her oversight (including monitoring cash balances, subgrantee activities, and reviewing aged receivables and accrued liabilities).

e)????? Vetting of subaward matrix on a monthly basis with regard to obligations made and outstanding, reconciling advances and related liquidations of expenses with the accounting system and related grants reports, and ultimate financial oversight of subaward closeout and potential funds recovery.

f)?????? Drafting periodic non-USG donor reports and related invoices for DC review and approval prior to submission to the donor and in accordance with the agreed schedule.

• ?? Monitor Pact Myanmar?s annual budgets and long-term financial projections and make analysis available to relevant staff
• ?? Design and implement sound internal control system to safe guard assets, financial records and documents of the organization, and in compliant with Pact and donors rules and regulations
• ?? Monitor proper management of cash flow ensuring Pact Myanmar liquidity at all times. This includes preparation of cash flow forecasts on monthly and quarterly basis and planning for timely preparation and replenishment for partners and others.
• ?? Supervise Pact Myanmar?s computerized financial management and accounting system. Expected to keep abreast of developments in accounting and financial management software and practices.
• ?? Review the Project Status Reports (PSRs) on a monthly basis, and provide the Country Director, COP, and other Program Managers and other relevant stakeholders with up-to-date financial status information and pipeline projections to ensure that project spending is in line with the budget and workplan.
• ?? Ensure the cooperation of the Finance Department with other departments/units and to prepare realistic financial forecasts and secure adequate and timely financing
• ?? Continuously evaluate the appropriateness of the existing financial management system and/or approaches and propose changes for improvement
• ?? Expected Results:
  • o?? Submitted financial report to DC office based on the set deadline - with high quality and completeness
  • o?? Financial reports and invoices for non-USG funded projects are prepared with high quality and submitted to DC office for review/approval in accordance with the reporting and invoicing schedule
  • o?? Reduced frequency of cash request to DC office, preferably once a month while ensure that the projected cash sufficient enough to cover day-to-day operations
  • o?? Internal control system including cash management are strengthen and improved
  • o?? Project budget and country operational budget management is updated and the process is improved
  • o?? All balance sheet accounts for ended and or closed projects are reconciled and cleared from the system
  • o?? All accounts balance between QuickBooks and DC office are reconciled
  • o?? Financial policies and accounting procedures is regularly updated (annually) to reflect with all changes made

1. 3.????? Subgrants Financial Management

• ?? Oversight of and coordination with the Grants & Contracts unit as well as training/mentoring of staff where necessary in the administration of the programs? grant agreements with local and international NGO?s.
• ?? In collaboration with appropriate Grants & Contracts and Program Departments, Regional and DC Office personnel, design, develop and adapt policies, guidelines and criteria for the management of the grant portfolio using Pact?s Global standards taking into account the conditions and constraints of Myanmar
• ?? In collaboration with the relevant staff, support the development of criteria and guidelines for identifying partners and selecting project proposals to be funded
• ?? In collaboration? with Grants & Contracts and Program Departments, ensure that the pre-award surveys are conducted and that monitoring and financial support are provided for grantees
• ?? In conjunction with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) team , develop a financial monitoring and evaluation guideline, which reflects financial and administrative requirements at partner level
• ?? Ensure financial monitoring systems provide timely and relevant reports to Pact staff, including analysis and tracking of grant commitments (i.e. cash advances), obligations, awards and liquidations, to support efficient accountable grant implementation.
• ?? Equip appropriate staff to provide technical assistance to local NGO?s in the area of financial management and compliance
• ?? In collaboration with other program directors ensure that all grants are administered in accordance to the terms and conditions of donors.
• ?? Expected Results:
  • o?? Subgrantee financial monitoring plan developed and implemented
  • o?? All subgrantee?s budget burn rate and other financial management issues are well coordinated and updated to Country Director and COP/Program Managers
  • o?? Accurate subaward matrices are prepared and updated

1. 4.????? Coordination

• ?? Liaises and ensure good relationships with the all concerned ministries and is in compliance with all government requirements & regulations.
• ?? Keeps updates Master Copies of all MOUs, Registration Documents, Letters of Permission and other related documents and ensures HQ office has updated versions.
• ?? Meets and follows up on all permission requests (visas, permits, MOUs, etc.)?
• ?? Lead regular scheduled meetings with relevant members of the general accounting and grants & finance teams, participate in wider coordination meetings (as per the agreed organizational meeting schedule).
• ?? In collaboration with other department heads, promote effective communication and coordination across the organizational structure and country programs.
• ?? Promote coordinated monitoring visits to project sites, sub-offices and partners (as per agreed schedule with relevant departments (program, G&C, ?)
• ?? Expected Results:
  • o?? Regular coordination meeting with Program and Grants & Contracts teams are scheduled and implemented

?

1. 5.????? Others

• ?? Represent Pact Myanmar in key internal and external meetings when required
• ?? Performs other duties as assigned by the Country Director??

?

Duties that may be assigned:

?

1. 6.????? Human Resource Management

• ?? Supervise the HR Officer and ensure that s/he properly carry out his/her responsibilities.
• ?? Process employment contracts and dismissals.
• ?? Ensure HR & personnel policies and procedures are in line with best practices and compliant with Pact global policies and Myanmar labor law.
• ?? Ensure personnel & recruitment files are kept up-to-date, secure and confidential.
• ?? Ensure transparency of the staff recruitment and hiring process and that established policies and procedures are followed.
• ?? Ensure Pact Myanmar HR policies are competitive with peer organizations.
• ?? Ensure that the highest standards of ethics and confidentiality are maintained.
• ?? Ensure gender equity and equality within the area of work, particularly in recruitment/selection and challenge any non-compliance to the policy and procedures.
• ?? Coordinate with staff and senior management to resolve staff conflict.
• ?? Expected Results:
  • o?? Personnel policies and procedures are up-to-date and in compliant with Pact global policies.
  • o?? Staff are trained and well understand about the policies
  • o?? Recruited high quality staff and ensure the high level of transparency in staff recruitment.

1. 7.????? Office Administration, Logistical and Procurement Management

• ?? Supervises Administration Officer and ensures that s/he properly carries out his/her responsibilities
• ?? Ensure Admin policies and procedures are in line with best practices and compliant with Pact global policies.
• ?? Oversees management of all office premises, expatriate housing and vehicles.
• ?? Oversees the visa and other immigration requirements of ex-pat staff
• ?? Overseas the travel and logistical arrangements for international visitors.
• ?? Ensure that travel and other logistical arrangements for staff operate effectively
• ?? Acts as Pact Representative in dealing with government ministries/line departments and the NGO community in relation to his/her Administrative duties.
• ?? Coordinates and facilitations competitive bids.
• ?? Ensure procurement and property management policies and procedures are in line with best practices and compliant with Donor and Pact global policies.
• ?? Negotiates, with the cooperation of appropriate staff, acquisition funding mechanisms, including consultant agreements, contracts, purchase orders and other agreements necessary for programmatic activities and functioning of the office.
• ?? Maintains property inventory list and ensures physical inventories are undertaken as required by Pact policy. Ensures equipment and property are properly insured.
• ?? Expected Results:
  • o?? Administration and procurement policies and procedures are up-to-date and in compliant with Pact global policies.
  • o?? Staffs are well trained on these policies.

?

?

1. 8.????? IT Management

• ?? Supervise the Database / IT Officer for the percentage of time allocated to IT and ensure that s/he properly carries out his/her responsibilities.
• ?? Ensure IT policies and procedures are in line with best practices and compliant with Pact global policies.
• ?? Ensure staff are compliance with IT procedures and new IT instructions
• ?? Oversee and ensure the proper functioning and maintenance of the office information technology hardware and software.
• ?? Ensure that the server/database and internet/email connection are properly set up and installed and appropriate to support the size of Pact staff
• ?? Oversee and ensure the proper functioning and maintenance of all office equipment.
• ?? Ensure system for back-up and security of IT data is up-to-date and of the highest standard.
• ?? Expected Results:
  • o?? Pact IT policies is fully complied
  • o?? Quality of local network connection, internet, and email connection is improved.

?

?

Qualifications:

• Thorough knowledge of GAAP financial reporting along with USG contract terminology and policies with strong financial accounting, modeling and analytic skills to ensure accurate and timely reporting and analysis of information to management
• Demonstrated knowledge of financial software and accounting systems for reporting purposes and proficiency with Microsoft Office, Outlook and other computer-based applications ? QuickBooks and Microsoft Serenic Navigator a plus
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to articulate results and recommendations of analysis to a variety of audiences within the organization (for example laterally across peers, and upward to senior management)
• Strong interpersonal skills ability to work across organizational boundaries
• High energy, self-starter with drive and confidence to get tasks accomplished
• Must be detail oriented, but can easily grasp the ?big picture?
• Deadline oriented
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment
• An interest in international development a plus

?

Education and Experience Requirements:

• BA/BS (or equivalent) in accounting, finance or related field. Higher degree or certification preferable.
• Minimum of 5 years comparable financial management experience required; 10 years of directly related financial experience in conjunction with management experience may be considered.

?

?

To Apply visit Pact?s job board at: http://www.pactworld.org/cs/job_openings_list

Source: http://www.devex.com/en/jobs/director-of-finance-1243

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Four Ways to Sell Your Book | Free Videos Infos

[unable to retrieve full-text content]March 28, 2012 | Author: vrory67 | Posted in Writing & Speaking. Unlike ?self-publishers? HigherLife doesn't charge any publishing fees. We do however only work with authors and clients who have a significant message and enough of a ...

Source: http://www.freevideosinfos.com/2012/03/four-ways-to-sell-your-book/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=four-ways-to-sell-your-book

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Executions jump in 2011, driven by Middle East: Amnesty

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/executions-jump-2011-driven-middle-east-amnesty-095800166.html

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How You Can Locate Vacation Rentals In San Diego | Golden ...

Home vacation rentals can be among the least complicated, most affordable and most efficient methods for organizing your excursions out of the house, and they can also be a way of making good income from properties that you possess.

This approach is accessible just about anywhere you go and isn?t as susceptible to specific times during the year as various other options are. If you are willing to travel and stay at off peak times, you can save a whole lot of money with time.

Among the most appealing features of vacation home rentals is that they offer almost perfect convenience. It?s an option around the globe and it makes it possible for you to prepare your stay how you wish it to be. Popular locations can easily book up throughout the hectic season for well-known tourist locations however overall you?ll be able to typically book an apartment. Beach and ocean home vacation rentals are quite well-liked so reserving early with those may be smart. You can also stay at many mountain cabin resorts, which can provide the ideal remedy to the tensions of city life. If you want an urban rental, they are available in all of the globe?s main cities.

The most well-liked of all vacation rentals are the ones in ocean front developments, and this isn?t surprising when you consider the facilities which are around for all family members. The youngsters can play on the seashore whilst the parents unwind and they do not need continually entertained. A lot of ocean developments contain all the leisure services you would expect from a key resort, frequently without you needing to leave the apartment complex. And during the summertime they may even offer planned excursions into local attractions.

There are also plentiful home holiday rentals in mountainous regions, such as the Blue Ridge Mountains and Colorado. Even though fairly rustic they?re not primitive and can let you loosen up from all the hustle and bustle of city life. All the commercially available mountain cabin rentals are fitted with every modern convenience, including advanced heating systems and water heating. Because of client demand quite a few of them have jacuzzis.

Even though lots of people go to the cabin rentals by the sea and mountains to enjoy the quiet there are some other reasons to go as well. Quite a few rentals are close to significant events are a tailored around those organized things to do. Golf is one of the most well-liked fun-based activities anywhere, and vacation resorts typically feature a selection of courses for golf players of all ages and skills. In rural resort locations where log cabins are normally found, there are often opportunities to check out the nearby countryside on horses.

As said before, even the key cities all over the world offer home vacation rentals and enable you to take a look at the sites in these areas. Several folks go on holiday themselves for numerous weeks or months each year and rent their city homes. If you?re prepared to pay a visit to cities outside of the peak summer time of the year, you?ll be able to find a practically limitless collection of vacation apartments. Often the town inhabitants themselves travel off season.

This means if you own a home you?ll be able to rent it as a vacation home rental when you travel. If you own an apartment in a place which is well-known with visitors all year round, for example California or New York, you can expect to rent it out throughout any weeks you wish to visit other places. France and Spain are other well-liked year long places. World-class towns like London, Manhattan and Tokyo are also in frequent demand.

Finding home vacation rentals at the right time hasn?t ever been so easy, now that contemporary computer technology and the World wide web allow for large databases to be stored on servers and accessed on-line within a few moments. These web sites let you know what?s available in real time and what the forthcoming schedules appear like. This can easily save you from missing out on the ideal vacation or from having to pay too much because you don?t know what is available. You can also take advantage of looking at independent reviews and opinions of a few of the majority of well-known home vacation rentals.

This article has been written by the author, Alex Blaken. Should you require any more Vacation Rentals In San Diego please visit his San Diego resources!

This entry was posted on Monday, March 26th, 2012 at 8:28 pm and is filed under Travel & Leisure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.goldenwisdomnuggets.mobi/how-you-can-locate-vacation-rentals-in-san-diego/

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Syria rebel hubs hit as envoy arrives in Russia

Syria's army resumed heavy shelling of the rebel hubs of Homs and Hama on Saturday, monitors reported, as international envoy Kofi Annan arrived in Russia in a new push for peace.

Mortar rounds rained down on the flashpoint central city of Homs and nearby town of Qusayr from early morning, killing at least 10 people, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

At least 20 people were reported killed nationwide, among them four government soldiers.

The fiercest regime assault targeted Saraqeb in the northwestern province of Idlib which was stormed by troops backed by 26 tanks that "took up position to split the town in two," activist Nureddin al-Abdo told AFP.

Residents cowered indoors as explosions rattled Saraqeb and troops swooped to make arrests, he said from the town where there is a considerable rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) presence.

One civilian and three soldiers died in Saraqeb, the Observatory said.

The army also used mortars to pound the town of Qalaat al-Madiq in the central province of Hama, which troops have been trying to seize for the past two weeks, added the Britain-based monitoring group.

Activists reported fierce overnight clashes between troops and mutineers in and around the capital, after a day of protests under the rallying cry "Damascus, here we come."

YouTube videos showed a huge night-time demonstration in the Kfar Sousa district and others in several parts of Syria's second city Aleppo in the north.

The deadly uprising that has gripped Syria for more than a year has largely spared Damascus, but in recent weeks violence has also rocked the capital.

province were "very violent" with explosions heard across the region and in the city itself, opposition activist Mohammed al-Shami told AFP.

Security forces also shot dead a civilian in southern Daraa province, where the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad's regime first erupted in March 2011, said the Observatory.

Monitors estimate that at least 9,100 people have been killed in Syria over the past year in violence the regime blames on "armed terrorist groups."

Syria's fragmented opposition, meanwhile, announced a two-day meeting from Monday in Istanbul to define their objectives ahead of an April 1 conference of the "Friends of Syria" group there.

The talks aim to produce a "National Pact for a New Syria," said main opposition umbrella group the Syrian National Council, adding that the key objectives are to rid the country of the "regime's dictatorship."

Despite regime pledges of democratic reform, two activists appeared in court on Saturday accused of forming a secret organisation.

"The security forces brought Bahraa Abdel Nabi Hijazi and Anas Abdel Salam before the judges for forming a secret organisation and participating in protests hostile to the regime," human rights lawyer Michel Shammas told AFP.

Amnesty International says thousands of regime opponents have been arrested over the past year, and that many were believed to have been tortured or otherwise ill-treated.

UN-Arab League envoy to shore up vital backing from President Dmitry Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov amid signs of waning Moscow support for its Arab ally.

Annan will meet Russian officials on Sunday before visiting China on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both countries have twice vetoed UN Security Council resolutions aimed at condemning Assad.

Annan is carrying with him Assad's answer to a peace plan under which Syria could begin a "political transition" to a representative government, with no specifically defined role for the Syrian leader.

His visit comes days after Moscow backed a non-binding Security Council statement in support of the initiative after making sure it contained no implicit threat of further action should Assad fail to comply.

There are growing signs that Moscow is beginning to lose patience with Assad, despite his commitment to massive new Russian arms purchases and the granting of key naval access to the Mediterranean.

A top Kremlin-linked lawmaker said Assad should treat the UN statement as "an insistent recommendation" whose implementation would determine the future course of relations between the two countries.

"Assad has to take the first step: he must pull the Syrian army out of large cities," the lower house of parliament's foreign affairs chief Mikhail Margelov said on Thursday.

Russia sells billions of dollars in arms to Syria and analysts warn that Russian interests in Syria are too important for it to allow Western and regional powers to independently dictate the battle-scarred nation's fate.

The European Union on Friday slapped an assets freeze and travel ban on women in the Assad clan, notably his Britain-born wife Asma.

"We are gratified that the EU has taken yet another step in tightening the noose on the Assad regime," US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-troops-bomb-towns-eu-grounds-first-lady-025522948.html

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Paid Surveys and Income by ezineArticlesNow.com

24 Mar

Article posted by PatriGoedna as Business

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Can anybody go online and complete surveys online for money? One word, Completely! Many companies have surveys online on the internet and they simply would like answers about their product or service. The company may want feedback on one topic as well as several topics with the items they are marketing. A number of companies are looking for a certain demographic to provide responses while others are looking for any kind of feedback they can collect. All of this being said, yes you can go on the internet and fill out surveys for money. You simply have to find individuals interested in your opinions and provide 15 to 30 minutes of your time.
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Source: http://ezinearticlesnow.com/2012/03/paid-surveys-and-income/

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Afghan killings: Bales charged with 17 murder counts

AP,file

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, left, 1st platoon sergeant, Blackhorse Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division participates in an August 2011 exercise at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.

By msnbc.com staff and news services

Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales was charged Friday with?17 counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder, along with other charges, in connection with a shooting rampage in two southern Afghanistan villages that shocked Americans back home and further roiled U.S.-Afghan relations.

The charges come almost two weeks after the massacre in which Bales allegedly left his base in the early morning hours and shot Afghan civilians, including women and nine children, while they slept in their beds, then burned some of the bodies.

Military wives rally around Karilyn Bales

It was the worst allegation of civilian killings by an American and has severely strained U.S.-Afghan ties at a critical time in the decade-old war.

---

?Bales was read the charges on Friday at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where he has been held since being flown from Afghanistan last week, a U.S. official said.

For alleged Afghan shooter, death penalty unlikely

Bales' civilian attorney, John Henry Browne, said Friday without commenting on the specific charges that he believes the government will have a hard time proving its case and that at some stage in the prosecution his client's mental state will be an important issue.

Death toll in Afghanistan massacre climbs to 17

Col. Gary Kolb, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, says Bales was also charged Friday with six counts of attempted murder and six counts of assault.

The decision to charge him with premeditated murder suggests that prosecutors plan to argue that he consciously conceived the killings. A military legal official for U.S. forces in Afghanistan who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the case, noted that premeditated murder is not something that has to have been contemplated for a long time.

Criminal charges including 17 counts of murder and six counts of assault have been brought against Sgt. Robert Bales for alleged actions in Afghanistan. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports this is the first step toward the eventual filing of charges.

?

?These are unsurprising charges, predictable charges. I would have thought there would have been a few more lesser charges because no prosecutor likes to lose his principal charge and see the individual walk so usually some lesser offenses are charged as well,? Gary Solis, former head of the Marine Corps? Military Law Branch and current adjunct professor of law at Georgetown Law School, told msnbc.com.

?But what will really be significant is when the charges are referred to trial by the convening authority ? because when they are referred, they will either be referred as capital or not. ? If referred capital, that will change the complexion of the case.?

A senior U.S. official tells NBC News that Bales is likely to face lesser charges?such as dereliction of duty and?disobeying a lawful order.

The 38-year-old soldier and father of two, whose home is in Bonney Lake, Wash., faces trial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, but it could be months before any public hearing.

Legal jurisdiction in the Bales case is expected to be switched Friday from U.S. Forces-Afghanistan in Kabul to Bales' home base of Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Wash., U.S. officials said.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said Bales could face the death penalty if he is convicted of murder, but it is unlikely. The U.S. military has not executed a service member since 1961. Legal experts say Bales could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.

The maximum punishment for a premeditated murder conviction is death, dishonorable discharge from the armed forces, reduction to the lowest enlisted grade and total forfeiture of pay and allowances, Kolb said. The mandatory minimum sentence is life imprisonment with the chance of parole.

Retired Army Colonel and NBC military analyst Jack Jacobs examines the concerns set forth by the attorney for Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, the soldier who was charged Friday with 17 counts of murder.

How Staff Sgt. Bales' lawyers are fighting for his life

Legal experts have said the death penalty would be unlikely in the case. The military hasn't executed a service member since 1961 when an Army ammunition handler was hanged for raping an 11-year-old girl in Austria. None of the six men currently on death row at Fort Leavenworth was convicted for atrocities against foreign civilians.

?This is just the first step in what?s going to be a very long process and it still remains to be seen whether this is actually going to be a death penalty case or not,? Daniel Conway, a lawyer and former Marine staff sergeant who has been involved in battlefield investigations in Iraq and Afghanistan of alleged crimes by U.S. soldiers, told msnbc.com. ?The basic idea here is that you can?t hold somebody in jail forever without charging them, so they?ve had to take this first step here.?

The charging document did not provide details about the killings, leaving the timeline unclear. The dead bodies were found in Balandi and Alkozai villages ? one north and one south of the base.

Members of the Afghan delegation investigating the killings said one Afghan guard working from midnight to 2 a.m. saw a U.S. soldier return to the base around 1:30 a.m. Another Afghan soldier who replaced the first and worked until 4 a.m. said he saw a U.S. soldier leaving the base at 2:30 a.m. It's unknown whether the Afghan guards saw the same U.S. soldier. If the gunman acted alone, information from the Afghan guards would suggest that he returned to base in between the shooting sprees.

It also is not known whether the suspect used grenades, Kolb said. The grenade launcher attachment is added to the standard issue M-4 rifle for some soldiers but not all, he said. Bales was assigned to provide force protection at the base.

Msnbc.com's Miranda Leitsinger and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Follow US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook

Source: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/23/10830389-staff-sgt-robert-bales-charged-with-17-counts-of-murder-in-afghan-massacre

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Plasma flows may shed light on predicting sunspot cycles

ScienceDaily (Mar. 23, 2012) ? Geophysics researcher Cherish Bauer-Reich wants to look inside the sun. More accurately, she wants to simulate the sun to study plasma flows associated with sunspot cycles. The cycles play a role in solar storms, which can affect satellites and disrupt a host of modern communication technologies, from cell phones to power grids.

Scientists recently warned about a series of solar storms in early March, concerned that it could affect global positioning systems, power grids, satellites and airplane travel. With the sun's normal cycle, these very active solar storms are expected to continue.

Bauer-Reich, a research engineer at North Dakota State University's Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, is pursuing her doctorate degree in geophysics, using supercomputing power to create a model of the sun. The Center for Computationally Assisted Science and Technology (CCAST) at North Dakota State University provides the power for Bauer-Reich's research. She found that CCAST in Fargo provided an easily accessible route to the supercomputing needed. NDSU's supercomputing center (CCAST) is available to students, faculty and staff researchers, and available for researchers and industry that are partnering with NDSU.

While people have heard of sunspots, most aren't aware of what actually causes them. "It's a large tube of magnetic flux basically," says Bauer-Reich. "Sunspots reduce the amount of heat and the amount of light coming out of the sun, which is why they look dark. It's because they're at different temperatures than the rest of the area around them."

Sunspots tend to work in cycles, starting at high latitudes and then migrating toward the equator. "Helioseismologists study vibrations in the sun and they image what's underneath the outer layer. What they've found is that when these sunspots are popping up, there's also a flow right next to them, so that the plasma is flowing at a different speed than on either side of them. What I'm studying is how strong that flow has to be," says Bauer-Reich. "The only way to do it is to come up with these models that try to predict behavior."

Bauer-Reich expects running all the computer models on CCAST will take approximately a year, followed by the data analysis. According to Dr. Martin Ossowski, CCAST director, major research areas at the facility include: materials science, renewable energy, multiprocessor electronic circuitry, simulation of atmospheric plasma, monitoring the health of bridges and vehicles, computational biology, tissue engineering, and agroinformatics.

"We assist researchers who are pursuing discovery in energy, materials, environment, health, security, and in other areas of national research priority," said Ossowski. He notes today's supercomputing environment emphasizes not only speed, but the ability to help researchers tailor software to conduct their research, and meet researchers' data lifecycle needs.

Supercomputing is as important to business as it is to scientific researchers. In a white paper titled "Global Leadership Through Modeling and Simulation," the U.S. Council on Competitiveness said "to out-compete is to out-compute." For example, Boeing used a national supercomputing center to accelerate design of the 787 and 747-8 airliners and Navistar Corp. designed technologies for better fuel efficiency in trucks.

The need for supercomputing facilities and those with specialized skills is expected to grow. According to Ossowski, the line between computer programmers and scientists is increasingly blurry. He notes that there will be an increasing need for interdisciplinary research teams, as well as for scientists who are algorithm and code developers, and for programmers who are scientists. "It represents a critical shift in how research problems are approached."

CCAST at NDSU provides high performance computing infrastructure for the university, its Research and Technology Park and their industrial partners, and engages in its own original research.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by North Dakota State University, via Newswise.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120323093651.htm

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David M. Walker: SCOTUS and Health Care Reform: We Are ...

A colleague of mine, Kathleen Benanti, was hit by a drunk driver in 1992. The whiplash crushed her neck's C6/C7 joint, creating shrieking levels of pain. Unfortunately, the driver didn't have car insurance and Kathleen didn't have health insurance, so all she could manage was paying for an X-ray, which was inconclusive. And she couldn't afford treatment.

She was in such pain that she couldn't move her head up, down or sideways, which made using the phone at work quite difficult. Absent any insurance, doctors told her to wear a head set, and sent her on her way.

But when she landed a job at Morgan Stanley, with its very comprehensive health insurance program, doctors were suddenly eager to help. They suggested a litany of tests, so many that Kathleen turned most of them down. Finally, she found a doctor who didn't see her as a revenue stream, but as a whole person in intense pain. He did one X-ray and an exam, then cleared his schedule so he could do her surgery immediately.

Today, Kathleen is fit, healthy and happy. She works with me at the Comeback America Initiative, and helps us advocate for a health care system that is affordable, of high quality, and sustainable. Her experience reveals what the experts already know: America doesn't have a health care system.

The reason is simple: instead of a health care system, we have a "sick-care" system that provides perverse incentives and inadequate accountability.

A real health care "system" would focus on health and result in efficient and effective utilization of available resources. But our approach provides few incentives for physicians to practice preventive medicine, which would reduce the need for "sick" care in the first place. This misaligned incentive system encourages costly and sometimes unnecessary procedures that drive up our health care bill, and can even harm patients.

And as our nation's former top auditor, I know firsthand that if there is one thing that can truly bankrupt our country, it is out of control health care costs. Believe it or not, almost half of all healthcare purchased in the U.S. is already financed by the government, an amount that is growing fast and is unsustainable. Nonetheless, we achieve below average societal heath care outcomes despite spending about double per person as compared to other major nations.

No matter what you think of the nation's new healthcare law, its primary purpose was to insure about 48 million more Americans rather than to reign in out-of-control costs. Even after health care reform, we still have trillions in unfunded Medicare and other health care promises that are growing daily.

Regardless of the Supreme Court's decision on the constitutionality of the new health care law, our health care system is in need of radical, reconstructive surgery. Without major reform, health care could bankrupt our country. And it doesn't do enough in connection with key incentive and accountability issues.

Unfortunately, meaningful health care reform is not a high priority or "sexy" issue. There are no celebrities making cool viral videos about the need for creating a real and sensible health care system. So voters don't know the details, and they aren't pressuring politicians to take the steps that health experts know are essential.

You can do your part. Watch the video I've posted about smarter health care. Then take a moment to tweet about the video, or share it on your Facebook page. And please take the time to learn more -- once we all know the facts about health care, Congress won't be able to continue to duck its responsibility.

David M. Walker is CEO of the Comeback America Initiative and former comptroller general of the United States. His "Myth of the Month" vlog on YouTube this month focuses on the myth that America has a health care system.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-m-walker/supreme-court-health-care-reform_b_1373553.html

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