Filipino devotees reenact crucifixion of Christ

SAN PEDRO CUTUD, Philippines (AP) ? Devotees in villages in the northern Philippines took part in a bloody annual ritual to mark Good Friday, a celebration that mixes Roman Catholic devotion and Filipino folk beliefs and sees some reenact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

The crucified devotees spent several minutes nailed to crosses in Pampanga province while thousands of tourists watched and took photos of the spectacle, which the church discourages. Earlier in the day, hooded male penitents trudged through the province's villages under the blazing sun while flagellating their bleeding backs with makeshift whips. Others carried wooden crosses to dramatize Christ's sacrifice.

Devotees undergo the hardships in the belief that such extreme sacrifices are a way to atone for their sins, attain miracle cures for illnesses or give thanks to God.

Alex Laranang, a 58-year-old vendor who was the first to be nailed to a cross Friday, said he was doing it "for good luck and for my family to be healthy."

It was the 27th crucifixion for sign painter Ruben Enaje, 52, one of the most popular penitents from San Pedro Cutud village. He began his yearly rite after surviving a fall from a building.

Enaje screamed in pain as men dressed as Roman soldiers hammered stainless steel nails into his palms and feet. A wireless microphone carried his voice to loudspeakers for everyone watching to hear.

His cross was raised and he was hanged there for several minutes under the searing afternoon sun before the nails were pulled out and he was taken on a stretcher to a first aid station.

"It's intriguing and fascinating what makes people do something like this, how you can believe so much that you make yourself suffer to that extent," said Dita Tittesass, a tourist from Denmark.

Remigio de la Cruz, the chief of San Pedro Cutud village, explained that the practice began in his village in the 1950s.

Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, told the church-run Radio Veritas that the practice is "not the desire of Jesus Christ."

"We are aware that this has been practiced long before ... but we still hope that this will not be done any more," he said. "We should all concentrate on prayers."

_____

Associated Press writer Oliver Teves contributed to this from Manila.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/filipino-devotees-reenact-crucifixion-christ-093544016.html

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Why Give Corporations a Tax Break? by Laura Tyson - Project ...

BERKELEY ? US President Barack Obama has called for additional revenue as part of a balanced plan to reduce future budget deficits. But he is also proposing a significant cut in the corporate tax rate. To many, this approach seems inconsistent: Shouldn?t the corporate tax rate be raised, not lowered, so that corporations contribute their ?fair share? to deficit reduction? The answer is no.

After its 1986 tax overhaul, the United States had one of the lowest corporate tax rates among OECD countries. Since then, these countries have been slashing their rates in order to attract foreign direct investment and discourage their own companies from shifting operations and profits to low-tax foreign locations. In the most recent and audacious move, the British government has embarked on a three-year plan to reduce its corporate tax rate from 28% to 20% ? one of the lowest in the OECD ? by 2015.

The US now has the highest corporate tax rate of these countries. Even after incorporating various deductions, credits, and other tax-reducing provisions, the effective average and marginal corporate tax rates in the US ? what corporations actually pay ? are higher than the OECD average.

Cutting the rate to a more competitive level would encourage more domestic investment by US corporations, and would also make the US more attractive to foreign investors. Capital has become increasingly mobile, and differences in national corporate tax rates have a growing influence on where multinational companies locate their operations and report their income.

Higher investment in the US by both domestic and foreign companies would boost economic growth, while the resulting increase in capital ??new businesses, factories, equipment, and research ?would improve productivity. That should, in turn, boost real wages over time (although the link between productivity growth and wage growth has weakened during the last two decades).

The pro-growth rationale for reducing the US corporate tax rate is compelling, and explains why Obama has proposed cutting it from 35% to 28% (roughly the weighted average rate of the other developed countries).

But a rate cut would be costly in terms of foregone revenues: each percentage point would reduce corporate-tax revenues by about $100 billion over the next decade. Moreover, recent studies indicate that a significant share of the corporate-tax burden falls on capital, so a reduction in corporate taxes would weaken the progressivity of the tax system at a time when income inequality is at an all-time high.

For these reasons, Obama is championing a ?revenue-neutral? reform that would leave corporate-tax revenues unchanged, with the proposed rate cut financed by limiting deductions, credits, and loopholes, which would broaden the tax base.

These features add complexity to the tax code, raise the cost of tax compliance, and reduce corporate-tax revenues. They also affect business decisions about what to invest in, how to finance investments, which form of business organization to adopt, and where to produce ? reflecting sizeable differences in the effective tax rates behind these choices.

As a result, broadening the corporate tax base will not be easy. Within the corporate sector, the three largest domestic tax preferences are the manufacturing production deduction, the credit for research and development, and accelerated depreciation of capital. Manufacturing companies are the major beneficiaries of these preferences, and Obama has proposed strengthening the first two.

Instead, he suggests reforming the third by tightening allowances for accelerated depreciation (as several other developed countries have done) in order to offset some of the revenue losses. But reducing the overall corporate rate would increase after-tax returns on past investments, while limiting accelerated depreciation would lower after-tax returns on new investments. And even eliminating accelerated depreciation would not broaden the tax base enough to finance a rate cut to 28%.

Likewise, while limiting the deductibility of net interest for corporations, as many other developed countries have done, would broaden the tax base and discourage excessive reliance on debt financing, it would increase the tax burden on major investments in physical capital, which are often debt-financed.

Reducing the tax preferences for non-corporate business entities (such as partnerships) that pass their income through to their owners? individual returns would also broaden the tax base subject to the corporate-income tax. Pass-through companies now account for more than 80% of net business income (by far the highest share in the developed countries). Several of these entities are very large and profitable, and enjoy the same legal benefits as corporations. Economic logic suggests that businesses of similar size and engaged in similar activities should not pay different tax rates based solely on their organizational form.

The fact that a large share of business income is currently taxed as personal income makes it difficult to separate corporate tax reform from personal tax reform, as Obama and members of Congress would prefer to do. Moreover, keeping the two areas of reform separate rules out the approach adopted by several other developed countries, which have offset some of the revenue losses from cutting corporate tax rates by increasing taxes on corporate equity income at the personal shareholder level.

This approach also addresses concerns about the regressive effects of a cut in the corporate rate. It is both more progressive and more effective: with highly mobile capital, it is far easier to collect taxes from individual citizens and resident shareholders than from multinational companies.

According to a recent study, restoring tax rates on dividends and capital gains to their pre-1997 levels of 28% could finance a reduction in the US federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 26%. This change would both reduce the incentive for corporations to shift investments abroad and increase the progressivity of the US tax system.

Similarly, a modest carbon tax or value-added tax, with credits or subsidies to offset the regressive effects on low-income households, could generate enough revenue both to pay for a significant reduction in the corporate tax rate and to make a meaningful contribution to deficit reduction.

There is no inconsistency between a progressive, balanced deficit-reduction plan and lowering the corporate tax rate. Of all taxes, corporate taxes are the most harmful to economic growth ? without which meaningful deficit reduction is far more difficult to achieve.

Reprinting material from this Web site without written consent from Project Syndicate is a violation of international copyright law. To secure permission, please contact us.

Source: http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/cutting-us-corporate-taxes-to-stimulate-growth-by-laura-tyson

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We're committed to raising awareness on cancer ? UBA boss

By CHINEDU ONYESOH

As part of its social responsibility programme, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) vehicle, UBA Foundation, has restated its commitment to raising awareness on the scourge of Prostate Cancer among men.

The Group Managing Director/CEO of UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza disclosed this while flagging off the UBA Foundation Mini-Marathon for Prostate Cancer Awareness held in Lagos at the weekend. He said that ?The Bank, through the UBA Foundation is encouraged to propagate this crusade and we are also committed to raising awareness of the disease?.

He also noted that despite the deadly nature of Prostate Cancer, it can be cured when detected and treated at its early stage. Continuing, he said that the Mini-Marathon, which is in continuation of the Foundation?s annual prostate cancer awareness initiative, commenced from the UBA Headquarters on Marina, Lagos via Western Avenue and terminate at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos. Other health and fitness activities including free screening for Prostate Cancer was held at the stadium.

Speaking at the National Stadium in Lagos, the Bank?s Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka advised men aged 40 and above not to be afraid of getting tested for prostate cancer. He said ?In UBA, we believe in catching them young and developing talents from the cradle?.

The event came on the heels of ?Walk, Cycle and Jog for Prostate Cancer? programme organized by the Foundation in 2011 as well as ?Play Soccer for Prostate Cancer? held in 2012, where the Foundation brought out ex-Nigerian international soccer stars to play soccer as part of creating awareness for Prostate Cancer.

Comments are moderated. Please keep them clean and brief.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/were-committed-to-raising-awareness-on-cancer-uba-boss/

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They?re gonna clean up your looks with all the lies in the books (Unqualified Offerings)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

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Beverly Hills businessman wins iPad in Opus ... - PR NewsChannel

(PR NewsChannel) / March 28, 2013 / BOCA RATON, Fla.?

Opus Virtual Offices announces the winner of the March 2013 drawing in its popular online sweepstakes. Brandon Moore, President and CEO of Symbolic Protection Group, Inc., a private security company, is the lucky recipient of a new Apple iPad mini.

Business owners visiting ?the Opus Virtual Offices website to learn how its complete?virtual office system?supports small companies and enhances their image receive an unexpected perk. A leading provider of?virtual office services, Opus runs an?exciting quarterly sweepstakes with the chance to win an iPad.

?Discovering how the Opus?virtual office solution?frees businesspeople to focus on their specialty while we take care of details for only $99 a month is a great reason to check Opus out,? said Dave Zimet, COO of Opus Virtual Offices. ?This iPad sweepstakes is our way of thanking visitors for browsing our website. Opus congratulates Brandon Moore, the March 2013 winner.?

A California native, Moore entered the private security field after college, developing expertise in all aspects of?commercial, residential and executive escort functions.?After 17 years in the industry, he opened?Symbolic Protection Group?which specializes in total security services, with headquarters in Beverly Hills.?

Security is a demanding field with no time to juggle numerous daily phone calls and messages. Brandon researched virtual office providers extensively before choosing Opus Virtual Offices. He was impressed with Opus??advanced telecommunications system?to handle Symbolic?s large volume of calls and also its convenient locations in his area. He liked the Opus $99 flat fee with none of the hidden charges of many virtual office services.?

Moore has seen tremendous growth in the number of contracts he is bidding on, and attributes much of this to Opus Virtual Offices? efficient,?live professional receptionists?taking calls when he?s in the field.?He also appreciates Opus premium call forwarding for nights and weekends and the 24/7 voice mail to email system, insuring no missed messages.

The proud father of two young girls, Brandon has never owned an iPad and was shopping for one when he found he had won March?s sweepstakes. Symbolic Protection Group and Opus Virtual Offices have been a successful team for the last year.?

Opus invites all entrepreneurs, home based and small companies, and franchisees to discover the powerful Opus advantage.

For further information visit?www.opusvirtualoffices.com

About Opus Virtual Offices:?Opus Virtual Offices provides the most complete Virtual Office program available in the industry, with more than 400 locations in the US, giving you the corporate image you require. The Virtual Office program is the perfect office solution for all new and expanding businesses looking to gain all the resources to provide the perfect image at a low cost. Our sophisticated system has been designed to provide all the features a professional business requires without having the extreme costs that are normally associated with the operating of a business.

MEDIA CONTACT
Florence Goodman
Phone:????????? (561) 988-6900
Website:????????www.opusvirtualoffices.com

Direct link:??http://www.prnewschannel.com/2013/03/28/beverly-hills-businessman-wins-ipad-in-opus-virtual-offices-sweepstakes/

SOURCE:??Opus Virtual Offices

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Source: http://www.prnewschannel.com/2013/03/28/beverly-hills-businessman-wins-ipad-in-opus-virtual-offices-sweepstakes/

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'Survivor' continues to thrive: Season 27 confirmed, possibly more

Michael Yarish/ CBS

By Ree Hines, TODAY contributor

There aren't many shows on the boob tube that can boast a running record like "Survivor." The reality TV staple is now in its 26th season, and according to CBS, it's not going to stop there.

On Wednesday the network confirmed the competition will return for season 27 later this year.

"CBS' Emmy award-winning reality series 'Survivor' will return with brand-new episodes for the 2013-2014 broadcast season," an announcement on CBS.com read.

But while the official word from the network only promises one more fall-through-winter season, host Jeff Probst tweeted an unofficial announcement that season 28 is a go, too.

When one fan feared the long-running show would be cancelled, and asked Probst if that was true, the host replied, "nope - we are heading out to shoot 27 and 28 in may!"

The current "Caramoan" edition of the series airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS.

Are you happy to hear the show will be back for more, or has "Survivor" gone on for long enough? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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Amazon Studios Greenlights ?Betas', Another Comedy Show About Silicon Valley

Still feelin' all ragey about the way Bravo portrayed the Valley in Start-Ups? Worried Mike Judge won't do it right (wait, does Mike Judge ever do anything not-right?) with his upcoming Silicon Valley series? A new challenger approaches! Amazon has just announced that they've greenlit a pilot of 'Betas', a show about "four computer geeks and their quest for nerd fame".

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/d-P2qih70SM/

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Lululemon Yoga Pants Return Test: Bend Over, Ladies!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/03/lululemon-yoga-pants-return-test-bend-over-ladies/

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Optimism in UN over 1st global arms trade treaty

UNITED NATIONS (AP) ? The first global treaty on regulating the multimillion-dollar arms trade appeared to be nearing consensus, supporters said, though worries remained that Iran, India or other countries would back off an agreement that requires approval from all 193 United Nations member states.

Thursday is the deadline for reaching a deal. U.N. diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations have been private, said Wednesday the United States was virtually certain to go along with the latest text.

Hopes of reaching agreement on what would be a landmark treaty were dashed last July when the U.S. said it needed more time to consider the proposed accord ? a move quickly backed by Russia and China. In December, the U.N. General Assembly decided to hold a final conference and set Thursday as the deadline.

"We need a treaty," China's U.N. Ambassador Li Baodong told The Associated Press. "We hope for consensus."

Iran, Egypt, India and several other countries have had serious concerns about the text.

There has never been an international treaty regulating the estimated $60 billion global arms trade. For more than a decade, activists and some governments have been pushing for international rules to try to keep illicit weapons out of the hands of terrorists, insurgent fighters and organized crime.

"It's important for each and every country in the world that we have a regulation of the international arms trade," Germany's U.N. Ambassador Peter Wittig told the AP. "There are still some divergencies of views, but I trust we can overcome them."

The draft treaty does not control the domestic use of weapons in any country, but it would require all countries to establish national regulations to control the transfer of conventional arms, parts and components and to regulate arms brokers. It would prohibit states that ratify the treaty from transferring conventional weapons if they would violate arms embargoes or if they would promote acts of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.

The final draft makes this human rights provision even stronger, adding that the export of conventional arms should be prohibited if they could be used in the commission of attacks on civilians or civilian buildings such as schools and hospitals.

In considering whether to authorize the export of arms, the draft says a country must evaluate whether the weapon would be used to violate international human rights or humanitarian laws or be used by terrorists or organized crime. The final draft would allow countries to determine whether the weapons transfer would contribute to or undermine peace and security.

Anna Macdonald, Oxfam's head of arms control, said the scope of the weapons covered in the latest draft is still too narrow.

"We need a treaty that covers all conventional weapons, not just some of them," she said. "We need a treaty that will make a difference to the lives of the people living in Congo, Mali, Syria and elsewhere who suffer each day from the impacts of armed violence."

Ammunition has been a key issue, with some countries pressing for the same controls on ammunition sales as arms, but the U.S. and others opposed such tough restrictions. The draft calls for each country that ratifies the treaty to establish regulations for the export of ammunition "fired, launched or delivered" by the weapons covered by the convention.

The Control Arms coalition, which represents about 100 organizations worldwide campaigning for a strong treaty, and diplomats from countries that support them, said this wouldn't cover hand grenades and mines.

India and other countries had insisted that the treaty have an opt-out for government arms transfers under defense cooperation agreements. The new text appears to keep that loophole, stating that implementation of the treaty "shall not prejudice obligations" under defense cooperation agreements by countries that ratify the treaty.

"Making this treaty was like making a sausage: Everyone has added an ingredient," said Ted Bromund, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

"Unfortunately, that has produced a document that leans much too far towards satisfying the concerns of the Arab Group and Mexico. The former view it as a rebellion prevention plan, while the latter wants a text that edges towards its view that the domestic firearms market in the U.S. should be subject to treaty regulation," he said.

But Daryl Kimball, executive director of the independent Washington-based Arms Control Association, said, "The emerging treaty represents an important first step in dealing with the unregulated and illicit global trade in conventional weapons and ammunition, which fuels wars and human rights abuses worldwide."

He said the text could have been stronger and more comprehensive, but it can still make an important difference.

"The new treaty says to every United Nations member that you cannot simply 'export and forget,'" Kimball said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-03-28-UN-Arms%20Trade%20Treaty/id-b2a9a3aab10942d48edaadedc10511b9

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Former Chilean leader Bachelet seeking presidential comeback

By Alexandra Ulmer

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet ended months of speculation late on Wednesday by announcing she will run in a November presidential election that she is favored to win.

A popular center-leftist who ruled the copper-exporting nation from 2006 to 2010, Bachelet will likely face a candidate from the right-wing bloc of President Sebastian Pinera, who is barred from seeking a consecutive term under the constitution.

Front-runners for the ruling coalition's candidacy are charismatic businessman and former Public Works Minister Laurence Golborne and former Defense Minister Andres Allamand, a seasoned politician.

"I've taken some time to think about this decision ... And with happiness, with determination and much humility, I've taken the decision to be a (presidential) candidate," Bachelet said to cheers during a speech in Santiago, days after she quit her job as the head of U.N. Women.

Bachelet's return after months of speculation is a great relief to her fractured left-wing coalition, which Pinera ousted from a 20-year rule. She is expected to face little competition in the primaries.

Bachelet, a pediatrician-turned-politician, was one of Chile's most popular presidents.

Voters liked her affable manner, welfare policies and credited her for solid economic growth in one of Latin America's most stable, business-friendly countries.

Her high-profile U.N. post and time away from local politics have boosted her popularity, political analysts say, and opinion polls show her with a wide lead over other potential candidates.

In a poll published in January by local pollster CEP, 49 percent of those surveyed said they wanted Bachelet to be Chile's next president, versus 11 percent for Golborne and 5 percent for Allamand.

But analysts warn Bachelet's large lead will likely ebb during what looks set to be a heated campaign.

Whoever is elected on November 17 or in a potential run-off on December 15 will face demands for improved distribution of a mining bonanza in the world's No. 1 copper producer.

While Chile's economy grew a robust 5.6 percent last year and unemployment is at a six-year low, the country has the steepest income inequality among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development states.

Bachelet on Wednesday centered her speech on combating inequality, saying deep reforms were needed for Chile to become a developed country. Education, energy policy and wages are key electoral issues.

Chile's open economy and its solid institutions are expected to remain broadly intact regardless of who governs until 2018.

A single mother of three and a victim of torture under Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship, Bachelet was one of conservative Chile's most unusual leaders since the return to democracy in 1990.

Critics said too much of her appeal was based on personality. Others in the wide-ranging leftist bloc blasted her for not pushing through bolder social reforms.

Bachelet's legacy was tainted by a slow response on providing aid and halting looting after a devastating 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit at the end of her term in February 2010.

She faced sharp criticism over the failure of the navy's catastrophe-alert system to warn of the ensuing tsunami, leaving hundreds who survived the quake to be engulfed by huge waves that followed.

(Writing by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Helen Popper and Stacey Joyce)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/former-chilean-leader-bachelet-seeking-presidential-comeback-010118434.html

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Chevron says executive pay to reflect 2012 "incidents"

(Reuters) - Chevron Corp said on Wednesday its executive pay would reflect certain incidents in 2012 as well as a financial performance that outpaced the U.S. oil company's peer group.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Chevron's board has trimmed equity awards by 11 percent and bonuses by at least 10 percent for Chief Executive John Watson and several other executives as a result of a string of accidents.

A Chevron spokesman declined to comment beyond the statement, which said that despite the company's strong overall performance, it had some "operating incidents" during 2012.

"These incidents were reflected in Mr. Watson's and other senior executives' compensation awards," the statement said.

Just a few months after an oil leak off Brazil in late 2011, a fire burned for weeks at a Chevron well off the coast of Nigeria in early 2012.

Then there was the fire at Chevron's oldest refinery in Richmond, California, which led to damage that has kept the plant operating at reduced capacity for more than six months.

"The board's compensation actions reflect the fact that Chevron takes management accountability seriously," the company said. "Our leadership understands that there are consequences when it doesn't meet expectations, especially in areas as critical as process safety."

Watson earned total compensation of $24.7 million in 2011, including $5.1 million in stock, $7.2 million in option awards and $4 million in non-equity incentives, according to a filing last April with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The equivalent filing for 2012 is due from Chevron in the next few weeks.

(Reporting by Braden Reddall in San Francisco; Editing by Richard Chang)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chevron-says-executive-pay-reflect-2012-incidents-231909459--finance.html

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Gay Marriage: The Fight For Equality Dominates Social Media ...

Even President Obama is tweeting about it!

Equality goes viral as the Supreme Court starts to hear two historic marriage equality cases.

You simply can't ignore the red today. From images of equal signs filling up your Facebook feed to people dressed in all red, the bright color is everywhere on and offline. That's because today is a huge day for?gay-marriage supporters.?

Today marks the first of two days of Supreme Court hearings over crucial same-sex marriage laws. Today, the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8 is being discussed and tomorrow the court will address the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prevents same-sex couples from marrying nationally.

More from YourTango: How To Host Your First Passover As A Couple

Thanks to the Human Rights Campaign, who began promoting the equality image (pictured above) yesterday to gain online support over today's hearings in Washington, everyone from your long-lost high school acquaintance to celebrities have been voicing their support today with powerful images and words.?

So what does it mean that all of your Facebook friends' profiles have gone completely red and that even our president is?tweeting?his support for same-sex marriage? A lot.

We already know the mental health benefits?that come from allowing same-sex couples to marry, that gay parents are thriving, the?cost of banning gay marriage?and the positive effects of acceptance for all of society.?So what else do we need to prove how essential this is?

Perhaps the Human Rights Campaign says it best on their website: "Together we will show the nation that we believe all Americans deserve to be treated fairly and equally under the law ? no matter who they love."

More from YourTango: Funny Easter Bunny: 7 Cute Pets Wearing Bunny Ears [VIDEO]

Share your support for gay marriage by changing your profile picture?or spread the word by joining #marriageequality conversation on Twitter.

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Source: http://www.yourtango.com/2013178817/marriage-equality-fighting-gay-rights-social-media

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Kansas races past South Carolina 75-69

South Carolina guard Shelbretta Ball wipes her face after losing to Kansas 75-69 in a second-round game of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 25, 2013, in Boulder Colo. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

South Carolina guard Shelbretta Ball wipes her face after losing to Kansas 75-69 in a second-round game of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 25, 2013, in Boulder Colo. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Kansas players celebrate after defeating South Carolina 75-69 in a second-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 25, 2013, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/ Brennan Linsley)

Kansas guard Monica Engelman (13) puts up a shot as South Carolina forward Ashley Bruner (21) and South Carolina guard Sancheon White (20) defend during the second half of a second-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament on Monday, March 25, 2013, in Boulder. Colo. (AP Photo/ Ed Andrieski)

South Carolina forward Aleighsa Welch, left, grabs a rebound from Kansas guard CeCe Harper during the second half of a second-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament on Monday, March 25, 2013, in Boulder. Colo. (AP Photo/ Ed Andrieski )

South Carolina guard Shelbretta Ball (2) shoots over Kansas guard Angel Goodrich (3) during the second half of a second-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament on Monday, March 25, 2013, in Boulder. Colo. (AP Photo/ Ed Andrieski )

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) ? The Kansas Jayhawks aren't about to complain about their No. 12 seeding.

After all, they realize they were likely the last at-large team to make the women's NCAA tournament after losing seven of their last 11 games.

They're eager, however, to prove that they're not your average 12th seed.

The Jayhawks (20-13) were the ones chanting "Sweet 16!" for the second straight season Monday night after senior Monica Engelman scored a career-high 27 points in a 75-69 upset of fourth-seeded South Carolina.

Kansas became just the second No. 12 seed to advance to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament, joining San Francisco in 1996 as the only No. 12 seeds to follow up a win in the opening round with another in the second. No. 12 seeds are 2-15 in the second round since the women's field was expanded to 64 teams in 1994.

The Jayhawks moved on to Norfolk, Va., where they will play the winner of Tuesday's game between Notre Dame and Iowa in the regional semifinals Sunday.

Engelman's previous career best was 26 points set last month against TCU.

"For me, Angel made it easy," Engelman said of teammate Angel Goodrich. "I mean, she's a great point guard, she can push the ball so she makes everyone else want to sprint up the floor and get easy buckets in transition."

Goodrich's speed allowed the Jayhawks to push the pace much faster than the Gamecocks found comfortable.

"That's what we wanted to do, we want to control the tempo," Goodrich said. "When we run we have fun. We wanted to catch them off balance, catch them when they're not ready, because when they set up, they're really good."

Goodrich added 20 points to go with her eight assists.

Fourth-seeded South Carolina (25-8) was denied its 26th win, which would have been the program's most since joining the Southeastern Conference in 1991-92.

"It was a hard-fought, physical game," South Carolina forward Aleighsa Welch said. "It was really an up and down tempo."

That's not the Gamecocks' style. They gave up just 49.5 points a game and Kansas nearly had that by halftime.

"I told our team at the half, 'We give up 32 points in entire games,'" South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. "The pace of the game was not our pace. They made us play a little quicker. I thought we were pretty efficient on the floor offensively, but in order for us to stay in basketball games, we have to control games from a defensive standpoint, and we didn't do that."

Staley said having Sancheon White, her best defender, play just 8 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble was a big part of Engelman's big night.

"It was her defensive assignment. We could have used her speed, but when you're playing two freshmen (Khadijah Sessions and Tiffany Mitchell) in a big game like this, it's pretty difficult to ask them to do things they haven't done," Staley said.

"She was hot. When a player gets going like that, it's hard to stop."

The first meeting between the two schools was an instant classic, a one-possession game in the final 30 seconds even though South Carolina didn't score again after Ashley Bruner's bucket with 2:52 left tied it at 69.

The Gamecocks grabbed 26 offensive boards, a school record for an NCAA game, and they had three players post double-doubles.

Bruner and Welch scored 16 points each and pulled down 12 and 11 rebounds, respectively. Elem Ibiam also had a double-double for South Carolina with 12 points and 10 boards.

Yet it's Kansas, which has won four straight games at the Coors Events Center, that's returning to the round of 16 after getting there last year as an 11th seed.

Kansas got a major scare when center Carolyn Davis limped off the court, favoring her left leg, after picking up her fourth foul with 6:40 left. A trainer took off the brace that protects the knee she injured last year, forcing her to miss the NCAA tournament. Welch sank both free throws to tie it at 65.

"It's always a scare to see someone go down and when I looked at her, she kind of just held her knee and I was just kind of like, 'Dang!' I didn't know what to think, really," Goodrich said. "But for her to get up and stand up, it relieved me a little bit.

"When that happens, you've got to stay composed and think we've still got time on the clock, we've still got a game to finish. But I'm glad she got back up and she got back in the game and she did what she needed to do."

It was 67-all when Davis returned with 3:50 remaining. She quickly denied Bruner's jumper, and her bucket with 2:30 left put Kansas ahead for good at 71-69.

Iseasia Walker missed a 3-pointer for South Carolina that would have tied at 72 it with less than a half-minute remaining and Kansas sealed the win at the free throw line.

___

Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-03-26-BKW-NCAA-Kansas-South-Carolina-Folo/id-68b6749367f041d6a2d8dcaff42b374e

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Real Estate Council announces City Council endorsements | City ...

The Real Estate Council has issued its endorsements for the coming City Council races.

In the hotly contested District 13 race, Jennifer Staubach Gates got the nod over Leland Burk.

And in the race for the District 14 seat, Bobby Abtahi can add to council to his impressive list of endorsements, including former council members and ?Car-Free? Patrick Kennedy among others.

The council also picked Delia Jasso over Scott Griggs in the District 1 race ? the only race where two incumbents face each other.

?We were encouraged to see such a strong pool of candidates running for Dallas City Council and Dallas ISD school board,? said Linda McMahon, president and CEO of The Real Estate Council. ?It takes a selfless and courageous person to decide to run for any public office, and we applaud each of the candidates for their passion and commitment to improving our city.?

Here is the complete City Council endorsement list.

District 1: Delia Jasso (i)
District 2: Adam Medrano
District 3: Vonciel Hill (i)
District 5: Rickey Callahan
District 6: Monica Alonzo (i)
District 7: Carolyn Davis (i)
District 8: Tennell Atkins (i)
District 11: Lee Kleinman
District 13: Jennifer Staubach Gates
District 14: Bobby Abtahi

This entry was posted in Dallas City Hall by Rudolph Bush. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/2013/03/real-estate-council-announces-city-council-endorsements.html/

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Provide a Concrete Deadline to Get Loaned Money Back from a Friend

It's common wisdom that it's usually not a good idea to loan a friend money, but sometimes it's just something you have to do. When that's the case, CNN recommends you provide a concrete deadline so you actually get that money back.

While the general rule is that you shouldn't loan out money that you expect to get back, sometimes it just has to happen, and trying to get that loan back is a seriously awkward conversation. In order to avoid potential awkwardness down the road, CNN recommends simply setting up a deadline at the outset:

Specifying a schedule for payback is crucial. Otherwise, the loan may hang out there indefinitely, even if the borrower has given lip service to paying you back?and you'll just have to revisit the conversation at a later date.

Obviously, the best course of action changes a bit depending on the circumstance, and you can do a few things to make that transaction easier. Head over to CNN for a few more tips on making that awkward conversation a little smoother.

How to ask a pal or relative to pay you back | CNN via The Consumerist

Photo by Martin Cathrae.

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?The Great Purge?: Obama visits Israel

I used to throw up on airplanes.? Consistently.

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It all started on a flight back from Baltimore after eating some bad pizza the night before. Oddly enough, I didn?t heave on that specific flight, but I spent the entire six-hour journey pacing up and down the aisles and slowly sipping ginger ale, trying my best to keep it all down. Adding to my problem was that the restrooms were constantly occupied and I knew I would be mortified if I had to yak into a doggie bag in front of everyone. This made me more nervous and subsequently more nauseous. ?

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I made it back home without vomiting but a strange thing happened to me. I got it into my head that I get nauseous on flights. I threw up the next six times I flew.?

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I am not sharing this uber-pleasant anecdote to gross you out but simply to illuminate the great ironies of life. I am currently typing this article while sitting on an airplane that is saving me from what would have been 50 hours of constant nausea and yes perhaps even some heaving.

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I began to feel queasy the Sunday before the esteemed leader arrived, as I headed into Jerusalem for a few errands. Firstly, every single street in the city Obama has pushed for the Jews to divvy up and deal away in good faith, as well as refuse to officially recognize as the capital of Israel, had been lined with American flags interspersed with Israeli and Jerusalem flags.

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The second thing I noticed were billboards every few streets declaring in both English and Hebrew ?Unbreakable Alliance: President Obama in Israel 2013?

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My stomache began to churn some more.

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Two days later I woke up to a red, white and blue Jerusalem Post at my doorstep.

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Finally, I read a detestable article by ?veteran tour guide? Jackie Feldman in the Jerusalem Post entitled ?Obama, Show ?em your stuff!?. I won?t bother to point out all the misinformation, distortions, and truly offensive comments made in the article (you can click the link if you dare) but here are a few lowlights.

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The entire article is predicated on Feldman?s hopes that Obama?s ability to utilize his ?knowledge of the situation and of history? will inspire ?not only a new vision of peace but a new vision of Israel.? Excuse my childish language but?BARF. The Jewish people have no desire for anyone else in this world to tell us how to run OUR country and the pathetic desire by some Jews, including Feldman, for an outside savior to rescue us from ourselves is a tragic display of self-hatred and twisted liberal thought.

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Feldman then sickeningly suggests Obama draw comparisons between Israel?s current situation with the destruction of the Second Temple as well as insinuating that Israel is carrying out ?a holocaust? against the Palestinians. There is no shortage of barbs at President Bibi Netanyahu for good measure.

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The irony of Feldman accusing Netanyahu of ?orchestrat[ing] the grand propaganda tour? for Obama truly makes me want to puke.

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I do agree with Feldman on one point however, Bibi will no doubt ?dust off? his standard speeches on ?the greatness of Israel.? Something Feldman refers to with great disdain apparently.

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I am a politics junkie and I could not be less interested in this pathetic visit by a President as disastrous in the Middle East as there has ever been (congrats Jimmie Carter you are no longer in a league of your own!). Bibi WILL make those same speeches about the urgency of backing Israel in a region that is growing more tumultuous by the day (with the help of the visiting US President I might add). POTUS will respond with a plastered on (and always slightly smug) smile and if we?re really lucky an empty response about unbreakable bonds and money for the Iron Dome (funded by US Congress NOT the executive branch?but I understand Obama has trouble distinguishing between the powers of the two in general so perhaps this is an unfair criticism on my part).

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Then comes the photo-op filled visit the great star-spangled savior will make to the West Bank and meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, an unabashed anti-Semite and no partner in any way shape or form in peace. I am sure Obama will feel more at ease in the confines of Abbas?s company despite being surrounded by hospitals, playgrounds and kindergartens serving as missile silos.

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But yes Mr. Feldman, peace will obviously be a closer prospect by Obama ?adding a short excursion to the Separation Wall with a coffee break in the house of a divided village.? While your background in anthropology and tour-guide(dedness?) may show your impressive handle on Israeli history, it does not qualify you to assess the security measures of the Israeli defense community. Even as a second-semester MA student in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security student I know and understand the countless amount of Jewish lives the wall saves on a daily basis no matter how inconvenient or ?oppressive? it may appear to the Palestinian community. It doesn?t even take a BA to know that a nation?s first and foremost responsibility is the safety of its citizens. Perhaps Obama will take notes and apologize to Arizona governor Jan Brewer upon his return to the states but we won?t hold our breath.

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As my belly grumbles while I re-read Feldman?s offensive column I propose he would be wise to re-title his article ?Obama will make us show him our stuff?literally!?

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So here I sit, in an my cramped ElAl seat with eight more hours free from watching what I am sure will be a revolting newsreel of the ?anointed one? healing the sick, feeding the poor and ending the (fictional) plight of the (fictional) Palestinian people because the Israelis are either too dumb or have no desire to do it themselves.

But I must thank President Obama for two things. First, I will give him credit for bolstering the Israeli economy. Surely, if more people think as I do, then the influx of expulsions will greatly serve the plumbers of Israel. And secondly, knowing that I am missing this sham of a visit to Israel makes the turbulence we are currently experiencing really not too bad at all. No doggie bag needed on this trip! Thanks Prez! Four more years!?

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Follow E-TONE on Facebook at:?http://www.facebook.com/pages/E-Tone/182722041836556?and on twitter?@ETONEDK

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Source: http://blogs.jpost.com/content/%E2%80%98-great-purge%E2%80%99-obama-visits-israel

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Shinseki says VA on target for ending backlog

FILE ? In this Nov. 10, 2010, file photo Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki applauds the veterans in the audience while speaking at a disabled veterans' memorial dedication ceremony in Washington. Although the number of veterans' disability claims keep soaring, Shinseki said Sunday, March 24, 2013, that he's committed to ending the backlog by 2015 by replacing paper with electronic records. About 600,000 claims, or 70 percent, are considered backlogged, and the number of claims pending for more than 125 days has nearly quadrupled under Shinseki's watch. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

FILE ? In this Nov. 10, 2010, file photo Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki applauds the veterans in the audience while speaking at a disabled veterans' memorial dedication ceremony in Washington. Although the number of veterans' disability claims keep soaring, Shinseki said Sunday, March 24, 2013, that he's committed to ending the backlog by 2015 by replacing paper with electronic records. About 600,000 claims, or 70 percent, are considered backlogged, and the number of claims pending for more than 125 days has nearly quadrupled under Shinseki's watch. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

In this photo taken Aug. 2, 2010, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki listens to President Barack Obama speak about Iraq and Afghanistan at the Disabled American Veterans national convention in Atlanta. Although the number of veterans' disability claims keep soaring, Shinseki said Sunday, March 24, 2013, that he's committed to ending the backlog by 2015 by replacing paper with electronic records. About 600,000 claims, or 70 percent, are considered backlogged, and the number of claims pending for more than 125 days has nearly quadrupled under Shinseki's watch. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Although the number of pending veterans' disability claims keep soaring, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on Sunday said he's committed to ending the backlog in 2015 by replacing paper with electronic records.

Veterans receive disability compensation for injuries or illness incurred during their active military service. About 600,000 claims, or 70 percent, are considered backlogged. The number of claims pending for more than 125 days has nearly quadrupled under Shinseki's watch.

Shinseki told CNN's "State of the Union" that a decade of war and efforts to make it easier for veterans to collect compensation for certain illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder have driven the backlog higher during his tenure. He said that doing away with paper records will be the key to a turnaround.

Shinseki said that the VA has puts its new computer system in place in 20 regional offices around the country and all regional offices will be on the system by the end of the year.

"This has been decades in the making, 10 years of war. We're in paper, we need to get out of paper," Shinseki said. The Defense Department and other agencies still file paper claims, he said, but "we have commitments that in 2014 we will be electronically processing our data and sharing it."

Congressional committees have held two hearings on the disability claims bottleneck in the past two weeks. Lawmakers voiced growing frustration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"There are many people, including myself, who are losing patience as we continue to hear the same excuses from VA about increased workload and increased complexity of claims," Florida's Rep. Jeff Miller, the Republican chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, said during a hearing on Wednesday.

"No veteran should have to wait for claims. If there's anybody impatient here, I am that individual and we're pushing hard," said Shinseki, the former four-star Army general who became VA secretary when President Barack Obama came into office.

About 4.3 million veterans and survivors receive disability benefits. Most veterans whose claims are backlogged, about 60 percent, are getting some disability compensation already and have filed for additional benefits for other injuries or illnesses.

Tom Tarantino, chief policy officer of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said a presidential commission was needed to bring greater emphasis to solving the problem and to make sure all federal agencies were on the same page.

"We're tired of waiting for the VA to get their act together," Tarantino said.

Peter Gaytan, executive director of the American Legion, emphasized that resolving disability claims in a timely manner is an issue his organization has dealt with for decades.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-03-24-Shinseki-Disability%20Claims%20Backlog/id-32a74ff950f84fb3890950a4bbcf01da

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Make A Successful Marketing Plan With These Tips - We Want CSG

Internet marketing can be an extremely lucrative occupation if done correctly. Keep in mind though, you will need to make a good investment of your time if you want to be successful. Using time wisely is extremely important. Don?t start an Internet promotion business without reading these time-management tips.

Make sure you utilize social media. Set up a fan page on Facebook so that your customers can leave feedback, get news, and connect with each other. This can dramatically increase your online visibility. You can easily chat informally with all your customers using your Twitter account.

TIP! Make sure any tags on your web site are directly associated with its core content. The title of your website can determine how your customers perceive your business?s website.

Add the words ?simple? and ?easy? to your online marketing lexicon. These words will put your customers at ease, as most people do not enjoy products that are difficult to use or put together. That is a simple way to boost business.

If you issue a news release, it might drum up some internet business. If you have a knack for writing clear, concise information, it is easy to get that information published on the web. The materials will then be released to a carefully selected audience. This is a very easy method to boost your business profile.

To get the most from your Online marketing efforts, be sure you always provide original content rather than just copying what others have written. Advanced and improved algorithms used by search engines are able to detect duplicate articles and can penalize you in the long run. You need to know how to innovate.

TIP! Post customer commentary about your products on your website. People like to research what other consumers are saying about a product they are thinking of purchasing.

Offer to give a certain percentage of your business profits to charity to increase the amount of visitors. You need to make a point to note this on your site so your customers feel they are contributing. You do not have to give up a big chunk of your profits to make a difference and to improve your marketing benefits.

It?s just a fact of psychology that most people respect positions of authority. You can make use of that fact in your marketing. Don?t be afraid to let it be known that you are indeed the head honcho. Go with describing your position as the President or the CEO.

You do not have to spend all of your time with Web marketing. Strategize your approach, use your time efficiently and you will see success!

Source: http://www.wewantcsg.org/make-a-successful-marketing-plan-with-these-tips

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My Chemical Romance split after 12 years

Steve Thorne / Getty Images Contributor

Mikey Way and Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance in 2011.

By Tim Gaynor, Reuters

Alternative rock group My Chemical Romance announced on their website on Friday that they were calling it quits after 12 years.

The punk-popsters from New Jersey had played together since 2001, recording four studio albums and notching up an international hit with "Welcome to the Black Parade" in 2006.

In a statement, they said being in the band "has been a true blessing" that allowed them "to see and experience things we never imagined possible."

"We've shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end."

The group thanked fans for their support and "for being part of the adventure."

More in NBC News Entertainment:

Source: http://entertainment.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/23/17427820-my-chemical-romance-split-after-12-years?lite

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New pope cites grandma's folk wisdom at his first Palm Sunday

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The new pope began Holy Week on Sunday with a sermon invoking the folk wisdom of his grandmother, further emphasizing a new-look papacy that aims to be closer to the people.

Leading his first major service since his election, Pope Francis addressed a vast crowd gathered for Palm Sunday with simple language, urging them to shun corruption and greed and reach out to "the humble, the poor, the forgotten".

Departing from his prepared text and referring to wealth, he said: "You can't take it with you, my grandmother used to say".

Since his election on March 13, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina has broken with the more esoteric and, some would say, ostentatious style of his predecessor Benedict, saying he wants to move the Church closer to the poor and suffering.

"Let us look around: how many wounds are inflicted upon humanity by evil! Wars, violence, economic conflicts that hit the weakest, greed for money, power, corruption, divisions, crimes against human life and against creation," he said.

Francis has decided to hold Holy Thursday service this week in a juvenile jail on Rome's outskirts rather than in the Vatican or in a Rome Basilica, where it has been held by all his predecessor in living memory.

He has also invited simple workers, such as the Vatican gardeners and street cleaners, to attend his morning Masses in the Vatican hotel where is still living ahead of moving into the papal apartments in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

The service before some 250,000 people waving palm and olive branches in St. Peter's Square gave the new pope another opportunity to stress that he wants a Catholic Church that has been riven by scandal to be more austere and just.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem five days before he died. At the end of the service, Francis was driven around the square several times in an open jeep so he could be seen by more people in the huge throng, which overflowed and stretched for blocks down to the River Tiber.

The Church today, he said, like Jesus 2,000 years ago, wanted to transmit a message of hope, "especially in the hearts of the simple, the humble, the poor, the forgotten, those who do not matter in the eyes of the world".

After blessing palm and olive branches - both symbols of peace - Francis, wearing red and white vestments, walked to the altar on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica to conduct the outdoor Mass.

He again urged defense of the environment, speaking of "our personal sins: our failures in love and respect towards God, towards our neighbor and towards the whole of creation".

BRAZIL TRIP

Francis confirmed that he will go to Rio de Janeiro at the end of the July to take part in the Church's World Day of Youth, a gathering of Catholic young people that takes place in a different city every two years.

The new pope has inherited a Church riven by problems that include sexual abuse scandals in many countries and allegations of corruption in the central Vatican bureaucracy.

Many people have expressed a wish that Francis could give the Church and the Vatican a better image.

"We are very happy. We are praying and hoping for good things from the pope and from the Church," said Alessandra Paillalef, a fellow Argentine who came to Rome to see her countryman lead Holy Week celebrations, which end on Easter Sunday, next week.

On Saturday afternoon Francis flew by helicopter to the papal summer residence south of Rome at Castel Gandolfo, where his predecessor, now called "Pope Emeritus Benedict" has been living since he abdicated on February 28.

It was the first time in at least 600 years that a reigning pope and a former pope faced each other.

While the Vatican did not disclose what they discussed, it was likely that the conversation included problems of Vatican administration.

Before he resigned, Benedict left a secret report for Francis on the so-called "Vatileaks" scandal in which sensitive papal documents were stolen from the pope's desk and leaked to the media by his butler, Paolo Gabriele.

Last year Gabriele was arrested and sentenced by a Vatican court to 18 months in prison but Benedict pardoned him and he was freed last Christmas.

(Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-former-pope-meet-first-encounter-600-years-020149372.html

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China to attend major U.S.-hosted naval exercises, but role limited

By Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China's People's Liberation Army has accepted an invitation to participate for the first time in a major U.S.-hosted naval drill, but legal restrictions will limit its role to less sensitive exercises, like disaster relief, U.S. officials say.

Beijing's agreement to join the drills being held next year comes at a moment of heightened tensions between China and U.S. ally Japan over disputed East China Sea islets, and unease in the United States about China's rapid military buildup and its cyber capabilities.

The Rim of the Pacific exercise, known as RIMPAC, is billed as the world's largest international maritime exercise, with 22 nations and more than 40 ships and submarines participating the last time it was held off Hawaii in 2012.

Not all the participants are treaty allies with the United States. Last year's participants included Russia and India.

But China has never participated in the event, although it did send observers to RIMPAC in 1998, the Pentagon said.

Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter acknowledged China had agreed to participate in RIMPAC during a little-noticed speech on Wednesday in Jakarta. Carter said he was "delighted that they have accepted" the American invitation, extended last year by then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

At the time, Panetta said he asked China to send a ship to the exercises. Beijing said later it would give the offer "positive consideration.

"We seek to strengthen and grow our military-to-military relationship with China, which matches and follows our growing political and economic relationship," Carter said, according to prepared remarks on the Defense Department's website.

U.S. law prohibits the Pentagon from any military contacts with the PLA if it could "create a national security risk due to an inappropriate exposure" to activities including joint combat operations.

There is an exemption for operations or exercises related to search and rescue and humanitarian relief, and China participated with the United States last year in a counter-piracy drill.

'SECURITY SAFEGUARDS'

Lieutenant Colonel Catherine Wilkinson, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said China's participation in RIMPAC would adhere to U.S. law and noted precautions taken by the Navy in drills to avoid revealing sensitive information.

"The U.S. Navy has operational security safeguards to protect U.S. technology and tactics, techniques and procedures from disclosure," Wilkinson said.

Dean Cheng, an analyst at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington think tank, questioned whether Chinese intelligence operatives would not benefit from their participation in RIMPAC, which also includes live-fire exercises by key U.S. allies.

"If they have a frigate, or even a hospital ship, in the middle of that exercise, the hospital ship is going to be staffed by intelligence officers," Cheng said.

He noted that if the drills were designed in a way that was unhelpful to the Chinese, they would also be unhelpful to allies.

Wilkinson declined to speculate about which drills China might participate in, noting the agenda had not yet been set for next year's event.

"U.S.-China military-to-military engagements can include a range of activities in areas of mutual interest including maritime security, military medicine and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief," she said.

Commander Charles Brown, a spokesman for the Navy's Third Fleet, said the initial planning conference for RIMPAC 2014 would take place in May.

"We're proud of our ability to design an exercise that everyone feels meets their objectives and is comfortable with," Brown said.

(Editing by Warren Strobel and Peter Cooney)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/china-attend-major-u-hosted-naval-exercises-role-220204468.html

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Recipe: Sweet Potato Salad | MNN - Mother Nature Network

Here's a perfect potato salad for those who don't care for the standard mayonnaise-based recipes.

Fri, Mar 22 2013 at 5:43 PM

Photo: Kelly Rossiter

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What a happy thing when you find a food that is not only really good for you, but is something that pretty much everyone loves. My husband eats the kale and lentils I put in front of him because he knows they are good for him, but he doesn't really love them. Sweet potatoes are another matter. Although there must be someone out there who doesn't like sweet potatoes, I've never met them.

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So it's a doubly happy thing to make a sweet potato recipe that is as easy and delicious as this is. My daughter makes a fantastic vegan potato salad that has become a buffet and potluck staple for us, but this recipe will give it a run for it's money. It's a perfect potato salad for those people who don't care for the standard mayonnaise-based recipes. It is very garlicky and the lemon juice gives it a pleasant tartness, and I pretty much love anything that has cumin in it. If the raw garlic is too strong-sounding for you, you could always roast some along with the sweet potato and use that. I totally forgot to put the almonds in, so I guess that means I'm going to have to make this again!

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This recipe is from the cookbook "Roots" by Diane Morgan.

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Prep time: 10 minutes ?

Total time: 30 minutes ?

Yield: 6 servings

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Moroccan Sweet Potato Salad

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoons kosher or fine sea salt
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoons sweet paprika
• 1/8 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Cooking directions

1. Position a rack in the centre of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, toss the sweet potatoes with the 2 tbsp oil and 1/4 tsp of the salt. Transfer the sweet potatoes to a larged rimmed baking sheet and spread them out in an even layer. (Set the bowl aside to use for tossing the cooked potatoes.) Roast the potatoes, stirring once at the midpoint of roasting, until they are tender when pierced with a fork, but still hold their shape, 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the garlic, cumin, paprika, cayenne, lemon juice, and the remaining 1/2 tsp salt. Whisk in the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil. Add the parsley and the cilantro and stir to combine.
4. When the potatoes are ready, return them to the large bowl. Add the vinaigrette and toss gently. Add the almonds if you are planning to serve the salad within a few hours; otherwise, toss them in just before so they stay crisp. Serve at room temperature. The salad can be made up to two days in advance, covered and refrigerated. Remove from the refrigerator 2 hours before serving.

Related recipes on MNN:

Source: http://www.mnn.com/food/recipes/stories/sweet-potato-salad

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Dove ruins kitten?s nap (video) (Americablog)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

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